Is A Career In I.T. An Option For You?

Is A Career In I.T. An Option For You? Large or small, new or old, businesses need IT experts, either as permanent members of staff or as an outsourced service to keep their hardware and software running smoothly and as technology leaps forward on almost a daily basis, more skilled specialists will be needed in the future. IT, software development and the related fields are one of the few areas that are always in demand and seem to withstand the factors and influences of economic downturn.

Recently, several IT and software companies have organised coding boot camps throughout Ireland with the specific goal of getting younger people more interested in coding, computer programming, software development and the related fields. Ireland had lagged seriously behind when it came to the people available to fill various IT roles such as software developers, computer programming engineers and database developers.

When a school leaver is considering what area or industry to get involved in, the potential for employment afterwards plays a significant factor in making that all important choice. Rest assured, things have never looked better for those people who decide on a career path of IT or software development. Some estimates of the current cyber skills shortage are striking. Cisco’s 2014 Annual Security report puts the gap in demand for professionals with relevant IT skills and the supply of those people at 1 million worldwide. In a survey of 12,000 information security specialists by the consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, 56 percent said their organization was understaffed in that department.

Another fast emerging industry where qualified people are very hard to source is cyber security.

More and more of our lives is ending up on computers. Our internet usage is mapped out constantly and available for download in an instant. Because of the financial gains that can be made through computer hacking in the form of personal information, financial data and all things related, this has become a growing problem for all companies and indeed governments across the world. Big IT companies are tackling this problem head on with Symantec (SYMC) being one of them. The company is putting $2 million into a pilot project to train urban youth for entry-level jobs in cyber security. Based on a study released last year by the Abell Foundation, Symantec says more than 300,000 jobs are going begging, 20 percent of which could be potentially filled by individuals with no college degree.

Whatever path you choose, a career in IT offers both great potential and job security for the future. Keep abreast of emerging technology and tailor your skill set to target the related roles of the future.

For IT recruitment roles across Ireland, visit www.questrecruitment.ie with offices now in both Dublin and Kilkenny.