Working in INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
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What is the most common IT role in the South West?
How many IT companies are there across the South West?
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How much could you earn as an IT security co-ordinator?
What is the % of women working in the IT industry?
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Outside of the IT industry in which four sectors can the largest number of IT professionals be found?
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Where are a third of all IT opportunities in the South West based?
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What would you call someone who has never known a world without computers, mobile phones etc?
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More and more employers are using what to advertise jobs?
Who operates one of Europe's largest databases?
ICT has made a huge impact on society in the last 30 years. Old job roles have gone and brand new ones created. Companies can be global if they wish to be and employees have more freedom to act on their own. The very idea of the office is changing as people can work from home as easily as if they were in the office. This pace of change is fast with new technologies emerging which are changing the way we live and work. Technology is dividing us into digital natives and digital immigrants - and changing the way we think.
WHAT DOES I.T. MEAN TO YOU?
Phone: 1734827 Desktop : 130445 Laptop: 32085 MP3 : 652126 Caamera: 213395
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As a 'digital native' you have never known a world without:· · · · ·
Mobile phones Desktop computer Laptop computer MP3 player Digital camera
You would use each one of these for either fun, catching up with friends etc or you may want to use it for research to help with your studies. A digital immigrant is probably over 30 years old and would know life without the above. They may even be slightly fearful about using some of the technology we have today and even if they do use it, may not update it as often as a digital native. So where will the digital world take you in the future? Will you end up leaving education and progress quickly up the IT career ladder?
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In a single week the Jobcentre Plus website experienced a record 6.6 million job searches conducted by nearly 2.2 million job seekers
The IT workforce of 1.2 million people is forecast to grow at between 1.5% and 2.2% per year
1 in 10 workers use IT in their jobs. London and the South East is still the key centre and 40% of IT professionals work there. In the South West one third of all opportunities are found in Bristol
Over the last few years IT posts have significantly increased in local government, employing around 14% of the UK’s IT workforce as IT technicians or user support
Across the UK the IT and telecoms workforce is 1.4 million divided across the IT industry, IT professionals and telecoms industry
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The Land Registry has one of the largest databases in Europe and are based at Seaton Court with some 500 staff: 400 are IT specialists
Cornwall’s reputation as a creative environment is attracting businesses in design and media and recently there has also been an increase in the number of ITrelated companies moving into the county. This is largely due to improved IT infrastructure, which has meant better connectivity In the South West region 79,980 people are employed in the IT sector. 35,746 are in the IT industry and 44,234 IT professionals work in other industries The most common IT role in the South West is a 'Software Professional' as it is in the country as a whole
There are 4,000 IT companies in the South West; 150 have more than 50 employees. Nearly 50% of these companies employ between one and three people. In line with the rest of the country, the largest sector is computer consultancies with around 2,000 firms
The region has particular strengths in wireless communications, with about 40 companies working in this area. They include Motorola and Lucent Technologies, who have located their global headquarters in the South West, and Toshiba, which has located its European Research Laboratory for mobile technologies here. In addition, Orange's corporate headquarters are located in Bristol. Other telecommunications companies in the South West include Tyco Electronics, Swindon Silicon Systems and Ericsson Electronics.
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WHERE WOULD YOU The IT industry is extremely varied with links to almost every other industry. As a result, IT qualifications can lead almost anywhere and combined with experience can offer great flexibility in your future career. You could be working anywhere from a small local company with a few employees to a national company such as IBM, Toshiba or Motorola. The IT industry has increasingly become multinational so you could end up working in the UK or abroad. Depending on the job, you could be working 9-5 with some evenings and weekends as overtime or the job may have shift work. There may also be the opportunity for part-time and flexible working arrangements.
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Try this word game relating to IT careers
U LIKE TO WORK?
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Laptop Digital Engineer Software Network Games Designer Internet Programmer Mouse Web Database Systems Analyst Computer
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WHAT COULD YOU DO? There are lots of opportunities in the IT industry as well as in other areas. Outside the IT industry, the largest numbers of IT professionals are found in manufacturing, financial services, retail and the public sector, although opportunities exist in just about every sector.
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? IT PROFESSIONALS IT professionals typically fill roles in:
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IT services (eg, internet and web design services); technology development; systems analysis and testing; programming.
LESS TECHNICAL JOBS Just under a third of those working inside the industry are employed in other, less technical occupations, for example in:
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sales and marketing; consultancy; customer support; management.
OUTSIDE THE IT INDUSTRY
Areas of work include:
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development (ie, creating systems, networks and applications);
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user support.
operations (ie, running and improving the speed of access to systems, networks and applications);
(All figures taken from IT Insights: Drivers of Demand for Skills, e-skills UK/MRM Solutions, 2004)
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SKILLS & ABILITIES What do you have? Although qualifications are important employers also need people with excellent personal qualities, you will need to be able to: communicate well in writing and when you speak get on well with other people and work in a team solve problems handle data well attend to detail 10
What can you build on? Give examples of your skills and abilities that could be useful for a career in IT.
Think about your work experience. Although it may not have been in IT, what skills could you transfer to an IT related career?
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Real-life success stories
Rob
After leaving school at 16 for an apprenticeship in IT, I gained my NVQ level 2 in Information Technology Operations and got valuable experience working in the real world in many areas including web design, mainframe administration, helpdesk and engineering. After 2 years with Plymouth City Council, I got a job at Connexions supporting users. After 6 months, I was promoted to a programming position writing software for staff. Although enjoyable, I missed the contact with people. I was later appointed as an engineer as part of a team looking after the company's IT infrastructure and providing support for any problems within Connexions. This is a challenging post which provides great satisfaction, especially when users say “thank you� because you've made a difference. Being in the IT industry, I have found it vital to continue studying for qualifications as well as gaining work experience. I am currently working towards the next level qualification to become a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer.
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Luke I am on a 'year in industry' at the Land Registry as part of the Database team, which is a really large team. This means I help to maintain all the information the Land Registry hold.
I have always been interested in computers, especially databases and I hope that I can secure employment with Land Registry.
I followed a traditional route through GCSEs and A levels to a BSc in Computing Informatics at the University of Plymouth.
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I am currently on a placement year at Land Registry from the University of Plymouth where I am studying Computing Informatics BSc. Following A levels I left school to start full time work. I realised that I was never going to be able to have a career without training or experience. As I was interested in computers I took some basic IT courses. I decided I would like to work in the computing industry and started an evening HND course. This was very hard work and I wished that I had continued after leaving school. I am now at university on the Computing Informatics course. The year in industry is a good way to gain knowledge and experience at the same time. I have received a lot of training and am hoping I can return here after my final year. I am really lucky to have a placement at Land Registry as they are very supportive of students and it is good to earn at the same time as learning.
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Alan
Rachael I became interested in computers when I was quite young. I have dyslexia and my parents gave me a spelling and maths computer game. This was a good way for me to learn by myself. I enjoyed having my independence and doing things in my own way and at my own pace.
Following temporary office work for a variety of companies I am now employed by a multi national chain making all their products and services available to the general public on the web.
When I attended secondary school, I had a good grasp of typing and this made essay writing easier as I could use spell checks and electronic dictionaries. I took a GNVQ in Information Technology and Business Studies which meant working a lot with computers. I also took an A level in maths as I was better with numbers than written work. My university years were always going to be with computing. My dyslexia started to affect my learning again because degree level work involved a lot of reading and note taking. With further help and support I coped very well with the course and completed my BA (Hons) in Computing & Information Technology.
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SO!!! You have your qualifications £25,000 IT Security Co-ordinator Information Scientist
£20,000 £18,000 Internet/Web Professional Computer Hardware Engineer IT Product Developer Web Author/Editor Web Designer/Developer
IT Sales Specialist e-Learning Developer
£19,000 Computer Games Designer IT Trainer
£16,000 £15,000 CAD Worker
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Database Assistant Interactive Media Designer Technical Author
£100,000 + IT Directors
£45,000 Senior IT Managers
£70,000 IT Function Heads
£35,000 £23,000
Senior Analyst Project Managers
Network Manager Software Developer/Programmer Systems Analyst
What jobs are there in IT and what could you earn? 17
Examples of
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Skills and knowledge
Typical Course
Good communication skills Some IT knowledge
Business Information Systems/Technology
Basic programming skills Science and/or technical subjects useful but not essential
Computer Studies Information Technology
Maths and programming skills
Computer Science Software Engineering
Maths, information technology
Network Systems & Computer Networks Management Network Communications & Web Design
careers in IT Career Entry Sales Executive End User Support Analyst
Career Progression Business Analyst
Consultant
Systems Analyst Web Designer
Project Manager Director
Programmer Systems Engineer Systems Architect Systems Designer
Network Engineer
Network Manager
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