RESEARCH by e-Skills UK has shown that IT and telecommunications now employs one in 20 of the UK workforce and makes a 9% contribution to the country’s economy.
Anne Richardson from the Department for Employment and Learning’s Careers Service says current trends suggest that this could be a sector to consider.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and particularly software development, will be extremely important in ensuring our local economy experiences expansion and growth, so it may be worth considering as a career.
It is definitely an exciting time to get involved in ICT as it is at the heart of every organisation and is central to our daily lives.
Careers in ICT range from IT support and service technician roles in software and systems development, web design, consultancy and management, business analysis and network engineering roles.
All ICT jobs involve some level of technical content —from the deep technical skills of a software developer to the project management roles where communicating and organising the people who do hold such technical knowledge may be more important than actually having the skills themselves.
ICT jobs exist across retail, financial services, telecommunications, broadcast media, digital media, manufacturing, trans-port and public sector.
There are also various specialist areas you may want to con-sider.
Computer hardware engineers work on the design, development and manufacture of computer hardware.
They work to make computers faster, more robust and most cost effective.
They may specialise in areas such as communications, control systems, robotics or microprocessors. Computer software developers analyse, design and create computer systems and software.
They are involved in all stages of the development of a software product.
They apply technology to meet a defined need or solve a particular problem.
Systems analysts use ICT to help organisations work more quickly and efficiently. They investigate a business problem and then design or adapt a suit-able computer system or application to improve the way the business works.
Software testers plan and carry out tests on computer software to see if it does what it is supposed to do.
They identify the risk of errors and devise tests that can be repeated and measured.
Software testers are in great demand, so DEL has worked with others to design and develop the Software Testers’ Academy, a 14-week course to convert non-IT graduates into software testers.
While technical skills are needed for many roles, employers also look for people with interpersonal/communication skills, problem solving, literacy and maths, time management and organisational skills.
If you need further information, please go to www.nidirect.gov.uk/careers where you will find the contact details for your nearest careers office and careers adviser.
You can also contact the careers service by phone on 0300 200 7820.