IT

Roles can roughly be split between support and development as well as hybrid positions, which link IT with the business side, such as business analyst and pre-sales roles.Support engineers are responsible for ensuring that IT systems function efficiently If there is a problem, it is their responsibility to troubleshoot and fix it. Support work can also involve examining a client's IT system to look for ways of improvement and then proposing a workable strategy for implementing any changes. Subject to client approval, analysts then supervise the installation and testing of the solution. Engineers need to have sound communication skills as a significant proportion of their work involves supporting individual end-users.Development programmers deal with either applications programming or, the more technical, systems programming. Systems designers, the majority of whom have a computing or electronics background, decide on hardware requirements for the IT solution before installing and testing them. Development jobs which take the basics further are also available, although these are generally more suited to engineers or computer scientists.

Hybrid IT/Business

Aside from management consultancy positions within specialist IT consultancies, there are several roles which require an even balance of technical and business knowledge. Business Analysis/Pre-Sales/Technical Author type positions act as a link between the IT function and the business side of an organisation, with individuals using their knowledge and excellent communication skills to liase between these two very different areas.

Other areas

Thanks to the growth of the Internet, there are a number of other areas that offer opportunities for the technically minded. Application Service Providers (ASPs) are companies which offer access to applications over the Internet, either selling them completely or granting access for a fixed period of time. Internet Service Providers (ISPs), such as AOL and Freeserve, offer customers access to the internet at various connection speeds.Specialist areas, particularly in vogue at the moment, are security and data encryption, as companies try to avoid any threat to their systems or to consumer confidence from hackers or viruses. In addition, due to the growth of digital technology and the need for businesses to have an online presence, there are a number of creative positions that come under the umbrella of IT.

A range of web-related careers are available, such as Webmaster, who is responsible for maintaining and updating a website, designers who are involved with the graphics and overall presentation of a site and specialist web developers, who transform the data they are given into a interactive web pages. Specialists in this field need flair and huge amounts of patience and attention to detail. Although the hours can be very long, especially if working freelance, the rewards can be immense and there can be huge satisfaction in the knowledge that millions of users could end up seeing your work.

Similarly, graphic designers get the chance to combine technology and creativity as part of their work, typically within the interactive and multimedia sectors. Major employers tend to be centred around London, with Internet companies, design consultancies, and specialist graphic design agencies and production houses being the major employers.

One final area that deserves a mention is that of IT training, where specialists impart their knowledge and expertise of particular software applications to relatively small groups (1-10) of varying standards. Many of the larger firms often employ their own internal training departments and the major technology companies will all have teams for the specific purpose of teaching their particular products onsite at client organisations. In addition, there are countless smaller training organisations, which are used by individuals and companies alike, typically teaching the mainstream certifications such as the MCSE, CCNA, European Driving Licence etc. With a reasonable amount of experience, there is also potential to work as a freelance trainer.

And here are some of the types of operation which IT professionals work in:

Consultancy work covers the implementation and development of clients’ IT systems to enable consultants to deliver solutions that improve the processes and functioning of the business. This could mean advising on the design, integration and implementation of a new IT system or software application and ensuring it fits as smoothly as possible into the existing infrastructure. Although advantageous, it is not always necessary to have in-depth IT knowledge or experience. More important is a demonstrable interest in technology and an ability to think logically and an aptitude for learning new skills. It is a common misconception that this area is purely technical and an ability to communicate and explain technical concepts to non-technical clients is a key requirement.

Outsourcing is closely related to consultancy, though typically performed at a lower level and with a purely technical focus, where companies provide IT services to clients covering the whole spectrum from 1st line support positions through to software application development and systems management. Work is predominantly onsite, with clients that can range from major international organisations through to small-scale businesses. Organisations use outsourcing companies in much the same way as consultancies to provide a service, which is perhaps only required temporarily or which is more economical to bring in external help than to recruit and train up staff directly. Many companies have ongoing contracts with major clients and so individuals can find themselves working at the same client site for two years or more.

Hardware and Software Houses are responsible for developing the programs and systems that are used by businesses and individuals. Although major players, such as Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Sun Microsystems and IBM have become household names, many of their products are actually developed by much smaller, more specialist, houses, which vary in size from a handful of employees to a workforce of several hundred. An area which has a large number of such specialist organisations is the financial sector, where companies such as RoyalBlue, Wilco International and GL Trade provide financial applications to the leading financial institutions.

End-Users (Banks, Blue Chips, Government etc.) have their own in-house IT departments, providing support and development of the organisation’s existing IT systems, both off-the-shelf (OTS) and/or bespoke applications. Many of the larger companies have incorporated the IT function within their graduate training schemes and are typically open to applications from graduates of most disciplines.

Telecommunications

The telecommunications industry includes the work of engineers and IT-trained professionals on a technical side. The constantly evolving equipment requires there to be those able to install, test and maintain the products and their systems. As telecommunications is all about connecting people quickly, efficiently and reliably, customer service and after-sales care play a pivotal role for keeping a company ahead of its competitors so need plenty of hard-working people.Designers are needed to ensure advancements in technology are met with the right aesthetics to sell to both mass and niche markets, providing outlets for creativity as well as practicality.Away from the technology, business roles such as planning, managing, sales, marketing, finance and HR are all needed to be filled.