This question is a 2 parter.\nPart 1.\nWhat is the best area of Information Technology to specialise in? \nI have a degree in IT, but I am undecided as to which area I should now specialise in. \nThe areas are as follows:\nWeb Design\nSoftware Supoort (Technical Support)\nComputer Engineering (Hardware - PC building, maintenance)\nNetworking (Network Support)\n\nPart 2.\nI have a degree in IT, as already mentioned, but cannot get past the Interview stage of any job because I do not have the required minimum of 6 months work experience. Arrrgh! \nHow can I overcome this hurdle and get my foot in the door.\nRhetorial Question - How are you ment to get into a job in IT, if you are not allowing in without previous work experience?\n\nCheers.
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from personal experience, my company is always in need of someone who can handle our network, maintain our server and repair our laptops when their hard drives crash (or we drop them)...\n\nnot exactly sure which category that falls into but if you are an expert in those areas, you will always have a job.\n\nevery office related business needs comp specialists, but not all need web designers. \n\nthink about whats in demand!
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I am an IT pro, with 18 yrs of international experience and going nowhere. In this IT field, there are no job security and the constant new technology which can make you become obsolete overnight. So my advice to you - go for it. I know that there are a lot of demands for these Asset Mgm. professionals esp. in Singapore, and they also pay very well. I would do it part-time first for financial reason and also to test yourself whether it's really meant for you. Besides, these days the market changes so fast that a profession in high demand today can suddenly become obsolete such as the IT field. Your Choice!
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The biggest problem when trying to answer your question is the fact that IT business has become so vast and manifold that the times of generalists has long gone by. In other words, the first things you'd need to decide for yourself is what branch you would like to work in.\n\nFor instance, ask yourself if you'd rather be an system adminstrator or involved in writing software.\n\nWhat technical environment would you like to work in? Sun? Unix? Linux? Windows? SAP?\n\nI can imagine answering even such basic questions can be pretty hard. Some research might shed some light though. Moreover - and maybe even more importantly - try to build on what you already know: you mention that you worked as a tech support before. If you basically liked the matter you had to deal with there continue in that direction.\n\nOnce you decided you should try to find out if there is a way to get certified in that field. For most major platforms / technologies there are certification possibilities. With some (hard) work and the will to get somewhere all of these certificates are achievable within a reasonable time-frame; and they will definitely help you getting a job.\n\nDon't quit trying a job in the meantime though. The best thing that can happen to you is somebody hiring you that is willing to invest some time into your education by letting your learn things on the job. Cope with the probably small salary you'd get having such a job and remember that experience counts just as much as certificates and university degrees.\n\nSo, go to that interview and be honest about your abilities and let yourself shine by making them see that you are willing to learn and do your best ... you'd be surprised how many employers are looking for exactly THAT trait in future employees.
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Good question and I think a lot of IT people are wondering the  same thing. First off, there's no such thing as a recommended course of study in IT. Given the breadth of the field and rapid pace of change, the better question is what interests you, where are your strengths and talents, and what motivates you. Every sincere recommendation on career direction is going to say the same thing so you probably already know that.\n\nRegarding what skills will remain relevent in IT in the US, this is probably best answered by the trends and forces driving the industry:\n\n1. Offshore work is going to grow as companies leverage lower cost resources for their IT work. This means development, support, and testing mostly, but foreign companies are eager to go into other areas such as consulting and healthcare. The benefits of low cost labor, taxes, etc. are too high to ignore and it's better to adapt than resist.\n\n2. Most IT budgets are shrinking as more work is outsourced and internal cost-reduction measures put in place. IT skills  that reduce IT and business costs are a priority.\n\n3. While offshoring will move most IT work overseas, most overseas IT companies have their own issues that should be considered. Specifically, Wipro, Tata, etc. have to play the numbers game regarding demand so newer technologies are not areas they compete in generally. Newer technologies like Rails, Ajax, XAML, etc. are too risky for them to invest time and resources if the demand is limited.\n\n4. Another big trend in business is process automation. Actually we should be more worried about automation eliminating jobs than outsourcing. Developing automation on a resuable SOA-based framework is where, IMHO, app development is heading.\n\n5. Lastly, the skills that make you relevent may not be technical as much as business oriented. Can you build and deploy a technical project that saves the business money? Can you demonstrate keeping a budget and schedule? Can you show how you collaborated with a team and made a meaningful contribution? The better you do at these regardless of your technical prowess is what makes you relevent to future business.\n\nGood Luck!
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A bachelors degree is sort of the accepted starting point for the IT field.  Does she have any professional certifications?  You also did not mention what the Associates degrees were in.  Are these degrees technical?\n\nShe could also try other types of positions, with IT type companies, to get her foot in the door.
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A PC Tech is something to shoot for, but generally, it's a pretty miserable position, to be honest.  Everyone is pissy when their computer is down, and they want it fixed yesterday, and they generally don't pay you too much.  If you just love it though and want to do it, there are training courses out there.  I would go the Associate's route - those certification programs aren't always what they're cracked up to be.  Generally though, if you REALLY want to learn to fix computers, just use them like crazy - the more you use them, especially if you're using Windows, you're going to have to deal with a lot of programs.  Get a friend that knows computers well to show you how to disassemble/build one from scratch.  Read on the internet about repairing them (which is somewhat of a misterm, actually - no one actually "repairs" computers - they replace parts and upgrade, for the most part).  If you're into the software side, look through sites that let people ask questions about computer problems, and read all the answers to the common problems you find.
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It depends on you... Though there are lots of opportunity for IT gradduates now adays.  I must say try MIS, Computer Eng, or Some Specialty courses like Web dev, DB Management etc... It all depneds on how you love your job.
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Hi,\n\nDont think that I am degrading your opinion. Its too late to switch your field of working. Its better try to improve in your own field.\n\nThe reason is you do not have experience in software field and hence you should be considered as a fresher. But a fresher should be with in a specific age limit as per the norms of software companies.\n\nI could give you real examples. When software companies came to our institution for campus interviews, many of the companies did not selected two of my classmates since they had two to three years break in their history. The reason they gave is our norms is that a fresher should be with in certian age limit during selection.\n\nAnd an important thing is the two students are highly skilled both technically and in other aspects.\n\nI think you understand.\n\nBetter work for your growth in you own field or if you are very much interested in software, you can try to open a small software companry of your own and employ some workers and manage them.\n\nBest of Luck\n\n**********\nVasu M\n**********
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First get out of the office and get a job as an entry level tech. Even if it's not what you want. My brother went to work for Cox Cable and took all the classes they offered. with in 2 years he moved into the server aspect of the company. Most large company (Cox, Comcast, DirecTV ) are willing to train someone who wants to advance. It's in their best interest.
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You might want to take a few IT classes on the side if possible. The world of information technology is booming and definitely a hot candidates market right now. Almost every company has an IT need as they all have web sites right now. You like Photoshop, you like graphics, why not get into programming? YOu could do GUI programming or UI programming which is what the users see more so than the back end stuff. This would be graphical, you would probably need to learn technology more than just photoshop such as ajax or php which are both front end programming and development tools. If you like interior design you could get a job using your design skills for online based tools and websites for designers etc...
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hey, im also doing computer science and information systems. Although networing may not end up being in the main scope of what you end up doing, i would recommend it highly. It is an amazingly helpful subject and it's always good to have that extra bit of experience. good luck!!
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Try asking some of the IT Departments of the companies near you.  Some companies have software that they have written themselves or have been written specially for them.\n\nThat way you will gain experience working with all the major software packages as well as the individual specialist packages.
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You can always look for a job in California, most of the good IT jobs are there. Make sure you let the company know you are open to gaining experience and certificates. They will most likely sponsor you if they see you want to learn.
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GNIIT \n\nThe new Industry-Endorsed GNIIT Program with Multiple tracks\n\nNIIT's all-new, industry-endorsed GNIIT program for IT career aspirants is aimed at bridging the IT manpower shortage expected over the next three years. It is expected that hundreds of thousands of Knowledge professionals, with sharply defined skill-sets for varied industry needs, will be required worldwide. \n\nIndia alone is expected to face a shortage of 4,30,000 professionals by 2007. Our flagship program-which recognizes that general-purpose IT training with uniform content for everyone just isn't good enough for the emerging IT age-offers learners as many as four specialization tracks. \n\nWhat ever may be , all these kind of institute can guide you some extend. But you should take some initiative to keep you on the track. First identify what you are?. then, check where will u fit?. then, try to get into that?. Thats all. But always think futur like "if not this what else next?". \n\nAll the best.
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hello rakhi, nice meeting u. good, that u want to settle in software sector. but, without completing ur degree, u said that u cant achieve ur goal. then, there is only one solution. leave the present job and try to complete the degree first. then, search for a good job. if u r into job, u cant do regular course in p.g. think and decide.\n\ngood luck.
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what kind of work do you want to do? are you looknig at more Network Admin work? or want to be a Network operations engineer? I would recommend getting in Netowrk Security, its a really hot and growing field right now with demand in alomst all industries using computers.
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since there is a new breed of IT engineers you will not stand a chance against them in any arena unless you pursue higher studies.since you don't seem to have a penchant for programming i'd suggest you to try your hand at data base management or networking.off the two dba would be the best choice as it is the need of the hour.moreover software firms are expecting a shortage of manpower across the nation very soon.