ASK for an example of someone who might need an IT degree, and people will probably suggest the guy at the end of the help line who talks you through the installation of a new software package, or that helpful woman who debugs your computer at work. But if the options ended there, most IT students would be disappointed ā and rightly so, as the computing industry can provide far broader opportunities for new graduates.
āComputer science graduates are able to think for themselves and solve problems, so they are flexible in whatever job they find themselves,ā says Nick Pears, admissions tutor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of York, one of the highest-rated departments in the country. IT and computer science degrees are well regarded by potential employers, he says. āThe job prospects are much better than people think. The dotcom bust of five years ago created a bit of a negative environment, but because of that there is a shortfall of job candidates, which means that job prospects are fantasticā (see Chart).
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āIf you listen to what the media say, itās a sector that will be affected by the current economic downturn. But at the moment there are plenty of vacancies out there,ā agrees Stephen Wilkinson from IT recruitment agency The Ashdown Group.
The majority of Wilkinsonās clients say they are also looking for people with more than just college work behind them. āA candidate with industry experience is always going to be more attractive,ā he says. If you can offer the combination of technical knowledge and transferable skills that employers are looking for, there are a staggering number of jobs available to you.
So to explore the range of possibilities out there, Ā鶹“«Ć½ spoke to four IT specialists whose career paths have taken very different directions.
Never a dull day
Gareth Pym is a programmer at Aurora, the UKās leading developer of biometric facial-recognition technology ā the kind that will be trialled by security to check passengers at Heathrow Airport this summer.
Like many programmers, Pym often works from home, which makes it vital to be a self-starter with the skills to manage oneās own time. āYou must be independent and be able to work on your own,ā he says. Pym also highlights the importance of being quick off the mark: āIf you want to succeed in IT you have to be able to grasp things quickly.ā
The positive side of working as a programmer is that for much of the time āyou get to be your own bossā. Pym also enjoys the constant challenges and access to the latest technologies, though he admits there is a downside to all that independence: āSometimes thereās an awful lot to do and not an awful lot of time to do it in.ā
For people tempted by a career in software development ā where there are not enough candidates to fill the positions available ā Pym recommends keeping one step ahead of the competition when it comes to learning new programming languages. āGet as much experience as possible, and try to find out which languages are the most topical, because thatās where the jobs will be,ā he says.
Byron Blay is also someone who has to keep one step ahead ā in his case, one step ahead of the weather. He is a software engineer in the Met Officeās analysis, visualisation and design team. As well as using a Ā£27 million supercomputer to produce weekly weather reports, Blay helps predict patterns of climate change far into the future. āThereās a real variety to what I do,ā he says. āI design the software that the meteorologists use to analyse weather patterns, hurricanes, ice over Greenlandā¦ every day itās something different.ā
An analytical mind and a love of numbers help Blay make the most of his work. āI get a lot out of it personally because I really enjoy programming and problem-solving; thatās an important skill to have in this job.ā
Monitoring the outcome of human influences on our planet has become a major research priority in the UK. āI would encourage people to think about a career in this field,ā Blay recommends. āItās definitely an area where there will be plenty of employment potential.ā
Anybody hoping to boost their IT employment prospects should consider a spell of work experience as a way to get a foot in the door and showcase their skills. āThe Met Office takes students on industrial placements,ā says Blay. āSome of the students we have had here on placements have really impressed me.ā
If you want to impress your friends while satisfying the yearnings of your inner child, designing (and playing) computer games might appeal. Andrew Wallen, a games programmer at Blitz Games, kick-started his career with a degree in computer science, imaging and multimedia at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. Although his course included practical elements of games design and animation, he found it difficult to get a job immediately after graduating. Thatās because the best time to apply for a job in this sector is in the new year, Wallen says. āMost companies try to get their games out onto the market in time for Christmas, so at graduation time their focus isnāt on recruiting.ā
Wallen made good use of the enforced delay by enrolling for a masterās in computer games design at the University of Sheffield. Not all university courses provide a good preparation for a career in games programming, so do your homework before picking one, he advises. āTry to research which courses are best in terms of what they offer thatās specific to computer games.ā
Equally important, Wallen says, is to use your spare time in a way that will help you to stand out in a very competitive industry. āItās important to do extra work to build up your portfolio. A lot of the time we see candidates who use their coursework in their portfolio, and even though itās really good, everyoneās coursework is the same.ā He suggests consolidating what you are taught in your degree by work experience or placements, āor just by trying some stuff on your ownā.
Once youāve been recruited, Wallen says, there is lots to look forward to. Although it can be tough at times, with tight deadlines and a range of tasks to organise, he says the job is dynamic and interesting: āItās quite a young industry. There is a stereotype that you must be a geek. But thereās a real mix of people and itās a fun industry to work in.ā
Being in a job that challenges peopleās expectations of IT is something Wallen is particularly proud of. āIāve never come across anyone in a social context who does what I do, and when I tell people they are usually quite interestedā¦ maybe even a little impressed.ā
āIāve never come across anyone socially who does what I doā
Academia, too, has its share of exciting IT-related career opportunities. Maja Pantic is a reader in human-computer interaction at Imperial College London. She uses artificial intelligence to research ways that people can interact with a computer through their body gestures, facial expressions, speech and laughter, rather than by the conventional means of a mouse and keyboard.
āAcademic research is most definitely fun,ā says Pantic. āI work with people who are enthusiastic and highly motivated to push the cutting edge of their research and technology.ā
She also warns potential academics that research can be hard-going at times. āOften solutions that are expected to show good results donāt work well.ā But thatās what makes academic research so rewarding: āRealising that you found a solution to a difficult problem is one of the best feelings one can experience,ā Pantic says. She relishes the freedom her job gives her to choose which problems she considers important, and work on those. āItās the complete opposite to a nine-to-five job.ā
Careers ā Find out how to make the most of your career in our comprehensive special report.
