An IT future is bright for graduates. Information Technology has become an integral part of almost every business in the UK today, and this rise has been so rapid that there are already more jobs than professionals available to fill them. Recent research by Elan found that there are over 50,000 IT vacancies in the UK today, and industry authority Richard Holway predicts that this figure will double within the next three years. It is obvious, therefore, that anybody with the appropriate skills will be offered a wealth of career choices and high salaries.

But what is an IT Professional?
The term IT Professional encompasses hundreds of specialisms, from the design and programming of computer systems, through testing, maintenance and support, training of users, and software or hardware sales. You might choose to work exclusively with software, hardware or applications development. The type of company you could be employed by is as varied as business itself, but the majority of positions are with blue chip companies in the financial services, hi-tech, telecommunications and retail sectors. At the moment, certain skills are in particular demand in the industry - Unix, C++, Oracle, C and Windows NT - so if you are skilled in these areas, you will be even more attractive to employers. In addition, more and more companies are now hunting for people to help protect their systems against the Millennium Bug, which is causing a resurgence in the need for COBOL programming, whilst other systems need to be modified in preparation for European Monetary Union. Skills that are predicted to be in great demand in the future are ERP (SAP, Oracle, BAAN and PeopleSoft) and PC/Network support, along with the visual development languages like Java, Visual Basic and C++. A particular area of growth will be the Internet, particularly with the advent of telephony convergence and on-line shopping.

Recruitment
The entry level into IT careers is generally a degree, often in Business/Management, any Computing discipline, Engineering, Mathematics or Sciences, but because of the severe shortage of employees, a degree in any subject is frequently accepted. Although a postgraduate qualification is not necessary, an MSc or diploma in IT may be useful if you don't have a background in computing. It is worth noting too, that with women making up just 15-20 per cent of the IT workforce, employers are currently very keen to recruit more women.

Most major companies today recruit graduate trainees via the 'Milk Round' - by touring the universities and encouraging undergraduates to apply for positions. If you haven't yet begun your university course, you might like to investigate sponsorship by such companies, whereby you receive a contribution to your fees in exchange for working at the company during vacations. This guarantees you experience, and a job at the end of your course. You can apply for a sandwich course, where your year working in industry will give you the experience to help you with your job search on graduation. Alternatively, once you have your degree, you can approach companies direct, perhaps using the World Wide Web, national newspapers and the computing press - such as Computing and Computer Weekly - or via specialist recruitment consultancies.

Prospects
The likelihood of promotion within permanent positions depends largely on the employer. Most companies are now realising that, with IT employees in such demand, they must offer good prospects and benefits in order to attract and retain the right staff, which can be very good news for you. It is also important for them to keep staff trained to keep up with the current trends, so once you are in a job you should receive training in all the latest technologies, which will in turn also increase your employability. However, an increasing number of IT professionals work as freelance contractors, who often work on a project basis for employers. The number of contractors is predicted to increase by 25 per cent by the millennium. Being a consultant allows you to pick and choose assignments as so many are offered. Salaries tend to be higher, and there is the opportunity to work on a wider range of projects, but there is less job security and you won't have the benefits of paid holiday and company pensions. You will normally need at least two years' experience to become a consultant.

Salaries
Starting salaries for graduates vary across the country. In Scotland, you can expect to earn between £14,000 and £15,000 in your first IT position, rising to around £15-17,000 in the rest of the UK or £18,000-£20,000 in the Republic of Ireland, with the highest salaries of between £16,000 and £22,000 available in London, depending on whether you have an IT-related degree or industry experience gained in placements or sponsorship. The increasing shortage of IT skills is causing salaries in the industry to increase very quickly. Between 1997 and 1998, the average wage increase for permanent staff was 8 percent, with 11 per cent for contractors. Wages vary according to the area of the country, as shown opposite.

Why IT?
In addition to the higher than average earning potential and favourable promotion prospects discussed above, working in IT offers almost endless possibilities for travel around the globe, working with different types of organisations on all kinds of projects. The only limit is your own skill level, and with most companies offering ongoing training, there should be no reason for you to fall behind.

Where do I go?
If you are keen to take advantage of the opportunities offered by a career in IT, contacting a recruitment consultant is a sound first move. They will be able to provide personal career guidance, and give you a realistic appraisal of your options, in addition to help with CVs and interviews. This way, they can ensure that you find a job in a company that suits your requirements, skills and personality. Some of them have offices worldwide, and can help you realise your potential on a global level.

Author
Laura Chard
British Computer Society

(Reproduced with kind permission from The Inside Career Guide to the IT Profession 1999. Published 1998, Cambridge Market Intelligence Limited, in association with the British Computer Society.)