Information Technology, commonly shortened to IT, is a phrase we’ve all heard, whether from IT professionals alike or at school, amongst friends. IT workers tend to be specialised in specific fields, so the term IT nerds is commonly associated with them.
They tend to love their speciality and understand it thoroughly. IT workers are also increasingly important to virtually every kind of business. If a company requires emails and phones, there is a strong chance that it will also need IT professionals to ensure everything runs smoothly.
So why would anyone want to be a technological guru, working behind the scenes of any company? The pay for one tends to be very rewarding. As the economies of the world continue to grow and more jobs are created, expect the requirement for IT professionals to also increase.
Do you have an interest in the kinds of jobs that one can do as an IT professional? If so, then I recommend you continue reading, for a rundown of several of the best jobs available to you.
Top 6 Jobs in Information Technology
1. Software Developer
If you are creative and a great problem solver, then software development might be right for you. You will also need to be fluent in a programming language of course, if you ever hope to create anything.
Having good communication skills also helps when attempting to acquire information on the ins and outs of an application. Depending on their level of skill, a software developer can earn a good salary and will find jobs more easily than other IT professionals.
2. Systems Analyst
A systems analysts analyst studies an organisation and its procedures and then creates information system solutions to help said organisation function much more effectively. The analyst will look at user requirements and look to improve and/or automate certain aspects of their system.
3. Database Administrator
The main job of a database administrator is to study user data requirements and create a data resource that can be used to properly and more effectively store said information. To be effective at this job, you need good problem-solving skills, and at least a degree in computer science, to repair or make modifications to a database system. Database administrators make a large sum of money, on average.
4. IT Consultant
The kind of work that an IT consultant gets up to is about as vague as it sounds. The job of the IT consultant is to look at and evaluate systems, and then research that no one else is likely to ever understand. Everything from Fortune 500 to local start-ups requires an IT consultant to help them work out which is the fastest and most cost-effective way of running their computer systems.
Having a degree in computer science helps in this occupation. It’s also advisable that an IT consultant have a speciality, that way they will be able to better stand out amongst their peers.
5. Health IT Specialist
The Health IT field is growing quite rapidly, especially with all the changes that are going on in healthcare, due to all the Affordable Care Acts and the transitions to electronic health records.
The Health IT specialist’s job is to mix their computer knowledge with record-cataloguing skills. Specialities in the area of medical billing, coding and cancer registry are also in high demand. While many of the jobs in this field only require certification, the more advanced supervisory roles do require you to have at least a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
6. Network Security Analyst
The job of the network security analyst is to protect a company’s network, data and systems, by planning, implementing, monitoring or upgrading the necessary security apparatus. As a network security analyst, you may be tasked with creating a firewall, installing internet security software on servers or computers within a network, and monitoring a network against computer hackers.
Such people usually work at large organisations or companies, where a lot of sensitive data is held, such as insurance companies, investment firms and government agencies.