Careers & Qualifications

Is IT for me?

Could I do it?
Have I got the right skills?
Would I enjoy it?
Where can I get more information?

Could I do it?

There is such a wide range of job roles in IT that it is likely you could find a job that would suit you, whatever your background. Different jobs have very different skills requirements, so it is almost impossible to generalise. However, most jobs, particularly the ones where you are working with customers, will need good interpersonal skills, team working and problem solving ability. IT jobs all have some technical content, ranging from the deep technical skills of a software developer through to roles that may need much less detailed knowledge - for example in some project management roles, communication, organisation and the ability to gather together the people who do have technical knowledge may be more important than what you know yourself.

Some companies may be recruiting for experienced staff who have already been working in the industry, and ask for specific technical background or work experience. However, many companies are also taking on people who are new to a career in IT. A significant proportion are willing to take new recruits with little or no technical knowledge and offer training, provided you have other skills they value, such as interpersonal skills, and can demonstrate you are enthusiastic and capable of learning what you need to know.

If you are new to the industry, and want to increase your chances of getting a good job, think about how to show that you are enthusiastic and capable of learning. An excellent way to show this is by getting work experience in something connected to IT. You could also consider taking an extra course or qualification in an IT or business-related subject. And don’t forget the importance of developing and demonstrating key skills, like communications and problem solving.

Whatever your background, it is worth researching employers’ interests carefully – you’ll save time by applying to those who are really likely to be interested in you.

Have I got the right skills?

Most employers value key skills, such as communications, teamwork and problem-solving just as much, if not more than technical skills.
If you are at school or college, the Skills Passport (PDF file) will show the importance of 6 key skills to the IT industry and how you can acquire them.

If you are at university, the following documents will be of interest:

• The " Have you got what IT takes? " student booklet concentrates on six employability skills, with examples of their use and ideas about how students can demonstrate them (click on booklet title for link to document in PDF format).
  
• The Skills Awareness Student Workbook helps students assess their employability skills through a question-and-answer approach, and offer short exercises for each skill. It also includes active links to a variety of websites with further information.
  

Many recruiters use psychometric tests as part of their selection process, particularly at graduate level. Many of the tests are particularly relevant if you are seeking a technical position but have no technical experience, as they can help employers to assess your potential for acquiring new skills. The websites below have examples of tests, which you can try out. Your Careers Adviser can probably suggest which are most relevant. Most of the sample tests are aimed at graduate level. Don’t be put off if you find some of them difficult; employers do not normally use a single test in isolation and, in any case, test results are just part of the selection process. Your interest and motivation matter too!

Examples of tests :

• Saville & Holdsworth have examples of verbal, numerical and diagrammatic reasoning tests at: www.shldirect.com
• Sussex University Career Development Unit’s site includes tips on taking tests, test examples and a list of other web resources. Go to www.sussex.ac.uk/Units/CDU/psycho.html
• The Morrisby Organisation offers an emotional intelligence test at www.morrisby.co.uk and links to other test sites at www.morrisby.co.uk/web_tests3.html
• ASE offers a variety of practice tests at www.ase-solutions.co.uk/html/practice/index.htm
• Psychometrics Inc. is a site geared primarily to recruiters choosing tests for potential programmers, computer operators etc. Whilst there are no actual practice tests, the general information about the tests is useful. Go to www.psy-test.com/TestIndex.html and for the UK www.psychometrics-uk.com.
• Microsoft Skills 2000 site at www.microsoft.com/uk/skills/itco includes a ‘See if you fit IT’ section to help you assess which IT roles might best suit you.

If you want to apply for jobs that need you to have technical skills before you start, then a good source of what’s in and what’s not is the regular Computer Weekly survey at www.cw360.com . But don’t just leap at the current favourite. If you want to start a training course, try to establish local employer interest in the qualification and to get some practical work experience to back it up. If you are already studying and your programme doesn’t include all the top skills, don’t despair. For many employers, evidence of your ability to learn one programming language is sufficient to convince them that you can quickly pick up parallel ones. Work experience and self-directed learning can also broaden your knowledge.

Would I enjoy it?

First of all, this is not an irreversible decision, and entering an IT job cannot ruin your life! IT skills are so valuable in most jobs today, that even if you found you wanted to change course, you would find that what you have learned is of interest to a whole range of different employers.

Secondly, there is such a wide range of jobs that, unless you actively hate computers, it is likely you can find an area where you could be happy. What you need to do is get clear in your own mind what it is about any job that would make you enjoy it. What skills do you enjoy using? In many respects, IT careers are no different from many others; you can use technical, logical, creative, organisational, team-building, problem solving and communication skills. The trick is to figure out what you enjoy most, and then match your particular interests to the blend of skills required in a specific type of job. Reading descriptions of typical jobs, and learning as much as you can from other sources about what different roles entail will help you decide what will suit you best.

There are many practical steps you can take to work this out. Being clear in your own mind will also help you to convince recruiters that you mean business. Try any of the following:

• Talk to a Careers Adviser who can help you clarify what you want out of a job and how likely particular occupations are to meet your needs. Careers advisers can usually also offer questionnaires to help you decide what might suit your personality and interests.
• Use self assessment questionnaires such as the following:
  

  Prospects Planner enables students in higher education to identify jobs which suit their skills, interests and personal values. For more information, see www.prospects.csu.ac.uk
  

  Keirsey questionnaire at www.keirsey.com is a self-assessment questionnaire helping you to identify personality factors which can influence career choices and suitable work environments.
  

  The Morrisby Organisation provides links to a range of interactive questionnaires, quizzes and tests at:
  www.morrisby.co.uk/web_tests3.html
  

  Microsoft Skills 2000 website www.microsoft.com/uk/skills/itco has a questionnaire which enables you to identify the IT roles which are most appropriate for your skills and interests

• Network. Talk to people who already work in the industry. At Careers Fairs you can usually talk to fairly new entrants as well as more experienced staff and recruiters. For HE students, employer presentations offer the same opportunity. You can also use your own contacts – somebody you know must work in IT or know someone who does
• Do work experience. Careers staff can advise on how to go about it. Some useful sites include:

For school/college students

• www.yini.org.uk
  Post A level opportunities for a Year in Industry

For university students

• www.prospects.csu.ac.uk
  Includes ‘Focus on Work Experience, dates of work experience fairs and a database of opportunities
• www.ncwe.com
  The site of the National Centre for Work Experience
• www.step.org.uk
  Information on 8 week summer placements and much more
• www.experienceworks.ncl.ac.uk
  Go to the students page for work experience opportunities and how to get them
• www.workbank.man.ac.uk
  Work experience opportunities in the North West

Where can I get more information?

For more information on careers using IT follow our direct links to other relevant careers sites.

• www.careermosaic-uk.co.uk
  Originally a US site with job information, employer profiles and help with CVs etc.
• www.careers-portal.co.uk
  A careers information site from Trotman publishers
• www.careers-gateway.co.uk
  A general site for careers & jobsearch information
  
• www.careersoft.co.uk
  This site is mainly for secondary school students
• www.hobsons.co.uk
  Careers information for everyone from school leavers through to postgraduate
• www.prospects.csu.ac.uk
  A comprehensive careers site for students in Higher Education
• www.insidecareers.co.uk/it
  A useful source of career advice with details of the latest graduate vacancies
• www.doctorjob.com
  An information site for "graduate careers with attitude"