Careers & Qualifications

This section is under development and will soon offer extensive information on the range of jobs available in the IT industry and the qualifications, key skills and experience you will need to be considered for these jobs. Visit again soon for more details.

In the meantime, the following leaflets (in PDF format) and links will give you some general information:

A guide to a career in Information Technology
A guide to a career in IT and Electronic Services
A guide to a career Using IT
A guide to a career Developing IT Systems

You do not necessarily need to have IT qualifications to work in the IT industry. Most employers value interpersonal skills above technical skills. If you demonstrate that you have the ability to learn, many companies will train you themselves.

The NTO is not able to provide a Careers Advisory Service. If you are still at school you should talk to your Careers Teacher or Careers Adviser. If you are at University you should contact your own Careers Advisory Service.

For information on training programmes in your area, you may also find it useful to contact:

• Your local Training and Enterprise Council (for England & Wales) through the following search site www.tec.co.uk
• Your Local Enterprise Company (for Scotland) through Highlands & Islands Enterprise or Scottish Enterprise
• The Training & Employment Agency (for Northern Ireland).

You can also visit www.learndirect.co.uk or call freephone learndirect () for information on local training courses.

Please click on the links below for further details.

• Skills Passport (PDF file) - booklet showing the importance of 6 key skills to the IT industry and how you can acquire them.
• NVQs/SVQs (National/Scottish Vocational Qualifications)
• AMAs/FMAs (Advanced/Foundation Modern Apprenticeships)
• IT Systems Support Technician – new course for those wanting to start a career in IT services

• Graduate ‘employability for IT’ booklet
• Skills assessment and development

• Current projects related to IT Careers & Recruitment and Standards & Qualifications

For links to other websites of interest, please go to Useful Links .

Note : In order to view PDF (Portable Document Format) files you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader software installed on your computer. Please go to Help for further information.