Information technology plays an essential role in today’s fastest-growing industries. IT degrees prepare you for these highly lucrative, specialized, and in-demand careers.
If you want to know more about information technology as a field and IT degree paths, you’ve come to the right place. This page offers information for prospective IT students, IT careers, and what types of education programs prepare you for in-demand IT jobs. Information technology refers to the development, management, and practical application of computer networks, systems, and software. IT plays such an important role in business operations today and significantly affects how we exchange information and communicate in our daily lives. It’s no wonder that the IT job outlook is exceptionally bright. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 13% growth in available positions by 2030 for computer and information technology professionals. There are many paths toward a career in this field. This guide explores some of the best jobs in IT and how you can prepare yourself for a career in this area. Information technology’s scope often extends well beyond what most people think. To provide some structure on the ins and outs of careers in IT, it’s helpful to think about it broken down into three essential categories: operations, infrastructure installation and maintenance, and governance. We’ve all benefited from IT professionals who troubleshoot our computer or technology issues so we can carry on with our business. There are more roles and specialties in the IT field than meets the eye, including governing roles that manage and oversee the efficacy of IT’s impact in an organization. There’s also professionals who specialize in tangible, hands-on materials such as routers and servers. Operations: This category refers to the day-to-day operations in an IT department, including device management, tech support, network maintenance, and security testing. Infrastructure installation and maintenance: This includes setup and maintenance of equipment such as physical servers, cabling, laptops, phone systems. Governance: Professionals in this category ensure that IT policies and services meet the demands of an organization. From entry-level positions in web development to senior C-suite roles such as chief information officers, IT careers today exist in varied specialized areas. No matter which of the three main IT categories you can find work, the required training and work experience vary significantly among these diverse careers. The good news is that IT is a growing field with many job opportunities for workers at all experience levels. The BLS projects that available positions will grow much faster than average for web developers, information security analysts, and database administrators, to name a few. Moreover, compared to other major industries, IT positions showed relatively strong resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
