| Throughout our lives we all look back at the | | | | work each morning, most of us have more |
| choices we've made and reflect upon their | | | | interaction with microprocessors than we do |
| impact on who we are and what we have become. | | | | with the people around us. No other |
| Some results are easier to measure than | | | | innovation has advanced so rapidly and |
| others. We can easily measure many of our | | | | affected society and culture so completely as |
| choices by our wealth, position, and | | | | the computer. It touches all aspects |
| possessions. Others may be more difficult to | | | | |
| quantify and might include love, happiness, | | | | of our modern existence but none more than |
| reputation, and knowledge. The one saving | | | | the work place, the job market and ultimately |
| grace for us as human beings is the | | | | our careers. For those who wish to take |
| opportunity to grow and change through the | | | | advantage of opportunities opened by this |
| choices we make continues throughout our | | | | series of events and are contemplating a |
| lives. Even as adults we have the desire and | | | | career change towards the IT industry, some |
| the need to | | | | interesting facts may help in deciding which |
| | | | road is right for you. |
| keep learning, shifting, and adapting to the | | | | |
| world around us. As we learn from our | | | | According to department of Labor statistics |
| earliest childhood days, we are in fact in | | | | cited in Changing Channels, Career Facts, 45% |
| charge of our own destiny, each of us playing | | | | of all jobs in 2004 will be in areas that did |
| the cards of fate on a daily basis through | | | | not exist in |
| the roads we take. One of the earliest | | | | |
| decisions we face, perhaps at a time when we | | | | 1994. Of the ten occupations with the |
| are least prepared is that of our career. At | | | | fastest employment growth, four are computer |
| a young age we cast our lot in the direction | | | | related. Database administrators, computer |
| of some 'mysterious' life long ambition. Some | | | | engineers and systems analysts occupy the top |
| are lucky and are able to grasp the brass | | | | three positions with the demand projected to |
| ring on the first try. Others, like myself | | | | more than double by 2006. The number of core |
| may find that a career choice made years ago | | | | domestic IT workers is expected to near 2.6 |
| has turned out to be less gratifying than | | | | million in 2006 not including an additional |
| expected, forcing us to find completion in | | | | 250,000 to replace those exiting the |
| searching out new trends and acquiring new | | | | profession. Additionally, 75% of systems |
| skills. | | | | analysts and scientists, and nearly 80% of |
| | | | computer programmers are under the age of 45. |
| This is not unusual in today's workplace | | | | Future projected growth for the dot-com |
| environment in which some experts explain | | | | industry looks bright as well. Deloitte |
| that a career change is more likely to be the | | | | Touche's dot-com CEO Tohmatsu reports that |
| rule rather than the exception. David Madison | | | | the industry is "full of confidence", with an |
| suggests in his article Successful Career and | | | | average expected growth rate of 160 percent |
| Job Changes that today's average college | | | | in the coming year. Peter Williams, the |
| graduates, in reacting to situations that | | | | national leader of Deloitte's ebusiness |
| require new skills or understanding, will | | | | practice and dot-com specialist stated, "the |
| reinvent themselves with four careers by the | | | | key to success, as with any fast-growing |
| age of retirement. This trend can already be | | | | business, is having quality people and being |
| seen by the fact that the average American | | | | able to |
| has been in his/her job for only four years. | | | | |
| So why do so many people find themselves | | | | maintain vitality through periods of |
| toying with a career change? There are many | | | | exponential growth. The shortage of skills is |
| possibilities to consider. It may be due to | | | | a global phenomenon and is worsening in an |
| the fact that the workforce is living longer | | | | increasingly tight employment market." |
| and working harder resulting in job related | | | | |
| burnout and a loss of passion for one's | | | | Sadly many people considering career |
| chosen vocation. Perhaps changing livelihoods | | | | changes feel cut off from taking advantage of |
| is a natural response to personal and | | | | the job market statistics related to the new |
| professional growth. Careers are like trees, | | | | e-conomy by thinking their previous careers |
| spawning fresh branches of interest and | | | | and working know how are out of step. Terms |
| curiosity that often lead us in new | | | | like HTML, ASP, JSP, DNA, COM and the |
| directions. Others may be fueled by | | | | thousand other |
| statistics that lure change with the | | | | |
| potential of increased financial growth and | | | | acronyms that fill want ads seem like some |
| opportunity in burgeoning new fields. | | | | underground geek code rather than |
| | | | intelligible requirements needed by those to |
| Of course no matter how bright the | | | | fill positions in the escalating IT field. |
| statistics may seem, evaluating the risks and | | | | When in actuality, experience in Human |
| benefits involved in changing careers, | | | | Resources, Economics, Finance, Accounting and |
| whether real or perceived, should be done on | | | | other traditional disciplines may be more |
| an individual basis. Remember, when faced | | | | valuable than you think. Many participants in |
| with a career choice, one will appear to be | | | | the IT industry are graduates with degrees |
| familiar, comfortable and safe, while the | | | | and experience in fields other than Computer |
| other will undoubtedly be unexplored and | | | | Science and Technology, yet have managed |
| daunting. It is up to you to decide which one | | | | successfully to migrate through entry portals |
| will lead to your happy ending. Making a | | | | and opportunities to change their careers and |
| conscious choice in favor of a career change | | | | become successful participants. |
| is not an easy task. First off there is the | | | | |
| fear of leaving that ever-faithful friend, | | | | Susan Pieper-Bailey in her article Jobs for |
| the paycheck. Sacrificing the familiarity of | | | | the New Millennium: Interview with George |
| rules, procedures and colleagues in the | | | | Bailey states one thing to remember is that a |
| workplace also plays its part in concerns to | | | | career changer in today's IT marketplace is |
| be reckoned with. However, if you are | | | | not a job seeker but rather "human capital" |
| stagnant on the job with no career growth in | | | | and not a cost but rather an "investment." |
| sight, you might consider making the leap | | | | Employers are not only concerned with |
| into uncharted territory in order to promote | | | | technical know how, but also in having a |
| your skill set, your salary, and ultimately | | | | well-rounded individual who is familiar with |
| your personal well being and self esteem. If | | | | the business environment in which the |
| you are still unsure, ask yourself a few | | | | computer system will be operating. The fast |
| questions that may help indicate if it is | | | | paced development of technology within the |
| time for you to move on. Is Sunday night the | | | | industry itself also demands that job seekers |
| worst night of the week simply because of | | | | have good people and communication skills to |
| your dread of having to return to work the | | | | facilitate team efforts in meeting the |
| next morning? Do you feel that your job | | | | challenges of a work environment where the |
| prevents you from increasing your skills and | | | | competition and requirements seem to change |
| has caused you to stop learning? Do you feel | | | | by the minute. George Bailey of Price |
| out of the loop, and that your participation | | | | WaterhouseCoopers believes that jobs for the |
| in the workplace is primarily in fielding | | | | new millennium will require that individuals |
| one-sided communiqués from your boss or | | | | have "broader experience. You can't get ahead |
| higher ups? Do your co-workers and family | | | | anymore by being narrow." |
| comment that you look drained and | | | | |
| discontented? Is your salary and status | | | | Finally above all, a strategic element that |
| slipping in relation to that of your | | | | must be possessed by any individual seeking a |
| professional peers? (FORTUNE.com: Career | | | | career in IT is passion. Excitement and |
| Tools: Is It Time to Move On?) If you've | | | | innovation involving the Internet is the fuel |
| answered yes to a number of these questions | | | | that is propelling us all into the next |
| you might want to brush up your resume and | | | | generation of technology affecting the way we |
| start looking for new opportunities to grow. | | | | conduct business and our daily lives. |
| | | | |
| Currently one of the fastest growing and | | | | |
| undoubtedly most exciting sectors for | | | | |
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