Information technology, a booming career now and into the future

Black Collegian, Oct 1999 by Bruce, Calvin

If you seek a career that offers plenty of intellectual stimulation, professional challenge and excellent earning potential, you need not look any further than Information Technology. Careers in Information Technology are "hot" and will continue to be in great demand well into the next century.

According to the 1998-99 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the fastest-growing jobs projected from 1996 to 2006 are an related to Information Technology. These jobs include: Computer Engineer (109 percent projected growth), Systems Analyst (103 percent), and Database Administrators and related computer support specialists (118 percent).

The report mentions in broader terms, "Emplovment of computing professionals is expected to increase much faster than average as technology becomes more so-phisticated and or-ganizations continue to adopt and integrate these technologies, making for plentiful job openings."

This is especially good news for talented minorities who have historically been under-represented in the information processing industry, explains John Hannabach, recently retired director of Career Services at Georgia Tech University. He states: "The demand far outstrips the supply. While there is some indicated growth in enrollments in the IT/IS majors, women and minorities are not represented anywhere near adequate numbers. Even though Computer Science and Computer Engin-eering are difficult and challenging majors, starting salaries are at the top for talented graduates-with excellent opportunities for part-time positions, internships and co-op employment, while students earn their degrees."

Frank Johnson is a principal with Diversity Search Partners, an Information Technology search firm headquartered in Ashburn, VA. He shares the same optimistic view concerning the demand for highly skilled minority students who excel in the IT disciplines:

"Progressive employers have realized that you can't do technology without employing a diverse workforce. Accordingly, many are being more proactive in recruiting under-represented minority groups. For undergraduates, many will benefit from the significant investment that most employers are making in training and development. As a result, a larger number of African Americans and other minorities will quickly gain skills in leading technologies like Networking, Electronic Commerce, Y2K, ERP, Data Warehousing and client/server computing."

The Impact of Information Technology on Society

To understand the increasing demand for IT professionals, consider, for starters, the impact of the Internet on American households and businesses. It's estimated that there are approximately 320 million Web sites worldwide, with the number increasing daily. Over 76 million American households are online, and that number is expected to double by the end of 2000. Pretty soon, home computers linked to the Internet will be as commonplace as color TVs were in the 1960s. Similarly, in large and small businesses alike, desktop computers with access to the World Wide Web are also becoming standard tools for day-to-day business operations.

What fue.Is this tremendous growth in Internet usage is the fact that household consumers and businesses want instant access to a vast array of information. The Internet is a virtual worldwide mall of products and services. With a few mouse clicks, you can get the latest information related to sports, entertainment, political news, travel and weather conditions, medical self-help, etc. As online shopping becomes more popular, millions of consumers now "surf" the Web to locate the best deals for: designer clothing, collectibles, automobiles, home mortgages, insurance and financial investments, sports and concert tickets, vacation getaways, etc.

Similarly, the Internet is fast becoming indispensable for companies that shape the emerging trends in electronic commerce ("e-commerce"), which currently exceeds $300 billion in exchange of goods and services. Businesses of all sizes and description use their Web sites for marketing, sales, distribution, customer service and other key operational functions. Businesses linked to businesses via the Internet add another dimension to the exploding potential of the global economy that has become miniaturized in a keyboard, computer monitor, and Internet portal.

As Bill Gates explains in his book Business @ the Speed of Thought, the most significant impact of Internet technologies is the expansion of worldwide connectivity. He discusses this phenomenon in this way:

"In the digital age, 'connectivity' takes on a broader meaning than simply putting two or more people in touch. The Internet creates a new universal space for information sharing, collaboration, and commerce. It provides a new medium that takes the immediacy and spontaneity of technologies such as the TV and phone and combines them with the depth and breadth inherent in paper communications. In addition, the ability to find information and match people with common interests is completely new."