Hot jobs in information technology: looking for a career in managing and processing information? It is it! (Hot Jobs).

Is it possible to have your technological cake and eat it too? Brigid Moore, a senior technical writer for Los Alamos Technical Associates, proved that you can. As a freshman, Moore faced a problem common to many new college students: She couldn't decide on a major. Although she liked to write, she realized that the job market for writers was not very good at the time. After a period of soul searching, Moore decided to pursue a bachelor of science degree. Her major was technical English. As she looks back on her decision, Moore believes she made a good move.

"I have always loved to write, but I also realized that many of the jobs in the coming years would be in information technology. Technical writing fit the bills for me. As a technical writer, I now have the best of both worlds. I now have the best of both worlds. I get to do a lot of writing, and I'm in a field that has plenty of jobs."

Technical writers put complex scientific and technical information into easily understandable language. It is just one of hundreds of careers in information technology (IT). According to the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), IT is the "study, design, development, implementation, support, or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware." More broadly defined, IT is a field that covers all aspects of managing and processing information.

Just a few years ago, most workers in the IT industry were employed by large IT companies. Today, however, just about every type of company imaginable needs qualified people to run and manage their information systems.

Jobs That Sizzle 

The number of jobs in IT will grow tremendously in the next eight years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In fact, 8 out of the 10 fastest-growing occupations will be in IT. Here is just a sampling of some of the jobs that will experience growth in the coming years.

Instructing Computers

The job market for software engineers will be excellent in the coming years. In 2000, the nation had about 697,000 computer software engineers. By 2010, that number is expected to grow to more than 1.3 million jobs. That's about a 95 percent increase.

Software engineers create software. Software is the coded set of instructions that tells computers what to do. Some software engineers work with general computer applications software or special utility programs. Other software engineers develop and maintain entire computer systems for a company. These systems software engineers also might develop intranets. Intranets are networks that link all of the computers within a company.

Software engineers are paid very well. The average salary for software engineers working with applications was $67,670 in 2000. Engineers working with systems made about $2,000 more per year.

Most employers prefer to hire software engineers who have at least a bachelor's degree in computer science or computer information systems. Some smaller companies, however, will consider hiring people who have passed computer training programs offered by software companies.

Offering a Helping Hand

Have you ever had a computer problem that you couldn't solve? If you are like most people, you probably called a computer support specialist.

Support specialists, who hold about one out of every three IT jobs, are troubleshooters. They are trained to help people solve a variety of computer software and hardware problems. Many support specialists, particularly those just starting in the field, work at help desks. In non-IT businesses, these technicians help nontechnical people solve problems with their computers. Often these "techies" install, repair, and maintain computers and equipment such as monitors and printers. They also train people to use new programs.

Support specialists provide an important link between the IT companies and their customers. They also provide management with an important source of feedback on products. Such feedback is essential when planning new versions of products.

The employment picture for support specialists is good. In 2000, the nation had about 506,000 support specialists. By 2010, that number is expected to double.

Most companies prefer to hire support people who have at least some college experience. However, an increasing number of companies will hire people who have a computer-related associate's degree. In 2000, the average computer support specialist brought home $36,460 a year.

Fighting Off Cyberterrorists

The rapid growth of information technology has made our lives easier in many ways. Unfortunately, it also has produced many opportunities for cyberterrorists, individuals who use technology to commit crimes. These crimes include the theft of credit card numbers and sensitive company and government information. This, in turn, has created golden opportunities for information security (IS) specialists. These IT professionals develop information security measures for companies, government agencies, and other organizations.

"Since September 11, 2001, many more employers are focusing more on security as an integrated part of IT work," according to Marjorie Bynum, vice president of workforce development for the ITAA. She adds that more IT companies than non-IT companies employ security workers.

Jeff Snyder, the head of J.A. Snyder & Associates, an IT recruitment company, agrees with Bynum. "Our prediction is that at some point...companies will begin to spend more on information security. Right now there is far more 'awareness' toward security than there is spending. As spending catches up with awareness, jobs will increase. As jobs increase, the pool of well-qualified information security specialists will dry up. The industry can't turn out qualified security specialists as quickly as companies are creating new positions."

What type of training is needed to land a job in information security? "I strongly recommend earning a four-year college degree," says Snyder. "It is very rare that a company will specify what kind of degree a candidate must have. However, the more technical the degree, the better. There is also another side to this coin. Many people in IT, particularly people who work with networks and security, are not very talented when it comes to verbal and written communication skills. My advice to aspiring security specialists is that they learn how to speak and learn how to write. The path to management and executive-level positions belongs to those individuals who have a grasp on technology but also have a full host of 'soft' skills that are necessary to interact with other business leaders."

Saying It Simply

Many companies produce highly technical information that can be understood only by a select few. Yet these companies often need to give this information to a wider audience. When such a situation arises, they turn to a technical writer. He or she then puts the information into a form that everyone can understand.

Technical writers work in a variety of settings. Many of the nation's 57,000 technical writers work for computer software firms. They write manuals and other materials for software users. Many others work for government agencies or companies that supply government agencies with workers. Brigid Moore, for example, works for Los Alamos Technical Associates. This company, she says, "provides engineers and technical writers for government-run nuclear facilities." As a senior technical writer, Moore prepares "how to" documents and procedures that "instruct employees how to perform specific operations."

Contrary to what some people might think, the job of a technical writer involves much more than sitting at a computer. The job involves communication with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. "A favorite part of my job is talking to the folks in the field," Moore says. "Because I'm not always well-versed in machinery operation, or loading drums and things of that nature, I spend as much time as possible out on the floor with operators talking with them about their jobs."

The job prospects for technical writers will be excellent in the coming decade. Salaries will be above average. According to the BLS, the average technical writer earned $51,220 in 2000. Entry-level technical writers made about $29,000.

There is no one "correct" way to prepare for a career as a technical writer. A survey by the Society for Technical Communication shows that the five most common academic backgrounds were English, technical communication, science or engineering, computer science, and journalism.

Looking Ahead

Information technology is an exciting, ever-changing field. And with the development of new technologies comes the need for new employees with specialized skills, if you are interested in a career in IT, it is essential to keep up with the latest developments. Read technical magazines, take computer courses, and investigate internship programs. Talk with people working in the field. Also, take a good, close look at yourself. Think about ways that you can combine your interests and skills in science with your technology skills. Like Brigid Moore, you might discover that you can have your technological cake and eat it too.

RELATED ARTICLE: Hot Jobs in Information Technology

Students will become aware of career opportunities in information technology.

REVIEW / DISCUSS

* What is information technology? (the field of managing and processing information)

* What are different jobs in information technology? (systems analyst, network administrator, technical writer; software engineer; support specialist, information security specialist)

* Which area of information technology interests you most?

* Why is there a need for workers in information technology?

ACTIVITIES

* Have students make charts identifying the pros and cons of jobs in information technology.

* Ask students to draw cluster diagrams showing skills and interests related to the various careers in information technology.

* Discuss how to acquire the communication skills needed to gain management positions in information technology. Have students make career ladders showing a progression of jobs in the field.

* Either on a field trip or individually, encourage students to observe information technology specialists at work and ask questions about the career.

* Ask students to checkmark the areas they're good at or interested in and then analyze how they relate to information technology fields: science, math, English, writing, analytic skills, technical ability, computer skills.

* Assign groups of students to prepare true-false quizzes about information technology.

"Information Technology Careers," video, $99.95; Linx Educational Publishing, 1-800-717-5469; "Information Technology Occupations," video, $99.95; "Information Technology Services," video, $89.95; Cambridge Educational, 1-800-468-4227; "Information Science & Technology," video, $92; "Planning & Preparing for a Career in Technology," video, $97; "Careers in Technology," video, $82; Meridian Education Corporation, 1-800-727-5507.