A technology degree is a course of study that readies you for a career that involves information. This sort of degree can be very flexible, as it can prepare you to enter a number of fields, including design, healthcare, business, computing, engineering, or telecommunications. Unlike a Bachelor of Science degree, which also prepares you to enter these fields in many cases, a technology background often gives you hands-on experience and practical skills as well as an intellectual understanding of your field.
To make this educational option even more flexible, there is more than one technology degree to choose from. An associate’s degree of certification, for example, can allow you to enter an information technology career in less than two years, in many cases. A bachelor’s degree in system design, communications technology, or web development, to name just a few can give you a great career as a manager, engineer, or designer. An MBA or technology degree combined with a business focus can allow you take on plum management jobs. A doctorate in technology can allow you to pursue an academic teaching career or can prepare you for an upper-level position that involves creating systems.
The popularity of technology degree options is not just popular today because these degrees are so flexible. For a number of years, tech jobs have seemed like a sure bet. Students flocked to take degrees in technology subjects because tech jobs were waiting for graduates and degrees allowed students to take on a number of well-paying and fulfilling careers.
Even today, some students assume that a technology degree is a sure way to get a good career or at least a good job after graduation. While technology degrees remain as flexible and as valuable as ever, though, it is no longer true that they absolutely guarantee a job. Tech jobs are slightly less abundant now and many students pursuing the same career options have created a competitive job marketplace.
Nevertheless, engineers, managers and other professionals with these degrees are still in demand, and will likely always be. Anyone with a true interest in technology courses will still have many options open to them. At the same time, though, the different environment means that students will want to take a slightly different route in order to ensure a good job after completing their schooling.
Students wishing to pursue a technology course of study should, first of all, select a course of study they truly enjoy. This creates a greater chance of career success and ensures that any subsequent career is fulfilling. There is simply no point in preparing for a tech job if that is not what you want. Students will also want to select their degree program carefully. Programs of study that offer practical study and experience as well as challenging instruction are more likely than more basic studies to prepare students for a tough job market. Students may want to take a course of study that prepares them for all working environments. For example, students interested in management may want to hone business and computer skills to make themselves attractive to employers.
Networking with professionals already in the field and starting the job hunt early can mean that graduates with a technology degree may find a wonderful job waiting for them after graduation day. Most schools have career centers that can help with career planning, and local professional associations are a great place to meet professionals. Today’s students cannot afford to assume that a degree alone will guarantee a job. The best employment opportunities will go to those graduates who think ahead and plan for a successful career.
By: Andy West
Posts Tagged ‘Information Technology Career’
Careers in IT – Information Technology Diversity Part 2: Application Development Category
August 28th, 2009he wide array of possible career paths within the field of Information Technology, it can often be difficult to determine the correct one for you, given your unique interests and career goals. In my last article, part one of this two-part series, I covered the Systems category of Information Technology including who would be best fit to pursue a career in that field and what type of education would best prepare that individual for a successful career. In part two of the series, I will cover the Application Development category of IT.
Application Development Category
People often assume that individuals working in Application Development Information Technology careers are simply programmers or coders, but there is far more to the field than that. IT offers companies the opportunity to increase efficiency across the board, saving time, manpower and money, while increasing customer satisfaction rates at the same time. Typically, automating business and mission processes is the best way to accomplish these types of effectiveness and efficiency improvements, with some examples of specializations in this area including:
? Determining which business processes can be improved with automation
? Conducting process reengineering to gain maximum benefits from IT capabilities
? Application and database development (programming/coding)
? Testing applications and training end users
? Maintaining and upgrading applications
While some application development is done by military members, much of this is outsourced to civilian contractors. But again, as with the Systems career path of Information Technology, depending on the size and needs of the organization you work for, you could find yourself working on all of these tasks at the same time.
College courses and degree programs provide the ?foundation? necessary for developing the abilities needed to pursue (and succeed!) in a specialized Information Technology career. Certifications are also an option as a sort of ?quick fix,? normally used to quickly get you up-to-speed in a particular specialization.
This article just skims the surface of all the exciting opportunities available to those interested in pursuing a career in Information Technology. But it should be a useful place to start for those of you looking for information regarding how to choose a degree program. And remember, if you?re on active duty in the military, you know you?re going to need a degree for promotion at some point- so you might as well start right away! And even if you do intend on leaving the service, your future employers are going to evaluate your capabilities based on your education level by examining both your degree(s) and your certifications.
Keep in mind – other individuals competing for the same IT positions as yourself are aware of this necessity, so you should do everything you can to set yourself apart from ?just another Information Technology technician? by getting that degree or an additional certification. It can?t hurt!
Talk to one of our admissions counselors about the opportunity of enrolling in one of our many affordable online programs, giving you the flexibility, and the expertise, that you need to succeed in your IT career. And ask us about your TA, Montgomery GI Bill (Chap 30), and even the new Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chap 33) benefits- while they?re still available. Reduced military tuition rates and military scholarships help extend those benefits even further, minimizing your out-of-pocket expenses, so why wait?
By: Paul Capicik
Choosing an Information Technology Career
August 26th, 2009ervice member who developed a rewarding Information Technology career after leaving the military, I want to share some perspective on factors you need to consider when choosing an educational program for developing your career in IT. Talking with prospective students and attending education fairs, I interact with military members looking to advance their education and considering IT careers on a regular basis. The 4 most common situations I encounter ?
The military member is:
? Seeking a specific IT degree and has the background needed to be successful
? Already employed in a career in IT and interested in pursuing that Information Technology career path, but unsure how best to proceed
? Not currently working in IT, but interested in an Information Technology career
? Currently working a career in Information Technology, but wants to get a degree in a different field of IT
With my military and IT related experience, I feel uniquely capable of offering relevant guidance to the member to help them make an informed choice of how to proceed. This 2nd article in my Information Technology series provides discussion of some initial considerations the service member faces in choosing an education path, as well as some things to consider when choosing information technology careers. Center to any decision should be the understanding that advanced education is important for promotion purposes and to enhance the quality of life potential for you and your family. Further, you should take advantage of the available funding to get your education as soon as possible, before it is no longer available.
Three main ingredients will likely determine your success in an IT career path: your degree, your certifications, and your relevant experience in the field. Don?t short change any one of the three if you want to maximize your potential and worth to an employer, and minimize your likelihood of being laid off or replaced. You should also be aware that the IT arena is constantly evolving and advancing, so continuing-education and updating certifications will be a way of life. Don?t let this discourage you since this makes for an interesting long-term career that can be tweaked in varying directions and be very satisfying and fulfilling.
As for IT careers in general, you should also understand that Information Technology must be a strategic partner in most successful enterprises. It is not a silver-bullet to the organization?s success but is a vital and critical support component to any enterprise. As such, IT careers usually require 24/7 attention, so be prepared for varied daily schedules, and know that IT work-weeks can be notoriously long. If you choose your path wisely, this should not be a problem considering that the IT field has been one of the top two fields for job security and pay/benefits for the past many years.
No matter what your personality ? careers in IT are available for you. If you are not a people-person, IT jobs are available in which you are off in a corner rarely seen or bothered by anyone (you can be like a mushroom in a dark cave.) However, if you?re a socialite, Information Technology jobs are also available where this trait is critical for promoting collaboration and helping keep IT a valued team player in the enterprise. Jobs abound for personalities in-between those.
Finally with IT career experience in your background, don?t short change your education or experience as you move to another career field such as business, healthcare, or criminal justice. That knowledge and experience can make you more valuable to a future employer since Information Technology is a key ingredient in all of those fields also.
By: Paul Capicik
