Career’s in ICT?

[noellees1]

Hi,
I am currently studying a GNVQ in ICT (intermediate), I have been told this is good for a footing into a computer area job. I want to know what other A Levels to take, which would aide me to get into ict in a more efficient way, and what a levels are needed to get into a university.
To me 2 I.C.T career’s appeal these would be a nationwide network installer, and a software designer working at a science park like Cambridge for Microsoft. However, are these jobs going to be needed in 5 or so years or are they going to disappear? Otherwise what other areas of ict are useful? And are growing/needing specialists?

 

[Craig0201]

A Levels need to be in logical subjects. Maths, Physics, Economics etc. Computing wouldn't hurt but is by no means necessary. There are plenty of options for university. Manchester is particularly good.

"software designer working at a science park like Cambridge for Microsoft" is in Reading in the UK.....

Competition for those sort of jobs is VERY tough. But if you've got the brains and get up and go, there's no reason why you won't get one.

Craig

 

[jrbarnett]

Are network installers going to be needed in 5 years time? Undoubtedly, yes, but expect more work in designing and configuring wireless setups than cable installation and patching up than is currently needed.

Are software designers going to be needed in 5 years time? Yes, because the developers need a specification to work from. Machine generated code is nowhere near the level that would render developers redundant.

Are there growing or specialist needs? I would say that given the current UK IT marketplace, business knowledge within any particular sector would prove advantageous in getting into IT within that particular industry.
In terms of general skills, currently there are legal requirements to make software and information sources, such as websites, accessible to the disabled, which mostly means through screen readers.
If you can do this well, I would set yourself up as an independent consultant on advising various places (government, large companies, public sector organisations etc) on how to do their systems. It doesn't help when market leading software doesn't allow these requirements to be enforced at the source code level.

John