Are there really any jobs out there? Is the publicized shortage of jobs in the computer industry and Information Technology true? I don't want to learn to do something that is no longer needed - and become unemployable!

I've read about people who entered the computer industry successfully while still a high school senior or a college undergraduate. Some college dropouts, like Bill Gates, have been extremely successful in the information technology (IT) field without even a college education. How did they do it? How important is a college degree for success in IT?

Between the dot com crash and off-shoring and the slow economy, will there by any technology jobs for me when I get my Computer Science degree in 3 years?

I’ve heard that computer industry will experience a “talent crunch” in the next decade. What exactly is a “talent crunch”?

I’ve heard the Computer Science and other technology-related majors are already crammed with students and are both hard to get into and very competitive areas. Is this true?

Do I really need to be good at math to work in the computer industry?

Do all IT jobs require knowledge of in a programming language?

What is the difference between a Computer Science major and a Computer Information Systems major?

Do I need a Computer Science (CS) or Computer Information Systems (CIS) degree to get a job in the information technology (IT) industry?

How do I locate a college with a good computer systems department?

Can I make a lot of money in the computer industry? How do the salaries compare to other industries?

How would you compare the projected rate of growth of the IT industry with those of other fast growing fields like health care and biotechnology in the next five years? Ten years? Twenty years?

What if I have the desire and aptitude to pursue an education in IT, but not the money?

I am a college senior. In May, I will graduate with my B.S. in Computer Systems Administration. I'm really unsure what to do... should I go to grad school and get my masters in Information Systems? Or would I be just as well off to go straight into the work force and get some certifications / experience? In other words... what are employers looking for? Would a masters degree give me a significant competitive advantage over people with just their B.S. and plenty of certifications?

Are there really any jobs out there? Is the publicized shortage of jobs in the computer industry and Information Technology true? I don't want to learn to do something that is no longer needed - and become unemployable!

The short answer is, "Yes, many experienced IT workers are currently unemployed - and underemployed." But, assuming you are interested in looking a few years ahead, the long answer is long - and complicated.

Managers within the industry report they are still hiring CS and CIS Grads, although taking longer and paying less than a few years ago, with "cutting edge knowledge and skills". Two groups appear to be suffering the most right now. One is older workers, because of the perception (not the reality) that their skills may be outdated and they may not work as hard as someone younger. The other is workers with lower-level skills such as systems administration, web site development and support, etc., because that sort of work is being moved offshore (this is reality).

However, looking forward a few years, the situation may be changing. Recent studies report that many "Baby Boomers" currently in the IT Industry may be retiring soon (older workers who now feel unappreciated). This trend combined with the drop in the number of Americans entering the industry is considered quite significant. Some are predicting a tremendous shortage of Americans available to fill future jobs and that this will result in astronomical salaries, even higher than those being paid during the peak of the "dot.com boom". However, those jobs will be the higher-level jobs, and qualifying for those high-paying jobs will require higher level skills and degrees. (Of course, the shortage of qualified people and the resulting high salaries will help drive more jobs offshore, but many will still be needed here.)

To read more about this, go to "Future Jobs and You - What the Research Predicts", "Hunting for Rare Game" and "A Battlefield Revisited".

The big success stories did it with natural talent (either in computers or in marketing - or both); a willingness to take risks (often because they were young, broke, and had nothing to lose); and large amounts of luck (being in the right place at the right time); - oh, yes, and extremely hard work!

Just as there are math, chess and musical prodigies, so are there computer prodigies. There are also a lot of ordinary people whose brains just appear to be "wired" right for computers, meaning they have strong analytical and logical ability, a good memory, are good with details, and can visualize complex designs and relationships. These people are 'naturals'; they often teach themselves more about computer technology through trial and error and through reading manuals. Others learn by getting a CS or CIS degree in college.

Then there are the rest of us … we have to work at it to be really good. However, there are a number of ways that we can "work at it" without attending college. These ways include the following:

• SELF-INSTRUCTION: taking courses via the Internet, taking college courses from a 2- or 4-year college, reading manuals and other methods of self-instruction --- all these options have the advantage of allowing you to progress at your own pace. Many people study this way while working another job to support themselves. The disadvantage is that your first job can be hard to get without a degree or certification to prove that you are trained thoroughly in the right areas. One way to overcome this is to target a position in the IT department of your current employer; make them aware that you want to qualify for the job and then train yourself. Another way to overcome the 'slow start' is to use your self-instruction to prove to a new employer that you are willing to work hard to get into IT. They may still hire you for a trainee position, perhaps at a lower salary than your previous 'non-IT' position, but you will generally be able to progress well past that salary with 2 years of experience.
  


• ATTEND A TECHNICAL SCHOOL, rather than a 2- or 4-year college. There are many excellent technical schools - and a few scams, so do your research - that provide training for different types and levels of IT jobs. Certificate programs at technical schools typically last one to two years; some certificates can be earned by attending evening or weekend classes. The best technical schools will also help you find your first job (which is always a challenge). Some will even loan you money for your training with the expectation that you will get a high-paying job and repay the loan. If they don't, you may be able to get a loan from one of the companies specializing in loans to students pursuing technical education and training.

For more information, take a look at the Tests and Links section of this web site. Check out your own natural aptitudes and talents, and how they 'match' careers in IT. Our Links section contains a wealth of information regarding schools, scholarships, and general IT career information.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, among the job categories that will experience the highest levels of demand, six of the top ten jobs are technology-related occupations. Beginning in 2006, America will have more computer science related jobs than qualified workers. Workers with C.S. Degrees, including recent graduates, will be increasingly in demand - for increasingly competitive salaries. So you should be looking for work at just the right time.

To read more about this, go to "Future Jobs and You - What the Research Predicts", "Hunting for Rare Game" and "A Battlefield Revisited".

I’ve heard that computer industry will experience a “talent crunch” in the next decade. What exactly is a “talent crunch”?

"A "talent crunch" is when there are more jobs to be filled than talented and trained people to fill them. Some researchers predict that by 2010 America will have a skilled worker gap of over 10 million workers! Over 1 million of those unfilled jobs will be in computer science related jobs.

To read more about this, go to "Future Jobs and You - What the Research Predicts", "Hunting for Rare Game" and "A Battlefield Revisited".

I’ve heard the Computer Science and other technology-related majors are already crammed with students and are both hard to get into and very competitive areas. Is this true?

Your news is outdated – by several years. Computer Science and other departments report declines in applications and enrollment by large percents, as high as a 70% decline. In 2003, there was a 23% decline in undergraduate degrees in computer science and computer engineering. As students and their parents have read about the dot com bust and the off-shoring of lower-level support positions, they have chosen not to pursue education in this area. This is unfortunate for reasons explained in our Articles section.

To read more about this, go to "Future Jobs and You - What the Research Predicts", "Hunting for Rare Game" and "A Battlefield Revisited".

Do I really need to be good at math work in the computer industry?

No, not at all. Computers are based upon logic, not math; working on them requires analytical and logical ability rather than a math background. One of the "Major Industry Myths" is that a strong math or science background is necessary before you can be good on computers or successful in our industry. In fact, you can hate math and have avoided it - or even flunked it - and still have the logical ability to be successful in this area. One good way to determine your aptitude for computer-related education and work is to take the Programmer/Analyst Aptitude test at www.brainbench.com.

Do all IT jobs require knowledge of a programming language?

No, that is another "Major Industry Myth." Programming experience is definitely necessary for some information technology jobs, and having taken two or three programming classes is helpful for all of them. BUT - there are many interesting and high paying IT jobs that do not require or involve programming. To learn about them, visit our Career Choices section where entry-level jobs are listed in four categories:

• Technical Development: Heavy programming
• Application Development: Some programming
• Special Opportunities: Little or no programming
• Support Personnel: Little or no programming

What is the difference between a Computer Science major and a Computer Information Systems major?

Generally, a Computer Science (CS) major requires more math and science courses than does a Computer Information Systems (CIS) major. CS grads are trained to design hardware and operating systems software and other technically complex software; CIS students study more courses in languages, databases and techniques for designing "information systems", that is, software systems using data (information), to perform tasks or to enable humans to perform tasks.

BE AWARE (and beware) that some schools use "Computer Science" to label what is really a Computer Information Systems Department or major; but CIS is rarely, if ever, used to label a CS program.

When selecting a school or major, review the course catalogue's outline to determine which type of program is being offered as a major. If it is not clear, contact the school's department and ask. You don't want to waste your time and money by entering a program that is wrong for you. If one school's program doesn't meet your needs, look at others.

Do I need a Computer Science (CS) or Computer Information Systems (CIS) degree to get a job in the information technology (IT) industry?

No, you do not. (Maybe we should just abbreviate "Major Industry Myths" as "MIMs.") However, a CS or CIS degree can definitely get your IT career off to a FASTER start, both in terms of salary and initial level of responsibility. On the other hand, you can take many excellent computer-related courses as electives while fulfilling the requirements for your chosen college major in everything from business to the social sciences. Many students graduating with those degrees - and those courses - are hired directly into technical jobs and have very successful careers in our industry.

How do I locate a college with a good computer systems department?

The way you sort out anything - by doing your research. Ask high school counselors, college counselors, and recent graduates. Your local library and the Internet are also great sources of information. You can purchase The College Handbook (available at your local bookstore), that lists all 4-year and 2-year colleges, and all their majors. Once you compile your 'long list' of possible colleges, you can turn it into a 'short list' by checking out the different schools' catalogues. If they are not available online, contact the Admissions Offices for the catalogues you need to see.

When you talk to people in the Admissions Department for a school, ask for some names of teachers in their Computer Science or CIS department. Then, make an appointment to chat with those people by phone.

Once you have reached these CS or CIS professors, there are lots of questions to ask:

1. How long does it take to get a degree in your department if I attend full-time?
2. What lower division (freshman/sophomore) courses can I take at a community college before entering your school?
3. When I finish my degree, what type of skills will I be equipped with?
4. Are the courses offered in this program up to date with current technology?
5. What kind of connections do you have with local technical employers?
6. Do they have any input to your courses?
7. Will I be prepared to take the certification exam for MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer)?
8. What types of jobs are your graduates getting and what are their starting salaries? Are you in frequent contact with them? Are they happy in their current jobs?

Can I make a lot of money in the computer industry? How do the salaries compare to other industries?

Especially in recent years, people entering IT earn more than people entering any other industry, even people with a similar background. Of course, the salaries vary widely, depending upon the type of job, the geographical location of the employer, and the education and experience level of the employee.

If you have seen any statistics comparing the incomes of people with college vs. high school degrees, you know that a college degree increases your income level dramatically. And, in general, this is true in IT as well. (That is the 'payback' for having spent the time and money to attend college.)

Certainly, the salaries paid to people for their first jobs in IT are highest for those with CS or CIS degrees. Beginning salaries are slightly lower for those with non-CS or CIS college degrees, but with strong performance in computer courses. Salaries are lower for jobs with fewer technical demands. Revisit the same new IT hires in a few years, and you will find (as in any industry), that natural talent, hard work, good people skills and the courage to take on opportunities will allow people to 'self-select'. In other words, different people will move ahead at different rates; at this point in their careers, a college degree is less of a factor in predicting income.

How would you compare the projected rate of growth of the IT industry with those of other fast growing fields like health care and biotechnology in the next five years? Ten years? Twenty years?

As everyone living outside of a cave is aware, within the last ten years the whole computer industry has experienced both rapid growth - and rapid decline. The growth was similar to that experienced by other technologies (the auto industry and the TV industry, for example) when they first entered the economy. The decline may have been, also. Although it is difficult to determine how much of the decline was due to a failing economy and how much due to a maturing industry, most people doubt that the coming recovery will push us to the same levels any time soon. (Predicting the future for any specific industry requires a crystal ball, and anyone knowing for sure can score in the stock market!)

On the other hand, you should realize that our industry still produces many interesting and high-paying jobs. While other technology-related industries are experiencing faster growth rates (biotech and nanotech are "hot"), the computer industry can still be a good place to be because most new fields will require some sort of computer technology. The picture is complicated further by two other trends (other than growth rate): one is the rapid movement of certain computer-related jobs offshore (another trend experienced previously by other maturing industries); the other is the imminent retirement of many "Baby Boomers" currently in the IT Industry. The latter trend when combined with an overall drop in the number of Americans entering the industry is considered quite significant. Some studies are predicting a tremendous shortage of Americans available to fill future jobs and that this will result in astronomical salaries, even higher than those being paid during the peak of the "dot.com boom".

What if I have the desire and aptitude to pursue an education in IT, but not the money?

We're here to help you get started! There are dozens of private corporations, institutes and government sites looking to provide financial assistance to those wanting to study IT. Check out the Scholarship Hub section of our web site. It contains information on our own scholarship program, as well as links to other scholarship sites, financial aids information, and student loans. Once you have reviewed that section, move on to our Links section.

Also, in your search for the school best suited to you, be sure to check out each school's Scholarship Department and Financial Aid Department. Many scholarships are created by previous graduating classes, generous individuals who were 'launched' by that particular school, people of specific ethnicities or demographic groups - you may qualify based upon something you never dreamed of!

I am a college senior. In May, I will graduate with my B.S. in Computer Systems Administration. I'm really unsure what to do... should I go to grad school and get my masters in Information Systems? Or would I be just as well off to go straight into the work force and get some certifications / experience? In other words... what are employers looking for? Would a masters degree give me a significant competitive advantage over people with just their B.S. and plenty of certifications?

1. If you can afford to attend Graduate School at this time and have an area you want to become more expert in, do that. It will never be easier to get another degree than now, and master's degrees, whether in more CS or CIS or an MBA (depending upon whether you think of yourself as a future tech guru or a future manager/executive) are valuable in the Computer Industry.

   Research indicates master's degrees pay for themselves in additional income whereas PhD's do not. This means the additional cost of a master's degree, including the years of no income, is recovered during your working lifetime but not the additional cost of a PhD. Of course, making more money should not be the primary reason for further study; getting to do more interesting work should be.




2. Another consideration in deciding which master's degree to pursue should be where you want to live and which part of the industry you want to work in. For example, high-tech software development companies in Silicon Valley generally like candidates for their technical positions to have master's degrees in CS or CIS and consider one to be the equivalent of 2 years of work experience. They also value MBA's.

   On the other hand, in parts of the country with few high-tech companies, most computer-related jobs will involve providing some sort of computer systems and support to a company's successful operation rather than creating and selling new software or hardware products. Those companies may not care about a master's in CS or CIS but will still value an MBA that will position you to work in management.




3. Last but not least, be aware that many of America's computer-based jobs are moving offshore to India, Russia, etc. This is reality. Those watching this trend believe the jobs remaining in America will be those requiring higher level skills and experience. So you should equip yourself to deal with this - by graduate work or meaningful certifications.