Career
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Jobs of the Century? » A list touting the top 10 jobs for the 21st century has to be taken with a grain of salt, perhaps one the size of a comet. Because, let’s face it, if someone in 1912 had presumed to predict he best jobs overall for the 20th century, software engineer
would not have been in the running. Who knows what strange new job descriptions
will be developed in the next nine decades? Nonetheless, here are three IT jobs
that landed at or near the top of one such list.
Software
developers,
applications
Annual earnings
$87,790
Job growth, 2008-18*
34%
Annual openings
21,840
Software
developers,
systems software
Annual earnings
$94,180
Job growth, 2008-18*
30.4%
Annual openings
15,340
Computer
systems
analysts
Annual earnings
$77,740
Job growth, 2008-18*
20.3%
Annual openings
22,280
Marriott’s chief
information resources
o;cer for the Americas
answers questions
about certifications,
winning a promotion and more.
I’m a network administrator who is committed to keeping current with technology. Lately, though, I’ve been hearing negative
things about certifications. Are they worth the investment of
time and money, or should I pursue other training opportunities? Rather than look at the certification as a unique event, think
about what you want in your career. A career is a balance between
education and experience driven by what you want to pursue. Education comes in a variety of forms, be it a degree, a certification or
hands-on training provided by your company. Employers view all of
these components di;erently, so focus on what makes sense to you,
including what you are most interested in (learning is easier when
you’re excited about a subject), how you learn (online or in a classroom?), your financial situation (does your employer o;er any type
of tuition reimbursement?) and what your company looks for when
hiring (if certifications are required, then make sure you have them
as part of your portfolio of qualifications).
I’d like to become an IT director the
next time the opportunity arises.
What would help me stand out among
a field of candidates? Take the time to
understand your company’s criteria for
selecting an IT director. Look at other
people who have been promoted to
those positions and get an understand-
ing of the qualities that they brought to
the table. Then take a hard look at your skills and experience and
understand the gap between them and what the company is seek-
ing. Once you have ascertained what you need to focus on, build a
plan that allows you to develop in those areas. Also, remember that
sometimes opportunities are not always upward and that you may
benefit from lateral moves to gain experience.
If you have a question
for one of our Premier
100 IT Leaders, send
it to askaleader@
computerworld.com,
and watch for this
column each month.
I’ve been a systems administrator for a while, but I’m becoming
more and more interested in security (by way of very interesting interactions with our excellent infosec sta;). Any ideas on
how to move into that area? Take advantage of your information
security colleagues. If possible, arrange one-on-one meetings over
lunch or co;ee, or by phone if you’re not in the same o;ce. This will
allow you to gain some insight into what the group looks for in terms
of qualifications and experience. Find out if there are some projects
underway that require the involvement of your current organization
with the security team, then ask your manager to see if you can be
assigned to them. Outside of work, look for local trade associations
and organizations that focus on security. Attend their meetings so
you can network with people in that field to understand job opportunities and how to prepare for them.
