Roughly 377, 500 job openings are projected each year on average for the technology industry according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, and with the projected growth much faster than the national average from 2022 to 2032, technology occupations are rapidly hiring competitive candidates.
Graduates with a degree in Information Technology (IT) have a competitive edge, as employers seek candidates equipped with industry knowledge and skilled in areas like programming, coding, and networking. In addition to the degree, industry certifications and work experience further enhance employment opportunities in this quickly growing field.
As companies in most industries are increasingly relying on digital services like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cloud computing, skilled IT professionals are essential for developing and maintaining the necessary technological infrastructure. With the right qualifications, IT graduates can expect promising career opportunities contributing to the digital world.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
- Monitoring - Monitoring or assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
To identify what education or training is typical for careers within the information technology field, use the O*Net hyperlinks below and click on “Job Zone.”
As with all majors, the education you receive serves as a foundation of knowledge that prepares you for what you may face in the professional world. The career field you chose may require additional education or experience.
Gaining real-life experience is an ideal way to start a new career. The career services website has an extensive list of internships and fellowships. Browse through the internships, organized by interest or by federal program.
There are government-organized internship programs, many of which require students to maintain either a half-time or full-time student status. The best ways to identify potential opportunities such as these is to contact branch offices directly, to search USAJobs.gov, or to look at the agencies' career portals. Keep in mind that these positions are not always posted online, so direct contact with the agency is key.
Pathways
The Pathways Program is a federal initiative that offers internship programs for current students and training and career development opportunities for recent graduates. Recent graduates must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion (except for veterans, due to their military service obligation, will have up to six years to apply).The internship program for current students replaces the former Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) and Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP).
The Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF)
PMF is designed to attract to federal service outstanding men and women from a wide variety of academic disciplines who have a clear interest in, and commitment to, a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs. To be eligible for nomination, an individual must be a graduate student completing or expected to complete, during the current academic year, an advanced degree from a qualifying college or university.
The Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP)
WRP is coordinated by the Office of Disability Employment Policy and the U.S. Department of Defense, and aims to provide summer work experience, and in some cases full-time employment, to college students with disabilities. The program develops partnerships with other federal agencies, each of whom makes a commitment to provide summer jobs and a staff recruiter. Each year, recruiters interview about 1,500 students with disabilities at college and university campuses across the nation, and develop a database listing the qualifications of each student.
There are several government agencies and organizations that seek candidates with degrees in information technology. The list below provides a few places one might find employment specific to this degree.
Involvement in professional organizations is a great way to stay up-to-date on new technology, tools, and best practices in your field. Professional organizations are also a great networking opportunity. Below are a few professional organizations you may be interested in as an information technology major.
- Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T)
- ARMA International
- Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
- Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP)
- IEEE Computer Society
- Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS)
- International Association for Computer Information Systems (IACIS)
- International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR)
- International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
- International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE)
- International Information Management Association (IIMA)
- International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2
- CompTia