What is an IT Career?
Peter Grant Assistant Director-General Office of Government ICT Department of Public Works
The Importance of IT
• Critical for New Initiatives in both Business and Government
• The basis of Support Services for both Business and Government • Major employer through: – Education and Training – Sales – Vendors – Government – Business – Entertainment
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But Interest in IT is Falling
University entry in IT falling – 70% over the last 5 years
Prospective students don’t believe that ICT is a good career Students don’t really understand the career opportunities available in the IT industry.
Industry and Government are beginning to feel the pinch.
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The Community’s Perception of a Job in IT
In 1970’s if you had a job in IT people thought you: – must be very special to be in this industry – could travel the world with your skills – would climb the corporate ladder very quickly – were on the wave of something new and exciting
In 2006 (according to TNS Social Research) people think: – the IT industry is narrow and limited – the profession is full of nerds – there is little chance of a social life in IT – IT professionals have poor communication skills
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Information Technology is STILL a Great Career
So Why Aren’t More People Choosing to study and work in IT?
But, High School Students are Unaware of IT Careers
• Students can do work experience as an architect but no one does work experience with an Enterprise Architect
• According to TNS Research, high school students said they learned about a career in IT by watching the person fix the PCs in the classroom.
Do high school students learn about Civil Engineering by watching people fill pot holes in the road outside the school? 10/31/2008 Presentation Name 6
And Our Value Proposition for an IT Career is Unclear
• These terms were extracted from marketing material from Australian universities. • computer programmer • software consultant • information technology application specialist • computer science researcher • systems architect • computer scientist • information manager • electronic commerce developer • games developer • multimedia specialist and so on
They DON’T do a good job at selling aspirational careers!
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And our Definitions for IT Jobs are Inconsistent
Recruitment firms have trouble consistently defining roles in the fast changing world of IT - Salary Surveys often have different job classifications every year Many of the terms used don’t match university publications about potential jobs
Few if any organisations advertise careers – just jobs.
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So What Must Students Think????
• Value Proposition from University’s are unclear
• Industry Job Descriptions are inconsistent
• Generally we don’t discuss the value of a career – just the value of a job.
We expect high school students with no work experience to map vague value propositions with non standard industry job titles . . . so they can decideName invest 3 years and $$$$9 in an IT Degree. to 10/31/2008 Presentation
And, Recruiting and Training Practices are Poor
• Many employers make no effort to define IT career paths. – A graduate with business design skills can end up on the help desk for a year
• Employers are not clear about entry points and careers for high school, Industry, TAFE and university graduates • Often employers don’t have processes for identifying and inducting graduates.
So if your sibling worked in IT and started in the wrong job or had their career mismanaged10 . . . 10/31/2008 Presentation Name
What Can We Do About It?
• We need to start talking careers – not jobs. • We need a way to consistently articulate career opportunities across all the sub disciplines of IT. • We need to communicate in a language everyone will understand.
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A Framework is Required
Engineering – A classification system exists for differentiating the roles and educational requirements for civil, electrical, mechanical, chemical and aeronautical engineers
Business – Rather than saying ‘I have a degree in business’, an accountant will proudly say, ‘I have a degree in accounting’ and a marketing graduate will say ‘I have a degree in marketing’
There is no framework for IT. Everyone says, ‘I have a degree in IT’ or I work in IT. And, no one knows what that means !!!!
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IT Career Streams
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
· Systems Analyst · Network Analyst · Technical Development Manager · Software Architect · Multimedia Specialist · Data Modeller · Software Developer · Web Developer · Games Developer · Graphics Designer · Animator · Testing Manager
Technology Building
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IT Career Streams
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
CIO / CTO IT DIRECTOR
· Systems Analyst · Network Analyst · Technical Development Manager · Software Architect · Multimedia Specialist · Data Modeller · Software Developer · Web Developer · Games Developer · Graphics Designer · Animator · Testing Manager
· · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Customer Services Manager Customer Relationship Manager Telecoms Engineer Capacity Planner / Analyst Database Administrator Release Manager Hardware Engineer Sales Consultant Account Manager Security Specialist Systems Administrator Network Manager PC Support Help Desk Operator
Technology Building
Technology Services
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IT Career Streams
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
CIO / CTO IT DIRECTOR
CIO / CTO IT DIRECTOR
· Systems Analyst · Network Analyst · Technical Development Manager · Software Architect · Multimedia Specialist · Data Modeller · Software Developer · Web Developer · Games Developer · Graphics Designer · Animator · Testing Manager
· · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Customer Services Manager Customer Relationship Manager Telecoms Engineer Capacity Planner / Analyst Database Administrator Release Manager Hardware Engineer Sales Consultant Account Manager Security Specialist Systems Administrator Network Manager PC Support Help Desk Operator
· · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Program Director Project Manager Capability Manager Benefits Manager Change Manager Sourcing Specialist Business Analyst Quality Manager Test Manager Program Office Manager Vendor Relationship Manager Trainer Benefits Analyst Business Process Modeller
Technology Building
Technology Services
Enterprise Implementation
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IT Career Streams
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
CIO / CTO IT DIRECTOR
CIO / CTO IT DIRECTOR
ENTERPRISE ARCHITECT
· Systems Analyst · Network Analyst · Technical Development Manager · Software Architect · Multimedia Specialist · Data Modeller · Software Developer · Web Developer · Games Developer · Graphics Designer · Animator · Testing Manager
· · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Customer Services Manager Customer Relationship Manager Telecoms Engineer Capacity Planner / Analyst Database Administrator Release Manager Hardware Engineer Sales Consultant Account Manager Security Specialist Systems Administrator Network Manager PC Support Help Desk Operator
· · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Program Director Project Manager Capability Manager Benefits Manager Change Manager Sourcing Specialist Business Analyst Quality Manager Test Manager Program Office Manager Vendor Relationship Manager Trainer Benefits Analyst Business Process Modeller
· · · · · · ·
IT Strategist Business Architect Information Architect Technology Architect Applications Architect Strategic Planner Business Continuity Planner · ICT Policy Officer · Information Management Specialist · Business Process Modeller
Technology Building
Technology Services
Enterprise Implementation
Enterprise Governance
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ACADEMIC ENTRY POINTS
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
CIO / CTO IT DIRECTOR
CIO / CTO IT DIRECTOR
ENTERPRISE ARCHITECT
University TAFE Industry
Technology Building
· Systems Analyst · Network Analyst · Technical Development Manager · Software Architect · Multimedia Specialist · Data Modeller · Software Developer · Web Developer · Games Developer · Graphics Designer · Animator · Testing Manager
· · · · · · · · · · ·
University TAFE · Industry · · High School
Technology Services
Customer Services Manager Customer Relationship Manager Telecoms Engineer Capacity Planner / Analyst Database Administrator Release Manager Hardware Engineer Sales Consultant Account Manager Security Specialist Systems Administrator Network Manager PC Support Help Desk Operator
· · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
University TAFE Industry
Program Director Project Manager Capability Manager Benefits Manager Change Manager Sourcing Specialist Business Analyst Quality Manager Test Manager Program Office Manager Vendor Relationship Manager Trainer Benefits Analyst Business Process Modeller
· · · · · · ·
IT Strategist Business Architect Information Architect Technology Architect Applications Architect Strategic Planner Business Continuity Planner · ICT Policy Officer · Information Management Specialist · Business Process Modeller
University
Post and undergraduate
Enterprise Governance
Enterprise Implementation
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Changing Roles Between Streams
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
CIO / CTO IT DIRECTOR
CIO / CTO IT DIRECTOR
ENTERPRISE ARCHITECT
· Systems Analyst · Network Analyst · Technical Development Manager · Software Architect · Multimedia Specialist · Data Modeller · Software Developer · Web Developer · Games Developer · Graphics Designer · Animator · Testing Manager
· · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Customer Services Manager Customer Relationship Manager Telecoms Engineer Capacity Planner / Analyst Database Administrator Release Manager Hardware Engineer Sales Consultant Account Manager Security Specialist Systems Administrator Network Manager PC Support Help Desk Operator
· · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Program Director Project Manager Capability Manager Benefits Manager Change Manager Sourcing Specialist Business Analyst Quality Manager Test Manager Program Office Manager Vendor Relationship Manager Trainer Benefits Analyst Business Process Modeller
· · · · · · ·
IT Strategist Business Architect Information Architect Technology Architect Applications Architect Strategic Planner Business Continuity Planner · ICT Policy Officer · Information Management Specialist · Business Process Modeller
Technology Building
Technology Services
Enterprise Implementation
Enterprise Governance
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Changing Roles Within a Stream
Changing roles within an IT Career Stream is part of normal career development – promotion can be limited by qualifications.
Board
DEVELOPMENT MANAGER CIO / CTO IT DIRECTOR CIO / CTO IT DIRECTOR ENTERPRISE ARCHITECT
· Systems Analyst · Network Analyst · Technical Development Manager · Software Architect · Multimedia Specialist · Data Modeller · Software Developer · Web Developer · Games Developer · Graphics Designer · Animator · Testing Manager
· · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Customer Services Manager Customer Relationship Manager Telecoms Engineer Capacity Planner / Analyst Database Administrator Release Manager Hardware Engineer Sales Consultant Account Manager Security Specialist Systems Administrator Network Manager PC Support Help Desk Operator
· · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Program Director Project Manager Capability Manager Benefits Manager Change Manager Sourcing Specialist Business Analyst Quality Manager Test Manager Program Office Manager Vendor Relationship Manager Trainer Benefits Analyst Business Process Modeller
· · · · · · ·
IT Strategist Business Architect Information Architect Technology Architect Applications Architect Strategic Planner Business Continuity Planner · ICT Policy Officer · Information Management Specialist · Business Process Modeller
Qualification Limits
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Technology Building
Technology Services
Enterprise Implementation
Enterprise Governance
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Career Streams Help Plan a Career in IT
• Identifying the university with the most appropriate course for career goals
• Determining a career that best suits individual passions and aptitudes • Understanding the entry point job to attain the role and subsequently the career wanted • Removing the confusion about how to start and manage a career in IT
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Without a Framework to Define IT Careers
Potential entrants to the IT profession will base their career choices on folklore, hype and rumour
Curriculum design in universities, TAFE colleges and high schools will lack connection to the requirements of industry Inappropriate marketing material may turn potential candidates away from IT careers Confusing career pathways may lead many promising IT professionals into the wrong jobs Career counsellors will be unable to sell the benefits of a career in IT
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Where to From Here?
• Consider the value of using a common nomenclature for describing our industry, career opportunities and career streams.
• Provide feedback on the Career Stream concept. Let’s get it right. • Ensure that we speak a common language when we communicate the outcomes of this important summit.
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Thank you and Questions
Peter Grant Assistant Director-General Office of Government ICT Department of Public Works
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