By Vicki Salemi

Point. Click. Enter. Rebooting your career into the next level or new direction isn't always as simple as Ctrl-Alt-Delete, but navigating your future within a cyber industry is certainly attainable with the right credentials. And when you think about it, it's only fitting that the same pieces of hardware you use everyday will help you build the IT skills you need to get started. From network security and Web design to eCommerce and computer animation, your computer could be the key to a super computer career.

Bill Yoh, president and CEO of Yoh.com, a recruiting service that provides on-demand professionals in a wide variety of capacities, indicates the Internet has brought technology employees tremendous opportunities to advance their careers.

"Degrees earned online are very valuable in this day and age, providing a means to advance oneself at a pace customized to your needs and objectives."

Sean Gallagher agrees. As a senior analyst at Eduventures, an information services company for the education market, the fast pace of the ever-changing IT field demands continuing education more so than many other occupations.

"In the IT field, continuing education isn't just nice to have, it's a necessity," he explains. To that point, IT professionals are early adopters of technology projects. "In general, students interested in IT programs have much greater interest in and more favorable attitudes toward online study."

Spotlight on Software Engineering
Software engineering isn't only a hot field right now, it's expected to sizzle for the next seven years according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In fact, software engineering is projected to be one of the fastest-growing occupations through 2012. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook cites the median salary of full-time engineers in 2002 at about $70,900, a figure expected to rise as demand soars.

Since computer software engineers require much specialization. They must understand how to apply principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and systems. That's why ideal candidates possess at least a bachelor's degree in computer engineering or computer science with practical work experience.

Properly trained software engineers are expected to become leaders in their field, specifically ones who continually strive to acquire new skills in a solutions-driven environment. One of those student e-leaders is Robert Savage, an applications software engineer at control systems manufacturer AMX Corporation. Since Robert's responsibilities include application software product design, he enjoys learning more about oriented-design techniques and implementing the modern methodology into new projects.

"Writing software is my passion. In fact, I started programming on Commodore VIC-20's at age eight," he says. He classifies himself as a product solver by heart, and says that his profession provides him with an outlet for his creative energy. "I like to create solutions to create increased efficiency and productivity.

He is completing his final online course for a bachelor's degree in computer science from Regis University, and expects to graduate this May summa cum laude.

Networking a Network Position
Computer network and data managers maintain a balance between technical knowledge along with a broad range of skills such as communication and other interpersonal skills. After all, they're needed to design, test, and evaluate systems such as local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), the Internet, intranets, and other data communications systems, while communicating with internal departments.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, computer systems and network management is another rapidly growing industry, so it's no surprise that the demand for highly-skilled employees is at an all-time high. Latest Occupational Outlook Handbook median income findings placed their salaries at about $63,000, a lucrative start for those making their mark in the industry.

Of course, advancement and increased earnings come with continual upgrades -- in this instance, of the intellectual kind. Employees in this field need to remain knowledgeable and hone their skills via specialized certificate programs or advanced degrees, say experts. And for those wishing to break into one of those prosperous and in-demand networking or software development jobs, such an academic necessity is even greater. Just ask John Country, a 30-year veteran in the grain industry. Currently unemployed, John aspires to transition into IT and understands that he needs a degree in computer information systems (CIS) to make that happen.

John is taking courses using the Pascal programming language in Control Structures and Data Structures, and is pleased with the fact that his online coursework allows him to apply the theories he's learning to actual situations. "The faculty all have extensive real-world experience in various tech industries, so the approach to the subject material is not purely academic. I am learning useful things all the time. "

Quality Assurance
Another "hot" IT field -- quality assurance -- has evolved with technology as well, requiring employees in this important role to continuously test software. Sometimes known as software engineers, quality assurance analysts possess strong programming, systems analysis, interpersonal, and business skills in order to test computer systems. Most employers prefer to hire employees with at least a bachelor's degree in computer science and broad knowledge of computer systems.

Graduate degrees are preferred for more complex roles, though professional certification is now offered by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society. To become certified as a software development professional, individuals need a bachelor's degree and work experience that demonstrates mastery of a relevant body of knowledge. They must also pass a written exam.

In the rapidly changing world of IT, these pros must continually strive to sharpen their knowledge and apply it to their daily job responsibilities. In fact, job relevance is what propelled Pami Ahluwalia to pursue a CIS degree; she is currently working on a master's.

As a senior quality assurance engineer with Standard and Poor's, a leading credit rating company and division of McGraw Hill Companies, Paul tests software for a living. And although her original motivation to earn her degree was to keep abreast of the ever-changing software industry, she claims the constant knowledge she derives from pursuing it online is motivating, too.

"I'm learning new things with technology and what's out there every day! It keeps me motivated," she explains. "I plan on pursuing my MBA soon, and - you guessed it - that will be online as well."

Click Into Other Hot IT Careers:

• Web design
  Creativity is essential for Web designers who develop Internet pages and work with computer interfaces and multimedia projects. They also need to possess strong communication skills in order to work effectively with clients. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, nearly one-third of designers surveyed in 2002 were self-employed. The median annual salary for designers was $36,680.
• Computer animation
  From the highly successful Shrek movies to The Incredibles, film and video industries create a demand for computer animators. Computer animators have a background in computer graphics with a keen eye for creativity. They use computers to create the large series of pictures that form animated images or special effects seen in movies, television programs, and computer games. The median annual salary of computer animators was $43,980 in 2002 (the U.S. Department of Labor).
• eCommerce
  Whether you buy or sell on eBay or via company Web sites, purchasing and selling goods over the Internet is commonplace. As companies develop eTrading tools, the demand for eCommerce skills increases, such as knowing what to sell or how to market it to buyers. Employment in retail trade is expected to increase from 15 million to 17.1 million so with the increased use of technology, eCommerce trade will increase as well. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, increases in population, personal income, and leisure time will contribute to employment growth in retail as consumers demand more goods.