Technology in Transition: Training to Launch Your Career

Tired of your dead end job? If you've had it with your nine-to-five and you know there's more out there, good news! In a world where technology rules the way we work and communicate, the opportunity for a fresh and exciting career in the tech field is virtually without boundaries.

Many seeking work beyond a career they may have started some years ago are finding that not only is there strong growth potential in the tech job market, there are also an abundance of programs available to give you the necessary training to get you started on cashing in on a new career.

So what are the hottest tech fields, and how can you enter them? We investigate...

Let's Get Technical
Because of the continuously growing technology industry, there are a wealth of hot fields in need of workers. "The New York Times cites a labor department listing of the 15 fastest-growing jobs for the decade, a total of 10 that are in Information Technology (IT)," says Dr. Susan Merritt, dean of the School of Computer Science and Information Systems at Pace University (New York, NY). "These include software engineering, application development, network design, systems analysis, and computer support -- all of which will have Internet and Web components in the future."

OK, so you're hooked on the idea of working in technology -- what's the next step?

Back to Basics
"If you're totally not in the field, there's some groundwork you have to lay to learn the fundamentals," says Jim Clements, executive director of the Center for Applied Information Technology at Towson University (Towson, MD).

Merritt agrees. "Coursework in Internet technology is critical," she says. "Not just building Web sites, but integrating them with databases and distributing them on networks. [They] are the infrastructure for computing and communications for every individual and organization, and coursework will be necessary, depending on one's desired specialty."

Your Personal Pull-Down Menu
Programs for technology training abound in today's education realm, and according to Clements, information security and IT project management top the list of hot training programs. "We offer training to become a Certified Information Systems Security Professional, which involves helping a company define policies, handle sensitive financial or medical data, and implement network intrusion software," explains Clements, emphasizing the highly technical nature of the position. "This is one of those fields that will always continue to grow, and there are a ton of available jobs in government as well."

Less "techie" types might consider the position of project management professional. "In order to succeed in this position, you've got to have the technical know-how, and the business savvy to execute," says Clements. "In terms of these two fields, they will always be around -- whatever new technologies come out in the future, you'll always have to secure them, and you'll always need someone to manage them."

Coursework for these types of programs is available at campus-based schools like Towson, or online. "Kaplan offers degree [and] certificate programs geared toward different types of learners," says Kurt Diesch, head of Kaplan College Online's IT School. "Our school is accredited by the same organizations as other colleges are, and we offer the same curriculum -- the difference is, you can continue to work full time while you take the courses." In other words, regardless of your time constraints, there are tech training courses available to you, former fry guy, to ensure a smooth, quality transition into a new career world.

If You're One Step Ahead of the Game...
Have you logged plenty of hours on your kid brother's PlayStation 2, and know your way in and out of the system's software? Computer consulting is another hot tech ticket to consider. "Most people going into computer consulting start with a base of knowledge, and enjoy answering people's questions as someone at a help unit or customer support. Over time they build up a foundation of know-how, and one day a lightbulb [comes on]," explains Josh Feinberg, cofounder of ComputerConsulting101.com, an aid for people looking to improve their consulting businesses.

So don't think your fine-tuned fast-food people skills will go to waste in this field. "Computer consulting is very much a people business," says Feinberg. "There is no Home Depot or Staples of consulting because people want personal customer service."

Not only is technology a hot and growing field, but it's flourishing into the future. "Computing is here to stay, and it's a great and deep field," says Merritt. "Good computer professionals who are well-educated in the basics are worth their weight in gold."

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