Students tell Minister for Education they Choose IT

The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD, wished students well on their chosen career path in IT yesterday.

A recent survey of IT Professionals revealed that 87% are happy with their career choice and would recommend a career in IT to a friend. This survey was carried out by the Irish Computer Society, the national body for IT professionals in Ireland.

Choose IT was developed by the Irish Computer Society to highlight the positive aspects of a career in Information Technology (IT).

Geared towards the students themselves, it promotes the IT profession with thought provoking facts. The online slideshow and interactive website www.chooseit.ie help students’ discover the rewarding opportunities a career in IT has to offer. 

Speaking at the Choose IT launch, the Tánaiste highlighted the importance of promoting careers in technology: 'in order to encourage more school leavers to opt for programmes in technology and engineering. It’s vital that we stimulate an interest among students at school level.'

What makes Irish IT professionals so happy with their career choice? For one, the numerous employment areas to choose from: quality management and standards, education and training, research, software testing, database design, configuration and change management, systems development, web design and so on.

Opportunity to travel - IT is a universal language and the following are just a few of the countries that are experiencing and/or predicting skills shortages in IT, UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand.

In America, three of the top ten jobs are in engineering or computing. The Best Jobs in America report by Money Magazine ranks jobs based on salary, career prospects, flexibility in work environment and hours.

For students who don’t pursue a career in IT specifically, IT skills are still needed. Whether they become a bus driver, an administrator, a doctor, or a writer, IT skills are required in this new knowledge-based economy.

For further information visit www.chooseit.ie.