Introduction
The acceleration of information technology in the past decade resulted in the notion that
Computers might replace humans in the workplace. However, the current employment settings reveal that the internet and other information technology devices have penetrated almost every workplace, and has played a considerable role in the transformation of many jobs. For the majority of workers in the office, their employment means that they spend a great number of their working hours online. An online survey conducted by Pew Research in 2013 revealed that about 94% of people who were employed use the internet (Purcell & Rainie, n.p). Employment from different enterprises ranging from technology-focused businesses to non-technology companies, from corporate industries and small-scale business operations requires the use of IT skills among its employees. Accordingly, the increasing competition in the job market requires that students must acquire and develop information technology skills to be competitive in their quest for better jobs.
Advantages of IT Savvy Applicants
Job applicants who are IT savvy tend to have an advantage in the employment market. This is because employees who have the ability to leverage information technology proved to be more efficient and productive in the performance of their duty. The lifeblood of every business is dependent on the ability of its members to collaborate and communicate towards the advancement of its objectives and goals. Currently, information technology plays an important role in promoting the interaction of people within and outside the business. There is now the growing realization that skills in IT can have a considerable impact in improving business relationships. The majority of businesses today often adapt the latest model of information technology to promote its products and services, thus employees who are technology savvy have more competitive advantage in terms of being hired, promoted and retained by the organization.
The Ability to Integrate and use New Technology
The ability of employees to integrate their knowledge into existing technological system is an added advantage that can demonstrate their abilities to the employer. It is common for hiring managers to look into the applicant’s willingness to learn and adaptability even when introduced to a new form of technology. Therefore, an employee must be able to work his way through different technological settings, and make independent decisions about products and services. This ability proved to be valuable to any organization, and one among the skills that are valued across organizations.
One example where existing knowledge is integrated with new technology was the introduction of electronic health record across medical institutions in the United States. Initially, there were hospital staffs and medical practitioners who felt overwhelmed by the need to learn about the system. It is to be noted that the most difficult part of implementing a new technological system, such as the electronic health record is challenging enough. This is because the process requires time, effort, financial costs, and other possible pitfalls that may occur. The existence of staffs who are reluctant to integrate with the system proved to cause more difficulty during the implementation stage. Thus, it is not only important that employees are technologically adept, they must also have a positive attitude towards change.
The manner by which the international economy is going, it is inevitable that many companies are determined to take on larger and far-reaching projects that necessitate the hiring of IT savvy people. For instance, software developers and programmers are pursued, both by small and large companies because of their role in creating applications that reduce costs and improve productivity. The rapid change in technology requires that companies today have a pool of employees who understand the intricacies associated with information technology, this is especially so among programmers who must master the art of coding.
Currently, there is an increased need for IT professionals who can demonstrate an exceptional programming ability. For example, Apple company was able to rack billions of dollars in the sales of its apps in recent years, and market researchers projected a global increase in app sales in the coming years. Consequently, programmers play a key role in the development of these apps and this was supported by findings indicating that the hiring of app developers has increased in recent years. The demand for programmers is not limited to mobile application development, as many other companies holding different products and services wanted to establish their presence in the market through the use of apps. The need for companies to promote their products and services in the social media boils down to needing more talent in app development.
Another high-demand skill sets in relation to information technology is the cybersecurity skill sets. The need to protect vital company information resulted in the eagerness of employers to employ IT people who have the skills and expertise relative to cyber security. It is no wonder that many organizations wanted to hire cyber security workers, because there are many instances when security breaches occur. Large companies from all over the world are conscious about the risks of having their valuable information stolen. The increase in the demand for skills related to cyber security means that prospective employees who are eyeing a position in many organizations must develop their cyber security technical skills and know-how. In addition to security risks, there is also the rise of cloud computing that require companies to be wary about cyber technology. That is, the emergence of new technologies resulted in the rise of new security issues, and this is one among the major reasons why companies are often on the look out for employees who demonstrate an ability to protect their data. Security issues prompt many organizations to invest in their security, such as preventing intrusion and malware, areas that clearly need the expertise of IT workers.
Moreover, students who are knowledgeable in network administration are also likely to be hired because of the need for companies to manage volumes of information. The duty of a network administrator involves keeping up the computer network of the organization updated and operational. When organizations ventured into the use of multiple computers and softwares, it becomes necessary to employ a network administrator who is tasked to manage the diverse systems. Consequently, the adoption of new technology and investments in mobile networks, explains the increasing demand for network administrators. Some of the skills needed to be competitive in this job include the ability to install networks and computer systems as well as maintaining and upgrading of the networks for improved performance.
There is also the demand for technical support specialist as many companies today needs the support they can have in helping individual customers and organizations with the use of computers. Computer support is vital in the operation of every business and people who want to venture in this job must develop a wide range of skills. While there are many companies require a bachelors degree in screening job applicants for this position, there are many instances when formal training is not necessary. That is, a simple demonstration of expertise and technical know-how may suffice to be qualified for the job. Some of the skills that are needed among technical support specialists include being computer savvy, both in the specifics of computer software and hardware. People in this field are expected to be able to explain the different processes in computing, especially for people who were not familiar with the technical language use in the computer world. In addition to that, there is also a need to be adaptable because of the rapidly changing technology and the possible introduction of new computer hardware and software products.
Accordingly, students may find that the technical training they received during college are valuable in their role as technical support specialists. Those who were able to develop the needed skills can demonstrate their competitiveness and they may find employment among software and hardware businesses, and other organizations that adapted an internal network. There are specialist who may have the option to work part- or full-time, as well as those who may find it necessary to adopt an evening or weekend working schedule, and they may work in their offices, or remote as remote assistants. The increasing need for companies to deal with remote customers resulted in the heightened demand for technical support specialist. Thus, in addition to their technological knowledge, computer specialist must deal with diverse customers, so it is necessary that they have good communication skills.
Overall, job applicants who invested in acquiring computer knowledge and skills may have a higher chance to be hired. In addition to that, a demonstration of their IT skills will help them get promoted and be given an opportunity to assume more challenging and intricate projects. While a bachelors degree may not be required, certain specialize training is almost necessary in order to be able to meet the demands of the current job market settings. Consequently, people who opt to start out in entry level positions that do not require complex computer skills, will likely have an increased chance of getting a better job when they improve their IT skills during the course of their employment. In the same way, an individual who has advanced computer knowledge can easily scale towards a leadership position, where he may train others about the technical aspects of using computers and other IT devices. This means that there is a vast opportunity for IT people in terms of employment, and all they need to keep improving and acquiring the needed skills in the process.
Conclusion
The acquisition of IT skills is now needed in many employment settings as many companies adopted the use of computers in their systems. The use of the internet, computers and other technological devices resulted in the acceleration in the demand for IT workers. Accordingly, people who are aspiring to become part of the labor force must try to acquire the needed IT skills in order to be competitive. They must be able to demonstrate the ability to use computers, as well as the willingness to adopt to different technological settings. Job applicants have a better chance to be hired when they can prove that they can use computers, especially when they can also show their adeptness in navigating through intricate computer systems.
Works Cited
Purcell, Kristen, and Lee Rainie. "Technology's Impact on Workers." Pew Research Center. N.p., 2014. Web. <http://www.pewinternet.org/2014/12/30/technologys-impact-on-workers/>.
