It is very important to get the right IT degree as it relates to your career goals. It is un-realistic to image of getting the degree in the field and assume that it is the catch-all of all things IT. In real world, specialization is the key word. If you are going into the field of programming for instance, stay clear of the generalized degree in information technology that is theory-based, which is normally designed more for the managerial aspect of IT. Programmers should look into a degree program that deals with computer science where at least Java2, C++, Visual Basic are taught. It is better with contemporary languages such as bundles like Ajax and Lamp to make you more marketable. Companies are looking for people who can write the actual code instead of people who can only write good papers or give stellar power-point presentations.
It is also important to select a field that you truly enjoy, because you have to spend a significant amount of your life dong it. It would be very painful if you do not like it but have to do it for living. You can not optimize your career by doing something that you do not like. In today’s market, all IT professionals are competing globally. You do not want to invest lots of time and money to learn something but later found that the jobs are moved overseas - A trend has taken off since the early portion of this decade, the outsourcing of all things that may require an IT specialty such as application development, network support and workstation repair and maintenance. Wise firms outsource due to promote operational efficiency while other firms may fall into the trap of false economy. This means that firms may outsource to save money on salaries and benefits while just breaking even when it comes to actual savings.
Due to the outsourcing trend and practice in today’s economy in the US, it forces the average IT graduate to constantly post his/her resume and put themselves on job market. Very often, you may have to compete against someone half your age with half the experience for jobs that pay only a fraction.
It is very important for college students to gain some experience in summer intern jobs. In today’s market, just good grades are not sufficient to make you stand out from other applicants. Plus, IT is a profession of experience, hands on experience. You simply can not learn enough from books.
Also, IT professionals just graduating from college need to really observe the market-place and to see that now firms are outsourcing projects. If you do get a job, but you are asked to later sign-on with a contracting firm, make sure that your resume is ready to hit the job market again. Some outsourcing firms will bid to take all or the most costly IT personnel on their books and dump them after the project is completed and use that removal of that employee in underselling the competition for the contract.