Still other respondents view outsourcing and the globalization of IT jobs as an opportunity for skilled professionals to advance into more creative, exciting careers. An application developer said, "If someone is interested in providing the bridge between the business unit and the development community, I would recommend [an IT career]. If all they want to do is develop code, they have serious outsourcing issues to consider." That note of caution was echoed by a DBA, who advised IT hopefuls that they be aware of "the challenges inherent in this profession—particularly the constant need to stay up-to-date with technology and to diversify your skill set." For those who are willing to stay current and adapt to ever-changing technology, says an IT director, "IT provides significant challenges today that will only expand in the future. Outsourcing may change the IT role from purely technical to a mix of business and technical, but it opens up exciting new opportunities for career-oriented people." Another DBA said, "I think there is still a multitude of opportunities for the talented IT individual.The media figures that write about how IT is a dying industry are the same ones that call a Help desk to help them format landscape in Word... they are not credible."And yet another DBA said simply, "The world is becoming flat... Adapt and overcome."
Still Just Boiling Eggs...
Overall, the comments of this year's respondents show that they aren't just satisfied with their jobs—they're devoted to their professions. They are realists who acknowledge that the careers they've chosen aren't always easy. (For listings of common stress factors that respondents reported, see the sidebar "Up All Night.") But when we asked "Would you recommend working in some aspect of IT as a career path to young people looking to choose a profession?" 86 percent said yes. Some respondents qualified their recommendations with cautions and advice ("Don't get into contract-or project-based tasks;""As long as you have realistic expectations and you actively manage your own career;""Learn database theory—it will give you a broader vision than everyone else"), and some were matter-of-fact ("It beats flippingburgers").And, as Figure 6 shows, some recommendations depended on gender.(To read respondents' views about women in IT, see the sidebar "IT NeedsWomen!" page 24.)
But database professionals are generally upbeat and encouraging to others who are interested in pursuing similar careers. One DBA said simply, "It is interesting to work with the data that spins the world." Other respondents agreed. One application developer said, "I would recommend IT to anyone who wants to learn new technologies, likes to be challenged constantly, and wants to be part of creating solutions for users."And many respondents expressed the firm belief that IT is the foundation of a technological future that we've only barely tapped.As one application developer put it, "We are still just boiling eggs using the heat generated by our Ferrari."
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