The 10 IT skill categories

itprosasia.com has always used the 10 I.T. Skill categories to define the various I.T. career classifications for Tech professionals. This list of categories can be credited to the I.T. Association of America and even until now, this list is still very much applicable although some of the latest I.T. disciplines can cover more than 1 or 2 I.T. Skill categories. So what exactly are these 10 I.T. Skill categories we are talking about?

1.)    Programming /Software Engineering – these are professionals that are dedicated to writing software that run for various platforms such as operating systems, the Web and many other devices. Some of the jobs belonging to this category are Software Developers, Programmers, Analysts, Testers, etc. The most commonly used tools are Java, Visual Basic and C++.

2.)    Database Development and Administration – this profession ensures that the company database is secure, available and is being used productively. This involves administrative, maintenance and routine activities such as installing database, user account maintenance, management of backups, performance tuning and data recovery. Job titles can vary from Data Administrator, Information System Manager and Database Architect. MySQL, Oracle and MS Access are just some of the tools being utilized by this profession.

3.)    Digital Media – individuals who wish to express their artistic creativity through technical means through 3D Modeling, Multimedia (sound/video) editing and Graphics design. Some of the jobs involved are 2D/3D artists, Designers, 3D Modelers, etc. The tools used by this profession usually involve graphics editing tools such as Photoshop, Maya and Flash.

4.)    Enterprise Systems Analysis and Integration – the people in these jobs analyze business processes within companies and recommend computer solutions and technology options to help support those processes. Some jobs involving this field are E-business Specialists, Information Systems Architects,      Information Systems Planners and Systems Integrators. You must be familiar with a host of operating systems (Windows, Linux, MAC OS) and solutions in order to work in this field.

5.)    Network Design and Administration – network administration basically ensures that the company network is built correctly and running as smooth as possible. Tech professionals can train to become Information Systems Administrators, Network Administrators, Network Analysts, Network Technicians or Systems Administrators to specialize in the Network Administration field. A Network Administrator needs to know about software and operating systems like Windows NT or Novell Netware and needs to know about hardware, like which cables to use or how to install modems or network cards.

6.)    Technical Support – these are I.T. professionals that help clients solve problems over the phone, they may work at a help desk, or a call center. Jobs involving tech support range from the following: Technical Support Representatives, Customer Service Representatives Help Desk Technicians, PC Support Specialists, Sales Support Technician and Maintenance Technicians. Expertise regarding the Hardware/Software is paramount to this profession while having excellent problem solving and communication skills are also equally important.

7.)    Technical Writing – these are individuals who create content for documents and instructional materials for web sites, books and various other formats. Technical writers ensure that all provided information is understandable and easy to read. Aside from Technical Writers, you can also be Technical Editors, Instructional Designers and    Electronic Publishers in this field. Familiarity with Writing and publishing tools is essential for this profession.

8.)    Business Operations – these are the people that ensure that the business/company is managed properly and most of the time, they are also the ones that are decision-makers and stake-holders for I.T. companies. These are the Product Managers, Chief Technology Officers, Project Managers and Business Development Engineers that manage the day-to-day operations of a business while being assisted by various software and tools such as Crystal Reports, the Microsoft Office suite, PeopleSoft and many others.

9.)    Web Development and Administration – this involves the design, development and maintenance of websites. You can either be a Web designer, a Web administrator or even a Webmaster to become involved in this field. Working knowledge of a variety of web development tools such as PHP, HTML, JavaScript and CMS such as Word press, Joomla, etc. are very important for those seeking to build a web development career.

10.)      Security and Compliance – Last but not least, companies require security experts in order to maintain the confidentiality and security of information within the company. Security and Compliance professionals ensure that all data are properly encrypted, protected and accessible only to authorized parties. Data Security Administrators, IT Auditors, and Information Security Specialists are just some of the needed jobs within this field.  Expertise in various security-related tools and techniques are very important for this profession.

Were you able to find the I.T. field/discipline that fits your experience/expertise?

We hope this article helps you further understand the various skill categories that present worlds of opportunity for techies like you.  itprosasia.com works very hard at helping our members become the best techie that they can be.  This we do by helping techies know more about various career options, while arriving at a better understanding of their skills inventory.