E-Paper
Information Technology
Information Technology
This was the 'magic' sector that changed India's image and to an extent her fate in recent times. Suddenly, people world over spoke not of India's poverty and population. First, to catch the fancy were 'geeks' heading major IT conglomerates in America, then the surge of software professionals sweeping across IT companies in San Jose and rest of Silicon Valley. Finally, small to medium sized IT software companies in obscure cities in India that made life easy for companies in the West. Suddenly Bangalore and Hyderabad spelt magic for Indians and the world at large.
Heard of the number of millionaires in Infosys?
The sector has and still remains evergreen. The jobs market is huge and shows a steady growth.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
For close to five years Information Technology has been India's magic phrase for economic boom. The ever changing, ever evolving field keeps throwing up new job profiles every few years. A spin off of IT, is Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES).
The entry-level jobs are as follows:
a) Software Engg: Programmer
b) Systems Engineering & Networking: Junior Networking Executive
c) Information Systems Management: Junior MIS Executive
d) BPO: Agent
EXPECTED REMUNERATION
Across all the above-mentioned four sections the salary would range between Rs 7,500-Rs 10,000.
SOCIAL STANDING
Well respected. People associate IT as a high-paying sector with a healthy environment and opportunities to travel abroad.
YEARS OF TRAINING REQUIRED
MCA degree: 4 years after 12th grade
GNIIT: 3+1 years after 12th grade
PLACES TO TRAIN
NIIT, MCA in major universities across India. Note: This sector calls for adaptability and quick uptake. The rate of change of curriculum is very high. Though a degree from a formal institution may carry greater respectability, Syllabus doesn't tend to keep pace with change in technology.
PLACEMENT
1. 1,000+ software companies (exporters). Of these the Top 200 companies would typically need 100+ professionals while the rest 80 would need 80+ people.
2. 2,000+ top industries IT departments
3. Indian infrastructure/hardware providers
4. Indian IT software providers
CHANCES OF GOING ABROAD
Very high but on project basis. Some could be posted there as well.
WORK HOURS
Long working hours, dependent on deadlines
PERKS/OTHER BENEFITS
Environment is warm, fun-filled and very friendly. Non-formal dressing is the norm. There's always an open, learning environment, salary is competitive, intellectually stimulating and very professional.
The facts and figures quoted here are indicative, not exhaustive. These are broad industry estimates and do not pertain to any particular company.
For getting an overall picture of the IT industry HindustanTimes.com spoke to Sanjeev Kataria, Head, Corporate Communications, NIIT in Delhi.
