When someone refers to a job in “IT,” they are abbreviating “informational technology.” The term is broad and covers an array of applications and occupations. Essentially, however, those who find themselves in an IT career are responsible for managing, maintaining, transmitting, protecting, and sending information across networks. This involves managing customer, client, and employee data and ensuring its continued integrity.

What are some of the most popular information technology jobs?

An occupation whose job description is as broad as the one above has many popular applications in real-world corporations and institutions. Perhaps the most popular information technology job is that of “system administrator.” These are the people you call when your Internet has stopped working or the server has crashed. They are frequently the technical support and troubleshooting go-to people wherever they work.

Still another popular occupation among information technology professionals is that of a database administrator. These are the people who ensure the integrity of large corporate databases — whether it be from the outside threat of a malicious hacker’s attempts to steal information, or from the ongoing possibility that information may become corrupted or unusable. They’re also responsible for consistently and reliably backing up all data stored by a company in its database.

While the most popular, these are just two of the options available to those who pursue an information technology career.

How do I get started in IT?

The best place to start a career in IT is at a college or university with a strong science and technology school. There, you’ll learn the many database formats required of system and database administrators, as well as necessary programming languages. Pursuing a degree in information technology from a major university also helps ensure access to the certifications necessary to be taken seriously and paid highly as an IT professional.

For those looking to start out on a bit more affordable route, community colleges are a great alternative and have many of the same advantages as their four-year counterparts. In fact, some community colleges focus almost exclusively on their technology programs; combined with traditionally smaller class sizes, this makes a local community college a great launchpad for an IT career.

What skills will be required of me as I pursue my degree and career?

Because the occupation itself is so broad, universities are in the business of preparing their students to succeed in any avenue of IT. This means you’ll be required to know things like computer networking and information security, as well as database formats like MySQL and PostgreSQL.

Universities will expect their IT students to start with at least a basic understand of Linux and Unix-based operating systems, as these are the primary operating system used by IT professionals. They’ll typically demand courses that teach business intelligence, project management, and information technology governance.

How can I boost my chances of landing a job and getting the best salary?

Because information technology professionals are typically responsible for managing an entire department of IT people — from the system administrators to the help desk technicians — a dual degree (or simply a minor) in management or business administration will do wonders for your resume.

Remember that IT professionals are typically brought on as administrators. Things like project management and the ability to delegate tasks and solve problems are of the utmost importance. Those skills can be burnished at a university while pursuing a degree in IT.

What certifications will I, or should I, obtain before looking for a job?

Because the types of systems you may administer are quite diverse in and of themselves, it’s important to pursue certifications not only with enterprise technology giant Microsoft, but with Linux-based companies as well. For this reason, Oracle and Cisco certifications carry equal important alongside Microsoft’s own database and information certifications.

In a world characterized by online security breaches, you will almost certainly need a good set of information security certifications that prove you not only know how to keep information secure, but you know how to close any potential loopholes in a system you may be working on. Companies are looking for professionals who can prevent the public relations nightmares associated with an information breach.

Where is the occupation headed?

The information technology field is headed nowhere but up. As more and more customers store their information in far-away servers and sync their computers with their phones, IT professionals are in increasing demand. Companies like Apple have opened entire server farms that hire (and require) thousands of people to ensure the integrity of each server, of the system as a whole, and of customers’ privacy.

As demand increases and cloud computing goes mainstream, the IT professional will come into is heyday; those with a strong administrative and security background will be among the most in-demand professionals in the marketplace.