Combining academic and technical training with knowledge of management, the market, and cross-functional topics is one of the ways to qualify for career advancement.
Whenever labor market experts are consulted about the most promising and future-proof professions, the activities that stand out are those related to Information Technology. Due to the speed of innovation and the need for all other areas to generate, store, and share data, sector applications multiply every year.
Information Technology is the field of knowledge responsible for creating, managing, and maintaining information governance through devices and equipment for data access, operation, and storage to assist in decision-making. Applications are numerous and linked to various areas, allowing professionals to work in segments such as databases, development, infrastructure, networks, security, resource management, among others.
Today, no organization can survive without hardware support (computers, networks, etc.) and software (programs to provide data integration), regardless of its size or business sector. This means a vast field of development for the sector and a job market for those who prepare, as the demand for qualified labor is always greater than the supply.
Opportunities
In Brazil, the shortage is 40,000 professionals and is projected to reach 117,000 by 2015, according to IDC Consultancy. In Santa Catarina, there are 8,000 open positions, and due to a lack of options, many companies seek professionals outside the state or choose to open branches elsewhere to fill their teams, which ultimately increases operational costs.
The greatest difficulty for hiring companies is the lack of training combined with the immediate mindset of candidates, assures businesswoman Maria Ignêz Keske, partner at WK Sistemas, an ERP developer from Blumenau. “The market is hot, offering great opportunities, but the pace of education cannot keep up with the speed of demands. Another challenge is dealing with the traits of Generation Y, who have many aspirations and impatience to achieve them. Keeping these young people motivated is a challenge“.
To encourage professionals, companies have been investing in qualification through training and internship programs. “We are hiring people to train them within the company, besides offering benefits and adopting a relaxed work environment style where employees can balance their professional activity with their personal interests“, states Elinton Marçal, director of SCI Sistemas Contábeis.
Teclógica also values education, to the extent that it established its own University with the mission of training professionals in new technologies and providing the community with access to free courses. “It was the way we found to supply our own demands“, says Jussamara Ferreira Vedana, coordinator of Organizational Human Development.
Market
Since the IT sector does not face long-term burnout risks, the investment candidates make to specialize will have a guaranteed return. “Opportunities are not just in the region or in Brazil. The pursuit of quality labor by major world centers is a reality“, says Professor Nader Ghoddosi, Ph.D. student in Systems Automation Engineering and coordinator of Information Technology courses at UNIASSELVI in Indaial and Blumenau.
The opportunity for an international career knocked on the door of IT Support Operations Director Eduardo Koch, currently stationed at Albany International’s headquarters in the United States. “I started in a helpdesk call center at a Microsoft partner, which led to the invitation from Albany. I participated in various IT projects, system implementations, and the company’s structured cabling network. From contact with colleagues at headquarters and integrated projects came the invitation to join the corporate team in the United States“.
Koch analyzes that Brazil is living through a very good era, with high demand and quality in IT services, making the profession promising, with great opportunities for development and growth, as well as good compensation.
Investing in the resume is a must
IT professions attract younger people who have been familiar with technologies and the virtual world from an early age. Many are self-taught, but they need to think about the future and invest in education to acquire computing fundamentals and profession concepts, developing skills, competencies, and attitudes that prepare them to evolve in their professional careers.
This preparation necessarily involves academic training, according to Nader Ghoddosi. Self-taught experience is important to get started, but a degree or specialization can boost growth opportunities. “It is easier to secure a placement or job upgrade for those who study. At UNIASSELVI, 90% of students in the field are already employed in the market“, he reveals.
Knowledge of management, the commercial market, and cross-functional topics associated with their activity is also essential. “Software does not exist by itself. It is a solution for another area, from which I need information to develop the best response for my client. Therefore, you cannot enter a bubble and think only about technology. You must have a vision of what happens around you in order to evolve“, states Elinton Marçal.
More than technical skills, companies also value attributes such as responsibility, commitment, and proactivity. “Those who propose to do something extra, who add value to the company, will certainly be rewarded“, explains Maria Ignêz Keske.
Desired profile
- Interest in acquiring and constantly updating knowledge (academic, technical, and practical);
- Fluency in English and notions of logic;
- Commitment and responsibility toward work, the team, and the company;
- Interpersonal relationship skills;
- Proactivity, curiosity, and interest in presenting solutions;
- Identification with the profession, the area of activity, and the company;
- Having good networking skills and staying connected with regional and global news;
- Being attentive to market opportunities and different technologies that can generate business for the company;
- Understanding that professional (and salary) growth is the result of one’s own efforts (first and foremost), through investments in personal education and qualification.
Source: Jornal de Santa Catarina – 02/11/2014.
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