Computers & Information Technology - Career Prospects and Salaries

Prospects

Indian computer professionals have carved a niche for themselves in the global software market due to their creative excellence. Multinational information technology firms recognising this fact have opened offices in technology parks and export promotion zones. Software professionals are increasingly finding project based assignments overseas with international giants such as Microsoft, Intel or their subsidiaries in India.

Leading Info tech firms in India - NIIT, TCS, HCL, CMC also offer promising career opportunities to computer professionals in software development, marketing and education. In this rapidly developing industry there are noticeable shifts in professional demands. With the increasing use of telecommunication engineering, the industry now requires hybrid engineers who have a combination of telecom and software engineering skills. They are in demand for the post of network engineers who can be compared to the systems programmers working on computer mainframes. Software engineers or Information engineers are required for companies relying on on-line transactions processing using clients and servers in geographically different places, a high degree of reliability is essential. Also, performance bottlenecks, have to be quickly identified. Information engineers are required to find generic solutions to specific problem, hardware - oriented to software, processor bias to telecommunication bias.

In this rapidly growing field of Information technology Cyber-Engineers work with Cyber-Technicians, Cyber-Businessman, Cyber-Lawyers, Cyber-Psychologists and Cyber-Linguists. The technical areas of operation are in Computer systems, Distributed Systems, Software engineering, Data and Knowledge Engineering. Training in ERP offers tremendous potential to professionals intending to join consultancies to offer ERP services. E- Commerce offers opportunities for marketing professionals with training in Web designing and management.

Professional Growth is determined by :

* Technological competence, computing skills, exposure to office automation technologies

* Skill updating through management

* Participation in development programmes, seminars and workshops updating through current publications

* Professional skills as well as dynamism, commitment, flexibility, and adaptability

* Excellent verbal and written communication skills

* Customer care and interest in customer satisfaction

* Initiative and ingenuity as well as adaptability

* Creativity for developing products, business strategy.

* Quick understanding, interpretation and sharp communication to the team and prompt deliverance

* Cost consciousness and business orientation

* Good team spirit with leadership skills and motivation

* Integrating personal goals with organisational objectives through careful identification of the most suitable area of work.

Earnings/Job positions

The following table shows who earns and what(approximate figures) :

Post & Qualification              Experience   Salary in Indian firms     Salary in foreign firms

Sales Executive,                           4-6 years       2-10 lakh (p.a.)                3 lakhs

System analyst,                                                                                            15 lakhs (p.a.)

Post graduate, MCA/B.Tech

Systems Programmer                  6-8 years       2.5 lakh to 5 (p.a.)           6 lakhs to 10

Software consultant                                                                                     lakhs (p.a.)

Engineer + MBA/MCA

Senior management                    10 years        4 lakhs to 1200000/-       (no limit) according

MBA/MCA/Engg. + MBA                                      (p.a.)                                to career profile

Database managers,                    5-8yrs            Rs.45,000/- to 65,000/-    same as above

Database Architect BE/B.Tech/MCA    

Database Administrator               3-5yrs            Rs. 30,000-40,000           (no limit) according

BE/B.Tech/ MCA                                                                                           to career profile

Database Programmer                 3 years          Rs.15,000-25,000            same as above

B.E/B.Tech/MCA

Systems Analysts, Chief              5-8 yrs           Rs 45,000 – 65,000          same as above

Systems Analyst/Consultant                              Larger organisations

BE/B.Tech or MCA                                              typically pay 20% more

Senior Lead Analyser                  3-5yrs            Rs. 30,000 - 40,000         same as above

BE/B.Tech/MCA                                                  

Systems Analyst                           3yrs               Rs. 15,000-25,000           same as above

B.E/B.Tech/MCA

Web designer                               Starting         Rs. 8,000- Rs. 10,000.     same as above

TV graphics, Web ads,

animation, multimedia
and gaming software

Adobe Photo shop 5.5,
Coreldraw 9, Adobe
Illustrator 8, Dream Weaver,
Flash 3, Fire Works
and Director.

Web marketing executive            Starting         Rs. 5,000-6,000.              same as above

                                                       some Exp      Rs.10,000 – 12,000

Asst. Manager                              2 years          Rs. 25,000 – Rs. 30,000.