Top educational qualifications for IT jobs

 

Hiring managers of companies in India look for a bachelor’s degree either in information technology or in computer science, which are the two basic qualifications for an IT job.

These degrees (BE or B.Tech.) differ slightly in their features: while the degree course in IT focuses on the communication and business areas of computing, the computer science course may involve more of the scientific aspects of computing.

Other bachelor’s degrees that are widely accepted by hiring companies include Bachelor in Computer Applications (BCA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Computer Engineering.

You can also pursue Master’s degrees, such as M.Tech., MCA, and M.Sc. in Computers, and Master’s in Systems Management. Certification, diploma, and PG diploma programmes from reputed institutions are also available.

Those interested in an IT career need to particularly focus on mathematics, physics, and chemistry after their class 10. After class 12, they would require to take national-level or state-level entrance exams for admission to IT courses in colleges or universities.

How they perform in these tests decides their course and college, and perhaps their career prospects, to a large extent.

There are hundreds of engineering colleges offering IT courses in India, and obviously, a degree from a reputed college carries more weight. The Indian Institutes of Technology, the National Institutes of Technology, and the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, are the most sought after institutions.

There are many other reputed government and private colleges with accreditation from the All India Council for Technical Education, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, and the University Grants Commission.

Besides these degree colleges, there are institutions offering certification and diploma courses, including the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), which is under the central government.

Along with a formal degree or diploma, you will need such individual attributes as a willingness to learn, an ability to work hard, an analytical mind, good and communication skills.

A solid foundation in maths right from your high school is essential if you want to do well in college and secure a good entry-level position in a well-known company.