Computers and the networks that connect them are inescapably part of our lives. All industries depend on them, and the result of this dependence is a fascinating variety of career opportunities. But above all, Information Technology is about people sharing information and innovative ideas that eliminate global barriers and help increase the availability of information to everyone. For information on the I T programme call and talk to our professional team of counsellors at PATHE Academy Study Centre
Liberty Plaza,No:250 2/1, R.A De Mel Mawatha, Colombo-3. PATHE Academy has a full-time officer in charge of handling any relevant queries on 011 4642600 or 0777 558966.

Career opportunities
The IT field is expanding at an exponential rate, and there is no better time for you to be part of it. There are virtually unlimited career opportunities, and a range of types of business in which your computer skills can be utilized. Banking, film production, forestry, mining, health, manufacturing, engineering, management consulting - practically every industry uses computers and needs people to manage, use, network or programme them.

Technical skills are also very portable, which makes a career in IT very attractive to people who like to experience different cultures. People going into IT now are intelligent, interesting, creative, pragmatic, ambitious, innovative, fun and motivated. Many already have arts or business degrees and looking at their options concluded that the available jobs either lacked challenge or rapid advancement. So they did some basic research and found that one of the best places to get a rewarding, well-paying career was information technology.

A prevalent myth is that you will deal more with machines than with people. This is completely untrue. Most IT professionals spend a great deal of time helping to develop business solutions, trying to fix problems and explaining technology. This is why communication and people skills are so important. Part of the IT professional's job is smoothing the transition to new technologies, and convincing tech-phobic people of technology's benefits.

Work schedule options
The proliferation of flexitime scheduling and part-time consulting available make it possible for individuals to juggle family and work responsibilities as never before. The sheer power of the technology and communications infrastructure now allow many job functions to be done entirely remotely, in many cases from home.

As you can see, the choices facing you mean that you have to do a lot of thinking about yourself and what you want from a school. The options are many, but with an objective assessment of your circumstances, the answers to these questions should point you to the right school for you, setting you on the best path for your new career in IT. Given the unprecedented opportunity for growth in the industry and the opportunities to work in a team environment, it is a highly attractive field to consider.