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Industry Spotlight: Information Technology (IT)

Are you an analytic thinker who likes solving problems and troubleshooting hardware or network issues? Do you speak techie? But then are you able to pivot and speak non-techie to technologically-challenged parents?

If any of these questions resonate with you, the IT industry may be a fit for you.

What is the information technology industry?

The IT sector is comprised of companies and individuals who produce software/hardware equipment or provide internet-related services. Companies rely on computer technicians and analysts to maintain their internal networks, replace aging equipment, and keep their data secure from malware and security threats.

As cloud computing and data storage become more affordable, more powerful and ever changing, a robust IT workforce is as important as ever for the success of businesses across all industries.

What kind of jobs are available, and how much do they pay?

IT jobs cut across all industries, but here are some of the positions you can land in the field. Salary information listed is the average annual salary according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Glassdoor.

  • Cyber/IT Security Analyst ($111,780)
  • Ethical Hacker Analyst ($70,501)
  • CISCO Network Engineer ($102,358)
  • Field Engineer ($72,050)
  • Network/Computer Administrators ($93,860)
  • Computer/Network Support Specialists ($73,050)

What kind of training is available?

FastForward has several different trainings under its IT umbrella. Here are the credentials we help train our students for:

  • CISCO Certified Entry Networking Technician, Associate, and Professional
  • CompTIA A+, Network+, and Server+
  • Microsoft MTA Networking Fundamentals and Server Administration Fundamentals

Is there more information about the IT industry, and the people who make it their career?

Here are a handful of stories that highlight the field, including success stories from our own program.

  • Heather was looking to boost her career chances in the IT field, but her local four-year program didn’t offer the support or financial resources she needed. FastForward did, and now she has earned three CompTIA certifications: A+, Network+ and Security+. Read her story here.
  • The New York Times shares how job training is becoming a path to a white-collar career without college debt.
  • The Niehauses were the first married couple to participate in a FastForward training that would prepare them for new careers together. Both of their tuition was supported by FastForward and other financial assistance. Read about their IT journey here.

Not all trainings are offered at every college, and they change based on the workforce in each region. The best way to find out if a training is offered near you is to contact your local FastForward Career Coach.