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INDUSTRY NEWS


29 May 2009

Attitudes towards IT careers 'changing'


Modern gadgets such as iPods and the internet are changing attitudes towards IT careers, one expert believes.

This could lead to more young people and specifically women entering the male-dominated industry, according to the chairman of the British Computer Society's Young Professionals Group (BCS) Jennifer Hewitt.

A recent study by the BCS of 16 to 30-year-olds revealed that 57 per cent now believe that 'those without IT skills will struggle at work.'

It is this acceptance of the importance of IT which Ms Hewitt believes will lead more young people into the industry.

She said that the industry is losing its geeky image and is now "about inventing all these really cool things that everybody uses on a daily basis now and have sort of revolutionised how we live".

Parental opinion also affects which career path young people take and these attitudes are also changing, according to Ms Hewitt.

"Some parents are sort of wise as well to the fact that IT is quite a profitable business and a place where you can potentially earn quite a good salary being an IT professional," she added.<br/>

© 2006 Adfero Ltd.

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