IT graduates could improve their chances of career progression by augmenting their academic and technical qualifications with an understanding of the mechanics of business. Yeo Gek Cheng, a director with IT and telecommunications consultancy Hudson Singapore, told silicon.com that while degree qualifications give IT professionals the technical skills they need to perform, they also need to understand the "business food chain" as their actions will ultimately affect their employer's bottom line. She added that many companies are now looking for IT graduates to demonstrate a grasp of business skills alongside their technological know-how during the recruitment process - particularly when it comes to more senior roles. "It is certainly a criterion employers look for at all levels of IT now," Ms Yeo said. IT careers cover a number of disciplines from web design and software engineering to systems analysis and support specialists. According the US Department of Labor, software engineering is forecast to one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country, with the number of positions in the sector projected to expand by 38% between 2006 and 2016. Around 29% of software engineers work in computer systems design and related areas.  |