Graduates considering a job in the world of IT and web security need to combine technical know-how with an ability to communicate often complicated ideas in an understandable and accurate way. Window Snyder, the 32-year-old head of security (official job title: chief security something-or-other) for web browser developer Mozilla, told USA Today that the most "fun" part of her career is using her programming and software knowledge to identify where security loopholes existing in an application. As security chief for a consumer-facing product like the Firefox web browser, Ms Snyder, who started learning computer programming at the age of 5, also has to make complex technical issues understandable to a variety of users. Mozilla chairman Mitchell Baker said: "She is effective and respected among several constituencies: nitty-gritty geeks, customers and the general public." According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, network and web security jobs are part of the burgeoning computer systems design industry, a sector that is set to experience "rapid growth". Between 2006 and 2016, the sector if forecast to grow by 38 per cent, adding some 489,000 new jobs. In 2006, DOL figures show weekly earnings for production and non-supervisory staff in the industry averaged $1,265, compared to a US industry average of $568.  |