“I work in the IT Industry………………..and I can’t write code”

For the majority of my time in New Zealand I have worked in the media industry for reputable companies selling online and print advertising. Almost any job out there involves using technology in some capacity and my media roles were no different. However, when I joined MYOB last year it was the first IT company I have worked for. Although I am still in sales and a non-technical role, working for MYOB has opened my eyes to the endless opportunities on offer in the IT Industry.

Earlier this year I joined ICT-Connect to present to students at secondary schools about IT as a career. It is a brilliant initiative by the Institute of IT Professionals (IITP) to resolve New Zealand's IT skill shortage, and at the same time introduce young people to careers in IT. It was whilst doing this I realised that my presentation is just not for the younger generation still in school trying to work out what career path to take. There are many people looking for a new career every day and quite a few may not have considered the IT Industry, or feel they are even qualified to do so.

You do not have to be able to write code to work in this industry. If someone had told me when I left England six years ago that I would end up working for an IT company that makes accounting software for kiwi businesses, I would have laughed. Now I cannot imagine working for any other company than MYOB, and in any other industry!

IT is a fun and challenging industry due to the dynamic nature of technology. It is exciting to see the solutions that are being created before my very eyes each day I go into the office. MYOB was around before the internet took off and started as a desktop solution. Now we offer a wide range of cloud-based business management solutions in New Zealand and Australia. These days we tend to take the internet and working in the cloud for granted, but I am sure back when MYOB started in 1991 we would never have imagined the business as it is today.

Don’t get me wrong – IT is not necessarily an easy industry to be in. Constant innovation and foresight is key to staying ahead of the market. However, with the right teams in place this is an achievable challenge and I am proud to be working for a company that is doing so.

Another reason to get into IT is that it is the highest paid industry in NZ! Industries such as legal, property and banking have an average salary range of $35k-$145k. In comparison, the IT Industry has a range of $36k-$225k. Now not everyone in IT earns six figures, and you can earn $200k+ in other industries. However this range indicates there is a greater scope to earn a higher salary in the variety of roles the IT industry offers.

IT really isn’t just about sitting in an office and writing code. There are a large number of technical and non-technical roles from design to data warehousing, systems analysis to service desk, cyber-security to consulting, and of course sales. Your preferences, experience and abilities will determine the best IT role for you. For example, people in fashion have played a key role in the rise of wearable technology. Other cutting-edge technologies such as virtual reality, holograms, smart houses and driverless cars are all being developed now and not just by your stereotypical ‘nerds and geeks’ in a dark room coding.

So if you are looking for a new role or just fancy a change of career why not consider IT. Whatever your background, skills and experience, I am sure there is a role in IT to match!