IT Analyst

Education and Training: Bachelor’s degree
Average Salary:$60,000 annually
Job Outlook:Very good

The job of an IT Analyst is to develop or design computer solutions. This individual works closely with the company’s management so as to identify the plans and goals of the corporation to create instant developments on the system.
An IT Analyst works to find the solutions for increasing the productivity and improving the efficiency of the business. They study the problem and complete the required planning. As per the planning, they suggest the solutions, promote software and systems, and then coordinate the problem solving process, while taking care of the business standards and the requirements.
It is the job of the IT Analyst to develop and implement the most efficient and cost-effective solutions while making sure that the computer systems are safe and secure from any problems like viruses or spyware.
The IT analyst first studies the current situation and identifies the needs of the company. Once the needs are identified, the IT analyst puts forward what the requirements are, which computer systems are required, or if the present system can be improved. It is their job to find out the potential solutions and check them for both technical and business compatibility. Along with the operating systems, an IT Analyst has to configure and install the required hardware. Another important job of an IT analyst is to get computers in a company’s system to work collectively. IT Analysts conduct research on the new technologies to offer the best possible and most efficient support.

Education and Training Requirements

A High School degree then a Bachelor’s degree in information technology, information management, computer engineering, computer science or any IT related field is normally the basic requirement for this job. Some training to enhance IT skills or gaining computer experience will add value to your profile.
Completing a master’s degree in business will be a big plus as this would enable you learn about organizing data, project management methodology, and better understand business practices.
To be successful as an IT Analyst strong communication skills, good ability to investigate and analyze information, and excellent IT skills and knowledge are a must.

Getting the Job

Nowadays, the use of computers in business management and other industries is increasing. To ensure the security and to develop or design computer solutions, the requirement of IT Analysts is no doubt increasing. With the latest Internet and wireless technologies, more jobs are expected to be created. So if you have relevant qualifications, the required skills, and you keep yourself updated with the latest changes in this field, you are going to be very successful in this field.

Job Prospects, Employment Outlook and Career Development

Many experts expect the demand of IT analysts to grow much faster than average in the coming years. Nowadays almost all firms are making use of computers for running their businesses. Having a good systems analyst is a necessity. An IT analyst would tell them how the company would make use of computers for the effective running of the business.
As computer systems these days are usually placed under the many threats of hacking and viruses, having a good IT Analyst would prevent these unfortunate things from happening.
People with good education, proper training and experience have good future prospects in this field. Keeping your knowledge updated with latest technical developments in the industry will help you rise in this rising field.

Working Conditions and Environment

The working conditions for an IT analyst involve a normal office environment. Extensive use of computers is required and the work week is a normal 40 hours. Responsibilities may require late evening work or working on the weekends to meet the demands of the system.

Salary and Benefits

Salaries depend upon many factors like education, experience, and the geographic location of the job. Individuals working in urban areas no doubt earn higher wages than those working in rural settings. As per surveys usually IT analysts can earn anywhere from $43,000 to $105,000. Individuals at an entry level in this profession can earn around $45,000 yearly, and the middle portion with some experience and good reputation generally can earn from $55,000 to $88,000 annually. However professionals with good qualification, experience, and required skills can earn more than $100,000 annually.
Benefits generally include paid holidays and vacations, sick leave and health insurance.

Where to Go for More Information

Association for Computing Machinery
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
(212) 626-0500
http://www.acm.org

Emory University
Office of Admissions and Undergraduate
3263-001-1AA
1390 Oxford Rd. NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30322-1016
(404) 727-6036
(800) 727-6036
http://www.emory.edu/admission

IEEE Computer Society
1730 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 371-0101
http://www.computer.org