journey

PHOENIX FOCUS | Industry spotlight
Industry spotlight
Information Systems
and Technology
Chances are that the latest advances in your
industry—whatever it is—have something to do
with technology.
“Data will be one of the biggest
pushes in the next three to
five years.”
Kirsten E. Hoyt, Ed.D.
careers should make it their business to be prepared. Most hot
technology jobs in the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational
Outlook Handbook require a bachelor’s degree-level education or
higher, and many specialized roles require industry certifications
and continuing education so candidates stay up-to-date on the
latest technology.
In addition to degree programs and IT certifications, good
old-fashioned soft skills are still necessary for success, too.
“Things like attention to detail and common courtesy often are
overlooked,” reminds Hoyt. “Communication, the ability to work
in teams—we hear employers asking for a lot of those skills.”
Roller agrees. “You can’t have a straight IT mentality,” she says,
affirming that soft skills are crucial moving forward.
By Julie Wilson
What’s new in your job? Chances are that the latest advances
in your industry—whatever it is—have something to do with
technology. Just as innovations in technology impact the way jobs
are done, the way employees should prepare for those jobs has
changed.
There are plenty of opportunities for job candidates who make it
their business to stay even or ahead of the technology curve. The
Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in computer
and information technology occupations is projected to grow 12
percent from 2014 to 2024. That’s faster than the average for all
occupations. Here’s a look at the trends behind these jobs and how
to prepare for them.
A little thing called big data
You’d be hard-pressed to find a corner of the world that hasn’t
become reliant upon technology—and the data these tools amass.
Those smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearable devices we’ve
become so dependent upon spend their lives collecting byte-sized
pieces of information. According to tech-giant IBM, 2.5 quintillion
bytes of data are collected each day, with 90 percent of the world’s
data coming into existence over the course of the last few years
alone.
This jaw-dropping statistic raises the question, just what do we do
with all this information?
Forward-thinking organizations are strategizing how to use
it. A forecast by market research company International Data
Corporation (IDC) shows that the market for big data technology
and services will grow at a 26.4 percent compound annual growth
rate to $41.5 billion by the end of 2018. That’s six times faster than
the overall information technology market.
According to Kirsten E. Hoyt, Ed.D., academic dean for University
of Phoenix’s College of Information Systems and Technology,
“Data will be one of the biggest pushes in the next three to five
years.”
Where there’s growth, there are opportunities for individuals
and organizations willing and able to create solutions to meet the
demand. The anticipated boom in data-related jobs will include
data operations managers, database administrators, data analysts,
software engineers, computer and information research scientists
and chief data officers.
Under lock and key
In the modern age, there’s a trail of zeros and ones that leads
back to just about every individual on the planet. Whenever we
click “purchase” on a retail website, check our bank balance on a
smartphone or pre-register online for a doctor’s appointment, we
leave behind identifying information about ourselves.
New innovations have created a standard of click-of-the-mouse
convenience that consumers are growing to expect from
businesses great and small. The problem is that modern-day
crooks also are tech-savvy, and the price of their crimes is steep.
According to the 2014 McAfee Report on the Global Cost of
Cybercrime, cybercrime costs the global economy more than $445
billion each year.
Dawn M. Roller, MBA, vice president of University of Phoenix’s
College of Information Systems & Technology’s strategic
partnerships, has met with leading cyber companies who predict
that two sectors will be hit especially hard by cyber crime in the
coming year: hospitals and education. Many of those organizations
have adopted electronic records management technologies, but
some of those are ancient technology systems, while others have a
technology system with cyber security tools in place.
Additionally, the devices consumers rely on to conduct their
day-to-day business, such as smartphones and tablets, leave
consumers even more vulnerable to identity theft than before, as
does readily available code-it-yourself software. “If an average Joe
can make your smartphone app, then an average Joe can hack your
smartphone app,” cautions Roller.
Jobs in cybersecurity include information security analysts,
computer systems analysts, computer systems engineers and
systems software developers. The study by Burning Glass
Technologies revealed that there is a demand for cybersecurity
professionals with a background in finance, health care and retail
trade, too.
Coding knowledge
With strong job growth expected in the field of information
systems and technology, job seekers who are serious about their
The ability to code is no longer enough. The most eligible
job candidates have a broad skill set that includes emotional
intelligence coupled with an array of technical capabilities and
strategic insight. “The people who are really successful in the IT
industry are those who can put the technology in your hands,
protect it and advance it,” Roller asserts.
A college degree in Information Systems & Technology can
help professionals hone specialized expertise, as can certificate
programs like the University of Phoenix Advanced Networking
Certificate. “We stay very close with industry experts,” says Hoyt
of the University’s program and certificate offerings. “It’s the best
way to keep our curriculum current and relevant.”
For more information on the University of Phoenix information
systems and technology-related certificates, visit phoenix.edu/
programs/continuing-education/certificate-programs.html. Learn
more about IT industry certifications at http://www.phoenix.edu/
colleges_divisions/technology/it-certifications.html.
Hoyt sums up the appeal of the IT field for individuals looking
for open-ended career opportunities. “Whether you’re working
the register at a fast food restaurant or have a corporate job,
technology is prevalent everywhere. It needs to be serviced,
operated, managed, maintained and supported. For me, IS&T is a
great place to be.”
38 PHOENIX FOCUS | Spring 2016
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