What is IT, how do you start with it, and what are its specialties?

What is IT?

The word IT is an abbreviation of the English term (Information Technology), which is a broad term and has many meanings.

Information Technology (IT) relates to the applications of modern technology in order to analyze, develop and build systems and improve the performance and productivity of institutions and projects, and when we talk about applications of modern technologies, we mainly mean intelligent computers.

Smart computers are not just computers but also include all other devices used such as network infrastructure, telephone systems, printers, price code readers, etc.

The definition of information technology includes hardware (everything that is physical and tangible devices such as data storage units, computers with all their components, network infrastructure, etc.).

It also includes software (that is, anything related to intangible assets such as programs, operating systems, databases, and information used to develop and improve business performance).

It should be noted here that the term information technology is mainly used to express technological applications in the world of business and projects… Let me explain what I mean by this.

At the end of the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution occurred in Europe, as you know, this revolution was based on the concept of mechanization, which was applied in almost everything.

Tasks that take many months are now completed in hours through the application of mechanization, and there are factories that produce millions of products daily, and since then the world has completely changed.

As for the information technology we speak of today…it is the product of the technological revolution that began in the 20th century and is still evolving to this day.

With which the concept of technological applications appeared, through which it became possible to process a huge amount of information and data, solve many problems that were impossible to solve before, save time…etc.

What can IT give it:

They may have computers with powerful inventory management software so that the production stage and the sales stage are linked more advantageously for them.
He can make this program available to all decision-makers in all plant disciplines via the Internet.
It can use smart printers connected to a computer to produce an infinite number of patterns.
They can create a website to market products.

Here, information technology will provide Shaima with a lot of opportunities and make him make wise decisions that will benefit his work, save his time and avoid many problems (such as the accumulation of products in the stores, for example).

It should be noted that Shaima as a business owner will benefit from information technology, and on the other hand, there are others who will benefit from getting job opportunities in the information technology field, as it will need:

Programmer to program inventory management software.
She will need a network engineer to build a network for her factory and employees.
You will need a website developer to create a website for their factory.
You will need specialists to operate, maintain and develop all the hardware and software used in its factory.

The wonderful thing is that every business owner can apply information technology to improve their work, and anyone who has a skill in the field of information technology can use that skill to get employment, whether permanent or independent.

The Importance of Information Technology (IT)

The most important benefits provided by information technology, through which the importance of this technology for every project is evident today:

1. Information technology has become a parallel world

You see that the largest and most widespread companies in the world are primarily IT-based companies (Google, Facebook, Amazon, Uber, Alibaba).

In these companies, there are thousands of people who work directly and there are millions who receive an indirect benefit.

The wonderful thing is that you don't have to invent big ideas like Google and Facebook to enter the world of information technology, but you can enter this world through the narrowest ways and the easiest.

For example, creating an account on one of the specialized sites and providing a small service in the field of IT to those who need it, or developing a small program for recording data in your company.

2. Information technology has made marketing more innovative

Those who work in (digital marketing) have understood this well, because there are innovative ways to target and engage with audiences and give stores the ability to make sales directly to customers while shopping. 'they are in their house.

In fact, if we talk about the relationship between marketing and information technology, we will need books and volumes, because digital marketing is mainly based on technology and the data it provides and the methods of communication fast.

3. IT enhances opportunities for innovation and creativity

When it comes to smart computers and software, there is a great opportunity to come up with new ideas and new ways to improve and grow a business.

To understand this, you just need to monitor social media sites to find that these sites are constantly adding new features and functionality, as well as creative ways to communicate and interact among users.

4. Information technology enables organizations to provide better customer service

You have a problem with internet service, for example, so you contact customer service to find someone who has the ability to directly examine the quality of your service, and thanks to their information and modern technology in most cases, he can solve your problem immediately.

Here, via the Internet, the customer service agent can search the database and find a solution to the problem within minutes.

5. IT saves time

With a very simple example: you go to a store and fill the basket, and when you go to the checkout, you find that it just puts the product code in front of a small device.

At the end, an invoice appears with the names and prices of all the products and the total amount due.

It is a simple computer application, without which the process of buying and selling could never be completed so quickly, easily, and almost without error.

6. Information technology provides solutions to problems

Thanks to the tools provided by computer applications, many complex problems can be solved, in our previous example on the Shaimaa plant. Information technology will provide Shaimaa with the ability to accurately monitor inventory, thus avoiding many inventory-related issues.

Information technology also gives businesses accurate systems in everything to facilitate many things, without which it would be very difficult to deal with many short and long-term problems.

The most important IT specializations in the world

I will now introduce you to the most important branches of the field of information technology in general, and I will explain the role that each specialization plays, the most important functions or tasks required there, and the skills that must be possessed by all who perform these tasks.

1. web development

Web development is part of programming in general, but it is considered to be the simplest part, which may not depend on complex calculations and systems, but depends more on creativity and development.

There are many examples of what web developers do, but perhaps the most famous of them are creating websites, web applications, data collection and analysis scripts, and applications. mobiles.

This specialization depends on knowing the requirements of users and the obstacles that stand in their way to achieving a specific goal and then creating programs and applications that meet these requirements while providing a good user experience.

Web developers need to provide necessary information to users so that they can manage these applications smoothly, so this specialization requires a lot of effort.

This specialization requires the knowledge of several programming languages in order to choose those that are suitable for performing various tasks such as:

HTML and CSS for building the infrastructure of websites and applications.
The JavaScript language and its frameworks for logical operations and various applications.
PHP and Python are very versatile, especially for building databases.
Kotlin and Swift for building mobile apps.

There are many programming languages that can be used, and it depends on the tasks required, or the type of work done by the web developer, whether he is responsible for the virtual part of applications and sites.

2. programming

Programmers have a very important role in the process of building relatively large and complex systems and programs, such as operating systems (Windows - Linux - Mac) that require great knowledge of computer rules.

The programmer is the person responsible for correcting defects, reviewing the written code of any system or application, and ensuring that it is connected to the organization's or company's approved data storage systems.

This is why this specialization requires knowledge of basic and more complex programming languages such as C++ and Java, as these are the languages that computer scientists rely on to develop modern programming languages, so any capable programmer must understand them.

In addition, programmers must know the mathematical and statistical rules used, such as the basic algorithms, in order to be able to perform complex logical operations easily.

For this, you will find that giant corporations such as Google and Microsoft depend on programmers to build and develop complex programs and systems, such as the Internet browsers you use or Microsoft Office programs.

This specialization has many functions, the best known of which are:

Data scientist.
Software engineer.
System architect.
Graphic developer.
There are also other functions that depend on the type of programming languages and frameworks one relies on to perform certain tasks.

3. Hardware and technical support

This is the specialty that the word “computing” designates for all those who work there, especially in the Arab world, to the point that some people think that this specialty is the only job in this field.

This specialization is intended to provide technical support to users and employees, who do not have experience or knowledge in the field of information technology in general.

Therefore, this major does not require a deep knowledge of information technology or computer science, but it does require knowledge of the basics of computer work and the different pieces of hardware, as well as the operating systems and programs used.

Those who work in this specialty are the technical support department you contact in most technology-related businesses or departments, and they are the technical support department in most institutions and businesses that rely on computers and the Internet in general.

Their main task is to help you repair breakdowns and to provide the required reports to the departments concerned in the event of repeated breakdowns or malfunctions in order to repair them definitively.

4. Information security and protection systems

This specialty is most in need of continuous development, because there is something new every day in the world of information technology, and because everyone wants to get this information, this specialty has become very popular over the past few years. last twenty years.

This specialization depends on an understanding of networks, mechanisms for disseminating information, knowledge of computers, various encryption mechanisms and methods of communication between different operating systems and programs.

The jobs or tasks required in this specialty largely depend on the ability to analyze information and perform tests on systems and programs on an ongoing basis. Perhaps the best known of these are:

Information Security Engineer Cyber Security Engineer.
Security Analyst.

These professions vary by experience: there are protection engineers - as I said - all they need to know to rely on and use different protection programs, and there are those whose task is to design these programs themselves, and there are those who work in the field of analysis and management.

Incidentally, this specialization is the main reason for the emergence of the famous blockchain technology which will have huge applications in the near future.

5. Network Engineering

This specialty is very popular and widely recognized in the world of information technology since it depends on a perfect knowledge of the various Internet systems, as well as the hardware on which any system depends.

All this with the aim of creating a specific framework for the transfer of data between individuals of any institution or organization quickly and securely according to specific rules.

This is why you will find that communications engineering graduates make up the majority of those working in this field, as they study networks of all kinds and they have the ability to handle all kinds of the necessary hardware.

6. computer systems

This specialization depends on a complete understanding of the IT field in general, so it requires a great deal of experience as it relates to hardware, software, networks, and any external systems that any organization depends on for information.

That is why systems analysts or those responsible for them (system administrators) have a great influence on the decisions of any organization, and they constantly direct the rest of the departments to carry out the tasks required of them.

Jobs related to this specialization are only available to people with extensive experience in one or more of the specializations we mentioned earlier, especially the networking specialty.

Basic skills in the field of IT

Whatever specialization you are interested in in the field of information technology (IT), there are several basic skills that anyone working in this field must possess, regardless of their position, the type of tasks that are required of them.

These skills are required by all companies to hire anyone in the field of IT, as they are necessary to succeed in this field, so we will discuss each of them in detail.

These skills are not only to put in your CV, but you must assimilate them well in order to do your job to the fullest.

1. communication skills

Working in the IT field requires continuous cooperation because often a particular project is implemented by a large team and not by a single individual. This communication is very important.

In addition, each specific project or task is carried out in cooperation between several departments of the same organization, such as the marketing and public relations department, the research and development department, and the customer service.

That is why those who work in this field must know how to communicate with people fluently and present their ideas in a picture that everyone simply understands, especially those who have no technical background in this field.

2. Data analysis skills

Often, reports and information on the market situation and opinion polls are presented to users or customers of all companies. Data analysis skills are therefore essential.

This skill allows you to read between the lines and know the steps to take to solve any dysfunction or develop a particular process to obtain better results.

3. creativity skills

The web developer or programmer, and even the network engineer, must have a creative sense that allows them to think outside the box and put an artistic touch on a particular service or system to make it comfortable and usable.

Remember that the job of someone working in IT is to make life easier for people in general by using technology in their hands, and people generally prefer artistic creative touches in any product or service.

That's why companies are always looking for creatives who think outside the box, not the traditional people who copy and paste or blindly follow the popular.

4. Problem-solving skills

Any problem that needs to be solved in a systematic way has certain steps, and the more a person knows about the tools they rely on, the simpler the solution to any problem.

That's why companies always ask for people who think things through and make the right decisions as soon as possible to overcome obstacles. Because problems and flaws constantly appear, there must be a system to deal with them.

Possession of these skills, in addition to the scientific knowledge necessary in the chosen specialization, is the way to obtain a job in the field of information technology.

How to get started in the IT field

When I explained to you what IT is and got to know its different specialties or fields, I wanted to put you next to each job the average salary you earn.

But I found that this question can affect your choice, especially if you only think about money... At the same time, I want to help you choose the specialization in which to start your journey in the world of technologies. information.

That's why I've decided to help you in a practical way…to walk you through the steps you need to take and all the resources you might need to implement those steps.

The basics that you need to master before you start learning IT

1. Good level of English

The English language is a major requirement to deal with technology in general, and it is a very basic requirement for working in the IT field.

2. Self-learning ability

Self-study in a nutshell is the ability to extract information on your own through courses, articles, and courses available on the internet.

Self-learning is an essential characteristic for anyone working in the field of information technology, every day there is something new… That's why you must be a person who loves to learn and who wants to learn and obtain information from its sources.

This skill depends on your passion for what you are learning, and at the same time your ability to discipline yourself and have patience to get what you want.

3. Ability to search on the Internet efficiently

When I started researching and learning in the field of programming, I researched the most famous programmers in the world at the time, and found in one of the interviews that someone said that about 40% of his working time was spent on research.

This fact frankly shocked me at first, and at the same time made me love this field more and more… That's why you have to learn how to look for information.

Research not only requires using search engines more effectively, but also includes knowledge of the most important forums and sites in your field, which allow you to communicate with the greatest number of specialists in your field to exchange information and experiences.

These platforms differ from field to field, and don't worry, you will discover the most important ones alone, and most of these sources will be covered in the courses I will recommend to you later.

I strongly recommend that you read the article: Google Search Secrets (How to Get Exactly What You Want), in which you will find a lot of useful information about searching on Google.

Since you are a person who is going to specialize in information technology, you must take advantage of certain basics offered by this technology,

4. Ability to work with computers

It is obvious that you know:

How the computer works in general and the basic elements that compose it.
Different types of computers.
Common operating systems (Mac - Windows - Linux) and the general differences between them.
This is in addition to knowing how to handle some famous programs like (Microsoft Office), and here are the best sources you can rely on for that.
The free basic computer science course offered by GCF International (a simple course based on videos and illustrations and is a great resource for beginners)
Obtaining an approved ICDL certificate (there are many specialized training centers in all countries that offer practical training and an examination based on this certificate).
There are also many colleges that offer this certificate (especially engineering schools) almost for free.
Watch the popular Crash Course Computer Science series on YouTube (this video course will show you how the idea of computers started, how it developed, and how programming languages work).

How to choose the right specialization for you in the field of IT

1. Find your passion

Personally, I loved programming because I was attached to computers and their use… Over time, I discovered that I liked building websites, developing web applications, searching for data, collecting and analyzing it.

You have to do the same, maybe you like mobile games and want to make games like them, or maybe you like computers a lot and know everything about their parts and even assemble and fix them their flaws.

So why not choose IT support or network engineering.

2. Search different job sites

If you have practical experience in the market or want to search for what you need, you should go to the various job sites scattered throughout the countries of the Arab world.

Look into IT jobs in general and look for:

The number of jobs offered in each specialty.
The tasks required in each specialty.
The technology you need to learn in each discipline.
Salaries in each major (if applicable).
And start comparing, you can choose the major that requires less skill because you don't have a lot of time to learn... or you can choose the easiest major.

Or maybe you learn the most demanded specialty on the market to secure yourself a job… Or maybe you choose the best-paid specialty.

3. Search on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is one of the best platforms where professionals from all fields come together and you will find:

Tips, advice, and articles from specialists in all fields.
Job offers from many companies.
You can contact anyone on the platform to ask their opinion or benefit from their experience.

You can consider LinkedIn as the Facebook of professionals, so I advise you to make good use of it in research and communicate with professionals in the specialty that interests you to ask them for advice and compare between the different disciplines that interest you.

4. You have to realize that you can change your course at any time

There are many IT professionals who change their specialization often... As I mentioned earlier, every day there is something new.

These professionals also have the capacity for rapid self-learning – which we talked about above – which allows them to learn anything quickly and adapt to it.

You too can reach this stage, so I don't want you to waste a lot of time researching and comparing different disciplines because you may change it in the future.

Just do a little research and comparison and start your learning and development journey right away.

VILADOS

What is IT, how do you start with it, and what are its specialties?