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What is an information technologist & senior information technologist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Ranganathan Chandrasekaran

Information technologists help companies and offices in a technological environment stay competitive and active. They help keep all computers in an office running smoothly by conducting repetitive databases and network security activities. Any company or association that uses computers at a large scale may recruit information technologists. Some also work with independent firms to deal with technical issues.

Information technologists may work independently or in communities, but they report to a senior project manager in general. The senior project manager gives information technologists special assignments periodically. These tasks are split into ordinary everyday routines and individual long-term ventures. Additionally, information technologists are responsible for technological problems which are less complicated.

Employers favor information technologists with a bachelor's degree in the field of computer science, but others may approve an associate's application if they already have job experience. While several majors are suitable for this requirement, the IT major is perfect for this career. Other valuable minors or specializations include IT systems or security of computer knowledge.

What general advice would you give to an information technologist & senior information technologist?

Ranganathan ChandrasekaranRanganathan Chandrasekaran LinkedIn profile

Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, University of Illinois

As we roll into another month of the COVID-19 pandemic, graduating students are facing one of the worst moments of their lives. They face several uncertainties; due to financial challenges, uncertainty about completing their degrees on time, adjusting to online and hybrid modes of learning, and worst of all, facing the worst job market. As a result, I see the stress and anxiety levels among the graduating students to be significantly higher, at levels I have not experienced in my academic career.

Several businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic, and they have rolled back their offers made to students for internships and jobs. Businesses have also resorted to downsizing and layoffs, and we are likely to see that continue, at least in the near term. However, two sectors that are showing promises of a quick turnaround are technology and healthcare.

It might take many months for the economy to get back on track, but the demand for information systems graduates is likely to grow, as a large number of businesses have turned to increased use of technology in this pandemic period. As more companies go digital, we need more professionals to manage the remote-work, technological infrastructure and meet the other demands of the business. Students pursuing education in information systems, computer science, and healthcare are going to be in greater demand.

On the positive side, the uncertainties induced by the pandemic have also helped students to prepare themselves better for a tougher job market. I found many students rise up and use the lockdown period to have a serious introspection and invest their time and effort in upgrading their knowledge and skills. The internship drought and rescinding of job/internship offers brought their dreams crashing down, but I found several students to quickly get over their disappointments, and engage in improving their skillsets utilizing the pandemic lockdown as an opportunity. I am aware of many students, especially in the information systems disciple, who spent time doing online courses, completing certification programs, and take up DIY projects on data analysis, developing analytical and forecasting models, and visualization of various aspects of the pandemic. The pandemic has resulted in massive amounts of data, released by several organizations worldwide, that have provided a stimulant for students to indulge in DIY-projects. I had several students approach me over summer to do some projects, and we have done some interesting projects using public datasets related to COVID-19.
ScoreInformation Technologist & Senior Information TechnologistUS Average
Salary
7.7

Avg. Salary $104,328

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.7

Growth rate 10%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 11.15%

Black or African American 10.27%

Hispanic or Latino 16.33%

Unknown 5.38%

White 56.45%

Gender

female 10.70%

male 89.30%

Age - 41
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 41
Stress level
6.7

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.6

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
7.4

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Information technologist & senior information technologist career paths

Key steps to become an information technologist & senior information technologist

  1. Explore information technologist & senior information technologist education requirements

    Most common information technologist & senior information technologist degrees

    Bachelor's

    49.0 %

    Associate

    32.0 %

    High School Diploma

    6.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific information technologist & senior information technologist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    SQL8.56%
    Troubleshoot7.48%
    Linux7.18%
    OS6.07%
    Unix5.21%
  3. Complete relevant information technologist & senior information technologist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New information technologists & senior information technologists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an information technologist & senior information technologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real information technologist & senior information technologist resumes.
  4. Research information technologist & senior information technologist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage and coordinate offshore resources in providing control validation testing for large retail company and SOX external audit.
    • Work with SQL to find employee data as well as change passwords when need.
    • Install structured cabling, network, and PC's for a new school building.
    • Support PC and laptop computers, disc drives, and computer or telecommunications systems and networks/wireless networks.
  5. Get information technologist & senior information technologist experience

    Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become an information technologist & senior information technologist. The most common roles before becoming an information technologist & senior information technologist include information technology technician, computer technician team lead and technical support specialist.
  6. Prepare your information technologist & senior information technologist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your information technologist & senior information technologist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an information technologist & senior information technologist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable information technologist & senior information technologist resume templates

    Build a professional information technologist & senior information technologist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your information technologist & senior information technologist resume.
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    Information Technologist & Senior Information Technologist Resume
  7. Apply for information technologist & senior information technologist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an information technologist & senior information technologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first information technologist & senior information technologist job

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Average information technologist & senior information technologist salary

The average information technologist & senior information technologist salary in the United States is $104,328 per year or $50 per hour. Information technologist & senior information technologist salaries range between $79,000 and $136,000 per year.

Average information technologist & senior information technologist salary
$104,328 Yearly
$50.16 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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