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What is a senior information technology specialist and how to become one
A senior information technology specialist is an individual responsible for developing and maintaining the technology required for the day-to-day activities of the organization. Your job requires you to review and improve the efficiency and functionality of systems as well as offer technical support and solutions to other company staff. Also, you will need to regularly update or install computer software and hardware, find out the cost of repairing damaged computer items, and ensure the damaged items are properly repaired or replaced. It is also your duty to build firewalls and ensure sensitive information and company secrets are well protected.
To get a job as a senior information technology specialist, you must be able to showcase excellent problem-solving and time management skills. You must also be well organized and pay keen attention to details. A bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or computer engineering is required to get this job. The average yearly salary is $98,594 or $46.11 per hour.
What general advice would you give to a senior information technology specialist?
Ranganathan Chandrasekaran
Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, University of Illinois
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.
Avg. Salary $103,478
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 10%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%
Asian 14.13%
Black or African American 12.11%
Hispanic or Latino 14.36%
Unknown 5.25%
White 53.74%
Genderfemale 18.62%
male 81.38%
Age - 41American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 41Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Senior information technology specialist career paths
Key steps to become a senior information technology specialist
Explore senior information technology specialist education requirements
Start to develop specific senior information technology specialist skills
Skills Percentages Customer Service 9.80% Database 4.86% Technical Support 4.59% Project Management 4.38% Lifecycle Management 3.81% Complete relevant senior information technology specialist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior information technology specialists 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 a senior information technology specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior information technology specialist resumes.Gain additional senior information technology specialist certifications
More About CertificationsSenior information technology specialist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific senior information technology specialist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for senior information technology specialists include IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL) and Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP).
Research senior information technology specialist duties and responsibilities
- Install and manage the local area network (wire and wireless), switches connect to that network and network printers.
- Manage DNS, SSL certificate renewals/additions, add FTP accounts and rights management for client's web and application hosting servers.
- Manage and implement security solutions, including firewalls, anti-virus solutions, and intrusion detection systems.
- Lead in-house and consultant team in large-scale Linux server upgrade for multinational consulting firm, which significantly enhance system performance.
Get senior information technology specialist experience
Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a senior information technology specialist. The most common roles before becoming a senior information technology specialist include information technology specialist, technical support specialist team lead and systems administrator.Prepare your senior information technology specialist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior information technology specialist 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 a senior information technology specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
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Build a professional senior information technology specialist 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 senior information technology specialist resume.
Apply for senior information technology specialist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a senior information technology specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
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Average senior information technology specialist salary
The average senior information technology specialist salary in the United States is $103,478 per year or $50 per hour. Senior information technology specialist salaries range between $78,000 and $136,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do senior information technology specialists rate their job?
Senior information technology specialist reviews
Work Life Balance can be difficult based on size of team and infrastructure.
There was nothing to like. Everyone was polite an hard workers
The opportunity to render services to client, and managing technology by giving key information to customers.
Not meeting up to expectation of a client.
Updated January 8, 2025
