Devoted to hardware, software, IT issues, and information technology management

I just finished reading a blog post on TechRepublic titled "Sanity Check: Is IT still a profession worth recommending to the next generation?" by Jason Hiner, that discussed whether a not someone in IT would recommend the career path for others.  In light of the dot com bubble burst, a history of layoffs, competition from H-1B employees and outsourcing/offshoring; I think many of us find it hard to say that the career has the bright, profitable and stable future it once had.

IT from a business perspective has, in most places I've worked, been viewed as a cost center and with the exception of building infrastructure to support a web presence, e-commerce, or Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for an organization, IT had very little perceived value.  Now call me a pessimist, but I've been finding it more difficult to advise someone to seek employment as an IT specialist and I doubt I would recommend the career for my own children.

That said, Jason's post did remind me that technology isn't going away or as he put it:

"IT has a bright future because technology is pervading every aspect of culture, commerce, and life, and there are still many places on earth where technology will be spreading in the coming decades. Plus, there are still lots of inefficient processes in the world that will be automated, streamlined, and simplified by technology, and the world will need engineers to design the solutions, project managers to implement them, and technical professionals to support them."

He also listed what he deemed were the top five IT job roles that may be in demand in the future:

1. Software engineer — This is one area where there will always be a need, but one where I think there may be the most competition from outsourcing/offshore.
2. Systems architect — I do think this area of expertise will continue to be a necessity as it focuses on how to apply technology to business needs.
3. NOC engineer — There was time when the Network Operations Center or NOC was focused primarily on the health of the telecommunications network, hence the "N", but the "O" has gained greater prominence as uptime and application/data availability is a priority for businesses.  Also, this uptime encompasses not only the network, but storage infrastructure, databases, application/middleware servers, etc.
4. Project manager — There was time when I would have disagreed with this, but I've learned the hard way that a truly qualified PM, someone who is PMI certified and "walks the walk", can make the difference with keeping a project on schedule and under budget.
5. Information security specialist — This is one position that I would probably shift to the top of the list as it is quickly becoming a requirement with most companies, whether they operate in a regulated industry or not.

If someone were to enter the IT profession I would recommend they increase their mobility and marketability by staying current with changing technology trends, be willing to learn about the "business" side of the company and express their curiosity to the business counterparts.  Also, keep in mind that no one gets to stay with a company for 20 years anymore and they don't get a gold watch.

Are there other IT roles that you could see as having a bright future?  If so, feel free to comment here.