You need to be able to use IT even if you're not working in IT

Jon Ingram, Managing Director of CPC Computers, explains why all of us need to be able to use information and communications technology even if we are not experts in how it works

'Over half of the UK's workforce now is expected to operate a computer as part of their job, yet less than ten per cent have received any formal training or can offer prospective employers a qualification' - British Computer Society

'I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavour' - Henry David Thoreau

Life and work planning
IT is the third largest industry in the world today, yet many people think that they have nothing to offer it because they are not a boffin or a techno-whizkid. But, before making important decisions they should think about who they are and what they do best.

Life and work planning is a process that enables individuals to position themselves in the areas of the workplace that best suit them in terms of their personal skills, talents, aptitude, life experiences, interests, fascinations and values. Individuals should proactively and comprehensively review and evaluate their whole life with the objective of finding meaningful and satisfying work by their own standards, not anybody else's.

The new world of work requires people to seek out work - environments with which they can fully identify, and where they can give full expression to their natural talents and skills for their own well-being and that of the organisation.

The process focuses on proactive self-marketing, and incorporates:
thorough self-knowledge
knowledge of the environment
strategic planning.

It works through individuals:
generating material on themselves from the inside out - drawing on their experiences, personal achievements, values and relationships
assessing their personal capacities from their own analysis of this material
surveying appropriate economic sectors in their geographical preferences
building and implementing their own strategic plan for life and work.

Programme contents
The first step is assessing personal capacities. Using an autobiographical approach, individuals should build a comprehensive profile of themselves by identifying the full range of their personal capacities including literally hundreds of skills, talents, interests, enthusiasms and experiences.

Then a clear direction must be developed; in other words, individuals must now decide what they want to do. They should assemble all the pieces of what is important to them in life, and from there articulate a clear and concise life study and work goals.

Next, a strategy and plan must be formulated based on their newly expanded views of themselves and their desired directions. Following from this come objectives in terms of ideal scenarios that lead to action plans and timetables.

Remember that people spend a vast number of hours at work; they should therefore make sure they enjoy what they are doing there.

Applying this to the IT industry
The IT industry impacts on every industry sector, which means that, while you may not be looking to work for IT companies, you could end up working in IT or finance, road haulage, security management, pharmaceuticals, retail, warehousing or any other organisation. They all need a large IT infrastructure, with large budgets, to exist in today's economy. So the IT industry is not only present in IT companies but is part of every industry sector and there are no geographical boundaries whatever. Therefore IT training widens everyone's employment options in any career identified through this planning process.

In the future, people's worth will be measured by their ability to work with a wide range of software packages within their given career, even though that career is outside the traditional spectrum of IT employment. No matter what that career is, IT will be an integral element of it. Members of the workforce of the future will need to be even more highly knowledgeable in IT and its products to do their jobs.

Therefore IT courses that train people in well-known packages like Word, Excel and Access are extremely popular with people from a wide range of backgrounds and jobs, taking advantage of technology to enhance their lives and careers.

Our research shows that some students attending high-end IT certification tracks like MCSA and MCSE do not actually wish to work as administrators or engineers within the traditional corporate IT departments; they are using this knowledge to become more proficient in other careers like business analysts, project managers and strategic managers. These highly adaptable, skilled professionals will maintain the opportunity to work in a wide spectrum of careers, thus securing their prospects for long-term employment. This could be in permanent employment, in the contract market, or operating as a freelance consultant - all of which offer flexibility and options in tomorrow's increasingly fluid job market.

Call CPC on Freefone: 0800 389 8546 (international direct dial 00441452 553358), e-mail: learn@cpctraining.co.uk or see the websites at www.cpctraining.co.uk and www.cpcbarcelona.co.uk

Life and work planning is a process that enables individuals to position themselves in the areas of the workplace that best suit themIndividuals should proactively and comprehensively review and evaluate their whole lifePeople spend a vast number of hours at work; they should enjoy what they are doing there