ClickAJob News

Working in IT is considered to be the geekiest career choice, a new survey has found.

Conducted by Just IT, the research discovered 78 per cent of graduates consider it to be a geeky profession, Online Recruitment Magazine reports.

Furthermore, 56 per cent said that they had never considered pursuing a career in IT.

Managing director of Just IT Recruitment Sunil Duggal commented that recruiters face an uphill struggle.

He said: "This perception is all wrong for the majority of IT jobs out there.

"More than ever before, IT teams and consultants and tech support are working closely with business executives and playing key roles in the success of an organisation," he told the publication.

The profession can command competitive financial rewards, he continued, but graduates do not seem to realise this.

In complete contrast, ClickAJob chief executive Yngve Traberg points out that computer skills are now essential in most careers.

"The threshold is higher, with most jobs requiring a familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets and data handling," he says.

"Many people acquire these skills on the job without formal training. Often with huge holes in their understanding, their enthusiasm is accelerated by the phenomenal popularity of online sites such as MySpace, YouTube and Blogger, turning them into mini-geeks by default."

Mr Traberg continues: "Over the next five years, it is expected that 70 per cent of all online content will be provided by such individuals using simplified technology platforms, lifting the mystique and turning IT into everyman's tool for exploring the funky media of tomorrow.

"Expect a new expression to be coined for the word geek too - maybe Geek 2.0. The association with anoraks and greasy hair will hardly be cool enough to satisfy graduates of the future."