Keeping in view the current growth rate in computer industry, it is expected that by 2012, there will be a demand for over 5 million computer professionals, as per a recently concluded IDC-NASSCOM-McKinsey survey.

Computer systems analysts, database administrators, and computer scientists are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations. Employment of these computer professionals will grow much faster as organizations continue to adopt and integrate increasingly sophisticated technologies. Job increases will be driven by very rapid growth in computer system design and related services, which is projected to be one of the fastest-growing industries in the global economy.

Hiring of the Indian software professionals is on the upswing. Eight leading software players reported 47% growth in employee strength in last one year. Additionally, a number of global and Indian players have announced plans to add additional software professionals during the coming years.

Computer Opportunities
With wide spread use of computers, computer professionals can find employment in almost any area of industrial sector and in defence & research establishments. They can work with multinationals, management consultancy firms and in areas where computer aided systems are used such as aeronautics and space science, petroleum industry and power plants. The various career options a computer professional can have are:

Systems analyst
They solve computer problems and apply computer technology to meet the individual needs of an organization.

Computer Programmer
They write, test, and maintain the programs, that computers must follow to perform their functions. They also conceive, design, and test logical structures for solving problems by computer.

Network Systems & Data Communications Analysts
They design, test, and evaluate systems such as local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), the Internet, Intranets, and other data communications systems.

Telecommunications Specialists
They focus on the interaction between computer and communications equipment.

Webmasters
They are responsible for all technical aspects of a Web site, including performance issues such as speed of access, and for approving the content of the site.

Internet developers/ Web developers/ Web designers
They are responsible for day-to-day site design and creation.

Computer Scientists
They work as researchers or inventors. The higher level of theoretical expertise and innovation they apply to complex problems and the creation or application of new technology distinguishes their jobs.

Database Administrators
They work with database management system software and determine ways to organize and store data.

The Employers look for
As technology becomes more sophisticated and complex, employers demand a higher level of skill and expertise from their employees. Individuals with an advanced degree in computer science or computer engineering or with an MBA with a concentration in information systems should enjoy highly favorable employment prospects.