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IT, the multidimensional career option

By Vijay K. Thadani*

The way I see it, one of the most unique and possibly key advantages of IT is that it virtually redefines the concept of flexibility-adds a completely new dimension to it!

Those of us interested in art, will always treat it as a hobby and mention it under the section "extra curricular activities" when filling up our resumes. IT however, is the only career, where a hobby can become a serious thing. It is an interest that can lead to a lucrative job. A large number of success stories that have defined the global IT industry, center around people who didn't necessarily top in class (some are even drop outs) or achieve academic excellence. They however, were the whacky-types, mavericks, nerds, and techies who enjoyed building their own computers or got a thrill out of hacking into the school network to alter their report cards! What finally worked for them was their undying passion for technology, which enabled them to make great innovations and breakthroughs that transformed the world and the lives of global citizens.

Vijay K Thadani

The converse also holds good. You can be a musician, an artist, a singer-and yet also be an IT professional. In fact, you can even use IT extensively to further your interests in each of these areas. Our acclaimed music director, A.R. Rahman, for instance, uses digital technology to create the most mind boggling, haunting compositions.

Last week I visited our software center in Delhi. NIITians working there had put up an exhibition and I was amazed to see the art, the music, the vast creative canvas which was visible at the workplace. I found myself asking the question, "are we in the business of software or the business of art?" The answer came to me soon enough and it occurred to me that the business of software was indeed a business of artists. It represented yet another art form. Therefore, if you have the creative touch, you can use it actively to build a career in IT.

If you are the adventurous type, IT even allows you to explore the world. Most leading IT companies that are multinationals and operating across geographies. There are countries whose names I cannot pronounce, but where NIIT has an office! As part of this industry, you can visit places and work in environments you never even imagined existed.

I must add here, however that IT is not an easy journey. At the same time, it spells fun and excitement-quite like climbing a mountain. In order to succeed within the IT arena, you need three things-you need passion, perseverance and the innovative drive.

You have to feel for it within your guts. IT is not a skill which comes to you if you keep practicing it. It's not like carpentry. With IT, you should desire to create something new. This awakening comes when you have a goal in mind, which in fact gives birth to the passion. The person who first broke the global 100 meter sprint record, taking it to less than 10 seconds, did not win through practice alone. He had a mission, which he went after with diligence and determination. When Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay decided to put a flag on top of Mount Everest, it may even have appeared a silly or impossible task to many. At the same time, it was the goal that created within them a passion to succeed. For those of you starting out in the IT sector, my advise to you is, set a goal for yourself and be passionate about it.

Additionally, of course you need perseverance. The passion disappears when you have climbed 100 feet of the mountain and you look down, or when your foot slips. It is at that moment that you need perseverance. The ability to say, "hell or high water, I will succeed and don't care of the consequences."

The third thing about success at IT is a willingness to give a new idea a try. Climbing a mountain is not like moving on a straight road. It's not a highway on which you just have to keep going. Every moment of your life you will come across an obstacle. At that time, you have to make a choice, as to which way to go. You should have the ability to make that choice and try something new. In my opinion, if you have the perseverance and the ability to adapt and change, you would have taken the first step to becoming an IT professional!

And then you will not only become a great professional, you will also become a great human being.

*Vijay K. Thadani is Co-founder and CEO of NIIT