Why working in ICT is not attractive for the next generation - Solutions

In a previous blog a gave my analysis of the reasons why starting a study and career in ICT is not attractive for today’s students.  Now is is time to address potential solutions to resolve this problem.

As with most issues, it is about  addressing both facts and perception to create an attractive “product”. So we need to change the actual topics that are offered in studies, the description and content of the job as well as the image around working in ICT.

Study ideas

• Focus on the visible parts of ICT
  User interaction design of IT solutions is far more attracting than servers and clouds. Offer studies in things like user interface design,  marketing and sales related web design (don’t call it SEO!).  
• Create a dedicated engineer section
  As counterpart for the above, also offer clear state-of-the-art studies  for the “nerds”.  Topics are things like architecture design,  performance optimization, etc.
• Teach the future, not the past
  Too often studies are focusing on yesterdays technology. Make sure it is today’s or even better tomorrows technology that is discussed, studied and trained. Work with the industry on this.

Job ideas

• Stop with the “start with the basics” approach
  Teaching the old, offering the old and working through the old before you get your hands on the new is killing.
•  Change your IT-HR policy
  Too often people get frustrated being hired as programmer with the “promise” to become Project Leader within 3 years. Hire somebody straight away in a future focused role like the ones stated above. Let them explore over time where they want to develop en fund that.
•  Job labels
  Don’t use job titles like Analyst or Programmer but User Interface Designer or Interaction Designer to make clear you are serious about the above.

Image ideas

• ICT as daily commodity
  Advertise that working in IT is working at the front line of what every person, including themselves,  can and will experience today when using good IT.
• ICT is dynamic
  Create the mindset that working in IT means adopting new technology at a pace not found in any other industry.
• ICT as personal foundation
  Explain that IT is not about technology but about making (interaction) processes work. By working on this you see, learn and experience multiple businesses. So start in ICT and find out what you want to do next.

The above are just some initial ideas. I’m interested in your additions.