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Shift to home office creates IT career opportunities

Posted at 3:01 PM, Jun 16, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-18 15:11:47-04

APPLETON (NBC 26) -- Home WiFi networks and routers are working overtime during the coronavirus pandemic.

Many people are now working from home. We're using our own technology and Internet connections in new ways. As a result, there's also a renewed focus on making sure we're safe and secure online.

“I see just a lot of people understanding that they have to have an IT infrastructure that’s going to support something like this," Fox Valley Technical College IT Department Chair Joe Wetzel said.

Those needs and this new normal could open up additional opportunities in the field of Information Technology. There are now additional networks to secure and servers that will need maintenance.

“I definitely think a lot of people at this point are looking at IT careers," Wetzel said.

Wetzel said a career in IT can start with a two-year associates degree at colleges such as Fox Valley Technical College. He said people don't need a great knowledge of computers to get going, but they should have some interest in computers and a desire to learn more.

“If you’re interested in IT, there’s a lot of opportunity," he said. "We’ve got classes that are dealing with network infrastructure, software development, web security, and there’s a demand for all of that right now.”

After college, an entry-level IT job can pay well. In addition, our search of the Job Center's website revealed a few dozen current openings in the field. As businesses continue to put a new focus on the home office, those openings could continue to expand.