December 20, 2024 ⏱️ 10 min
By Andreea D.
In today’s digital world, the demand for skilled IT professionals continues to be a focus for companies, even taking in consideration the predictions of the global recession that is already shading with uncertainty company’s global strategies. Becoming a competent professional may be more important than ever.
In this economic climate, starting an IT career early not only provides young talent with competitive edge but also opens doors to stable and high-demand roles in a future-proof industry.
The following sections explore how students can strategically grow their IT careers from high school and highlights the critical role companies play in supporting this journey.
Foundations: Starting Early
The IT field is vast and ever-evolving, rendering the traditional, steady approach to career building outdated. In this fast-paced industry, taking early steps towards growing a career might be crucial. Early career engagement not only provides a competitive edge but also helps build a solid foundation, enabling the future professionals to navigate the complexities of the industry and seize emerging opportunities as they arise.
To make the most of this early stage, students can start exploring options from high school. Some ideas are:
- Exploring interests in IT: high school is a great period for exploration, discovering interests towards different IT areas and selecting the paths for further developing. Also, is a starting point for building a knowledge foundation and understanding core principles and structures. Some options could be: IT related courses, extracurricular activities like clubs and projects or competitions.
- Setting a hard-skill foundation: since high schools provide IT courses or complete specializations, it is a perfect opportunity to start learning specific skills. From problem-solving, logical thinking, to programming languages, students have a wide area to learn from.
- Developing soft skills: while technical expertise is essential for shaping successful future IT careers, soft skills have become equally important. Communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability or leadership can make a real difference in future opportunities. What can help in shaping these skills are team projects, extracurricular activities or specific trainings.
- Leveraging extracurricular opportunities: participating in diverse activities with different people can shape both hard and soft skills as well as make the difference when applying for higher education or internships. For widening the CV in this area students can pursue different programs developed by companies, earn certifications or contribute to open source projects.
Starting early can make a real difference when pursuing a career in a domain as complex and dynamic as IT. It can help determine one passion or set some important goals for the future.
Moving into Higher Education
With the foundations in place, the transition to higher education or specialized training becomes more natural. In this phase, students can discover particular areas to develop in, dive into deepening their knowledge, gaining important certifications and preparing for real-world application of IT industry.
The choices students make at this stage will significantly impact their career trajectory. Some of the most important points to consider are:
- Choosing a path: since the choosing area of University’s programs is wide and directed towards specific specializations, making a deliberate decision is very important. In this point, the experience from high school can help in deciding the interests to pursue further.
- Building connections: for a smoother transition to the labor market, getting to know companies or specialized communities can be of help. This learning period is the best to participate in industry events, internships, specific programs, or to enter in different communities.
- Staying updated on trends: with one step closer to entering the work field, it is very important to be up to date about the latest tools and technologies.
This transitional phase, and the most consistent in terms of knowledge and skills development, allows students to build on their high school education to meet their career goals. Balancing the formal education with training, certifications and industry connections, can help students to position themselves as competitive candidates in the IT job market.
Company’s Role in IT Talent Growth
The journey to a successful IT career doesn’t happen exclusively in a formal learning environment. While students can develop foundational skills or deep knowledge during the formal education years, companies play a very important role in bridging the gap between education and workforce.
Employers have the real environment for practical applications and the place where the gained knowledge can be applied thoroughly. Their involvement in learning from early stages can make a real difference and can help shaping future careers in IT.
Of course, there are many ideas and practical ways in which a company can support young learners. NetRom, for example, has chosen several action lines to discover and sustain the future IT specialists, creating projects for both high school and college student.
1. Investing in young talents with Code Golf
Code Golf is a programming competition where participants are tasked with solving “treasure hunt” style challenges. They must analyze the provided input and output files to uncover the underlying problem details, deducing the requirements through careful examination. The objective is to craft the most efficient solution in terms of code length, making the contest both a test of problem-solving skills and a challenge of code optimization.
The competition is designed for high school students and first- and second-year college students, with a special internship program offered to the top 5 participants.
2. Involving company specialists in teaching with STL Courses
For over 10 years, NetRom has been directly involved in organizing the STL (C++ Standard Template Library) course, which is held in collaboration with the Faculty of Automation, Computers, and Electronics.
This program is open to all first- and second-year students, including those without a technical background who wish to enhance their programming and algorithmic thinking skills. Lately the course extended it’s target group, accepting high-school students also.
3. Extending the C++ practice in a dedicated C++ Internship
For the most passionate students who finish in the top 5 of the Code Golf competition and those who pass the final test of the STL course, the company organizes a 4-week internship, providing students and high schoolers the opportunity to deepen their practical application of the knowledge gained.
4. Learning about new trends through NetRom Software Academy and NetRom Software Testing Academy
NetRom Software Academy – NSA is an interactive program that blends presentations on relevant and current industry topics with hands-on activities, creating a balance between learning and experimentation. The academy offers various sessions, each concentrating on either technical or non-technical subjects that are essential for understanding key aspects of the profession.
In addition, NetRom Software Testing Academy – NSTA focuses on the methods and actions necessary to ensure the quality (QA) of IT projects and products. The trainers bring a practical approach, and throughout the sessions, participants work together to shape a comprehensive understanding of the entire software application development process.
5. Providing hands-on experiences through specialized Liga AC Labs
Liga AC Labs is a program created in partnership with the Students’ Organization – Liga AC – from the Faculty of Automation and Computer Science in Timișoara, aimed at students passionate about programming. It offers the chance to apply theoretical knowledge through hands-on labs, gaining real-world experience in an IT company. The program focuses on full-stack web development, incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning, helping students enhance their skills in building advanced software solutions.
6. Bridging the gap between studies and the workforce at Open4Tech Summer School
Summer School Open4Tech is a program organized by the Department of Computer Science at the Faculty of Sciences in Craiova, alongside local IT companies, NetRom included.
Over three weeks, participants attend optional 2-hour practical courses led by industry professionals, covering topics like “How to Get a Job in IT” and programming in various technologies. The program is open to students and high schoolers passionate about IT, while the presenters are industry professionals, bringing practical insights and real-world experience.
7. Involving students in real world experiences during Summer Camps
The program aims to provide participants, alongside NetRom mentors, with the opportunity to apply the theoretical knowledge gained throughout their studies in a real-world work environment.
During the experience students learn the steps for developing a modern application while following all stages of the development process. Additionally, the program offers participants a clear understanding of the workflow, as well as the chance to interact with a professional company operating in the IT sector.
8. Giving students the chance to work as colleagues in Application Development Internships
This program involves a one-month full-time employment with the company, providing interns with an immersive experience that simulates what it’s like to be part of the organization and work in the industry. Interns are integrated into teams, working through the entire development process, from idea selection to production launch.
9. Enabling student success with Scholarships and financial support for Mobility Programs
Supporting talented students with scholarships helps remove financial barriers, allowing them to focus on developing their skills and knowledge. This investment not only benefits students but also creates a skilled workforce that drives innovation and progress.
Every year, NetRom offers scholarships to multiple students to support their mobility to countries such as Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands, enhancing their learning experiences in the IT field.
10. Investing in learning infrastructure
To enhance the growth opportunities for young talent, students require support from a creative and innovative learning infrastructure, which is challenging for universities to continuously improve. Private funding and sponsorships from companies offer another way for organizations to contribute to sustained talent development.
NetRom, in close partnership with specialized faculties, meets these needs by equipping laboratories and renovating learning spaces whenever possible.
Companies play a critical role in shaping the future of IT talent by offering opportunities that connect academic learning with real-world applications. Through programs like competitions, internships, summer camps, or financial support, businesses provide hands-on experiences and opportunities that allow students to apply their knowledge in practical settings.
These initiatives, such as those led by NetRom, help young learners refine their technical skills, gain insights into industry workflows, and build a deeper understanding of the professional landscape. By engaging with students early in their education, companies ensure a smooth transition into the workforce and contribute to the development of a skilled, capable IT workforce.
Conclusion
In today’s fast-evolving IT landscape, the journey from high school to a successful career is both an exciting and challenging endeavor. Starting early, exploring interests, and building a solid foundation of both technical and soft skills can set students on the path to success.
However, the journey doesn’t end in the classroom. The involvement of companies is crucial in shaping the next generation of IT professionals. Employers bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application, offering invaluable experiences through internships, competitions, and mentorship programs.
Furthermore, the journey of building a career continues with the transition into the workforce, where students reunite as colleagues with those who were once their mentors, project coordinators during practice, or temporary teammates in internships. The difference is always noticeable between a new colleague who has previously engaged with the company’s activities and one who has not had any prior interaction with it.
NetRom is always open for young talent, both to guide them through the organized events and to welcome them as colleagues on the team. Once here, continuous development follows from within, with new learning opportunities through trainings, workshops, and involvement in exciting projects.
Îndemnul nostru
Efortul pus în programele pentru studenți completează teoria din facultate cu practica care “ne omoară”. Profitați de ocazie, participând la cât mai multe evenimente!
În cei 3 ani am lucrat la proiecte diverse ce au contribuit decisiv la evoluția mea profesională. Am colaborat strâns cu echipe remarcabile, a căror dedicare și sprijin au fost fundamentale în buna dezvoltare a lucrurilor. Cu fiecare proiect, am învățat nu doar aspecte tehnice, ci și abilități esențiale de comunicare și colaborare, reflectate în experiența mea privind interacțiunile cu clienți și modul în care o echipă eficientă operează. Aceasta este cultura companiei, de la ritmul uneori alert al zilei de lucru și practicile Agile, până la momentele relaxante de socializare cu colegii în pauzele de cafea și activități recreative precum darts și ping pong.
Am făcut cunoștință cu echipa NetRom prin intermediul programelor Internship și NetRom Software Academy, in care am descoperit că noțiunile învățate acasă au totuși aplicabilitate, chiar în cadrul unor aplicații reale. Acele experentie m-au convins să aplic pentru un job.
Mentorii foarte deschiși și colegii cu experiență care mi-au răspuns prompt la toate neclaritățile au transformat provocările în task-uri rezolvate cu succes împreună. Făcând parte din #teamnetrom mi-am depășit frica de a greși și am evoluat într-un mod echilibrat pentru mine.
Am aflat de programele NetRom de la o prezentare organizată în facultate de companie. Am decis să mă înscriu la Summer Camp din dorința de a înțelege ce anume ar presupune o cariera în IT. În urma acestui stagiu de practică, am reușit să dezvolt propria aplicație cu ajutorul mentorilor care mi-au oferit informații teoretice, dar mai ales practice, pe care nu aș fi putut sa le găsesc într-un tutorial aleatoriu de pe internet. Modul meu de abordare a aplicaților s-a schimbat odată ce am înțeles în ce constă mai exact procesul, ce presupune un mediu real de lucru și importanța muncii în echipă.
NetRom Software Testing Academy a fost punctul de plecare pentru o carieră pentru mine. Pe parcursul sesiunilor am avut oportunitatea să cunosc bazele necesare pentru asigurarea calității unui produs, urmate de o zi în companie unde am văzut teoria pusă în practică.
Recomand tuturor celor care își doresc o carieră în QA să ia în considerare această academie, fiind destinată atât celor din domeniu, dar nu numai.
Am descoperit NetRom prin intermediul unui program de internship și am fost impresionată încă de la început de mediul de lucru plăcut, de susținerea și angajamentul colegilor. A fost o oportunitate deosebită de a lucra într-o echipă de proiect, cu roluri specifice, și de a înțelege mai bine cultura companiei. Întreaga perioadă s-a dovedit o experiență valoroasă, atât din punct de vedere al cunoștințelor acumulate, cât și prin prisma relațiilor dezvoltate. În momentul în care mi s-a propus să continui ca angajat permanent, a fost o decizie ușor de luat, bucuroasă fiind să pot aplica cele învățate, dar și să adaug cunoștințe noi în fiecare zi.
