Top reasons for wanting a career in technology were money, intellectual challenge, and more job opportunities.
Other reasons for a desired career in technology were having a real impact on society and the ability to shape the future.
"Technology has revolutionised our lives – from the way we work, to the way we play," said Stuart Silberg, vice president of technology at Hotels.com. "The recent Fortune’s 40 under 40 list was dominated by people from the technology industry, and this is all having a great impact on the number of people who are keen to pursue a career in technology – not only for the perks of the job, but also because it’s clear that technology is having a real impact on society."
However 45% of those interested in a career in technology say not having a degree in IT is holding them back and another 20% say the industry is simply too competitive.
Yet, technology companies say that having an IT degree to work in the industry is a misconception and there are many diverse roles to suit various skill sets.
"IT is actually very diverse," Claire Ramage, EMEA Commercial Communications at Dell told CBR. "There is a misconception that you need to hold an IT degree to work in IT, but actually it has as many functions associated with it, as with any corporate organisation."
Technology is also increasingly becoming a preferred career path for children, with over a third planning to study IT at University. IT was also found to be one of the top four favourite subjects among 8-15 year olds
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Silberg said for those aspiring to start or switch to a career in technology to remember that a degree is not essential.
"What’s more important is that a tech skill-set is combined with great communication skills, problem solving abilities and a real passion for the industry," he said. "In technology companies like Hotels.com, we aren’t just looking to recruit people who can code – we want to find people who can push boundaries, innovate and shape the way we live in the future."
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