BTEC ICT FIRST DIPLOMA INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY

Unit 2 – Working in the IT Industry

IT Careers Website

Assignment Issued:

Final Submission Due:

 UNIT 2 Working in the IT Industry
The aim of this unit is to ensure that learners have knowledge of the available
job roles involving professional IT and the characteristics employers demand
in the IT industry. You will have the opportunity to explore the personal
attributes which can play an important role in establishing a successful career
as an IT professional. You will become familiar with the range of job roles
available to people with professional IT qualifications and consider the
personal attributes these roles require.

Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to provide an opportunity for you to
demonstrate your ability to,
o Know the characteristics that are valued by employers in the IT industry.
o Know the common job roles undertaken by people working in the IT industry.

Assessment and grading criteria

To achieve a pass grade To achieve a merit grade To achieve a distinction
you must show that the you you must show that the grade you must show that
can: you can: the you can:

P1 describe the characteristics

valued by employers in the IT
industry

P2 describe common IT industry

job roles

P3 explain the characteristics M1 explain why certain D1 justify a choice of an

required for a specific job role in characteristics are important appropriate job role for a given set
the IT industry. for a specific job role. of employee characteristics.

BTEC ICT Unit 2 (KDo Feb 2011) 2

Scenario
You are on work experience in the careers office in a local college. The
manager is impressed by your IT knowledge and skills and has come up with
an idea for you to use your skills to help the careers office. She has
considered setting up a careers website for a long time to provide information
about different careers and advertise any positions available. Until now they
have not had anyone with the appropriate skills to create the website.

She has asked you to create a sample website containing a number of pages
about working in the IT industry.

1 – Website Section 1
One section of the website should describe the characteristics that are valued
by employers in the IT industry. It should include information on industry
specific skills, general skills and desirable attitudes.
P1

2 – Website Section 2
The website should also include a section on the common job roles
undertaken by people working in the IT industry. This section should identify
the most common jobs available in the industry and also describe what these
jobs entail.
P2

3 – Website Section 3
Many students go to the careers website to ask about the day to day work of a
‘Technical Writer’ as these jobs are often advertised by a local IT company.
You should include a section on the website explaining what a technical writer
does and what characteristics are required for this role
P3 & M1

Grading tips
 To aim for a merit you need to explain why certain characteristics are
important for this job role

BTEC ICT Unit 2 (KDo Feb 2011) 3

4 – Website section 4
Students are often confused about what job role would match their skills most
closely. You have been asked to develop a sample page that identifies a
suitable job for a given set of skills. The manager has supplied a sample skills
set below (Appendix a).
D1

Grading tips
 To aim for a distinction you need to justify why certain characteristics
are important for this job role. You should give valid reasons for your
choice of job role.

Appendix a

Sample Skill Set:

General Skills:
Strong Planning Skills
Organisational Skills
Very Creative – enjoy drawing, painting and designing

Industry Specific Skills:

Graphics Skills – intermediate Fireworks and Photoshop user
Basic HTML Skills – familiar with simple HTML code
Very knowledgeable about the Data Protection Act and Copyright Law, and a
clear understanding of how not to breach these laws.

Attitudes:
Self Motivated
Confident

BTEC ICT Unit 2 (KDo Feb 2011) 4