Programming is a good place to start, as are corporate help desk support and systems administration. In large companies, working in a corporate data center can provide individuals with the opportunity to learn, observe and perhaps work in many different jobs within IT.

For an individual just starting an IT career, having the opportunity to see and try many different roles might lead to a particularly exciting job and, eventually, specialization. Based on my experience, unless a person already has passion for a specific job or field of expertise, he should be willing to try many different things and learn new skills.

I have more than six years of experience in sales and marketing of IT engineering products and services and have also been involved in project management and requirements-gathering activities. An injury sidelined me for 18 months, but I have since recovered and look forward to resuming regular employment. My interests are project management, business analysis, sales and marketing. Would a certification in project management be helpful to me, and will this gap in my employment be an obstacle for me? -- S.D.

It is my experience that there has never been a surplus of really great project managers. I also believe that project management is a truly portable skill across companies and industries.

Individuals interested in a career in project management should take every opportunity to learn and improve their skills. Certification is something that I look for when hiring project managers. There are many excellent programs in our colleges and universities, and experience can also be an excellent teacher. Personally, I would follow both paths. I would enter a reputable project management program -- whether for a PMP, a master's or some other certification -- and look for an opportunity where I could use what I am learning in real time in the real world.