Millennials in IT show aggressive approach to career path in contrast to other generations December 10, 2013 Millennials in IT show aggressive approach to career path in contrast to other generations December 10, 2013 Millennial IT Professionals

SURVEY BACKGROUND Background Modis polled 501 employed IT Professionals about their career ambitions and perceptions as well as their perspective on the IT industry. Methodology This report presents the findings of a telephone survey conducted among two national probability samples, which, when combined, consists of 501 adults, 317 men and 183 women 18 years of age and older, who identify as an IT professional and are living in the continental United States. Interviewing for this survey was completed from November 5 –14, The margin of error for this study is +/- 4.37% at the 95% confidence level. The age distribution for this survey is: 18-34: : : or older:

KEY FINDINGS 3 IT professionals have their sights set on the top office; Millennials more likely than older counterparts to seek CEO role More than half (54 percent) of IT professionals surveyed say they would like to be the CEO of a company that they start or own themselves. This compares with 44 percent who want to be the CEO of a company (one they did not start or own). Interestingly, just a third (32 percent) said they aspire to be the most senior IT person for a company. o Millennial IT professionals may embody the entrepreneurial spirit more than older generations: Nearly seven in 10 (66 percent) of those ages want to be the CEO of a company that they start or own compared with those ages:  (50 percent)  (46 percent) o Gender also plays a role in the career goals and aspirations of IT professionals. Men are nearly twice as likely as woman to say they want to be the CEO of a company that they start or own (66 percent versus 34 percent). Continuing the entrepreneurial theme, Millennials, more so than other generations, are using their skills to make extra cash. IT professionals between ages (28 percent) are much more likely to make money on the side as a consultant or contractor outside of their regular job compared to those (18 percent) or (9 percent).

KEY FINDINGS 4 IT professionals believe in the importance of ongoing education—Millennials are more interested in an MBA than other generations Of all IT professionals surveyed, 70 percent think work-sponsored IT training is very or somewhat important to advancing their overall career. Interestingly, half of IT professionals also say that earning an MBA (50 percent) is very or somewhat important to advancing their overall career. o Millennials are much more interested in an MBA (72 percent), compared to just 46 percent of those ages 35-50, and 34 percent of those ages that say the same. Half (50 percent) of IT professionals say that IT certifications (e.g. CCIE, CISSP, CCNP, CCNA, MCP) are very or somewhat important to their career. When asked to select what other education they believe would advance their career, IT professionals also indicated: o Earning an advanced degree in an IT specialty (52 percent) o Earning an advanced degree in a non-IT related field (50 percent) For IT professionals, there is no clear-cut answer as to the specific technology field they feel has the most potential to advance their career. Findings include: o Cloud (25 percent) o Mobile (24 percent) o Security (24 percent) o Big Data (9 percent)

KEY FINDINGS 5 IT professionals act as a resource for more than just work-related responsibilities Be good to the IT professionals at your company. Nearly all (99 percent) of those surveyed spend at least some time (average of two hours per week – about 100 hours a year) providing colleagues with personal (non-work related) tech support. IT professionals are a go-to resource outside the workplace as well; the majority of respondents (78 percent) indicate they help their friends/family with technical support. Other non-work activities include: o Make money on the side as consultant/contractor outside of regular job (19 percent) o Offer pro-bono IT work for a nonprofit (16 percent) o Run an IT/technology company on the side (5 percent) IT professionals believe they play an important role in their company Nine in 10 (89 percent) believe that IT is important in contributing to the overall success of their company. Millennial IT professionals and their older counterparts view their importance in the workplace differently; while 80 percent of those believe IT is important in contributing to the overall success of the company, 95 percent of those and 90 percent of those say the same.

KEY FINDINGS 6 IT professionals are confident in their work but tend not to talk about their IT jobs in social situations IT professionals don’t always like to talk about their work, especially in casual situations. Of the respondents, 62 percent of respondents say they would be reluctant to discuss their tech profession while at a romantic dinner and 46 percent said a first date is off limits for work talk. They are also inclined not to talk about their work while: o At a religious service (63 percent) o Watching sports (53 percent) o At a party (35 percent) o At a family outing (30 percent) Interestingly, far fewer female IT professionals (48 percent) are reluctant to discuss their profession during a romantic dinner than their male counterparts (70 percent).

KEY FINDINGS 7 Take it from an IT professional with inside information: don’t surf questionable websites (or criticize your boss via ) at the workplace Take note: It seems that IT professionals, who are in the know on corporate IT practices, are careful to avoid certain web activities in the office. Nine in 10 (89 percent) IT professionals, given their knowledge of IT practices and capabilities, say they would be least likely to surf questionable websites in the workplace. Other activities that IT professionals stay away from include: o Criticizing their boss or management in a work (82 percent) o Searching for another job (80 percent) o Using interoffice chat for a personal conversation (68 percent) o Accessing personal (35 percent)

MAIN FINDINGS IT PROFESSIONALS HAVE AMBITIOUS CAREER GOALS Millennials are more likely to seek the CEO role than other generations

IT PROFESSIONALS ARE MOST LIKELY TO STRIVE FOR THE CEO JOB 9 54 percent More than half (54 percent) of IT professionals surveyed say they would like to be the CEO of a company that they start or own themselves. Q1) Thinking about your long term career goals and aspirations, please indicate whether or not each applies to you. (N=501) Thinking about your long term career goals and aspirations, please indicate whether or not each applies to you: Gender also plays a role in the career goals and aspirations of IT professionals. Men are nearly twice as likely as woman to say they want to be the CEO of a company that they start or own (66 percent versus 34 percent). (percentage of respondents who answered yes)

MILLENNIALS ARE TAKING THEIR CAREER INTO THEIR OWN HANDS percent Millennial IT professionals may embody the entrepreneurial spirit more than older generations: Nearly seven in 10 (66 percent) of those ages want to be the CEO of a company that they start or own. Q1) Thinking about your long term career goals and aspirations, please indicate whether or not each applies to you. (N=501) Percentage of respondents who want to be the CEO of a company which they have started Millennials, more so than other generations, are using their skills to make extra cash. IT professionals between ages (28 percent) are much more likely to make money on the side as a consultant or contractor outside of their regular job compared to those (18 percent) or (9 percent).

IT PROFESSIONALS BELIEVE IN THE IMPORTANCE OF ONGOING EDUCATION 11 Q2) How important is having each of the following additional educational and training degrees or certificates to advancing your career overall? (N=501) Q3) Which of the following IT specialties, if any, do you believe has the MOST POTENTIAL TO advance your career as an IT professional? (N=501) How important is having each of the following additional educational and training degrees or certificates to advancing your career overall? Millennials are much more interested in an MBA (72 percent), compared to just 46 percent of those ages 35-50, and 34 percent of those ages For IT professionals, there is no clear- cut answer as to the specific technology field they feel has the most potential to advance their career.

MAIN FINDINGS DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF IT STAFF IT professionals go above and beyond their regular job responsibilities

IT PROFESSIONALS ACT AS A RESOURCE FOR MORE THAN JUST WORK-RELATED TECH PROBLEMS 13 Q4) Which of the following statements, if any, apply to you? (N=501) Q6) How many hours per week do you spend providing your colleagues with PERSONAL (non-work related) tech support (including help with personal mobile devices and computers)? (N=501) 99 percent 100 hours a year Be good to the IT professionals at your company. Nearly all (99 percent) of those surveyed spend at least some time (average of two hours per week – about 100 hours a year) providing colleagues with personal (non-work related) tech support. IT professionals are a go-to resource outside the workplace as well; the majority of respondents (78 percent) indicate they help their friends/family with technical support. I make money on the side as consultant I run an IT/technology company on the side I offer pro-bono IT work for a nonprofit I help my friends/family with technical support 19% 16% 5% 78%

IT PROFESSIONALS BELIEVE THEY PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THEIR COMPANY 14 Q8) How important is IT in contributing to the overall success of your company? (N=501) 89 percent Nine in 10 (89 percent) believe that IT is important in contributing to the overall success of their company. Millennial IT professionals and their older counterparts view their importance in the workplace differently; while 80 percent of those believe IT is important in contributing to the overall success of the company, 95 percent of those and 90 percent of those say the same.

MAIN FINDINGS IT PROFESSIONALS SOMETIMES PREFER NOT TO TALK ABOUT THEIR WORK Romantic settings are no place for IT talk

IT PROFESSIONALS, HOWEVER CONFIDENT IN THEIR WORK, AREN’T LIKELY TO TALK ABOUT THEIR JOBS IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS 16 Q7) In which of the following situations would you be reluctant to discuss your profession in IT? (N=501) While a majority IT professionals believe IT is contributing to their companies’ success, they don’t always like to talk about their work, especially in casual situations. 46% 62% …said they don’t want to talk about their work in IT on a first date. …would be reluctant to discuss their tech profession while at a romantic dinner. In which of the following situations would you be reluctant to discuss your profession in IT?

MAIN FINDINGS IT PROFESSIONALS OFFER SOME ADVICE ON WORKPLACE TECHNOLOGY USAGE Be careful which websites you visit on the job

TAKE IT FROM AN IT PROFESSIONAL WITH INSIDE INFORMATION: DON’T SURF QUESTIONABLE WEBSITES 18 Q5) Given what you know about your company's IT practices and capabilities, which of the following private activities would you refrain from doing at work? (N=501) 89 percent Take note: It seems that IT professionals, who are in the know on corporate IT practices, are careful to avoid certain web activities in the office. Nine in 10 (89 percent) IT professionals, given their knowledge of IT practices and capabilities, say they would be least likely to surf questionable websites in the workplace. Given what you know about your company's IT practices and capabilities, which of the following private activities would you refrain from doing at work?

Millennial IT Professionals Survey 2013 December 10, 2013?