Two of the most common words used by the majority of the younger generation nowadays is IT and CS. For all who are confused by the acronym, IT stands for Information Technology while CS stands for Computer Science. For many people, these two are words with almost the same meaning. Though these words may be similar, let us assure you, they have a spectrum of differences when looked closely upon. They sure do have some overlaps, as both of them are related to technology and computers, but both these paths require to have skillset and knowledge unique to each of the career paths.

This is a very common question that most of the students interested in having a career in the field of technology and computer have. But don’t you worry! We have got you covered. We will provide you with clear knowledge regarding both the fields, how to get into those fields, the kind of skills required to excel in that career, and majorly the differences between both IT and CS. So, let’s get started!

Also Read: What to do After B.Tech in CSE?

What is IT?

Information technology, in the simplest words, means an application of technology, which is usually created on a huge scale to provide a solution to some organizational problem. It is related to solving problems of technology. A career in IT mostly revolves around the installation, testing, running, maintenance, and running of computer systems and massive databases. In simple terms, it is the practical application of technology learning.

How to Get a Career In IT?

Like most careers, a career as an IT professional also demands a bachelor’s degree of 3-4 years in IT or a related subject. Apart from formal education, a good aptitude in Linux and SQL, project management, customer service skills are also recommended as it aids in an IT career. Being up-to-date with the current trends in technology, programs, and operating servers is a must if you want to be a successful IT professional.

Apart from formal education, attaining various industrial certifications like ITIL, Network+, Security+ can help when searching for a job in the IT sector. A bachelor’s degree is a great start, but don’t just limit yourselves to that one degree. Complete your master’s in IT or a related subject to make your resume more appealing. Also, gaining work experience in any field is the best way to gain hands-on knowledge of the actual workings of the IT sector.

Key Skills Required

A successful IT professional must have many skills, but the following key skills are mandatory to make a successful career in IT. These are:

• A vast software knowledge
• Critical analytical thinking
• Problem-solving skills
• Technical skills
• Project management skills
• Strong communication skills
• Database management
• Operating System knowledge

Careers in Information Technology

One of the fastest-growing career options, a career as an IT professional, does provide some options depending upon the kind of role you want to perform. Some of these are:

• IT Consultant: A professional that generally works for a consulting company whose aim is to provide technical advice to its clients to make the most cost-effective use of technology and improve the work environment.
• Network engineer: The person who is responsible for overseeing the company’s network infrastructure and also build communication networks like LANs and WANs.
• Computer support specialists: Individuals whose work is to advise people and help them solve their queries regarding their software.
• Information security analysts: Individuals responsible for the security of the organisation’s entire network and prevent it from cyberattacks and devising an emergency route in case of a breach.

There are many other career options available as an IT professional. The most common ones are listed here.

What is CS?

In simple terms, computer science is the computer and the associated software and software systems. It provides the foundation for pursuing a career in coding and programming. It is related to the “how” behind any computer application. A computer science degree will provide much in-depth knowledge regarding the designing of computers and other devices. In a fun way, computer science people are the ones who can chit-chat with your computer and can understand the problems (if any) with your system within seconds. 

How to Get a Career in CS?

To have a career in CS, strong mathematical skills are a must, which is followed by the same old procedure of getting a bachelor’s degree of 3-4 years in computer science, which will make you good to go start pursuing a career in CS. Along with the knowledge of the working of computers, a pretty decent knowledge of different coding languages like Java, C, C++ is a must to excel in a CS career. Along with the bachelor’s degree, certifications, and a master’s degree in computer science will help catapult your career forward.

Key Skills Required

To have a fruitful career in computer science, having some of these skills might help. These are:

• A strong, advanced mathematical background
• Love for coding in different languages like Java, C++, and many more
• Software engineering 
• Problem-solving skills
• Great analytical skills
• Resilience and patience

Careers in Computer Science

Having a degree in computer science opens up a plethora of career options. It provides a vast number of opportunities as they have a solid background in coding, which is a much-demanded skill nowadays. Some of the career options are listed below:

• Software Engineer: The job includes developing new software as per requirements and keeping the last ones updated.
• Programmer: One of the most popular jobs after completing a CS degree, which entails creating codes for various software programs in the language as demanded by the client.
• Computer hardware engineer: Just as a software engineer is responsible for keeping the internal software running, a hardware engineer’s job is to design, repair, and update the physical hardware parts of the computer.
• Database Administrator: The job role includes building, maintaining, and continuously updating the database created for the client.

Difference between IT and CS

Apart from their definitions, the kind of job that both degrees invite, the skills required, there are some more differences between IT and CS, which are stated below:

Information Technology	Computer Science
It is a process of solving technological problems by the application of networks.	It is the process of developing a new program by coding.
The study of computing techniques that needs to be applied for industrial problems.	Study of the computer and the principals of computing.
A bachelor’s degree in IT or other related areas is required.	A bachelor’s in computers is needed.
The curriculum entails the study of software.	The curriculum includes the study of both hardware and software.
An IT professional usually work in teams and needs to interact with the team frequently.	It is an individual job, where the code is written, developed and tested.
Skills required are customer relationships, project management, the current trend in technologies.	Skills required are software engineering, different languages.
Job includes application of the tools.	Job includes designing of the tools.
A team worker, who likes assisting others, can choose IT.	Those who love working independently can go for this career.

Conclusion

Though there are specific differences between IT and CS, of these discipline offers excellent career options with great career graphs. The difference between them is important to understand as it will help you decide what kind of skills you possess and which career will be more suitable for you. Just figure out the skills, and then you are destined to make great things happen!