As young people begin their search for a career, it is likely that many will consider one of the vast opportunities available in the computer industry. Skilled computer professionals are in steady demand, despite the normal fluctuations of the world economy.

Rise of the New Economy

At the beginning of the twentieth-first century, widespread computerization of business, education, and entertainment meant that virtually all aspects of the global economy were dependent, in one way or another, on the fortunes of the computer industry. This effect was heightened during the late 1990s when the so-called " dot.com " market skyrocketed, boosting stock portfolios for investors worldwide. Young entrepreneurs backed with financing from venture capitalists created multi-million dollar Internet companies based on ideas that were often untested against traditional business standards of profit and loss projections. Stock prices soared as hopeful investors jumped at the chance to...