Working in the IT industry

Aim and purpose
The aim of this unit is to enable learners to use IT tools to communicate and exchange information safely,
securely and effectively with different audiences. Learners will also consider the impacts of IT.
Unit introduction
Communication skills are key to success in any sector but are particularly important in highly technical
sectors such as IT where the language used can become full of jargon. It is important that learners are
able to communicate with technical and non-technical staff and understand how interpersonal skills affect
communication.
IT provides opportunities for us to communicate more effectively using many different tools. Therefore, as
well as developing interpersonal skills through more traditional methods of communication such as the spoken
word, learners will be introduced to the software packages and tools that are used to present information.
Learners will be prompted to consider their audience when discussing IT-related information. Explaining
an IT-related topic to a non-technical person can be challenging and avoiding jargon difficult. Learners will
communicate with people with technical knowledge as well as those without.
It is recommended that this unit is delivered alongside Unit 2: Working in the IT Industry. Together, these units
introduce the relevant employability skills for those interested in a career in the IT industry.
Additionally, these units could be taught in conjunction with other units from the programme to emphasise
vocational contexts and make use of naturally occurring assessment opportunities.