The boom in the IT sector has opened up lucrative job options in many areas. One such domain is the dot net framework that has a demand for developers. “Microsoft dot net framework is a software component that is a part of several Windows operating systems,” explains a senior Microsoft spokesperson. “It has a large library of pre-coded solutions to common programming problems and manages the execution of programmes written specifically for the frame work.” The dot net framework is a key Microsoft offering and is intended to be used by most new applications created for the Windows platform.

Dot net developers are responsible for looking after the execution of the dot net framework in a software environment that manages the programme’s runtime requirements. Part of the dot net framework is the common language runtime (CLR). The CLR is the virtual machine component of the Microsoft dot net initiative. The CLR provides important services such as security and memory management.

“For students who want to make a career as a dot net developer, it is very important to have a solid background in mathematics and science right from the school level,” says S. Krishnaiah, professor of computer science and IT at Bangalore University. Krishnaiah emphasises that it is important for students to learn the basics of computers right from school so as to prepare themselves for the challenges ahead. One must be well versed with the different programming operations to handle the intricacies of dot net development.

A degree in computer science or IT is a must for one aiming to be a dot net developer. Rajendra Singh, a professor of IT at the University of Madras, says that students must have a mindset for learning things beyond the confines of the classroom if they want to succeed as dot net developers. “One has to learn things independently since the industry is changing every now and then and one has to keep abreast of new developments constantly,” says Singh.

Expert users of Microsoft’s software programming language dot net can earn between $75,000 (Rs 3,238,525 approximately) and $85,000 (Rs 3,671,217 approximately) a year in major cities. “Starting salaries could be as high as Rs 45,000 for dot net developers in India,” says Susheel Sukhraj, CEO of Indiagodz, a dot net company based in Delhi. The principal qualities a dot net developer needs are enormous patience, a curiosity to learn and persistence. “One has to be tenacious to make a mark in this profession,” Sukhraj observes.

Another job profile that is gradually gaining popularity is that of quality assurance analysts. Says Michael Sherman, CEO of Creative Solutions, a software company based in Bangalore, “Computer systems analysts who do in-depth testing are called software quality assurance analysts. In addition to running tests to determine what computer software and hardware are needed to set up a system, these workers diagnose problems, recommend solutions and determine whether programme requirements have been met.”

To begin an assignment, quality assurance analysts consult managers and users to define the goals of a system. Analysts then design a system to meet those goals. “They specify the inputs that the system will access, decide how the inputs will be processed and format the output to meet user needs,” says Anju George, CEO of Micronix, a software firm based in Bangalore.

Like dot net developers, quality assurance analysts too, must have a strong background in mathematics. “Numerical skills are an essential prerequisite right through one’s educational career to become a good quality assurance analyst,” says Mumbai-based quality assurance consultant Ranjan Kar. He mentions that apart from maths, students should also do well in physics at the higher secondary level to gain entry into an IT or computer science or computer application course. “The level and type of education that employers require for quality assurance analysts reflects changes in technology,” says Sherman. Employers usually prefer applicants who have at least a bachelors degree in a related subject. For more technically complex jobs, people with postgraduate degrees are preferred.

Salaries for quality assurance analysts could be as high as $50,000 (Rs 2,156,170 approximately) per year. “Quality assurance analysts could be paid as high $80,000 (Rs 3,448,708 approximately) per year given the appropriate level of education and experience,” says a spokesperson of Robert Half Technology, a software firm in New York. In India, according to Susheel Sukhraj of Indiagodz, quality assurance analysts could command a salary of at least Rs 50,000 to start off with.

So, if fiddling with computers has been your passion and programming your forte, then go for a career as a dot net developer or a quality assurance analyst.