Teenagers dream of long hours and a job in IT

IT tops most teenagers' lists of professions they think offer the best career prospects and the chances of becoming the boss, according to a new survey.

Nine out of ten of the same teenagers also said they would work longer hours to advance their careers – which is just as well if they plan to work in IT.

IT came second only to the legal profession when 2,000 youngsters were asked which sector they would most like to work in and three-quarters said they intend to get to the top of their chosen profession.

On the downside there still appears to be an image problem in IT, with 21 per cent of female respondents put off by the fact IT is a male-dominated field. Two-thirds also said they do not have a proper understanding of the range of jobs available in the IT industry.

IT is also viewed as a "closed" profession to those who have not taken a set academic or career route.

Richard Branson is the ideal role model – closely followed by respondents' own parents – and regionally Greater Manchester is the most ambitious area of the country, followed by the North-West and the East Midlands, according to the survey.

A spokesman for Foundation Degrees, which carried out the survey, said in a statement: "As the career of choice for many young people, the IT industry stands in a strong position to profit from the fantastic drive and ambition evident in tomorrow's workforce. But employers need to make sure that these young people know that the door is open to them."