© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Chapter 15 Information Technology Careers Chapter 15 Information Technology Careers

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Presentation Overview Career Opportunities in Information TechnologyCareer Opportunities in Information Technology Preparation for an IT Career Work Environments

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology What career opportunities are there in IT? The following jobs are among the top 15 fastest- growing positions from 2004 through 2014: Computer software developers Computer support specialists Network and computer systems administrators Network systems and data communications analysts Database administrators

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology There are four main categories of IT jobs, grouped by the main focus of the job: –Sales and support –Software development –Application development –Hardware design

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology Sales and Support Careers –Technical servicing is the installation and maintenance of hardware and software. A technician hooks up network wires, installs basic system software, and administers repairs. –Technical support involves responding to phone and requests for assistance from customers. Technical support specialists sometimes have to go to customer sites to troubleshoot systems.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology Sales and Support Careers –Technical sales involves educating potential customers about the company’s products so that they want to buy them. Technical salespeople are often the highest paid of all those working in the technical area of IT. –Technical training involves teaching individuals how to use systems. Technical trainers are always in demand.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology Sales and Support Careers –Technical writing turns the technical skills and knowledge in the engineers’ heads into written documentation. A degree in English or technical writing is the foundation for becoming a technical writer.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology Software Development Careers –Software development is the creation of new software products for commercial sale. –Systems programming is highly specialized and involves writing instructions in C++, JavaScript, or other languages to accomplish a succession of tasks. A systems programmer specializes in the development of system software.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology Software Development Careers –The skills needed for application programming are similar to those required for systems programming. An application programmer works with application software rather than systems software. –The use of computers to create images, sounds, and movies is called multimedia development. Multimedia developers include graphic artists, digital sound editors, and animation specialists.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology Software Development Careers Quality assurance (QA) is the testing of new products before they are released to the public. QA testers often double as technical trainers, technical writers, or customer support specialists.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology Average Annual Salaries for Jobs in Software Development, 2008

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology Application Development Careers –Application development uses commercial software to develop a system for a specific organization. –Systems analysis involves gathering the requirements and developing a design for systems. An individual who performs these tasks is called a systems analyst.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology Application Development Careers –Database administration is particularly important because the database is at the core of a company’s information systems. A database administrator is responsible for the day- to-day operations of the database. –Network administration involves the operations and maintenance of a company network. A network administrator performs these tasks.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology Application Development Careers –Web administration includes keeping a Web site working and up-to-date. A Web administrator, or Web master, has the job of developing and maintaining a Web site with multiple pages.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology Average Annual Salaries for Jobs in Application Development, 2008

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology Hardware Design Careers –Hardware design is the specification of computer hardware such as CPUs, video cards, and memory chips. –Many hardware designers are electrical engineers, and many are computer engineers. Computer engineering is a hybrid training that includes both electrical engineering and computer science.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Career Opportunities in Information Technology Average Annual Salaries for Jobs in Hardware Design, 2008

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career What training is needed to succeed in an IT career? Three main types of bachelor’s degree programs are most commonly followed to launch a career in IT. Computer science Computer engineering Computer information systems

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career College Degree Programs Computer Science Degree Involves the study of the computer and its many applications. It often takes five years to complete. It typically requires advanced mathematics, basic chemistry, and basic physics as prerequisites. Graduates typically become programmers for software companies or applications developers for IT consulting firms.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career College Degree Programs Computer Engineering Degree A hybrid of computer science and electrical engineering and focuses on hardware design. It almost always takes at least five years to complete. Graduates often work for factory automation, computer hardware design, or system-level software design companies.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career College Degree Programs Computer Information Systems (CIS) Degree Focuses on applications rather than the underlying science and principles of computers. Most programs require a mix of business and computer science courses. Graduates often become application developers or Web or database administrators.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career Comparison of Entry-Level Salaries for Various Degree Programs

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career Certificate Programs –Consists of a series of intensive education courses offered primarily by large IT companies such as Microsoft and Cisco. –Most programs consist of two parts: A course of study that lasts a few weeks A test that grants the participant a certificate of achievement

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career Major Types of Certification

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career Major Types of Certification (continued)

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career Major Types of Certification (continued)

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career Certificate Programs CompTIA certifications are sponsored by the Computing Technology Industry Association. They are not specific to a particular vendor’s hardware or software. They are best known for the A+ certification. They can be obtained by taking a test at a local testing center.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career Certificate Programs Convergence Technologies Professional (CTP) certifications are offered by the Telecommunications Industry Association. They are offered in response to the growing importance of jobs involving the convergence of voice, data, and video over the Internet. Certificate holders have good grasp of telephony, infrastructure, signaling, and Voice over IP. They are entry-level and vendor-neutral.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career Certificate Programs Microsoft Certificates The Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification is a starting point for people who wish to learn the Office suite in greater detail. The Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification states that an individual is qualified to develop applications using Microsoft software.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career Certificate Programs Microsoft Certificates The Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) certification certifies that an individual is qualified to use Microsoft Visual Studio and related products to write software. The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification is targeted at network administrators who manage large LANs or WANs.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career Certificate Programs Microsoft Certificates The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification is common for technicians who manage Windows-based systems. The Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) certification is held by database administrators who specialize in using Microsoft Access.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career Certificate Programs Cisco Certificates The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certificate certifies the holder to install and manage small networks. The Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) certificate certifies the holder to design small home or office networks. The Cisco Certified Internetworking Professional (CCIP) certifies that the holder has detailed knowledge of the Cisco networking system.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Preparation for an IT Career Certificate Programs –Cisco Certificates Additional Cisco Qualified Specialist certifications are available in specific networking technologies such as cable and communications. –Oracle offers certificates focusing on Oracle application development and database administration, including Oracle Certified Application Developer (OCAD) Oracle Certified Database Administrator (OCDBA)

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Work Environments In choosing a career, what are some factors to consider regarding work environment? –Think about what kind of corporate culture is the best fit for you. Do you want to work in a large IT department, or do you prefer a small business? –What type of business model are you most interested in: product developer, IT department, or consultant?

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Work Environments In choosing a career, what are some factors to consider regarding work environment? –Most IT positions above the technician level are salaried. Salaries are fairly high, but extra work hours are often required. –The majority of the IT work force is young and male, especially at the entry level. –The IT job market is cyclical in nature—it swings up and down dramatically.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc Work Environments Ergonomics –The science of designing equipment so that it is comfortable to operate and does not cause the user physical injury. –A repetitive motion injury occurs when a joint or nerve is overused. Most injuries in the IT field fall into this category. Carpal tunnel syndrome is an example of this type of injury.

© Paradigm Publishing, Inc On the Horizon Based on the information presented in this chapter and your own experience, what do you think is on the horizon?