1. Chapter 15
Information Technology Careers

2. Presentation Overview
Career Opportunities in Information Technology
Preparation for an IT Career
Work Environments

3. Career Opportunities in Information Technology
What career opportunities are in IT?
technician installs and maintains hardware/software
technical sales and training emphasize interpersonal and technical skills
application developer adapts software for use within a new system
application development jobs include system analysts, database administration, network administration, and Web administration

4. Career Opportunities in Information Technology
Sales and Support Careers
technical services install and maintain hardware and software
technical support responds to requests from customers for assistance
technical sales educates potential customers about your product so they want to buy it
technical training teaches how to use systems
technical writer writes documentation about systems

5. Career Opportunities in Information Technology
Average annual sales for jobs in sales and support, 2005

6. Career Opportunities in Information Technology
Software Development Careers
system programmer develops system software rather than application software
application programmer works with application software
multimedia developers include graphic artists, digital sound editors, and animation specialists
quality assurance testers test each feature of a new product and record all deficiencies

7. Career Opportunities in Information Technology
Average annual sales for jobs in software development, 2005

8. Career Opportunities in Information Technology
Application Development Careers
system analyst gathers requirements and develops a design for systems
database administrator responsible for day-to-day operation of a database
network administrator operates and maintains a company network
Web administrator develops and maintains a Web site with multiple pages

9. Career Opportunities in Information Technology
Average annual sales for jobs in application development, 2005

10. Career Opportunities in Information Technology
Hardware Design Careers
hardware designer designs specifications for computer hardware such as CPUs, video cards, and memory chips
job is part electrical engineering and part programming
requires advanced training and problem-solving skills

11. Career Opportunities in Information Technology
Average annual sales for jobs in hardware design, 2005

12. Preparation for an IT Career
What training is needed to succeed in an IT career?
Three main types of computer-related college degrees provide a solid background:
• computer science
• computer engineering
• computer information systems
certificate programs are industry-sponsored and offer specialized training in products of the sponsoring corporation

13. Preparation for an IT Career
College Degree Programs
Computer Science focuses on creating new software through programming
requires advanced mathematics, basic chemistry, and basic physics
graduates typically become programmers for software companies or applications developers for IT consulting firms

14. Preparation for an IT Career
College Degree Programs
Computer Engineering focuses on hardware design
hybrid of computer science and electrical engineering; degree requires all the core courses of study from each
graduates typically hired by companies that work in factory automation, computer hardware design, or system-level software development

15. Preparation for an IT Career
College Degree Programs
Computer Information Systems focuses on application development with existing software rather than creation of new software
requires mixture of business and computer science courses
graduates typically become application developers or Web or database administrators

16. Preparation for an IT Career
Comparison of entry-level salaries for degree programs, 2005

17. Preparation for an IT Career
Certificate Programs
focused in their outlook; train individuals for particular job working with specific type of product
student can gain an industry certificate and enter job market in a few months
student must pass a standardized test for most certifications

18. Preparation for an IT Career
Major types of certification

19. Preparation for an IT Career
Certificate Programs
CompTIA Certification sponsored by Computing Technology Industry Association
not specific to a particular vendor’s hardware or software
shows evidence of a broad range of experience
certification obtained by testing at a local center that provides independent services for standardized tests

20. Preparation for an IT Career
Certificate Programs
CTP Certification sponsored by Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
certificate holders have good grasp of telephony, infrastructure, signaling, and Voice over IP
applicants pay $125 and pass an exam

21. Preparation for an IT Career
Major types of certification,continued

22. Preparation for an IT Career
Certificate Programs
Microsoft
• Microsoft Office Specialist certifies users in Microsoft programs such as Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook
• Microsoft Certified Professional qualifies individuals to develop applications using Microsoft software
• Microsoft Certified Solution Developer qualifies users of Microsoft Visual Studio to write software

23. Preparation for an IT Career
Certificate Programs
Microsoft
• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer certifies network administrators who manage LANs or WANs with hundreds or thousands of computers
• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator certifies computer technicians who implement, manage, and maintain Windows-based systems
• Microsoft Certified Database Administrator certifies database administrators who specialize in Microsoft Access

24. Preparation for an IT Career
Major types of certification,continued

25. Preparation for an IT Career
Certificate Programs
Cisco Certificates
• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certifies holder to install and manage small networks
• Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA) is certified to design small home or office networks
• Cisco Certified Internetworking Professional (CCIP) certifies individual has detailed knowledge of Cisco networking system
• Additional Cisco Qualified Specialist certificates are available for specific networking technologies

26. Preparation for an IT Career
Certificate Programs
Oracle offers certificates on Oracle application development and database administration, including
• Oracle Certified Application Developer (OCAD)
• Oracle Certified Database Administrator (OCDBA)

27. Work Environments How does work environment affect career choice?
evaluate work environment and business model to ensure they are a good match for you
salaried employees do not get paid for overtime; hourly employees do
most highly paid positions of responsibility are salaried, but often require longer workdays

28. Work Environments Ergonomics
ergonomics is designing equipment so that it is comfortable to operate and does not cause injury
repetitive motion injury occurs when a joint or nerve is overused
carpel tunnel syndrome involves swelling of the sheathe of nerves that runs from forearm through wrist and into hand

29. On the Horizon
Based on the information presented in this chapter and your own experience, what do you think is on the horizon?
Suggested final slide for each chapter.
CLH SLIDE Please have this slide be the final slide for each chapter.