Computers: Understanding Technology, 3e

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

• Major types of certification,continued

20
Preparation for an IT Career

• Major types of certification,continued

21
Preparation for an IT Career

• Certificate Programs
• CompTIA Certification sponsored by Computing
  Technology Industry Association
• not specific to a particular vendors 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

22
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

23
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

24
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

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?