© Paradigm Publishing Inc. 15-1 Chapter 15 Information Technology Careers.

© Paradigm Publishing Inc. 15-1

Chapter 15Information Technology Careers


Presentation Overview

• Career Opportunities in Information Technology

• Preparation for an IT Career• Work Environments


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


Career Opportunities in Information TechnologySales 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



Average annual sales for jobs in sales and support, 2005



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



Average annual sales for jobs in software development, 2005



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



Average annual sales for jobs in application development, 2005



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



Average annual sales for jobs in hardware design, 2005


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



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



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



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



Comparison of entry-level salaries for degree programs, 2005



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



Major types of certification



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



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



Major types of certification,continued



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



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



Major types of certification,continued



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



Certificate Programs– Oracle offers certificates on Oracle application

development and database administration, including • Oracle Certified Application Developer (OCAD)

• Oracle Certified Database Administrator (OCDBA)


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


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


On the Horizon

Based on the information presented in this chapter and your own experience, what do you think is on the horizon?

© Paradigm Publishing Inc. 15-1 Chapter 15 Information Technology Careers.

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