Transcript Computers: Understanding Technology, 3e

Chapter 15
Information Technology
Careers
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Presentation Overview
• Career Opportunities in Information
Technology
• Preparation for an IT Career
• Work Environments
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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
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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
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Career Opportunities in
Information Technology
Average annual sales for jobs in sales and support, 2005
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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
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Career Opportunities in
Information Technology
Average annual sales for jobs in software development, 2005
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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
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Career Opportunities in
Information Technology
Average annual sales for jobs in application development, 2005
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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
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Career Opportunities in
Information Technology
Average annual sales for jobs in hardware design, 2005
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Preparation for an IT Career
Comparison of entry-level salaries for degree programs, 2005
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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
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Preparation for an IT Career
Major types of certification
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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
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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
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Preparation for an IT Career
Major types of certification,continued
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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
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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
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Preparation for an IT Career
Major types of certification,continued
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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On the Horizon
Based on the information presented in this
chapter and your own experience, what do
you think is on the horizon?
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