Information Technology Career List

A short list of possible IT careers

I once had to give a talk explaining what kids of jobs were available for graduates in computer science and

information technology. The talk developed into a kind of information technology career list. It started with the

question :

What is a career in computer technology?

And continued :

Is it just sitting in front of a glowing box all day? Not at all!

A career in information technology is a rewarding, challenging career, with many possible paths open to you.

If your passion is interacting with people, listening to them, understanding what they want, the System Analyst

is the role for you. On the other hand, if you love directing and coordinating a team of hard-working

individuals, you should aim high and become a Project Leader. On the other hand, some really do prefer the

joy of coding - willing the glowing box to do their bidding. Far from being a couch potato, the Programmer's

position is one many find extremely rewarding. There are many branches to the Information Technology career

tree. Read on to find out more about some of them, and decide which one you'd like to squirrel up to.

First of all, any modern career is a challenge. For a graduate to succeed our rapidly changing world requires

skills rarely taught in school or university - skills such as flexibility and adaptability, the willingness to

continually learn, mixed together with a good dose of creativity, and good ole getting along well with

colleagues, bosses and customers. This is equally true, if not more, in the field of information technology.

Technologies and techniques change continually, and the most nimble-minded are the ones who thrive. On

another page I talk about how best to obtain these soft skills, and some of the pitfalls that a new graduate should

beware of when embarking on a career in information technology or computer science. For now, I'll describe

for you some typical information technology jobs, and tell you about the kinds of careers that they can lead to.

The System Analyst is involved in the first step of any useful software project. His or her job is to meet with

the customer, the potential users of a new software product, and figure out just what they want. It's a fascinating

challenge, and suits perfectly those who have an avid interest in people. It's challenging because users often

don't themselves know what they want from a software product. Even if they do, these so-called requirements

may change as time goes by. The system analyst will go to a customer's workplace, and through interviews,

questionnaires and observation, deduce how the business actually works, and suggest ways information

technology can be used to make it better. Skills required: good communication skills, creativity. In addition, a

dash of salesmanship will be worth its weight in gold in the system analyst career. Academic qualifications:

Usually, a good Bachelor's or honors degree in computer science or information technology.

The System Designer's job is to take the information collected by the system analyst, and figure out how

computer and information technology can be applied to each customer's specific situation. More and more, this

activity, called design, is done with the customer or users as a real and active participant. The system designer

is to software as an architect is to buildings. The system designer's challenge is to know what technology is

available, and be able to evaluate it to decide what best meets the needs of the customer. The job also involves

breaking down the customer's needs into a clear and precise specification that a programmer can easily use to

generate the program code of the system. Skills required: a strong analytical mind, creativity. It helps to be

always in touch with new technology and programming techniques. Academic qualifications: Usually, a good

Bachelor's or honors degree in computer science or information technology.

The Programmer is, I guess, what most people imagine a 'typical' infotech career involves. His or her job is to

translate the detailed software description produced by the system designer, and translate it into the obscure and

arcane languages only computers understand. Skills required: a strong analytical mind, attention to detail.

And, of course, programming skills! Academic qualifications: Usually, a good Bachelor's or honors degree in

computer science or information technology.

There are many other entry-level jobs in computer science and information technology. However, very few

people in any field stay in an entry-level job for their whole lives. Although there are probably almost as many

different career paths as there are working people, I've attempted to describe for you some of the more common

pathways people walk down in the IT field.

The Project Leader directs a team of software developers, including programmers, designers, analysts, and

others such as documentation specialists, user interface designers, and others. The project leader's job is to

encourage and motivate his or her team, to plan and track the progress of a software development project, and

generally ensure success. Skills required: Communication skills, a good motivator, well organised. In a word,

management. Academic qualifications: Usually, a good Bachelor's or honors degree in computer science or

information technology, and some years experience on software teams.

The Trainer is in high demand. He or she is able to effectively equip others to use information technologies

well. There are companies that are willing to pay a very high price to have their staff equipped with the skills to

use certain in-demand technologies. The trainer must be a person with a deep knowledge of such an area, able

to pass it on effectively to others in an engaging way. Skills required: Communication skills, good technical

knowledge, a good motivator. Academic qualifications: Usually, a good Bachelor's or honors degree in

computer science or information technology, and some years experience with the technology.

Beyond and along with this, the imagination is the limit to what hardworking individual can accomplish in a

career in information technology. I hope this information has been helpful!

List of Information Technology Careers

X

Tamara Runzel

Born and raised in California, Tamara Runzel currently calls Mississippi home. She has reported and produced for TV

stations in Fresno and Redding, California. Runzel's writing has also appeared in a military base newspaper. She has a

Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from University of the Pacific in Stockton.

By Tamara Runzel, eHow Contributor

updated: May 15, 2010

1.

o Jobs in information technology include working with the Internet. computer classroom image by Christopher Meder from Fotolia.com

Information technology encompasses all jobs related to computing technology, including

networking, software, hardware and the Internet, according to techterms.com. There are a

number of information technology positions that extend from entry-level to management, with a

wide array of salaries. Some positions require interaction with people while others do not. If you

have any interest in information technology, there is probably a job that fits your personality.

2. Computer Support Specialist o Computer support specialists are usually divided into two categories; technical support

specialists and help-desk technicians. Technical support specialists work for organizations,

helping address computer-user issues using automatic diagnostics programs. They may write

training manuals and offer training. Help desk technicians address customer computer-related

inquiries and provide assistance. Educational requirements for this position may vary from a

certificate to a bachelor's degree.

Systems Analyst

o Systems analysts interact with clients, meeting with prospective customers and determining

needs through interviews and observation. Systems analysts work in specific areas such as

business, financial systems, accounting, and engineering. They also prepare financial analyses

regarding purchasing proposed technology and work with programmers to ensure systems are

functional. A bachelor's degree in computer science or information technology is usually

required for this position.

Computer Software Engineer

o Computer software engineers are responsible for the design and development of computer

software. They analyze a user's needs and develop appropriate software using flowcharts and

diagrams. Software computer engineer jobs include designing computer games, business

applications, network control systems and operating systems. Most software engineers have a

bachelor's or a master's degree.

Computer Programmer

o Taking information provided by systems analysts or software engineers, a computer programmer

writes the computer program. Translating the information into a language the computer can read,

computer programmers also make repairs or improvements to existing programs. Computer

programmer positions may require a certificate, associate or bachelor's degree.

Information Systems Manager

o An information systems manager's main responsibility is to assure that an organization possesses

the necessary technology to meet its goals. They oversee all technical areas of an organization

along with managing other information technology professionals. Information systems managers

may also evaluate new technologies, develop technical standards, and determine how to

implement any new technology. A bachelor's degree in a computer-related field is generally

required.

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List of IT Careers

X

Melissa LaRose

Melissa holds a Fine Arts degree in Environmental Design and an MA in Information Management. She's worked as a

licensed interior designer, artist, database administrator and nightclub manager. A perpetual student, Melissa writes

web content on a variety of topics--art, interior design, database design, culture, health and business. Her work with

Demand Studios includes over 450 articles found on eHow and DIYChatRoom.com.

By Melissa LaRose, eHow Contributor

updated: September 24, 2010

1.

o Information Technology careers require an understanding of software and hardware issues. network cable mess image by willem169 from Fotolia.com

Information Technology (IT) careers include network administrators, systems analysts, database

administrators and software engineers. A number of the skills these careers require are similar:

programming, analysis, critical thinking, basic knowledge of hardware and software products

and active learning (or keeping up with trends and new technology). However, each career

focuses on a particular need within the IT environment.

2. Network Administrator o Network administrators monitor computer networks, diagnose software and hardware issues and

perform disaster-recovery and data backup. Administrators keep computer networks at peak

performance so that users have access to data and can perform tasks throughout the workday.

Administrators research new technologies; manage, plan and make recommendations about

changes to network configurations; and problem solve recurring network issues. Manual

hardware changes are performed under the network administrator's supervision.

Systems Analyst

o Systems analysts research existing networks and data systems and analyze their capabilities

against the requirements of the business. Analysts make recommendations on needed

improvements to procedures, work flow and computer network configurations. Programming

languages like C++ are used by systems analysts to test and upgrade systems. Analysts help

integrate new databases, applications and computer systems into existing networks.

Database Administrators

o Database administrators (DBA) design, implement and manage databases used in network

environments. They develop security measures to protect data, make modifications and fix data

problems, set user permissions for data access and develop methods for integrating external

databases with existing ones. Database administrators interact with software programmers to

design applications that access the company databases. The DBA must have a working

knowledge of programming languages like Visual Basic and SQL.

Software Engineers

o Computer software engineers create, modify and develop computer applications and utility

software programs as needed. Software engineers must understand and communicate with the

end user of their programs to develop appropriate and efficient applications. Software engineers

use mathematical models and analysis to measure possible outcomes of their software designs.

Software engineers may be required to understand the industry they are working in. For instance,

software engineers working in the financial industry must understand, for example, the formulas

used to calculate interest rates and financing fees.

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List of Careers in Information Technology

List of Careers in the Computer Field

Are you thinking about pursuing a career in information technology (IT)? If you feel sure that you want to work

with computers, you're off to a great start making plans for the next phase of your career. The next thing you'll

need to do is narrow down your areas of interest to decide what type of IT work you'd like to specialize in.

30 Career Options in the Information Technology Field

Reviewing a list of careers in information technology is a great way to start making decisions about exactly

what kind of work you want to do! Here is a list of 30 of the most popular IT occupations along with a general

overview of what's involved in each position.

CAD Operator: design buildings, lighting and electrical systems, equipment and more using computer aided drafting technology

Computer animator: create animated videos using computer generated imagery (CGI) technology Computer operator: provide data input and reporting services at an end-user level Computer trainer: teach others to use computer software and equipment Computer forensics: help fight cybercrime and ensure computer system security Computer repair specialist: provide repair services for computer hardware equipment Consultant: help business managers make wise decisions about hardware and software investments Database administrator: oversee data maintenance and reporting functions Database developer: create and update data management systems Disaster recovery specialist: attempt to restore electronic data following disasters like fires, floods and more Ethical hacker: help companies find weaknesses in their computer security systems Hardware engineer: engage in research and development to create next generation computer equipment Help desk professional: provide assistance to users via telephone and live chat Information technology manager: oversee all IT functions and workers for a company Network administrator: oversee functionality and security of wired and wireless network systems Network installer: set up networking systems and equipment Programmer: write software instructions for computer systems Project manager: oversee teams of hardware and software professional to implement development, acquisition

and installation projects Sales professional: combine marketing skills with IT knowledge to sell computer equipment, systems or software Software developer: use programming skills to create custom software Software installation specialist: install software systems at client locations and complete data migrations Systems analyst: determine optimal usage of computer systems while also providing support and maintenance Systems engineer: design and manage complex computer systems Technical support specialist: help hardware and software users troubleshoot problems Technical writer: develop user manuals for hardware and software Usability specialist: ensure that websites are user-friendly and easy-to-navigate Video game designer: create video games using CGI technology Website designer: create attractive, user-friendly online interfaces Website developer: use programming languages to create functional websites

Webmaster: oversee and manage websites on a day-to-day basis