Careers in Information Technology PDF
Preview Careers in Information Technology
Other titles in the Exploring Careers series include: Careers in Biotechnology Careers in Engineering Careers in Fashion Careers in Health Care Careers in the Military EXPLORING CAREERS Careers in Information Technology Christine Wilcox ® San Diego, CA ® © 2015 ReferencePoint Press, Inc. Printed in the United States For more information, contact: ReferencePoint Press, Inc. PO Box 27779 San Diego, CA 92198 www.ReferencePointPress.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, web distribution, or information storage retrieval systems—without the written permission of the publisher. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Wilcox, Christine. Careers in information technology / Christine Wilcox. pages cm. — (Exploring careers series) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-60152-707-3 (e-book) 1. Information technology—Vocational guidance—Juvenile literature. 2. Computer science— Vocational guidance—Juvenile literature. I. Title. T58.5.W55 2015 004.023—dc23 2014014192 Contents Introduction: The Fastest-Growing Industry 6 Social Media Specialist 11 Software Tester 18 Website Developer 25 Database Administrator 33 Computer Systems Analyst 40 Information Security Analyst 47 Wireless Network Architect 54 Software Developer 62 Interview with a Wireless Network Architect 70 Other Jobs in Information Technology 73 Index 74 Picture Credits 79 About the Author 80 Introduction HHTheeeaa llFtthha sCCteaasrrtee- TTGoorddoaawyying Industry T he information technology (IT) industry is changing faster than ever before. Computers now help with everything from designing transportation systems to performing delicate surgeries, and the In- ternet has given rise to new business sectors like cloud computing and mobile application development. Trained IT professionals are in high demand, especially those who are experienced in the newest technol- ogies. IT was one of the few industries to weather the recent recession (which offi cially began in December 2007 and ended in mid-2009) with a job loss of only 1 percent. Th e Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that employment in IT will grow three times faster than in all other industries and that one out of every two jobs in science, tech- nology, engineering, and math will be in computing. Salaries are also consistently higher in the IT fi eld than they are in other industries. According to Code.org, a nonprofi t dedicated to expanding participation in computer science education, computer science is the highest-paid college degree. In 2012 the mean annual salary for IT professionals was $80,180. A Shortage of Qualified Workers One reason that wages are high is that there is a shortage of qualifi ed workers in the IT fi eld. “Extended job vacancies have caused one in four companies to lose revenue, so the skills gap is a very real concern,” explains Matt Ferguson, chief executive offi cer (CEO) of CareerBuild- er. He tells Forbes, “Forty-fi ve percent of Human Resource managers reported that they have open positions for which they can’t fi nd quali- fi ed candidates.” In fact, many companies have to recruit candidates from overseas to fi ll their highly skilled—and high-paying—computer 6 jobs because less than 2.4 percent of college students in the United States graduate with a degree in computer science. It is estimated that by 2020 there will be 1 million more jobs than there are students en- rolled in computer science programs. College students who do pursue computer science or related degrees have an excellent chance of landing a high-paying job after graduation. Specializing in technology can also lead to a variety of exciting and fascinating careers. Students who study technology become game testers, code breakers, drone pilots, computer-generated im- agery engineers, Formula One race car systems designers, gadget reviewers, medical imaging designers, geographic information sys- tem mapping engineers, mobile device designers, entrepreneurs, and even astronauts. Th ere are also ample opportunities for IT professionals to work as consultants, and those who are profi cient in emerging technologies can essentially write their own job de- scriptions. Five Major Areas of Study For students interested in a career in computers, there are in general fi ve diff erent majors available at most universities and colleges: Computer engineering: Computer engineers design every- thing from silicon chips and smartphones to global com- munication systems and laser surgery tools. Th ey often work with cutting-edge technologies such as artifi cial intelligence, nanotechnology, and 3-D virtual reality. Students who enjoy inventing or building computerized devices should consider pursuing this degree. Computer science: Computer scientists love to solve puzzles, and their jobs are often about designing software solutions to real-world problems. Th ey develop innovative software products such as search engines and operating systems. Stu- dents who are creative and enjoy solving problems using math should consider this degree. 7 Information Technology: Job Growth Forecast, 2010–2020 Software engineering: Software engineers, also known as software developers, specialize in the design and development of software. Software engineering classes are often off ered within a computer science program, but some colleges off er software engineering as a separate degree. Students who are specifi cally interested in developing software should consider specializing in software engineering. 8 Information systems: Information systems specialists fo- cus on bridging the gap between technology and business. This major is normally available within business schools and can also be called management information systems, computer information systems, or business information systems. This degree is ideal for students who are inter- ested in learning how computers can make organizations more effective. Information technology: Although information technology is the catch-all term for computer-related technologies, infor- mation technology is also a specifi c career path. IT special- ists design and support an organization’s IT infrastructure (the hardware and software designed by computer engineers, computer scientists, and software engineers). IT specialists often support organizations by selecting computer systems, designing the company website, and troubleshooting users’ problems. Students who love working with computers and enjoy helping people should consider a degree in information technology. Computer Literacy in the Modern World Computers have become integrated into nearly every facet of modern life, and few industries exist that are not at least somewhat dependent on IT. Seventy percent of IT jobs are not in the IT sector; they are in a variety of areas, including manufacturing, retail, the arts, fi nancial services, and even weather forecasting. For instance, in health care, health informatics is a hot new fi eld. As hospitals convert to electron- ic health record systems, people who have both medical knowledge and experience in programming or database management are in high demand. Students who do not pursue a career in IT are still well advised to understand the basics about information technology. Kirk McDon- ald, president of an advertising tech company in Manhattan, writes in 9 the Wall Street Journal that he has a hard time finding graduates who even understand what computer engineers and programmers do. “I’m not going to hire you unless you can at least understand the basic way my company works,” he says. “If you want a job in media, technology or a related field . . . teach yourself just enough of the grammar and the logic of computer languages to be able to see the big picture.” Accord- ing to many experts, developing computer literacy will give nearly ev- ery new graduate an advantage in the job market. 10
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