Computing and IT in the Workplace

CT006-1

Computer Careers

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this section, YOU should be able to:

Explain some of the different career options in Computing

and IT
Describe some career development options in Computing
and IT

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Topics we will cover

Computer Careers
Careers in computer industry
Preparing a career
Guide to certification

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The Computer Industry

What is the expected demand for computer

professionals?
Currently 10 million computer workers with
expected increase of 86,000 jobs annually
< 10% of college students are graduating with
computer-related
degrees

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Careers in the Computer Industry

What are the primary areas where job opportunities
are found?
General
business and
government
organizations

Computer
sales

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Computer
software
industry

Computer
equipment
industry

Computer
education
and training
industry

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Computer
service and
repair industry

Computer
consulting
industry

Careers in the Computer Industry

What is an information technology (IT) department?

Department in business
or government agency
that employs people in
computer-related jobs
Responsible for keeping
all computer operations
and networks operating
smoothly

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Careers in the Computer Industry

What is the computer equipment industry?
Manufacturers and distributors of computers and
computer-related hardware
Careers involve design, manufacture, and
production of computer equipment

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Careers in the Computer Industry

What is the computer software industry?
Companies
that develop,
manufacture,
and support
software

Project
developer
analyzes
requirements,
designs solutions,
and oversees
software
development
process

Computer
scientist
researches,
invents, and
develops solutions
to complex
software problems

Software
engineer
designs
and develops
software
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Programmer
writes and tests
computer
programs

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Careers in the Computer Industry

What is the computer service and repair industry?
Provides preventative
maintenance, component
installation, and repair
services
Computer technician
installs, maintains, and
repairs hardware

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Careers in the Computer Industry

What are career opportunities in computer sales?
Computer sales
representatives need
general understanding
of computers and
specific knowledge of
the product they are
selling

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Careers in the Computer Industry

What are career opportunities in education and

training?
Schools, colleges, universities, and private
companies need educators and trainers
Corporate trainers teach employees how to
use software, design and develop systems,
and program

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Careers in the Computer Industry

What is a computer consultant?

Individual who draws upon expertise in specialized area of computers

Computer
selection

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System
design

Communications

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Network design
and installation

Web
development

Working in IT Department
What jobs are available in an IT department?
Management
Management
System
System
development
development
and
and training
training

E-commerce
administrator

Project leader

Network administrator

Project manager

Vice president of
IT/chief
information officer

Database analyst

Technical writer

Software engineer

Web developer

Systems analyst

Web programmer

Application
programmer
Database administrator

Technical
Technical
services
services

Computing and IT in Workplace

Desktop publisher

Network security
specialist
Quality assurance
specialist

Graphic
designer/illustrator

Web administrator

Operations
Operations

Computer operator

Data
communications analyst

End-user
End-user
computing
computing

Computer technician

Help desk specialist

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Web graphic designer

Webmaster

Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry

What are the three broad disciplines in higher education

that produce the majority of entry-level employees in the
computer industry?

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Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry

What is computer information systems (CIS)?

Programs that
emphasize practical
aspects of
computing
Sometimes called
computer
technology

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Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry

What is computer science (CS)?

Programs that stress
theoretical side of
programming
Also called software
engineering

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Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry

What is computer engineering (CE)?

Programs that teach
students how to design and
develop components found
in computers and
peripheral devices

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Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry

What is a trade school?

Offers programs in
programming, Web
development, graphic
design, hardware
maintenance,
networking,
and security

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Students can complete

trade school programs
in shorter time
than college
or university
programs

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Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry

How do companies advertise computer-related

job openings?
Many companies list job openings on their Web
sites
Some allow job seekers to submit resumes
online

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Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry

How can you search for computer-related jobs?

Many Web sites
specialize in
helping people
find jobs

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Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry

What are some organizations for computer

professionals?
Association for Computing
Machinery (ACM)
science-oriented
Association of Information
Technology Professionals
(AITP)programmers,
systems analysts,
and information
processing managers

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Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry

What is a user group?

Collection of people with common computer
equipment or software interests

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Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry

What is professional growth and continuing

education?
Events such as workshops, seminars, conferences,
conventions,and trade shows
COMDEX - trade show
that brings together hundreds
of vendors and more than 50,000
attendees
Training in form of books,
video-based training,computer-based training
(CBT), Web-based training (WBT), and instructorled training
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Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry

How can you stay informed about the computer

industry?
Computer industry publications
News Web sites

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Certification
What is certification?
Process of verifying
technical knowledge
in a particular area
Proficiency is
acknowledged with
certificate

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Certification
What are the benefits of certification?
Enhances employees career, provides better
standing as industry professional, and higher
salaries and bonuses

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Certification
What are benefits of vendor-sponsored
certification?
Vendors provide access to technical information,
advanced training, and discounts on publications
and tools

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Certification
How does certification benefit customers, employers,
and industry?

Customers receive better service from

employees with certification(s)
Employers benefit from more
productive and knowledgeable workers
Certification is a form of
industry self-regulation
Institute for Certification of
Computer Professionals (ICCP)
defines standards designed to raise
competence level for computer industry

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Certification
What are factors to consider in choosing a
certification?

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Certification
What options are available to prepare for
certification?
Self-study

Online training classes

Instructor-led training

Web resources

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Certification
What are examinations like?

Some are
multiple choice,
others are skill
based

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A Guide to Certification
What are application software certifications?
Sometimes called
end-user certifications

Focus on knowledge of
application software
Microsoft
Certified
Desktop
Support
Technician
(MCDST)

Microsoft
Office
Specialist
(MOS)
sponsored by
Microsoft

sponsored by
Microsoft
IBM Certified
Professional
for Lotus
Software
sponsored by
IBM

Computing and IT in Workplace

Adobe
Certified
Expert
sponsored by
Adobe
Systems

Macromedia
Certified
Professional
(MMCP)
sponsored by
Macromedia

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A Guide to Certification
What are operating system certifications?
Focus on particular skillsuser,
operator, system administrator,
and system engineer
Microsoft
Certified
Professional
(MCP)
sponsored by
Microsoft

Red Hat
Certified
Engineer
(RHCE)
sponsored by
Red Hat

Sun Certified
System
Administrator
sponsored by
Sun

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Differing levels of certification

Red Hat
Certified
Technician
(RHCT)
sponsored by
Red Hat

IBM Certified
Specialist
sponsored by
IBM

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A Guide to Certification
What are programming certifications?
Recognition of programming training
Certified
Software
Development
Professional
(CSDP)
sponsored by
IEEE
Computer
Society

IBM Certified
Solution
Developer
sponsored by
IBM

Sun Certified
Enterprise
Architect
sponsored by
Sun

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Broadens knowledge and skill base

Microsoft
Certified
Application
Developer
(MCAD)
sponsored by
Microsoft

Sun Certified
Java
Developer
sponsored by
Sun

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Microsoft
Certified
Solution
Developer
(MCSD)
sponsored by
Microsoft
Sun Certified
Programmer
sponsored by
Sun

A Guide to Certification
What are hardware certifications?
Recognition of general knowledge
of hardware and controlling
software needed to set up, maintain,
and repair a computer

A+
sponsored by
Computing
Technology
Industry
Association
(CompTIA)

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Can be narrowly or
broadly focused

IBM
eServer
Certified
Specialist
sponsored by
IBM

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NACSE
Network
Technician
(NNT)
sponsored by
National
Association of
Communication
Systems
Engineers
(NACSE)

A Guide to Certification
What are networking certifications?
Awarded to professionals who demonstrate expertise in design,
administration, and maintenance of company-specific networks
Certified
Novell
Administrator
(CAN)
sponsored by
Novell

Certified
Novell
Engineer
(CNE)
sponsored by
Novell

Network+
sponsored by
Computing
Technology
Industry
Association
(CompTIA)
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Sun Certified
Network
Administrator
sponsored by
Sun

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Cisco
Certified
Network
Professional
(CCNP)
sponsored by
Cisco

A Guide to Certification
What are Internet certifications?
They cover technology often used by
an Internet access provider or large
company developing an intranet
Certified
Internet
Webmaster
(CIW)
sponsored by
Prosoft
Training

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Demanding and require technical

expertise in networking hardware

Cisco
Certified
Internetwork
Expert
(CCIE)
sponsored by
Cisco

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Certified
Web
Professional
(CWP)
sponsored by
International
Webmasters
Association

A Guide to Certification
What are database system certifications?
Awarded for knowledge
of a specific database
management system
IBM
Certified
Solutions
ExpertDB2
sponsored by
IBM

Test the various tasks

a database management
staff must perform
IBM
Certified
Solutions
Expert
Informix
sponsored by
IBM

Oracle
Certified
Professional
sponsored by
Oracle

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Microsoft
Certified
Database
Administrator
(MCDBA)
sponsored by
Microsoft
Sybase
Certified
Professional
sponsored by
Sybase

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Review Questions
Discuss the jobs available in Computer Industry

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Question and Answer Session

Q&A
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What we will cover next

Topic and Structure of next session
Summary of the Module

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