Excerpts from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002-2003, where you'll find much more information for each type of position.
Nature of the Work
Computer support specialists provide technical assistance, support, and advice to customers and other users. This group includes technical support specialists and help-desk technicians. These troubleshooters interpret problems and provide technical support for hardware, software, and systems. They answer phone calls, analyze problems using automated diagnostic programs, and resolve recurrent difficulties. Support specialists may work either within a company that uses computer systems or directly for a computer hardware or software vendor. Increasingly, these specialists work for help-desk or support services firms, where they provide computer support on a contract basis to clients. Network or computer systems administrators design, install, and support an organization's LAN, WAN, network segment, Internet, or Intranet system. They provide day-to-day onsite administrative support for software users in a variety of work environments, including professional offices, small businesses, government, and large corporations. They maintain network hardware and software, analyze problems, and monitor the network to ensure availability to system users. These workers gather data to identify customer needs and then use that information to identify, interpret, and evaluate system and network requirements. Administrators also may plan, coordinate, and implement network security measures.
Job Outlook
Computer support specialists and systems administrators are projected to be among the fastest growing occupations over the 2000-10 period. Employment is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations as organizations continue to adopt and integrate increasingly sophisticated technology. Job growth will continue to be driven by rapid gains in computer and data processing services, which is projected to be the fastest growing industry in the U.S. economy.
Nature of the Work
Computer software engineers apply the principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and systems that enable computers to perform their many applications. Software engineers working in applications or systems development analyze users' needs and design, create, and modify general computer applications software or systems. Software engineers can be involved in the design and development of many types of software including software for operating systems, network distribution, and compilers, which convert programs for faster processing. In programming, or coding, software engineers instruct a computer, line by line, how to perform a function. They also solve technical problems that arise. Software engineers must possess strong programming skills, but are more concerned with developing algorithms and analyzing and solving programming problems than with actually writing code.
Job Outlook
Computer software engineers are projected to be the fastest growing occupation from 2000 to 2010. Very rapid employment growth in the computer and data processing services industry, which employs the greatest numbers of computer software engineers, should result in very favorable opportunities for those college graduates with at least a bachelor's degree in computer engineering or computer science and practical experience working with computers. Employers will continue to seek computer professionals with strong programming, systems analysis, interpersonal, and business skills.
Nature of the Work
Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop, and test computer hardware and supervise its manufacture and installation. Hardware refers to computer chips, circuit boards, computer systems, and related equipment such as keyboards, modems, and printers. The work of computer hardware engineers is very similar to that of electronics engineers, but unlike electronics engineers, computer hardware engineers work with computers and computer-related equipment exclusively. In addition to design and development, computer hardware engineers may supervise the manufacturing and installation of computers and computer-related equipment. The rapid advances in computer technology are largely a result of the research, development, and design efforts of computer hardware engineers. To keep up with technology change, these engineers must continually update their knowledge.
Job Outlook
Computer hardware engineers are expected to have favorable job opportunities. Employment of computer hardware engineers is projected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2010, reflecting rapid employment growth in the computer and office equipment industry, which employs the greatest number of computer engineers. Consulting opportunities for computer hardware engineers should grow as businesses need help managing, upgrading, and customizing increasingly complex systems. Growth in embedded systems, a technology that uses computers to control other devices such as appliances or cell phones, also will increase the demand for computer hardware engineers. In addition to job openings arising from employment growth, other vacancies will result from the need to replace workers who move into managerial positions, transfer to other occupations, or leave the labor force.
Nature of the Work
Computer programmers write, test, and maintain the detailed instructions, called programs, that computers must follow to perform their functions. They also conceive, design, and test logical structures for solving problems by computer. Many technical innovations in programming-advanced computing technologies and sophisticated new languages and programming tools-have redefined the role of a programmer and elevated much of the programming work done today. Job titles and descriptions may vary, depending on the organization. In this occupational statement, computer programmer refers to individuals whose main job function is programming; this group has a wide range of responsibilities and educational backgrounds.
Job Outlook
Employment of programmers is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2010. Jobs for both systems and applications programmers should be most plentiful in data processing service firms, software houses, and computer consulting businesses. These types of establishments are part of computer and data processing services, which is projected to be the fastest growing industry in the economy over the 2000-10 period. As organizations attempt to control costs and keep up with changing technology, they will need programmers to assist in conversions to new computer languages and systems. In addition, numerous job openings will result from the need to replace programmers who leave the labor force or transfer to other occupations such as manager or systems analyst. Prospects should be best for college graduates with knowledge of a variety of programming languages and tools; those with less formal education or its equivalent in work experience should face strong competition for programming jobs.
Nature of the Work
The rapid spread of computers and information technology has generated a need for highly trained workers to design and develop new hardware and software systems and to incorporate new technologies. These workers-computer systems analysts, computer scientists, and database administrators-include a wide range of computer specialists. Job tasks and occupational titles used to describe these workers evolve rapidly, reflecting new areas of specialization or changes in technology, as well as the preferences and practices of employers.
Systems analysts solve computer problems and enable computer technology to meet individual needs of an organization.
They help an organization realize the maximum benefit from its investment in equipment, personnel, and business
processes. This process may include planning and developing new computer systems or devising ways to apply existing
systems' resources to additional operations. Systems analysts may design new systems, including both hardware and
software, or add a new software application to harness more of the computer's power. Most systems analysts work
with a specific type of system that varies with the type of organization they work for-for example, business, accounting,
or financial systems, or scientific and engineering systems. Some systems analysts also are referred to as systems
developers or systems architects.
With the Internet and electronic business creating tremendous volumes of data, there is growing need to be able
to store, manage, and extract data effectively. Database administrators work with database management systems software
and determine ways to organize and store data. They determine user requirements, set up computer databases, and
test and coordinate changes. It is the responsibility of an organization's database administrator to ensure performance,
understand the platform the database runs on, and add new users. Because they also may design and implement system
security, database administrators often plan and coordinate security measures. With the volume of sensitive data
generated every second growing rapidly, data integrity, backup, and keeping databases secure have become an increasingly
important aspect of the job for database administrators.
Job Outlook
Systems analysts, computers scientists, and database administrators are expected to be the among the fastest growing occupations through 2010. Employment of these computer specialists is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations as organizations continue to adopt and integrate increasingly sophisticated technologies. Growth will be driven by very rapid growth in computer and data processing services, which is projected to be the fastest growing industry in the U.S. economy. In addition, many job openings will arise annually from the need to replace workers who move into managerial positions or other occupations or who leave the labor force. Relevant work experience and a bachelor's degree are prerequisites for many jobs; for more complex jobs, a graduate degree is preferred.
Nature of the Work
The need for organizations to incorporate existing and future technologies in order to remain competitive has
become a more pressing issue over the last several years. As electronic commerce becomes more common, how and when
companies use technology are critical issues. Computer and information systems managers play a vital role in the
technological direction of their organizations. They do everything from constructing the business plan to overseeing
network and Internet operations. Computer and information systems managers plan, coordinate, and direct research
and design the computer-related activities of firms. They determine technical goals in consultation with top management,
and make detailed plans for the accomplishment of these goals. For example, working with their staff, they may
develop the overall concepts of a new product or identify computer-related problems standing in the way of project
completion.
Job Outlook
Employment of computer and information systems managers is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2010. Technological advancements will increase the employment of computer-related workers; as a result, the demand for managers to direct these workers also will increase. In addition, job openings will result from the need to replace managers who retire or move into other occupations. Opportunities for obtaining a management position will be best for workers possessing an MBA with technology as a core component, advanced technical knowledge, and strong communication and administrative skills.
Excerpts from the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2002-2003
IT TechnoSphere.Net, Education, Training and Learning Resources for IT Professionals
©1998-2006 Evelyn
Zayas.