Computers Are Your Future Tenth Edition Chapter 10: Careers & Certification Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1

Computers Are Your Future

Tenth Edition

Chapter 10: Careers & Certification

Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall 1

22

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Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice HallPublishing as Prentice Hall

What You Will Learn

Describe traditional information technology (IT) career paths and how these paths are changing.

Compare and contrast computer science (CS) and management information systems (MIS) curricula in colleges and universities.


What You Will Learn

Describe two settings in which most IT workers find employment and list at least three typical job titles.

Identify the business skills that information system (IS) managers want in new IT workers.


What You Will Learn

List the technical skills currently in high demand.

Discuss both the positive and negative aspects of certification.


Careers & Certification


Careers & Certification Information technology industry

Focuses on development and implementation of technology and applications

Includes Microsoft, Intel, and telecommunications companies, resellers, and vendors

Popular job search sites General job search sites: CareerBuilder.com,

Monster.com, and USAJOBS.com IT job search sites: ComputerJobs.com,

ComputerWork.com, and Tech-centric.net






Traditional Information Technology Career Paths

Information technology (IT) professional An individual who works with

information technology Demand for skilled IT professionals

will continue to grow



Computer support System

administration System analysis Database

administration

Security support Network systems

analysis Data communication Software

engineering


Future information technology positions:



Corporate IS Department Job Titles and Responsibilities



Software Development Firm Job Titles and Responsibilities


Offshoring Transfer of labor from workers in one

country to workers in another Job categories affected

Call center Computer programming



Education for traditional IT computer careers reflects the historical division into science and business disciplines.

Education for these careers is divided into two distinct departments: Computer science Management information systems



Computer science Focus on science and engineering Important knowledge areas:

Programming Math

Requires theoretical and analytical skills



Management information systems Focus on practical applications of

information systems and technology Important knowledge areas:

Finance Marketing

Requires good communication and interpersonal skills



System engineers Focus on

People Organization Technologies

Must develop strong project management skills



Software engineers Focus on

Programming Keeping applications up to date

Must develop Strong interpersonal skills Programming skills Business skills Analysis skills



Electrical engineering (EE) Focus on technologies relating to

cutting-edge communication and digital circuit design

Key areas of interest—hardware design Robotics Solid-state components Integrated circuits Computer chips



Continuing education for people choosing traditional IT careers includes: Training seminars Computer magazines, newspapers,

and journals Conferences and trade shows Professional organizations


Alternative Information Technology Career Paths

IT careers constantly change because of: Changes in technology Changes in business

Employers want employees with: Business skills Technical knowledge



Business skills desired in IT professionals: Communication skills Ability to work as a team player Project management skills Business expertise



Networking Knowledge of

Microsoft products

Linux TCP/IP

Oracle AJAX ERP systems


Technical skills desired in IT professionals:

Web Technologies, New Jobs

New positions in the Web technologies area require artistic skills in addition to the traditional technical and business skills.



Certifications Assure employers of skills Used to assess competency Often required by employers Benefit prospective IT employees and

employers







Certification risks for employees: Narrow scope of information may be

emphasized in the certification assessment

Much time and work dedicated to vendor-specific technology that

May change May be less valuable in the future



Certification risks for employers: Employee may have narrow training Knowledge in one area is not enough


What You’ve Learned Careers in the traditional information

technology (IT) area are divided into computer science (CS) and management information systems (MIS), which require four-year degrees.

Training in the CS area requires theoretical studies, whereas training in the MIS area requires practical business knowledge.


What You’ve Learned

IT employees normally are employed in information systems (IS) departments of corporations or with vendors.

Skills desired by IS managers include the ability to work as a team member, project management skills, communication skills, and knowledge of business.


What You’ve Learned

Technical skills desired by employers include networking skills and knowledge of Microsoft products, Linux, ERP systems, AJAX, and Internet technologies.

Certifications are used as employee assessment tools and have advantages and disadvantages for employees and employers.


Documents

Computers Are Your Future Tenth Edition Chapter 10: Careers & Certification Copyright © 2009 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Prentice Hall1