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Career Research Article (Ghost Writer)
1. Information
Technology
Introduction
Merriam
Webster’s
Dictionary
defines
Information
Technology
as
the
technology
involving
the
development,
maintenance,
and
use
of
computer
systems,
software,
and
networks
for
the
processing
and
distribution
of
data
(Merriam
Webster’s
Dictionary,
2015).
Under
this
definition
exists
a
wide
range
of
different
careers,
which
influence
the
smooth
operation
of
the
majority
of
daily
functions
in
our
technology-‐dependent
world.
I
plan
on
contributing
to
the
development
of
rapidly
developing
technologies
by
pursuing
a
career
in
programming.
I
would
particularly
enjoy
work
relating
to
database
administration.
Eventually,
I
aim
to
obtain
a
rewarding
position
as
an
information
technology
educator.
My
desire
to
forge
a
career
in
this
field
stems
from
my
passion
for
programming,
the
use
of
algorithms
to
solve
complex
technical
problems,
and
the
necessity
for
analytical
thinking.
Throughout
the
years,
I
have
learned
a
number
of
programming
languages,
including:
Python,
C++,
SQL
and
JAVA
and
have
become
proficient
in
utilizing
them
effectively.
As
well,
I
have
had
the
opportunity
to
work
in
the
IT
department
for
the
City
of
Fargo.
This
experience
provided
insight
into
the
realm
of
information
technology
and
allowed
for
practical
application
of
my
skills.
My
decision
to
strive
towards
a
career
in
IT
was
reinforced
by
my
experience
in
the
work
place.
Career
Path
A
career
in
programming,
preferably
with
a
focus
on
database
administration
is
comprised
of
a
wide
range
of
responsibilities
related
to
the
management
of
data.
This
includes:
designing,
implementing
and
testing
new
databases,
transferring
data
from
outdated
systems
to
new
ones,
and
ensuring
data
security.
It
is
my
aim
to
develop
a
cross-‐platform
application,
which
would
allow
greater
flexibility
in
the
use
of
software
and
hardware.
Typical
requirements
for
entry
into
this
field
are
a
Bachelor’s
degree
in
computer
science
(or
a
related
field).
In
conjunction
with
this,
a
minimum
of
2
years
of
IT
experience
–
with
strong
focus
on
database
practices
–
is
necessary.
Advancing
my
career
in
programming/data
management
could
eventually
lead
to
working
as
a
Project
Manager.
I
would
be
in
charge
of
a
team
of
IT
professionals,
overseeing
all
aspects
of
each
project
from
start
to
finish.
10
years
of
experience
in
IT,
5
of
them
in
project
management,
is
required.
Becoming
a
technical
trainer
is
a
versatile
career,
as
there
are
many
different
areas
of
IT
for
which
it
is
required.
Responsibilities
for
this
position
include
creating
engaging
materials
and
course
work
to
be
used
during
instructional
programs,
instructing
courses
related
to
the
safety,
integrity,
upkeep,
installation,
programming
and
troubleshooting
of
software
and
technological
equipment.
Entry
into
this
field
requires
a
Bachelor's
Degree.
Often
times,
2
years
of
technical
training
experience
is
preferred;
candidates
should
possess
a
working
knowledge
of
various
training
techniques.
An
excellent
ability
to
communicate
clearly
in
both
written
and
verbal
language
is
critical.
2. If
I
were
to
choose
a
career
as
a
post-‐secondary
Computer
Science
Teacher,
I
would
be
developing
and
teaching
curricular
course
materials,
maximizing
student
learning,
encouraging
critical
thinking,
evaluating
student
progress,
compiling
syllabi,
etc.
A
Master’s
degree
in
Computer
Science
or
a
comparable
field
is
required,
with
teaching
experience
preferred
(though
not
always
necessary).
Establishing
myself
on
this
career
path
will
take
approximately
5
to
9
years
will
continue
until
I
retire.
Timeline
When
considering
what
the
timeline
for
advancing
along
my
career
path
will
look
like,
I
prefer
to
plan
in
a
way
that
allows
a
certain
degree
of
flexibility.
Adhering
to
rigid
deadlines
could
be
detrimental,
rather
than
beneficial,
because
it
may
limit
the
exploration
of
new
opportunities
that
could
propel
my
career
even
further.
I
have
worked
for
the
City
of
Fargo
for
the
past
year,
performing
various
IT
jobs,
and
seek
to
apply
the
knowledge
I
have
gained
to
future
jobs.
In
the
upcoming
year,
I
plan
on
pursuing
work
with
a
company
that
keeps
current
with
the
continuously
changing
world
of
technology,
in
order
to
provide
clients
with
high
quality
IT
services.
I
hope
to
remain
with
this
company
for
the
next
5
years,
working
my
way
up
through
the
company.
By
that
time,
I
would
like
to
have
established
myself
as
an
innovative
programmer,
preferably
with
a
focus
in
database
administration.
From this point, my timeline will vary depending on which route I decide on
(deciding factors: job market, occupational interest, etc.). Options include: continuing
upwards in IT to a Project Manager position, switching to a career in technical
training, or pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Information Systems or
Management Information Systems. A Master’s degree would enable me to switch to a
career in education.
Should I decide to continue making my way up through a company as a
programmer/database administrator, I could eventually obtain a position as a Project
Manager. This would require approximately 4 years of experience, in addition to the 6
years I will already have (10 years required in total). As a technical trainer, I could
begin working immediately, moving up the ranks of seniority until retirement.
Alternatively, if I plan on switching to a career in education I would first need to
complete a Master’s degree. The standard time for completion of this degree is 2
years. The time it will take to gain an entry-level position in one of these careers
ranges from 5 to 9 years. Progression to the highest level of each of these careers
would continue for the foreseeable future.
Pay
Ranges
Throughout
the
Career
Path
Programmer
The
annual
salary
range
for
a
Programmer
is
$44,406
-‐
$104,90.
The
national
average
is
$70,000.
Entry-‐level
programmers
make
9
percent
less
than
the
national
average,
while
mid-‐career
programmers
make
7
percent
more
than
3. the
national
average.
Experienced
and
late-‐career
programmers
make
18
percent
and
23
percent
more
than
the
national
average,
respectively.
Database
Administrator
(DBA)
The
annual
range
for
a
Database
Administrator
is
$42,175
–
$102,410.
The
national
average
is
$68
000.
Entry-‐level
DBA
salary
is
14
percent
lower
than
the
national
average,
while
mid-‐career
salary
is
10
percent
higher
than
the
national
average.
Experienced
and
late-‐career
DBA
salaries
are
20
percent
and
28
percent
higher
than
the
national
average,
respectively.
Technical
Trainer
The
annual
salary
range
for
a
Technical
Trainer
is
$38,781
–
$91,136.
The
national
average
is
$60
000.
Entry-‐level
Technical
Trainer
salary
is
13
percent
lower
than
the
national
average,
while
mid-‐career
salary
is
1
percent
lower.
Experienced
and
late-‐career
salaries
are
14
percent
and
19
percent
higher
than
the
national
average,
respectively.
IT
Project
Manager
The
annual
salary
range
for
a
Project
Manager
(IT)
is
$53,2224
-‐
$129,957.
Entry-‐level
Project
manager
salary
is
22
percent
lower
than
the
national
average,
mid-‐career
salary
is
the
same
as
the
national
average,
while
experienced
and
late-‐career
salary
are
12
percent
and
20
percent
higher
than
it.
Computer
Science
Teacher
The
annual
salary
range
for
a
Computer
Science
Teacher
is
$30,201
–
$84,767.
The
national
average
is
$48,000.
Entry-‐level
and
mid-‐career
salaries
are
7
percent
and
8
percent
lower
than
the
national
average,
respectively.
Experienced
and
late-‐career
salaries
are
16
percent
and
40
percent
higher
than
the
national
average,
respectively.
Reservations
About
the
Career
Path
Despite
my
passion
for
programming
and
database
management,
I
have
reservations
about
choosing
a
career
in
the
information
technology
field.
Job
security,
an
equal
work-‐life
balance
and
potential
for
growth
are
among
the
major
concerns
I
have
about
entering
this
area
of
work.
The
IT
industry
is
constantly
changing
due
to
the
rapid
developments
in
technology.
Changes
in
technology
influence
the
market
for
IT
jobs,
both
in
corporate
and
industry
information
technology.
Inevitably,
this
alters
the
jobs
that
are
available
and
the
skills
necessary
to
succeed
in
them.
The
creation
of
new
jobs,
along
with
the
elimination
of
unnecessary
ones,
means
that
there
is
no
assurance
that
the
position
I
desire
will
always
exist.
As
well,
offshoring
of
IT
jobs
has
becoming
increasingly
common.
By
outsourcing,
American
companies
are
able
to
pay
a
fraction
of
the
cost
for
high-‐
tech
labor
when
compared
to
the
cost
of
paying
US
wages.
This
means
an
influx
in
lay-‐offs
and
extremely
high
competition
for
entry
into
the
field.
As
a
result,
professionals
who
do
manage
to
gain
employment
in
the
field
face
an
increasing
imbalance
between
work
and
life;
these
jobs
are
often
exceedingly
demanding.
4. The
crucial
role
that
those
in
IT
play
in
ensuring
the
smooth
functioning
of
a
business
is
frequently
underappreciated.
Consequently,
there
is
often
stagnation
regarding
salary
promotion.
High
competition
for
work,
combined
with
a
lack
of
job
security
in
IT
will
delay
my
ability
to
shift
careers
to
a
parallel
occupation
in
the
future.
Professional
Advice
What
are
the
necessary
skills
for
being
successful
in
an
IT
career?
The
skills
necessary
for
performing
a
job
in
IT
change
often.
It
is
important
that
you
not
only
keep
up-‐to-‐date
on
current
advancements
in
the
field,
but
also
that
you
have
a
mixture
of
soft
skills
and
technical
skills.
Soft
skills
include
things
such
as
being
an
effective
communicator,
being
able
to
facilitate
working
relationships
both
inside
and
outside
of
your
department,
and
knowing
the
techniques
for
leading
a
team.
Honing
technical
skills
is
necessary,
but
should
not
be
the
sole
focus.
Simply
learning
how
to
perform
the
technical
aspect
of
a
job
will
only
ensure
that
you
have
the
ability
to
complete
work
proficiently.
It
will
not,
however,
benefit
you
when
it
comes
to
business
interaction.
Without
the
skills
to
network,
collaborate
with
clients
and
coworkers,
or
create
viable
business
plans,
you
are
far
less
likely
to
succeed
in
IT
(or
any
field).
Possessing
an
equal
amount
of
soft
skills
and
technical
skills
will
make
you
a
more
desirable
candidate
to
potential
employers,
and
will
help
in
establishing
career
stability.
How
do
you
gain
these
skills?
There
are
many
different
ways
to
gain
both
soft
and
technical
skills.
In
terms
of
soft
skills,
speaking
to
a
successful
professional
in
your
desired
career
will
allow
you
to
gain
knowledge
about
what
the
career
path
entails.
In
doing
this,
you
will
gain
insight
into
the
different
aspects
of
attaining
your
career
goals,
while
simultaneously
practicing
how
to
network.
Productive
networking
involves
many
of
the
soft
skills
required
to
gain
employment,
such
as
learning
which
questions
are
beneficial
to
ask,
communicating
with
others
in
a
professional
manner,
and
building
professional
relationships.
Regarding
technical
skills,
a
formal
education
in
Computer
Science
or
a
related
field
is
always
beneficial.
However,
not
all
employers
require
you
to
have
one.
Many
people
teach
themselves
programming
languages
and
gain
skills
through
practical
application.
There
are
many
resources
available,
free
of
charge,
for
those
who
are
interested
in
a
career
in
information
technology.
Open
source
resources
are
a
great
place
to
publish
independent
work
and
also
learn
from
individuals
interested
in
similar
things.
Furthermore,
volunteering
or
participating
in
an
internship
can
yield
positive
results.
Does
a
career
in
IT
provide
job
security?
A
few
factors
play
into
the
degree
of
job
security
in
IT.
These
factors
include
geographic
location,
experience
and
area
of
expertise.
Setting
yourself
apart
from
others
in
the
field
will
increase
your
chances
of
secure
employment.
5.
What
can
I
do
to
ensure
I
stand
out
to
potential
employers?
Aside
from
a
degree
(which
is
becoming
a
more
common
requirement),
completing
certifications
will
give
you
a
leg
up
on
job
competitors.
The
best
advice
is
to
choose
certifications
that
match
your
career
experience.
With
the
competitive
IT
market,
it
may
be
tempting
to
get
any
certification
in
order
to
enhance
your
resume.
However,
choosing
credentials
that
align
with
your
skill
set
and
experience
will
look
better
to
employers.
Certificates
are
the
most
valuable
when
used
to
enhance
proficiencies
you
already
possess.
Another
way
to
separate
yourself
from
other
candidates
is
to
have
a
strong
portfolio
of
your
work.
This
should
include
any
independent
projects,
volunteer
projects,
as
well
as
paid
projects
(if
you
have
them).
Independent
projects
demonstrate
to
employers
that
you
are
self-‐motivated,
capable
and
serious
about
the
field
of
work.
Do
you
have
any
other
tips
for
someone
interested
in
pursuing
a
career
in
IT?
1.
Taking
on
different,
short-‐term
contract
jobs
is
a
solid
way
of
getting
your
foot
in
the
door.
Technology
advances
at
rapid
speeds
and
it
is
important
to
stay
up
to
date
on
current
trends
in
the
industry.
Taking
on
different
assignments
with
multiple
companies
will
allow
you
to
gain
knowledge
of
different
aspects
of
IT
and
will
help
expand
your
marketability.
2.
Utilize
resources
and
free
career
training.
There
is
an
abundance
of
helpful
information
available
both
on
and
off
the
Internet.
Staffing
agencies
are
an
excellent
place
to
get
current
information
about
the
job
market
and
sometimes
offer
career
training
or
free
online
courses.
3.
Obtaining
a
Master’s
degree
in
Computer
Science
or
a
similar
field
will
open
doors
to
opportunities
that
you
would
not
otherwise
have.
It
is
beneficial
for
careers
in
IT
and
adjacent
careers,
should
you
want
to
switch
occupations
in
the
future.
Job
Availability
Employment
for
computer
programmers
working
in
computer
system
design
is
projected
to
increase
by
8
percent
by
2022.
Computer
programmer
jobs
are
most
abundant
in
San
Jose,
California.
Employment
for
database
administrators
has
been
estimated
to
increase
by
15
percent
by
2022.
The
rise
of
cloud-‐based
computing
may
increase
demand
for
DBAs
in
the
computer
systems
design
sector.
Database
administrator
jobs
are
the
most
abundant
in
San
Francisco,
California.
Employment
rates
for
Technical
Trainer
jobs
are
predicted
to
rise
by
9
percent
by
2022.
Rapid
changes
in
technology
will
increase
the
need
for
those
6. with
technical
knowledge
and
experience.
Jobs
in
technical
training
are
most
abundant
in
New
York.
Employment
rates
for
Computer
Science
Teacher
jobs
are
predicted
to
rise
by
19
percent
by
2022.
Demand
for
higher
education
in
pursuit
of
career
goals
will
increase
the
need
for
post-‐secondary
educators.
Employment
rates
for
IT
Program
Manager
jobs
are
predicted
to
rise
by
15
percent
by
2022.
Rapid
advances
in
technology,
along
with
an
increase
in
threat
to
virtual
security,
will
require
the
need
for
IT
project
managers.
Information
Technology
Project
Manager
jobs
are
most
abundant
in
New
York.
Careers
in
IT-‐
specifically
in
programming/software
development
and
database
management
-‐
are
predicted
to
be
among
the
quickest
rising
occupations
in
North
Dakota.
Employment
rates
for
the
mentioned
fields
are
expected
to
rise
by
39%
and
38%,
respectively.
Alternate
Career
As
previously
stated,
I
would
like
to
switch
careers
once
I
have
gained
thorough
experience
working
in
the
information
technology
field.
I
strive
to
establish
myself
as
a
successful
programmer
and
developer
in
a
job
related
to
database
management,
while
simultaneously
gaining
marketable
skills.
In
turn,
this
will
open
doors
and
allow
me
to
pursue
my
higher
goals:
becoming
an
educator
for
IT
professionals.
Regardless
of
which
type
of
teaching
position
I
obtain,
whether
it
is
a
technical
trainer
in
the
corporate
sector
or
a
Computer
Science
Teacher,
I
will
have
the
applicable
knowledge
to
perform
the
job
effectively.
More
importantly,
I
will
be
able
to
utilize
that
knowledge
to
educate
others
and
help
enable
them
to
achieve
their
own
career
goals.
Vocation
is
said
to
be
a
calling
or
summons
to
carry
out
a
particular
job.
For
me,
the
attraction
to
a
career
path
in
IT
matches
the
description
of
the
word.
My
enthusiasm
and
determination
will
ensure
I
propel
myself
forward,
conquering
each
step
in
the
process
and
working
my
way
to
success.
Resources
for
IT
Jobs
ww.roberthalf.com
https://www.forrester.com
http://www.dice.com/
7. References
AmericasJobExchange.com.
N.p.,
4
July
2007.
Web.
19
Mar.
2015.
<http://www.americasjobexchange.com/>.
Bureau
of
Labor
Statistics.com.
N.p.,
2015.
Web.
20
Mar.
2015.
<http://www.bls.gov/>.
CIO.com.
N.p.,
1994.
Web.
21
Mar.
2015.
<http://www.cio.com/>.
PayScale.com.
N.p.,
2015.
Web.
20
Mar.
2015.
<http://www.payscale.com>.