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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.	
  
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	
  
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.	
  
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.	
  	
  
 
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	
  
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/	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  
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>.	
  
	
  
	
  
	
  

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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>.