13/05/2014
Welcome back to CHOOSING A CAREER PATH IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY series 3. continuation....
in our past series, we have talk about career path in the following fields:
HELP DESK TECHNICIAN
NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR
DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR
WEB DEVELOPER
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
IT SECURITY SPECIALIST
SOFTWARE ENGINEER . for more details on series those series.
Starting with this series on:
COMPUTER SYSTEMS ANALYST
They are also referred to as IT Systems Analyst, Business Systems Analyst, Computer Information Systems Analyst (CISA), System Analyst. They champion IT solutions to drive business goals.
Computer systems analysts are the “big picture” thinkers in IT. Armed with an understanding of both business and technology, these professionals analyze an organization's current computer systems & procedures, and recommend strategic changes to increase productivity, reduce costs and accomplish other organizational objectives.
Mission-critical activities include monitoring computer system performance, finding and procuring new technologies based on comprehensive cost-benefit analyses, designing and developing new computer systems, and working closely with end-users to optimize performance and troubleshoot problems post-implementation.
Computer Systems Analyst Skills & Responsibilities
Typical day-to-day duties and in-demand skill sets for computer systems analysts include:
• Systems analysts work closely with managers and end-users to define systems requirements and business goals.
• Systems analysts analyze the effectiveness of computer systems and develop strategies to improve IT productivity.
• Systems analysts assist in the design & development of new computer applications and enhancements to existing apps.
• Computer systems analysts provide orientation and training sessions to end-users for new and modified IT systems.
• Systems analysts assist in the deployment, customization and post-implementation troubleshooting of new applications.
• Systems analysts need a top-level understanding of how IT processes and computer system components - hardware, software & networks - interact to further business objectives.
IT PROJECT MANAGER
They are also referred to as IT Program Manager, IT Operations Manager, IT Process Manager, Project Manager. They oversee large-scale technology projects.
IT project managers ensure that complex technical projects, such as systems upgrades, are completed on time, under budget and to specifications. These professionals plan and coordinate the efforts of the internal project team, 3rd party contractors and consultants to bring IT projects to successful completion.
IT project management is one of the most in-demand skills for 2013, as an increasing number of companies are utilizing specialists and project-based methods to get work done right, the first time. Opportunity for advancement and earning potential in this field are excellent.
IT Project Manager Skills & Responsibilities
Typical day-to-day activities and in-demand skill sets for IT project managers include:
• IT project managers plan, execute and finalize technology projects on schedule, under budget and to scope.
• IT project managers develop and manage a work breakdown structure (WBS) for large-scale IT projects.
• IT PMs write project plans detailing a project's goals, technologies, systems, schedules, budget and personnel.
• IT project managers develop project plans that include cost-benefit or return on investment (ROI) analyses.
• IT PMs coordinate recruitment of project personnel and assign duties, responsibilities and spans of authority.
• IT project managers develop and manage budgets, and subsequent budget updates, for technology projects
• IT project managers monitor, analyze & summarize performance and trends to create project status reports.
COMPUTER PROGRAMMER
They are also referred to as Application Programmer, Systems Developer, Software Programmer, Programmer Analyst. They write the code that fuels computer operation.
Computer programmers translate project specifications from software and systems engineers into a script of logical instructions that computers can understand and interpret into functioning programs. Essentially, computer programmers make computer systems and applications work.
Successful computer programmers are fluent in a range of programming languages, as each language has a specific set of strengths, limitations and real-world applications, and multiple languages are used in tandem to create powerful multifaceted programs. For example, Facebook is coded using PHP, JavaScript, CSS & XHP for the frontend; C, C++, Python & Java for the backend; Erlang for Facebook chat; and Objective-C & Java for Facebook's iPhone & Android apps respectively.
Sought-after programming languages in today’s job market include Java, C #, C++, Objective-C, PHP, Python, Perl, Ruby and ASP.Net. HTML, CSS & JavaScript are the building blocks of the World Wide Web, so while not technically programming languages, these are indispensable and highly marketable skills for any programmer.
Skills and Responsibilities
Typical day-to-day activities and in-demand skill sets for this position include the following. Computer programmers:
• Write code using a variety of languages, e.g., C, C #, C++, PHP, Python, Perl and Java.
• Update, optimize the performance and expand the functionality of existing programs.
• Meticulously test for and correct code errors (a.k.a. “bugs”) in a process called debugging.
• Should insert detailed comments into their coding projects so coworkers can follow their process.
• Work closely with software developers, application architects and engineers to keep projects on scope.
• Employ database development skills, e.g., MySQL, SQL Server and Oracle, to build data-driven applications.
IT MANAGER
They are also referred to as Information Systems Manager, IT Administrator, IT Director. They plan, direct, support and champion IT initiatives.
IT managers ensure that their team or department operates efficiently, effectively and inline with organizational goals. These professionals work closely with senior executives and department heads to identify, develop and support new technology solutions. IT managers are also responsible for creating and ensuring adherence to organizational IT policy, procedures and best practices.
Rapid growth in a range of IT job markets, including networking, cloud computing, software development, data storage and virtualization, plus the proliferation of mobile and wireless technologies, is driving demand for IT workers across the board, which in turn is fueling job growth for the managers who lead and supervise IT personnel.
IT Manager Skills & Responsibilities
Typical day-to-day activities and in-demand skill sets for technology managers include the following. IT managers:
• Are responsible for strategic IT planning, including fostering innovation & allocating monetary resources.
• Direct operational IT planning, including planning IT projects and the allocation of manpower resources.
• Coordinate IT staffing, including hiring, supervision, scheduling, professional development and discipline.
• Collaborate with and maintain communications with executives and department heads in the organization.
• Design, implement and enforce the policies, procedures and best practices for their IT team or department.
• Should have superior skills in team leadership, employee development and interpersonal communication.
• Should have a strong command of project management principles, procedures and best practices.
Still promise to be informative. for more info or advice call LightWare Technologies on: 07066598101