The Majority of the IT Jobs - Coursework Example

CAREER PLANNING By Looking at present world different I.T jobs have developed as aresult of the change in the levels of technology. Different companies are hiring people in the I.T sector depending on their levels of skills and experience. The majority of the I.T job applicants usually considered the availability or the demand of employees under a particular I.T sector and the salary range before they apply for a post in a given company. Looking for these two I.T jobs (the database administrator and I.T technical support officer), they are readily available worldwide due to the level of technology that is being used by the present companies. The use of technology to enhance quality production has enabled different companies to demand experts in different fields of I.T from, hospitals, banks, schools to factories. Another reason for choosing these two fields is because they both fit the level of skills and talents that I possess and working for any of the two will enable me to perfect my skills and offer quality services. My skills include: currently doing computer science level 5, I have a taste for image and sites designing, and editing videos. In addition, I do have little knowledge concerning different programming languages, for example, java, python, SQL, DRroket, Pascal and HTML, CSS and javascript. Moreover, these two fields gives an individual the platform to learn because one will be offered different challenges or problems that he/she is supposed to help in and researching in such areas gives an individual extra knowledge to learn about. Database administrator For the database administrator, they are responsible for the security, integrity and the performance of the database. Nevertheless, depending on the company or the levels of the employee skills or responsibility, the role can differ from inputting data to the total management of information (Americas Job Exchange, 2015). Different organizations will have different diverse requirements and database needs. In clinic or hospitals, for example, the information of the patient will in most cases be recorded in the database, whilst private organization will most likely store the sales record, the details of the customer and more (Total Jobs, 2015). This data is used to organize and structure the company, deliver target services and marketing and design the strategies of the business. Depending on the person’s level of responsibility, below are some of the tasks that may be performed under this job specification: 1. Assisting in designing database 2. Amending and updating present database 3. Testing and setting up of new database and systems for handling data 4. Monitoring the efficiency of the database 5. Sustaining the integrity and the security of the data 6. Creation of query definitions that are complex that allow the extraction of data 7. Training of colleagues the process of inputting and extraction of data 8. Archiving data 9. Writing disaster recovery programs 10. Writing documentation, reports and operating manuals In addition, the database administrator roles are defined by the particular capabilities and processes of the management system of the database in the present place. Nevertheless, the work performed will in a great way assist the other organizations members, including the IT managers, the programmers, and the analysts who all needs these reports to collate information for communication, planning, and references purposes. Depending on the choices of the work sector that one can work in, there exist a huge variety of choices that one can choose from. One can work as a database administrator for the National health Services (NHS), schools and universities, local and central government departments, retails business, financial institutions, manufacturing companies, and computer and IT companies offering solutions for database (Americas Job Exchange, 2015). As the different majority of companies or firms depend heavily on the information and data collated through the activities of the business, the roles will be very critical to any sector or field. Opportunities Unlike the different areas present in the IT sector, there are no any available paths that are particularly database administration career progression. This depends largely on the on the type and size of the organization that one choose to work for. For most cases, one can become a database specialist. This is gaining popularity due to the popularity of interactive, databases that is web-based. One advantage of being a specialist can move towards self-employed, freelance or consultancy jobs, which can offer more diversity, freedom and variety (Total Jobs, 2015). It is also very easy for one to be promoted from the roles of the junior levels as a network administrator to becoming the manager, or the branch of a different area of the IT sector, such as project management, network management and systems development. Skills required For a tasks in the database sector for any company, the employers will always be looking for applicants with the following qualities: 1. Strong organizational and analytical skills 2. Eye for accuracy and detail 3. Understanding of the SQL (Structure Query Language) 4. Knowledge of management systems for XML database, OODBMS (object oriented database management systems) and RDBMS (relational database management system) 5. Experience with their applications for the software/web database. 6. The abilities for one to work under pressure, quickly and respect deadlines 7. Up-to-date knowledge of the Data Protection Act and the technology 8. Ability for one to work appropriately in an environment that fast paced, where there is constant change in the level of the technology Requirements for entry When it comes to experience, operational knowledge or qualifications are seen as very crucial part of the deal, but a relevant equivalent or degree can help one enter the industry at a position that is very high (Americas Job Exchange, 2015). Much of the experiences that are needed for this type of job can be attained through a past work on IT support, web development or programming. In other cases, there are entry paths through apprenticeship schemes and graduate training programs. Training Due to the likelihood that the technology one will be working from will be changing on a daily basis and with different designs, one is required to maintain or keep updating his/her self with the latest designs and the techniques of the changing technology. This can be achieved through different ways and procedures for example through mentoring, job training and courses for professional development. Depending on the organizations needs, it is important for one to look at courses for example IMIS programmes, the British Computer Society Certificate, e-skills UK Graduate Professional Development Award, and the Professional Graduate Diploma (database systems options) (STUDY, 2015). As well as the skills from IT, one will be able to build skills that will the build-up of a bank of ‘soft skills’ that are transferable. These includes skills such as consumer service skills, communication and time management so that one can understand and communicate with the other database users (PROSPECTS, 2015). Environment and hours Being a database administrator, one will required to work Monday typically to Friday, between 9am and 5pm (STUDY, 2015). In a different organization, there is a likelihood that one will be scheduled on call for any issue that has arisen concerning the database systems outside these known hours. With the current change in the level of technology, the solving of such issues is done remotely. If in-house positioned, one will always find his/herself working in an office at a workstation or a computer. If the person’s roles involve the building of database, one will find his/herself frequently working in the office of the client. There is a chance that one will be working closely with the other professionals for IT, such as project managers, programmers, database designers and system developers. Salary range For the entry level administrator for the database, one will be earning a yearly salary of £22,000 to £26,000. After some years of experience, for example, a minimum of three years, the salary will increase effectively to between £30,000 and £35,000 (STUDY, 2015). People with an experience of about ten years or more are commonly known for earning a salary of up to £50,000. In an approximate of 65% or more of all the positions for the database administrator are found in South East and London, that is, salaries will always be above the average mark. IT technical support officer In most cases, these people work or perform behind the scenes in all kinds of sectors under these jobs. They are the mechanics, the people that other people come to when they have any issues about the computer, and they are known in most cases the I.T world saviours (CW Jobs, 2015). They perform their very best to ensure that the organizations I.T infrastructure and the computer systems are repaired, tweaked, maintained and updated (CW Jobs, 2015). That is the process of new technology setting up, configuring systems, technical bits of kit calibration and providing daily technical support to the individuals that use the I.T network and the computer systems. An I.T technical support officer’s responsibilities will vary majorly depending on the organization’s size and the complexity of the network used by the organization. Nevertheless, in many cases a person will be working with the I.T equipment’s directly and performing technical maintenance tasks that are hands-on on the server of the organization, desktops, software applications, telephone cables, and operating systems. One may be assigned the responsibility of working with the help, assessing queries that may arise regarding the technical areas and answering phone calls (REED, 2014). The person will then have the responsibility of troubleshooting any issues in the most efficient method possible. If these problems brought by the users are difficult, they can be taken to the senior officers who offer technical support, who will sit desk-sided with the user and help them on the issue. One may also be required to run maintenance checks on a regular basis, test new products and keep up-to-date with the issues on the information security (REED, 2014). I.T technical support officer roles 1. Managing consumables, equipment and other suppliers. 2. Maintaining the records of the software licenses 3. for electrical safety, checking computer equipment 4. Obtaining specialists or replacement components, fittings, and fixtures. 5. Agreeing time scales 6. Supervising technical staff and the junior engineering 7. Replacing parts and repairing equipment 8. Solving, diagnosing and investigating computer hardware and software faults 9. Responding to breakdowns 10. Talking to computer users and clients to determine the problem’s nature. 11. Undertaking and planning scheduled maintenance upgrades 12. Configuring and installing computer software, hardware, systems, scanners, printers, and networks. Benefits and salary This area of work can be very demanding but the wage offered is very promising. For example, at the first line support (entry level), one can be offered a yearly salary of around £20,000 and £35,000 (CW Jobs, 2015). As time progresses and a person gains more and more experience, they can be promoted and taken to the higher ranks for example the second and the third line, where a person can be offered a yearly salary of up to £60,000 (REED, 2014). At their career peaks, these I.T technical support officers will turn to be independent contractors and here they will be offered more salary compared to the lower levels. Hours for working This type of occupations is demanding and stressful but very great when an individual likes to deal with people and computers. In most cases, this type of work is done by shifts where a person is located to perform at a given time but there a shift on a regular basis. Nevertheless, the working environment for this type of job depend on problems that arise, sometimes one can work from their helpdesk or moving the location of the users who need the help. That is; one may be moving from office to office helping the users or moving from one area to another remotely to help people using mobile devices or laptops in these fields (SHRM, 2015). Entry A vocational or degree qualification in a relevant subject for computer science for example software engineering will help a person reach the levels he/she wants. According to the regular ever-changing computer technology nature, this will people to thrive in this area of work as long the person will perform personal teaching and training that will enable him/her to always stay on top of this industry developments. Nevertheless, additional credentials for the backing up of the experience level will always add up to the content of the CV. One should possess the primary knowledge of the specific technologies that are used by the organization the person chooses. One needs to understand the nature and the working of different things in the organization to facilitate easy working. Other than technical requirements, one needs to have basic knowledge of areas such as the analytical skills, logic and communication skills (SHRM, 2015). Key skills include: 1. Enthusiasm to learn continuously 2. Capability to work well under pressure 3. A logical mind 4. A methodical and meticulous nature 5. Patience 6. Communication skills 7. Interpersonal skills 8. Organizational skills 9. Technical skills Progression and Training In most cases, training is usually offered when a person joins a company. One will trained in different areas, for example, the network functions and the maintenance of specific computer systems that are used in the organization (CW Jobs, 2015). Before one is in a position to help the rest, he/she needs to be able to understand the functions of the different activities and computers in the organization. As time goes by, one can decide to join different organizations or programs that are designed to help people understand more about this type of work, and this becomes an additional skill in the qualification’s book. Depend on the company, one is always provided a room where he/she can improve his/her skills and when one starts as a first line support officer, he/she may be promoted to the second and the third line of support officer (SHRM, 2015). With every promotion in this area, one will be able to be added more responsibilities that will be more complex compared to the ones that were offered previously (REED, 2014). Alternatively, one can decide to specialize in a particular field of study and become an expert (SME, subject-matter-expert) in it. Evaluation of the two jobs Looking at the two jobs, it both of them are jobs that are currently on a high demand. Different companies and business have developed and others transformed into using the new technologies equipment and services. Foe these reason, the demand for both these two profession has risen in a very large rate and people are now employed by these companies no matter their specifications, for example, hospitals, supermarkets, schools, manufacturing companies, the security departments, for example, the police department, all of these are in for the chase of the best I.T experts. Looking for the two jobs, database administrator mainly focuses on the responsibility of the security, integrity and the performance of the organization while the I.T technical support officer majorly deals with the repairing, tweaking, updating and the maintaining of the I.T structures and computer systems of any organization. From this information, it is, therefore, clear that my skills and tastes will fit the first job (database administrator). This is because my skills revolve more around the area the area of integrity, performance and the security of the database for any given organization. Moreover, there are different specifications that make some of my skills fit the database administrator job more effectively than the I.T technical support officer. Among my skills is the ability to understand some of the programming languages, for example, java, python, SQL, DRroket, HTML, CSS, and javascript. These languages are very applicable to the database administrator because if you look at one of the tasks of a job administrator is the understanding of the SQL (structured query language). These will give me the platform to apply some of the skills concerning other programming languages too and also perfect on them. For I.T technical support officer, less of these required because it only focuses on the repairing, tweaking, updating and the maintaining of the I.T structures and the computers systems of the organizations. Besides, pursuing computer science level 5 gives me the ability to fit more on the database administrator because these skills and knowledge learnt during these computer science lessons are very applicable to these job specification especially because I want to explore this course more and deeply. Database administrator sector will give me the opportunity to apply my skills on the designing of sites and images. For example, under the required skills, one is supposed to have an experience in the software/web applications database. These will provide the platform to design new applications for the database that could enhance its functioning and security, nature, and the appearance. That is; the database administrator mainly focuses on the application of new and old ideas during the I.T technical support officer mainly focuses on the repairing and the maintenance of the available systems and techniques. Database Administrator works closely with the other I.T professionals like system developer, project manager, programmers, and database designers. These people will provide the conducive environment where I can learn new skills, and when questions arise, they will be there to help me because they are part of the I.T team. Therefore, according to the level of my skills and the areas that I love and I want pursue and explore, I choose the database administrator. Conclusion From the information gathered both the database administrator and the I.T technical support officer are very important in any organization and these are among the jobs that fit appropriately to my level of qualifications and skills. The database administrator mainly focuses on the responsibility of the security, integrity and the performance of the organization while the I.T technical support officer majorly deals with the repairing, tweaking, updating and the maintaining of the I.T structures and computer systems of any organization. Some of the responsibilities of I.T technical support officer includes: Managing consumables, equipment and other suppliers, Maintaining the records of the software licences, For electrical safety, checking computer equipment, Obtaining specialists or replacement components, fittings and fixtures, Agreeing time scales, Supervising technical staff and the junior engineering, Replacing parts and repairing equipment, Solving, diagnosing and investigating computer hardware and software faults, Responding to breakdowns, Talking to computer users and clients to determine the problem’s nature, Undertaking and planning scheduled maintenance upgrades, and Configuring and installing computer software, hardware, systems, scanners, printers and networks. For the database administrator, it responsibilities includes: Assisting in designing database, Amending and updating present database, Testing and setting up of new database and systems for handling data, Monitoring the efficiency of the database, Sustaining the integrity and the security of the data, Creation of query definitions that are complex that allow the extraction of data, Training of colleagues the process of inputting and extraction of data, Archiving data, Writing disaster recovery programs and Writing documentation, reports and operating manuals. Qualifications for the database administrator includes: Strong organizational and analytical skills, Eye for accuracy and detail, Understanding of the SQL (Structure Query Language), Knowledge of management systems for XML database, OODBMS (object-oriented database management systems) and RDBMS (relational database management system), Experience with their applications for the software/web database, The abilities for one to work under pressure, quickly and respect deadlines, Up-to-date Data Protection Act knowledge and the technology and Ability for one to work appropriately in an environment that fast paced, where there is constant change in the level of the technology. Qualifications for the I.T technical support officer includes: Enthusiasm to learn continuously, Capability to work well under pressure, A logical mind, A methodical and meticulous nature, Patience, Communication skills, Interpersonal skills, Organizational skills and Technical skills. Therefore, according to the level of my skills and qualifications (computer science level 5 and knowledge of programming languages), and the areas that I love and I want pursue and explore for example video editing, designing sites and images, I would choose the database administrator. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,, ,, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,, , , , , Reference list CW Jobs, 2015. Technical Support and helpdesk. http://www.cwjobs.co.uk/careersadvice/profiles/technical-support-helpdesk SHRM, 2015, Technical Support Technician.http://www.shrm.org/templatestools/samples/jobdescriptions/pages/cms_001 64.aspx STUDY, 2015. Technical Support Manager. http://study.com/articles/Technical_Support_Manager_Job_Description_Requirements_ nd_Salary_Information.html REED, 2014. I.T Support Officer. http://www.reed.co.uk/jobs/it-support-officer Total Jobs, 2015. I.T Support Job Description. http://www.totaljobs.com/careers-advice/job profile/it-jobs/it-support-job-description PROSPECTS, 2015. Database Administrator. http://www.prospects.ac.uk/database_administrator_job_description.htm STUDY, 2015. Database Administrator. http://study.com/articles/Database_Administrator_Job_Description_and_Requirements. ml Total Jobs, 2015. Database Administrator. http://www.totaljobs.com/careers-advice/job profile/it-jobs/database-administrator-job-description Americas Job Exchange, 2015. 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