Information Technology Careers
Information Technology Careers
Information technology is an exciting and constantly changing field of study. A degree in technology provides individuals with the opportunity for a career in top-ranked jobs (Vahid & Lysecky, 2019). How does an individual know what career is right for them? Information technology is a relatively new career path. However, it is one of the fastest growing. With technological advances being made every day, new job roles are forming to fill the changing needs of businesses. Career competencies are positively correlated to career adaptability and success in an individual’s career (AlKhemeiri et al., 2021). Technology’s constant evolution requires individuals to have a broad knowledge of the fundamentals of technology concepts to maintain adaptability. To succeed in a career in technology, individuals should understand the history of computers, have knowledge of hardware and applications, and comprehend network architecture to succeed.
The history of computers helps
individuals decide what information technology career is right for them. Studying
the progression of computers allows a glimpse into different career paths. Computers
originated from electric pulses through switches, later developed into transistors,
which today form the central processing unit (Vahid & Lysecky, 2019). A
deep understanding of this information would assist in a computer repair
technician or engineer career. Similarly, a career in programming starts with
understanding how the electric pulses read as zeros and ones to compose machine
language. Machine language led to assembly language for enhanced readability,
but its limited processing capability led to the progression of high-level
programming languages (Vahid & Lysecky, 2019). The history and progression
of computers allow for insight into how hardware and applications were formed. Another
example of this is how database management systems revolutionized the 1970s.
Database management systems were created to solve managers’ technical issues. Databases
allow businesses to organize data and retrieve requested material through
queries. Conversely, this created new job roles like database management (Bergin &
Haigh, 2009). Although technology constantly changes, understanding its history
will allow individuals to identify where their job role originated and where it
may be headed. Individuals will be better informed about which technology
career they are best suited for.
Knowledge
of hardware is necessary for any career choice in information technology. A
computer programmer creates code for software programs (Vahid & Lysecky, 2019). A
programmer must have intimate knowledge of applications and programming
languages. However, understanding computer hardware is necessary for a programmer
to design and analyze software and programs more efficiently (Lane, 1996). Understanding
that the code written for an application will be processed by the computer operating
system into assembly language and transformed into machine language in the central
processing unit can allow the programmer to troubleshoot issues that arise. Writing
a bulky program may cause the computer to lag. The central processing unit has limited
random access memory, so large programs on devices with a small amount of
memory (like a tablet or smartphone) will likely cause issues. This in-depth
knowledge of hardware allows the programmer to write more efficient code for
the pertaining requirements. Similarly, a technical support specialist should
understand how the components of a computer work to assist a customer in
troubleshooting. Suppose a customer has issues with a computer running slow. In
that case, the specialist should check how much storage is used on the hard
drive or if an excessive number of programs are open, causing the processor to
lag because the random access memory is overwhelmed with the number of
applications. These examples showcase how understanding
of hardware prevails in any career path.
Computer
applications are prevalent in all business forms, making them essential to any
career. High-level programming has made it possible to have software with a user-friendly
interface. Word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation
applications are predominantly used. These resources allow employees to carry
out daily tasks; even emails are generated by a word processor. A data analyst
would require all these applications regularly. An analyst must also know a
programming language like SQL or Python to access a database. They may then
share their analyzed information in an email or report generated by a word
processor. A spreadsheet application may also format the data into charts and
graphs for easy explanation. The information may need to be addressed in a meeting
with the assistance of a presentation application. Considering applications
used in a particular field will help individuals select a career.
Basic
knowledge of network architecture will be vital for any career in information
technology. Network architecture is the framework for computers to interact
with each other. Although you can make a career out of being a computer network
architect, different career choices also require this knowledge. Computer
support specialists often assist customers in troubleshooting software and equipment (Vahid & Lysecky, 2019). Troubleshooting
usually requires internet connectivity. A support specialist may take control
of the user’s computer (with permission) to assist in solving the problem. Understanding
how to access the customer’s home network allows the support specialist to help
the customer better. If the customer has issues with internet connectivity, the
specialist should direct the customer to run a ping or traceroute command to
address where the connectivity issue occurs. Furthermore, a basic understanding
of network management is critical for cyber security. Individuals must
understand the risks of data breaches and their impact on a company. Sensitive
information should be kept out of emails, and prospective employees should
understand how to protect information from breaches. Network architecture, the communication
between computers, is necessary to survive in any information technology
career.
In conclusion, success in
information technology requires individuals to understand what their intended
career entails. Although a broad knowledge of technology fundamentals will
allow a successful career, it will also give an individual insight into what
specialization they would prefer to pursue. Individuals should know that
technology is constantly evolving and must grow with it. Understanding the
progression of computers, programming, and applications will assist individuals
in assessing what growth may come in the potential direction of careers. They
should obtain a well-rounded education in computer history, hardware,
applications, and network architecture to ensure the best chance of success in
their career choice. Their education will permit their competencies and adaptability,
thus providing prosperity in their career.
References
AlKhemeiri, A. K., Khalid, K., & Musa, N.
(2021). The Role of Career Competencies and
Proactive
Personality in Early-Career Employee Career Adaptability. European Journal
of Training & Development, 45(4/5),
285–300.
https://doi.org/10.1108/EJTD-05-2020-0081
Bergin, T. J., & Haigh, T. (2009). The
Commercialization of Database Management Systems,
1969-1983.
IEEE Annals of the History of Computing, 31(4), 26–41.
https://doi.org/10.1109/MAHC.2009.107
Lane, W. D. (1996). Textbook Principles to Communications
Hardware: Making it Work.
Technology-Based Re-Engineering Engineering
Education Proceedings of Frontiers in
Education
FIE’96 26th Annual Conference, Frontiers in Education Conference, 1996.
FIE ’96.
26th Annual Conference., Proceedings Of, 3, 1504.
https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.1996.568554
Vahid, F., & Lysecky, S. (2019). Computing
technology for all. zyBooks
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