Lecturer : Mr. Tri Djoko Wahjono, Ir., M.Sc
Name : Agatha Virgitia Darmawan
Student ID : 1701338122
1.
What Career Opportunities Are Available in the
Computer Industry?
Career opportunities in the computer industry
fall into several areas. In most medium and large businesses and government
offices, staff in an IT department is responsible for keeping all computer
operations and networks running smoothly. They also determine when and if the
organization requires new hardware or software. Workers in the computer equipment
field manufacture and distribute computers and computer-related hardware.
Employees in the computer software field develop, manufacture, and support a
wide range of software. People in the computer service and repair field provide
preventive maintenance, component installation, and repair services to
customers. Computer salespeople determine a buyer’s needs and match these needs
to the correct hardware and software. Computer educators and corporate trainers
teach students and employees how to use software, design and develop systems,
write programs, and perform other computer-related activities. An IT consultant
is a professional who draws upon his or her expertise in a specialized area of
computers and provides computer services to clients.
2.
What Are the Functions of Jobs in an IT
Department?
An IT department provides career opportunities
for people with a variety of skills and talents. Usually, these jobs are
divided into six main areas. Jobs are listed in the area most often referenced,
but also may fall in other areas.
1. Management — directs the planning,
research, development, evaluation, and integration of technology.
2. System development and programming —
analyzes, designs, develops, and implements new information technology and
maintains and improves existing systems.
3. Technical services — evaluates and
integrates new technologies, administers the organization’s data resources, and
supports the centralized computer operating system and servers.
4. Operations — operates the centralized
computer equipment and administers the network, including both data and voice
communications.
5. Training — teaches employees how to use
components of the information system or answers specific user questions.
6.
Security — develops and enforces policies that are designed to safeguard
an organization’s data and information from unauthorized users.
3.
How Are Trade Schools Different from Colleges?
A trade school, also called a technical
school, vocational school, or career college, offers pro- grams primarily in
the areas of programming, Web design and development, graphics design, hardware
maintenance, networking, personal computer support, and security. One advantage
of attending a trade school is time savings. Trade schools teach specific
skills instead of requiring students take a broad range of courses in the sciences
and humanities. For this reason, students often complete trade school programs
in a shorter time than college and university programs. Upon completion of
trade school education, students often receive a certificate. Some receive an
associate’s degree or higher. Many students seek full- time employment with
their certificate or degree and then continue their education on a part-time
basis with a two-year or four-year college. To ensure coursework will transfer,
it is important that students ask their advisor if the trade school has an articulation
agreement with a nearby college or university. An articulation agreement
ensures that if you transfer to a college or university, you will receive
credit for most of the courses taken at your current school. As with any
post-secondary school, when deciding on a trade school, you should compare
curricula, laboratory facilities, instructors, and the types of jobs the
school’s graduates have obtained. Entry-level jobs for students with a
certificate or degree from a trade school include computer technician, desktop
publisher/compositor, graphic designer/illustrator, help desk specialist,
technical writer, and Web developer.
Attending a College or University.
Some students attend a two-year school,
called a community college or junior college. Others attend a four-year college
or university. If attending a community college, students should ask their
advisor if the school has an articulation agreement with a nearby college or
university. As in most other industries, individuals with advanced degrees in
specific fields have a better chance of success. To round out their education,
many graduates augment their computer degree with a master’s degree in
business, education, or other field of study. At colleges and universities,
three broad disciplines produce the majority of entry-level employees in the
computer industry: computer information systems, computer science, and computer
engineering. Another program sometimes offered is software engineering, whose
definition varies depending on the school, which may combine characteristics
from each of these disciplines.
A
trade school, also called a technical school, vocational school, or career
college, offers programs primarily in the areas of programming, Web design and
development, graphics design, hardware maintenance, networking, personal
computer support, and security. Students learn specific skills instead of
taking a broad range of science and humanities courses, which can result in
time savings for students.
4.
How Are the Various College Computer-Related
Courses of Study Different?
Three broad disciplines in higher education
produce the majority of entry- level employees in the computer industry.
Computer information systems (CIS), or information technology (IT), programs
teach technical knowledge and skills and focus on how to apply these skills.
Computer science (CS) programs stress the theoretical side of programming and operating
systems. Computer engineering (CE) programs teach students how to design and
develop the electronic components found in computers and peripheral devices.
5.
How Can People Stay Current with Changing
Technology?
Four primary ways to stay current with
computer technology are professional organizations and personal networks,
professional growth and continuing education activities, computer publications
and Web sites, and certification. Professional organizations are formed by
computer professionals with common interests and a desire to extend their proficiency.
The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) is a scientific and educational
organization dedicated to advancing knowledge and proficiency of information
technology. The Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) is a
professional association of programmers, systems analysts, and information
processing managers. Maintaining a personal network of job-related contacts can
help when seeking change in employment. Professional growth and continuing
education include events such as workshops, seminars, conferences, conventions,
and trade shows. The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is one of
the larger technology trade shows, bringing together thousands of vendors and
more than 110,000 attendees. Computer industry publications also help to keep
people informed about the latest developments in the computer industry. Another source for information is Web sites
that discuss or share opinions, analysis, reviews, or news about
technology. Certification is a process
of verifying the technical knowledge of an individual who has demonstrated
competence in a particular area. Computing professionals typically obtain a
certification by taking and passing an examination.
6.
What Are the Benefits of Certification for
Employers, Employees, and Vendors?
IT certification can enhance employees’
careers, provide them with a better standing as industry professionals, and
increase their salaries. The explain the benefits of certification for
employees :
• Career:
A certification is one of the first
accomplishments an employer notices on a resume. It provides a benchmark, or a
means, to measure a person’s skills. It can set an individual apart from other
potential candidates who may be vying for a similar advancement or position.
• Professional:
Certification is a personal achievement
that adds credibility among peers and employers. Certification also authorizes
the certificate holder to use the product’s official logo or symbol on personal
items, such as business cards and Web pages. As an additional bonus, some
certification training can be used for college credit. Although nothing
guarantees job security, certification helps give the IT professional an edge
over employees without certification.
• Salary:
Numerous salary surveys show that
certification helps influence pay increases. Individuals with more than one
area of certification can command even higher salaries. Companies often pay a
bonus as an incentive for certification.
Many job listings ask for specific skills
represented by certifications, and the number of companies requiring these
skills is expected to grow in the future. Vendor-sponsored certifications offer
many special benefits as incentives. Sponsors often provide special privileges
to certified professionals, such as access to technical and product
information. This may include access to secure online electronic resources,
special technical support, automatic notification of updates, and access to
beta products. In addition, sponsors may offer advanced training opportunities
to certificate holders. Free sponsor magazine subscriptions and discounts on
product-support publications and tools sometimes are available. Some sponsors
even have authorized clothing lines embellished with the certification logo.
Professional organizations that offer certifications, such as the Institute for
the Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP), define standards designed
to raise the competence level for the computer industry. Certification also
offers many benefits to customers, employers, and industry:
• Customer benefits of certification:
Customers gain confidence in a company when IT professionals have earned a
certification. Multiple certifications show that the professional can deal with
many aspects of a problem, drawing from several areas of expertise.
Certification implies motivation to expend extra effort, which often benefits
the customer.
• Employer benefits of certification: An
industry-sponsored study indicates that certified workers are more productive
and knowledgeable than noncertified employees. Certified workers within the
company have higher morale and job contentment, which benefits the employer.
• Industry benefits of certification:
Certification is a form of industry self-regulation. It sets computer
professionals’ competence standards and raises the level of expertise and
knowledge in the IT industry as a whole. This, in turn, enhances the reputation
of the professionals in the industry.
7.
How Can People Prepare for Certification?
Training options are available to suit
every learning style: self-study, online training classes, instructor-led
training, and Web resources.
• Self-study:
Flexible self-study programs help
professionals prepare for certification at their own pace and supplement other
training methods. Self-study requires high motivation and discipline but is the
least expensive option. Hundreds of books, videotapes, and computer-based
training programs on optical disc are available.
• Online training classes:
Online training allows students to set
their own pace in an interactive environment and combines the technological
advantages of computer-based training with the connectivity of the Internet or
a company’s intranet. Online programs can cost about one-third the price of the
traditional instructor-led programs.
• Instructor-led training:
Instructor-led training is available in a
variety of forms, including seminars, which typically are held for several days
during a week; boot camps, which immerse students in intensive course work for
up to two weeks; and academic- style classes, which span a period of several
weeks or months. Some sponsors hold their own training sessions and also
authorize independent training centers.
• Web resources:
The certification sponsor’s Web site
generally contains descriptions of the available certifications, with FAQs and
links to authorized training and testing centers. Many include detailed course
objectives, training guides, sample test questions, chat rooms, and discussion
groups. Most sell books and other training resources. Private individuals often
set up Web sites to offer their own views and tips on the testing process.
Most people prefer to use a combination of
these options to prepare for a certification test.
8.
What Are the General Areas of IT Certification?
Certifications usually are classified based
on the computer industry area to which they most closely relate: application
software, operating systems, programmer/developer, hardware, networking,
digital forensics, security, the
Internet, and database systems.
9.
What Are Some Specific IT Certifications in Each
Certification Area?
Application software certifications, sometimes
called end-user certifications, include Microsoft Certified Application Specialist
(MCAS), Microsoft Certified Application Professional (MCAP), Microsoft Certified
Desktop Support Technician (MCDST), Adobe Certified Associate, Adobe Certified
Expert (ACE), Adobe Certified Instructor (ACI), and IBM Certified Professional
for Lotus Software. Operating system certifications include IBM Certified
Specialist, Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP), Microsoft Certified
Technology Specialist (MCTS), Novell Certified Linux Professional (CLP), Red
Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE), Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT), and Sun
Certified System Administrator (SCSA).
Programmer/developer certifications include Certified Software Development Professional
(CSDP ), IBM Certified Solution
Developer, Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD), Sun Certified Enterprise
Architect (SCEA), Sun Certified Java Developer (SC J D), Sun Certified Java
Programmer (SC J P), and Sun Certified Mobile
Application Developer (SCMAD). Hardware certifications include A +, Dell
Certified Systems Expert, and IBM eServer Certified Specialist. Networking
certifications include Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified
Network Professional (CCNP), Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE),
Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), Network +, Novell Certified
Administrator (CNA), Novell Certified Engineer (NCE), and Sun Certified Network
Administrator (SCNA). Digital forensics certifications include Certified Computer
Examiner (CCE), Certified Computer Forensics Examiner (CCFE), Certified
Electronic Evidence Collection Specialist (CEECS), and Certified Information
Forensics Investigator (CIFI). Security certifications include Certified
Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Security Certified Network
Architect (SCNA), Security Certified Network Professional (SCNP), Security
Certified Network Specialist (SCNS), and Systems Security Certified Practitioner
(SSCP). Internet certifications include Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) and
Certified Web Professional (CWP). Database certifications include IBM Certified
Solutions Expert – DB2, IBM Certified Solutions Expert – Informix, Microsoft
Certified IT Professional (MCITP), Oracle Certified Professional (OCP), and
Sybase Certified Professional.
