Christina Staples
December 7, 1999
Eng.111 Section 14
Information Systems Technology Field is Growing Fast
All I have ever wanted to do since I was a kid is learn more about computers. The reason for this is my dad has worked with computers all of his life. This got me more interested in computers. That is why I am going to school to learn more about computers. My chosen career is information systems technology. I have found a lot of good information about my chosen career that I would like to share with other computer lovers that may be interested in going into the same career as myself.
I have found a lot of material while researching information systems technology on the Internet. One web site that I found that had a lot of information about information systems technology is Usa jobs.com. This web site is where I found almost all of my information. I have found out by doing some research on my career that the best way to get a good job in my profession is to go to school for four years. The reason for this is most employers want their employees to have a bachelor’s degree in information systems technology. There are some employers that will accept an associate’s degree. The only downfall of an associate’s degree is a person doesn’t make as much money as someone who has a bachelor’s degree. For example, the yearly salary for an information systems technology student with a bachelor’s degree is $40,000 to $50,000. But the yearly salary for someone with only an associate’s degree is significantly less, $20,000 to $30,000.
The availability of jobs in this profession is extremely high. Anyone with the right education and the desire to work in this field can find a job almost anywhere in the U.S. There are even job openings for this profession in my hometown. For instance, I found several jobs in my profession in Florida, which is where I would like to live someday.
In five years, there will still be a lot of jobs available in information systems technology. The reason for this is almost every place of employment will have computers. Sooner or later these places of employment will have to have someone to call upon to fix their computers if they’re having any problems with them.
I believe that in about five years though, my chosen career will be much easier to get into with an associate’s degree, rather than a bachelor’s degree. The reason for that is there will be a greater demand for people who have the expertise and knowledge needed to fix computers because of the rapidly expanding need for companies and small businesses to use computers in their business.
Some of the jobs in information systems technology include knowing how to fix computers, knowing the various programs that are used most often by businesses, and knowing how to work with the Internet. Other examples of different job duties in the information systems technology profession are knowing how to design web pages, knowing how to program in C++, one of the many programming languages, and knowledge of various operating languages or systems such as UNIX and Java scripts.
There are a lot of different jobs a person with an information systems technology degree could do. For instance, if a person calls me asking how to fix a problem that they are having with their computer, I would either have to be able to guide them with instructions over the phone to correct the problem, or have the computer brought to me so I could fix it. I would also have to know how to install certain programs into computers if that was required to fix a problem.
To find out more about my career in information systems technology, I asked my dad, Michael Staples, some questions about the career that I am going into, since he is in the same field. He works at the Newport News Shipbuilding as a manager in the operations center. Some of the things my father has to do at work are also some of the things I could be doing when I do go into my chosen profession.
My father mentioned that sometimes he has to write up reports about problems they are having with their computers to his boss. He writes in the report what was wrong with the computer, or what he thinks is wrong with the computer. They keep a lot of notepads around the station where he works so they can write down any codes they get. They use these codes to either help fix the problems, to install something onto the computer, or for whatever other purpose he may need it for later on.
He also discusses any problems the company might be having with the computers to his employees, as well as any possible solutions to those problems. When he is just talking things over with other coworkers he does this in a casual way. However, when he has to talk to his boss about a problem, such as a bad employee, this would be a formal presentation.
Sometimes my father has to talk on the telephone with other people and businesses that are having problems with computers, and tell them how to fix it.
My father has to know how to use Microsoft Word at his place of employment. He frequently uses email to send reports to other people about his progress. He usually uses email if he is out of town on business to let his boss know how his work is coming along. By talking to my father I learned a little bit more about what is involved in the information systems technology career.
If I am still in the same career twenty years from now, I would like to be the manager of a company or IT department, like my father. That would mean more money, compared to someone who would be working under the manager. Even if I can’t be the manager of some important company, I at least want to have a career in this profession at the same place for a long time, like my father.
I have found through my research that the more experience and education you have means that you make more money in any career, not just the career I have chosen.
Work Cited
"Information Systems Technology." USA Jobs.com Accessed 1 November, 1999. <http://www.usajobs.com>.
Staples, Michael. Interview. 1 Nov. 1999.
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