Careers in Information Technology, 2009 Edition

CAREERS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ★

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★ INSIDER

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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW AND TRENDS WORKPLACE CULTURE AND COMPENSATION ON THE JOB: ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INSIDER SCOOP: INTERVIEWING TIPS

SCOOP: FRONT-LINE REPORTS ★

Insider

Guide Careers in Information Technology

2009 EDITION

Careers in Information Technology

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Careers in information technology 2009 Edition ISBN: 978-1-58207-795-6

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Careers in Information Technology

CHAPTER

1 23 1 At a Glance

5 The industry

21 The Companies

6 Opportunity Overview

22 Business Services

7 The Bottom Line 7 Trends in the Field 10 Breakdown of Industries

Careers in Information Technology

26 Health Care and Insurance 30 Education and Government 34 Financial Services

conte 2009 EDITION

4567

39 On The Job

57 The Workplace

40 Creative Positions

58 Lifestyle and Culture

41 Engineering Positions

65 Getting Hired

75 For Your Reference

66 The Recruiting Process

76 IT Lingo

59 Compensation

42 Support Positions

60 Vacation and Perks

43 Real People Profiles

60 Career Path 61 The Inside Scoop

67 Skills and Education

77 Recommended Reading

67 Certification

78 Job Boards

69 Work Samples and Portfolios

78 Certification

70 Interviewing Tips 70 Preparing for Your Interview 71 Grilling Your Interviewer 72 Getting Grilled

nts

At a Glance

1

At A Glance The Role

Careers in Information Technology

Information Technology at a Glance

•

Disadvantages of IT Careers •

The hours are long. Late nights and weekend hours are common.

•

Technology changes constantly and rapidly. Personal time is often spent keeping abreast of the latest developments.

•

Though the job market has improved in recent years, competition for good positions remains intense.

•

The environment can be high pressure.

•

Repetitive-stress injury to the hands and arms from the use of computer keyboards and mice is a health concern.

•

Statistically, the workforce lacks diversity—the numbers of women and people of color are actually decreasing—which might bring a feeling of isolation for some.

the workplace

On the job

the companies

Overview •

The majority of IT workers work for non-IT companies. Job opportunities exist in every industry, from the U.S. government to the Red Cross to the bank down the street.

•

Paid internships and co-op positions are available at larger companies but are reserved mostly for engineering students and MBA candidates. Most can lead to permanent, full-time positions.

•

Specialized recruiting and placement firms assist midcareer candidates in finding new positions. Almost all companies recruit directly through their websites.

•

Many positions are available on a contract or part-time basis. Some contracts lead to full-time permanent employment after three months to a year. Other contracts are for specific projects and end when the project is complete.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

getting hired

Advantages of IT Careers •

Information technologists tend to be well compensated. With a median annual income of $101,580, an information systems manager is one of the top-ten best compensated positions in the United States.

IT professionals work in a dynamic and challenging environment. Learning new skills is part of the job.

Recruiting Overview •

Companies recruit recent graduates and MBAs at campus career fairs, trade shows, and conferences throughout the year.

•

Companies look at intern or co-op experience when selecting their first-choice interviews. Many companies will give hiring priority to their own interns and co-ops.

•

Continuing education is encouraged and often subsidized by the employer.

•

•

Nontraditional employment arrangements such as telecommuting and hoteling stations create a flexible work situation.

New college graduates with a minor or double major in a field that complements their desired industry will be most marketable.

•

A well-planned job search begins when you declare your major. Research the job market and



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at a glance

•

the role

decide what type of company you want to target. This research will help you focus your course selection. Prepare to demonstrate skills that stretch beyond programming or engineering; people skills and business savvy are the most desired qualities in new IT hires.

the companies

INSIDER SCOOP “A successful job search does not begin second semester senior year. You can’t start then and expect to be competitive anymore.”

on the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

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The Industry

2

Opportunity Overview......................6 The Bottom Line...............................7 Trends in the Field............................7 Breakdown of Industries.................10

At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Careers in Information Technology

Opportunity Overview Information technology (IT) means different

things to different people. A software engineer at a technology firm will tell you that the IT department sits in the back of the office and that you should go see them (“Not me!”) with your desktop support issue. That said, a census worker would laugh at the distinction; hardware, software, support—it’s all IT. In its broadest definition, information technology is an umbrella term that describes all fields relating to the organization and dissemination of information, from the worker who lays cable wires to the telephone switchboard operator to the engineer who designs the circuits in your computer. When we refer to IT in this guide, we’re talking about computer-related fields: hardware, software, and the people who support and use those products. However, keep in mind that just because IT is computer-related doesn’t mean that jobs in the field are only found at computer-focused companies. In fact, the majority of IT services jobs today are in fields that have little to do with high tech. Financial services firms, universities, consulting firms, and the government are all major employers of IT professionals. What this means for you as a job seeker is that opportunities cross a wide variety of industries. This translates into more jobs available for IT specialists than for many other professionals. IT plays an integral role in asset management, communication, and branding in every field. An Oracle database can contain taxonomists’ species information (for example, a database of newts would contain all known species, along with the history and habitat of each), bank records, or retail inventories. Email, instant messaging, and mailing lists allow people and companies to exchange information quickly. Corporate health care policies are always a click away on the intranet, and that type of cheese that you can find only in Wisconsin is now available through a well-designed 

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online order form. Today, IT facilitates the production, storage, and distribution of information—a role traditionally assigned to clerical workers. But in recent years, clerical employment in the United States has dropped, while overall productivity has increased. IT is so entrenched in our daily lives that we’re often unaware of the job opportunities spread across industries. Schools use computers for online learning and as part of their curricula. In a world where students learn keyboarding in addition to writing and spelling, workers are needed in IT curriculum development and teaching. Nonprofits need people to build and maintain websites, databases, and online donation systems. Businesses need people to build intranets, websites, and e-commerce sites. Schools, governments, and businesses alike invest in hardware and software, and in people to support those systems. The worldwide credit crunch of 2007 and 2008 has affected prosperity across all sectors, with some analysts predicting a recession. While the IT industry has continued to grow, it has not gone unscathed. Forrester, a notable IT research firm, recently revised its forecast for U.S. IT spending (reflecting business and government IT operational budgets) from 6.4 percent to 5.2 percent. Less consumer spending hurts the job market, and while the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that some IT positions (such as database administrators) will likely continue to experience faster-than-average growth, others (such as programmers) are expected to decline. Globally, the picture looks a little brighter, at least for the immediate future. Total global spending on technology goods, services, and staff will reach $2.4 trillion in 2008, an 8 percent increase from 2007. Phenomenal industry growth is still occurring in Asia Pacific and oilexporting regions of Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In Australia, Leon Lau of Peoplebank, the country’s largest technology recruiter, told iTWire, “We are very confident for 2008 and 2009.” Even the U.K. reports no detectable slowdown in this sector, with a demand for IT workers in the country at its highest level since the end of 2001, according to a recent report by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation.

at a glance

to differentiate yourself. Unpaid or underpaid internships can make a huge difference on your resume. Good references and a solid work history are necessities.

π Salaries Going Up enter the IT field and gain experience and credentials, salaries are likely tolevel off in a classic case of supply and demand.

the companies

The 2008 IT Salary Report projects that IT workers in the U.S. will receive a median pay raise of about 3.7 percent. However, as additional people

INSIDER SCOOP

There will be plenty of competition for entry-level

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FOR YOUR REFERENCE

A host of trends—including rising energy costs, increasing environmental regulations, and rising stakeholder awareness—are inducing company executives to “green” their enterprises. Many are looking to the IT department for solutions—ways to more efficiently monitor computer use, restructure data for more efficient allocation of server functions, procure equipment from green suppliers, and dispose of or recycle older machines in a responsible way, such as through computer take-back initiatives. In many of these cases, the IT department can play a direct role in reducing a company’s overall CO2 emissions and, consequently, slowing climate change. At Washington Mutual, for example, CIO Deborah Horvarth’s championing of green IT helped lead the company to reduce its CO2 emissions from 24.5 metric tons to 8.6 metric tons in a single year, saving $3 million and garnering $230,000 in rebates from electric utilities. The bottom line benefits are likely to grow once a new U.S. president takes office in 2009, when managing carbon is expected to become a bigger issue and federal mandates will likely be put in place.

getting hired

jobs in 2008–09, yet the information technology field is rife with opportunity. Because technology is always improving and computers are becoming faster and more powerful, companies will continue to invest in new technology that makes their companies run more efficiently and less expensively, and to replace outmoded IT infrastructures. As John Longwell, a researcher at Computer Economics in Irvine, California, recently told Advance, a magazine for health information executives, “IT managers are clearly under pressure to restrain the growth of IT budgets this year. We will likely see restraints on new hiring and decreased use of contract workers.” Because the competition can be tough, it’s important

Green IT

the workplace

The Bottom Line

Trends in the Field

on the job

“There are many professions where people work all day and nothing concrete comes out of it. IT is different in that you are constantly building— whether it be networks or computer systems or workflows or websites or databases or whatever else—and the results at the end of the day are absolutely visible.”

the role

If you’re looking for an IT career in the U.S. or abroad, staying adaptable and open to possibilities will improve your chances of thriving in an economic downturn. Whether you’re a recent college graduate with a BA in computer science or an MBA looking to get involved with a new technology firm or product, the possibilities for growth and employment are as numerous and varied as the fish in the sea. You may need to cast a line out to catch one—the family business that’s looking to hire an e-commerce manager isn’t likely to recruit on your college campus—but jobs are out there.

At A Glance

Careers in Information Technology Web 2.0 and Real World Web

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

getting hired

the workplace

On the job

the companies

The Role

π Green IT Rising in Importance According to a 2008 Datamonitor survey, green IT is an important part of overall IT strategy to more than 75 percent of CIOs surveyed. And 15 percent of those CIOs rate it as a top priority.

Virtualization Virtualization, which has been used since the 1960s but has become widely popular only today, helps to streamline resources by increasing the flexibility and utilization rates of computers. It does this by essentially allowing you to do more with less. Virtual machines share hardware resources so that you can run multiple operating systems and applications on a single computer. Virtualization options for IT departments include multiplying encompassing open-source applications like Xen and Virtual Iron, Microsoft’s Virtual Server, and the venerable VMware products. Researchers at Gartner, a consulting firm targeting the IT industry, have noted that virtualization can make for a much more efficient and high-performing workplace, but “by themselves, virtualization technologies are simply enablers that help broader improvements in infrastructure.” Managing and implementing the increasingly varied virtualization that tools need can save time and money, but it requires the work of talented IT professionals. Demand for these skills is increasing. In an interview with Computerworld, Tom Silver, senior vice president of marketing and customer support at Dice.com, cites virtualization as one of the fastest-growing areas he has seen on the job board. A word of caution: Many of the virtualization jobs cropping up require three to five years of experience, despite the fact that virtualization technologies were rare five years ago. If this rapidly developing area interests you, you’ll gain an advantage by getting work experience any way you can.



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To IT professionals already in the game, the term “Web 2.0” is nearly passé; more current is the Real World Web philosophy. Meanwhile, many job seekers and laypeople still wonder: What exactly is Web 2.0 (never mind its successor)? Coined in 2004 after a brainstorming session between O’Reilly Media and MediaLive International, the term “Web 2.0” is not a technology, company, or product. Instead, Web 2.0 is an evolved way of organizing information online that relies heavily on “the architecture of participation.” While the original conception of the Internet was based on a model of computerhuman interaction, Web 2.0 uses a model of person-toperson interaction that includes blogs, wikis, and social networking. Websites, services, and applications that draw heavily from user-generated or database-driven content qualify as Web 2.0, including well-known sites like YouTube, Wikipedia, and Facebook. By inviting all readers to contribute content (such as videos, encyclopedia entries, or content about themselves), these sites have grown quickly. Wikipedia, for example, quickly grew to overshadow Encyclopedia Britannica Online, and now is available in more than 250 languages. As the idea ofWeb 2.0 continues to evolve, new job opportunities have emerged, many of which are very exciting to IT pros. According to Forrester Research, a technology and market research firm, there will be “strong demand” for Web 2.0 tools in the business world in 2008. While 42 percent of business enterprises surveyed claimed that adding Web 2.0 tools was not on their agenda in 2008, half of those are expected to change their mind. Real World Web, in turn, draws heavily on Web 2.0, but is intended to support and enhance real-world activity, rather than replace it. For example, smartphone and GPS navigators have emerged as popular gadgets that utilize Real World Web, and Google’s highly anticipated Android phone is expected to expand this type of Web usage. (Geeks can check out www.code.google.com/ android for details on Android.) Expect to hear this term a lot in the future, because the business of applying Web technology to everyday life is growing rapidly.

at a glance

Shipping Out

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FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Outsourcing has become a stark reality in the IT field. As of March 2008, 42 percent of IT executives projected that outsourcing, which involves subcontracting foreign firms to replace domestic labor, is part of their staffing plan. Naturally, outsourcing is good news for workers in geographic areas where skilled workers need good work— but for those given the pink slip, it’s no good at all. Yet the very practice of outsourcing also creates jobs in the IT sector, stimulating the need for innovative

getting hired

“Do some research on social behavior. It’s very good to have that insight when you are supporting people.”

the workplace

INSIDER SCOOP

on the job

Think you can cruise through your future IT career on genius alone? Think again. According to a 2008 analysis by Computerworld, strong business skills and communication abilities are the top-two most desired qualities in IT employees today. The oft-romanticized notion of the solo engineer plodding through the night to create a code masterpiece, then, is more of a myth than a model. More often than not, IT workers are encouraged to work together. Certain IT development philosophies specifically emphasize teamwork, so that programmers find themselves paired side by side at the same machine. Observing one another’s work can result in better and more accurate design, testing, and code. Even in the more traditionally individualized role of information systems administrator, strong people skills are paramount. One lone-wolf systems administrator for a book publishing company notes, “There is a disconnect between IT people and the average end user. Concepts that IT workers grasp easily are completely foreign to the average computer end user, and that disconnect sometimes manifests itself as a conflict.” By cultivating strong relationships with coworkers and taking the time to learn the business of your company, you’ll give your career a boost.

the companies

Rise of the Business-Savvy Techie

Sophisticated and frequent cyber-attacks have private companies and governmental organizations scrambling to secure their networks and databases. A 2008 study by the Computing Technology Industry Association found that spending on security technology, training, assessments, and certification accounted for 20 percent of organizational IT spending. This represents a 15percent increase since 2005. No wonder, as cyber-threats continue to multiply. Worms and viruses prey on networked systems. Remote workers expose vital company data to industrial spies through holes in their less secure remote systems. “War drivers” (people who cruise around and identify businesses with insecure wireless links) access networks for free online activities. A large part of information security is rooted in compliance—ensuring that employees are following IT protocols that keep company data safe. Firms such as Microsoft and SAP have entered the compliance field, and numerous consulting services, such as OpenPages and Paisley Consulting, offer specialized compliance solutions. In addition, many large firms have created a senior IT position, the chief compliance officer (CCO) to oversee compliance. Insiders agree that while the scope of current regulations might be vast, additional regulations will undoubtedly follow. After years of lagging behind the private sector in technology and other resources, the U.S. government is beginning to officially recognize the need for increased IT security spending. President Bush’s proposed budget for 2009 includes $7.3 billion for cybersecurity efforts—a 9.8 percent increase from the 2008 budget and a 73 percent increase from fiscal year 2004. While information security is by no means new, it is entering a period of “maturation,” according to Andrew Jaquith of Yankee Group, a research firm. “In a lot of ways security is becoming more boring,” Jaquith was quoted as saying in Computerworld. “But boring is good…[B]oring means you’re seeing large companies like IBM have a really rounded out security story. This is good for the mainstreaming of security.”

the role

Information Security

At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired

Careers in Information Technology and progressive strategies to connect workers from continent to continent. Companies known as global IT infrastructure providers are on the rise, growing 14 percent globally and a stunning 71 percent in India. Help-desk services (including caller-profiling software to speed the efficiency of phone calls), data-center services, desktop management, mainframes, and even onsite support are these companies’ primary offerings.

INSIDER SCOOP “Skills that are highly valued are obviously technical in nature, but looking past those, the best attribute that I would be looking for when hiring would be the ability to speak to end users in a non-technical manner. I would also be looking for a positive attitude and a willingness to be creative, to take calculated risks, and to learn from criticism and/or mistakes. Those last items would make any candidate stand out in my mind.” Is it possible that what goes around comes around—that a few of the outsourced jobs could eventually make their way back to the U.S.? Politec, a Brazilian outsourcing provider worth $300 million, has just 50 employees in the U.S., but plans to send a total of 800 jobs into the country by 2010. Indeed, if the dollar continues to fall against other currencies, foreign firms may find it more appealing to set up operations in the U.S. Also, keep in mind that one good thing about government IT jobs—both contractual and full-time positions—is that they are less prone to outsourcing, because such jobs often require security clearance. No matter who’s outsourcing where, however, the goal is the same: finding inexpensive but highly skilled information technology workers.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

INSIDER SCOOP “I enjoy getting to play with technology, and to determine new and creative ways to deploy those tools in an environment where productivity is absolutely paramount.” 10

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Breakdown of Industries IT workers have penetrated the payroll of

companies in every industry—from education to manufacturing, real estate, health care, and government. The need for software developers, computer support specialists, network and system administrators, analysts, managers, and researchers continues to grow. In the broadest terms, IT professionals will work in one of two places: directly for companies within the various economic sectors (for example, as a system administrator for a hospital) or for computer and data services companies, which provide IT services to firms that don’t have adequate in-house resources. IT services firms tend to offer specialized services, from setting up corporate websites and designing software to computer repair and network consulting. The larger firms, such as IBM and Computer Sciences Corporation, supply IT services to all sectors of the economy. Smaller firms, such as the American Education Corporation, tend to be more specialized. The relationship between a technology services firm and the company that brings it in can take several forms, and this blurs the lines when one attempts to determine where the jobs really are. For example, a retail company might hire a technology services firm to build an e-commerce site. Once the site is built, the company might choose to manage and maintain it in-house or continue to pay the contracting firm to run the whole show. In general, large companies have an IT staff, and smaller companies are more likely to turn to contractors to meet their IT needs. (Naturally, this is not always true.) Even firms that contract out IT work, however, still need people to manage the relationship and determine how IT is, and should be, used by their firm.

at a glance

Business Services

Make It Look Good Advertising and branding are more often associated with marketing than with IT. But today, almost every company has a website. Well-designed websites incorporate the work of designers, information architects, software and system engineers, and site managers. Firms such as Avenue A/Razorfish and Organic are famous for working with companies to develop all facets of their corporate online presence.

on the job the workplace

The folks who maintain and optimize business technology infrastructure represent a significant sector of the IT workforce. System administrators and analysts tend to enjoy a relatively high degree of job stability, since every company that runs a network needs someone to support it. Although some currently in the field sense that there is an oversupply of network support people in the market, the statistics say otherwise: The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the number of system administrators will increase

the companies

Keeping Things Running

much faster than the average for all occupations— more than 27 percent between now and 2016. “It’s not for people who find it hard to manage stress,” as one insider says. This kind of work can leave you feeling unappreciated. Though most office workers expect to have a computer with Internet access, few realize how much work is involved in setting up, backing up, and maintaining large networks. When your company website goes down at 3:00 a.m. or, perhaps worse, just after a press release has gone out announcing a new product, the system administrator is the one who receives the call. Few people realize that the last Friday in July is System Administrator Appreciation Day. Don’t hold your breath waiting for gifts.

the role

Business services accounts for nearly half the software development workforce—and the number of developers involved in this area is expected to grow. This broad category of work includes all of the engineering, technical management, and consulting services businesses might need. Things such as software, communication systems, infrastructure, data management, and advertising all fall under this umbrella. Business services offers IT workers a wide variety of opportunities, including ubiquitous and relatively well-compensated positions.

Top IT Business Services Companies: Fortune 1000 2007 Revenue ($M)

1-Year Change (%)

Employees

15

IBM

98,786

8

386,558

115

Electronic Data Systems

22,135

3.7

136,000

170

Computer Sciences Corporation

14,857

2

91,000

289

SAIC

9,041

9

44,000

423

Affiliated Computer Services

5,773

8

62,000

429

Unisys

5,653

-1.8

31,000

604

BearingPoint

3,456

.03

17,100

752

Perot Systems

2,612

14

23,100

859

Cognizant Technology Solutions

2,136

50

55,000

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Company

getting hired

Rank

Source: Fortune 1000, Hoovers, company websites, WetFeet analysis

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At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Careers in Information Technology Many businesses, from publishers such as Chronicle Books to television networks such as MTV, keep inhouse staff to develop and manage their websites as well.

Sell It Now! E-business, which includes both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) commerce, is often rolled in with business services. In 2007, ecommerce sales grew 19 percent, topping $130 billion, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. In 2008, merchants have used a variety of tactics to continue to grow online revenues, such as quickpurchase tools, better product discovery tools, and mobile comparison shopping, with IT departments playing a critical role in implementation and quality assurance. Mobile selling is expected to be a growth area, with many European and Asian nations ahead of their American counterparts.

Health Care Health care is the largest industry in the U.S., with information technology playing an increasingly key role in serving patients. Hospitals look to IT to reduce the cost of administration and improve patient care, and forecasts show that health care will be one of the top industries for IT growth over the next few years. The companies listed in the “Top Health Care IT Companies” table on the next page include health systems and companies that provide computer and data services to health care organizations, hospitals, and integrated health care systems.

Knowledge Management Keeping track of medical records is a tremendous job, and one which the IT industry has tackled headon. It’s no coincidence that nearly 30 percent of IT workers in the health care industry identify themselves as “directors of information services.” Fueling the need for software developers, database managers, and systems analysts in the health care industry, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates that doctors and insurance companies standardize the electronic exchange of financial and 12

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administrative information. “This will not only improve administrative efficiency in our health care system,” says one insider, “but prevent misuse of private health information.” HIPAA also requires that nearly all health care providers update and overhaul existing IT systems. Implementing HIPAA seems to be another matter entirely: A 2007 audit of Atlanta’s Piedmont Hospital sent shock waves through the industry, revealing 24 major security breaches. “I don’t think Piedmont was an anomaly,” a Gartner analyst told Computerworld, predicting that unannounced audits would be the new norm.

Research and Development Health care information management (HIM) systems must be developed with input from doctors, administrators, and insurance professionals. The research and development process calls for good communication skills and careful attention to the requirements of the system. (This is true across industries.) Though some of this work is done internally, it’s quite common to see health care companies work with outside consultants. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society has a useful website (www.himss.org) with information about what’s going on in the industry and who’s working on it.

Top Health Care IT Companies The following is a ranking put out by Healthcare Informatics, which used self-reported data from 2006 to determine IT revenue. While some puzzle over exactly how they arrive at the ranking—according to Healthcare Informatics, “Editors fought for their favorites in closed-door meetings,” once the contenders were established—and the information may seem out of date, it does offer an excellent starting place for a candidate looking to break into the health care sector of IT by providing an idea of which firms may be producing the most IT revenue. We’ve updated to total employees in 2007 where possible, drawing on publicly available information sources.

at a glance

Top Health Care IT Companies

Cardinal Health

81,400

3

28,800

2

Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC)

7,800

4

43,600

3

Henry Schein

5,100

2

12,000

4

CGI Group, Inc.

3,112

32

26,000

5

Perot Systems

2,300

51

23,100

6

SAS

1,900

8.9

10,027

7

Agfa Healthcare Corp.

1,823

32

14,014

8

Sage Software

1,690

32

500

9

McKesson Provider Technologies

1,542

100

32,900

10

Cerner Corp.

1,380

100

7,873

11

Ingenix

976

100

67,000

12

Misys Healthcare Systems

599

100

2,600

13

NEC Unified Solutions Inc.

535

100

1,400

14

Eclipsys

428

100

2,400

15

Epic Systems Corp.

422

100

850

16

The TriZetto Group

348

100

2,000

17

Meditech

345

100

2,600

18

Cognizant Technology Solutions

330

23

101,000

19

First Consulting Group

264

88

2,716

20

Hitachi Consulting Corporation

250

20

1,200

Sources: Healthcare Informatics 100, Google Finance, WetFeet analysis

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FOR YOUR REFERENCE

1

getting hired

Total Employees, 2007

the workplace

% Share of Revenue from IT

on the job

2006 Revenue ($M)

the companies

Company

the role

Rank

aT a glaNCE

Careers in Information Technology

FOr yOur rEFErENCE

gETTINg hIrED

ThE WOrkPlaCE

ON ThE JOb

ThE COmPaNIEs

ThE rOlE

EDuCaTION If you’re looking to make big bucks in IT, keep looking: Salaries for IT professionals in education tend to be lower than those in other industries. According to a 2007 Computerworld salary survey, the average salary for nearly every education IT position is less than in all other sectors included in the survey. However, if you are willing to compromise on salary, the opportunities in education and IT can be very rewarding. Many educational institutions off er perks beyond salary as well, such as discounts on courses, access to university facilities, and excellent retirement benefi ts. You can fi nd opportunities in educational institutions of many types. Major state university systems, including state community college systems, hire IT professionals, as do small, privately held educational institutions. Other educational companies serve business and government with online learning and skillbuilding software and programs.

E-learning In spite (and perhaps even because) of dwindling education budgets, online education (also known as e-learning or distance learning) has rapidly expanded over the course of the last decade. In a report by eLearn Magazine, 50 percent of surveyed organizations predicted that online learning would become the

selected IT Employers in higher Education university

2007 budget ($m)

2007 Enrollment

2007 staff and Faculty

Georgia Institute of Technology

992

18,747

5,300

Pennsylvania State University (University Park)

3,412

42,914

27,112

Texas A&M

1,485

46,542

26,000

University of California, Berkeley

2,894

34,953

21,417

University of Florida

1,219

51,913

24,106

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2,197

40,360

2,979

University of Michigan

3,783

41,042

47,000

University of Phoenix

2,724

280,000

32,000

University of Texas at Austin

1,900

49,696

14,000

University of Wisconsin–Madison

1,425

42,041

16,287

*The University of Phoenix is owned by Apollo Group, a publicly held company. The budget figure listed is 2007 revenue. Sources: Hoovers, university websites, WetFeet research and analysis.

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at a glance

Company

2007 ($ M)

1-year change (%)

2007 Employees

725

Apollo Group

2,724

25

36,292

940

Career Education Corp.

1,796

-7

8,990

Sources: 2007 Fortune 1000, Google Finance, WetFeet research and analysis.

Government

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

15

getting hired

WETFEET INSIDER GUIDE

the workplace

Increasingly, federal and state governments and agencies are turning to IT to facilitate communications, streamline processes (including collecting taxes or renewing a driver’s license online), and save tax dollars. From one-time transactions to permanent record storage, a growing amount of centralized data is being placed in the care of IT professionals. As a result, federal technology budgets are on the rise—though not as rapidly as corporate ones—with the president approving even more IT spending for 2009 amid the ongoing threat of cyber-terrorism. The bulk of federal IT spending goes to the Department of Defense, which employs more than 2.3 million military and 600,000 civilian workers. Computer specialists represent the third-largest white-collar federal occupation, and contracting IT firms, such as Titan Corporation and CACI International, have sizeable federal contracts. This is good news for system administrators and analysts interested in working for Uncle Sam. At the local and state level, IT is a key employment sector as well. With so much information available online, privacy issues are one key area of opportunity; local governments are looking into ways of “cleaning up” online data so that the security of personal information (such as Social Security numbers) isn’t compromised. If you’re interested in the government sector, check out the federal CIO Council (www.cio.gov), which serves as the interagency forum for improving

on the job

The tremendous growth in e-learning has contributed to the growth of companies, such as SkillSoft, that produce learning management systems, as well as the expansion of some university IT departments, where there are plenty of opportunities to maintain networks and manage online curriculum programs. As in other industries, data security in the education sector has become a serious issue; the 2007 Campus Computing Project Survey named security as the number-one priority. Smaller schools have similar IT needs, but offer IT professionals the opportunity to wear many hats, working across different technologies. For example, one day you might be working on a new online registration system, and the next day implementing a new security fix.

Rank

the companies

Opportunities in Education

Fortune 1000: Leading Educational Companies the role

dominant training tool by 2010. As of 2008, elearning was a $58.9 billion business, with a significant portion of that money going to pay the salaries of IT professionals. A wide range of technologies can be used for e-learning, including blogs, collaborative software, e-portfolios, and open software. The latter has been one of the most influential tools, with well-known universities like MIT offering free, not-for-credit classes through its “OpenCourseware” plan. A 2007 survey by The Campus Computing Project revealed that three-fifths (57.3 percent, compared to 51.9 percent in 2004) of senior campus technology officials agree with the statement, “Open source will play an increasingly important role in our campus IT strategy.” E-learning isn’t simply a U.S.-based phenomenon. In Europe, for example, a group called E-Learning Europa was founded as an initiative of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education and Culture, aiming to promote the use of IT for lifelong learning.

aT a glaNCE ThE rOlE

Careers in Information Technology practices in the design, modernization, use, sharing, and performance of federal agency information resources. Additionally, Best Places to Work (www.bestplacestowork.org/BPTW/rankings/) maintains a list of government agencies rated by employee satisfaction.

> tIp If you want to work on IT security within government, check out www.nsa.gov/careers/students.cfm, where the National Security Agency maintains a list of programs such as cooperative education (alternating semesters of full-time study with semesters of full-time work), internships, scholarships, and employment programs.

FOr yOur rEFErENCE

gETTINg hIrED

ThE WOrkPlaCE

ON ThE JOb

ThE COmPaNIEs

Safekeeping Data Between 2003 and 2006, the Department of Commerce recorded a confi rmed 297 security breaches. In one instance, 217 laptops housing sensitive personal information were lost, stolen, or misplaced. What is the government going to do about it? Well, hire IT pros, for one thing. Back in 2002, when the government enacted the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), agencies were required to develop and implement sound IT security practices. In March 2006, the second of FISMA’s two mandatory security standards was announced, creating plenty of work for those with security expertise. Th ose interested in a career in information security

will fi nd a great number of certifi cate programs promising a substantial return for each dollar invested (see the “For Your Reference” chapter for more information). Many universities also off er advanced degrees in the fi eld.

Public vs. Private Compensation During economic downturns, a federally funded position may prove more stable than a corporate one, though you probably won’t make as much money.

Top Federal government IT Employers agency

2007 Enacted budget ($m)

Employees

Department of Defense

432,000

669,281*

Department of Health and Human Services

70,600

67,000

Department of Homeland Security

32,000

208,000

Department of the Treasury

11,600

115,897

Department of Transportation

11,300

60,000

Department of Justice

20,900

112,500

Department of Agriculture

20,400

105,778

Department of Veterans Affairs

36,500

235,000

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

16,300

18,900

6,400

36,000

Department of Commerce

Sources: The White House; agency websites; WetFeet research and analysis *Civilians

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at a glance

Top Government IT Contractors 1-Year change (%)

2007 Employees

IBM

98,785

8

386,558

Boeing

66,387

8

159,300

Lockheed Martin Corp.

41,862

6

140,000

Northrop Grumman Corp.

32,018

6

122,600

BAE Systems

24,453

1

79,000

Computer Sciences Corp.

16,499

11

89,000

L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc.

13,960

11

64,000

CACI International

1,938

10

11,800

the companies

2007 Revenue ($M)

the role

Company

Sources: Google Finance; Hoovers; WetFeet research and analysis

Finance

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

17

getting hired

WETFEET INSIDER GUIDE

the workplace

With problems in the credit markets in 2007 and 2008, many Wall Street banks and other financial institutions were undergoing layoffs in spring of 2008, creating an unstable situation for those interested in the financial services sector. That said, those same banks have invested significantly in IT, which plays an essential role in everything from retail products (such as their customers’ online portfolios) to investment banking, including systems that allow their traders to track market changes and quickly make transactions. Information technologists will, as a result, likely find a degree more security than will those in other banking roles. IT workers in the financial and banking sector are well compensated; they consistently earned more than the average salary across all sectors. The financial services sector also includes a wide range of highly ranked places to work in IT, often including robust training budgets, strong benefit packages, welldefined career paths, and the chance to work with cutting-edge technologies.

on the job

According to a 2007 Computerworld survey, entry-level government IT workers tend to earn industry-average salaries. However, middle- and senior-level salaries lagged behind their business-world counterparts. For example, the average IT director working for the government took home more than $40,000 less per year than someone with similar experience in the computer services industry. This is partly due to funding availability, but largely due to the way the salary scale is structured. As government security manager C.J. Kelly wrote in Computerworld, “In government, a person’s demonstrated skills are pretty much irrelevant in determining salary. What matters is the grade level of the position. That grade level has an associated pay range, and there is no variance.” (Many public university systems, which are state-level government roles, operate this way as well.) Salaries for federal contractors tend to be quite competitive with other positions in the private sector, but they lack the stability and outstanding benefits of full-time government jobs.

At A Glance

Careers in Information Technology

The finance industry depends on large information systems that have a constant need for maintenance and updates. In 2006, for example, MasterCard and Visa updated their electronic transaction systems to the triple data encryption standard, an encryption method that is very difficult to break. Though costly, system updates such as this are necessary to ensure the safety of transmitted information and to maintain consumer confidence.

become a priority, as has the need for good system integrators and administrators. As financial institutions grow, often through acquisition, they tend to acquire incompatible or redundant systems. Even within a single organization, the vast number of systems required to meet frequently changing regulations cannot be integrated out of the box. Simplifying and streamlining financial IT systems improves overall efficiency and ultimately saves money, a fact that financially savvy firms aren’t likely to overlook.

Working Together As financial agencies try to squeeze more from IT budgets, optimizing existing infrastructures has

Selected Top Finance Firms for IT Fortune 500 Rank

Company

2007 Revenue ($M)

1-Year change (%)

Employees

6

General Electric

172,738

14

327,000

8

Citigroup

159,229

7

387,000

9

Bank of America

119,190

6

210,000

12

JPMorgan

116,353

17

180,667

38

Wachovia

55,528

21

120,000

41

Wells Fargo

55,528

12

159,800

75

American Express

32,316

16

67,700

122

U.S. Bancorp

20,308

6

54,000

130

Capital One Financial

18,966

26

17,800

172

Bank of New York

14,798

63

22,900

Sources: Fortune 500, Hoovers; WetFeet analysis and research

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

getting hired

the workplace

On the job

the companies

The Role

Super Systems

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at a glance

the role

the companies

on the job

the workplace

getting hired

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

19

WETFEET INSIDER GUIDE

The Companies

3

Business Services............................ 22 Health Care and Insurance............. 26 Education and Government........... 30 Financial Services........................... 34

Business Services

Find additional, regularly updated information about thousands of companies and organizations at www.wetfeet.com/Employers.aspx.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

getting hired

the workplace

On the job

the companies

The Role

At A Glance

Careers in Information Technology

Accenture

AT&T Inc.

1345 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10105 Phone: 917-452-4400 Website: www.accenture.com

175 E. Houston St. San Antonio, TX 78205 Phone: 210-821-4105 Website: www.att.com

Accenture is a consulting behemoth with some 178,000 employees toiling away in more than 150 offices in 49 countries. The firm’s traditional stronghold is systems integration, but it also lays claim to formidable strategy, technology consulting, human resources, and outsourcing practices. Accenture’s client roster straddles a multitude of industries and is a veritable “Who’s Who” list of corporations, including more than two-thirds of the Fortune Global 500. Accenture also works with a wide range of governmental and nonprofit organizations. The firm’s strengths include systems integration and business process outsourcing (BPO). During its outsourcing engagements, it takes over entire IT or human resources functions for clients—which is one reason it has an ongoing appetite for IT professionals. In 2008, Accenture acquired AddVal Technology, which provides end-to-end shipment management products and services to the global freight-management and airline-cargo companies, and SOPIA, a Japanese company that specializes in integrating Oracle Solutions. In the second quarter, its outsourcing revenues grew by double digits.

The company Lily Tomlin’s famed “Ernestine the Telephone Operator” character referred to as a “benevolent monopoly” was broken up in 1984—but the past two decades have witnessed a reunion of the disparate Bells. Grown-up Baby Bell SBC Communications bought AT&T Corporation for $16 billion in 2005, and chose to cash in on AT&T’s name recognition when choosing the moniker of the merged company. Afterward, it bought BellSouth in the largest telecommunications takeover in U.S. history, valued at $86 billion—which also gave it full ownership of Cingular Wireless (formerly a joint venture with BellSouth), which it renamed AT&T Mobility in 2007. AT&T is the nation’s largest telecommunications provider, which means it has a ton of information systems to manage. It provides voice, IP-voice, data communication services, local phone service in 22 states, business phone services to all of the Fortune 1000, cell phone service, and more. It has been developing a fiber-optic network for digital television, targeting high-definition TV, high-speed Internet, and VoIP phone services. Its IT opportunities span application development, testing, network architecture, and maintenance and are spread across its various offerings, from cellular network service to residential service to business services.

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at a glance

Google

WETFEET INSIDER GUIDE

23

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Behind Google’s straightforward search form is an unrivaled search engine that serves results based on the number of links between pages. Products like Google AdWords, which targets advertisements on the basis of your search, and a dizzying array of other resources, such as free email, blogging, and e-commerce services, which provide additional platforms for advertising, have made this company a leader in the technology industry. Many IT professionals consider a job at Google the employment gold standard. The company receives

getting hired

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043 Phone: 650-253-0000 Website: www.google.com

the workplace

FedEx is the world’s number-one express delivery company thanks to its FedEx Express unit, which uses 670 aircraft and 43,000 delivery vehicles to deliver 3.3 million packages per day in 220 countries and territories. Managing all those deliveries requires sophisticated IT networks, but such networks play a role in its other business units, too. These include FedEx Express, FedEx Ground (formerly RPS), FedEx Freight (formerly American Freightways and Viking Freight), FedEx Kinko’s Office and Print Services (FedEx acquired Kinko’s in 2004), FedEx Custom Critical (formerly Roberts Express), FedEx Trade Networks, FedEx Services (solutions and technology), FedEx Global Supply Chain Services, and FedEx Customer Information Services.

on the job

CSC is among the largest IT consulting and outsourcing companies in the world, with 91,000 employees spread among 80 countries. From systems integration to project management to managed services, CSC does it all. The company is organized into business units that represent industry groups (such as banking, government, and retail), lines of service (such as hosting services, outsourcing, and supply chain management), and geographies (divided into Africa, Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe). A significant portion of its revenues come from government contracts: In 2007, almost a quarter of CSC’s revenues came from the Department of Defense, with 36 percent total coming from the U.S. federal government, and revenues in 2008 so far are tracking along similar percentages. In addition to its consulting services, CSC’s Office of Innovation Leading Edge Forum (LEF) provides thought leadership through the LEF Executive Program, which helps companies leverage IT for business benefit through a retainer-based service, and the LEF Technology Programs, which offer CTOs and senior technologists opportunities to explore technology topics with CSC’s experts and partners.

942 S. Shady Grove Rd. Memphis, TN 38120 Phone: 901-818-7500 Website: www.fedex.com

the companies

3170 Fairview Park Drive Falls Church, VA 22042 Phone: 703-876-1000 Website: www.csc.com

FedEx Corp. the role

Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC)

At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Careers in Information Technology more than 1,000 applications every day, and topped Fortune’s “Best Company to Work For” list in 2007 and 2008. Google engineers are encouraged to spend one-fifth of their time on the company project of their choice. The work environment is notoriously intense, yet encourages a sense of creative engagement.

with the data-center market. In 2007, it was issued more U.S. patents than any other company—for the 15th year in a row.

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)

1 Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052 Phone: 425-882-8080 Website: www.microsoft.com

New Orchard Road Armonk, NY 10504 Phone: 914-499-1900 Website: www.ibm.com IBM, a titan in the world of IT, has businesses focused on computer hardware, software, service, and business consulting. In fact, it’s the world’s top provider of computer products and services, with nearly $100 billion in revenues and the largest consulting units in the business. Prospective IT recruits can find a wide variety of potential career paths here. IBM has been involved in information management for more than a century, and has been a world leader in computer hardware for decades. From human genome research partnerships with the Mayo Clinic to large data outsourcing contracts with Procter & Gamble, IBM has its tentacles in many different fields. IBM does business in 170 countries, with nearly two-thirds of its 2007 revenues coming from operations outside the U.S. It provides infrastructure to data centers of companies around the world, and has been pushing green data center solutions and virtualization to improve system utilization in an effort to evolve 24

W E T F E E T I N SIDER GUIDE

Microsoft

Microsoft, which was founded in 1975, is a leading software company, but it has a presence in other markets as well—including computer peripherals, software development tools, video game consoles, interactive TV, and Internet search. In 2008, its well-publicized efforts to acquire Yahoo (the results of which had yet to be determined when we went to press) reflect Microsoft’s desire to branch out into new markets, not to mention compete more effectively for online advertising revenue with rival Google. The company operates three business units: Microsoft Platform Products and Services (Windows Business Group, Server and Tools Group, Online Services); Microsoft Business (Information Worker Group, Microsoft Business Solutions, and Unified Communications); and Entertainment and Devices (Home and Entertainment Group, Mobile and Embedded Devices Group). In 2007, Microsoft launched Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office System and saw revenue grow 15 percent.

at a glance

Oracle

WETFEET INSIDER GUIDE

25

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Verizon is a provider of wireline and wireless communications products and services to individuals and businesses. It serves some 55 million customers in 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. It also publishes information directories with a total circulation of 136 million. Verizon came into being in 2000 with Bell Atlantic’s acquisition of GTE. Verizon Wireless, a joint venture with Vodafone, is the second largest wireless company in the U.S. Verizon Business was formed six years later when Verizon bought MCI in 2006, creating a global advanced communications and IT powerhouse to serve large business and government clients. The corporation operates through three divisions: Telecom, Business, and Wireless. Verizon ranked number 14 on Computerworld’s 2007 list of 100 Best Places to Work in IT. It has almost 2,200 IT employees, and is recognized for its excellent benefits package, in-house health and wellness facilities, and career development programs.

getting hired

The United Parcel Service has grown into a huge company since its humble beginnings in 1907, when 19-year-old James E. Casey borrowed $100 from a friend to establish the American Messenger Company in Seattle. In the 1980s, UPS entered the international shipping market in earnest, establishing a presence in an increasing number of countries and territories in the Americas, Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific Rim. Now the company’s fleet of some 100,000 brown delivery trucks is a common sight around the world, transporting more than 15 million packages and documents a day.

140 West St. New York, NY 10036 Phone: 212-395-2121 Toll-free: 800-621-9900 Website: www.verizon.com

the workplace

55 Glenlake Pkwy. NE Atlanta, GA 30328 Phone: 404-828-6000 Website: www.ups.com

on the job

United Parcel Service, Inc.

Verizon Communications, Inc.

the companies

Virtually synonymous with database technology, Oracle is the largest enterprise software company in the United States, second only to Microsoft among software makers. In the software world, enterprise is a nifty catchall term for large organizations, and the number of large organizations that use Oracle’s software is staggering—more than 98 of the companies in the Fortune 100 use Oracle software to manage their data. From 2004 to 2007, Oracle spent more than $25 billion to acquire major software firms that include PeopleSoft, Siebel Systems, Hyperion Solutions, and BEA Systems.

the role

500 Oracle Parkway Redwood City, CA 94065 Phone: 650-506-7000 Website: www.oracle.com

Along with package delivery, UPS also has logistics and freight forwarding services. In 2008, former CFO Scott Davis took over as CEO. Ranked number 84 on Computerworld’s 2007 list of 100 Best Places to Work in IT, UPS has just under 5,000 IT employees and offers formalized mentoring and strong training programs.

Health care and Insurance

Find additional, regularly updated information about thousands of companies and organizations at www.wetfeet.com/Employers.aspx.

The Allstate Corporation 2775 Sanders Rd. Northbrook, IL 60062 Phone: 847-402-5000 Website: www.allstate.com Allstate is the second-largest personal-lines insurance company in the U.S. The Northbrook, Illinois– based company offers home, auto, life, business, and property insurance to more than 17 million households. The bulk of Allstate’s business comes from home and auto insurance. The company started out in 1931 selling insurance out of Sears department stores. In the 1950s, it added home and life insurance to its already booming auto business. On Computerworld’s 2007 list of 100 Best Places to Work in IT, Allstate ranked number 89. It has slightly more than 3,700 IT employees, allocating $5,000 in training for each IT employee. It’s recognized for its broad range of fitness programs and its Talent Acceleration Program, which allows its employees to try out different jobs, broadening their exposure to, and knowledge of, the company’s various businesses.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

getting hired

the workplace

On the job

the companies

The Role

At A Glance

Careers in Information Technology

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Cerner 2800 Rockcreek Parkway Kansas City, MO 64117 Phone: 816-221-1024 Website: www.cerner.com If a doctor or patient is looking at medical records on a computer screen, there’s a good chance Cerner is powering the data transfer. Headquartered in Missouri, Cerner Corporation is one of the largest contenders in the field of IT for the health care industry. The company focuses on products that allow easy access to a patient’s medical data and to the different departments in a hospital or other health care organization, targeting both enterprise software as well as specialized applications for specific departments. Cerner ranked number 59 on Computerworld’s 2007 list of 100 Best Places to Work in IT. More than 4,400 of its 6,300 employees work in IT. The company’s promote-from-within philosophy makes this a good place to potentially build a career, enhanced by its excellent fitness center and onsite child care facility.

at a glance

GE Healthcare is one of the largest manufacturers of medical technology across the spectrum of health care, from CT scans to bone density analysis

The nation’s leading provider of health care services, HCA is comprised of locally managed facilities, including 169 hospitals and 115 outpatient centers in 20 states and England. It traces its origins to Park View Hospital in Nashville, which was founded by Dr. Thomas Frist Sr. and several others. Looking for a group to manage the hospital and provide capital to expand and maintain the latest medical technology, Dr. Frist, his son Dr. Thomas Frist Jr., and Jack C. Massey formed the Hospital Corporation of America WETFEET INSIDER GUIDE

27

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

U.S. Headquarters: 3000 N. Grandview Boulevard Waukesha, WI 53188 Phone: 262-544-3011 Website: www.gehealthcare.com

1 Park Plaza Nashville, TN 37203 Phone: 615-344-9551 Website: www.hcahealthcare.com

getting hired

Pollards Wood, Nightingales Lane, Chalfont St. Giles Buckinghamshire HP8 4SP, U.K. Phone: +44-1494-544-000

HCA

the workplace

GE Healthcare

on the job

CNA traces its roots back to the 19th century, when Henry Bowen formed Continental Insurance, which offered fire, marine, and tornado insurance. Today, it is the seventh largest U.S. commercial insurer and 13th largest property and casualty insurer, distributing its products through independent agencies and brokers. CNA ranked number 88 on Computerworld’s 2007 list of 100 Best Places to Work in IT, with 1,146 total IT employees. Employees go through five days of training a year, and CNA has strong formal and informal mentoring programs. It aspires to fill half of its manager openings internally.

the companies

333 S. Wabash Ave. Chicago, IL 60604 Phone: 312-822-5000 Website: www.cna.com

machines to clinical informatics systems. Already the 300-pound gorilla of health care technology, this division of GE had $17 billion in revenue in 2007 and 47,000 employees. Headquartered in the U.K., GE Healthcare is involved in just about every aspect of medical research you can think of—and some you probably can’t. Medical imaging equipment from GE Healthcare was used to scan ancient Egyptian mummies at the British Museum, for instance. Divisions of GE Healthcare can be found in almost all 50 states and at least 100 countries. Disparate geography doesn’t translate into disorganization, however. The company is rooted in the old-fashioned business values of GE, and the corporate culture is on the traditional side. IT positions throughout GE Healthcare run the gamut of what you’d expect to find at a business services provider, but with a clinical twist. In 2006, GE Healthcare acquired IDX Systems, which was one of the first companies to tackle the bureaucratic labyrinth of digital medical billing back in 1969, fortifying GE Healthcare’s capabilities in the area of health care data processing.

the role

CNA Financial Corp.

At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Careers in Information Technology (now HCA), which went public in 1969. The company’s strategy is designed to put patients first, invest in its communities, focus on leading hospitals, build strong relationships with physicians, and improve local operations through efficient use of resources. Its IT professionals make a significant contribution to this last element of its strategy, by doing things like making sure supply acquisition and distribution are efficient.

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. 1 Nationwide Plaza Columbus, OH 43215 Phone: 614-249-7111 Toll-free: 800-882-2822 Website: www.nationwide.com Founded in 1926 by the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, Nationwide—with more than $157 billion in assets and a presence in all 50 states—is one of the largest diversified financial and insurance services providers in the United States. The company consists of three core businesses: domestic property and casualty insurance, life insurance and retirement savings, and asset management. The company also makes strategic investments in companies that complement its core operations. Its subsidiaries include Allied Group, Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance, Scottsdale Insurance, and GatesMcDonald. Ranked number 98 on Computerworld’s 2007 list of 100 Best Places to Work in IT, Nationwide has more than 5,600 IT employees. Its Alternative Workplace Solutions program provides a high level of flexibility for its employees, including telecommuting, mobile office, and flextime options. 28

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Partners HealthCare System Prudential Tower 800 Boylston St., Ste. 1150 Boston, MA 02199 Phone: 617-278-1000 Website: www.partners.org Founded in 1994 by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Partners is a nonprofit organization that includes the two founding academic medical centers, primary and specialty physicians, community hospitals, and other healthrelated entities. Its information systems infrastructure (IS) is among the most sophisticated in the Northeast, with a network that encompasses more than 20 locations in the greater Boston area and 14,000-plus workstations. Since its IS team formed in 1995, it has carried out a wide range of initiatives, such as extensive, multi-hospital systems integrations and the development of PCHInet and the Longitudinal Medical Record. Partners ranked number 37 on Computerworld’s 2007 list of 100 Best Places to Work in IT. It has around 1,150 IT employees, with well-defined policies for employee development.

State Farm 1 State Farm Plaza Bloomington, IL 61710 Phone: 309-766-2311 Website: www.statefarm.com George J. Mecherle, himself a farmer, founded State Farm in 1922 to provide discounted auto insurance

at a glance

WebMD began as an online content resource for the consumer. Back in the dotcom heyday, the startup had plans to revolutionize health care. Those ambitions didn’t work out quite as planned, but WebMD bit the bullet and broke off some of its more extravagant deals. Today, it’s a leading provider of health information services to audiences that include consumers, employers, physicians, and other health care professionals through public and private online portals. Its revenue primarily comes through advertising, sponsorships, and licensing. In early 2008, WebMD announced a merger agreement with HLTH.

on the job the workplace

9800 Fredericksburg Rd. San Antonio, TX 78288 Phone: 210-498-2211 Toll-free: 800-531-8722 Website: www.usaa.com

111 8th Ave. New York, NY 10011 Phone: 212-624-3700 Website: www.webmd.com

the companies

USAA

WebMD the role

to rural farmers. Today, the company provides auto, homeowners, health, and life insurance, as well as mutual funds and other investment products. It has 67,000 employees and services 77 million policies in the United States and Canada. With its 1998 federal thrift charter, the company also provides banking services including deposit accounts, CDs, mortgages, and other loans via telephone and the Internet. At number 50 on Computerworld’s 2007 list of 100 Best Places to Work in IT, State Farm has a little more than 5,600 IT employees, some of whom conduct research at the company’s 6,000-square-foot suite on the University of Illinois campus.

getting hired

USAA is the leading provider of insurance to military officers in the U.S. It was founded in 1922, when a group of Army officers formed the United States Army Automobile Insurance Association to provide auto insurance to military officers and their families. In 1997, the company began offering insurance to enlisted military personnel. USAA has become a one-stop financial services company, too, since it established USAA Federal Savings Bank and USAA Brokerage Services in 1983. The company’s wide range of retail offerings includes mutual funds, loans, credit cards, and brokerage and home-buying services. On Computerworld’s 2007 list of 100 Best Places to Work in IT, USAA ranked number 39. It has more than 2,300 IT employees, each of whom becomes fully vested in the pension plan after five years of service.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

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Education and Government

Find additional, regularly updated information about thousands of companies and organizations at www.wetfeet.com/Employers.aspx.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

getting hired

the workplace

On the job

the companies

The Role

At A Glance

Careers in Information Technology

Apollo Group, Inc.

Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.

4615 East Elwood Street Phoenix, AZ 85040 Phone: 480-966-5394 Website: www.apollogrp.edu

8283 Greensboro Drive McLean, VA 22102 Phone: 703-902-5000 Website: www.boozallen.com

The Apollo Group saw an opportunity and ran with it. Way back in 1976, the company began building a huge network of remote classrooms, and the University of Phoenix—a large for-profit university without a primary campus—was born. Today, the school has locations in dozens of cities and states. With the advent of the Web, most of the University of Phoenix’s student/teacher interactions moved online. As a result, the school depends on its IT infrastructure and staff more than most universities. The majority of its IT positions are based at the company’s headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. These positions are coveted because of the great benefits the company offers, including free tuition for any courses offered through the Apollo Group and an additional tuition credit for classes the company doesn’t offer. Spouses receive an 80 percent discount on Apollo Group courses as well. On Computerworld’s 2007 100 Best Places to Work in IT list, Apollo Group ranked number 73. It has more than 1,000 IT professionals who appreciate its focus on work/life balance and its challenging projects.

Founded in 1914, Booz Allen Hamilton is one of the oldest and most respected firms in the consulting industry. In early 2008, the firm announced the divorce of its global commercial and U.S. government firms. As a result of the realignment, the commercial unit will become a legally independent global management consulting firm under the name Booz & Company. A majority stake of the government unit—retaining the name Booz Allen Hamilton—will be under the control of private investment firm The Carlyle Group. The $2.54 billion deal was completed in July 2008. As one of the granddaddies of consulting, Booz Allen Hamilton has a long-standing relationship with many government agencies, including the Department of Defense (DoD). How many consulting firms have a division devoted to war-gaming and strategic simulation? Booz Allen Hamilton provides government agencies, institutions, and infrastructure organizations with consulting services, information technology capabilities, and systems engineering and integration solutions. Consulting teams generally mix technology specialists with experts in the appropriate fields, whether the project they’re working on involves humdrum utility management or something straight out of a James Bond movie. Computerworld ranked the company number 28

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at a glance

401 Golden Shore Long Beach, CA 90802 Phone: 562-951-4000 Website: www.calstate.edu

The State University of New York (SUNY) enrolls more than 410,000 students, with 64 campuses around New York state. Colleges and universities in the system range from Cornell to SUNY Institute of Technology (SUNYIT), the newest state university in the New York system. IT professionals fill many positions across the SUNY system. They play especially prominent roles in the SUNY Learning Network, the system’s online learning courses that some 100,000 students enroll in each year, and the Information Technology Exchange Center, which supports multicampus, computer-related group activities designed to improve the quality, quantity, and cost-effectiveness of the system’s computer services.

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FOR YOUR REFERENCE

At Lockheed Martin, building fighter jets and the like takes a lot of employees—some 140,000 of them.

State University Plaza Albany, NY 12246 Phone: 518-443-5555 Website: www.suny.edu

getting hired

6801 Rockledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20817 Phone: 301-897-6000 Website: www.lockheedmartin.com

the workplace

Lockheed Martin

State University of New York

on the job

Created in 1961, The California State University (CSU) system today has 23 campuses that serve nearly 450,000 students, placing it among the largest systems in the U.S. Some 88,000 people graduate from the CSU system each year. A wide range of technology systems are behind all that educating, from managing student information to developing online learning programs. IT professionals work within one of four major areas of the system’s technology activity: academic technology, campus technology infrastructure services, inter-campus networking, and the Common Management Systems Initiative.

the companies

California State University

But the company—the 1995 product of the merger of two defense industry titans, Lockheed and Martin Marietta—is more than a military manufacturer. It’s also the largest IT provider for the U.S. government (primarily for the DoD) and about 23,000 of its employees are in IT. Lockheed Martin is devoting more and more energy to nonmilitary applications. It has deals in place to manage IT solutions for government organizations including the Social Security Administration and the Centers for Disease Control. Its information technologists focus on six areas: business process management, e-government, enterprise architecture, homeland security, information assurance, and systems development and integration.

the role

on its 2007 list of the 100 Best Places to Work in IT, noting its variety of career paths and strong community service opportunities as strengths.

At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace

University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Phone: 734-764-1817 Website: www.umich.edu Among the largest public universities in the United States, the University of Michigan provides an education to more than 54,000 undergrads and graduates, and jobs to more than 47,000 employees. The university is the dominant economic and cultural force in Ann Arbor, Michigan, making it one of the largest college towns in the country. Simply maintaining its current IT systems and commitments requires significant personnel resources. The school has two entire departments dedicated to doing just that: University of Michigan Administrative Information Services (MAIS) and Information Technology Central Services (ITCS). Operating largely behind the scenes, MAIS keeps the university’s financial, HR, and other administrative systems running smoothly. It also handles the school’s Web-enabled admissions process. For most students, staff, and faculty, ITCS is the more public face of IT on campus. From making wireless service available in all dorms to providing IT consulting to academic departments and more, ITCS helps to keep the school’s students and staff connected to the information they need.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

getting hired

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U.S. Department of Defense 1000 Defense Pentagon Washington, DC 20301 Phone: 703-697-5131 Website: www.defenselink.mil How big is the DoD? With more than 3 million employees, it employs more people than Wal-Mart and IBM combined. Excluding people in uniform, the DoD is still one of the largest employers in the world, with more than 600,000 civilian employees. On any given day, you’ll find quite an array of open DoD IT positions listed on the government’s recruitment website (www.usajobs.gov). Like any large organization, the DoD wants to make sure information gets where it needs to go quickly and efficiently, and spends a generous portion of its budget on information technology, much of it on the global information grid, or GIG—which is designed to collect, process, store, and manage massive amounts of information.

at a glance the workplace

The United States Postal Service (USPS) delivers more than 200 billion pieces of mail a year to more than 140 million addresses—and requires plenty of IT to do it. Despite its monopoly status, the USPS faces plenty of competition from companies like UPS and FedEx. Its various e-commerce initiatives are some of the ways it stays relevant, helping to generate more than $425 million in annual revenues. With more than 1,200 IT employees, the USPS ranks number 83 on Computerworld’s ranking of 100 Best Places to Work in IT, which notes its perk of Employee Connectivity Days, where employees can buy computer equipment at reduced rates from select vendors. Its $6,000 training budget per employee isn’t so bad, either.

on the job

Those bills that pass through your hands every few minutes come from somewhere, right? The Department of the Treasury is the place,—or more specifically, the mints it operates are. The Department of the Treasury also manages the government’s largest income-gathering wing, the dreaded Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and many smaller bureaus, including the Bureau of the Public Debt. While federal government bureaucracies have a reputation for being backward, IT initiatives and increased IT spending are helping the federal government catch up with the private sector. So whether it’s smart card technology for high-security Treasury buildings or converting massive numbers of documents to an easy-to-download online format, resources are being poured into IT implementation.

475 L’Enfant Plaza SW Washington, DC 20260 Phone: 202-268-2500 Website: www.usps.gov

the companies

1500 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20220 Phone: 202-622-2000 Website: www.ustreas.gov

U.S. Postal Service

the role

U.S. Department of Treasury

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Financial Services

Find additional, regularly updated information about thousands of companies and organizations at www.wetfeet.com/Employers.aspx.

Bank of America 100 North Tryon Street Charlotte, NC 28255 Phone: 800-432-1000 Website: www.bankofamerica.com When a company has well over 170,000 employees, it’s going to have its hands in a lot of places. Bank of America has one of the largest networks of ATMs in the world (including its new talking ATMs) and more than 25 million online customers. Its biggest group is Global Consumer and Small Business Banking, but Bank of America keeps busy with its corporate customers as well, providing merchant services, investment management, and many other banking services. Over the last ten years, Bank of America has made a number of acquisitions, including MBNA in 2006, U.S. Trust in 2007, and Countrywide Financial in 2008. Among the tasks of its IT team is merging or integrating systems with such acquisitions.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

getting hired

the workplace

On the job

the companies

The Role

At A Glance

Careers in Information Technology

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Citigroup 399 Park Ave. New York, NY 10043 Phone: 212-559-1000 Toll-free: 800-285-3000 Fax: 212-793-3946 Website: www.citigroup.com Citigroup is a financial services titan, with a presence in more than 100 countries and more than 200 million customer accounts. The company is organized into four major segments—Global Cards, Consumer Banking (which includes consumer finance, retail distribution, retail banking, and commercial business), Institutional Clients Group (investment banking and alternative investments, like hedge funds and private equity), and Global Wealth Management. Operations and technology, which provides shared technical services across the world, lives in a fifth unit: Corporate/Other. Graduates are likely to enter one of five areas, such as Citi’s Technology Infrastructure, which provides technology infrastructure for 80 percent of the company’s businesses and has 10,000 staff; Citi Information and Technology Services, which provides products and services to customers; Information Technology Risk Management Organization, which ensures information security; Citi Architecture & Technology Engineering; or Citi Program Management Office.

at a glance

6200 South Quebec Street Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Phone: 303-488-8000 Website: www.firstdata.com

getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

First Data is a collection of divisions that handles a wide spectrum of financial transfers. The most wellknown branch is Western Union, the company that practically created remote money transactions. Among other things, it’s responsible for some of the first Internet infrastructure—its partnerships led to some of the earliest Internet portals—and the first singing telegram. But First Data’s services extend beyond personal financial transactions to providing services for merchants, facilitating the means for businesses to issue their own credit cards, and establishing data processing systems for state and federal government.

the workplace

First Data

U.S. Headquarters 2700 Sanders Rd. Prospect Heights, IL 60070 Phone: 847-564-5000 Website: www.hsbcnorthamerica.com HSBC is a public company with some 10,000 offices in more than 80 countries—and 125 million customers around the world. It provides financial services to personal, commercial, corporate, institutional and investment, and private banking clients—meaning it has a ton of IT systems to develop and maintain. In 1999, HSBC took on a unified brand name, differentiating itself as “the world’s local bank” through a 2002 advertising campaign. In the U.S. and Canada, HSBC markets its financial products under the HSBC, HFC, and Beneficial brands. In 2007, HSBC North American Holdings—based in Prospect Heights, Illinois, and employing more than 3,500 IT professionals—ranked number 61 in Computerworld’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in IT. Its CACHE program (Catch a Career on the HSBC Express) provides networking opportunities with senior managers.

on the job

Founded by Ross Perot in 1962, Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS) went public in 1968. It was the largest systems management and services firm in the U.S., providing a variety of IT services to clients in government, manufacturing, financial services, health care, communications, energy, transportation, consumer and retail industries—until Hewlett Packard bought the company in May 2008 for $13.9 billion. The combined company will have the heft to compete with IBM, but the acquisition is expected to close later in 2008, subject to shareholder and regulatory approval.

World Headquarters 8 Canada Sq. London E14 5HQ, England Phone: 44-20-7991-8888 Website: www.hsbc.com

the companies

5400 Legacy Dr. Plano, TX 75024-3199  Phone: 972-604-6000 Website: www.eds.com

HSBC Holdings the role

Electronic Data Systems

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At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Careers in Information Technology

JPMorgan Chase & Co. 270 Park Ave. New York, NY 10017 Phone: 212-270-6000 Website: www.jpmorganchase.com JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPMC), is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $1.5 trillion and operations in more than 50 countries. It’s a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and businesses, financial transaction processing, asset and wealth management, and private equity. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. has its corporate headquarters in New York and its U.S. retail financial services and commercial banking headquarters in Chicago. Under the JPMorgan and Chase brands, the firm serves millions of American consumers and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional, and government clients. In 2008, it acquired the troubled investment bank Bear Stearns, and owns 44 percent of American Century, a mutual fund company.

Charles Schwab 101 Montgomery St. San Francisco, CA 94104 Phone: 415-636-7000 Toll-free: 800-435-4000 Website: www.schwab.com Schwab revolutionized the brokerage industry in 1974 with its discount brokerage service, and it continued to add innovation through the dot-com era, becoming one of the first brick-and-mortar companies to offer 36

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online trading. When the stock market downturn came, Schwab had to make several rounds of layoffs to bring operating expenses in line with revenue. Its business segments consist of Schwab Investor Services, which works directly with individuals; Schwab Institutional, which serves independent investment advisors; and Schwab Corporation & Retirement Services, which works with companies to manage retirement and equity compensation plans. In 2008, Schwab boasted $1.4 billion in client assets, including 7.2 million client brokerage accounts and 1.3 million corporate retirement plan participants. On Computerworld’s 2007 100 Best Places to Work in IT list, Schwab ranked number 53. Its nearly 1,600 IT employees appreciate the company’s philanthropic tendencies and online VolunteerMatch program.

The Vanguard Group 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355 Phone: 610-648-6000 Toll-free: 800-662-7447 Website: www.vanguard.com Individual-investor advocate John Bogle started Vanguard in 1975 in an effort to create low-cost funds. In keeping with the nautical theme of the company (the Vanguard was Admiral Horatio Nelson’s first ship), Vanguard calls its employees its “crew,” the corporate cafeterias its “galleys,” and so on. John Bogle’s investment strategy has maintained Vanguard as a leader in low-management-fee funds. The company specializes in index funds (it claims to have created the first indexed mutual fund in 1976) and has grown to be among the largest mutual fund companies in the country, with clients in more than 80 countries and 11 office locations around the world. Vanguard ranked number 60 on Computerworld’s

at a glance the role

2007 in IT list. It has more than 2,500 IT employees, with 80 percent of the development budget going toward large custom projects, providing ample opportunities for hands-on learning.

the companies

Wells Fargo & Co. 420 Montgomery St. San Francisco, CA 94104 Toll-free: 866-878-5865 Fax: 415-677-9075 Website: www.wellsfargo.com

on the job the workplace

Despite its fidelity to its stagecoach logo, Wells Fargo is anything but stuck in the past. As a market leader in online banking, the firm has shown its willingness to bet on new technology in order to give it a competitive edge. The bank consistently posts solid financial results, fueling further acquisitions, and offers undergrad and MBA hires well-regarded professional development training programs for its Technology Information and Internet Services Group, among others. We’ve broken down some common IT jobs into four main categories: creative; engineering; support; and sales, PR, and marketing. The categories are by no means definitive. Though we’ve placed Web developer in the creative category, for example, companies often hire developers in engineering departments. And technical writers are found on both IT support and engineering teams. However, the distinctions are useful when looking at the types of jobs and the experience required of each. Regardless of the type of IT position you’re applying for, one rule holds true: Employers most often seek applicants with relevant technical experience and a four-year college degree. For the entry-level job seeker, the preference for experience can be problematic. However, some types of work—and some workplaces—have lower barriers to entry than others.

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On The Job

4

Creative Positions.......................... 40 Engineering Positions.....................41 Support Positions........................... 42 Real People Profiles........................ 43

At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Careers in Information Technology

Creative Positions Those with good communication abilities,

strong visual design skills, and a knack for numbers might find one of the more creative IT positions a good match. These jobs—from the industrial designer who conceptualizes new products to the Web designer who creates the look and feel of a website—are ideal for people looking to satisfy both analytical and artistic needs. IT creatives, like their engineering and support counterparts, need to have strong technical skills. However, a degree in an IT-related field is rarely a requirement. Instead, job seekers should have a strong portfolio that demonstrates skill and sensibilities. For those just starting out, building this portfolio becomes a priority. Volunteering for design projects, whether as an intern with companies or for pro bono agencies such as the Taproot Foundation, is often a great way to start. Software skills are an absolute must—whether Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash for a Web developer, or FileMaker for a database manager. To be successful, IT creatives must know their applications well and keep current with each new release. Recent college grads learn the ropes with entrylevel positions such as assistant designer, developer, or producer. Though some of the responsibilities are not glamorous (“I spent two hours a day archiving content,” one insider says) and may feel more administrative than creative at times, the work experience is a prerequisite for advancement. For those looking to switch focus—from a Web producer to a Web designer, for instance—previous work experience and familiarity with the industry will prove invaluable. Though it is unlikely that you can make a purely lateral shift, many people slip in and out of different creative roles throughout their careers. In fact, a record of varied experience can be useful when applying for some of the more senior positions. A user interface designer, for example, should have a strong 40

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knowledge of both Web production and design—and work experience in each of those areas looks very good on a resume.

Technical Producer Degree requirements: BA or MBA Job description: The producer acts as both the nerve center and lightning rod. For projects such as entertainment software, the producer is like the director of a movie, setting the tone as well as the overall look and feel, and taking responsibility for the final version. All the art, content, administrative, and other decisions go through the producer—it can be stressful but rewarding when it works. The producer may report to the product manager, who’s in charge of commercial concerns, or to a technical manager. Salary range: $41,000 to $60,000

Web Developer Degree requirement: BA Job Description: Web developers are masters of HTML, and they know how to create Web pages that will look good in any browser on any platform. In addition to knowing applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Flash, a Web developer understands databases, JavaScript, XML—and how to work with both designers and engineers. Tight deadlines can make this work tough at times, but for those who love to work with rapidly evolving tools and challenges, this job is ideal. Salary range: $40,000 to $55,000 (entry-level)

Webmaster Degree requirement: BA Job description: Smaller companies in particular tend to roll the areas of Web architecture, design, implementation, and management into one position: the webmaster. Webmasters may even be responsible for content creation and editing, working in conjunction with marketing. If you hold this job, be prepared to know and do a little bit of everything. Salary range: $50,000 to $80,000

at a glance

The majority of IT jobs fall into what we’ve

Degree requirements: BS in computer science, MS preferred Job description: A good QA engineer has to think of every stupid, silly, and accidental thing a customer might do to and with a product, from using a keyboard in the bathtub to clicking 1,000 times repeatedly on an ornamental on-screen widget. In some work environments this can be fun, but often it’s a strictly regimented process, usually on a tight deadline as a product moves from pre-alpha to final release. QA people support product teams, track bugs, and write documentation. Salary range: $47,000 to $60,000, entry-level

the companies

Software Engineer

the workplace

Degree requirements: BS in computer science (MS preferred for senior position) Job description: Junior software engineers mainly do the dirty work of inputting code, connecting application modules and functionalities, debugging, and porting to other OS platforms. However, the junior position is a stepping-stone to the senior position, which offers the potential of having a say in the end product. Senior engineers also work with end users, OEM customers, and others; they also take a more supervisory role in team structure. Salary range: $48,000 to $60,000, entry-level

on the job

Application Programmer

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FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Degree requirements: BS in computer science Job description: This type of programmer/engineer works specifically on a particular application that will either end up as a shrink-wrapped product or as a module that will interact with final products. This position entails documentation, product development, and product integration—one example would be writing or revising software that addresses a specific task, such as calibrating color monitors. Salary range: $67,000 to $80,000

getting hired

classified as engineering positions. In fact, according to the Information Technology Association of America, the most common type of IT job is programmer, with approximately 2.1 million positions. Compared to other IT workers, programmers, software engineers, QA engineers, hardware engineers, tech writers, and database administrators tend to have the most extensive technical backgrounds, often holding at least a four-year college degree in computer science or a related discipline. For those interested in breaking into the engineering world, knowing the latest technology is important—Java, Linux, SQL software, C and C++, Oracle, Windows NT, and .NET—but it’s also attractive to hirers to have a strong foundation of IT knowledge. Experience is also highly valued, and co-op and work-study programs will give students a leg up after graduation. Those seeking entry-level programming jobs might find larger firms, which offer intensive training programs, more receptive to their resumes than smaller shops. Entry-level hires usually work under close supervision or on a team with more experienced workers. After proving themselves, however, prospects for advancement are good. Programmers may become lead programmers or consultants; software engineers may become project managers, information system managers, and eventually chief information officers or chief technology officers; junior database administrators may move on to managerial positions as well. Seasoned engineering professionals who wish to advance into management will have a better chance if they acquire the relevant skills first. Companies look for managers with not only good technical skills, but also good soft skills, such as communication and interpersonal skills.

QA Engineer the role

Engineering Positions

At A Glance

Careers in Information Technology

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

getting hired

the workplace

On the job

the companies

The Role

Database Administrator Degree requirement: BS in computer science or equivalent experience Job description: Database administrators, or DBAs, participate in database design and maintain, develop, and test database environments. Often, the DBA is responsible for making backups and ensuring that information is recoverable in the event of a disaster. Administrators may also plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information. It’s also crucial to have the right certifications to get your foot in the door—these are often more important than academic degrees. Salary range: $71,000 to $95,000

Support Positions Though an undergraduate degree in computer science or systems looks good on a resume, many support positions don’t require a related college degree (or in some cases, such as call center support, any degree). Relevant work experience is often the most important hiring criterion, and to advance to more senior positions, support workers must have hands-on training. The current need for system administrators has made this field a good point of entry for recent college grads. Though companies prefer to hire graduates for this type of work, they rarely insist that degrees be computer-related. In addition to technical aptitude, employers look for strong writing and communication skills, and sys admins can expect to use these abilities often in their interactions with customers and other employees. Entry-level administrators monitor computer systems and perform routine maintenance. As they become more experienced, they may design systems or shift into software engineering. Only for the patient, QA and technical support jobs require troubleshooting, communication, and problem-solving skills. Entry-level tech jobs, at least 42

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in support, usually involve direct customer contact. Promotions are usually based on performance, not formal education, and often happen quickly. Senior support workers may become application developers or managers. Like engineering managers, support managers must have not only good technical skills, but also good communication and interpersonal skills.

Technical Support Analyst, Entry Level Degree requirement: None (BA or BS preferred) Job description: This is the front line—tech support is an entry-level position, dealing directly with customers who are likely disgruntled, usually over the phone. It’s volume work. Though working knowledge of the product is vital, so are patience, communication skills, and the ability to deal with unhappy people without making them more unhappy. Salary range: $42,000 to $58,000

Software Support Engineer Degree requirement: BS in computer science Job description: Sometimes promoted from the ranks of tech support, this job also includes elements of sales in that it’s more involved with onsite and other direct support of clients. As a result, this position requires knowledge of the client’s needs and the ability to troubleshoot and act independently. Salary range: $65,000 to $88,000

IT Training Consultant Degree requirements: BS in computer science, specialized training preferred Job description: Most large software and hardware installations aren’t just a set-up-and-go proposition, so companies that sell servers, back-end systems, ERM/ERP solutions, and the like employ IT staff members who introduce the client to the product. And it’s not just for arcane, complex items either—training consultants also get sales, marketing, and other executives up to speed on new systems. Salary range: $42,000 to $60,000

at a glance

Management Information Systems (MIS)

Size of company: 20 employees Certification: none Annual salary: $42,000

What do you do? I’m a course builder. I’m responsible for developing new online courses using HTML and ASP course templates. I also upgrade existing courses and maintain the HTML and JavaScript code snippets library. I fix bugs—usually incorrect content, such as a missing paragraph or a spelling or typographical error—in the courses. My position requires good problem-solving skills, analytical skills, attention to detail, and dedication to high-quality work. How did you get your current job? I got this job from the Craigslist job-posting website [www.craigslist.org]. How can someone get a job like yours? The best way to get a job is to post a resume on some job-posting sites, such as HotJobs, Monster, Craigslist, etc. What kinds of people do well in the business? People who have a programming background and a good sense of design do well in this business.

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FOR YOUR REFERENCE

How is your work structured? I am on a six-person course development team. The team director outlines the course development proposal and defines the weekly goals. She schedules the timeline for each project. The technical writers structure the course, outline the content, and do all the writing—introduction, main contents, all interactive scenarios, summary, quiz, and

getting hired

Degree requirement: BS in computer science Job description: Information security specialists are responsible for securing data, devices, and networks against unauthorized external and internal access. In addition to designing and maintaining a set security standard and policy, the information security specialist ensures that the policies are adhered to by all. Remember to change your password! Salary range: $85,000 to $115,000 and more

Work hours per week: 40

the workplace

Information Security Specialist

Years in the business: six months Education: MFA, computer arts–new media

on the job

Degree requirement: BA or certificate program Job description: The most valuable traits in a sys admin are a willingness to take things apart and the patience to put the pieces together again. System administrators design, test, and evaluate data communications systems such as local area networks. A system administrator may also be asked to research and recommend network hardware and software. Beware: This can be a thankless job. People never say, “Hey, my phone works today. Awesome!” But if something goes down, you’ll hear all about it. Salary range: $50,000 to $78,000, entry-level

E-Learning Course Developer Age: 30

the companies

System Administrator

Real People Profiles

the role

Degree requirement: BS in computer science or electrical engineering Job description: High-tech companies don’t just sell the stuff—they use it, too. Working in MIS means handling hardware, software, and networks, all to help the organization running as efficiently as possible. It’s kind of a jack-of-all-trades position, but it does provide exposure to a wide skill set that could translate well to a number of more specialized career paths. To land this kind of position, the right certifications—for example, a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification—are also extremely important. Salary range: $86,000 to $120,000

At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Careers in Information Technology conclusion (following the company guidelines). The course builder—that’s me—then builds the online course, which consists of an HTML version and a Flash version, while the graphic designer creates the look and design based on the course objective and audience. Before the course release, each course is reviewed and revised by our QA manager. What are your career aspirations? My short-term career aspiration is to be a user interface designer. And my long-term career goal is to be an international project manager. What is the biggest misconception about your job? People think that “course builder” means “Web designer.” But in fact, building a course is not like creating a website. Building a great online e-learning course requires a high-performance team, not just a good graphic designer. What do you like most about your company? It offers great opportunities to expand, particularly as learning systems become more online-based. What do you dislike about your firm and/or job? The job is tedious. Once you learn how to build a course and how to upgrade a course, you repeat the same task over and over. What is a typical career track at your firm? Do people stay for years or move around in the industry? The company is only a few years old. People come and go, though most of the founders are still involved. Sample Project: Generally, I begin to develop a new course after the technical writer has finished the new content. It takes three to five days to construct the HTML for a course and implement new content with the course templates. Each course contains exercise sections, scenarios, and a quiz that tests the user’s knowledge. These sections are done in JavaScript and Flash and must follow the company guidelines. 44

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Consistency is the key to building a successful course. The QA manager reviews each course—for both content and functionality—and reports bugs, which I fix. Each course is given a final proof before release.

Help Desk Specialist Age: 25 Years in the business: one Education: BS, computer science Work hours per week: 40 Size of company: 5,000+ employees Certification: none Annual salary: $45,000

What do you do? I help clients with login and printing problems, and I escalate programming errors to the next level of support when necessary. I also help in-house users with problems ranging from software/ hardware installs to email account creations. How did you get this job? I found a posting through Techies.com. I interviewed for a full-time position, which went to someone in-house, but the company asked me to be a contract employee. After three months as a contract employee, I was hired on full-time. How can someone get a job like yours? First, you need to have a strong computer background. You need to be willing to learn. Mostly you need to not get frustrated easily. What kinds of people do well in this business? People who can deal with all types of people. You need to be able to communicate well and find out what the true problems are. We help clients all over the world, and in many cases English is not their native tongue, so you need to be patient and communicate even more clearly.

at a glance

Is there anything you wish you’d done differently on your career path? I wish I had done some internships during college.

getting hired

What do you like most about your firm and/or job? I enjoy working with the people in my department and the surrounding departments. Also, I enjoy the wide spectrum of problems that pop up on a daily basis.

the workplace

What is the biggest misconception about your job? The biggest misconception is that our job is easy, and that we are only busy when the phones are ringing. There are always other tasks for us to do, and most days I hardly have time to do anything other than work.

on the job

What are your career aspirations? I’m still determining my career aspirations. I could easily stay with this company for many years, and could make it up the ladder. Right now I am determining if I want to stay in the field or if I want to do something completely different.

Sample Project: The majority of my work is dealing with email-related problems. The first step in troubleshooting consists of finding out the problem. Usually users report that they either couldn’t get into a group mailbox or that they aren’t receiving emails in a particular mailbox. If the user can’t get into a mailbox, I first check to see if they’re in the security group for the mailbox. If they’re in the group, I then find out how they’re trying to access the box (i.e., if they are using the correct username and password). When users (internally or externally) receive bounced messages saying that a particular email address is not available, I find out what email address they were sending to and what mailbox they were trying to reach. Then I compare the information. Most often users are using the wrong address or the address they’re using isn’t valid. Once I’ve determined the cause of the problem, I correct the mistake.

the companies

How is your work structured? The only structure is that if the phone rings you answer it. It’s a very relaxed environment.

What is a typical career track at your firm? Do people stay for years or move around in the industry? About half the people leave the company within two years, usually for another IT job. The majority of the rest find other jobs within the company, and a few stay in their current positions.

the role

How would you describe the culture at your business? The culture is very casual. People tend to be very relaxed, and there really isn’t too much pressure to get your work done—as long as you get it done.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

What do you dislike about your firm or job? Since it is a help desk, we’re generally looked down upon by our peers. But they don’t realize how much we have to take care of. When a system goes down, we’re the people who talk with users and relay information to them, and in some cases we get some irate users that we have to calm down.

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At A Glance

Careers in Information Technology Director of Engineering

The Role

Age: 36 Years in the business: 18 Education: MA in engineering/MA in psychology Work hours per week: 50 Size of company: five employees

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

getting hired

the workplace

On the job

the companies

Certification: none Annual salary: $100,000

What do you do? I work for a nonprofit agency that works in biodiversity. I write software, investigate new technologies, work on business plans, and negotiate contracts. I also attend meetings and conferences—I get to travel plenty—where I talk to other people who are doing IT in biodiversity. I have commerce with about 100 people in this sort of work, but there are thousands of people working in the area—for nonprofits, governments around the world, universities, and businesses. What did you do before? I was the CEO of an online community site that I helped build. It was great. The company is still going—it’s being run by other people. Creating technologies that millions of people use is certainly very satisfying. Seeing the role of technology from the perspective of a CEO and not an engineer is interesting. You focus more on the features that make money rather than the features that would be cool. And sometimes you can’t move to the greatest new technology because it would cost too much. You have to keep on top of costs. Things like how much bandwidth is your software using—things I wouldn’t pay attention to if I wasn’t running the company. Did you hire people? Yes. The thing that was most attractive to me on a resume was pieces of work you could point to and prove you built and understood. That and references. I always called references before making offers. A lot of people put everything on their resume, and that just made me wonder what they were good at. 46

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How did you get your current job? I got it because I heard about the organization, and I hassled them incessantly until they finally capitulated and gave me a position. It was about four months of constantly asking them if they needed engineering and going over there and visiting. Luckily I knew somebody who knew somebody who worked there, so I had an excuse to bother them. I had been mentioned as a good engineer, so there was some word-of-mouth/ networking in there, too. How can someone get a job like yours? You have to have a good resume that shows a history of successfully accomplishing your duties. And you have to show that you’re interested in the job. And [you have to have] good references. What kinds of people do well in this business? People who love the technology and are internally motivated to continually learn are going to do well. IT is always changing, so unless you’re really interested in the technology itself, you’ll just fall behind. I think people who have good communication skills do well, because it’s perhaps more rare in this field than others. You have to be able to keep your cool because you’re often under a lot of pressure to finish things. Things break. Things can’t be half-done. You have to be able to deal with pressure. And you have to know what you can accomplish, because setting expectations is really important. Saying you can get something done faster than you really can will only get you in trouble. What are your career aspirations? I’d like to write a few more books about technology and other things, and continue to create useful and well-used pieces of software. What is the biggest misconception about your job? In my experience, my biggest misconception is that you can separate technology from business. I have been unable to stay in a situation where all I was doing was engineering. Technical expertise will eventually flow into helping to direct policy, negotiate contracts, work

at a glance

directly with clients—a whole host of things that have nothing to do with working directly with technology.

getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

What do you (or others) dislike most about your firm and your job? Funding is uncertain, which means that job security is low. The focus of the company changes a little more often than I’d like, which makes it hard to focus on anything. Being the only engineer is a lonely thing—it would be nice if there were others.

Sample Project: A typical project for a senior IT professional in bioinformatics involves combining data sets created by different people into a form that can be stored, analyzed, and accessed by the public. “I work with researchers collecting data, ecologists using that data to answer questions, and system administrators,” our insider says. “If there is a public component, I also work with a designer.” Often, the most important part of the job is creating an interface and a system to make researched data accessible. “I travel sometimes; it depends on the job,” the insider says. “Right now, the project I’m working on is based in California. But it may expand to Central America.”

the workplace

What do you like most about your firm and your job? I like the subject area, biodiversity. I like that it’s not about commerce, but about public good. I like that it’s not that crowded a space—there aren’t thousands of people developing the same stuff that I am. There’s some competition, but not a huge amount. I like that I work for a small company. There isn’t a lot of bureaucracy, and my voice is heard.

Does your firm offer any special or fun perks? We have Friday barbecues where we get to meet all kinds of interesting people. I get to travel a lot. My office is located in one of the most beautiful parts of town. Hours are flexible, and coffee is free.

on the job

How is your work structured? The company is small; there are only five people, so how my work goes depends on what kind of phase the company is in. There are times when I’m given a project to complete, and I’m on my own. I work with an interface developer, and it’s just the two of us coding. The only one who signs off is the CEO. Other times, we’re in business development mode, where we’re coming up with plans, and then everything is by committee. So in those situations, I’m contributing to some business plan, but I’m not the sole or major contributor.

What should prospective employees highlight about themselves during an interview with your firm? Definitely that you’re flexible and can take many roles, because you’ll be put into many roles. Say that you can deal with uncertainty and let people know you’re willing to work long hours when necessary. Don’t seem too stubborn.

the companies

How’d you manage that? I think I’ve been getting exactly the jobs that I want. I keep up on technologies that are current and focus on finding jobs that are interesting and, because I’m interested in the job I’m doing, I do it well. I’ve managed to escape situations where I’m not interested in doing the job because I know I won’t do a good job and won’t be able to get another job that I like.

the role

Is there anything you wish you’d done differently on your career path? Nope. I don’t think so.

How does the recruiting process work at your firm? What is the best way to get a job with the firm? For high-level positions, there’s a board of directors who have a role in deciding who gets hired. Candidates will be presented to them, and they’ll make a decision based on those candidates. For lower-level positions, the CEO does all the interviews and makes the choice. Recruiting is generally done through word of mouth. References are huge. You don’t get a job here unless your references are good.

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At A Glance

Careers in Information Technology A Day in the Life

9:15 a.m.

the workplace

On the job

the companies

The Role

7:00 a.m.

getting hired

Arrive at work. I check email, because my boss will certainly have sent something urgent. I spend the first hour and a half dealing with urgent messages, which usually involves writing a little bit of code to get the information someone needs, documenting something I’m working on for someone, moving some sort of business relationship forward, or doing research for the CEO.

11:00 a.m. I usually do some programming or data entry until about 1:00. 1:00 p.m.

Lunch. While I’m eating, I read trade mags—Slashdot or Nature or Science. Slashdot is the major one. There’s always something interesting there.

1:30 p.m.

Meeting. Pretty much every day there’s some kind of meeting about some business prospect.

3:00 p.m.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Wake up. I usually get out of the house around 8:30.

Documenting. I either document the research I’m doing or the code I’m writing. Sometimes I write things up for business proposals.

4:30 p.m.

Coding or number crunching for business plans.

6:30 p.m.

Say goodbye. Go home.

7:30 p.m.

Check email. There’s a chance the CEO has sent something urgent.

8:00p.m.

Dinner. Mmm . . .

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Cofounder/User Interface Design Company

Age: 32 Years in the business: eight Education: BA in English literature Work hours per week: 30 to 60, depending on the week/project Size of company: two employees Certification: some graduate course work in interface design and visual design, no specific certification or certificate Annual salary: $80,000

What do you do? I do interface design, and that ranges from information architecture to visual design to motion design. So basically any of the projects we take on cover front-end work, primarily for the Web. We have a range of clients—from corporate clients making medical technology products to a producer making a documentary for PBS.

What did you do before? I was the director of user experience for an online job site. I was responsible for leading the UE [user experience] and visual design of that site, and managing the team of people who supported that.

How did you get this job? I’ve always wanted to work for myself. My previous job was great because I got the experience of building a product from the ground up. We went through several revs and changes, and the product evolved as we collected user data and saw how users reacted. After two years, I began to crave the opportunity to apply this experience to a variety of products. That was one of the biggest reasons I wanted to create a small studio. While I was working full-time, my partner was freelancing and establishing contacts in the freelance

at a glance FOR YOUR REFERENCE

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getting hired

What is the biggest misconception about your job? Design is not limited to just picking pretty colors. People often think that it’s easy or superficial and doesn’t require any deep synthesis. We base our design on concepts and business strategies. It takes a lot of work to understand those things. Sometimes our work forces business to go in other directions. We force really tough issues.

the workplace

What are your career aspirations? I would like for my studio to be known for creating really amazing sensory experiences online—things that balance storytelling and visual design with really clear user experience. I’m looking forward to having more projects that fall into that realm. I’m happy with having such a small studio now and bringing people in on certain projects, but in ten years it would be nice to see the studio grow to six or eight people.

on the job

What kinds of people do well in this business? When you’re working on an interface project, you’re sitting at the intersection of sales, marketing, engineering, and sometimes business strategy. People who are good at synthesizing those disciplines and people who can serve as a liaison or translator often do well. I think that as a designer in this field you have to have a good grasp of technology and how it can impact your design. Even if you’re not coding the back end, you have to know what’s going on and how it will impact what you’re doing. People who can balance

How would you describe the culture at your business? The culture at our studio strikes a balance between professional and down-to-earth and easy to work with. The culture of the industry ranges a lot. We work with companies that are very traditional and corporate—most people sit in cubes and there are terms like “casual Fridays.” We also work with artists, where it would be strange to go to a meeting in anything but jeans. Cultures are incredibly varied, and our success is somewhat dependent on our ability to meet other companies where they are in terms of their culture. Being a creative tends to give you a certain cultural freedom that may not exist in other industries. It’s okay to be quirky or different. That’s pretty liberating.

the companies

How can someone get a job like yours? You need to have real-world experience. Graduating from a program and having school portfolio samples will be somewhat helpful, but I would encourage people to try to get real-world experience. Designing an interface for a neighborhood restaurant or a friend’s business can provide great experience. It’s also good to have pretty thick skin and be willing to put yourself out there and take risks. Just keep trying. I don’t think that you can get overly attached to your work; it makes it harder for you. I feel like I was lucky and in the right place at the right time, and even so, I still think it’s a really challenging field to differentiate yourself in. You have to be bold, take risks, put yourself out there, and make new contacts. I think you have to really want it, to make it happen now. And I feel, as the economy has gotten worse, that a lot of people who didn’t really want to do it have stepped out of the arena.

form and function—the visual and more practical and functional side of things—do well. Be willing to put out three versions—not one—of a design, and be open to letting a group impact the work. It’s also important to experiment and try different things.

the role

world. Those contacts have been crucial in terms of having a successful business in a down economy. Contacts are important in any industry, and especially important in this one. You need people who have worked with you, can vouch for your skills, and would work with you again on another project. That’s been important for us.

At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Careers in Information Technology

Is there anything you wish you’d done differently on your career path? Part of me wishes that I started doing this in college or before college. I love it so much, and I think it would be wonderful to have more years doing it or more formal training in it. But I don’t think I would give up much of my career path. In a lot of ways, my English major seems far from design, but that sort of training has given me a good conceptual framework. Lots of designers don’t have that. You take something from each chapter of life that helps in your career. How is your work structured? Where we work depends on the project. We work onsite, but generally prefer not to. For our current project, we meet with the client twice a week. We talk to our project team every day by phone and email. I have to get informal sign-off by the project manager before I present our work to the client. One person signs off on our work, but that’s a little misleading. A lot of what we do is build consensus. The whole team has to be happy with the product, even though one person signs off. A big part of design is presenting work and getting people to buy into the concepts you’re presenting. What do you like most about your firm and your job? I like being a creative lead. That’s a very exciting, fun, and challenging role. I like working in our studio. I like the variety of creative projects I get to work on and the variety of people I get to work with. I like the flexibility that comes with working for myself. I can take a two- to three-week vacation around holidays if I decide it’s the right thing to do. I like the time when it’s just me experimenting, but I like that I also work in a very collaborative setting, both with the client and also with teammates. The balance between creative alone time and working with others is one of my favorite things.

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What do you dislike about your firm and your job? You have to deal with a certain amount of uncertainty in terms of economics. Managing the ebb and flow of projects and the cash connected with them is challenging and can be stressful. I don’t like the initial part of the sales process. There’s a certain amount of hustling that you have to do, and I have an initial discomfort with that. You constantly have to put yourself out there, and some days you feel more up to it than others. Sample Project: “One of the projects I’m working on this year is a content strategy project for a major national bank,” our insider says. “I’m working with a large team of product managers and usability researchers trying to figure out how to position some of the bank’s investment products.” As the interface lead, the UI specialist is involved in the research sessions (which consist of rapid ethnographies—or interviews done within a natural setting). After the research is completed, the UI designer will develop several concepts for the bank’s website. These concepts will get tested in front of real users, and the best elements will be rolled into the final product: a series of Web pages that will live on the bank’s site. While making these pages, the UI specialist will work with the creative director and an interface architect to ensure that the designs fit within the bank’s site architecture and style standards.

A Day in the Life 7:00 a.m.

Get up.

8:00 a.m.

Drive to the client’s office.

9:00 a.m.

Present design directions to the client and participate in a functional design meeting.

at a glance

12:30 p.m. Get lunch. Bring it back to the office. There’s great Mexican food in my neighborhood! Check and respond to email. I also belong to email lists for interface designers and surf to see sites mentioned in those design lists. Work on changes that came out of the morning meeting.

4:00 p.m.

Work on a potential pitch and proposal for a new client.

5:00 p.m.

Work on an animation for another project with the same client. Go home.

Consultant Age: 33 Years in the business: 13 Education: Some college. I’ve never taken a computer class.

Size of client companies: 4 to 20,000 employees Certification: none Annual salary: about $80,000 (varies from year to year)

What are your career aspirations? I’m currently trying to shift what I’m doing toward more consulting on software process. At first, I was very excited about making things for people. Then a number of projects WETFEET INSIDER GUIDE

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FOR YOUR REFERENCE

What do you do? I do two broad kinds of things: contract software development and consulting about technology and software. I might look at why an IT team isn’t doing well. Clients might ask what they can do to reduce burn rates and increase productivity, or if the software they’re building is what they should be

What kinds of people do well in this business? In general, I don’t recommend IT as a field for people whose reason is only to get a good job. Careers in IT require a lot of commitment and enjoyment of the work, partly because it’s intellectually demanding. The work is continually changing, and you must constantly update skills. Unless you like IT enough to play with the stuff, it’s hard to keep current and be marketable.

getting hired

Work hours per week: 45 to 50; as a freelancer, it’s hard to say.

the workplace

7:00 p.m.

How can someone become an IT contractor? Don’t quit your day job until you can’t possibly avoid it. It takes a long time to build up contacts and have a consistent stream of work. You’re best off doing consulting work in the evenings and on weekends at first. In terms of building up the contacts, aside from colleagues and friends, networking is helpful. User groups and industry events are a good way to make contacts.

on the job

2:00 p.m.

How do you find jobs? Do you interview? The way that I’ve almost always found work is through friends of friends and people I’ve worked with before. The hiring process depends on the place and how I got there. For my current job, there was no formal interview. For a finance job I worked on, I was recommended to the hiring manager. I met with him a couple of times and with a few other people before I started. Larger companies tend to be more formal.

the companies

1:00 p.m.

How does consulting work? Do you work for one company at a time? It depends a great deal. I try never to work six months at a place. If you spend too much time on one client, the others disappear. I also try to avoid things that require an hour here or an hour there, unless I’m put on a monthly retainer.

the role

11:30 a.m. Drive back to the city.

building. If they’ve contracted out work, they might want to know how those people are doing as well.

At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Careers in Information Technology I worked on failed because of poor process. Now, I’m excited that I can make better software and help engineers suffer less. What is the biggest misconception about your job? Many people think that IT is some sort of magic wishing box. It’s an understandable mistake, as technology evolves so rapidly. People don’t understand current limitations, and companies make plans before consulting a technically skilled person about what’s feasible. Is there anything you wish you’d done differently on your career path? One of my biggest mistakes was to stick with a bad job too long. I wanted things to work out, so I was willing to ignore vast amounts of evidence that things were not going to get any better—ever. How is your work structured? My working relationships vary a great deal. Right now, I meet with my client every couple of months, and we exchange emails in between. By and large, I’m on my own. What do you like most about your job? The best thing about my job is the ability to choose the projects I work on, in that I get to explore new areas or learn about things I’m interested in. Consulting keeps me on my toes more than a job would. In a job, you fall into a routine, and I don’t do my best work or put forth as much effort as I’d like [in that situation]. What do you (or others) dislike about your job? Most people dislike the irregularity of the income. You never know where or when the next paycheck is coming from. Lately, there’s been a relatively dry spell. Unless I’m prepared, I’ll be living in my parent’s basement. Another thing people don’t like is the feeling of being the “new kid” in school—always coming into new places and meeting new people. When you contract, you lose the safety and comfort of working in the same environment. Typically, jobs are very demanding in terms of hours and effort. Part of this is a flattering sort of demand—your work is 52

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important and companies want it right now. The less happy part of that is that software project management isn’t a mature field and in a lot of places schedules and feature lists are based on nothing other than what the manager would like to happen. Programmers have to make up the difference. Sample Project: Often called in when things aren’t working, the consultant has the job of fixing things. For one project, our insider was called in to help streamline an inefficient engineering process. He worked with a large team of engineers and, ultimately, a very grateful software manager. After observing the workflow, he noticed that the team didn’t use unit tests, which are used to isolate and test individual software components before they’re integrated into an entire system. Because each engineer’s components were not tested efficiently, one person’s work often interfered with another’s. After isolating the problems with the process, he helped develop and implement a solution. The biggest perk of the job: getting to work with a lot of different people in many different places.

A Day in the Life 7:00 a.m.

First thing I do is check and go through email. I make sure the machines I maintain are up and running, and answer any urgent queries from people.

9:00 a.m.

I start my client work. This varies a great deal depending on my clients.

1:00 p.m.

Lunch break.

1:30 p.m.

I participate in things that will give me visibility—mailing lists and newsgroups— so that people will say, “I should hire you.”

3:00 p.m.

Because I do a lot of work from home, I mix in life with work. If I’m stuck on a problem at three, I’ll do laundry and work into the evening.

at a glance

In addition to the direct client work, I set Age: 25 aside time to spend learning new things Years in the business: four and doing research.

Education: BS in computer science

What did you do before? I worked at another software company. Before that, I was in school.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

What kinds of people do well in this business? I think you need to be pretty laid-back and amenable to sudden changes in direction—particularly if you work at a startup. I code something all up, and then my boss decides not to use it—things like that. You need

What do you like most about your firm and your job? Why did you choose to work there? My boss is great, and I really like my direct coworkers. I get a lot of flexibility as to when and how many hours I work. My schedule is flexible enough to give me time to train on my bike (I do a lot of racing). I get to work on new products, and I get a lot of freedom when I code. I can suggest new features, and a lot of them are added to the product. I took the job because the product sounded cool, and I’d worked with my boss before. What do you (or others) dislike about your firm and your job? There’s no software cycle at my

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getting hired

How can someone get a job like yours? Networking. My very first job was due to connections I had. It’s not always necessary, but now with so many people looking for jobs, it makes you stand out among candidates employers don’t know.

How is your work structured? For the most part, I work independently. I work in my own area, as do the other engineers in my group. There are four coders on the product I work on. We meet to discuss interesting problems and features. My manager signs off on my work—he just says it’s okay. We don’t have code reviews, like some firms. Everything goes through QA.

the workplace

How did you get this job? Networking. I’d worked with my manager at a previous job, and he recruited me. We stayed in touch through email, and we’d go out to lunch once or twice a year. I called him when I was looking for a new job, and he told me about the product he was working on. It sounded really cool.

Is there anything you wish you’d done differently on your career path? I wish I’d gotten a fuller education in other subjects besides computer science— like music. It’s useful to have a degree in engineering now because the job market is tough. But on the job, you don’t use half that stuff. Practically, you just need a minor in CS, just the coding stuff. The theory—math and logic—you don’t need that.

on the job

What do you do? I design and develop hosted Web software. I’ve been with the company since the beginning, so I’ve had an opportunity to really get involved with the product. In addition to coding, I do a lot of architecture work—deciding how the product is built overall.

What is the biggest misconception about your job? Coding isn’t really that hard. The misconception is that it is. Engineers sometimes add all this crud just to make it sound complicated. They’ve got their lingo. Really, though, none of it is hard to learn.

the companies

Work hours week: 32 try Itorun keep 7:00 p.m. I’llper keep working(Itill outit pretty of steam close to that.) for the day. Sometimes that will be a few Size of company: 35 employees hours, sometimes much longer. Since I charge clients by the hour, I won’t charge Certification: none if I’m not doing well. Annual salary: $54,000

an engineering background if your resume is going to stand out in the filtering process.

the role

Software Engineer

4:00 p.m.

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At A Glance The Role

A Day in the Life

What is a typical career track at your firm? Do people stay for years or move around in the industry? Because it’s a startup, presumably no one will be there for years. Our roles are pretty fluid.

12:30 p.m. Time for lunch. Sometimes I eat at my desk. I go out to eat with coworkers a few times each week.

Does your firm offer any special or fun perks? We can work from home, and our hours are pretty flexible. I work part-time. We also get free soda and free lunch every Friday. Sample Project: Usually, a junior software developer works on one component of a larger project. The junior developer works under the supervision of his or her manager and mainly with the engineering team. For the most part, junior developers have no interaction with marketing or sales or other departments or outside firms. Often given a specification (usually incomplete), the junior developer works out the specifics of implementation and writes the required code. Once done, the QA team tests the work. There is usually some back and forth between the developer and QA as bugs are entered and fixed. After QA signs off, the code is ready to go live. The good part of the job is working closely with other engineering team members. The bad part is having little say about which projects are assigned.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

getting hired

On the job

company because we have a hosted Web service, not a shrink-wrapped product. We don’t have one big release—just constant updates. So there’s always some stress. My company is small, and sometimes it’s like watching a building fall down very slowly. You have knowledge about everything that goes on, but no power to stop things from happening. Decisions change at the top without any democratic involvement. It can be frustrating.

the workplace

the companies

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8:30 a.m.

That’s when I usually get up.

9:30 a.m.

Drive to work. The commute is only 25 minutes then—no traffic!

10:00 a.m. Get into the office and get settled. I read email, plan the day, and start coding.

1:00 p.m.

User interface meeting with the QA team to discuss a new product feature.

2:00 p.m.

Another meeting with just my engineering team to discuss the same feature in more depth.

5:30 p.m.

Drive home and hope there’s no traffic.

6:00 p.m.

Eat dinner—vegetarian.

6:30 p.m.

Train on my bicycle for an hour.

8:00 p.m.

Go over to my boyfriend’s place.

at a glance

the role

the companies

on the job

the workplace

getting hired

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

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The Workplace

5

Lifestyle and Culture...................... 58 Compensation................................ 59 Vacation and Perks......................... 60 Career Path.................................... 60 The Insider Scoop...........................61

At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Careers in Information Technology

Lifestyle and Culture The fast-paced environment and constant

change in IT is stimulating and engrossing. That, often coupled with a love of technology, tends to blur the lines between personal and professional time. Late nights in the office or at home frequently find workers in front of a screen. Though their interests and experience differ widely, IT professionals tend to share some qualities. They like to learn, they’re interested in how things work and why, and they tend to be educated. The IT professional is most likely the one who knows about the latest tech toy or game. And, yes, the stereotype of poor communication skills holds to some degree, but is becoming less and less true as the industry broadens and grows. The laid-back, flexible work environment associated with the software industry does not always hold in the IT sectors of other industries. “As far I can tell, IT culture mirrors the broader corporate culture, but is one notch less uptight,” says an insider who contracts with a large financial institution. “For example, the dress code here is business casual. Programmers are more on the casual side of that. No one wears jeans, but people tend to look more scruffy than the dress code might intend.” The standard of the work environment will dictate the norm. Don’t assume that you can show up in a T-shirt and jeans just because you know how to program.

INSIDER SCOOP “Really, a misspent youth is how I am where I am today. I got a computer when I was 12 and spent all my time in the basement. I’m rarely apart from a computer for more than a couple days, on average three hours.”

Hours Work hours and schedules across industries are varied. One insider works from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 58

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p.m. (though he says he generally stays longer). Another gets to work by 10:00 a.m. and has a flexible schedule—as long as he’s in the office for certain core hours. “People get to work whatever 60 hours a week they want to work,” he says. The one constant seems to be that workdays are long, and weekends sometimes become a part of the workweek, too. Many companies offer telecommuting options. “At an Internet company in the 21st century, nearly every single employee is equipped with the necessary tools (laptop, Blackberry) to be productive from a remote location,” says a senior communications officer at a Fortune 500 firm. The telecommuting option can sometimes be way to retain proven employees, rather than a standard practice for all. “The flexibility to work remotely, and to honor ‘family time’ and work/life balance has a huge influence over employee retention.”

Travel Though the average tech support worker won’t be flying off on many junkets—travel for IT support people tends to be of the “2 a.m. call to get to the office to reboot the server” variety—business trips are a fact of life for IT professionals. Conferences, business negotiations, and trade shows often require travel. And although trade shows may be in fun-sounding locations such as Las Vegas or Cologne, don’t expect to have much free time while you’re there. In addition, as more work is done by remote contractors, engineers, purchasers, and managers often have to travel back and forth, sometimes with nearly zero turnaround time.

Diversity “This industry has a long way to go in terms of creating more diverse workplaces,” says an IT veteran. Since the release of an illuminating 2005 report from the ITAA, the technology sector has been under great pressure to bring women and people of color into the workforce. While Asians are well represented in IT roles, African Americans hold 8.3 percent of IT positions and Hispanic Americans hold 6.4 percent. Both percentages are disproportionately low relative to the

at a glance

Salary Range

Application programmer or analyst

$67,000 to $80,000

Database administrator

$71,000 to $94,000

Management information systems

$86,000 to $120,000

Quality assurance analyst/engineer, entry-level

$47,000 to $60,000

Software engineer, entry-level

$48,000 to $60,000

System administrator

$60,000 to $80,000

Technical support, entry-level

$42,000 to $60,000

Technical producer

$41,000 to $60,000

Training consultant

$42,000 to $60,000

Web developer, front end, entrylevel

$40,000 to $60,000

Webmaster

$50,000 to $80,000

getting hired

Sources: Salary.com; Computerworld, WetFeet research and analysis.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Salaries in the IT industry vary by your role, geographic location, and industry. For example, IT workers in finance can make as much as twice what IT workers earn in education, and salaries in the San Francisco Bay Area or New York City will be higher than those in Omaha or Kansas City. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual paycheck of a U.S. IT employee is more than double the $36,140 median income. At the top end, a chief information officer makes around $150,000 on average, not including bonuses, while entry-level hires are more likely to come in to salaries in the $50,000 to $70,000 range. When evaluating salary packages, look at both entry- and senior-level compensation. After all, you will be moving into these jobs as your career advances. Individual industries and, in some cases, IT professional organizations within industries publish reports on the compensation packages. Keep on top of what’s happening in the industry and across industries

Position

the workplace

Compensation

2008 IT Salaries on the job

“I would say that 75 percent of the time I can be the only woman at a table or at a meeting. There are certainly a lot of women working in the industry, and a lot of companies run by women or with strong women leadership, but you have to be able to work without that—the culture is still more male than female.”

the companies

INSIDER SCOOP

to make sure you’re being properly compensated. Compensation isn’t limited to a paycheck. Benefits and employee incentives such as bonuses (and sometimes stock options) are an important part of the package. Though health insurance is usually a given, and dental and vision programs common, there are no guarantees when it comes to benefits. Retirement plans are important, though not universally available. And scheduling can be a huge factor as well. “In my view, people value flexibility almost more than they value cash compensation,” says one offsite employee of a large business services firm. When evaluating salary packages, be sure to take benefits into account as well.

the role

population of these groups in the United States. Women continue to be a minority in the IT industry as well, particularly in upper management, and studies show that the number of women in IT is actually decreasing. According to a 2006 InformationWeek survey, the salary gap between men and women increased that year as well. Male IT managers earned an average of 15 percent more than women IT managers, up from 10 percent more in 2005.

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At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Careers in Information Technology

Vacation and Perks Though the long days and nights around crunch

times might seem to warrant generous vacation packages, entry-level IT professionals usually receive the standard two weeks along with a handful of personal or flexible days. Usually, vacation is earned over time. After two-and-a-half months of work, for example, you will have accrued roughly two days of vacation. Those who remain with a company for a year or longer are often rewarded with additional days (and in some cases, weeks) of paid vacation. Some companies allow employees to “borrow against” future vacation days. For example, though you may have only worked five months, you may be permitted to take a full year’s worth of vacation days. Other companies are not as flexible. Free coffee and lunches are common perks in the IT industry. Some insiders describe free soda and flexible hours; others mention great health plans and education reimbursement. Opportunities for travel (sometimes to exotic locales) make jobs more attractive as well. Like everything else, perks vary by company and industry. You may receive free books if you work in publishing or free movie passes if you work in the entertainment industry.

Career Path Opportunities for Undergraduates A computer science degree does not necessarily guarantee an IT job. Employers are looking for experience and proven communication skills, and in today’s market, they can afford to be picky. Internships and co-op programs are a great way to gain job experience and learn about the industry. Not only does the experience look good on a resume, it often leads to an inside track for a job interview. 60

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Not every job requires a technical background. Sales, marketing, management, and support and helpdesk positions, in particular, require skills that are not often emphasized in CS programs. It’s not uncommon to see an English major in any one of these roles. The broader your skill set and experience base, the more opportunities are available to you. Career paths will differ according to functional role and interests. Software engineers are more likely than database or system administrators to advance to project supervisors, for example. For those not interested in management, “senior” will ultimately find its way to the front of your job title, bringing with it more interesting projects, less drudge work, and higher compensation.

Opportunities for MBAs and Other Advanced-Degree Holders Candidates with MBAs have several fairly reliable points of entry: as computer and information systems managers or as systems analysts. For either function, a strong background in information technology is desired, if not demanded, by employers. Systems analysts—who study the hardware, software, and personnel in an organization and recommend ways to streamline procedures and increase efficiency—often move quickly into management positions. MBAs with strong knowledge and experience in specific areas can also move on to become consultants. Those with advanced degrees in engineering and science—who don’t remain in academia—have traditionally favored jobs in research labs run by tech giants such as Xerox, IBM, and Bell. Despite cuts in R&D budgets over the last decade, such places still exist and can support a researcher’s dreams of discovery, though what he or she discovers will be the patented property of the company. Also, it’s not unheard of for someone with a liberal arts PhD in, say, history or literature to move into upper management. After all, the advanced skills of researching, critical thinking, and analysis required for such a degree are also critical in the business world.

at a glance

Opportunities for Midcareer Candidates

One Degree Less Formal Though IT departments inside industries are subject to the policies of the larger company, there tends to be a bit more flexibility in the engineering quad. Dress is a little more casual and hours are a little less rigid.

Watch Out! The Red Queen Effect

Computers are tools. You can make them do all sorts of interesting and surprising things. The possibilities in IT are vast, and innovation is constant. There is a tremendous amount of excitement and potential in this field, which is growing rapidly, making this a

In Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, the Red Queen explains to Alice that, in her kingdom, “[I]t takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.” The kingdom of IT is much the same way. Technology changes rapidly, and IT professionals WETFEET INSIDER GUIDE

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FOR YOUR REFERENCE

The Sky’s the Limit

getting hired

IT skills are like a monthly bus pass: You can use them to reach a variety of destinations at any time. “Programming skills can be used to get closer to any industry,” one insider says. Whatever your interests, there is a related industry with an IT department. It may take a little patience and persistence, but IT skills can help you break into any field.

It’s not uncommon to hear an IT worker say, “I like my coworkers a lot.” The workforce is educated, interesting, and excited by technology. People tend to share a love for new gadgets and toys, and most people enjoy sharing information and experience. The open source philosophy, which promotes the idea that an open community of developers works most efficiently, is quite common (though businesses don’t often adopt this policy).

the workplace

Ticket to Anywhere

My New Family

on the job

What Employees Really Like

There’s a reason that every industry has an IT department now: Information technology is useful. Computers help speed and streamline business processes and often eliminate redundant and boring tasks. IT helps people, and though the world outside of the IT department might only be aware of the network when it goes down, the people who build and maintain it provide a great service. Software developers work on products that are used by as few as one and as many as millions of people. At the end of the day, a product that helps save time and resources provides a lot of satisfaction to those who work (often long hours) to make it happen.

the companies

The Inside Scoop

Useful is Good

the role

It can be jarring to switch gears midcareer, especially in the tech industry, where a person can spend years honing his or her specialized skills and knowledge. Many such switches are forced when a company is acquired or merged with another. For example, some software engineers at the small game developers purchased by Microsoft moved on to other, Microsoftspecific projects. (Those small-game developers included Bungie Software, Rare Ltd., Digital Anvil, FASA Interactive Technologies, and Access Software.) Maintaining a wide skill set keeps opportunities open. Conversely, it helps midcareer sales and marketing professionals to stress their expertise and contacts in highly targeted and competitive areas. Exhibiting a depth of knowledge, specific skills, and an established network of contacts can make you stand out as a potential hire.

great field for those who enjoy learning constantly and innovating new solutions to problems.

At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Careers in Information Technology must constantly learn new skills and obtain new certifications to remain marketable. Insiders say they spend up to 20 percent of their own time training to keep current in the field. A common rule of thumb: Prepare for half of your IT skills to be outdated within two to four years. Take advantage of employersubsidized education programs and keep on top of what’s going on in the industry.

Health Hazards IT workers often spend long periods in front of a computer terminal typing. Though they may seem to work in a safe environment, IT professionals are very susceptible to eyestrain, back discomfort, and hand and wrist problems. Watch out for the first signs of repetitive stress injury: numbness in the fingers, especially the thumb, index, and middle fingers. If you have difficulty gripping or making a fist, see a doctor. Many workplaces have resources for ergonomics; ask your manager or HR department for information. And as one systems administrator suggests, “Roll away from the screen and sing a song every now and then.”

The Nutty Professor Research the classes and schools you attend. You want to make sure you’re taking courses that are up-todate. If you end up in a course that the professor hasn’t updated, which can happen, it’ll be a liability, because you’ll miss out on understanding the latest developments and instead may come away with skills only good for a defunct system.

Visa Woes If you don’t have permanent U.S. residency (a fair number of IT professionals hail from overseas), make sure that you have a general grasp of immigration and naturalization laws. Though most large companies have in-house procedures for managing the visa process, smaller companies may not be as prepared or equipped to deal with this. It’s in your interest to explain things. You can obtain information through Web research or at career centers. 62

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Has Anybody Seen My Weekend? IT projects have a tendency to run behind schedule, often because the original schedule was never that realistic to begin with. However, developers are the ones who have to make up the difference. When deadlines come, days stretch far into evenings, and weekends become nothing more than additional work opportunities.

at a glance

the role

the companies

on the job

the workplace

getting hired

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

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Getting Hired

6

The Recruiting Process................... 66 Skills and Education....................... 67 Certification................................... 67 Work Samples and Portfolios......... 69 Interviewing Tips........................... 70 Preparing for Your Interview.......... 70 Grilling Your Interviewer................71 Getting Grilled............................... 72

At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Careers in Information Technology

The Recruiting Process The high-tech industry runs on a cycle of highs and lows. During high periods, employers go to extravagant lengths to recruit new workers. During low periods, job seekers must work hard to get employers’ attention. In today’s competitive job market, you may need to take additional classes or demonstrate outstanding communication or business skills to attract a hirer’s attention. Remember that an interview is a process of mutual review. Both you and the employer want to find the best fit for a position. Don’t be afraid to admit to areas of weakness in your skill set. Companies understand that no one knows everything and are more impressed with honesty than hubris. Following up on interviews is important. You may not be selected for the job you spoke of, but you might be called back for a future opening. Make sure to leave a favorable last impression. The burden is on you to seek out new opportunities. Don’t be afraid to ask friends and associates to refer you or make introductions. Put forth the effort to build and maintain a career network on sites like Linkedin.com. It will come in handy when it’s time to search for a job. Undergraduates Typically, candidates coming straight out of college will find job leads through campus recruiting, and campus job fairs are the first place to look. A list of participating companies is always posted. You should prepare for a fair by selecting and researching the firms that interest you most. Bring several copies of your resume, including an ASCII text version, as an increasing number of companies use online recruiting tools and will want to scan your resume into their system. (Most career centers offer good counseling 66

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on resume writing. Draw on that resource! Also check out Killer Cover Letters and Resumes!, available from www.wetfeet.com.) Though you may get an in-depth interview on the spot, don’t be discouraged if you only speak with a recruiter for a minute. The most important thing is to present yourself and your resume. Keep a list of the companies you approach so that when they call, you’ll remember how they got your name and number. Recent graduates should also target and apply to specific companies on the basis of personal research. Approach potential hirers with a cover letter, resume, and transcript. Letters of recommendation are optional and in some cases almost passé. In general, you should not submit recommendations unless they are specifically requested. This doesn’t mean that you should forget about them. Line up key references—professors or intern and co-op employers.

MBAs There’s a myth perpetuated to MBA grads that the degree qualifies them for management positions. The truth is that even MBAs have to prove themselves to an employer. “I would say in a general sense that an MBA degree is not targeted by people hiring IT professionals,” says one insider. “At the end of the day, the things employers are looking for are technical training, work experience, and on-the-job training.” Still, good business skills are always needed. Take advantage of job fairs, company websites, and trade shows when looking for work. Professional organizations, committees, and clubs can provide networking opportunities, but don’t overcommit. These organizations can be valuable, but they also take up a lot of time. Select only the ones most relevant to your longterm career plans.

Midcareer Candidates Midcareer candidates looking to work in a new capacity don’t necessarily need to change companies. In fact, the best place to start switching fields is often your current workplace. Volunteer for projects that will provide experience in your area of interest, and

at a glance

First-time job seekers as well as seasoned

There’s a broad range of jobs in IT, and not all

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

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the workplace

positions require technical skills. “The best tech support people we had,” one insider says, “had humanities backgrounds.” Technical, communication, and business skills are all important to the field, and four-year college degree programs—not necessarily in computer science—are still one of the best ways to prepare for entering the IT job market. Many two-year community colleges offer IT programs that were designed with input from local businesses. Attending a community college program that has strong ties to the industry for things like internships and curriculum development can also be a good way to prepare for a career in the field. Employers look for relevant skills and experience. A degree in computer science tends to be most important for database developers and software engineers. Certificate programs are more common for support and system administration specialists (see the “Certification” section in chapter 7 for more information). On-the-job experience can substitute for either a degree or a certificate, though for people just entering the job market, a degree is a tremendous advantage. Computer science majors and MBAs in particular

professionals may wonder whether a professional certification is worth the time and cost. Today’s employers and employees generally find that certifications are valuable, though skepticism does exist. Some employers use certifications as a gating factor when hiring. Whether a certificate program is right for you depends on your career goals, the job market, and whether an employer is willing to bear some or all of the cost. A certificate is almost always a prerequisite for a job in information security, and a number of common acronyms appear beside the names of successful security professionals: CCSE (CheckPoint Certified Security Expert), CCSA (Check Point Certified Security Administrator), CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), or SCSE (Symantec Certified Security Engineer). Network and system administrators are also increasingly turning to certification programs like those offered by Microsoft and Red Hat. According to a study conducted by Foote Partners LLC, employees with networking certificates receive higher pay premiums than employees with noncertified networking skills (certified workers received an average 9.2 percent premium compared to a 7.1 percent premium for those with noncertified skills). Employees with vendor certifications from places like Cisco or Novell tend to receive higher

on the job

Skills and Education

Certification

the companies

might consider a minor or double major in a second field. Though not required, this additional credential can be useful, particularly when working in IT for non-IT companies. For example, a biology minor will prove very handy to a software developer working with an insect database at a university research center. Because IT is part of so many industries, a secondary field can be anything that interests you—film, chemistry, history; whatever your interest, it’s likely that it will complement an industry searching for IT workers.

the role

take advantage of internal connections and training opportunities. You may be able to move laterally within your company. Midcareer job seekers should set a realistic objective and timeline for their job search. “Think in terms of two to five years, not an overnight change,” says one manager. “Assess your relevant skills and establish a plan for subsidizing those skills to become competitive in the job market.” You may wish to pursue a second degree or take continuing education classes. Career changers will most likely find work through job fairs, ads, and blind inquiries. Unlike undergraduates, midcareer workers have an existing network of professional contacts. Use it.

At A Glance

Careers in Information Technology

The Role

π campus q&a Beverly Principal Employment Services Stanford University

On the job

the companies

What trends are you seeing among graduates going into IT? The demand has grown a lot the last year. Employers of all sizes are realizing that they have to do a better job structuring their internal communications with an intranet, as well as their ability to network their systems together. We did not have enough engineering students and students with technical backgrounds to go around for everybody.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

getting hired

the workplace

What can students do while they’re in school to make themselves attractive candidates when they reach the job market? One of the reasons employers really clamor to hire Stanford students is that most of the students have such a great combination of skills. Those majoring in technical fields have strong technical skills, but also tend to have strong business and communication skills. For an IT job, there are things like IT administrators,

and those managing the network operations—you’ve got to be able to communicate extremely well with all levels of the company. Students can hone those skills so they’re even better.

at the best kind of price, get it implemented, and get everybody to understand why you got it and how it works. Being able to write and speak clearly and train people are invaluable skills.

What technical skills are most in demand? Knowledge of MySQL servers, Linux, database administration, technical documentation, Web development, setting up intranet sites, and understanding virus and spam filter products.

What are the most common obstacles that get in the way of successfully finding a job? The most successful students are the ones that don’t just have the technical acumen, but the strategic business and operations planning skills. What stands in the way is when you’ve only got part of that equation.

How important are soft skills in this field? If you think about it, when you have an IT position you’re effectively dealing with every single person in the company— that’s starting with whomever is paid the least all the way up to the CEO. You’ve got to be able to communicate at whatever level these people are. In addition to that, you have all the outside vendors you’re interacting with as well, for product information, for demos, for purchasing. It’s a pretty broad exposure kind of job. You’ve got to be able to come up with the best kind of system

compensation than employees with non-vendor certifications (from the Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals, for example). However, insiders say that non-vendor certification is often more helpful than vendor-specific certification to employees just starting out in the field. Certificates are less important for software engineers and database administrators, for whom experience and college credentials are still the most important credential. Those who can point to previous work—even a well-executed school assignment—have a competitive 68

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What other advice do you have for students considering IT as a career? Students who are thinking about it need to figure out why. What do they like to do? Do those skills apply to the IT field? A lot of times, it sounds like a fun thing and a lot of responsibility, but it’s still a demanding job. You go on vacation and you have your pager, your Palm—I don’t think you ever truly get away from that kind of a job.

edge, and a degree in computer science is often a job prerequisite. Education is not a process that ends when you land a job. Part of working in IT is learning new technologies. Since the field is constantly changing and evolving, today’s hot tech skills identified by Dice. com—C++, Java, and Oracle—are just that. Next year, the list of desirable skills will change. However careful you are at selecting your skills, you’ll need to update them and pick up new ones over the course of your career.

aT a glaNCE

more interested in making sure that they can coherently speak to the various technologies used on a project and how they specifically worked together. You can tell very quickly if someone knows what they’re talking about by having them explain how it worked from front to back.”

ThE WOrkPlaCE gETTINg hIrED FOr yOur rEFErENCE

an interview can go a long way toward landing you that great job. But for some positions, employers aren’t going to make a decision until they see physical evidence of your abilities. Th at’s where your portfolio and work samples come into play. Portfolios are one of the best ways to show off your knowledge, so don’t just slap a few samples together. Typically, you’ll want to create these online, and simply include the URL of your materials in a cover letter, with the goal of giving the viewer an overview of what you’ve done and what you can do for them as an employee. Th e kind of job you are seeking will determine the type of portfolio you’ll need, if any. Some positions, like QA engineer, won’t require a portfolio at all. A good way to decide whether you would benefi t from having a portfolio for the job you’re seeking is to ask yourself: Does the position play a role in producing a visually rich product? If you’re designing Web pages or user interfaces, the answer is yes. Th e same applies

While examples of previous work can be important for some positions, don’t expect them to speak for you. You’re the one being interviewed. As one insider puts it, “Writing a program is often a team effort, so it’s hard to know which part of it a candidate actually produced. I am much

ON ThE JOb

Your resume and how you present yourself in

π sPEak uP!

ThE COmPaNIEs

work samples and portfolIos

to training fi elds, where instructional materials you’ve helped create can present a clearer picture of who you are and the abilities you want to put to work. What should you include? Find a couple of easily accessible examples of the work you’ve done. If you’ve built websites, add them to a CD with browser software on it. Introduce the pages with a Web page that explains your contribution to the project. If you designed a product’s interface, you can use screenshots of the interface with descriptions that reveal your work and the thinking behind the design.

ThE rOlE

Continuing education can take many forms: classes, conferences, certifi cate programs, or independent research. Books, periodicals, and online discussions and boards are very useful, and most technologies have an online community of users. “I go to Jguru.com to keep on top of things,” one insider says. “People post new stuff there all the time.” For those who prefer the printed page, your reference library will continue to grow (and become dated). O’Reilly publishes a very highly regarded line of books that covers the gamut of information technologies. Ultimately, whether you choose to pursue a certifi cation is less important than keeping abreast of technologies—and, of course, churning out work that proves you know your stuff .

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Careers in Information Technology

Interviewing Tips 1. Your first interview will likely be over the telephone. This is not a particularly comfortable way to meet future employers, but it’s the reality of the recruiting process. Find a comfortable chair, keep a copy of your resume and cover letter in front of you for reference, and pretend you’re sitting in the room with the interviewer. 2. Know your career aspirations. Be prepared to talk about what you want to do and why. Frame your professional and academic background in light of your interest in the position. Make sure to mention key accomplishments. 3. Research the organization. Though a large part of the interview will be about you, a significant part will also be about the company. You should know the major products it makes, the corporate structure, any parent or subsidiary companies, who the executives are, how the company has been doing in its market niche, and more. Being well informed about the company indicates your sincere interest in working there. 4. Be prepared to explain why you want to work for this company as opposed to others. “It’s just the most awesome” doesn’t cut it. Is there a particular project that entices you? Does the company allow individual innovation, as Bell Labs does? Tip: Other bad answers include those having to do with location (“It’s the closest”), salary (“Well, I hear you guys pay the most”), or rumors. 5. Ask questions that will clarify your understanding of the job, the goals of the department, and the direction of the company. 6. Ask about the specifics involved in the hiring process, what the next steps might be, and so on. 70

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Preparing for Your Interview In today’s competitive market, a call for a job

interview is a welcome event. Only a small fraction of applicants are interviewed, and if you receive a call to come in and talk, you should feel good about the fact that your resume has caught the attention of a potential employer. Usually the HR manager will tell you what to bring and expect at the interview: how long it will last, whether you will be expected to take a skill test, and how many people you will meet with. In addition, you should always arrive to the interview with hard copies of your resume. Keep in mind that an interview is a time to “sell” yourself, and to do so, you will need to demonstrate the full extent of your work. Software engineers and Web designers and developers should always have a website or files they can point to so that the interviewers may review the materials at their leisure. URLs may seem easier to pass along, but remember that Web sites change and go down, and the page an interviewer pulls up may not resemble the one you worked on two years ago. The best work samples are ones for which you can clearly describe your contribution. For Web developers and designers, samples should consist of pages that you built or designed rather than maintained. Technical writers should bring hard copies of several samples of work, even if the pages are available online.

INSIDER SCOOP “The thing that was most attractive to me on a resume was pieces of work you could point to and prove you built and understood.” Hirers rarely ask job applicants to take a written skills test. Usually, companies will require certification (in Java or Linux, for example), or a BA or AA in a related area. However, some companies, such as

at a glance

What distinguishes your company from its competitors? (Note: Even better, name specific competitors.)

•

What is the company’s policy toward continuing education? Is there a tuition reimbursement program?

Grilling Your Interviewer

•

How would you describe the company culture?

Be prepared to both ask and answer questions

Medium •

What do you like most about working for this company? What keeps you here?

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Is there anything you dislike about this company?

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What kind of person succeeds at this company?

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What new products or services does the company plan to add in the next year?

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What is the department head’s leadership style?

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Is the company currently experiencing any difficulties? What are they?

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What problems might I expect to encounter?

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Has the company laid anyone off in the past two years for budgetary reasons?

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Would it be okay to call you next week to check in?

Rare •

How large is the team I’d be working with? How do team members communicate?

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What project would I work on first, and what would my role in the project be?

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What would you expect from me in the first three months? Six months? Year?

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What are the goals of this department?

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How do you see this department (and company) changing over the next five years?

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Are employees reviewed on a regular (annual or semiannual) basis? What qualities are evaluated?

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How stable is the company financially? At what point, if any, will additional financing be required?

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What are the possibilities for advancement with this position?

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How many women and minorities are there in management positions?

getting hired

Why is the position now vacant?

the workplace

•

on the job

at your interview. We’ve listed some good general questions here and categorized them by their level of aggression. Those in the “Rare” section are meant to be innocuous, while the “Well-Done” questions will put fire under your interviewer’s feet. Not all of the questions may be appropriate to your situation. It’s a good idea to arrive at an interview prepared with questions specific to the company.

the companies

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the role

Microsoft, are well known for asking applicants to answer an abstract software design question or engage in a technical discussion about a project or system during the interview. The best way to prepare for this type of test is to arrive well rested. Make sure to get a good night’s sleep before every interview.

Well Done

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getting hired

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•

Have there been instances of sexual harassment in the workplace? If so, how has the company responded?

•

What skills do you have that will benefit our company?

•

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

Getting Grilled

•

Describe a situation in which your technical expertise made a significant difference.

•

What was the last book you read?

In addition to preparing questions for your

•

What skills would you most like to improve?

•

What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?

•

Describe a time when you went above and beyond what was expected of you.

•

How do you prioritize tasks?

•

Describe a time when you overcame a major obstacle. How did you go about it?

•

What are your salary requirements?

interviewer, you should arrive at your interview prepared to answer questions about yourself. Take a few minutes to reflect on your past work, internship, and educational experiences. Though no one can predict exactly what an interviewer will ask, knowing what you’ve liked and disliked (and why) along with what you’ve accomplished and learned from previous experience will help you in any interview situation. We’ve listed some common questions that you should be prepared to answer. • Why do you want to work for us? •

What do you know about our company?

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Why did you choose your college major?

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What were your responsibilities at your previous position?

•

Why did you leave your previous job?

•

Tell me about a time you made a mistake and learned from it.

•

What type of work environment do you like?

•

What qualities do you look for in a manager?

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How do you handle stress?

•

Where do you expect your career to be in five years? In ten?

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IT Lingo........................................ 76 Recommended Reading................. 77 Job Boards...................................... 78 Certification................................... 78

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IT Lingo Sling IT verbiage like a pro by consulting the glossary below. For a more expansive list, check out NetLingo.com.

On the job

the companies

Blamestorming Did something go wrong? Who’s responsible? Blamestorming involves two or more people engaged in a discussion devoted to determining who’s to blame.

Bloatware Though software will never eat three desserts, it can still bloat. Software applications with excessive (and often useless) features are known as bloatware (or fatware).

Dead tree edition A hard (also known as “paper”) copy of a report.

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

getting hired

the workplace

Ego surfing Searching the Internet for one’s own name.

I18n Why say “internationalization” when you can sound hip and abbreviate it as I18n? “I” and “N” are the first and last letters of internationalization, and “18” refers to the 18 letters in between. Making software that can display characters in users’ native languages or output numbers and dates in a way that obeys cultural customs are examples of i18n issues.

KISS If you work around IT people long enough, you’re bound to hear this acronym. It’s short for, “Keep it simple, stupid.”

Programmer’s butt It’s a well-known fact that programmers spend long hours in front of the computer, often with a bag of chips or a slice of pizza. If you go into programming, beware! Programmer’s butt is thought to be a prevalent condition. 76

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PEBCAK Short for, “Problem exists between chair and keyboard.” A favorite among tech support workers. Closely related to “code 18,” a shorthand referring to a problem that sits 18 inches from the computer screen.

Slashdot effect Drawing its name from the slashdot.org website (which bills itself as “News for nerds. stuff that matters.”), this term refers to the tremendous amount of traffic a website receives after a positive news article or review is published about it.

SOAP Short for the “Simple Object Access Protocol,” a protocol that enables Web applications to exchange information in a standard way. Many people think that SOAP will revolutionize the way in which applications work together.

Team player Though this term may have a positive connotation in many work environments, be wary of being pegged as a “team player” in the IT world. Sardonic engineers often use “team player” to refer to a spineless colleague who says “yes” to every request and demand. “Team player” is also fondly, though perhaps pejoratively, used when referring to the bright-eyed employee who arrives early and puts on a large pot of coffee.

Vaporware If you’ve read about a piece of software or hardware but can’t find it for sale anywhere, you may have found a piece of vaporware. Usually, vaporware has been well advertised for months; however, despite the optimistic marketing, the product isn’t available anywhere.

WebDAV Short for “Web distributed authoring and versioning.” A set of hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) extensions that facilitate collaborative editing and file management over the Internet.

at a glance

Word-of-mouse Gossip circulated via email.

Zombie A term applied to a website that is accessible but no longer updated. Also called a “ghost site.”

Peachpit Books www.peachpit.com Focusing more on multimedia design, Web design, the Mac, and servers, Peachpit puts out a range of useful books, from the Visual QuickStart guides to thick reference works.

Dr. Dobb’s Journal

Boxes and Arrows

Slashdot

www.boxesandarrows.com A peer-written online journal, and a great place to learn about best practices related to design, including information architecture, graphic design, and interaction design.

www.slashdot.org As one insider says, “Slashdot is the most significant online community for IT workers on the Internet.” It features discussions of new software, hardware, and politics that relate to IT. You’ll also find interviews with major IT pundits and discussions of techniques and tools of the trade. Visitors also discuss IT-related issues like job availability and how to deal with clients.

Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction Steve C. McConnell (Microsoft Press, 1993) Believed by many to be the best practical guide to writing commercial software, this is an industry classic. Examples are provided in C, Pascal, Basic, Fortran, and Ada, but the focus is on successful programming techniques.

Information Technology Association of America www.itaa.org The ITAA website provides information about the IT industry, its issues, association programs, publications, meetings, seminars, and links to related websites.

www.oreilly.com O’Reilly produces one of the definitive lines of books that teach, in detail, all the ins and outs of the software WETFEET INSIDER GUIDE

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O’Reilly Books

www.informationweek.com This weekly newspaper focuses on what’s going on in computing, with an emphasis on emerging trends.

getting hired

InformationWeek

the workplace

Recommended Reading

on the job

www.ddj.com DDJ has been around since 1976. Authors are primarily IT professionals who want to revise proposed standards, explore new technologies, argue over programming style, and share tricks of the trade.

the companies

Short for “Web Services Description Language.” WSDL is written in XML and is an XML document. It’s used to describe and locate networked XML-based services (for example, online business), and it is part of the UDDI (“Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration”) effort to create a platform-independent, open framework for describing, discovering, and integrating business services using the Internet.

the role

WSDL

world from network tuning to Perl coding to open source issues. The company also runs conferences every year on a variety of topics.

At A Glance The Role the companies On the job the workplace getting hired FOR YOUR REFERENCE

Careers in Information Technology

Job Boards

Certification

Dice

An increasing number of colleges and

www.dice.com A large job board exclusively for tech job seekers and hirers. Dice is one of the first places to look for listings, and it’s free for job seekers.

Craigslist www.craigslist.org Though Craigslist originated in the Bay Area, it now hosts boards in towns, cities, and regions all over North America, with local job listings for each. Thinking of moving abroad? Craigslist now has listings in Latin America, Europe and the U.K., Africa, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Free for job seekers.

CareerBuilder www.careerbuilder.com A comprehensive job board, with options to search by industry, company, or region. There are local versions in the U.K., Canada, and India, and the U.S. site is available in Spanish. Free for job seekers.

Monster www.monster.com One of the first well-known job boards, Monster remains a good resource for job seekers. Post a resume, get career advice, or troll through the job listings. Free for job seekers.

ITtoolbox Staffing www.staffing.ittoolbox.com Only for information technology job seekers and hirers. To search job postings, users must post a resume on the site.

Yahoo HotJobs hotjobs.yahoo.com This job board also has links to a great set of salary wizards and other resources. 78

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universities now offer certificate programs in information technology, often through extension and even online programs. Many vendors also offer product-specific certification directly. Though certification is by no means a requirement for many IT jobs, it can be helpful to have credentials in a tight job market. Many companies will also pay for employees’ certification programs.

Check Point Certification www.checkpoint.com/services/education/ certification For those interested in pursuing a career in network security, Check Point certificates are useful credentials, and allow access to the Certified Professionals Only part of the site.

Cisco Certification www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/le3/learning_ certification_overview.html Cisco offers three levels of certification (associate, professional, and expert) in four areas: network installation and support, network engineering and design, communications and services, and network security.

(ISC)2 Certification www.isc2.org These certifications for information security professionals include the Certified Information Systems Security Professional with various concentrations (such as Information Systems Security Architecture Professional and Information Systems Security Management Professional); the Certification and Accreditation Professional; and the Systems Security Certified Practitioner.

at a glance

Novell Certification

certification.comptia.org This IT industry association offers certifications in networking, PC hardware, servers, Internet, e-business, convergence, security, and more.

www.novell.com/training/certinfo Novell offers a continuing certification program. Interested professionals can study to be a Novell Certified Engineer or Administrator. The company offers short classes (usually just a few days), study materials, and practice exams, all of which can be found on the Novell training site.

HP Certification

IBM Certification www-03.ibm.com/certify/index.shtml IBM offers dozens of certificates, from e-business to XML, all focused on IBM technology.

www.redhat.com/training Red Hat, which is famous for its flavor of Linux and open source technology, offers both a Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT) and a Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) course of study. The exam is a performance-based test on live equipment.

RSA Certification www.rsasecurity.com/node.asp?id=1261 Like Symantec and Check Point, RSA offers certificates in security. Recertification is required for every major product release and for certain point releases that RSA deems sufficiently important.

Sun Certification www.sun.com/training/certification Sun offers a number of certifications in Java and the Solaris operating environment. Certification is valid for two years.

Symantec Certification www.symantec.com/education/certification Symantec offers four levels of certification in securityrelated areas. Applicants must already know TCP/IP and be proficient with at least one operating system.

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www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/default.asp More than 2 million people have a Microsoft certification of some kind. Currently, the most popular certification is an MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional). Interested professionals must pass an exam to obtain a certificate. The online training center offers a skill assessment tool and information about Microsoft training options.

Red Hat Certification

getting hired

Microsoft Certification

www.oracle.com/education/certification Oracle offers certification programs for database administrators, application developers, and Web application server administrators.

the workplace

www.iccp.org This organization offers CCP (Certified Computing Professional) and ACP (Associate Computing Profession) certification. ICCP is not a training institution. Although ICCP partners with other groups to offer relevant courses, it’s primarily a certifying organization. Interested professionals must take and pass a series of exams (costing between $300 and $600 in total) to receive a credential. According to ICCP literature, nearly 55,000 technology professionals have participated in its certifying program.

Oracle Certification

on the job

Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals

the companies

www.hp.com/certification Certificate programs teach IT professionals how to plan, deploy, support, and service HP technology and solutions.

the role

CompTIA Certification

At A Glance

Careers in Information Technology

FOR YOUR REFERENCE

getting hired

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On the job

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The Role

WETFEET INSIDER GUIDES series Ace Your Case - Consulting Interviews Ace Your Case® I: Consulting Interviews, 3rd ed. Ace Your Case® II: Mastering the Case Interview Ace Your Case® III: Market-Sizing Questions Ace Your Case® IV: Business Strategy Questions Ace Your Case® V: Business Operations Questions Interviewing Ace Your Interview! Beat the Street®: Investment Banking Interviews Beat the Street® II: I-Banking Interview Practice Guide The Wharton MBA Case Interview Study Guide: Volume I The Wharton MBA Case Interview Study Guide: Volume II Resumes & Cover Letters Killer Consulting Resumes Killer Cover Letters & Resumes Killer Investment Banking Resumes Job Hunting Getting Your Ideal Internship Job Hunting A to Z: Landing the Job You Want Job Hunting in New York City Job Hunting in San Francisco Financial Services Careers 25 Top Financial Services Firms Careers in Accounting Careers in Asset Management and Retail Brokerage Careers in Investment Banking Careers in Venture Capital Financial Services Companies Deutsche Bank Goldman Sachs Group JPMorgan Chase & Co. Merrill Lynch & Co. Morgan Stanley UBS AG INTERNATIONAL CAREERS 25 Top Global Leaders The International MBA Student’s Guide to the U.S. Job Search

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Consulting Careers 25 Top Consulting Firms Careers in Management Consulting Careers in Specialized Consulting: Information Technology Consulting for PhDs, Lawyers, and Doctors Consulting Companies Accenture Bain & Company Booz Allen Hamilton Boston Consulting Group Deloitte Consulting McKinsey & Company Career Management Be Your Own Boss Changing Course, Changing Careers Finding the Right Career Path Negotiating Your Salary and Perks Networking Works! Green Careers Survival Guide for Women in Business Industries and Careers: General Industries and Careers for Engineers Industries and Careers for MBAs Industries and Careers for Undergraduates Million-Dollar Careers Industries and Careers: Specific Careers in Advertising and Public Relations Careers in Pharmaceuticals Careers in Brand Management Careers in Consumer Products Careers in Entertainment and Sports Careers in Health Care Careers in Human Resources Careers in Information Technology Careers in Marketing Careers in Nonprofits and Government Agencies Careers in Real Estate Careers in Retail Careers in Sales Careers in Supply Chain Management

care, education, government, and business services, or just about any organization that has a website or is required to exchange or store information. Graduates and career changers can find a wide array of exciting opportunities that offer challenging, stable, and lucrative careers— though competition for the best jobs can be stiff.

Illustration by mckibillo

>>Opportunities in IT exist across a broad range of industries—finance, health

TURN TO THIS WETFEET INSIDER GUIDE TO EXPLORE ★ CURRENT TRENDS AFFECTING THE FIELD AND THEIR IMPACT ON JOB SEEKERS

★ DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF MAIN IT FUNCTIONS

★ WHERE IT PROFESSIONALS CAN FIND WORK OUTSIDE OF THE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY

★ A TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING, A UI DESIGNER, A TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANT, AND MORE

★ PROFILES OF TOP IT EMPLOYERS THAT OFFER THE MOST OPPORTUNITIES TO TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS

★ THE LIFESTYLE, HOURS, AND COMPENSATION YOU CAN EXPECT FROM AN IT CAREER

WetFeet has earned a strong reputation among college graduates and career professionals for its series of highly credible, no-holds-barred Insider Guides. WetFeet’s investigative writers get behind the annual reports and corporate PR to tell the real story of what it’s like to work at specific companies and in different industries. www.WetFeet.com

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