Working in the IT Industry

"I work in IT" This answer to the standard question asked by most people - 'What is your job?' - seems to be becoming increasingly frequent. As an answer it gives the impression of providing ample explanation to the curious enquiry, but in reality claiming to work in IT is a rather bland reply. What exactly does one do in IT?

Information Technology is a vast, ever-changing, evolving subject that is infiltrating our daily lives. If you skim through the classified pages of any newspaper you will find lots and lots of jobs connected to this electronic world. The job titles will leap out at you from the pages and unless you are well-versed in this territory, it tends to become rather confusing. Check out some of the vacancies that are regularly listed on local media - IT Systems Developer, Web Designer, Web Application Developer, Technical Project Manager, Software Developer, Analyst Programmer, IT Lecturer, Application Support Officer, Technical Support Officer, IT Project Leader, Web Analyst, IT Sales Engineer, Configuration Analyst, IT Consultant, Computer Support Engineer and the list goes on. These are all current job titles and the gamut of IT-related opportunities is endless.

This because the IT industry is becoming extremely wide-ranging and encompasses many disciplines including; Application Development, Computer Support, Database Administration, Documentation, Network Support, Systems Analysis, IT Training, IT Support, IT Operations, and Telecom Jobs. That is why simply stating that one works in IT is not only a bland answer but an extremely vague one at that.

The nature of individual jobs varies in character and nature. If you're planning to embark on a career in IT, you need to be aware not only what the job requirements are, but even more important, are the particular job characteristics at play. Many newcomers to the IT arena get misled into believing that any IT job is just like any other job/career and just because it's IT then it can be shoved under one umbrella. In reality each category of IT is a specific in itself, demanding different character inclinations of its workers and providing different job satisfaction levels.

Take the DBA or Data Base Administrator. The duties of such a person are many and differ depending on the job description, corporate requirements and the company's IT policies. They also differ according to the technical features and capabilities of the DBMS or Data Base Management System being administered. A DBA will be called upon to achieve disaster recovery by providing backups and testing these backups regularly. The DBA will also be obliged to carry out regular performance analysis and tuning, and be able to create some database design. Therefore there is a need for a person who is capable of handling crisis and yet be able to work alone for long hours.

The Software Developer belongs to a different breed altogether. This job calls for the ability to face new situations head on and tackle challenges encountered in ever-changing system requirements. Once a project is done, you proceed with new and generally different projects and hence new and different requirements. For this particular field in IT, it is necessary for the software developer to be well versed in programming languages and knowing a variety helps immensely.

Some IT jobs involve a one-to-one relationship with the PC. Others require social contact and software development is a case in point, since work tends to be project based and the software developer cannot work in isolation, but needs to adjust to the requirements and contingencies of the company. This job does not suit people who enjoy working singularly, as team work may be involved and it requires meeting people and going through lengthy discussions to decipher what is needed by the customer or the end user. It means talking to people who are not domain experts and who would not be knowledgeable in IT jargon.

A totally different area is that relating to the System Administrator where the nature of the work is generally routine-based and the system administrator will be probably working alone most of the time.

Take another sphere - the IT Manager - who generally works in a medium to large sized company and is responsible for the smooth and efficient running of all computer departments. He/she may work with systems analysts to improve computer systems, will have to manage databases, organise staff training, arrange computer maintenance and put into place back-up systems in case an IT fault develops. He/she will also be capable of handling crisis management when a break-down in the system occurs. This job calls for an all-rounder. The IT manager will need a very broad knowledge of different IT systems, keeping abreast with up-to-date advances in the technology. He/she will be in charge of a budget, spending money wisely to provide the most suitable technology for the company. This will entail contacts with equipment suppliers, from making the initial enquiries on to carrying out price negotiations and liaising with after-sales services that include regular equipment maintenance and technical support. This post calls not only for proper IT training but also good communications skills as it is a very people-oriented job since there are issues of people management involved.

Then there is the Web Analyst whose job it is to ask 'Why do we have this problem?' Web analysis is a continual improvement process that helps the company team to fully understand a web system through performance. Such person will define the requirements of the system producing the base customer data, check data quality, work in tandem with business goals, design and manage testing, analyse customer behaviour and other related functions. This person is the person who company directors love as he/she will trace where marketing budgets are going astray and provide solutions. He/she will be a thinker, an analyst, a good communicator and one having certain level of business acumen.

Whichever job direction one takes, it is important to realize that the field of information technology is one of constant innovation and that it may mean different things to different people. For instance - a software developer working in a bank will face different problems to a software developer working for a catalogue company. Likewise an IT manager employed in a publication house will have to deal with situations that are completely alien to those faced by an IT manager employed in a hospital.

That's IT for you wide, weird and wonderful.

Watch out for the second article on the world of employment in IT!

Article prepared by Commercial Services Bureau (CSB) Ltd.

Since 1987, CSB Ltd. has been servicing the local and international business community with its range of employment/recruitment related services. It has helped thousands of employees improve their job conditions and careers, and employers obtain the ideal staff for their organisations.