On Career Paths
Programmers are the archetypal bay area tech workers, but there is actually a lot more going on. Within programming, there are different branches. Common examples are of "developers," who often program for computers and other physical devices, and "web developers," who program for the internet and various websites. Though now there are many newer branches such as game development, mobile development (yes, for your phone), and enterprise development (because businesses require more efficient and durable software/programs than the common consumer). Each branch of development requires slightly different skill sets, mostly rooted in the various or specific programming languages that should be known. For example, a web developer will want to know python, java script, ruby, and maybe some PHP while a mobile developer will want to know C#, pronounced "C Sharp," and some Swift. So in order to be immersed in these markets, one will want to get familiar with various programming languages and learn about programming logic. This can be achieved a variety of ways. While some people go take programming classes in their local community college, there are also others who get degrees in Computer Science, which has the perk of reducing the professional "ceiling" when certain positions require specific majors and qualifications. However, there are also a myriad of programmers who just learn for themselves from books, via YouTube videos, or just online. Although this will not always grant a specific degree or certificate, this is a great way to get in to programming, especially if one does not have much free time as one can go at their own pace. Lastly, a theoretical knowledge will often limit how one can get a career in programming. It comes down to projects and work experience to distinguish interview candidates. For this reason, many professionals keep an online portfolio exhibiting their projects or include an additional section in their resume listing the various projects they have worked on.
Believe it or not, the tech industry consists of more than just programmers, no matter how iconic the image of a programmer coding in a hipster coffee shop may be. For example, there are certain companies that must deal with huge quantities of data in various databases. Think about the health industry and how much patient information must be kept track of. Not only must the databases stay maintained, but they must be well optimized too. This makes space for that Database Administrator. Now let's imagine that all of the hospital network's patient information is super confidential and must protected- introduce cyber security specialists. Cyber security specialists able to protect information because of their knowledge of hacking (similar to how doctors are able to both end life and save lives). It is assumed that all of that data (protected by cyber security specialists) must be stored somewhere. Specifically, these data are stored on physical servers which also must be continually updated and maintained. After all, certain pieces of hardware are expected to fail (eventually) and impact of these failures typically should be minimized. The System Administrator typically keeps the servers running smoothly (which typically do not run on Windows or Mac OS X, but another operating system called Linux). Lastly, all of the servers, devices that link with the servers, and administrators need to be able to interact and stay connected. The solution is through networking, a mixture of both private networks (inaccessible via the public internet) and connections to the Internet. The Network Engineer keeps track of all of the networks and keeps them running. This involves tampering and adjusting the settings for numerous routers and range extenders that are strategically placed throughout the physical work space as well as many other tedious tasks.
Though I may have used the word "lastly" above, there are still many new positions that are constantly being created. These include "data algorithms, machine learning, social networking, predictive analytics, big data storage and analytics (like my contact V who works with Hitachi Data Systems), mobile marketing" and many more. That being said, none of those positions even include the numerous non-technical positions that must be in any company. After all, tech companies still have payroll departments, human resources, public relations, advertising, and many other professions involved. To be quite frank, one doesn't even need to be a technological wizard to be in the tech industry. Though there are definitely numerous opportunities there.
Various Authors. "What Are Different Career Options If I Am Interested In Computers?". Career Village. N.p., 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2016. <https://www.careervillage.org/questions/1547/what-are-different-career-options-if-i-am-interested-in-computers>.
No comments:
Post a Comment