GoldMine Training

Life in Computing: Overview

The opportunities in the Information Technology sector are high at present, with the need for advanced skills increasing on a regular basis.

Typical first jobs include graduate trainee and entry-level positions as programmers, web developers, help-desk support, and consultants. First roles are often as a junior member of a project team, with progression depending on individual motivation and determination.

To advance in a computing career training will be essential. Technology is the future and new programmes appear everyday. A career in the IT sector requires an ability to keep up to date with the current technological advances. It is highly recommended your training is topped up on a regular basis.

Almost all businesses and organisations use IT. Many large organisations have their own in-house IT departments, and many others hire external firms to provide advice and support. For this reason, entry-level positions exist in the IT industry, with consultancies and IT service providers, in commerce, especially in finance and retail, and in the public sector. Key sectors for hardware and software development are e-commerce, telecoms, aerospace and defence.

Expected Salary

IT skills will always be in high demand. The salaries offered can reflect this:

• £20,000 Trainee
• £40,000 Senior
• £60,000+ Director / with additional skills

Training

Computing Skills may have been acquired in a degree or similar training. Technical aspects of your degree are sought-after skills in the workplace. You will need to top up on these skills and additional skills will make progression easier. Employers will be interested in not only the practical skills, but also the non-technical transferable skills. Other useful skills include:

• Programming languages
• Hardware architecture and construction
• Time management
• Network design and engineering
• Software engineering
• Multimedia design
• Software tools and packages
• Presentation skills
• Leadership skills

The normal minimum entry requirements are:

There are no minimum requirements, however, a computing degree would clearly be useful (for more opportunity of employment).

• Knowledge of new programmes are beneficial
• Good english language
• It is important to keep up to date with new technology and take advantage of any training courses offered

Click here for Computing Courses

Underoak lists many short courses to aid you in your career progression. These may be funded individually or through your company (please check the prices with the trainer, as sometimes they often offer a lower price for self funded training). To search these courses, simply type the relevant key words and click on ‘request information for free’ to send your enquiry direct to the trainer.

Other soft skills may be useful, such as assertiveness or customer service, first aid and health and safety.

Related Careers

As mentioned above, people tend to study to a degree level. This allows a large window of opportunity to advance in your career, with additional training and development.

This is a particularly competitive sector. IT skills are always in high demand.

Further career options:

• Database administrator
• Information systems manager
• Technical support officer (IT)
• Applications developer
• IT consultant
• Multimedia programmer/web designer
• Network engineer
• Software engineer
• Systems/business analyst
• IT sales professional
• IT trainer
• Technical author
• software engineer
• Computer/IT consultant
• Computer programmer
• Systems analyst
• Computer analyst/programmer

Useful Links

Core Skills

Specific skills which you may develop from a career in computing may include:

• Understanding the technical language and practices of Information Technology
• Confidence with customers and colleagues
• Communication skills and leadership
• Leadership skills, business awareness and an understanding of how IT relates to strategic decisions

Job Sites

Average working hours per week

Job Spotlight

Database Administrator

The Role

Database administrators are responsible for all details held on a database, for general use within the company. This role comes with a large amount of responsibility because the database will often be used by more than one team in the company, and small mistakes can cause large problems. It is essential for database administrators to have an eye for detail.

Often the database will hold personal details for staff or members, and the information may be used to contact potential clients etc. It must be regularly kept up to date to ensure maximum performance. Because of the responsibility related to controlling a database, the salaries can be competitive.

Salary:

£22,000 - £26,000 - starting salary

£30,000 - £35,000 - with 2 years experience.

Experience:

Most database training is on the job, with additional short, internal or external courses as appropriate. Like many career paths in IT, progress will be helped by taking additional courses.

To ensure that you are up to speed with software developments, most of the training will be technical. It is essential to also gain 'soft' skills such as communication, time management and customer service skills. To understand user needs, database administrators (DBAs) must be able to work in multidisciplinary teams and additional training may well be given in this area too.

Formal training is more likely in larger companies than in small ones, where on-the-job training is the norm and the provision of technical manuals, CD-ROMs and web-based programmes for self-study is typical.

Professional qualifications, such as those provided by the British Computer Society (BCS) or the Institute for the Management of Information Systems (IMIS) and the SFIA Foundation (Skills Framework for the Information Age), supported by the key professional bodies, provide a means for IT professionals to monitor and develop their skills.

Career Development

International employers may offer opportunities for secondment abroad. Once an experienced IT professional, you may be able to work freelance or as a contractor. Charities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) may have opportunities for teaching IT, whether as a volunteer or as a paid employer, both in the UK and overseas. Many experienced IT professionals start their own businesses.