INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Job Roles

* Data analyst
What they do
* work for consultancies, software houses and end-user companies in a variety of sectors
* discuss information or business intelligence needs with internal staff and/or external clients
* collect and collate appropriate data for use in databases and conduct related research
* generate reports using IT/database systems and assist in their analysis; in marketing support roles, prepare and make presentations
* monitor and maintain the quality of database systems and secure access and use
* assist in development and upgrading of database systems and analytical techniques.
Key skills
* ability to analyse and think logically
* written and verbal communication skills
* ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
* ability to work to deadlines
* numerical ability
* business awareness
* likely to need some knowledge of database systems.

Training
Entry is likely to be through broad training provided by large organisations, or initial role in technical or marketing support or database administration or even software development.
Training will be needed in database and data warehousing systems and techniques such as ORACLE and SQL. On-the-job experience in project teams, followed by more responsibility in teams and analysis, leading to more senior roles and project leadership.
* IT sales staff
What they do
* work for manufacturers, service companies or software houses
* take responsibility for particular products and/or the accounts of certain customers
* make presentations and demonstrations (sometimes with technical staff) to potential customers
* continue contact with customers, and answer queries before sale is made
* communicate details of order to other departments when sale is agreed
* liaise with marketing department to find new customers, and report back on concerns of current customers to improve products
* keep current customers informed of new developments.
Key skills
* strong communication and presentation skills
* interpersonal skills, including persuasiveness and sensitivity
* business sense and drive
* flexibility, mobility and numeracy.
Training
Likely to be mainly on the job (working initially in support of other sales staff) along with short courses on product awareness, sales and personal skills. Some may move into sales after training in more technical roles, particularly if selling to IT specialists.
* Systems manager
What they do
* work in-house, or for a facilities management company, which runs computer facilities for its clients
* maintain working systems in a continuous state of operation, which may involve managing a shift schedule, if the systems are run around the clock
* recruit, train and manage computing staff, from data input clerks and computer operators, to programmers and senior staff
* organise systems maintenance and updating as necessary
* negotiate requirements with customers
* consider the amount of use a system gets, and whether it can cope with it or needs to be enhanced.
Key skills
* general management skills
* ability to plan and organise
* ability to take initiatives based on business awareness
* ability to select, motivate and evaluate staff
* financial and time management skills.
Training
Systems managers usually start as programmers and progress to designers, systems analysts, networkers and section managers, before becoming systems managers. They may progress to managing larger establishments and become data-processing managers or IT directors.
* Programmers
What they do
* work for computer departments of large organisations, software houses and consultants, electronics and software manufacturers
* as systems programmers, they write the software, such as operating systems or ‘low level’ languages close to machine code, which enable the computer to carry out applications written in higher-level languages or pass messages to other equipment
* change established programs to perform slightly different tasks
* find and rectify faults in software
* test programs with trial data to check they work under all circumstances
* prepare documentation describing the operation of software.

Key skills
* ability to analyse and think logically
* attention to detail
* ability to work to deadlines
* written and verbal communication skills
* numeracy skills
* may require knowledge of specific computer systems.
Training
Large firms usually provide some training during the first year, with more later. Smaller companies often expect trainees to learn informally.
* Software engineers
What they do
* work for companies mainly in the telecommunications and electronics sector; the role is the same as that of a programmer, but with more technical and engineering applications
* write codes in a computer language that instructs the computer to carry out the desired task
* use pre-designed systems or ‘tools’ to help in software writing
* adapt established programs, and find and rectify faults
* test programs with trial data to see if they work as intended
* complete documentation describing the operation of software.

Key skills
* ability to analyse and think logically
* teamworking skills
* verbal and written communication skills
* attention to detail
* ability to work to deadlines.
Training
Those entering this career area are commonly expected to have a degree in computing, or in a related area. Large firms usually provide training in the first year, and more later. Smaller companies tend to expect trainees to learn on the job.
* Systems analyst
What they do
* meet with project leader and client to discuss project
* discuss their detailed plans with client’s staff, and establish feasibility
* prepare flow diagrams and decide which parts of the system can be computerised
* assess the hardware required to implement the system (speed, cost, memory size, etc)
* liaise with programmers, allocate sections of software to each one and supervise software production
* consider the changes necessary if the system is found inadequate during testing
* may analyse business systems and consider methods of cost reduction.
Key skills
* ability to analyse and solve problems
* strong interpersonal skills (especially in dealing with clients)
* verbal and written communication skills
* business awareness and time management.
Training
Some employers recruit graduates who have received systems analysis training as part of their degree studies. Most graduates working in software begin as programmers, then become analyst programmers and eventually systems analysts, through on-the-job training.
* Technical / end user support services
What they do
* work for suppliers of software and hardware or in-house departments of end users
* provide technical support to current customers/users
* keep records of calls made and types of problems
* refer problems on, where necessary, to engineers or other specialists
* review products and procedures
* plan improvements
* keep up to date with product developments and advise on appropriate upgrades.
Key skills
* ability to listen
* ability to analyse and solve problems
* attention to detail
* good spoken and written communication skills
* diplomacy
* flexibility.
Training
New entrants will be given training in the technicalities of the products and customer service procedures. In larger organisations, they may spend time in other departments to understand how products are developed and supplied.
Progress may be made into sales, management or more technical software development roles.
* Web / internet service designers
What they do
* work for software houses, specialist web design consultants or in-house for large organisations
* review options and requirements with website owners/clients
* design and plan web pages and links with appropriate multimedia elements
* test design to ensure that they meet clients’ expectations and are user-friendly
* install final version online and liaise with or provide technical support to clients
* keep up to date with latest developments in Web design and evaluation
* propose plans for improvements.
Key skills
* analytical and problem-solving skills
* some knowledge of relevant systems and programming languages, and ability to learn more
* written and verbal communication skills
* good visual imagination and layout skills
* time management
* teamworking skills.
Training
With larger organisations, formal technical training is likely to be available, followed by work as part of a project. Smaller companies will expect graduates to have some knowledge of languages like Java and Visual Basic, as training is likely to be on the job.
The opportunities for setting up your own business are more likely in this field of IT than in any other.