Advancement
Computer professionals are employed in a variety of positions in organizations.
How these positions are organized or how many specialized positions exist depends on the philosophy and size of the organization, the technological orientation of the company, and the industry norms. More opportunities for advancement as well as employment rest with the larger organizations. Many have professional training facilities available to entry-level personnel. Some firms have dual-career ladders, which provide training in both management and technical skills. There are more position openings to which you can advance in a larger firm, and many firms promote from within. On the other hand, small firms often offer a wider variety of work experiences in one position, a greater possibility of entering a management position early in one's career, and continued involvement in technical areas even though a move into management is made. This last advantage is worth considering. Jumping too quickly into management and leaving the technical front could render one's knowledge obsolete in a short time because of continuous technological advancement. This poses the greatest dilemma for IS managers, since mobility is greatly limited for those who fail to keep abreast of the changes.
Salaries
A number of factors affect salaries of computer professionals. Salaries vary with company size, industry, and geography. In addition, they may be affected by installation size and level of technological sophistication. As an installation becomes more sophisticated with more on-line systems, greater use of telecommunications technology, and more complex operating systems, salaries tend to be higher. A small state-of-the-art shop may offer salaries closer to the high salary range typically offered by large installations. Usually the larger the information systems budget, the higher the salaries of the computer professionals. Also, the higher the company revenues, the higher the salaries are. Two other factors affect the salary picture--industry and geography--but these vary somewhat with each position. Technology-oriented industries usually offer higher salaries to individuals in technical areas. Geography affects salaries; the highest salaries are offered in cities and areas of the country where the cost of living differences are highest.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) keeps track of salary offers to recent college graduates.
In general, College of Business graduates with majors in information systems (IS) earn the highest salaries of any business major. Salary offers depend on the reputation of the university program. For example, information systems graduates from the College of Business at the University of Texas in Austin 15 years ago received offers ranging from $33,000 to $44,000, averaging $38,700. One student received an offer of $60,000 from a consulting firm because he had completed two intern-ships related to the firm's business.
Salaries vary considerably depending on skills. Those with network expertise earn in excess of 10 percent over the standard salary for that skill.
Salary is not the only factor important to computer professionals. It may not be the most important factor in many cases. Such factors as the challenge of being on the cutting edge, the opportunity to use new technology, a humanistic managerial style, and promotion from within with no barriers all have great appeal. Training and career development are vital to information professionals if they are to stay in touch technically and advance. In past years, when the programmer shortage was greatest, employers actually chose not to provide much training, believing that the more highly trained their individuals, the more likely it was that they would be hired away by other firms. This was an ineffective tactic because of the high growth need of computer professionals, who were then forced to change jobs to keep current. Both individuals who remained in low-growth positions and their employers now realize how lack of training reduces productivity.
Not surprisingly, the industry offering the highest salaries to computer professionals is the computer industry. Salary only partially explains the lure of the computer industry. Computer vendors are able to attract qualified people because of excellent benefit packages, training programs, and continued industry growth forecasts. Many IS managers feel that computer vendors offer greater job security. Loss of jobs through company adoption of new technologies or mergers, which is occurring across all industries, has become a large threat to many IS managers. In addition, one of the fastest ways to achieve high salary status is through computer sales.
SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Publications
Numerous resources are available to those interested in computer careers including computer periodicals, journals, and professional organizations. Computer periodicals and journals are excellent sources of general information. They differ in degree of technical depth. Some are written more for information managers and are more applications-oriented such as Datamation and Info systems. Others are written for those in engineering and electronics such as Computer Design and Solid State Technology. Hundreds of periodicals are published today in the area of computer technology and its applications. To see this impressive list, one can find Ulrich's International Periodicals Directory in the reference section of the library. It is published annually by R. R. Bowker Company, New York and London.
A good many computer periodicals can be found in public and university libraries. The following is a short list of well-known periodicals and the group of computer professionals for whom they are written. Much of the information was obtained from these publications.
Client Server News--information professionals
Computer Graphics World--computer graphics professionals
Computers and Security--computer security professionals
Computer world--everyone interested in computers
Data Communications--computer network professionals
Datamation--information processing professionals
Information Week--information processing professionals
Information Systems Management--managers and consultants
Info World--personal computer users and suppliers
Journal of Systems and Software--systems analysts and programmers
LAN Product News--network professionals
Office--information and word processing professionals
PC Magazine--personal computer users
Telecommunications Reports--telecommunications specialists
Organizations
A tremendous amount of current information is disseminated through professional organizations, which encourage students to participate by offering student memberships at greatly reduced rates. The following list of associations provides sources of information in computer fields for both prospective and established computer professionals over a wide range of interest areas:
American Association for Artificial Intelligence, CA 94025
American Society for Information Science,MD 20910-3602
(Newsletter of career information and job openings)
Association of Computer Professionals, NY 11803
Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY 10036-5701 (resume data bank for members)
Association for Information and Image Management, MD 20910
Association of Independent Information Professionals CA 94516
Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) Highway Park Ridge, IL 60068
Association for Systems Management Cleveland, OH 44138-0370
Association for Women in Computing San Francisco, CA 94104
Independent Computer Consultants Association, St. Louis, Missouri 63123
Information Industry Association, Washington, DC 20001
Information Systems Association, Lake Forest, IL 60045
Information Technology Association of America, Arlington, VA 22209
Society for Computer Simulation International, San Diego, CA 92117-7900
Society for Information Management, Chicago, IL 60611-4267
Telecommunications Industry Association, Washington, DC 20006-1813
Women in Information Processing, Washington, DC 20016
Various World Wide Web sites such as the Network Professionals Association, which provides information regarding certification; Project Net, which provides information for information systems project managers; Job Web, maintained by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which offers a job search to those with from one to three years experience; and Work, which provides a general job search site, can be accessed.
A number of books have been written on computer careers. They provide additional in-depth information. Check your college library or career information center.
