Careers in Computing Randy Connolly Dept. Computer Science & Information Systems Mount Royal College

Why Am I Here? A story in two charts …

A story in two charts …

Increasing Number of IT Jobs

Increasing Number of IT Jobs

What Does it Mean? Lots of jobs

Lots of jobs

Lots and lots of jobs Overall demand for IT professionals has doubled in Canada over the last 18 months… Calgary has shown the greatest increase in full-time IT jobs.

Overall demand for IT professionals has doubled in Canada over the last 18 months…

Calgary has shown the greatest increase in full-time IT jobs.

Jobs, jobs, jobs This is the best time in several decades to get into computing! Easier and easier to find a job in the field Salaries are rising

This is the best time in several decades to get into computing!

Easier and easier to find a job in the field

Salaries are rising

Some recent stats 90% of Computer Science grads have a job in their field within 3 months after graduating Many of those have secured a job offer before graduating For Biology, it takes students an average of 9 months to find work, not necessarily in their field.

90% of Computer Science grads have a job in their field within 3 months after graduating

Many of those have secured a job offer before graduating

For Biology, it takes students an average of 9 months to find work, not necessarily in their field.

However …

Decreasing Supply of Students

What Does it Mean? Lots of jobs, but very few students

Lots of jobs, but very few students

Why is this the case? Perhaps it is due to some misconceptions about computing careers, such as …

Perhaps it is due to some misconceptions about computing careers, such as …

Computing is just for nerds

It’s a solitary career not suited to a people person … or… It will make you go bald!

You’ll spend long dull hours sitting in a cubicle programming in the middle of the night …

Only males go into computing …

These are all misconceptions!

Computing Careers: Taking a hard look at the reality

Not nerds, but young, interesting, and with money to spend

Computing careers are social careers

You’ll rarely be alone in a cubicle

Types of Computing Careers

Computer Programmer Analyzes user specifications and requirements. Encodes, tests, debugs and documents programs on large-scale, complex projects. Revises and updates programs and documentation as required. Writes, tests and maintains programs Conceives, designs and tests logical structures for solving problems by computer. 2008 average national salary was over $62000 a year. Experienced developers can earn over $100000

Analyzes user specifications and requirements.

Encodes, tests, debugs and documents programs on large-scale, complex projects.

Revises and updates programs and documentation as required.

Writes, tests and maintains programs

Conceives, designs and tests logical structures for solving problems by computer.

2008 average national salary was over $62000 a year.

Experienced developers can earn over $100000

Web Developer Responsible for programming Web site application code, page links and content links. Designs, develops and implements software packages for Web sites. Troubleshoots, debugs and implements software code. Designs, builds and manages Web sites. The average national salary was over $57000 a year.

Responsible for programming Web site application code, page links and content links.

Designs, develops and implements software packages for Web sites.

Troubleshoots, debugs and implements software code.

Designs, builds and manages Web sites.

The average national salary was over $57000 a year.

Researches business systems, operations and data needs to assist in the development of automated systems to solve business problems. Analyzes, evaluates and modifies existing or proposed systems and related devices. May design, encode, test and debug programs or user-defined modifications. May supervise programmers and manage small projects. The average national salary was over $64000 a year. Experienced analysts can earn over $100000. Computer Systems Analyst

Researches business systems, operations and data needs to assist in the development of automated systems to solve business problems.

Analyzes, evaluates and modifies existing or proposed systems and related devices.

May design, encode, test and debug programs or user-defined modifications.

May supervise programmers and manage small projects.

The average national salary was over $64000 a year.

Experienced analysts can earn over $100000.

Plans, develops, maintains and updates databases. Develops reports and complex queries. Develops strategies for data acquisitions, archive recovery and implementation of a database. The average national salary was over $70000 a year Database Developer and Analyst

Plans, develops, maintains and updates databases.

Develops reports and complex queries.

Develops strategies for data acquisitions, archive recovery and implementation of a database.

The average national salary was over $70000 a year

Provides support to end users on a variety of issues. Identifies, researches and resolves technical problems.. The average national salary was over $51000 a year. Technical Support Specialist

Provides support to end users on a variety of issues.

Identifies, researches and resolves technical problems..

The average national salary was over $51000 a year.

Quality Assurance Specialist Develops, publishes and implements test plans. Writes and maintains test automation. Develops quality assurance standards. Defines and tracks quality assurance metrics. The average national salary was over $61000 a year.

Develops, publishes and implements test plans. Writes and maintains test automation.

Develops quality assurance standards. Defines and tracks quality assurance metrics.

The average national salary was over $61000 a year.

Network Administrator Installs, configures and maintains organization's network. Builds networks and maintains external and internal Web presence, administers the networks. Performs system backups on its internal and external Web network servers. Designs and supports server system(s) and supporting software. The average national salary was over $55000 a year.

Installs, configures and maintains organization's network.

Builds networks and maintains external and internal Web presence, administers the networks.

Performs system backups on its internal and external Web network servers.

Designs and supports server system(s) and supporting software.

The average national salary was over $55000 a year.

Security Specialist Maintains systems to protect data from unauthorized users. Identifies, reports and resolves security violations. The average national salary was over $74000 a year.

Maintains systems to protect data from unauthorized users.

Identifies, reports and resolves security violations.

The average national salary was over $74000 a year.

Messaging Specialist Works with commercially available collaboration/e-mail products. Monitors operations and systems status of the mail gateway and directory exchange function. Performs standard mail migrations to migrate users from one e-mail platform to another. Debugs, diagnoses and resolves problems associated with cross-platform mail and directory exchange. The average national salary was over $74000 a year.

Works with commercially available collaboration/e-mail products.

Monitors operations and systems status of the mail gateway and directory exchange function.

Performs standard mail migrations to migrate users from one e-mail platform to another.

Debugs, diagnoses and resolves problems associated with cross-platform mail and directory exchange.

The average national salary was over $74000 a year.

Senior Positions

Application Development Manager Oversees systems analysis and programming activities to establish, develop, implement and maintain new or upgraded systems and programs. Supervises the work of programmers. The average national salary was over $85000 a year.

Oversees systems analysis and programming activities to establish, develop, implement and maintain new or upgraded systems and programs.

Supervises the work of programmers.

The average national salary was over $85000 a year.

IT/IS Manager Directs and coordinates activities of IT department. Responsible for day-to-day management of IT systems. Supervises IT staff, deals with vendors and handles the budgetary/financial aspects of running an IT group. The average national salary was over $97000 a year.

Directs and coordinates activities of IT department.

Responsible for day-to-day management of IT systems.

Supervises IT staff, deals with vendors and handles the budgetary/financial aspects of running an IT group.

The average national salary was over $97000 a year.

Chief Information Officer (CIO) Top IS/IT executive for organization. Contributes to general business planning regarding technology and systems required to maintain company operations and competitiveness. The average national salary was over $145000 a year.

Top IS/IT executive for organization.

Contributes to general business planning regarding technology and systems required to maintain company operations and competitiveness.

The average national salary was over $145000 a year.

Programs of Study Computer Science Computer Information Systems

Computer Science

Computer Information Systems

What is Computer Science (CS)? An in-depth approach to studying computers Courses cover foundation topics from areas like: Mathematics and logic Algorithms and data structures Programming languages Computer architecture Operating systems and networking Artificial intelligence and robotics Database and information retrieval Graphics and human/computer interaction CS is not simply “learning to program”

An in-depth approach to studying computers

Courses cover foundation topics from areas like:

Mathematics and logic

Algorithms and data structures

Programming languages

Computer architecture

Operating systems and networking

Artificial intelligence and robotics

Database and information retrieval

Graphics and human/computer interaction

CS is not simply “learning to program”

What is Computer Information Systems (CIS)? A practical approach to computer development More technical than a MIS Less theoretical than a CS Like a computer major with a business minor.

A practical approach to computer development

More technical than a MIS

Less theoretical than a CS

Like a computer major with a business minor.

Remember Surveys have repeatedly shown that employers want graduates with technical skills and other skills. Most important other skill is communication. Mix computing with another field (biology, art, geophysics, finance, economics, history, etc). Learn to read and write at a post-secondary level. Become educated. There is more to the world than computers, friends, games, and parties. Engage yourself with the world around you.

Surveys have repeatedly shown that employers want graduates with technical skills and other skills.

Most important other skill is communication.

Mix computing with another field (biology, art, geophysics, finance, economics, history, etc).

Learn to read and write at a post-secondary level.

Become educated.

There is more to the world than computers, friends, games, and parties.

Engage yourself with the world around you.

Dept. Computer Science & Information Systems Mount Royal College www.mtroyal.ca/compsci/