Tech Topic Connection

Introduction

There are many positions within Information Technology (I.T.) with various responsibilities, but one common item is the want to advance in one's I.T. Career. A new position doesn’t come by default and does require some additional work, education, and experience. This could come by learning the hardware components of a computer, or the various programming languages. In either case, knowing the fundamentals of information technology can help anyone wanting a career in I.T. to not only be prepared for the job but also move up within the industry. 

My selected topic of I.T. Careers has a direct connection to the fundamentals of I.T. that were covered in this course. Many of the careers within I.T. touch all parts of each of the topics, from the basic knowledge of computer hardware and software to learning programming languages. Within my department, there are various levels of I.T. support which range from end-user computing support, and database administrators, to software applications engineers who work with code daily. The topics in the course can prepare anyone wanting to future their career in I.T. by providing additional and specific information on each topic on the fundamentals of information technology.

The topic of I.T. Careers has a wide reach within technology and can span from knowing the basics to being a computer programmer. Knowing the history of computers and how they operate can give anyone the advantage of how troubleshooting any issue whether it be a hardware failure to an issue within a line of code. Knowing the history of computers as well as keeping up with the latest technologies will enhance anyone’s career within I.T. and provide an edge over the competition. One example when it comes to hardware is having the ability to recognize archaic hardware and when it should be upgraded. This could be helpful in the I.T. Career of an information technology specialist. This could give the advantage to troubleshoot an issue and resolve it promptly.

Another example is the connection between I.T. Careers and computer science is someone who knows the history of Python language as well as the current version. Having a wide understanding of the language can allow them to fully read a line of code regardless of the version it was created in. They could also have the ability to find and resolve issues within the code. According to Dubois (2007),” Python comes with a vast standard library containing support for nearly every area of computer science.” (pa. 1). This statement confirms the importance of I.T. Careers and computer science. 

Many of the entry-level positions within an I.T. career start at the service desk as an I.T. Specialist. The role of someone at the service desk is to troubleshoot any computer-related issue on time. This means the specialist needs to have a good understanding of both software and hardware. There needs to be an ability to communicate with the customer and figure out if the issues are hardware related. If so, then having a wide knowledge of computer hardware components will allow the specialist to find and resolve the issue. One example would be a call where the customer cannot log onto the internet. This could be an issue with the network port, network cable, or network card. By being able to ask the correct question or know how to evaluate the components, the specialist can find which hardware component has failed and be able to resolve the issue. 

The topic of I.T. Careers is vast and could cover many different titles and positions. Regardless of which position someone may take in Information Technology, having a background in programming languages is beneficial. In most cases, the goal of beginning a career in I.T. is to have the opportunity to move into a different role. Knowing programming languages can move someone from an entry-level position to a systems analyst in which the focus tends to be more on reading, writing, and manipulating code. This could also be true for someone interested in building web pages in which most are coded in JavaScript. According to Berkley.edu,” JavaScript currently stands as the most commonly-used language in the world (69.7%),” which is used to manage web pages. Knowing how to read and write in programming languages can help anyone advance in their I.T. Career. 

There is an immense collection when it comes to application software which can range from globally known software to in-house created software. Many positions within I.T. will utilize more than a handful of application software in their career. This could be from just day-to-day use on a basic level to in-depth management of the application. Having experience and knowledge with application software would be a benefit to any I.T. career and provide the ability to use the application on and off the job. An example is when our department moved from an outdated email system to using Office 365 which included the entire Office suite as well as Microsoft Outlook and Teams. I had used Outlook at a previous part-time job so having some knowledge of the application allowed me to have a smoother transition into the new environment. Knowing globally known application software can allow those wanting to start a career in I.T. to have a step above the competition. 

When it comes to database and database management, many I.T. Careers have some experience with if not directly working with databases. With an entry-level position, there is a benefit to having basic knowledge of database connections to troubleshoot database connectivity issues. During my time at the service desk, there were many calls with database connectivity issues that were due to an incorrect server address or lack of access. It was the knowledge I had on databases that allowed me to resolve or pass on the ticket to the correct group. I spoke with the Database Administrators on many occasions, and we would collectively resolve these tickets together. If the goal of someone's I.T. Career is to become a database administrator, then knowing databases and database management is a priority. 

Network architecture comes in all shapes and sizes and is imperative for anyone in any I.T. Career to know. Whether working in a large corporation or strictly from home, knowledge of how a network operates will help troubleshoot both small and large issues. Most large businesses utilize a network cabling system which has a hub containing network switches and routers. Those are then connected throughout a building which allows the devices to connect. If there is ever an issue in this environment, anyone within I.T. should know what to look for when troubleshooting an issue that could range from an issue with a network cable to an entire switch. This also holds for wireless connections. Knowing the infrastructure of a wireless network will assist in figuring out when there is poor or no connection on a device. Having this knowledge can move someone into a network engineer position which calls for the overall management of a computer network. This type of position could also have a huge influence on the type of security and anti-virus software that is used. At my work, we recently moved to a 2-factor authentication system when working from the outside. This was implemented by our network security system for additional layers of protection within the department. It was a challenging move for some departments, but having experience within the I.T. department, most of the I.T. employees were able to adapt quickly regardless of the levels of I.T. Careers.

 

Conclusion

Careers in Information Technology come in all shapes and sizes and have different responsibilities. Some of those looking to start an I.T. Career may enjoy a position of troubleshooting on a service desk while others seek to do more technical functions such as programming or server administration. With any position in I.T., the common core value each individual should carry is knowing the fundamentals of the industry to not only be prepared for the position but to also have the education to move up if they choose. According to a study performed by Fletcher Jr. and Dumford (2021),” We found that students in the technology-rich, applied academic setting of an IT career academy were significantly more likely to have higher perceptions of their abilities to apply their knowledge to real-world contexts.” (p. 13) which shows having a preparedness for a career in I.T. proves to be beneficial. From networking to hardware, to software applications, knowing the fundamentals of information technology will not only benefit the individual but will promote the success of any company in which they apply their knowledge.

 Resources

Berkley Extension (n.d.) 11 Most In-Demand Programming Languages

https://bootcamp.berkeley.edu/blog/most-in-demand-programming-languages/

Edward C. Fletcher Jr., & Amber D. Dumford. (2021). 21st-Century Skillset Perceptions of Students in an Information Technology Career Academy Compared to those at a Comprehensive School. Journal of Research in Technical Careers, 5(2), 28–44. https://doi.org/10.9741/2578-2118.1103

P. F. Dubois, "Guest Editor's Introduction: Python: Batteries Included," in Computing in Science & Engineering, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 7-9, May-June 2007, doi: 10.1109/MCSE.2007.51.

Vahid, F., & Lysecky, S. (2019). Computing technology for all. zyBooks.

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