Table of contents : The WetFeet Insider Guide to Careers in Information Technology......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Table of Contents......Page 6 Information Technology at a Glance.......Page 8 The Role......Page 10 Opportunity Overview......Page 11 The Bottom Line......Page 14 Trends in the Field......Page 15 Breakdown of Industries......Page 19 Skills and Education......Page 28 Certification......Page 29 Salaries......Page 31 IT Lingo......Page 32 On the Job......Page 38 Creative Positions......Page 39 Engineering Positions......Page 44 Support Positions......Page 48 Positions......Page 51 Real People Profiles......Page 55 The Workplace......Page 74 Lifestyle and Culture......Page 75 Hours......Page 76 Compensation......Page 77 Vacations and Perks......Page 79 Career Path......Page 80 Insider Scoop......Page 83 Getting Hired......Page 86 The Recruiting Process......Page 87 Interviewing Tips......Page 90 Grilling Your Interviewer......Page 91 For Your Reference......Page 94 Recommended Reading......Page 95 Job Boards......Page 97 Certification......Page 98 WetFeet's Insider Guide Series......Page 102 back......Page 105
Like this paper and download? You can publish your own PDF file online for free in a few minutes!Sign Up
File loading please wait...
Citation preview
Insider ider Guide G
The WetFeet Insider Guide to Careers in Information Technology 2004 Edition
Helping you make smarter career decisions.
The WetFeet Research Methodology You hold in your hands a copy of the best-quality research available for job seekers. We have designed this Insider Guide to save you time doing your job research and to provide highly accurate information written precisely for the needs of the job-seeking public. (We also hope that you’ll enjoy reading it, because, believe it or not, the job search doesn’t have to be a pain in the neck.) Each WetFeet Insider Guide represents hundreds of hours of careful research and writing. We start with a review of the public information available. (Our writers are also experts in reading between the lines.) We augment this information with dozens of in-depth interviews of people who actually work for each company or industry we cover. And, although we keep the identity of the rank-and-file employees anonymous to encourage candor, we also interview the company’s recruiting staff extensively, to make sure that we give you, the reader, accurate information about recruiting, process, compensation, hiring targets, and so on. (WetFeet retains all editorial control of the product.) We also regularly survey our members and customers to learn about their experiences in the recruiting process. Finally, each Insider Guide goes through an editorial review and fact-checking process to make sure that the information and writing live up to our exacting standards before it goes out the door. Are we perfect? No-but we do believe that you’ll find our content to be the highest-quality content of its type available on the Web or in print. (Please see our guarantee below.) We also are eager to hear about your experiences on the recruiting front and your feedback (both positive and negative) about our products and our process. Thank you for your interest.
The WetFeet Guarantee You’ve got enough to worry about with your job search. So, if you don’t like this Insider Guide, send it back within 30 days of purchase and we’ll refund your money. Call us for details or e-mail us comments at 1-800-926-4JOB or [email protected].
Insider Guide
The WetFeet Insider Guide to Careers in Information Technology 2004 Edition
Helping you make smarter career decisions.
WetFeet Inc. 609 Mission Street Suite 400 San Francisco, CA 94105 Phone: (415) 284-7900 or 1-800-926-4JOB Fax: (415) 284-7910 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.wetfeet.com
The WetFeet Insider Guide to Careers in Information Technology ISBN: 1-58207-328-7 Photocopying Is Prohibited Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc. All rights reserved. This publication is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America. No copying in any form is permitted. It may not be reproduced, distributed, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, in part or in whole, without the express written permission of WetFeet, Inc.
Information Technology at a Glance Opportunity Overview
• The majority of IT workers work for non-IT companies. Job opportunities exist in every industry, from the U.S. government, to the Red Cross, to the bank down the street. • Paid internships and co-op positions are available at larger companies but are reserved mostly for engineering students and MBA candidates; most can lead to permanent, full-time positions. • Specialized recruiting and placement firms assist midcareer candidates in finding new positions. Almost all companies recruit directly through their websites. • Many positions are available on a contract or part-time basis. Some contracts lead to full-time permanent employment after three months to one year. Other contracts are for specific projects and end when the project is done. Major Pluses about IT Careers
• Information technologists tend to be well compensated. Computer and mathematical occupations were the third highest paying occupations (after management and legal) in 2001, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. • Continuing education is encouraged and usually subsidized by the employer. • Nontraditional work arrangements such as telecommuting and teleworking create a flexible work environment. • IT professionals work in a dynamic and challenging environment. Learning new skills is part of the job.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
1
At a Glance
Major Minuses about IT Careers
• The hours are long. Late nights and weekend hours are not uncommon. • Technology changes constantly and rapidly. Personal time is often lost to “keeping up.” • The job market is tough now: Competition is intense, and benefits are not as extravagant as they were a few years ago. • The environment can be high pressure. • Repetitive stress injury to the hands and arms from the use of computer keyboards and mice is a health concern. Recruiting Overview
• Companies recruit recent graduates and MBAs at campus career fairs or at trade shows and conferences throughout the year. • Companies look at intern or co-op experience when selecting their first choice interviews. Many companies will give hiring priority to their own interns and co-ops. • New college graduates will be most marketable with a minor or double major in a field that complements the industry they want to join. • A well-planned job search begins when you declare your major. Research the job market and decide what type of company you want to target. This research will help you select and focus on classes. “A successful job search does not begin second semester senior year,” as one insider says. “You can’t start then and expect to be competitive anymore.”
2
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
The Role
The Role • Opportunity Overview • The Bottom Line • Trends in the Field • Breakdown of Industries • Skills and Education • Certification • Salaries • IT Lingo
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
3
Opportunity Overview The Role
Information technology (IT) means different things to different people. A software engineer at a technology firm will tell you that the IT department sits in the back of the office and that you should go see them (“not me!”) with your desktop support issue. That said, a census worker would laugh at the distinction— hardware, software, support: It’s all IT. At its broadest definition, “information technology” is an umbrella term that describes all fields that relate to the organization and dissemination of information: from the worker who lays cable wires to the telephone switchboard operator to the engineer who designs the circuits in your computer. In this guide, when we refer to IT, we’re talking about computer-related fields: hardware, software, and the people who support and use those products. However, keep in mind that just because IT is computerrelated, doesn’t mean that a job in the field is necessarily with a computer-intensive company. In fact, the majority of IT services jobs today are in fields that have little to do with high tech. What this means for you, the job seeker, is that opportunities are not limited to one industry but cross a wide variety of industries. This translates into more jobs available for IT specialists than for many other professions. Information technology plays an integral role in asset management, communication, and branding in every field. An Oracle database can contain taxonomists’ specie information (e.g., a database of newts would contain all known species along with the history and habitat of each), bank records, or retail inventories. E-mail, instant messaging, and mailing lists allow people and companies to exchange information quickly. Corporate health care policies are always a click away on the intranet, and that cheese that you can only find in Wisconsin is available now, through a well-designed online order form. Today, information technology facilitates the production, storage, and distribution of information—a role
4
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
traditionally assigned to clerical workers across all industries. In fact, over the last ten years, clerical employment in the United States has dropped 8.4 percent, while overall productivity has expanded.
daily lives that we are often unaware of the job opportunities spread across industries. Schools use computers for online learning and as part of the education curriculum. In a world where students
People who don’t want to be in this industry have left. In some ways, it’s a nicer place to be. People aren’t in it for the money in the way they used to be.
The Role
Information technology is so entrenched in our
“”
learn keyboarding in addition to writing and spelling, workers are needed in IT curriculum development and teaching. Nonprofits need people to build websites, databases, and online donation systems. Businesses need people to build intranets, websites, and e-commerce sites. Schools, governments, and businesses alike invest in hardware and software and people to support those systems. Intel and Cisco might not be hiring as many new people this year, but the library is still looking for a database manager. Today’s economy is riddled with uncertainty. Since January 2000, as many as 10 percent of the leading Internet companies that received formal venture funding closed their doors. Between 2002 and 2003, the technology sector lost more than 200,000 jobs, primarily in high-tech manufacturing. Since the first half of 2000, both the NASDAQ and venture capital funding have retreated sharply. For IT-intensive businesses, this has meant less expansion and fewer new ventures. Even financially healthy non-IT intensive businesses have trimmed IT investments. Businesses are spending less and less on computers and peripherals; prices for these technology goods are declining. You might wonder: Is a job in IT a mistake? Though the trends may sound bleak, they don’t reflect a decrease in the use of information technology. In fact, because hardware prices declined more steeply
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
5
than investment, the seemingly dismal trends actually reflect growth. The computer infrastructure is growing, as is the need for new software and new people to program and service equipment. In June 2003, the Department of Commerce reported that IT professions are among the fastest growing and
The Role
highest paying jobs in the economy, and despite the downturn in IT-intensive industries, there is still demand for highly skilled technical workers, particular in nontechnical economic sectors. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that computer professionals will be the fastest growing occupations of this decade, with more than two million jobs added to the economy by 2010. There may be more competition for entry-level jobs this year, and the vacation and benefit packages may not be quite as enticing as they were a year or two ago, but information technology is still a field rife with opportunity. Because technology is always improving, and computers are becoming faster, more powerful, and less expensive, companies will continue to invest in new and to replace obsolete capital. IT workers comprise a wide spectrum of ages and backgrounds. Whether you’re a recent college graduate with a BA in computer science or an MBA looking to get involved with a new technology firm or product, the possibilities for growth and employment are as numerous and varied as the fish in the sea. You may need to cast a line out to catch one—the family business that’s looking to hire an e-commerce manager will most likely not recruit on your college campus—but the jobs are there, and the field is growing.
6
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
The Bottom Line The Role
Recent layoffs and the economic downturn have had a tremendous effect on the IT workforce. Contractors grumble about falling rates, employees worry about their job security. It’s an employer’s job market now. You can’t show up for an interview unprepared or expect to see the swanky deals that made headlines a couple years ago. Today’s hiring packages for IT workers are more standard: Relocation expenses, extra vacation, and perks like free food and soda are not necessarily a part of the deal. The competition can be tough, and it’s important to differentiate yourself. Unpaid or underpaid internships can make a huge difference on your resume. Good references and work history are necessities. “The industry is becoming more consolidated,” a seasoned insider says. “People who don’t want to be in this industry have left. In some ways, it’s a nicer place to be. People aren’t in it for the money in the way they used to be.”
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
7
The Role
Trends in the Field IT Everywhere Over the past year and despite economic uncertainty, businesses have gradually expanded their use of information technology. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the economy will add more than one million new software engineering, computer support, and system administrators to the work force by 2010. Software developers and computer service professionals will be in particularly high demand over the next decade, as companies seek to invest in areas that will squeeze greater productivity from existing systems. Though the recent downturn has been hard on technology-intensive firms, the need for IT workers is expanding, particularly in fields outside the tech world. According to a 2001 study by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), 92 percent of IT workers are employed at non-IT companies. Statistics also show that IT jobs in non-IT industries tend to be less adversely affected by downturns in the technology industry. Industries such as health care, finance, and real estate in particular need qualified information technology employees at all levels to manage data and create and maintain information systems. IT is not going away. If anything, it continues to be more important and entrenched in our daily lives.
Play Nice with Others The oft-romanticized notion of the lone engineer plodding through the night to create a code masterpiece is more of a myth than a model these days. Today’s IT workers are encouraged to work together. A recent study by the
8
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
ITAA revealed that companies ranked interpersonal skills above analytical skills when considering employees for advancement. New IT development philosophies that emphasize teamwork are finding their way into today’s work environments as well. Programmers might well find
The Role
themselves paired, so that two sit side by side at the same machine. One is the driver, the other an observer. Though it may sound inefficient, it’s thought that this practice results in better design, testing, and code. By pairing programmers, companies also ensure that all work is reviewed by at least one other programmer. In a field with relatively high turnover, having some redundancy in knowledge is beneficial to everyone. Even in more traditional development environments, good communication skills have become increasingly important. One insider says, “To stand out in this job market, you need to set yourself apart by having a professional package that demonstrates technical skills and outstanding communication. And high business acumen.”
Diversity in the Workplace? In March of 2000, the president of the ITAA shared some statistics about the composition of the IT workforce: African Americans hold 5.4 percent of computer programming positions, while Hispanic Americans hold 4.6 percent. Both percentages are disproportionately low to the population of these groups. Though recent data is hard to come by, insiders admit that ethnic diversity is still an issue in the IT industry. “This industry has a long way to go in terms of creating more diverse workplaces,” says one. Women continue to be a minority in the IT industry as well, particularly in upper level management, and studies show that the number of women in IT is actually decreasing. Between 1996 and 2002, the percentage of women in the IT workforce fell from 41 to 34.9 percent. “I would say that 75 percent of the time I can be the only woman at a table or at a meeting,” an insider says. “There
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
9
are certainly a lot of women working in the industry and a lot of companies run by women or with strong women leadership, but you have to be able to work within that—the culture is still more male than female.”
The Role
Sending Jobs Overseas Companies tend to minimize their expenses and, when presented with the option to hire employees for a fraction of the current cost, will likely do so. Outsourcing, or hiring a foreign firm as a sort of subcontractor, is becoming increasingly common in IT-related areas. This year, 6 percent of the U.S. firms polled by the ITAA hired foreign companies for IT jobs. Fifteen percent are considering doing this next year. Many job seekers worry that outsourced jobs aren’t coming back. An offshore worker can’t fix a broken keyboard, but she can program or develop a website. Though outsourcing is good for workers in India, Russia, and Poland—areas with highly skilled workers and relatively low salaries—many workers in the United States are not happy about it.
Web Services Everyone seems to be talking about Web services these days. IBM, Microsoft, and Sun just announced their strategies for it. Businesses speak of Web services with much enthusiasm. But what, exactly, are they? In a nutshell, a Web service is an Internet application that implements a set of standard protocols, which allow it to share information with other Web services. Web services perform functions—from simple requests (e.g., a stock quote retrieval), to complicated business processes that combine information from multiple sources. Barnes & Noble, for example, has a Web service that takes an ISBN number and returns the price of the book. Expect to hear even more about Web services in the coming days.
10
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Keep Them Out! Increasingly, companies are looking for ways to secure their networks from a host of threats: Worms and viruses might prey on networked systems. “War Drivers” (people who cruise around and identify businesses with insecure wireless
The Role
links) might access networks, or worse, spray paint symbols on the office building publicly describing how to break in. Remote workers might expose a company to industrial spies through holes in their less secure remote systems. The threats are a real and growing concern for companies, and security budgets have received more attention over the past two years than ever before. The demand for IT security experts is on the rise.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
11
Breakdown of Industries The Role
IT workers have penetrated the payroll of companies in every industry—from education to manufacturing to real estate, health care, and government. The need for software developers, computer support specialists, network and system administrators as well as analysts, managers, and researchers continues to grow. In the broadest terms, IT professionals will work in one of two places: directly for companies within the various economic sectors (e.g., as a system administrator for a hospital) or for computer and data services companies, which provide information technology services to firms that do not have adequate in-house resources. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are more than 178,000 such technology service providers. These firms tend to offer specialized services, from setting up a corporate website to designing software, to computer repair and network consulting. The relationship between a technology services firm and the company that brings it in can take several forms, and this makes for foggy lines when determining where jobs really are. For example, a retail company might hire a technology services firm to build an e-commerce site. Once built, the company might choose to manage and maintain the site in-house or continue to hire the contracting firm to run the whole show. In general, large companies will have an IT staff, and smaller companies are more likely to turn to contractors to meet their IT needs. (Naturally, this is not always true.) Even firms that contract out IT work, however, still need people to manage the relationship and determine how information technology is and should be used by their firm.
12
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Business Services Business services accounts for nearly half the software development workforce—and the number of developers involved in this area is expected to increase by more than 140 percent to 474,495 by 2010. This broad category of
The Role
work includes all engineering and technical management and consulting services needed by businesses. Things like software, communications systems, infrastructure, data management, and advertising all fall under this umbrella. Ubiquitous and relatively well compensated, IT workers who go into business services can expect to find a wide variety of opportunities. Keeping things running. The folks who maintain and optimize the business
technology infrastructure represent a significant sector of the information technology workforce. System administrators and analysts tend to enjoy a relatively higher degree of job stability, as every company that runs a network needs someone to support it. Insiders say that there is an oversupply of network support people in the market right now, but the field is predicted to be one of the fastest growing over the next ten years. The BLS expects that the economy will add about 280,000 of these positions across industries between now and 2010—about an 80 percent increase. “Not for people who find it hard to manage stress,” as one insider says, this kind of work can leave you feeling unappreciated. Few people realize that the last Friday in July is “System Administrator Appreciation Day.” Don’t hold your breath waiting for gifts. Market it, brand it, make it look good. Advertising and branding are more often
associated with marketing than information technology. But the fact is, most businesses have a website these days, and if they don’t, well, they should probably get on it. Well-designed websites incorporate the work of designers, information architects, software and system engineers, and site managers. Firms like Razorfish and Organic are famous for working with companies to develop their corporate
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
13
online presence (though in the current market, downsizing is also a reality in this corner of the industry). Many businesses, from publishers like Chronicle Books to television networks like MTV keep in-house staffs to manage and
The Role
develop their websites as well. Sell it now! Often rolled in with business services is e-business, which encompasses
business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) commerce. Even traditional corporate giants like General Motors and Merrill Lynch are now turning to the Internet (because it is a low-cost securable platform, and because Internet usage is wide and still growing) to increase sales. Online selling, or e-commerce, is growing, despite prognoses that vary from bleak to gushing. Recent reports for this sector have been positive: According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, retail e-commerce in the United States hit $11.92 billion in the first quarter of 2003, a 25 percent increase over last year. In Europe, online e-commerce is expected to rocket from $77 billion in 2001 to $2.2 trillion in 2006.
Health Care Health care is the largest single industry in the United States, but it has historically spent only 2 to 3 percent of its total revenue on information technology. This low investment received quite a bit of attention a few years ago when the “Y2K” bug threatened countless hospital records stored in aging systems. Today, the need for information technology in the health care industry has been accepted. Though the industry is fraught with debate and financial struggles, hospitals now look to IT to reduce the cost of administration and improve patient care, and it’s predicted that health care will be one of the top industries for IT growth over the next few years. Hospitals and integrated health care systems such as Kaiser Permanente, New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, Mount Sinai Health System, and Sisters of Providence Health System are leading IT employers.
14
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Knowledge management. Keeping track of medical records is a tremendous
job, and one that information technology is playing an increasing role in. It’s not a coincidence that nearly 30 percent of IT workers in the health care industry identify themselves as “directors of information services.” Fueling the need for
The Role
IT software developers, database managers, and systems analysts in the health care industry, the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates that doctors and insurance companies standardize the electronic exchange of financial and administrative information. “This will not only improve administrative efficiency in our health care system,” one insider says, “but prevent misuse of private health information.” The HIPAA will also require that nearly all health care providers update and overhaul existing IT systems. Anyone know a good systems analyst? Research and development. IT systems and products must be developed with
input from IT professionals, doctors, administrators, and insurance professionals. The process of R&D requires good communication skills and careful attention to the requirements of the system. (This is true across industries.) Though some of this type of work is done within health care institutions, it’s quite common to see health care industries work with outside consultants. Kaiser Permanente, for example, agreed to spend $1.5 billion over the next four years to develop a system with IBM that allows doctors to convert paper records to electronic ones. In June of 2003, IBM announced that it would also manage the core computing systems of three New York hospitals. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) has a useful website (www.himss.org), which has information about what’s going on in the industry and who’s working on it.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
15
Education Salaries in education tend to be lower than those in other industries. According to the 2002 Computerworld salary survey, the average salary for nearly every education
The Role
technology position is about half of what it would be in the financial services industry. However, if you are willing to compromise on salary, the opportunities in education and information technology can be very rewarding. This year, the University of Miami was even ranked in the top three workplaces for IT workers. Teach from afar. The field of “distance” or “online” or “e-” learning is growing
rapidly. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 84 percent of two- to four-year institutions were expected to offer distance-learning courses in 2002— nearly double the 1997 figure. Even well-known universities are getting involved. Harvard and Stanford joined forces to offer online continuing education classes, while MIT announced its “OpenCourseWare” plan, with the goal of placing all courses online in the next ten years. IT opportunities are not limited to American universities. An e-learning group is now working with the European Commission to make online learning a reality in Europe before 2004. The U.S. government is also investing in programs. In July of 2002, the U.S. Department of State, together with SmartForce, unveiled a plan to provide online courses on e-mail, Internet, and IT competency to all 30,000 State Department personnel in more than 250 countries. Despite the tougher times, the tremendous interest in e-learning will contribute to the growth of companies that produce learning management systems— places like SmartForce and KnowledgeNet. Universities will also require IT workers to maintain networks and manage new and often exciting curriculum programs. The tech department at the University of Miami, for example, is currently exploring a telehealth program, which will provide distance-learning and consulting services to doctors and clinics in Latin America.
16
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Curriculum development. Incongruous with the buzz about shrinking IT job
possibilities is talk of the “gap”—IT jobs left unfilled for want of qualified workers. An April 2002 study conducted by the ITAA reported that hundreds of thousands of IT positions go unfilled due to a deficit of applicants with the
The Role
necessary technical skills. Training a tech-savvy workforce has become a priority at the national level, and the attention has created a need for teachers and curriculum developers. “The best way to make sure that you’re up to date on the most current technologies is to develop curricula to teach those things,” an insider says. “There’s no better way to learn than to teach.”
Government Increasingly, federal and state governments and agencies are turning to information technology to facilitate communications, streamline processes (e.g., collecting taxes or renewing a driver’s license online), and save tax dollars. As consumers become more technologically savvy (a Pew Foundation poll found that more than 40 million Americans went online to look at federal, state, and local government policies in 2002), the government must work to meet the rising expectations of its citizenry. The Government Paperwork Elimination Act (1998), for example, now requires Federal agencies to permit consumers to submit information or transact business electronically. Agencies like the Department of Labor and the National Endowment for the Arts now maintain websites, and the U.S. Post Office is considering a digital identification program to help track and deliver mail. Creating and maintaining these types of programs requires skilled workers in all areas of IT, and the need for savvy professionals will continue to grow. Though many corporate IT budgets are stagnant this year, federal technology budgets are on the rise. Over the last two years, for example, the Department of Defense’s IT operation and maintenance budget has increased more than 15 percent. This is good news for system administrators and analysts willing to
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
17
work for Uncle Sam. All together, federal agencies spent a total of about $48 billion on IT in 2002. Keeping the data safe. Federal funding for information security investments is
The Role
rising as the government becomes increasingly concerned for the safety of its systems and information. In 2002, federal agencies spent $2.7 billion on information security alone. The Office of Management and Budget expects that number to rise to $4.7 billion in 2004. The federal government is anxious to invest in security and recruit skilled security professionals. In 2000, in fact, the federal government created the Cybercorps program, designed to help train IT security professionals. The program, aimed at midcareer professionals, provides up to two years of scholarship funding to study information security. In return, scholarship recipients are obligated to work an equal amount of time for the federal government. Those interested in a career in information security have other education options as well. A great number of certificate programs promise a substantial return for each dollar invested (see “For Your Reference” for more information). Many universities also offer advanced degrees in the field. One insider suggests checking out www.nsa.gov, where the National Security Agency maintains a list of schools deemed excellent in information assurance education. During economic downturns, a federally funded position may prove more stable and even more financially rewarding than a corporate one. According to a 2002 Computerworld survey, government IT workers were more likely than any other IT professionals to have received a recent raise. Though salaries in other sectors have flattened, and in some cases even dropped, salaries rose an average of 6.6 percent for government IT workers.
18
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Finance If finance is truly a high-flying field, then its wings are feathered with information technology. Without the information systems that make the rapid and secure transmission of data possible, the industry would surely take a nosedive. The
The Role
recent East Coast blackout confirms this. No, the New York Stock Exchange did not loose any data. But if the backup generators had not been in place to power the data center and trading floor, the system would not have functioned so smoothly. There’s good news for those who choose to work amidst the hustle and bustle of the financial world: Finance IT workers are almost always compensated more highly than IT workers in other economic sectors. In 2002, for example, a systems engineer for a financial company earned an average of $64,000, which is nearly 10 percent higher than the average salary across sectors. And if a higher salary alone is not enough to convince you, perhaps the fact that the sector tends to be relatively stable will help. A 2003 survey on Jobsinthemoney.com reports that the economic environment in the majority of surveyed financial firms has held steady or even improved over the last year—reassuring news in uncertain economic times. Super systems. Security experts and systems administrators and managers
prepare! The finance industry depends on large information systems that have a constant need for maintenance and updates. Currently, for example, MasterCard and Visa along with a number of associated network providers are updating their electronic transaction systems to the triple data encryption standard (DES), an encryption method that is very difficult to break. Though costly, system updates such as this are necessary to ensure the safety of transmitted information and to maintain consumer confidence. In a world where the next BugBear virus (which was targeted at financial institutions, by the way) is just around the corner, there will always be a need for good security and systems people.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
19
Working together. As financial agencies try to squeeze more from IT budgets,
optimizing existing infrastructures has become a priority, as has the need for good system integrators and administrators. In 2002, Bank One in Chicago hired more than a thousand people to help consolidate its disparate financial
The Role
systems. In early 2003, the NASDAQ Stock Market announced plans to consolidate dozens of systems and networks as well. As financial institutions grow, often through acquisition, they tend to acquire incompatible or redundant systems. Simplifying and streamlining these systems improves overall efficiency and ultimately saves money. An employee who can help a company save money is always desirable, regardless of the current economic conditions. IT opportunities in the finance sector are well compensated, and the work environment can be excellent. Numerous financial firms placed in Computerworld’s 2003 list of top workplaces for IT workers. The credit card company Discover, which employs nearly 2,000 IT workers, placed in the top ten, while MasterCard and the Vanguard Group along with more than half a dozen insurance agencies also placed in the top 100.
Conclusion The preceding list is in no way complete. Much like the dark hand of Mordor, IT reaches every corner of the economy (though of course, information technology helps, not controls, us all . . .). Nearly 9 percent of computer engineers work in manufacturing. Who else would write the software and operating systems that run on cell phones or car electronics? The manufacturing, transportation, insurance, and real estate industries employ IT workers in many of the capacities mentioned above. When you get right down to it, it’s easier to be than to avoid an IT worker.
20
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Skills and Education The Role
There’s a broad range of jobs in IT, and not all positions require technical skills. “The best tech support people we had,” one insider says, “had humanities backgrounds.” Technical, communication, and business skills are all important to the field, and four-year college degree programs—not necessarily in computer science—are still one of the best ways to prepare for entering the IT job market. Employers look for relevant skills and experience. A degree in computer science tends to be most important for database developers and software engineers. Certificate programs are more common for support and system administration specialists (see the “Certification” section that follows for more information). On-the-job experience can substitute for either academic credential, though for people just entering the job market, a degree is a tremendous advantage. Computer science majors and MBAs in particular might consider a minor or double major in a second field. Though not required, this additional credential can be useful, particularly when working in IT for non-IT companies. For example, a biology minor will prove very handy to a software developer working with an insect database at a university research center. Because IT is part of so many industries, a secondary field can be anything that interests you—film, chemistry, history; whatever your interest, it’s likely that it will complement an industry searching for IT workers.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
21
Certification The Role
A certificate is almost always a prerequisite for a job in information security, and a number of common acronyms appear beside the names of successful security professionals: CCSE (Check Point Certified Security Expert), CCSA (Check Point Certified Security Administrator), or SCSE (Symantec Certified Security Engineer). Those who like to pit their intelligence against unknown foes will be happy to hear that network security is one of the fastest growing areas in IT. Network and system administrators are also increasingly turning to certification programs like those offered by Microsoft and Red Hat. If you find midnight phone calls romantic, enjoy carrying a pager, and find that isolating and addressing a problem brings more satisfaction than words of gratitude, the life of an administrator may be for you. However, formal training is less important for system administrators than for many other kinds of IT professionals. The best system administrators are not the ones who know everything; rather, the best are those who know where to find information about the task at hand—whether configuring a network or setting up an FTP server. Employers look for good problem-solving skills above all else. Certificates are less important for software engineers, for whom experience is the most important credential. Those who can point to previous work—even a well-executed school assignment—have a competitive edge. It is very common for software engineers to have a degree in computer science, and the best software engineers are also good communicators. An engineer who can code and explain the technical needs of a project is a valuable addition to any team. (Meetings, however, are a different story. Left in charge of the team when the project manager left town for a week’s vacation, one insider says, “The first thing I did was cancel all the meetings.”)
22
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Successful database administrators are organized and detailed-oriented and have a solid knowledge of at least one database management system (e.g., Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server) as well as a good understanding of operating systems. Though a certificate program might help workers acquire this knowledge,
The Role
employers often place more weight on professional experience and college credentials. A degree in computer science is often a job prerequisite. Education is not a process that ends when you land a job. Part of working in IT is learning new technologies. Since the field is constantly changing and evolving, today’s hot tech skills identified by Dice.com—C++, Oracle, SQL, Java, and Windows NT—are just that. Next year, the list will change. Even today, the list is in no way complete. “People who are good at Excel are always loved,” one insider says. Every job comes with its own list of requirements, and however careful you are at selecting your skills, you will need to update them and pick up new ones over the course of your career. Continuing education can take many forms: classes, conferences, certificate programs, independent research. Books, periodicals, and online discussions and boards are very useful, and most technologies have an online community of users. “I go to Jguru.com to keep on top of things,” one insider says. “People post new stuff there all the time.” For those who prefer the printed page, your reference library will continue to grow (and become dated). O’Reilly publishes a very highly regarded line of books that covers the gamut of information technologies.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
23
Salaries The Role
2003 IT Salaries
Position
Salary Range
Applications programmer or analyst
$56,000–$64,000
Database administrator
$65,000–$87,000
Database administrator, management level
$92,000–$102,000
Hardware or circuit engineer
$40,000–$63,000
Industrial designer
$37,000–$68,000
Information security specialist, entry level
$48,000–$66,000
Management information systems
$110,000–$140,000
Network administrator
$64,000–$80,000
Producer
$62,000–$79,000
Quality assurance analyst
$68,000–$73,000
Security specialist
$87,000–$100,000
Senior software engineer
$76,000–$84,000
Software engineer
$58,000–$72,000
System administrator
$51,000–$67,000
Technical support, manager
$86,000–$100,000
Technical support, entry level
$36,000–$48,000
Technical writer
$44,000–$61,000
Training consultant
$44,000–$59,000
User interface developer/designer
$79,000–$99,000
Web developer, front end
$53,000–$58,000
Webmaster
$50,000–$72,000 Source: Salary.com; WetFeet research and analysis.
24
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
IT Lingo The Role
Angels. Wealthy individuals who invest in start-up companies. Angel investments
rarely exceed $1 million dollars but are often enough to get a venture off the ground. Beta. As in, “it’s in beta” or “check out this beta version.” Beta refers to a
product development stage between “alpha” and “finished.” During the beta stage, products are tested and bugs fixed. Blamestorming. Did something go wrong? Who’s responsible? Blamestorming
involves two or more people engaged in a discussion devoted to determining who’s to blame. Bloatware. Though software will never eat three desserts, it can still bloat.
Software applications with excessive (and often useless) features are known as bloatware. Blog. Originally derived from “Web log” (which is an updated Web journal),
blog is often used as a verb: “I blogged it,” meaning “I posted it on my Web log.” Blog can also be used as a noun: “I checked out Mark’s blog.” Dead tree edition. A hard (also known as “paper”) copy of a report. DSL. Short for “digital subscriber line.” A technology that has dramatically
increased the digital capacity of phone lines, which has made surfing the Web from home a much more enjoyable experience. There are two types of DSL: Asymmetric DSL (ADSL) allows users to download information quickly, while symmetric DSL (SDSL) is designed to allow fast upload and download of information.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
25
Ego surfing. Searching the Internet for one’s own name. Ethernet. Invented by Robert Metcalfe and David Boggs in 1973, Ethernet is
currently the most widely used local area network (LAN) protocol. It has become
The Role
so popular that most PCs and Macs come with 10/100 Ethernet ports, which are used to create home or work networks or connect to the Internet via a DSL or cable modem. HTML. Short for “hypertext markup language,” which is used to format Web
pages. HTML tags (e.g., or
) define page layouts and designs that Web browsers like Internet Explorer and Netscape interpret and display. I18n. Why say “internationalization” when you can sound hip and abbreviate it
as I18n? “I” and “N” are the first and last letters of internationalization, and “18” refers to the 18 letters in between. Making software that can display characters in users’ native languages or output numbers and dates in a way that obeys cultural customs are examples of I18n issues. IM. Short for “instant messaging,” an Internet-based service that allows users to
chat in real time. “Just IM him,” your boss might say. IM communication is filled with abbreviations (LOL for “laughing out loud” or NP for “no problem”) and emoticons, which are faces composed of standard punctuation marks. IM users soon learn to recognize that “: )” expresses joy and “: (” sorrow. Some IM applications have graphical emoticons. KISS. If you work around IT people long enough, you’re bound to hear this
acronym. Short for “keep it simple, stupid.” LAN. Short for “local area network.” A communication network that connects
servers, workstations, and other devices such as printers within a confined geographical area like an office.
26
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Let’s discuss that off-line. Often used in meetings when tangents threaten to
divert attention from the day’s agenda, “Let’s discuss that off-line” means “let’s talk about that later, maybe.” Low-hanging fruit. Easy projects that—to extend the analogy—can be picked
The Role
and consumed rapidly, bringing immediate satisfaction. Open source. A term applied to software when the source code is publicly available.
To be truly open source, software must be freely distributed both in its compiled and source code forms. Programmer’s butt. It’s a well-known fact that programmers spend long hours in
front of the computer, often with a bag of chips or a slice of pizza. If you go into programming, beware! Programmer’s butt is thought to be a prevalent condition. PEBCAK. Short for “problem exists between chair and keyboard.” A favorite among
tech support workers. Closely related to “code 18,” a shorthand referring to a problem that sits 18 inches from the computer screen. RAM. Short for “random access memory.” A group of memory chips that function
as a computer’s primary workspace. Unlike ROM (see next entry), RAM requires power to maintain its content. When a computer is shut off, anything that’s in RAM and has not been saved to disk will be lost. RAM is also used to refer to people who don’t have the smarts for their jobs. You don’t want your fellow IT workers calling you “a bit short on RAM.” ROM. Short for “read only memory.” A memory chip that permanently stores
instructions and data for a given computer. Router. A device used to optimally forward data packets from one local or wide
area network to another. Routers are located at gateways, which are places where two or more networks connect.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
27
Server. May refer to a computer system (both the hardware and software) that
is shared by multiple users or may refer to just the serving software. For example, one can restart the server (the server software) on a server (the
The Role
machine with the serving software) without restarting the machine. Slashdot effect. Drawing its name from the slashdot.org website (which bills
itself as “News for Nerds. Stuff that matters”), this term refers to the tremendous amount of traffic a website receives after a positive news article or review is published about it. SOAP. Short for the “simple object access protocol.” A protocol that enables Web
applications to exchange information in a standard way. Many people think that SOAP will revolutionize the way in which applications work together. TCP/IP. Short for “transmission control protocol/Internet protocol.” Two
protocols—developed by Vinton Cerf (often called the “Father of the Internet”) and Bob Kahn for the Department of Defense—that are used to connect multiple networks to form a network of networks, also known as the Internet. Team player. Though this term may have a positive connotation in many work
environments, be wary of being pegged as a “team player” in the IT world. Sardonic engineers often use “team player” to refer to a spineless colleague who says “yes” to every request and demand. “Team player” is also fondly, though perhaps pejoratively, used when referring to the bright-eyed employee who arrives early and puts on a large pot of coffee. Vaporware. If you’ve read about a piece of software or hardware but can’t find
it for sale anywhere, you may have found a piece of vaporware. Usually, vaporware has been well advertised for months; however, despite the optimistic marketing, the product isn’t available anywhere.
28
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Virus. A computer program that replicates by incorporating itself into shared
computer programs, ranging from annoying pranks to destructive monsters. Viruses spread quickly, often through e-mail. Never open an attachment from someone you don’t know!
The Role
WAP. Short for “wireless application protocol.” A standard for providing wireless
devices (e.g., cellular phones, pagers, and other handheld devices) with Internet access. WebDAV. Short for “Web distributed authoring and versioning.” A set of hypertext
transfer protocol (HTTP) extensions that facilitate collaborative editing and file management over the Internet. Webmail. A service that allows you to access your e-mail account from a Web
page. You can read, send, and organize e-mail on any computer, anywhere in the world, provided you have an Internet connection. Hotmail and Yahoo mail are well-known webmail services. Word-of-mouse. Gossip circulated via e-mail. WSDL. It’s true, IT professionals use a lot of acronyms. Short for “Web services
description language.” WSDL is written in XML (see next entry) and is an XML document. It is used to describe and locate networked XML-based services (e.g., an online business), and it is part of the UDDI (“universal description, discovery, and integration”) effort to create a platform-independent, open framework for describing, discovering, and integrating business services using the Internet. XML. Short for “extensible markup language.” An open standard for describing
data. It is used to define data elements on Web pages and business-to-business documents. Zombie. A term applied to a website that is accessible but no longer updated.
Also called a “ghost site.”
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
29
On the Job • Creative Positions • Engineering Positions On the Job
• Support Positions • Sales, PR, and Marketing Positions • Real People Profiles
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
31
We’ve divided some common IT jobs into four main categories: creative, engineering, support, and sales, PR, and marketing. The categories are by no means definitive. Though we’ve placed web developer in the creative category, for example, companies often hire developers in engineering departments. And technical writers are found on IT support as well as engineering teams. However, the distinctions are useful when looking at the types of jobs and the experience required of each. Regardless of the type of IT position you are applying for, one rule holds true: Employers most often seek applicants with relevant technical experience in the application and a four-year college degree. For the new job seeker, the preference
On the Job
for experience can be problematic. However, some types of work and some types of workplaces have lower barriers to entry than others.
Creative Positions The image of the engineer whose art consists of hundreds of lines of optimized code has been depicted so often that many people forget that art and technology intersect in other compelling ways. Those with good communication abilities, strong visual design skills, and a knack for numbers might find one of the more creative IT positions a good match. These jobs—from the industrial designer who conceptualizes new products, to the Web designer who creates the look and feel of a website—are ideal for people looking to satisfy both analytical and artistic needs.
32
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
IT creatives, like their engineering and support counterparts, need to have strong technical skills. However, a degree in an IT-related field is rarely a requirement. Instead, job seekers should have a strong portfolio, which demonstrates skill and sensibilities. For those just starting out, building this portfolio becomes a priority and volunteering for design projects is often a great way to start. Many creative positions require the use of tools—PhotoShop and Flash for a Web developer or computer-aided industrial design applications for an industrial designer. To be successful, IT creatives must know their applications well and keep current with each new release. Recent college grads learn the ropes with entry-level positions such as assistant
On the Job
designer, developer, or producer. Though some of the responsibilities are not glamorous (“I spent two hours a day archiving content,” one insider says) and may feel more administrative than creative at times, the work experience is a prerequisite for advancement. For those looking to switch focus—from a Web producer to a Web designer for instance—previous work experience and familiarity with the industry will prove invaluable. Though it is unlikely that you can make a purely lateral shift, many people slip in and out of different creative roles throughout their careers. In fact, a record of varied experience can be quite useful when applying for some of the more senior positions. A user interface designer, for example, should have a strong knowledge of both Web production and design, and some work experience in each of those areas looks very good on a resume.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
33
Industrial Designer Degree requirements: BFA or certification with portfolio Job description: Though there is at times a degree of blue-sky freedom for
industrial designers, who might be asked to conceptualize totally new products from a blank slate, industrial designers just as often have to balance market research, customer needs, production budgets, and corporate image. There is some cross-pollination in this position, but generally industrial designers specialize in product genres such as toasters, keyboards, and so forth. A good deal of the design work is done on the computer via specialized computer-aided industrial
On the Job
design (CAID) applications. Designers often work in their own department, reporting immediately to a team leader and ultimately to a product manager. Salary range: $37,000 to $68,000
Modeler/Artist/Designer Degree requirements: BFA with portfolio Job description: Working within a team of artists and reporting to a project
manager, a 3D modeler and artist specializes in taking rough designs and realizing them in 3D modeling and rendering applications such as 3D Studio Max, Maya, and Lightwave. This position doesn’t always provide a lot of creative leeway, but it can lead to positions with more design responsibility. It also requires a high level of computer savvy—locking up the computer during a day-long render is a no-no. Salary range: $31,000 to $42,000
34
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Producer Degree requirements: BA or MBA Job description: The producer acts as both the nerve center and lightning rod.
For projects such as entertainment software, the producer is like the director of a movie, setting the tone as well as the overall look and feel and taking responsibility for the final version. All the art, content, administrative, and other decisions go through the producer—it can be stressful but rewarding when it works. The producer still has to report to someone, and in this case it’s the product manager, who is in charge of commercial concerns.
On the Job
Salary range: $62,000 to $79,000
User Interface Developer/Designer Degree requirements: BA with portfolio Job description: To do this job, you must be able to synthesize design with
business and marketing strategy. A good interface developer has a strong understanding of the technologies behind the designs. An ability and desire to work with teams and present solutions to colleagues and clients is also important. Salary range: $79,000 to $99,000
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
35
Web Developer Degree requirements: BA Job description: Web developers are masters of HTML, and they know how to
create Web pages that will look good in any browser on any platform. In addition to knowing applications like PhotoShop, Illustrator, and Flash, a Web developer understands databases, JavaScript, XML, and how to work with both designers and engineers. Tight deadlines can make this work tough at times, but for those who love to work with rapidly evolving tools and challenges, this job is ideal.
On the Job
Salary range: $53,000 to $58,000
Webmaster Degree requirements: BA Job description: Smaller companies, in particular, tend to roll the areas of Web
architecture, design, implementation, and management into one position: the webmaster. Webmasters may even be responsible for content creation and editing. If you hold this job, prepare to know and do a little bit of everything. Salary range: $50,000 to $72,000
36
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Engineering Positions The majority of IT jobs fall into what we’ve classified as engineering positions. In fact, according to the Information Technology Association of America, the most common type of IT job is programmer, with approximately 2.1 million positions. Compared to other IT workers, programmers, software engineers, QA engineers, hardware engineers, tech writers, and database administrators tend to have the most extensive technical backgrounds, often holding at least a
On the Job
four-year college degree in computer science or a related discipline. For those interested in breaking into the engineering world, knowing today’s hot skills—Java, SQL Software, C and C++, Oracle and Windows NT—is important, but in the end, not as attractive to hirers as a strong foundation of IT knowledge. Experience is valued highly as well, and co-op and work-study programs will give students a leg up after graduation. Those seeking entry-level programming jobs might find larger firms, which offer intensive training programs, more receptive to their resumes than smaller shops. Entry-level hires usually work under close supervision or on a team with more experienced workers. After proving themselves, however, prospects for advancement are good. Programmers may become lead programmers or consultants; software engineers may become project managers, information system managers, and eventually chief information officers; junior database administrators may move on to managerial positions as well. Seasoned engineering professionals who wish to advance into management will have a better chance if they acquire business skills first, and an MBA can prove quite useful. Companies look for managers with not only good technical skills, but good soft skills, such as communication and interpersonal skills.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
37
QA Engineer Degree requirements: BS in computer science, MS preferred Job description: A good QA engineer has to think of every stupid, silly, and
accidental thing a customer might do to and with a product, from using a keyboard in the bathtub to clicking 1,000 times repeatedly on an ornamental widget on-screen. In some work environments, this can be fun, but often it’s a strictly regimented process, usually on a tight deadline as a product moves from pre-alpha to final. QA people support product teams, track bugs, and write documentation.
On the Job
Salary range: $68,000 to $73,000
Software Engineer Degree requirements: BS in computer science (MS preferred for senior position) Job description: Junior software engineers mainly do the dirty work of inputting
code, connecting application modules and functionalities, debugging, and porting to other OS platforms. However, the junior position is a stepping-stone to the senior position, which offers the potential of having a say in the end product. Senior engineers also work with end users, OEM customers, and others; they also take a more managerial role in team structure. Salary range: $58,000 to $72,000
38
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Application Programmer Degree requirements: BS in computer science Job description: This type of programmer/engineer works specifically on a
particular application that will either end up as a shrink-wrapped product or as a module that will interact with final products. This position entails documentation, product development, and product integration—one example would be writing or revising software that addresses a specific task, such as calibrating color monitors. Salary range: $56,000 to $64,000
On the Job
Hardware or Circuit Engineer, Entry Level Degree requirements: BS in electrical engineering Job description: Hardware engineers do just what the name implies: They research,
develop, design, and test hardware, which can be anything from circuit boards to giant Web presses. At the entry level, there’s a lot of tedious but exacting work involved, and few skip this important learning step in their career. Salary range: $40,000 to $63,000
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
39
Technical Writer Degree requirements: BA in English Job description: The true critical skill of a technical writer is the ability to speak
with engineers in their own language, digest the information, and translate it into something nonengineers can grasp. Most jobs for technical writers are on a contract basis—usually only the largest companies keep a staff of tech writers. Though Adobe FrameMaker is the standard application used to make the documentation and data sheets tech writers produce, more companies are demanding HTML and XML experience from tech writers.
On the Job
Salary range: $44,000 to $61,000
Database Administrator Degree requirements: BS in computer science or equivalent experience Job description: Database administrators, or DBAs, participate in database design
and maintain, develop, and test database environments. Often, this person is responsible for making backups and ensuring that information is recoverable in the event of a disaster. Administrators may also plan, coordinate, and implement security measures to safeguard information. Salary range: $65,000 to $87,000
40
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Support Positions Though an undergraduate degree in computer science or systems looks good on a resume, many support positions do not require a related college degree (or, in some cases—such as call center support—a degree at all). Relevant work experience is often the most important hiring criterion; and to advance to more senior positions, support workers must have hands-on training. The current need for system administrators has made this field a good point of
On the Job
entry for recent college grads. Though companies prefer to hire graduates for this type of work, they rarely insist that degrees be computer-related. In addition to technical aptitude, employers look for strong writing and communication skills, and sys admins can expect to use these abilities often in their interactions with customers and other employees. Entry-level administrators monitor computer systems and perform routine maintenance. As they become more experienced, they may design systems or shift into software engineering. Only for the patient, QA and technical support jobs require troubleshooting, communication, and problem-solving skills. Entry-level tech jobs, at least in support, usually involve direct customer contact. Promotions are usually based on performance, not formal education, and often happen quickly. Senior support workers may become application developers or managers. Like engineering managers, support managers must have not only good technical skills, but good communication and interpersonal skills.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
41
Technical Support, Entry Level Degree requirements: None (BA or BS preferred) Job description: This is the front line—tech support is an entry-level position,
dealing directly with likely disgruntled customers, usually over the phone. It’s volume work. Though working knowledge of the product is vital, so are patience, communication skills, and the ability to deal with unhappy people without making them more unhappy. Salary range: $36,000 to $48,000
On the Job
Technical Support Engineer/Account Manager Degree requirements: BS in computer science Job description: Sometimes promoted from the ranks of tech support, this job
also contains elements of sales in that it’s more involved with on-site and other direct support of clients. As a result, this position requires knowledge of the client’s needs and the ability to troubleshoot and act independently. Salary range: $86,000 to $100,000
Training Consultant Degree requirements: BS in computer science, specialized training preferred Job description: Most large software and hardware installations aren’t just a set-
up-and-go proposition, so companies that sell servers, back-end systems, ERM/ERP solutions, and the like employ IT staff who introduce the clients to the product. And it’s not just for arcane, complex items, either—training consultants are also used to get sales, marketing, and other executives up to speed on new systems. Salary range: $44,000 to $59,000
42
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Management Information Systems (MIS) Degree requirements: BS in computer science or electrical engineering Job description: High-tech companies don’t just sell the stuff—they use it, too.
Working in MIS means handling hardware, software, and networks, all to help the organization run as efficiently as possible. It’s kind of a jack-of-all-trades position, but it does provide exposure to a wide skill set that could translate well to a number of more specialized career paths. Salary range: From $110,000 to more than $140,000 for someone with
experience, an MBA, and proven skills
On the Job
System Administrator, Entry Level Degree requirements: BA or certificate program Job description: The most valuable talents in a sys admin are a willingness to take
things apart and the patience to put the pieces together again. System administrators design, test, and evaluate data communications systems such as local area networks (LANs). A system administrator may also be asked to research and recommend network hardware and software. Beware: This can be a thankless job. People never say, “Hey, my phone works today. Awesome!” But if something goes down, you’ll hear all about it. Salary range: $51,000 to $67,000
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
43
Information Security Specialist Degree requirements: BS in computer science Job description: Information security specialists are responsible for securing data,
devices, and networks against unauthorized external and internal access. In addition to designing and maintaining a set security standard and policy, the information security specialist ensures that the policies are adhered to by all. Remember to change your password!
On the Job
Salary range: $87,000 to $100,000
Sales, PR, and Marketing Positions PR Manager Degree requirements: BA, good communication skills Job description: Though most high-tech companies employ specialized public
relations (PR) firms for the bulk of their needs, larger companies do retain inhouse PR people. A PR person’s job is to serve as an advocate for the company and its products, work with media, and generally make sure the company is cast in a good light. Note that the job is not to dissemble. Salary range: $63,000 to $84,000
44
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Sales Associate Degree requirements: BA or BS Job description: Everyone has to start out somewhere. Sales associate is a junior-
level position and may require making telemarketing cold calls and answering questions on the company’s toll-free sales line. This position will undoubtedly include some administrative work, which can help teach an associate how more senior associates and sales managers work. Though this is a salaried position, most sales jobs offer bonuses and commissions as a large part of compensation.
On the Job
Salary range: $29,000 to $37,000
Sales Manager (Area, Channel) Degree requirements: BS or BA, MBA preferred Job description: An area sales manager is responsible for all sales in a specific
region. Travel is required, as visits to clients, stores, dealers, VARs, and others are crucial. A channel sales manager has similar duties, except that the responsibility is broken down along rubrics such as retail sales or dealer sales, rather than by area. Salary range: $60,000 to $80,000 (along with bonuses and commissions)
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
45
Marketing Communication (Marcom) Degree requirements: BS or BA Job description: Marketing differs from PR in that marketing departments work
more closely on advertising and selling a product into a targeted market, whereas PR people work more with media and the general public. A marcom assistant will help track ad campaigns, production, marketing material, and the like. Also important in this position are organizational skills, as marketing is the department that organizes press conferences, trade show presences, and general events.
On the Job
Salary range: $36,000 to $44,000
Direct Marketing Degree requirements: BS or BA Job description: This job can rightfully be called a challenge—that is, it will test
the limits of how much your friends and relatives really like you: Direct marketing is one of the elements of modern life most people hate (spam, junk mail, telephone calls during dinner). Many companies find it invaluable, though. And it’s not just annoying people, in that direct marketing also requires in-depth marketing research and, nominally, creativity. Salary range: $62,000 to $83,000 for experienced workers
46
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Product Manager Degree requirements: BS in computer science or electrical engineering, MBA or
management experience Job description: As the producer is on the creative side, the product manager is
the one who takes credit for a successful product and accepts blame for one that fails or never even makes it to the market. In addition to coordinating design, development, and production teams, the product manager oversees product marketing, advertising, PR, and more. Salary range: $101,000 to $127,000
On the Job
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
47
Real People Profiles Director of Engineering Age: 36 Years in the business: 18 Education: MA in engineering/MA in psychology Work hours per week: 50
On the Job
Size of company: five employees Certification: none Annual salary: $100,000 What do you do?
I work for a nonprofit agency that works in biodiversity. I write software, investigate new technologies, work on business plans, and negotiate contracts. I also attend meetings and conferences—I get to travel plenty—where I talk to other people who are doing IT in biodiversity. I have commerce with about 100 people in this sort of work, but there are thousands of people working in the area—for nonprofits, governments around the world, universities, and businesses. What did you do before?
I was the CEO of an online community site that I helped build. It was great. The company is still going—it’s being run by other people. Creating technologies that millions of people use is certainly very satisfying. Seeing the role of technology from the perspective of a CEO and not an engineer is interesting. You focus more on the features that make money rather than the features that would be cool. And sometimes you can’t move to the greatest new technology because it
48
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
would cost too much. You have to keep on top of costs. Things like how much bandwidth is your software using—things I wouldn’t pay attention to if I wasn’t running the company. Did you hire people?
Yes. The thing that was most attractive to me on a resume was pieces of work you could point to and prove you built and understood. That, and references. I always called references before making offers. A lot of people put everything on their resume, and that just made me wonder what they were good at. How did you get your current job?
On the Job
I got it because I heard about the organization, and I hassled them incessantly until they finally capitulated and gave me a position. It was about four months of constantly asking them if they needed engineering and going over there and visiting. Luckily I knew somebody who knew somebody who worked there, so I had an excuse to bother them. I had been mentioned as a good engineer, so there was some word of mouth/networking in there, too. How can someone get a job like yours?
You have to have a good resume, which shows a history of successfully accomplishing your duties. And you have to show that you’re interested in the job. And [you have to have] good references. What kinds of people do well in this business?
People who love the technology and are internally motivated to continually learn are going to do well. IT is always changing, so unless you’re really interested in the technology itself, you’ll just fall behind. I think people who have good communication skills do well, because it’s perhaps more rare in this field than others. You have to be able to keep your cool because you’re often under a lot of pressure to finish things. Things break. Things can’t be half-done. You have
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
49
to be able to deal with pressure. And you have to know what you can accomplish, because setting expectations is really important. Saying you can get something done faster than you can will do nothing but get you in trouble. What are your career aspirations?
I’d like to write a few more books about technology and other things and continue to create useful and well-used pieces of software. What is the biggest misconception about your job?
In my experience, my biggest misconception is that you can separate technology from business. I have been unable to stay in a situation where all I was doing
On the Job
was engineering. Technical expertise will eventually flow into helping to direct policy, negotiate contracts, work directly with clients—a whole host of things that have nothing to do with working directly with technology. Is there anything you wish you’d done differently on your career path?
Nope. I don’t think so. How’d you manage that?
I think I’ve been getting exactly the jobs that I want. I keep up on technologies that are current and focus on finding jobs that are interesting and, because I’m interested in the job I’m doing, I do it well. I’ve managed to escape situations where I’m not interested in doing the job because I know I won’t do a good job and won’t be able to get another job that I like. How is your work structured?
The company is small; there are only five people, so how my work goes depends on what kind of phase the company’s in. There are times when I’m given a project to complete, and I’m on my own. I work with an interface developer, and it’s just the two of us coding. The only one who signs off is the CEO. Other times,
50
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
we’re in business development mode, where we’re coming up with plans and then everything is by committee. So in those situations, I’m contributing to some business plan, but I’m not the sole or major contributor. What do you like most about your firm and your job?
I like the subject area, biodiversity. I like that it’s not about commerce, but about public good. I like that it’s not that crowded of a space—there aren’t thousands of people developing the same stuff that I am. There’s some competition, but not a huge amount. I like that I work for a small company. There isn’t a lot of bureaucracy, and my voice is heard.
On the Job
What do you (or others) dislike most about your firm and your job?
Funding is uncertain, which means that job security is low. The focus of the company changes a little more often than I’d like, which makes it hard to focus on anything. Being the only engineer is a lonely thing—it would be nice if there were others. How does the recruiting process work at your firm? What is the best way to get a job with the firm?
For high-level positions, there’s a board of directors who have a role in deciding who gets hired. Candidates will be presented to them, and they’ll make a decision based on those candidates. For lower-level positions, the CEO does all the interviews and makes the choice. Recruiting is generally done through word of mouth. References are huge. You don’t get a job there unless your references are good. What should prospective employees highlight about themselves during an interview with your firm?
Definitely that you’re flexible and can take many roles, because you will be put in many roles. Say that you can deal with uncertainty and let people know you are willing to work long hours when necessary. Don’t seem too stubborn.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
51
Does your firm offer any special or fun perks?
We have Friday barbecues where we get to meet all kinds of interesting people. I get to travel a lot. My office is located in one of the most beautiful parts of town. Hours are flexible, and coffee is free. Sample Project
A typical project for a senior IT professional in bioinformatics involves combining data sets created by different people into a form that can be stored, analyzed, and accessed by the public. “I work with researchers collecting data, ecologists using that data to answer questions, and system administrators,” our insider
On the Job
says. “If there is a public component, I also work with a designer.” Often, the most important part of the job is creating an interface and a system to make researched data accessible. “I travel sometimes, it depends on the job,” the insider says. “Right now, the project I’m working on is based in California. But it may expand to Central America.” Describe a typical day.
7:00
Wake up. I usually get out of the house around 8:30.
9:15
Arrive at work. I check e-mail, because my boss will certainly have sent something urgent. I spend the first hour and a half dealing with urgent messages, which usually involves writing a little bit of code to get the information someone needs, documenting something I’m working on for someone, moving some sort of business relationship forward, or doing research for the CEO.
11:00 I usually do some programming or data entry until about 1:00.
52
1:00
Lunch. While I’m eating, I read trade mags—Slashdot or Nature or Science. Slashdot is the major one. There’s always something interesting there.
1:30
Meeting. Pretty much every day there’s some kind of meeting about some business prospect.
3:00
Documenting. I either document the research I’m doing or the code I’m writing. Sometimes I write things up for business proposals.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
4:30
Coding or number crunching for business plans.
6:30
Say good-bye. Go home.
7:30
Check e-mail. There’s a chance the CEO has sent something urgent.
8:00
Dinner. Mmm . . .
Cofounder/User Interface Design Company Age: 32 Years in the business: eight Education: BA in English literature Work hours per week: 30 to 60, depending on the week/project
On the Job
Size of company: two employees Certification: some graduate course work in interface design and visual design, no specific certification or certificate Annual salary: $80,000 What do you do?
I do interface design, and that ranges from information architecture to visual design to motion design. So, basically any of the projects we take on cover front-end work, primarily for the Web. We have a range of clients—from corporate clients making medical technology products to a producer making a documentary for PBS. What did you do before?
I was the director of user experience for an online job site. I was responsible for leading the UE [user experience] and visual design of that site, and managing the team of people who supported that. How did you get this job?
I’ve always wanted to work for myself. My previous job was great because I got the experience of building a product from the ground up. We went through
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
53
several revs and changes, and the product evolved as we collected user data and saw how users reacted. After two years, I began to crave [the opportunity to] apply this experience to a variety of products. That was one of the biggest reasons I wanted to create a small studio. While I was working full-time, my partner was freelancing and establishing contacts in the freelance world. Those contacts have been crucial in terms of having a successful business in a down economy. Contacts are important in any industry, and especially important in this one. You need people who have worked with you, can vouch for your skills, and would work with you again on another
On the Job
project. That’s been important for us. How can someone get a job like yours?
You need to have real-world experience. Graduating from a program and having school portfolio samples will be somewhat helpful, but I would encourage people to try to get real-world experience. Designing an interface for a neighborhood restaurant or a friend’s business can provide great experience. It’s also good to have pretty thick skin and be willing to put yourself out there and take risks. Just keep trying. I don’t think that you can get overly attached to your work; it makes it harder for you. I feel like I was lucky and in the right place at the right time, and even so, I still think it’s a really challenging field to differentiate yourself in. You have to be bold, take risks, put yourself out there, and make new contacts. I think you have to really want it to make it happen now. And I feel, as the economy has gotten worse, that a lot of people who didn’t really want to do it have stepped out of the arena. What kinds of people do well in this business?
When you’re working on an interface project, you are sitting at the intersection of sales, marketing, engineering, and sometimes business strategy. People who are good at synthesizing those disciplines and people who can serve as a liaison
54
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
or translator often do well. I think that as a designer in this field you have to have a good grasp of technology and how it can impact your design. Even if you are not coding the back end, you have to know what’s going on and how it will impact what you’re doing. People who can balance form and function—the visual and more practical and functional side of things—do well. Be willing to put out three versions (not one) of a design and be open to letting a group impact the work. It’s also important to experiment and try different things. How would you describe the culture at your business?
The culture at our studio strikes a balance between professional and down to earth and easy to work with. The culture of the industry ranges a lot. We work
On the Job
with companies that are very traditional and corporate—most people sit in cubes and there are terms like “casual Fridays.” We also work with artists, where it would be strange to go to a meeting in anything but jeans. Cultures are incredibly varied, and our success is somewhat dependent on our ability to meet other companies where they are in terms of their culture. Being a creative tends to give you a certain cultural freedom that may not exist in other industries. It’s okay to be quirky or different. That’s pretty liberating. What are your career aspirations?
I would like for my studio to be known for creating really amazing sensory experiences online—things that balance storytelling and visual design with really clear user experience. I’m looking forward to having more projects that fall into that realm. I’m happy with having such a small studio now and bringing people in on certain projects, but in ten years it would be nice to see the studio grow to six or eight.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
55
What is the biggest misconception about your job?
Design is not limited to just picking pretty colors. People often think that it’s easy or superficial and doesn’t require any deep synthesis. We base our design on concepts and business strategies. It takes a lot of work to understand those things. Sometimes our work forces business to go in other directions. We force really tough issues. Is there anything you wish you’d done differently on your career path?
Part of me wishes that I started doing this in college or before college. I love it so much, and I think it would be wonderful to have more years doing it or more
On the Job
formal training in it. But I don’t think I would give up much of my career path. In a lot of ways, my English major seems far from design, but that sort of training has given me a good conceptual framework. Lots of designers don’t have that. You take something from each chapter of life that helps in your career. How is your work structured?
Where we work depends on the project. We work on site, but generally prefer not to. For our current project, we meet with the client twice a week. We talk to our project team every day by phone and e-mail. I have to get informal sign-off by the project manager before I present our work to the client. One person signs off on our work, but that’s a little misleading. A lot of what we do is build consensus. The whole team has to be happy with the product, even though one person signs off. A big part of design is presenting work and getting people to buy into the concepts you are presenting. What do you like most about your firm and your job?
I like being a creative lead. That’s a very exciting, fun, and challenging role. I like working in our studio. I like the variety of creative projects I get to work on and the variety of people I get to work with. I like the flexibility that comes with working for myself. I can take a two- to three-week vacation around
56
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
holidays if I decide it’s the right thing to do. I like the time when it’s just me experimenting, but I like that I also work in a very collaborative setting, both with the client and also with teammates. The balance between creative alone time and working with others is one of my favorite things. What do you dislike about your firm and your job?
You have to deal with a certain amount of uncertainty in terms of economics. Managing the ebb and flow of projects and the cash connected with them is challenging and can be stressful. I don’t like the initial part of the sales process. There’s a certain amount of hustling that you have to do, and I have an initial discomfort with that. You constantly have to put yourself out there, and some
On the Job
days you feel more up to it than others. Sample Project
“One of the projects I am working on this year is a content strategy project for a major national bank,” our insider says. “I am working with a large team of product managers and usability researchers trying to figure out how to position some of the bank’s investment products.” As the interface lead, the UI specialist is involved in the research sessions (which consist of rapid ethnographies—or interviews done within a natural setting). After the research is completed, the UI designer will develop several concepts for the bank’s website. These concepts will get tested in front of real users, and the best elements will be rolled into the final product: a series of Web pages that will live on the bank’s site. While making these pages, the UI specialist will work with the creative director and an interface architect to ensure that the designs fit within the bank’s site architecture and style standards.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
57
Describe a typical day.
7:00
Get up.
8:00
Drive to the client’s office.
9:00
Present design directions to the client and participate in a functional design meeting.
11:30 Drive back to the city.
On the Job
12:30 Get lunch. Bring it back to the office. There’s great Mexican food in my neighborhood! 1:00
Check and respond to e-mail. I also belong to e-mail lists for interface designers and surf to see sites mentioned in those design lists.
2:00
Work on changes that came out of the morning meeting.
4:00
Work on a potential pitch and proposal for a new client.
5:00
Work on an animation for another project with the same client.
7:00
Go home.
Consultant Age: 33 Years in the business: 13 Education: Some college. I’ve never taken a computer class. Work hours per week: 45 to 50; as a freelancer, it’s hard to say Size of client companies: four to 20,000 employees Certification: none Annual salary: about $80,000 (varies from year to year) What do you do?
I do two broad kinds of things: contract software development and consulting about technology and software. I might look at why an IT team isn’t doing well. Clients might ask what they can do to reduce burn rates and increase productivity, or if the software they’re building is what they should be building. If they’ve contracted out work, they might want to know how those people are doing as well.
58
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
How does consulting work? Do you work for one company at a time?
It depends a great deal. I try never to work six months at a place. If you spend too much time on one client, the others disappear. I also try to avoid things that require an hour here or an hour there—unless I’m put on a monthly retainer. How do you find jobs? Do you interview?
The way that I’ve almost always found work is through friends of friends and people I’ve worked with before. The hiring process depends on the place and how I got there. For my current job, there was no formal interview. For a finance job I worked on, I was recommended to the hiring manager. I met with him a couple of times and with a few other people before I started. Larger companies
On the Job
tend to be more formal. How can someone become an IT contractor?
Don’t quit your day job until you can’t possibly avoid it. It takes a long time to build up contacts and have a consistent stream of work. You are best off doing consulting work in the evenings and on weekends at first. In terms of building up the contacts, aside from colleagues and friends, networking is helpful. User groups and industry events are a good way to make contacts. What kinds of people do well in this business?
In general, I don’t recommend IT as a field for people whose reason is only to get a good job. Careers in IT require a lot of commitment and enjoyment of the work, partly because it’s intellectually demanding. The work is continually changing, and you must constantly update skills. Unless you like IT enough to play with the stuff, it’s hard to keep current and be marketable. What are your career aspirations?
I am currently trying to shift what I’m doing toward more consulting on software process. At first, I was very excited about making things for people.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
59
Then a number of projects I worked on failed because of poor process. Now, I’m excited that I can make better software and help engineers suffer less. What is the biggest misconception about your job?
Many people think that IT is some sort of magic wishing box. It’s an understandable mistake, as technology evolves so rapidly. People don’t understand current limitations, and companies make plans before consulting a technically skilled person about what’s feasible. Is there anything you wish you’d done differently on your career path?
One of my biggest mistakes was to stick with a bad job too long. I wanted
On the Job
things to work out, so I was willing to ignore vast amounts of evidence that things were not going to get any better, ever. How is your work structured?
My working relationships vary a great deal. Right now, I meet with my client every couple of months, and we exchange e-mails in between. By and large, I’m on own. What do you like most about your job?
The best thing about my job is the ability to choose the projects I work on, in that I get to explore new areas or learn about things I’m interested in. Consulting keeps me on my toes more than a job would. In a job, you fall into a routine, and I do not do my best work or put forth as much effort as I’d like. What do you (or others) dislike about your job?
Most people dislike the irregularity of the income. You never know where or when the next paycheck is coming from. Lately, there’s been a relatively dry spell. Unless I’m prepared, I’ll be living in my parent’s basement. Another thing people don’t like is the feeling of being the “new kid” in school—always
60
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
coming into new places and meeting new people. When you contract, you lose the safety and comfort of working in the same environment. Typically, jobs are very demanding in terms of hours and effort. Part of this is a flattering sort of demand—your work is important and companies want it right now. The less happy part of that is that software project management is not a mature field and in a lot of places schedules and feature lists are based on nothing other than what the manager would like to happen. Programmers have to make up the difference. Sample Project
Often called in when things aren’t working, the consultant has the job of fixing
On the Job
things. For one project, our insider was called in to help streamline an inefficient engineering process. He worked with a large team of engineers and, ultimately, a very grateful software manager. After observing the workflow, he noticed that the team did not use unit tests, which are used to isolate and test individual software components before they are integrated into an entire system. Because each engineer’s components were not tested efficiently, one person’s work often interfered with another’s. After isolating the problems with the process, he helped develop and implement a solution. The biggest perk of the job: getting to work with a lot of different people in a lot of different places. Describe a typical day.
7:00
First thing I do is check and go through e-mail. I make sure the machines I maintain are up and running and answer any urgent queries from people.
9:00
I start my client work. This varies a great deal depending on my clients.
1:00
Lunch break.
1:30
I participate in things that will give me visibility—mailing lists and newsgroups—so that people will say, “I should hire you.”
3:00
Because I do a lot of work from home, I mix in life with work. If I’m stuck on a problem at three, I’ll do laundry and work into the evening.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
61
4:00
In addition to the direct client work, I set aside time to spend learning new things and doing research.
7:00
I’ll keep working till I run out of steam for the day. Sometimes that will be a few hours, sometimes much longer. Since I charge clients by the hour, I won’t charge if I’m not doing well.
Software Engineer Age: 25 Years in the business: four Education: BS in computer science Work hours per week: 32 (“I try to keep it pretty close to that.”)
On the Job
Size of company: 35 Certification: none Annual salary: $54,000 What do you do?
I design and develop hosted Web software. I’ve been with the company since the beginning, so I’ve had an opportunity to really get involved with the product. In addition to coding, I do a lot of architecture work—deciding how the product is built overall. What did you do before?
I worked at another software company. Before that, I was in school. How did you get this job?
Networking. I’d worked with my manager at a previous job, and he recruited me. We stayed in touch through e-mail, and we’d go out to lunch once or twice a year. I called him when I was looking for a new job, and he told me about the product he was working on. It sounded really cool.
62
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
How can someone get a job like yours?
Networking. My very first job was due to connections I had. It’s not always necessary, but now with so many people looking for jobs, it makes you stand out among candidates employers don’t know. What kinds of people do well in this business?
I think you need to be pretty laid-back and amenable to sudden changes in direction—particularly if you work at a start-up. I code something all up, and then my boss decides not to use it—things like that. You need an engineering background if your resume is going to stand out in the filtering process.
On the Job
What is the biggest misconception about your job?
Coding isn’t really that hard. The misconception is that it is. Engineers sometimes add all this crud just to make it sound complicated. They’ve got their lingo. Really, though, none of it is hard to learn. Is there anything you wish you’d done differently on your career path?
I wish I’d gotten a fuller education in other subjects besides computer science— like music. It’s useful to have a degree in engineering now because the job market is tough. But on the job, you don’t use half that stuff. Practically, you just need a minor in CS—just the coding stuff. The theory—math and logic—you don’t need that. How is your work structured?
For the most part, I work independently. I work in my own area, as do the other engineers in my group. There are four coders on the product I work on. We meet to discuss interesting problems and features. My manager signs off on my work— he just says it’s okay. We don’t have code reviews, like some firms. Everything goes through QA.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
63
What do you like most about your firm and your job? Why did you choose to work there?
My boss is great, and I really like my direct coworkers. I get a lot of flexibility as to when and how many hours I work. My schedule is flexible enough to give me time to train on my bike (I do a lot of racing). I get to work on new products, and I get a lot of freedom when I code. I can suggest new features, and a lot of them are added to the product. I took the job because the product sounded cool, and I’d worked with my boss before. What do you (or others) dislike about your firm and your job?
On the Job
There’s no software cycle at my company because we have a hosted Web service, not a shrink-wrapped product. We don’t have one big release—just constant updates. So there’s always some stress. My company is small, and sometimes it’s like watching a building fall down very slowly. You have knowledge about everything that goes on, but no power to stop things from happening. Decisions change at the top without any democratic involvement. It can be frustrating. What is a typical career track at your firm? Do people stay for years or move around in the industry?
Because it’s a start-up, presumably no one will be there for years. Our roles are pretty fluid. Does your firm offer any special or fun perks?
We can work from home, and our hours are pretty flexible. I work part-time. We also get free soda and free lunch every Friday. Sample Project
Usually, a junior software developer works on one component of a larger project. The junior developer works under the supervision of his or her manager and mainly with the engineering team. For the most part, junior developers have no
64
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
interaction with marketing or sales or other departments or outside firms. Often given a specification (usually incomplete), the junior developer works out the specifics of implementation and writes the required code. Once done, the QA team tests the work. There is usually some back and forth between the developer and QA as bugs are entered and fixed. After QA signs off, the code is ready to go live. The good part of the job is working closely with other engineering team members. The bad part is having little say about which projects are assigned. Describe a typical day.
That’s when I usually get up.
9:30
Drive to work. The commute is only 25 minutes then—no traffic!
On the Job
8:30
10:00 Get into the office and get settled. I read e-mail, plan the day, start coding. 12:30 Time for lunch. Sometimes I eat at my desk. I go out to eat with coworkers a few times each week. 1:00
User interface meeting with the quality assurance team to discuss a new product feature.
2:00
Another meeting with just my engineering team to discuss the same feature in more depth.
5:30
Drive home and hope there’s no traffic.
6:00
Eat dinner—vegetarian.
6:30
Train on my bicycle for an hour.
8:00
Go over to my boyfriend’s place.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
65
The Workplace • Lifestyle and Culture • Hours • Diversity • Compensation • Travel The Workplace
• Vacations and Perks • Career Path • Insider Scoop
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
67
Lifestyle and Culture “Really, a misspent youth is how I am where I am today. I got a computer when I was 12 and spent all my time in the basement,” one insider says. “I’m rarely apart from a computer for more than a couple days, on average three hours.” The fast-paced environment and constant change in IT is exciting and engrossing. That, coupled often with a love of technology, tends to blur the lines between personal and professional time. Late nights in the office or at home often find workers in front of a screen. Though their interests and experience differ widely, IT professionals tend to share some qualities. They like to learn, they’re interested in how things work and why, they tend to be educated. The IT professional is most likely the one who knows about the latest new tech toy or game. And, yes, the stereotype of poor communication skills holds to some degree, but is becoming less and less
The Workplace
true as the industry broadens and grows. The laid-back, flexible work environment associated with the software industry does not always hold in the IT sectors of other industries. “As far I can tell, IT culture mirrors the broader corporate culture, but is one notch less uptight,” says an insider who contracts with a large financial institution. “For example, the dress code here is business casual. Programmers are more on the casual side of that. No one wears jeans, but people tend to look more scruffy than the dress code might intend.” The standard of the work environment will dictate the norm. Don’t assume that you can show up in a T-shirt and jeans just because you know how to program.
68
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Hours Work hours and schedules across the industries are varied. One insider works a 9:30 to 5:30 day (though he says he generally stays longer). Another gets to work by 10:00 and has a flexible schedule—as long as he’s in the office for certain core hours. “People get to work whatever 60 hours a week they want to work,” he says. The one constant seems to be that workdays are long, and weekends sometimes become a part of the workweek, too. In a work context that’s not pure IT, it’s less likely that the hours will be flexible and that you’ll be able to telecommute. “The technology is still improving, and people’s ability to do such things is increasing across the board. But it’s definitely less so in industries that are not pure IT,” one insider says. Often, telecommuting is seen as a means of retaining good employees, rather than a general practice. “If a valuable employee moves somewhere, an employer might let him
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
The Workplace
telecommute,” another insider says.
69
Diversity There’s no question that a lot of IT workers, especially programmers and system administrators, are very white and very male. Though Asians are well represented, African Americans and Latinos are underrepresented in the field. This situation is not unique to the IT industry and is often explained (though not justified) in terms of an inequity in the overall economic framework. Women are a minority in some areas of the IT world as well. Though QA and project management tend to be more gender balanced, software and system administration are still male-dominated professions. Few women penetrate the
The Workplace
ranks of upper management.
Compensation Salaries in the IT industry vary. On average, the compensation is high—nearly twice the national average, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. Like any other industry, experience is rewarded with bigger paychecks. The average salary of a chief technology officer is about $117,000. An entry-level programmer salary is closer to $60,000. (These numbers come from the 2002 Computerworld.com annual salary survey and do not include bonuses.) Different indexes will report somewhat different compensation packages—it’s good to
70
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
consult several. Salary.com will even allow you to create a customized report based on geographic location and job title. Base-level salaries also vary across industries. For example, IT workers in finance can make as much as twice what IT workers earn in education. From the nonprofit world, our insider says that there are lots of opportunities, but they aren’t very well paid at the entry level: “As a junior person you can’t get paid as much as you can in industry. But as someone with experience, you get paid pretty close to industry standard.” When evaluating reported salary packages, look at both entryand senior-level compensation. After all, you will be moving into these jobs as your career advances. Individual industries and, in some cases, IT professional organizations within industries publish reports on the compensation packages. Keep on top of what is happening in the industry and across industries to make sure you’re being properly compensated. Keep in mind that salaries also vary with geographic location, usually to mirror the cost of living. Compensation is not limited to a paycheck. Benefits and employee incentives such as bonuses (and perhaps even stock options!) are an important part of the
The Workplace
package. Though health insurance is a given, things like dental and vision programs are not always offered. A good package will include all three. Retirement plans are important, though not universally available. When evaluating salary packages, take the benefits into account as well. The recent downturn in the IT industry has affected compensation to a degree. Base salaries tend to be stable, but bonuses and benefit packages are not as attractive as they once were. A salary that does not increase is in some ways a pay cut as well, as the cost of living continues to rise. Contractors may find that they can’t get the hourly rates they once did, or that they have to take a pay cut because they must work through an agency to find work. For self-employed professionals, the best way to keep on top of what’s going on in the industry is word of mouth. Compensation data is also available online; a few Google searches will usually yield some useful information.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
71
Travel Though the average tech support worker won’t be flying off on many junkets— travel for IT support people tends to be of the “2 a.m. call to get to the office to reboot the server” variety—business trips are a fact of life for information technology professionals. Conferences, business negotiations, and trade shows often require travel. And although trade shows are often at fun-sounding locations such as Las Vegas or Cologne, don’t expect to have much free time while you’re there. In addition, as more work is done by remote contractors, engineers, purchasers, and managers often have to travel back and forth, sometimes with
The Workplace
nearly zero turnaround time. Still, a smart traveler can find a holiday in any trip.
Vacations and Perks Though the long days and nights around crunch times might seem to warrant generous vacation packages, entry-level IT professionals usually receive the standard two weeks along with a handful of personal or flexible days. Usually, vacation is earned over time. After two-and-a-half months of work, for example, you will have accrued roughly two days of vacation. Those who remain with a company for a year or longer are often rewarded with additional days (and in some cases, weeks) of paid vacation. Some companies allow employees to “borrow against” future vacation days. For example, though you may have only worked five months, you
72
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
may be permitted to take a full year’s worth of vacation days. Other companies are not as flexible. Free coffee and lunches are common perks in the IT industry. Some insiders describe free soda and flexible hours; others mention great health plans and education reimbursement. Opportunities for travel (sometimes to exotic locales) make jobs more attractive as well. Like everything else, perks vary by company and industry. You may receive free books if you work in publishing or free movie passes if you work in the entertainment industry.
Career Path The Workplace
Opportunities for Undergraduates A computer science degree does not necessarily guarantee a job in information technology. Employers are looking for experience and proven communication skills, and in today’s market, they can afford to be picky. Internships and co-op programs are a great way to gather job experience and learn about the industry. Not only does the experience look good on a resume, it often leads to an inside track for a job interview. Not every job requires a technical background. Sales, marketing, management, and support and helpdesk positions, in particular, require skills that are not often emphasized in CS programs. It is not uncommon to see an English major in any one of these roles. The broader your skill set and experience base, the more opportunities are available to you.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
73
Career paths will differ according to functional role and interests. Software engineers are more likely than database or system administrators to advance to project supervisors, for example. For those not interested in management, “Senior” will ultimately find its way to the front of your job title, bringing with it more interesting projects, less drudge work, and higher compensation.
Opportunities for MBAs and Advanced-Degree Holders MBAs face the same tough job market as everyone else these days. Venture capital does not flow as generously as it once did, and young companies thirsty for MBAs are few and far between. However, MBAs still have several fairly reliable points of entry: as computer and information systems managers or as system analysts. For either function, a strong background in information technology is desired, if not demanded, by employers. Systems analysts—who study the hardware, software, and personnel in an organization and recommend ways to streamline procedures and increase efficiency—often move quickly into management positions. MBAs with strong knowledge and experience in specific areas can
The Workplace
also move on to become consultants. Those with advanced degrees in engineering and science who don’t remain in academia have traditionally favored jobs in research labs run by tech giants such as Xerox, IBM, and Bell. Despite cuts in R&D budgets over the last decade, such places still exist and can support a researcher’s dreams of discovery, though what he or she discovers will be the patented property of the company. And it’s not unheard of for someone with a liberal arts PhD in, say, history or literature to move into upper management. After all, the advanced skills of researching, critical thinking, and analysis required for such a degree are also critical in the business world.
74
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Opportunities for Midcareer Candidates It can be quite jarring to switch gears midcareer, especially in the tech industry, where a person can spend years honing his or her specialized skills and knowledge. Many such switches are forced when a company is acquired or merged with another. For example, some software engineers at the small game developers purchased by Microsoft moved on to other, Microsoft-specific projects. (Those small game developers included Bungie Software, Rare Ltd., Digital Anvil, FASA Interactive Technologies, and Access Software.) Keeping a wide skill set keeps opportunities open. Conversely, it helps midcareer sales and marketing professionals to stress their expertise and contacts in highly targeted (and competitive) areas. Exhibiting a depth of knowledge, specific skills, and an established network of contacts can make you stand out as a potential hire.
The Workplace
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
75
Insider Scoop What Employees Really Like Ticket to anywhere. IT skills are like a monthly bus pass; you can use them to
reach a variety of destinations at any time. “Programming skills can be used to get closer to any industry,” an insider says. Whatever your interests, there is a related industry with an IT department. It may take a little patience and persistence, but IT skills can help you break into any field. The sky’s the limit. As one insider says, “Computers are tools, and you can make
them do all sorts of things that are fun and interesting.” The possibilities in information technology are vast, and no one knows what the limits are yet. There is a tremendous amount of excitement and potential in this field, which
The Workplace
is still young and growing. Useful is good. There’s a reason that every industry has an IT department now:
Information technology is useful. Computers help speed and streamline business processes and often eliminate redundant and boring tasks. Information technology helps people, and though the world outside of the IT department might only be aware of the network when it goes down, the people who build and maintain it provide a great service. Software developers work on products that are used by as few as one and as many as millions of people. At the end of the day, a product that helps save time and resources provides a lot of satisfaction to those who work (often long hours) to make it happen. My new family. It’s not uncommon to hear an IT worker say, “I like my
coworkers a lot.” The workforce is educated, interesting, and excited by technology. People tend to share a liking for new gadgets and toys, and most
76
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
people enjoy sharing information and experience. The open source philosophy, which promotes the idea that an open community of developers works most efficiently, is quite common (though businesses don’t often adopt this policy). One degree less formal. Though IT departments inside industries are subject to
the policies of the larger company, there tends to be a bit more flexibility in the engineering quad. Dress is a little more casual. Hours a little less rigid.
Watch Out! The Red Queen effect. In Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass, the Red
Queen explains to Alice that, in her kingdom, “it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.” The kingdom of IT is much the same way. Technology changes rapidly, and IT professionals must constantly learn new skills and obtain new certifications to remain marketable. Insiders say they spend up to 20 percent of their own time training to keep current in the field. A common rule of thumb: Prepare for half of your IT skills to be outdated within three to five years. Take advantage of employer-subsidized education programs and keep on top of what’s
The Workplace
going on in the industry. Health hazards. IT workers often spend long periods in front of a computer
terminal typing. Though they may seem to work in a safe environment, IT professionals are very susceptible to eyestrain, back discomfort, and hand and wrist problems. Watch out for the first signs of repetitive stress injury: numbness in the fingers, especially the thumb, index, and middle fingers. If you have difficulty gripping or making a fist, see a doctor. Many workplaces have ergonomic reviews and information. Ask your manager or HR department for information. The nutty professor. Research the classes and schools you attend. One insider
says “There’s the nightmare case of the professor who’s taught the same class and hasn’t updated—be wary of that, it becomes a liability.”
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
77
Visa woes. If you do not have permanent U.S. residency (a fair number of IT
professionals hail from overseas), make sure that you have a general grasp of immigration and naturalization law. Though most large companies have in-house procedures for managing the visa process, smaller companies may not be as prepared or equipped to deal with this. It’s in your interest to explain. You can obtain information through Web research or at career centers. Where did my weekend go? IT projects have a tendency to run behind schedule,
often because the original schedule was never that realistic to begin with. However, developers are the ones who have to make up the difference. When deadlines come, days stretch far into evenings, and weekends become nothing more than
The Workplace
additional work opportunities.
78
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Getting Hired • The Recruiting Process • Interviewing Tips • Grilling Your Interviewer
Getting Hired
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
79
The Recruiting Process The high-tech industry runs on a cycle of highs and lows. During high periods, employers go to extravagant lengths to recruit new workers. During low periods, job seekers must work hard to get employers’ attention. In today’s competitive job market, you may need to take additional classes or demonstrate outstanding communication or business skills to attract a hirer’s attention. Remember that an interview is a process of mutual review. Both you and the employer seek to find the best fit for a position. Don’t be afraid to admit to areas of weakness in your skill set. Companies understand that no one knows everything and are more impressed with honesty than hubris. Following up on interviews is important. You may not be selected for the job you spoke of, but you might be called back for a future opening. Make sure to leave a favorable last impression. In a tough job market, the burden is on you to seek opportunities. Don’t be afraid to ask friends and associates to refer you or make introductions.
Special Information for Undergraduates Typically, candidates coming straight out of college will find job leads through
Getting Hired
campus recruiting, and campus job fairs are the first place to look. A list of participating companies is always posted. You should prepare for a fair by selecting and researching the firms that interest you most. Bring several copies of your resume, including an ASCI text version, as an increasing number of companies use online recruiting tools and will want to scan your resume into their system. (Most career centers offer good counseling on resume writing.
80
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Draw on that resource! Also check out Killer Cover Letters and Resumes: The WetFeet Insider Guide, available from www.wetfeet.com.) Though you may get an in-depth interview on the spot, don’t be discouraged if you only speak with a recruiter for a minute. The most important thing is to present yourself and your resume. Keep a list of the companies you approach so that when they call, you’ll remember how they got your name and number. Recent graduates can also target and apply to specific companies based on personal research. Approach potential hirers with a cover letter, resume, and transcript. Letters of recommendation are optional and in some cases almost passé. In general, you should not submit recommendations unless they are specifically requested. This doesn’t mean that you should forget about them. Line up key references—professors or intern and co-op employers.
Special Information for MBAs There’s a myth perpetuated to MBA grads that the degree qualifies them for management positions. The truth is, even MBAs have to prove themselves to an employer. “I would say in a general sense, that an MBA degree is not targeted by people hiring IT professionals,” says one insider. “At the end of the day, the things employers are looking for are technical training, work experience, and on-the-job training.” Still, good business skills are always needed. Take advantage of job fairs, company websites, and trade shows when looking for work. Professional organizations,
Getting Hired
committees, and clubs can provide networking opportunities, but don’t overcommit. These organizations can be valuable, but they also take up a lot of time. Select only the ones most relevant to your long-term career plans.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
81
Special Information for Midcareer Candidates Midcareer candidates looking to work in a new capacity do not necessarily need to change companies. In fact, the best place to start switching fields is often your current workplace. Volunteer for projects that will provide experience in the area of interest to you, and take advantage of internal connections and training opportunities. You may be able to move laterally within your company. Midcareer job seekers should set a realistic objective and timeline for their job search. “Think in terms of two to five years, not an overnight change,” says one insider. “Assess your relevant skills and establish a plan for subsidizing those skills to become competitive in the job market.” You may wish to pursue a second degree or take continuing education classes. Career changers will most likely find work through job fairs, ads, and blind inquiries. Unlike undergraduates, midcareer workers have an existing network of
Getting Hired
professional contacts. Use it.
82
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Interviewing Tips 1. Your first interview will likely be over the telephone. This is not a particularly comfortable way to meet future employers, but it’s the reality of the recruiting process. Find a comfortable chair, keep a copy of your resume and cover letter in front of you for reference, and pretend like you’re sitting in the room with the interviewer. Be as clear and concise as possible. 2. Know your career aspirations. Be prepared to talk about what you want to do and why. Frame your professional and academic background in light of your interest in the position. Make sure to mention key accomplishments. 3. Research the company. Though a large part of the interview will be about you, a significant part will also be about the company. You should know the major products the company makes, the corporate structure, any parent or subsidiary companies, who the executives are, how the company has been doing in its market niche, and more. Being well-informed about the company indicates your sincere interest in working there. 4. Be prepared to explain why you want to work for this company as opposed to others. “It’s just the most awesome” doesn’t cut it. Is there a particular project that entices you? The way the company allows individual innovation, as Bell Labs does? Tip: Other bad answers include those having to do with
Getting Hired
location (“It’s the closest”), salary (“Well, I hear you guys pay the most”), or rumors of excellent perks. 5. Ask questions that will clarify your understanding of the job, the goals of the department, and the direction of the company. 6. Ask about specifics involved in the hiring process, next steps, and so on.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
83
Grilling Your Interviewer Be prepared to both ask and answer questions at your interview. We’ve listed some good general questions here and categorized them by their level of aggression. Those in the Rare section are meant to be innocuous, while the Well Done questions will put fire under your interviewer’s feet. Not all of the questions may be appropriate to your situation. It’s a good idea to arrive at an interview prepared with questions specific to the company.
Rare • How large is the team I’d be working with? How do team members communicate? • What project would I work on first, and what would my role in the project be? • What would you expect from me in the first three months? Six months? Year? • What are the goals of this department? • How do you see this department (and company) changing over the next five years? • Are employees reviewed on a regular (annual or semi-annual) basis? What qualities are evaluated? • What are the possibilities for advancement with this position?
Getting Hired
• What distinguishes your company from its competitors? [Note: Even better, name specific competitors.] • What is the company’s policy toward continuing education? Is there a tuition reimbursement program? • How would you describe the company culture?
84
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
Medium • Why is the position now vacant? • What do you like most about working for this company? What keeps you here? • Is there anything you dislike about this company? • What kind of person succeeds at this company? • What new products or services does the company plan to add in the next year? • What is the department head’s leadership style? • Is the company currently experiencing any difficulties? What are they? • What problems might I expect to encounter? • Has the company laid off anyone in the past two years for budgetary reasons? • Would it be OK to call you next week to check in?
Well Done • How stable is the company financially? At what point, if any, will additional financing be required? • How many women and minorities are in management positions? • Have there been instances of sexual harassment in the workplace? If so, how has the company responded?
Getting Hired
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
85
For Your Reference
For Your Reference • Recommended Reading • Job Boards • Certification
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
87
For Your Reference
Recommended Reading Code Complete: A Practical Handbook of Software Construction
Steve C. McConnell (Microsoft Press, 1993) Believed by many to be the best practical guide to writing commercial software, this is an industry classic. Examples are provided in C, Pascal, Basic, Fortran, and Ada, but the focus is on successful programming techniques. O’Reilly Books
(www.oreilly.com) O’Reilly produces one of the definitive lines of books that teach, in detail, all the ins and outs of the software world from network tuning to Perl coding to Open Source issues. The company also runs conferences every year on a variety of topics. Peachpit Books
(www.peachpit.com) Focusing more on multimedia design, Web design, the Mac, and servers, Peachpit puts out a range of useful books, from the Visual QuickStart guides to thick reference works. Dr. Dobb’s Journal
(www.ddj.com) DDJ has been around since 1976. Authors are primarily IT professionals who want to revise proposed standards, explore new technologies, argue over programming style, and share tricks of the trade.
88
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
For Your Reference
Information Week
(www.informationweek.com) This weekly newspaper focuses on what’s going on in computing, with an emphasis on emerging trends. Slashdot
(www.slashdot.org) As one insider says, “Slashdot is the most significant online community for IT workers on the Internet.” It features discussions of new software, hardware, and politics that relate to IT. You will also find interviews with major IT pundits and discussions of techniques and tools of the trade. Visitors also discuss IT-related issues like job availability and how to deal with clients. Information Technology Association of America
(www.itaa.org) The ITAA website provides information about the IT industry, its issues, association programs, publications, meetings, seminars, and links to related websites.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
89
For Your Reference
Job Boards Dice
(www.dice.com) A large job board exclusively for tech job seekers and hirers. Dice is one of the first places to look for listings, and it’s free for job seekers. Craigslist
(www.craigslist.com) Though Craigslist originated in the Bay Area, it now provides boards for more than a dozen U.S. cities, with local job listings for each. Thinking of moving to Europe? Check out Craigslist London. Free for job seekers. CareerBuilder
(www.careerbuilder.com) A comprehensive job board, with options to search by industry, company, or even in Spanish. Free for job seekers. Monster
(www.monster.com) One of the first well-known job boards, Monster remains a good resource for job seekers. Post a resume, get career advice, or troll through the job listings. Free for job seekers.
90
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
For Your Reference
ITtoolbox Staffing
(staffing.ittoolbox.com) Only for information technology job seekers and hirers. To search job postings, users must post a resume on the site. HotJobs
(hotjobs.yahoo.com) Now part of Yahoo, this job board also has links to a great set of salary wizards and other resources.
Certification An increasing number of colleges and universities now offer certificate programs in information technology, often through extension and even online programs. Many vendors also offer product-specific certification directly. Though certification is by no means a requirement for many IT jobs, it can be helpful to have credentials in a tight job market. Many companies will also pay for employees’ certification programs. Check Point Certification
(www.checkpoint.com/services/education/certification/) For those interested in pursuing a career in network security, Check Point certificates are useful credentials. Certified professionals have exclusive access to the Check Point “Certified Professionals Only” site.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
91
For Your Reference
Cisco Certification
(www.cisco.com/en/US/learning/le3/learning_certification_overview.html) Cisco offers three levels of certification (associate, professional, and expert) in four areas: network installation and support, network engineering and design, communications and services, and network security. HP Certification
(http://h10017.www1.hp.com/certification/) Certificate programs teach IT professionals how to plan, deploy, support, and service HP technology and solutions. IBM Certification
(http://www-1.ibm.com/certify/index.shtml) IBM offers dozens of certificates from e-business to XML, all focused on IBM technology. Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals
(www.iccp.org) This organization offers CCP (Certified Computing Professional) and ACP (Associate Computing Profession) certification. ICCP is not a training institution. Although ICCP partners with other groups to offer relevant courses, it is primarily a certifying organization. Interested professionals must take and pass a series of exams (costing between $300 and $600) to receive a credential. According to ICCP literature, nearly 55,000 technology professionals have participated in its certifying program. Microsoft Certification
(http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/) Over one-and-a-half million people have a Microsoft certification of some ilk. Currently, the most popular certification is an MCP (Microsoft Certified
92
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
For Your Reference
Professional). Interested professionals must pass an exam to obtain a certificate. The online training center offers a skill assessment tool and information about Microsoft training options. Novell Certification
(http://www.novell.com/training/certinfo/) Novell offers a continuing certification program. Interested professionals can study to be a Novell Certified Engineer or Administrator. The company offers short classes (usually just a few days), study materials, and practice exams, which can be found on the Novell training site. Oracle Certification
(http://www.oracle.com/education/certification/) Oracle offers certification programs for database administrators, application developers, and Web application server administrators. Red Hat Certification
(http://www.redhat.com/training/rhce/courses/) Red Hat, which is famous for its flavor of Linux and open source technology, offers both a Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT) and Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) course of study. The exam is a performance-based test on live equipment. RSA Certification
(http://www.rsasecurity.com/training/certification/) Like Symantec and Check Point, RSA offers certificates in security. Recertification is required for every major product release and for certain point releases that RSA deems sufficiently important.
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
93
For Your Reference
Sun Certification
(http://suned.sun.com/US/certification/) Sun offers a number of certifications in Java and the Solaris operating environment. Certification is valid for two years. Symantec Certification
(http://www.symantec.com/education/certification/) Symantec offers four levels of certification in security-related areas. Applicants must already know TCP/IP and be proficient with at least one operating system.
94
Copyright 2003 WetFeet, Inc.
WetFeet's Insider Guide Series Ace Your Case! The WetFeet Insider Guide to Consulting Interviews Ace Your Case II: Fifteen More Consulting Cases Ace Your Case III: Practice Makes Perfect Ace Your Case IV: The Latest and Greatest Ace Your Interview! The WetFeet Insider Guide to Interviewing Beat the Street: The WetFeet Insider Guide to Investment Banking Interviews Getting Your Ideal Internship Get Your Foot in the Door! Landing the Job Interview Job Hunting A to Z: The WetFeet Insider Guide to Landing the Job You Want Killer Consulting Resumes! Killer Cover Letters and Resumes! Killer Investment Banking Resumes! Negotiating Your Salary and Perks Networking Works! The WetFeet Insider Guide to Networking Career and Industry Guides
Accounting Advertising and Public Relations Asset Management and Retail Brokerage Biotech and Pharmaceuticals Brand Management Computer Software and Hardware Consulting for Ph.D.s, Lawyers, and Doctors Entertainment and Sports Health Care Human Resources Industries and Careers for MBAs Industries and Careers for Undergrads Information Technology Investment Banking
Management Consulting Manufacturing Marketing and Market Research Non-Profits and Government Agencies Oil and Gas Real Estate Top 20 Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Firms Top 25 Consulting Firms Top 25 Financial Services Firms Top 20 Law Firms Venture Capital Company Guides
Accenture Bain & Company Bear Stearns Booz Allen Hamilton The Boston Consulting Group Cap Gemini Ernst & Young Citigroup Credit Suisse First Boston Deloitte Consulting Goldman Sachs IBM Business Consulting Services JPMorgan Chase Lehman Brothers McKinsey & Company Merrill Lynch Monitor Group Morgan Stanley
Who We Are WetFeet is the trusted destination for job seekers to research companies and industries, and manage their careers. WetFeet Insider Guides provide you with inside information for a successful job search. At WetFeet, we do the work for you and present our results in an informative, credible, and entertaining way. Think of us as your own private research company whose primary mission is to assist you in making more informed career decisions. WetFeet was founded in 1994 by Stanford MBAs Gary Alpert and Steve Pollock. While exploring our next career moves, we needed products like the WetFeet Insider Guides to help us through the research and interviewing game. But they didn’t exist. So we started writing. Today, WetFeet serves more than a million job candidates each month by helping them nail their interviews, avoid ill-fated career decisions, and add thousands of dollars to their compensation packages. The quality of our work and knowledge of the job-seeking world have also allowed us to develop an extensive corporate and university membership. In addition, WetFeet’s services include two award-winning websites (WetFeet.com and InternshipPrograms.com), Web-based recruiting technologies, consulting services, and our exclusive research studies, such as the annual WetFeet Student Recruitment Survey. Our team members, who come from diverse backgrounds, share a passion about the job-search process and a commitment to delivering the highest quality products and customer service.
About Our Name One of the most frequent questions we receive is, “So, what’s the story behind your name?” The short story is that the inspiration for our name comes from a popular business school case study about L.L. Bean, the successful mail-order company. Leon Leonwood Bean got his start because he quite simply, and very literally, had a case of wet feet. Every time he went hunting in the Maine woods, his shoes leaked, and he returned with soaked feet. So, one day, he decided to make a better hunting shoe. And he did. And he told his friends, and they lined up to buy their own pairs of Bean boots. And L.L. Bean, the company, was born . . . all because a man who had wet feet decided to make boots. The lesson we took from the Bean case? Lots of people get wet feet, but entrepreneurs make boots. And that’s exactly what we’re doing at WetFeet.
“I found the WetFeet guides very handy for getting up to speed a week before the interviews and I've landed multiple summer internships with your help. Go WetFeet!” –– Wharton student “WetFeet offers job seekers convenient and highly comprehensive resources for gathering current information on the job market. Their publications are superior assets in the job search arsenal.” –– Don Brezinski, executive director, Corporate Relations, Bentley College “WetFeet provides the best and most comprehensive insider guides.” –– Jacqueline A. Wilbur, director, MBA Career Development, Sloan School of Management, MIT
WetFeet has earned a strong reputation among college graduates and career professionals for its series of highly credible, no-holds-barred Insider Guides. WetFeet’s investigative writers get behind the annual reports and corporate PR to tell the real story of what it’s like to work at specific companies and in different industries. www.WetFeet.com
