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How to Get a Job in Computers
Okay, so you want a job in computers. This is as good a time as any to define the phrase "a job in computers." In the context of this article, any job that involves spending most of your day working at a computer is "a job in computers." If that sounds like something you're keen on doing, here's how to increase your chances of getting there.
Steps
Survey the field. The first thing you need to think about is exactly what kind of job in computers you want. Each job has its own special requirements, so you should assess your own skills and then decide which job might be best for you. Refer to the list below for an overview of the most common types of computer jobs.
Play. Sit down in front of the computer and just play and experiment. This is a great way to learn new programs, but isn't the best way to learn how to configure an operating system or write programs. At the very least, you'll become comfortable with computers by doing this.
Find a Mentor. You probably know someone who knows more about computers than you do. Learn from them. Once their knowledge is used up, find someone even more knowledgeable to learn from. Soon, you'll be the expert, and people will start coming to you!
Buy a Book. These days, there are books that teach you just about anything to do with computers, from the basics all the way through advanced programming. The "Dummies" books can help you get your feet wet if you're just starting out, but won't help you for long. See the Tips for further reading.
Get On the Job Training. If you already have a computer-related job (but want a better one), find someone at work you can learn from, or take on new projects where you can learn as you go along. It will be hard at first, but the more you learn, the better your skills will become, and you'll become eligible for promotions or for better jobs at other companies.
Take a Course. This is the most obvious approach, and yet many in the industry have long careers in computers in any of the jobs above without any formal training. Still, not all computer skills are easy to teach yourself, and as more and more students graduate with degrees in computer science, the competition will make it harder for the self-trained to land the best jobs. A degree, certificate course, or specialized certification such as an MSCE will greatly improve the odds.
Get Your Foot in the Door. Once you have the skills you need to get a job, you still have the hardest part ahead of you - getting hired. Since your resume probably doesn't reflect computer work experience, you'll need to add a "Skills" section that lists all of the skills you've acquired. You might also want to mention something about computers in an "Interests" or "Hobbies" section. Make sure your resume looks extremely professional. You're submitting it to folks who use a word processor to write their grocery list - you don't want to give them something you threw together on an old ribbon typewriter.
Network. Find out where the computer guys (or girls) hang out. You'll be surprised how much info you can get just talking to people in the field. And you might also find that it's not your cup of tea. Most people that WORK with computers don't fit the stereotype. There are a lot of game players in the industry, but there are very few high paying jobs that allow you to play all day. It is a real career that requires a LOT of work.
Types of Computer Jobs
Data Entry - This is a job just about anyone can get. Basically, you take information from a piece of paper and use it to fill out a form on the computer.
Secretarial/Administrative - This position involves some basic office skills. Not only must you understand the basics of using your computer and a few applications, but you'll probably also be expected to take dictation, answer phones, type letters, and keep things organized. In terms of computer skills, you should know how to use word processing, accounting, and spreadsheet programs at the very least.
Customer Service/Telesales - These positions usually place a higher emphasis on phone skills than computer skills, but you should know at least the basics of how to use your computer.
Technical Support - Most companies consider technical support to be an entry-level computer job. You are expected to know the operating systems on which the product you'll support will run, and you'll also need to know the basics of any programs that product might interact with. The good news is that the company will teach you what you need to know about their products - you just need to learn everything else. Success in technical support requires good problem-solving skills and a great deal of attention to detail.
Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Engineer - You need to know as much as the best technical support personnel. You need to be a problem solver, a detective, and sometimes even a Customer Service representative. You'll also need some basic programming skills, since more and more companies are beginning to rely on automated testing. The best SQA engineers understand a little (or a lot) about every aspect of computers, from building them to using them to programming them.
Software Engineer (Programmer) - Programmers can get away with knowing very little outside of programming. For example, a programmer doesn't necessarily need to know anything about the Internet (unless he's writing Internet programs), doesn't need to know how to install a modem or hard drive, and doesn't even need to know which hole the keyboard plug goes into. What they do need to know is the language in which they'll be programming. They also should know database fundamentals and (if programming for Windows) the Windows API. Knowing more than one programming language is very helpful.
MIS/Network Administration/User Support - MIS (Management of Information Systems) is responsible for making sure that a company's network of computers is working properly at all times. This includes everything from showing the users how to send an e-mail to upgrading or repairing the computers to managing network resources such as file servers, network printers, and Internet firewalls. For user support positions, you need to be an expert at the operating systems in use by computers on the network and the network itself. You also need to know the fundamentals of hardware repair, the Internet, and the applications in use on the network. Network administrators need to know all of that plus how to set up network hardware, cabling, and network resources. Larger companies prefer their MIS personnel to have (or at least be pursuing) special certifications that prove they know their stuff.
Technical Writer - To be a technical writer, you must understand computer basics and the product about which you're writing. You also need to know the programs you'll be using for your writing, such as word processors, desktop publishing programs, web languages such as HTML, and Windows Help-authoring tools. You'll also need to be a good writer (or trick people into thinking you are).
Tips
A good all-around computer tutorial is The Secret Guide to Computers by Russ Walter. Like the "Dummies" series, it's good for getting your feet wet, but rather than a fair amount about one particular topic, it includes a smaller amount about just about any computer topic, from buying a computer all the way through the basics of programming in several different languages. If you're teaching yourself how to be a software engineer, check out the "Teach Yourself ____ in 21 Days" series by Sams Publishing, "___ - How to Program" by Deitel & Deitel, or the "No Experience Required" series by Sybex. There is also a book by O'Reilly Publishing for just about every topic in computers, and that's what the professionals have on their desks at work (even if they have a secret stash of "Dummies" books at home).
Most offices use Microsoft Word and Excel, but some still use WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3. For accounting, most smaller businesses today use Quickbooks. Find out what they use at the office in which you wish to work, and make sure you know how to use that software.
Right now the hot languages for programmers to know are Visual Basic (easy), C/C++(hard), and Java/C# (almost as hard as C++). The languages of choice change every so often, though, so be careful not to put all of your eggs in one basket.
It really helps to know someone on the inside. If a resume is submitted by an employee for a friend, most companies will conduct an interview as a courtesy, even if the resume doesn't quite meet their qualification requirements. In the interview, you can show them what you know. Be prepared, though - they may quiz you. Be careful not to put something on your resume unless you're actually competent in it.
Warnings
Once you're hired, it doesn't end there. Keep learning new skills constantly. Once you think you've learned enough, you might as well apply for unemployment. This industry is always evolving. If you don't evolve with it, you'll be replaced by someone who will. Get used to it.
Steps
Survey the field. The first thing you need to think about is exactly what kind of job in computers you want. Each job has its own special requirements, so you should assess your own skills and then decide which job might be best for you. Refer to the list below for an overview of the most common types of computer jobs.
Play. Sit down in front of the computer and just play and experiment. This is a great way to learn new programs, but isn't the best way to learn how to configure an operating system or write programs. At the very least, you'll become comfortable with computers by doing this.
Find a Mentor. You probably know someone who knows more about computers than you do. Learn from them. Once their knowledge is used up, find someone even more knowledgeable to learn from. Soon, you'll be the expert, and people will start coming to you!
Buy a Book. These days, there are books that teach you just about anything to do with computers, from the basics all the way through advanced programming. The "Dummies" books can help you get your feet wet if you're just starting out, but won't help you for long. See the Tips for further reading.
Get On the Job Training. If you already have a computer-related job (but want a better one), find someone at work you can learn from, or take on new projects where you can learn as you go along. It will be hard at first, but the more you learn, the better your skills will become, and you'll become eligible for promotions or for better jobs at other companies.
Take a Course. This is the most obvious approach, and yet many in the industry have long careers in computers in any of the jobs above without any formal training. Still, not all computer skills are easy to teach yourself, and as more and more students graduate with degrees in computer science, the competition will make it harder for the self-trained to land the best jobs. A degree, certificate course, or specialized certification such as an MSCE will greatly improve the odds.
Get Your Foot in the Door. Once you have the skills you need to get a job, you still have the hardest part ahead of you - getting hired. Since your resume probably doesn't reflect computer work experience, you'll need to add a "Skills" section that lists all of the skills you've acquired. You might also want to mention something about computers in an "Interests" or "Hobbies" section. Make sure your resume looks extremely professional. You're submitting it to folks who use a word processor to write their grocery list - you don't want to give them something you threw together on an old ribbon typewriter.
Network. Find out where the computer guys (or girls) hang out. You'll be surprised how much info you can get just talking to people in the field. And you might also find that it's not your cup of tea. Most people that WORK with computers don't fit the stereotype. There are a lot of game players in the industry, but there are very few high paying jobs that allow you to play all day. It is a real career that requires a LOT of work.
Types of Computer Jobs
Data Entry - This is a job just about anyone can get. Basically, you take information from a piece of paper and use it to fill out a form on the computer.
Secretarial/Administrative - This position involves some basic office skills. Not only must you understand the basics of using your computer and a few applications, but you'll probably also be expected to take dictation, answer phones, type letters, and keep things organized. In terms of computer skills, you should know how to use word processing, accounting, and spreadsheet programs at the very least.
Customer Service/Telesales - These positions usually place a higher emphasis on phone skills than computer skills, but you should know at least the basics of how to use your computer.
Technical Support - Most companies consider technical support to be an entry-level computer job. You are expected to know the operating systems on which the product you'll support will run, and you'll also need to know the basics of any programs that product might interact with. The good news is that the company will teach you what you need to know about their products - you just need to learn everything else. Success in technical support requires good problem-solving skills and a great deal of attention to detail.
Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Engineer - You need to know as much as the best technical support personnel. You need to be a problem solver, a detective, and sometimes even a Customer Service representative. You'll also need some basic programming skills, since more and more companies are beginning to rely on automated testing. The best SQA engineers understand a little (or a lot) about every aspect of computers, from building them to using them to programming them.
Software Engineer (Programmer) - Programmers can get away with knowing very little outside of programming. For example, a programmer doesn't necessarily need to know anything about the Internet (unless he's writing Internet programs), doesn't need to know how to install a modem or hard drive, and doesn't even need to know which hole the keyboard plug goes into. What they do need to know is the language in which they'll be programming. They also should know database fundamentals and (if programming for Windows) the Windows API. Knowing more than one programming language is very helpful.
MIS/Network Administration/User Support - MIS (Management of Information Systems) is responsible for making sure that a company's network of computers is working properly at all times. This includes everything from showing the users how to send an e-mail to upgrading or repairing the computers to managing network resources such as file servers, network printers, and Internet firewalls. For user support positions, you need to be an expert at the operating systems in use by computers on the network and the network itself. You also need to know the fundamentals of hardware repair, the Internet, and the applications in use on the network. Network administrators need to know all of that plus how to set up network hardware, cabling, and network resources. Larger companies prefer their MIS personnel to have (or at least be pursuing) special certifications that prove they know their stuff.
Technical Writer - To be a technical writer, you must understand computer basics and the product about which you're writing. You also need to know the programs you'll be using for your writing, such as word processors, desktop publishing programs, web languages such as HTML, and Windows Help-authoring tools. You'll also need to be a good writer (or trick people into thinking you are).
Tips
A good all-around computer tutorial is The Secret Guide to Computers by Russ Walter. Like the "Dummies" series, it's good for getting your feet wet, but rather than a fair amount about one particular topic, it includes a smaller amount about just about any computer topic, from buying a computer all the way through the basics of programming in several different languages. If you're teaching yourself how to be a software engineer, check out the "Teach Yourself ____ in 21 Days" series by Sams Publishing, "___ - How to Program" by Deitel & Deitel, or the "No Experience Required" series by Sybex. There is also a book by O'Reilly Publishing for just about every topic in computers, and that's what the professionals have on their desks at work (even if they have a secret stash of "Dummies" books at home).
Most offices use Microsoft Word and Excel, but some still use WordPerfect and Lotus 1-2-3. For accounting, most smaller businesses today use Quickbooks. Find out what they use at the office in which you wish to work, and make sure you know how to use that software.
Right now the hot languages for programmers to know are Visual Basic (easy), C/C++(hard), and Java/C# (almost as hard as C++). The languages of choice change every so often, though, so be careful not to put all of your eggs in one basket.
It really helps to know someone on the inside. If a resume is submitted by an employee for a friend, most companies will conduct an interview as a courtesy, even if the resume doesn't quite meet their qualification requirements. In the interview, you can show them what you know. Be prepared, though - they may quiz you. Be careful not to put something on your resume unless you're actually competent in it.
Warnings
Once you're hired, it doesn't end there. Keep learning new skills constantly. Once you think you've learned enough, you might as well apply for unemployment. This industry is always evolving. If you don't evolve with it, you'll be replaced by someone who will. Get used to it.
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