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A career in IT? Part 1
continued from page 2
2. Operators
The job: Operators are responsible for setting up and maintaining computer systems, especially hardware. They may be responsible for a particular area - such as the network that connects computers in an office or the database system that staff use.
Being an operator is more physical and hands-on than being a programmer. If something needs checking on a computer network, for example, you'll be the person under the desk fiddling with cables and using a voltmeter. You'll also use software to monitor the system; for example, checking graphs of the flow of traffic on the network.
Personality: You need to be comfortable getting physical with technology, the sort of person who would consider taking a screwdriver to their personal stereo if it was broken.
Qualifications: You don't have to be a graduate, but any qualifications will help - even GCSEs. Again potential employers might give you an aptitude test. Employers are often willing to train operators on the job - look for a 'trainee operations' position. Or you could start off by working in support and then move over into operations. Once in an operations job, your employer will send you on training courses if you need to know more about a particular system or if they want you to specialise in a particular area.
3. Support staff
The job: Bizarrely, you don't need to know much about computers to get a job in support, where you help other people with their computer problems. Companies are happy for you to start at the bottom and learn on the job.
Jobs include help desk support, where you wait for calls to come in from users whose computers have gone wrong, and operator support, where you might keep an eye on programmes running overnight and look out for problems.
Personality: You need to be good at dealing with people, especially when they're upset about their computer going wrong.
Qualifications: No formal qualifications necessary, although again anything helps.
More info on IT careers
There's more info on changing to a career in IT on the e-Skills IT Compass.
2. Operators
The job: Operators are responsible for setting up and maintaining computer systems, especially hardware. They may be responsible for a particular area - such as the network that connects computers in an office or the database system that staff use.
Being an operator is more physical and hands-on than being a programmer. If something needs checking on a computer network, for example, you'll be the person under the desk fiddling with cables and using a voltmeter. You'll also use software to monitor the system; for example, checking graphs of the flow of traffic on the network.
Personality: You need to be comfortable getting physical with technology, the sort of person who would consider taking a screwdriver to their personal stereo if it was broken.
Qualifications: You don't have to be a graduate, but any qualifications will help - even GCSEs. Again potential employers might give you an aptitude test. Employers are often willing to train operators on the job - look for a 'trainee operations' position. Or you could start off by working in support and then move over into operations. Once in an operations job, your employer will send you on training courses if you need to know more about a particular system or if they want you to specialise in a particular area.
3. Support staff
The job: Bizarrely, you don't need to know much about computers to get a job in support, where you help other people with their computer problems. Companies are happy for you to start at the bottom and learn on the job.
Jobs include help desk support, where you wait for calls to come in from users whose computers have gone wrong, and operator support, where you might keep an eye on programmes running overnight and look out for problems.
Personality: You need to be good at dealing with people, especially when they're upset about their computer going wrong.
Qualifications: No formal qualifications necessary, although again anything helps.
More info on IT careers
There's more info on changing to a career in IT on the e-Skills IT Compass.
Read: A career in IT? Part 2. Find out which course to do and what qualifications you need.
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