Often, when a person thinks about a career in IT, they start thinking about working for companies like Microsoft®, IBM® and Cisco®. But what people never consider is the amount of companies that use computers everyday is endless! Computer companies are not the only companies that are in need of IT professionals! Companies like: Target®, Walmart®, Home Depot®, Disney® and ANY company you can think of will have a need for IT professionals at some point! Whether the industry deals with: Entertainment, or Beauty, or Medicine, or Sports…….EVERY industry will need your services!

In the last decade, computers have become an integral part of everyday life, used for a variety of reasons at home, in the workplace, and at schools. Of course, almost every computer user encounters a problem occasionally, whether it is the disaster of a crashing hard drive or the annoyance of a forgotten password. The explosive use of computers has created a high demand for specialists to provide advice to users, as well as for day-to-day administration, maintenance, and support of computer systems and networks. The following jobs are a sample of the opportunities you could attain if you received the proper training.

Types of jobs in IT:

• ► Computer Support Specialists
  Computer Support Specialists provide technical assistance, support, and advice to customers and other users. These troubleshooters interpret problems and provide technical support for hardware, software, and systems. They answer telephone calls, analyze problems by using automated diagnostic programs, and resolve recurring difficulties.
  
  


• ►Technical Support Specialists
  Technical Support Specialists answer telephone calls from their organizations’ computer users and may run automatic diagnostics programs to resolve problems. Working on monitors, keyboards, printers, and mice, they install, modify, clean, and repair computer hardware and software.
  
  
  
• ► Help-Desk Technicians
  Help-Desk Technicians assist computer users with the inevitable hardware and software questions that are not addressed in a product’s instruction manual. Help-desk technicians deal directly with customer issues, and companies value them as a source of feedback on their products. These technicians are consulted for information about what gives customers the most trouble, as well as other customer concerns. Most computer support specialists start out at the help desk.
  
  


• ►Network Administrators and Computer System Administrators
  Network Administrators and Computer System Administrators design, install, and support an organization’s local-area network (LAN), wide-area network (WAN), network segment, Internet, or intranet system. They provide day-to-day onsite administrative support for software users in a variety of work environments, including professional offices, small businesses, government, and large corporations. They maintain network hardware and software, analyze problems, and monitor the network to ensure its availability to system users.
  
  
  
• ► Computer Security Specialists
  In some organizations, Computer Security Specialists may plan, coordinate, and implement the organization’s information security. The responsibilities of computer security specialists has increased in recent years as there has been a large increase in the number of cyber attacks on data and networks. This and other growing specialty occupations reflect an increasing emphasis on client-server applications, the expansion of Internet and intranet applications, and the demand for more end-user support.
  
  

Source:  Department of Labor.  Bureau of Labor and Statistics  www.bls.gov/oco/ocos268.htm

If you are interesting in a great career in IT, we have outlined a suggested training path. Unless you already have the competencies taught in the A+ and Network + program we recommend starting off with the A+ and Network+ training courses. Next we recommend continuing your training with Networking and Security followed by Routing. Below you will find a basic outline for a student just starting out in IT. 

CompTIA A+ (Computer Repair)

CompTIA Network+ (Network Technician)

Course Description Course Description     A+ certification is intended for a person who does not have any computer hardware knowledge. People participating in this program will be taught how to properly build, troubleshoot and maintain computer systems.   A+ certification is intended for a person who does not have any computer hardware knowledge. People participating in this program will be taught how to properly build, troubleshoot and maintain computer systems.

Networking & Security

Routing

Course Track Course Track     Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA) -or- Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE)   - and -   Microsoft Security +   The basic definition of computer networking is allowing a PC to use the resources of another PC.  It is assumed the student understand the competencies taught in the A+ / Network + programs.  Student will learn how to properly design, install, manage and maintain LAN/WAN using the Microsoft Server 2003, to become a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)  Why learn Microsoft?  To put it simply, it is the one Operating system that is used by the overwhelming majority of local businesses and corporations.  Studying this will give you the marketable skills you will need to succeed. Security + – After learning some of the foundations of the Microsoft Server, students may want to begin thinking about securing a network.  Learning the basic intricacies of network security will enhance you career.   Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Some students would rather learn how to improve connectivity between networks and increase the bandwidth for more dependable reliability.  CCNA would be the first step for a person who does not posses the much-needed experience with these areas. A student would first begin to learn the basics of routing in order to pursue a career as a routing professional. – Combining your Networking knowledge (MCSE) with Cisco’s CCNA program is highly recommended from most industry experts.   - then -   Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)   Once you’ve learned the basics, now you are ready to increase your knowledge of routing by learning topics such as: security, converged networks, Quality of Service (QoS) and virtual private networks (VPN).

For more information and help choosing the right path for your career training, please feel free to contact an admissions representative at 856.662.3600 or send us an email.