Ok, I'll bite...
1) What kind of work do you do on a daily basis?
Mixture of things. At the minute mainly the design process. ie. talking a customer through the design of a modification, knocking up a spec/ ballpark/ quote. On a smaller note I also get to program a bit (not as much as I like). Now and again I have to install modifications, discuss deliveries (with people who cannot read release notes), or perhaps do a bug fix (other people's bugs obviously
. Also used to do a fair bit of programming training. Oh, and I forgot about the managerial aspect (handing out jobs, helping programmers, QA etc)
2) What made you choose this area of employment for a career?
I *love* computers. Couldn't do anything else. Any programming is supreme
3) What education or training is necessary for this position?
None. My old manager (best programmer I ever met) only had A levels. And no qualifications in IT (he was a punch card operator). To be fair though it *greatly* helps to have a BSc Computer Science degree (gets you in the door - programming wise I could have done the job in primary school). That specific degree indeed. Took us some time to persuade our old manager to accept a few other degrees. Would only accept a HND for support roles (considered a lower position at the time). And apparently this is pretty standard across the industry (I've employed a lot of people who tell me these things)
4) What high school subjects did you find as you prepared for a future career?
None. But this was like 15 years ago. My computer teacher was a self taught (over a school summer holidays) geography teacher. I showed *him* how to do things. These days I'm sure maths and computers would be king. Also english should help I would say
5) Are there specialized skills or experiences required?
Apart from having a knack for programming? Sort of. But it's not easy to learn (ie. might not be possible). Always amazed me that some people *cannot* lead people. When I became a team leader and had something like 20 people underneath me I just couldn't believe they paid me to do that side of the job. Easy money. But I've seen people we have promoted just completely freak out (cannot take stress of doing that and their own job too). One person even asked to be bumped to a lower programming level instead (don't get hard jobs) of being a team leader. Just couldn't hack it. Oh, and the skill of presenting and talking to people. They stress this at Uni, but really if you cannot talk to a couple of strangers then you will only ever be a shoved in the corner programmer.
6) Are there opportunities for advancement/promotion in this field?
Yes. Do well enough and a programmer becomes a team leader. Then a manager, or moves to be full timer QA, or perhaps a PM (project manager). Our company (before it got took over) had the opportunity to move overseas (and become managers to locals) and as new systems were created then managers were created to run these new departments
7) What are some things you like about this job?
Programming. Also doing a project from start to finish. I'm talking coming up with the idea, selling to the customer (for lots and lots), designing it, programming it, delivering it, supporting it etc
8) What are some things you dislike about this job?
Having a talentless unqualified project manager who earns lots more than you get a bonus for jobs like I mentioned above. And there is nothing you can do about it. Also 3rd party developers to your system p**s me off big style. Always go wrong. Oh, and of course, stupid managers
9) What are you normal working hours? Is overtime required?
I have to be in the office between 10am and 4.30pm. Apart from that I have to do 7.5 hours a day monday to friday. At the minute we are a bit on the quiet, so no overtime is required. Worst I've ever done is 156 hours overtime in a month (good pay that month). Did a 95 hour (inc. normal 37.5 hours working week) week once. One time the company demanded we did 2 hours extra every day, for nothing. Half the company left.
10) Does your company offer advanced trainng for it's employees
Yes. But it's doubtful you will be accepted by your manager to do it. Mainly because you will then be better than them
Not only that but if you then leave the company you have to pay it back (gets less every year after). One course I did (Cognos if anyone is interested) cost something like £20k ($40k ish?). Was about 5 years ago, and only last year would I not have had to pay them. Was rubbish too...
11) Are fringe Benefits available to employees?
Apparently not. But we work in the travel industry and interestingly the sales staff used to get loads of cheap holidays (annoying how companies love them)
12) What is the salary range for jobs similar to this?
Dunno. Haven't looked for a while, and we haven't been employing for a few years (to my department anyways). For my job though (programming analyst teamleader with 11 years experience) most managerial job postings I've seen in the IT mags would require a significant wage cut (although not in America where they love my unknown language of choice)
13) What do you think will happen in the future to this career area?
It's happening now. Basically, more and more, programmers are seen like plumbers or something, and not as skilled analysts. Probably because the field is saturated; any man and his dog can do some programming it seems. When I started we were like gold. Also more and more jobs seem to be outsourcing to cheap countries like India. And its just becoming easier and easier to work from far away with IT
14) Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
Being self employed or living off scraps in the gutter. The difference is how good my planning is. And how naive I am I guess.
15) Overall, do you feel you made a good career choice, or are you planning to make a career change in the future?
Yes. And I couldn't even contemplate doing anything else. Saying that I, and this goes for a lot of IT people, have a feeling this itself might be a mistake. Being able to adapt to something completely different may be the only decent choice. I know a lot of IT people who are considering *totally* different career choices. We are talking builders and stuff. Generally these are the people who only got into IT for the money. Plus they made enough to own their own company.
Hope that helped
Cheers
I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
