InsideTech

Quality Assurance Engineer: What they do: Complex technology projects require testing -- lots of it -- in order to avoid gaffes (and outright disaster). QA engineers work to execute testing plans and goals to ensure systems work properly. Tasks include the design and implementation of testing procedures, interaction with support staff, categorizing bug fixes and enhancement requests, and reviewing bug reports. ...

Chief Information Officer (CIO): What they do: The CIO serves as a company's technology guru, overseeing everything from the purchase of computer systems to overarching plans to use technology to gain a competitive edge. With technology often viewed as central to a company's mission -- and not simply as serving "back office" functions, like accounting -- the role of the CIO ...

Project Manager: What they do: The project manager develops requirements, budgets and schedules for IT projects. Project managers may coordinate multiple projects, from development through implementation, working with both clients and project leaders. Project managers report on the project's status to clients, manage project resources and timelines, and write proposals and other project documentation. Skills: Project managers must know the technology, ...

LAN Manager What they do: The LAN manager provides assorted services, from design to administration, of an organization's local area network, which connects staff within an organization. Skills: A LAN manager needs to know the intricacies of the specific systems being used by a company: Windows NT, Novell, Unix and so forth. Knowledge of networked applications, virus-protection schemes, system diagnostic utilities, ...

PC Tech Support Specialist What they do: You need the latest version of Internet Explorer on your PC? Call tech support. Tech support specialists are responsible for the maintenance and support of a company's PCs. Tasks include troubleshooting, responding to technical problems, and performing maintenance, upgrades and configurations. Skills: Tech support specialists should have knowledge of assorted operating systems, such as ...

PC Tech Support Specialist What they do: You need the latest version of Internet Explorer on your PC? Call tech support. Tech support specialists are responsible for the maintenance and support of a company's PCs. Tasks include troubleshooting, responding to technical problems, and performing maintenance, upgrades and configurations. Skills: Tech support specialists should have knowledge of assorted operating systems, such as ...

Help Desk What they do: Help-desk workers answer support questions, from the silly to the serious. They may handle questions from a company's own computer users, or they may respond to queries, via phone or email, from individuals using a product produced by the company. Skills: Help-desk staff must have a comprehensive understanding of specific systems and applications, with the ability ...

*Name:* Anna Fincher *Age:* 25 *Title:* Technology Analyst *Company:* Accenture *Location:* Atlanta *Monster:* How did you get to your current position? *Anna Fincher:* Accenture actively recruits at Georgia Institute of Technology, where I received a BS in mechanical engineering. I went through the interview process during my last undergrad semester, participating in two on-campus interviews and a final third-round office visit ...

Name: Ken Assenmacher Title: Systems Admin Company: Hungtington Business Systems, NY Age: 47 Education: School of hard knocks IT industry tenure: 28 years Job Title/Description: Currently working as a network/systems admin. Describe A Typical Workday: Right now I am on a fact finding mission to consolidate services and streamline operations. Top Skills Needed For The Job: Windows administration, network analysis. Best ...

Name: Aaron Greengrass Title: Systems Administrator Company: Affinitylabs Age: 33 IT Tenure: 1 year contracting: 3 years systems administration; 6 years systems repair and tech support Job Title/Description: SysAdmin/Tech Support Describe A Typical Workday: 1 hour systems monitoring (including reviewing logs, and other monitoring software) broken up into about 4 x 15 minute segments. About 2-3 hours working with the development ...

Working as a Web developer is something like playing a sport with a continuously changing set of rules. One minute you’re charging down the field at full throttle, and then suddenly the rules change and you need to readjust your strategy - fast - or find yourself benched. Successful Web developers - at least, those who enjoy their work - thrive ...

Technology professionals often think about pursuing project-management opportunities, but whether they end up filling that job role depends on factors far beyond their technical expertise. Would-be project managers may like the idea of being in charge of a project, but the skills developed as a network engineer or programmer do not always make for an easy transition to project management. Project ...

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 ...

As the overall US unemployment rate holds steady at less than five percent in 2007, and the pool of qualified IT labor continues to shrink, those looking to hang a shingle as an independent IT contractor have some great career opportunities. Not only is there a market demand for consultants, but it’s becoming a much more popular IT career path. A ...

If you're considering becoming a computer programmer, or just want an idea of how programmers interface with IT, the first step is to understand the job definition: Computer programmers convert project specifications and statements of problems and procedures to detailed logical flow charts for coding into computer language. They develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, ...

Working in IT doesn't have to mean you're stuck in a cube or a networking closet all day, and it doesn't mean you'll be a faceless cog in a large company either. Here are a few ways you can work in tech without holding a traditional IT job. On-Site Service -- Sure, it's not the most glamorous of nontraditional IT careers, ...