The world of Information Technology, or IT, is not all about programming. You will find the job boards flooded with companies looking for Software Engineers, Web Developers and Application Programmers, but there are many other job functions within the IT department that play an important part in the infrastructure of most organizations.
Programming may seem like the only job in IT, but in reality it is just one component of a team that is required to produce a software product or e-commerce website. In most cases, the programmer cannot stand alone and complete the job without a cast of other IT professionals. How does a programmer know what to program? Does the program connect to a database across a network? What will the programmer do about end user training and support? These are not tasks that fall under the programmers area of expertise, nor does the programmer want to take them on.
Building a complex software application or e-commerce website usually involves a team of IT professionals working on one or more projects to accomplish the goal using a phased implementation approach. Assuming the funding and marketing is done, the development cycle starts with ideas that becomes requirements which are turned into a design. The design is further detailed out when the technical architecture is completed, and the underlying infrastructure identified. The programmer generally works from a design document on the "front end", while other IT professionals build the "back end" consisting of network connectivity and database structure. From there the programs are passed through a series of tests to catch "bugs", then finally presented to the end user followed by training and support.
As you can see from this complex cycle and large cast of characters, IT is not only about programming. A typical project involves technology professionals with many different areas of responsibility. Below are just a few of the "other" IT jobs that do not involve programming:
- Business Process Requirements Analysis
- Database Design and Information Reporting
- Quality Assurance
- Technical/Operational Support
- Networking and Communications
- Management and Project Management
- Web Content Development and Management
- Graphics Design
These are just a few of the opportunities in IT that do not specifically involve programming. To list and describe all possible job titles would span several articles, so consider this just an overview. If you are interested in any of the job functions described above, and want to get more information about them, try searching the Job Boards for jobs in the specific field and see what individual companies are looking for. You may want to check out the links in IT Careers to review the different types of job functions.
Recommended Reading
Exploring Requirements: Quality Before Design
Software Testing
Robin Williams Web Design Workshop
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