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Career Rating and Comparison
| Category | This Career | All Rated Careers |
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| Career Satisfaction |    | |
Degrees and Schools
Most network and communications analysts have earned at least a bachelor's degree in Management Information Systems (MIS), Computer Science or Information Science from a college or university. Some have obtained two-year associate's degrees from vocational schools, or demonstrated enough qualifications through work experience and certifications to obtain a position. Certification in specific network technologies and software is considered the industry standard by employers of network and communications analysts, and even those with degrees are expected to hold them.
Most employers seek network and communications analysts who have had some formal education in business, project management and Internet commerce. An MIS degree, which combines business with information technology, or an MBA with emphasis on computer science, can provide an advantage to job seekers.
To support their long term career goals, many network and communications analysts will seek a four-year degree or master's degree at some point. Tuition reimbursement for courses or programs related to a job is available through some employers.
Classes
Coursework for students in two-year and four-year degree computer science programs is usually divided between class time and lab time. Group projects and independent assignments encourage students to apply what they've learned by creating actual networks. Students also learn:
- Understanding different kinds of wired and wireless networks and their unique purposes
- Requirements gathering, documentation and modeling
- Analysis, planning and management of networks
- Voice and data communications administration
- Operations, maintenance and upgrading of networks
- Troubleshooting and technical support
- Preserving data integrity and testing procedures
- Use of specific network software, hardware and programming languages
- Network security, integration and testing
- Internet and intranet administration
Network and communications analysts must keep up-to-date on emerging technologies. They frequently attend conferences, join user groups and take certification courses for specific hardware or software products. Some employers pay for or reimburse these expenses.
Online Classes and Programs
Online education is a popular option for network and communications analysts. They often pursue online information science or computer science two-year degrees or four-year degrees. There are many programs available, so choosing educational programs that are accredited by organizations such as ABET can help narrow down choices, and ensures that credits will be accepted in the future at other schools.
Employment Requirements
Most employers consider a bachelor's degree to be a minimum requirement for network and communications analysts, although some hold associate's degrees and/or have commensurate experience and certification.
How to Evaluate Schools
Prospective students interested in becoming network and communications analysts should ask the following questions when comparing two- and four-year degree programs:
- Practical experience - Does the program require substantial time in the computer lab? Are internships or other practical experience opportunities supported?
- Career assistance- Does the school have a job placement program with a notable success rate? Do they offer career fairs where many major employers attend each year?
- School and class size - Will the student-faculty ratio in relevant courses provide a suitable learning environment? What amenities are offered, such as computer labs?
- Relevant courses - Do program courses balance both business and computer science education? Do course offerings include sufficient training on relevant software and hardware?
- Accreditation - Has a governing body in computer science / information technology accredited the school? If an online program, have direct learning oversight organizations awarded accreditation?
- Tuition and financial assistance - Scholarships, loans or work study can help ease tuition costs. What kinds of guidance does the school provide for students to help them take full advantage of these options?
- Additional costs - In addition to textbooks and fees, will students be required to purchase expensive software programs and manuals, or pay for lab time?
Network and Communications Analyst Job Description
Every day, as we surf the Internet, talk on cell phones or land lines, send email or faxes, use ATMs, watch television, drive using the GPS, videoconference or share documents, we rely on networks. These complex systems of hardware, wires and signals, that support business throughout the world, are managed by network and communications analysts.
The responsibilities of network and communications analysts (also called network architects) include:
- Identifying the needs of clients, then planning and building networks that meet those requirements.
- Designing secure networks that transfer data quickly and reliably.
- Analyzing existing networks and making recommendations for enhancements with hardware or software.
- Regularly testing and upgrading networks for security and quality.
- Setting up and maintaining voice mail and email systems.
- Documenting and modeling networks for communication with other business groups.
Network and communications analysts work in office or lab environments, as full time employees or self-employed consultants, often telecommuting.
Career Profiles
To help career searchers evaluate their options, BrainTrack has asked hundreds of workers to profile their jobs with a review and ratings. See below for a summary of this career compared to all rated careers and for detailed reviews.
| Category | This Career | All Rated Careers |
|---|---|---|
| Career Satisfaction | | |
| Opportunity for Promotion | | |
| Career Flexibility | | |
| How Cool Is The Career | | |
| How Stressful | | |
| Social Orientation | | |
| Earnings Potential | | |
| Task Variety | | |
| Job Security | | |
Sorting by: • Show All Details • Hide All Details
Job Title: Network Engineer
Attended: University Of Arkansas • Little Rock, AR
Studied Electrical Engineering Technology (completion in 2012)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 1/20/2012
"I love learning the newest communication technologies that become available for our customers' use. Fiber optic networks have always amazed me, and I am able to work with this technology daily."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | UALR offers associate degrees in several Engineering fields as they do not have a Bachelor program in place at this time. The instructors and the staff of the Engineering and Information Technology are always available for individual student questions, and are eager to introduce classes as well as degree programs that fit current workforce needs in Arkansas. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 7 | There are ample opportunities available for employees to be considered for promotions. The company pays tuition for college courses which can enable employees to pass the required tests needed to become eligible for promotion. |
| Job Security | 7 | I worked for the company 8 years prior to being offered a promotion and becoming a manager. While working as a craftsman, I was a member of the CWA union which protected our rights. Once I accepted a management job, I could no longer be backed by the union, and this puts me at risk to lose my job at any time. |
| Earnings Potential | 9 | The pay scale for union represented workers is among the highest that I am aware of. The management personnel are on salary, and quite often their earnings are far less than non-management employees they oversee. |
| How Stressful | 10 | Providing our customers with their communication needs in a short time frame is our goal. Sometimes the facilities are just not in place; therefore, we have to call upon our construction personnel to get them into place. Everyone is so extremely busy. It is indeed stressful to try to meet due dates, especially when other workgroups, such as sales step, in and shorten them. |
| Task Variety | 4 | Network Engineering varies as new technologies are patented and deployed, which takes time. Day-to-day tasks often become mundane and boring to those who feel they are there to work, not socialize. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 5 | When I would tell people where I worked, they would say, "Oh my gosh, that's a GREAT job!" The company has always been known for the high pay scale, and for the strength of the CWA union. I would not consider my job to be glamorous, nor prestigious, as we work at the bottom of the hill in order to fatten the pockets of the upper management. |
| Career Flexibility | 3 | Flexibility is rare in the company. Being a union workplace causes a seniority system to be in place, and employees are expected to adhere to whichever work schedule is handed to them. Some things are allowed to work from home, but for others telecommuting is strictly forbidden. There are jobs available in all 13 states if one is able to uproot their families and move. The available jobs vary from landlines to wireless technologies; therefore, each employee has the chance to strive for whichever they prefer. |
| Social Orientation | 4 | We employees are always interacting with others in various workgroups, but it is not in a social manner. Most management employees are so busy that they do not take their lunch breaks, nor their morning or afternoon breaks. This doesn't allow for much socialization during working hours. |
Job Title: Network Engineer
Attended: Strayer University • Chesapeake, VA
Studied Computer Information Systems (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 1/23/2012
"My career is somewhat satisfying because I get to work with people and provide solutions to problems. The idea of solving problems can be very rewarding, but solving the same problems can be somewhat tiresome. Overall being a Network Engineer can have its difficulties but the pay can be very nice. Expect to work after hours to resolve issues and being on call is almost a definite."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | The college I attended accommodated my work schedule quite nicely and the people that worked admissions were very friendly. The curriculum suited what I was doing at work and I was able to test out of some of the classes. I was able to finish college in half the time a normal student would and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 3 | Promotions are very rare. It seems that if a company likes you where you are then you have very little chance of movement. You would have to take a job with another company or change IT professions from networking to security or systems administration. |
| Job Security | 10 | My career seems to be secure. There are always contractors looking to keep solid workers. If you keep up with certifications and maintain a good standing with the company and people around you, then getting let go is almost out of the question. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | The potential to earn a lot of money exists because you have skills that others don't possess. The certifications required to do the job are only to get you in the door, but the experience is what really matters. The government also looks for people with these skills and they pay more than most jobs. |
| How Stressful | 9 | I would have to say this job is very stressful. There are long hours that you may or may not get paid for because of your job classification. If you go on vacation, do not expect it to be one without interruptions from your job because it will happen. |
| Task Variety | 2 | For my career, the daily tasks are very repetitive. The network is template based and very strict on the variations from those templates. The size and complexity of the network will determine how routine the days can be. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 6 | From a coolness factor, I would have to say it is not very glamorous. Most people have very little interest in what a Network Engineer does. If the network is broken, they want the Network Engineer to fix it. The only cool part is you can call yourself an engineer without being a real engineer. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | With my current career, being able to work from home a couple days a week is no problem. Sometimes it is necessary to work from home or provide after hours support, so some flexibility is given. It depends on the career, but in most IT positions there’s usually a chance to work from home. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | With the job, you have to be open to social interaction with customers, vendors, and colleagues. You are constantly interacting with various people in order to get to the root of the problem or to provide some sort of support to customers. |
Job Title: Network Security Analyst
Attended: Virginia Tech • Blacksburg, VA
Studied Computer Science (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Master's
• Submitted: 1/24/2012
"There are tremendous opportunities available for professionals with a background or education related to network analysis, architecture development, or security. However, working in a corporate environment can be especially repetitive and boring, so I would recommend a a career with a consulting firm for more variety."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 9 | Virginia Tech not only has a reputation as a technology oriented school on the rise, but they also have world class instructors, equipment, and support facilities. The school also has a satellite campus in the Washington D.C. area as well as a close relationship with large corporations and government agencies there who are on the cutting edge of the computer network technology and security fields. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 7 | It depends on the type of organization you work in. Most corporate environments have an IT department of limited size, with limited promotion opportunities due to the scope of the department. However, there are additional opportunities at the largest corporations, government agencies, and for the most talented, technology firms that specialize in network and communications technologies. |
| Job Security | 9 | The ubiquity of network technologies in modern society provides consistent employment opportunities for professionals with the appropriate skills. Also, the increasing challenges associated with network security require a large workforce that has a thorough understanding of computer network architectures and protocols. |
| Earnings Potential | 9 | Assuming you have credentials, earnings potential is excellent, now and in the future. The sheer number of potential employers, and the relative scarcity of talented networking professionals, pushes salary supply and demand in favor of the employee. |
| How Stressful | 7 | The job is 95 percent tedium and 5 percent high stress. A well constructed modern network architecture is generally very reliable. But this reliability magnifies the crisis nature of an important network going down, and the pressure placed on a network specialist to identify and recommend fixes to issues in order for critical business functions to resume. |
| Task Variety | 5 | Generally, there is not much variation. This assumes an organization with a solid standardization of the repetitive tasks associated with the job. However, for those professionals working on more project based assignments, there is the possibility of quite a bit of variety, especially if you work for a consulting firm with an ever changing cast of clients. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 6 | The era of "cool geeks" and Hollywood hackers is beginning to end. Most people now realize that being a full time worker in computer technology and communications fields is really just a nine to five desk job most of the time. |
| Career Flexibility | 7 | Above average flexibility. Work at home is more limited, as many managers are uncomfortable with having their network specialists working from outside the internal network. However, jobs are available virtually everywhere, so career mobility is great, and there are a variety of specialized certifications available for professional development. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | This really depends on the type of environment you work in. If you work in a technology firm or in a consultancy, you will have regular interaction with colleagues and clients. If you work in a large corporate environment, where you are an analyst supporting a relatively small IT department, there may be interaction with a much smaller circle of professional friends. |
Job Title: Computer System Analyst
Attended: Pikeville College • Pikeville, KY
Studied Business Administration (completion in 1980)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 1/24/2012
"I have built a reputation over the years as someone who works well with users, who listens well, and who provides answers to problems. My abilities are definitely needed in my current position."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | Pikeville College is a very small college, and its offerings were limited in scope. It provided the minimum requirements for the program, but could have used a wider breadth of courses. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 2 | I work at a location remote from the main company's support organization, so I'm not very visible on a general day-to-day basis. Promotions are normally granted to centrally located staff. |
| Job Security | 9 | I am a member of a small support team, with 15 years of experience on a company's in-house software. My experience with the applications is highly regarded. I would have rated this question a 10, but the job has transitioned to a contract position at this time. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | Computer support is in great demand, and should be for the foreseeable future. However, the field has grown increasingly specialized, with the most demand for people with experience with relatively new technologies, such as mobile apps, new programming languages, virtualized servers and networks, etc. |
| How Stressful | 4 | The volume of work varies from month to month, with most months being very low. During new software releases, the volume can be overwhelming, but it only lasts for 1-2 weeks at a time. |
| Task Variety | 2 | I have supported a set of applications for over 15 years, and the daily tasks are limited to fixing a short list of specific problems. These problems are the same from day-to-day, though the current ones may vary among the ones on the list. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 2 | I support software and hardware which are considered "old-school," nothing relatively new or on the bleeding edge. Day-to-day operations consist of fixing similar problems with consistent fixes. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I am able to work from anywhere in the United States, as long as I have high speed Internet and a phone connection. I am able to choose my working hours and my employer is very flexible on time away from work. |
| Social Orientation | 2 | I work from home by myself, being connected via chat sessions to the rest of my team. Conversations via the computer and phone are ongoing, but face-to-face time is non-existent. |
Job Title: Network Associate
Attended: Malone University • Canton, OH
Studied Computer Science (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 1/23/2012
"I enjoy working with new technology. I also enjoy interacting with people within the company."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | The program prepared me to succeed in the information technology field, but it could have been better. I wish it was more challenging. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 6 | I am currently on track to become a network administrator. I have a mentor to help me achieve this goal. |
| Job Security | 6 | My company offers continuous training. We do not experience much downsizing within the company. |
| Earnings Potential | 6 | I am making an average wage for my current position. Once promoted, I will be making more. |
| How Stressful | 5 | We have some major projects and networks that are stressful. Overall, it isn't too bad. |
| Task Variety | 6 | Most of the work is maintaining existing networks. We also install new networks, but not as often. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 6 | I get to work on new technology, which I think is cool. I also have a great group of people working with me. |
| Career Flexibility | 6 | I can sometimes start work at a later time than usual. This is task specific. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | I have a fair amount of social interactions at work. I do not, however, have many social interactions outside of work. |
Job Title: Support Analyst
Attended: Hennepin Technical College • Eden Prairie, MN
Studied Network Administrator/Analyst (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 1/22/2012
"I enjoy working with Networks and Security, but I work odd hours and hope to earn more in the future. I'm optimistic for the future and take pride in my work, thus it is favorable overall."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | This program gave me a good base of knowledge to work off of, with hands-on Cisco, Microsoft, and Linux labs. However, I've found that exclusively working with Cisco equipment left me with some gaps at my first job out of college. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 9 | I have been given clear goals/objectives detailing how to get promoted at my company. I am confident I will have a promotion within a few months. |
| Job Security | 9 | I work an overnight shift, which few people desire. Additionally, Networking/Security skills are in high demand and I'm confident in my abilities to remain employed. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | I would like to begin earning much more, but I need more experience. My future earnings are promising, though I wish I could be making more in the meantime. |
| How Stressful | 5 | It has its moments, like any job, but I've found it to be kind of predictable in some ways. Other jobs I've had in other fields have been a lot more stressful. |
| Task Variety | 4 | Many issues are recurring. I sometimes encounter new or interesting problems, but the longer I work, the more I see the same things. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | People are impressed when I explain my job details. Additionally, I take a great deal of pride in what I do, thus it remains "cool" from my perspective as well. |
| Career Flexibility | 3 | At this time, it seems rather inflexible. My company requires we work in the office, and as I indicated earlier, I work overnights. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I interact with coworkers and superiors every day. Additionally, I spend a great deal of time troubleshooting with our customers on the phone. |
Job Title: Network Technical Supervisor
Attended: University Of Texas At San Antonio • San Antonio, TX
Studied Computer Science (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Master's
• Submitted: 2/10/2012
"I get to work with large server farms interfaced with a CG animation studio. I set my own hours and am my own boss as long as maintain network integrity, and make sure to keep the power savers on at night so we qualify for the tax credits."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | My school's CS program was just okay in the way of teaching network con. However, their internship relations with IT companies gave me a big leg up. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 1 | I'm the head of my department, and pretty much the only one with know-how of our custom systems and servers. While my pay will go up annually, I will not see a promotion. |
| Job Security | 10 | I'm the only one who knows the scheme of the network's architecture at my job. The only way I could be replaced is if I trained someone else. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | I get a 4% bump every year, plus better investment options for my future. Plus, they provide a huge budget to maintain their edge over other studios. |
| How Stressful | 2 | I have my own office and hours, and all my own creature comforts. The only stress I feel is when power outages or hardware failure occurs. |
| Task Variety | 5 | Most days are simple maintenance and network oversight of our server farms. Since I'm my own boss, there aren't too many surprises. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | I work with artists and producers who rely on me heavily. I also get to see their work first hand as I work with them. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | I set my own hours for the most part, and am only really full time a few months out of the year. I can work as fast or slow as I want for the most part, since I get to spend most of the year designing and building the next year's framework. |
| Social Orientation | 8 | I have a secretary and two techs that work under me, who I personally got to hire to fit my style of work. I also work with very friendly, talented people who appreciate my work. |
Job Title: IT Desktop/Network Technician
Attended: Trident Technical College • North Charleston, SC
Studied Computer Technology (completion in 2014)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 2/9/2012
"It's an ever changing field that constantly keeps you interested, and the pay is not bad either."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | Instructors are readily available to assist and there are numerous ways to learn: in class (flexible schedules), by proctor, or even online. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 10 | Performance reviews are very common in my field of work, and you can get promoted based on your education or a good recommendation. |
| Job Security | 10 | There is an ever growing demand for workers in the IT field, and the number of computers at use in every corporation is growing daily. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | The pay scale in IT is extremely high, some would say limitless. And you can get a decent pay even as an entry level tech. |
| How Stressful | 5 | This career involves a lot of stress. But only because of the politics of it all - there will always be numerous teams and to get all of them to work together can be challenging. |
| Task Variety | 10 | Each day presents a new challenge, or problem, that you must work to find the solution to. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | Nerds and geeks are no longer viewed by society as out of the ordinary. They are now viewed as responsible, well to-do individuals. And they are very much in demand. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | Work schedules are very flexible. And part-time work, or even at home work, is very common. Regardless of where you go these days, there are computers. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | Great for social interaction. I'm constantly having to respond to service calls or installs. Or if you are simply upgrading switches, you have great social interaction. |
Job Title: Postdoctoral Research Associate
Attended: Texas A&M University • College Station, TX
Studied Computer Science (completion in 2011)
Highest relevant degree: Doctorate
• Submitted: 2/8/2012
"I had hoped to get a faculty position and more money. But this job is a good gateway to a better one."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | My lab was great. The courses my professors taught were great. However, the University was antagonistic. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 10 | My position is designed to test if I would be able to handle a staff position. The whole purpose is to judge if I should be promoted. |
| Job Security | 5 | I am in a temporary position. Security is purely a function of performance. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | My current pay is already really good and a promotion will bring with it a big jump. However, the potential after that drops off. |
| How Stressful | 5 | As a postdoc I am isolated from a lot of the stresses. I just stress over little things - Parking, computer, pay. |
| Task Variety | 7 | Everything is very similar day in and day out, but it's not always exactly the same. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | Everyone thinks working at a National Lab is a lot cooler and more prestigious than it is. It isn't Google, but it also isn't some oil company. |
| Career Flexibility | 5 | I can work-at-home and go on alternate schedules. There really is only the one location for me, but lots of options and specializations. |
| Social Orientation | 4 | Lunch is the major time for socialization for me at the moment. Being in a different building than your entire group is tough. |
Job Title: Network Configuration Specialist
Attended: Central Community College • Grand Island, NE
Studied IT With Networking Emphasis. (completion in 2005)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 2/10/2012
"I have been working on what I learned in college. I took exams for network certifications and I was able to get this job."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 9 | CCC has a small campus with a 1:15 student to professor ratio. The IT department is really small, but lab resources are great. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 9 | I started as a network tech I and now I am a network configuration analyst. I have been paid at an entry level Master's degree salary even though I only have an associate degree. That is because of my experience and the fact that this is a high paying occupation. |
| Job Security | 9 | If you have an IT degree plus certifications, such as Network plus or Cisco, your job is very secure in this field. |
| Earnings Potential | 9 | |
| How Stressful | 8 | Sometimes it's really frustrating to handle all the networks, switches, phones, and cables connection and to do programming, but no job is easy, so I don't think it's bad at all. |
| Task Variety | 6 | Most of the tasks remain the same except if we buy new tools or get new technology. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 9 | |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | Classes are in the evenings and on weekends. I found it very flexible. |
| Social Orientation | 9 | I have to deal with public because sometimes we have to pull the cable from one pole to another and use the existing pole. Also, I have to ask ask for permission before doing anything in the public field. |
Job Title: Cyber Security/Computer Forensics Specialist
Attended: Virginia College • Birmingham, AL
Studied Cyber Security (completion in 2011)
Highest relevant degree: Master's
• Submitted: 2/7/2012
"A few years ago, I decided to pursue a career in cyber security and computer forensics. It is a field that is ever changing and evolving so it provides me with constant challenges and rewarding work, not to mention great pay and plenty of opportunities for advancement."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | Every class that Virginia College provided was very informative and right on point with what I wanted to learn in order to pursue my new career in cyber security. The textbooks used were detailed and easy to follow and the coursework was challenging but not impossible. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 10 | There are always plenty of opportunities to get promoted because there are so many certifications and training courses designed for working cyber security/computer forensics/data analyst professionals. The more you learn, the more chances you have to advance and earn more money. |
| Job Security | 10 | Since technology and crime aren't going away any time soon, I'd say that I'll have job in security well into the future. Both corporations and law enforcement agencies are in constant need of cyber security and computer forensics experts that know how to analyze data and protect their networks and infrastructures from attacks, so there are always available jobs in the field. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | The more you know in this field, the more you can get paid. Degrees and various computer certifications certainly increase your earning potential as does obtaining specialized knowledge within the field. For example, a person who holds a specialized skill set which includes extracting and analyzing data from mobile devices may see an increase in pay and opportunities if there aren't many others who have pursued or obtained this type of knowledge. |
| How Stressful | 5 | This career is about average on the stress scale. Most jobs allow you to work at your own pace as long as you meet deadlines and reach objectives in a timely manner. The main stress factor comes from trying to keep up with the changing technological landscape. There's always a lot to learn and trying to learn and understand all of the latest security problems, research the best software and tools, and keep up with tech-savvy criminals can certainly add to the stress. |
| Task Variety | 7 | Like with any job, some tasks can be repetitive (pulling and analyzing network data logs or culling the same information from various storage media), but some positions within the field can vary wildly, especially if you work in or with law enforcement. But, generally speaking, there is enough variation in tasks to keep the career interesting and exciting. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | Anyone who has watched "24" can attest to the coolness factor of cyber security. Protecting people, solving internet crime cases, and securing data and networks can certainly be exciting, although that is not all that working in the field entails. There can be some prestige involved, but most people who choose this as their career do so because they prefer to work behind the scenes in order to keep things running smoothly and safely and to assist others in their efforts when possible. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | Some positions within my career require you to be at the office all day, but many offer telecommuting as an option because there's some work that can be done from anywhere (data culling for use in legal cases/discovery, for example). Most are full-time positions from what I have seen. Many positions offer the opportunity to travel if data and hardware need to be collected off-site and brought back to the main office for analysis. I'd say most jobs in this field do seem to have an element of flexibility to them, depending on the specific position. Because cyber security is such a global need right now, you can find a job in this field in nearly every major city or metropolitan area. |
| Social Orientation | 4 | Technology fields like this one aren't necessarily known for having a high level of social interaction. This is fine because those who gravitate towards it often prefer working independently and don't always need constant interaction with others. |
Job Title: Official Title Per State Guidelines = Systems Analyst 1. What I Actually Do: Network/Domain Admin.
Attended: Ohio State University And DeVry University • Columbus, OH
Studied OSU = B.A. Sociology. DeVry = 1 Yr. Coursework In Electronics Engineering And Multiple Microsoft And Cisco Classes As Well. (completion in 2006)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 2/9/2012
"I am able to utilize my logical math and science skills to troubleshoot problems. I also love to fix problems within the infrastructure, so I really get to dig in and solve giant puzzles of why the network is down. Also, I don't have to deal directly with customers, which is awesome!"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | OSU provided me with the business fundamentals necessary to succeed in a company setting, while DeVry and the classes I've taken have provided the technical skills needed to complete my job duties. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 7 | There are opportunities for promotion, but I am not interested in becoming a manager. I want to stay on the technical side as that is what I enjoy. So, really there's lots of opportunity to be promoted, but the position I would want (senior tech) doesn't exist without the responsibility of supervising others. |
| Job Security | 10 | I work for the government and we rarely fire individuals unless they break a law. Also, I work hard and feel that I'm a valuable asset to the agency based upon my knowledge of technology and what type of business the agency does. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | I know that I can potentially make into the 6 figures if I was to get into the private industry. However, that requires a lot of certifications and work experience, which is what I'm currently working on. |
| How Stressful | 5 | I have the normal stressors of getting my projects completed on time. In addition, there is always the stress of the system going down and having to go into emergency mode. My new dept. boss also micromanages me which is stressful, while my direct supervisor doesn't manage me at all. There are conflicting requirements between the two. |
| Task Variety | 7 | 70% of my time is working on assigned projects, but those tasks could vary day to day. The other 30% of my time would be dealing with emergency or high priority tasks that may arise. So there is a lot of variety, in my opinion. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | I love my job because we are implementing virtual technology that blows my mind and the people I try to explain it to. I get a lot of compliments on how smart I must be because I fix computers, which is nice. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | I have the ability to work from home via VMware View client and then a remote desktop connection into my work PC, if I'm sick or need to perform upgrades from home. I also have the ability to flex my time schedule if I work prior or past my slated shift. Not much flexibility to work in other locations or on a part-time basis though. I am able to specialize in what I'm interested in (virtualization and SAN storage). |
| Social Orientation | 5 | I spend about 50% of my time working solo on projects in front my PC or in the server room. The other 50% of my time is user support or meetings. In that last 50% I do spend time at the "water cooler" with my coworkers talking about non-business related interests. |
Job Title: Network Administrator
Attended: ITT Technical Institute • Grand Rapids, MI
Studied Computer Networking (completion in 2005)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 2/10/2012
"In general I like my career. I find that some days can be slow, and others can be quite stressful."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | At ITT they tend to teach what is on the exam. It would be more practical to teach real world situations more often. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 2 | The present economy has left few opportunities to advance. They are not hiring at this time and no one is advancing. |
| Job Security | 5 | I feel like in this economy my job is secure. Job security is only there as long as I continue to be a motivated employee. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | The career has its ups and downs. Some jobs can earn you a significant wage, while others seem like you are being taken advantage of. |
| How Stressful | 5 | Some days are extremely laid back. Other days are busy and there is a lot of pressure. |
| Task Variety | 7 | Tasks range from network monitoring to enforcing security policies. It changes day to day, but it's always somewhat similar. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 6 | This career would have more cool factors if being a geek wasn't generally looked at as a bad thing. I overall don't care about the cool factor. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | I will be on call at some times, making the hours flexible. At other times there is a set schedule with no flexibility. |
| Social Orientation | 6 | I have to speak with people daily. It sometimes involves meeting new people and vendors. |
Job Title: Network Analyst
Attended: ECPI University • Newport News, VA
Studied Information Technology/Networking (completion in 2001)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 2/12/2012
"The career is rewarding as you get the opportunity to help others. Everyday is different so it keeps the job interesting."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | The University was slightly above average. Their curriculum was relevant to the industry. The instructors lacked real world working experience as they taught mostly from the book. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | Advancement in the networking field is marginal within the company I work, but it is often better in larger organizations. There seem to be more opportunities for promotion if you display a greater deal of business acumen and are willing to take a managerial position. |
| Job Security | 7 | Businesses need Information Technology to operate, so network professionals are always in demand. There is, however, market saturation as these positions are highly desired. |
| Earnings Potential | 6 | Earnings potential is slightly above average as most jobs can earn from 60-80k a year depending on location and seniority. It seems like the larger the company, the larger the potential for increased income is. |
| How Stressful | 10 | This position is extremely stressful due to each decision leaving a long lasting impact on the business. Workloads are very high, which creates a great deal of stress on the employee. The technology landscape is always changing, which increases the pressure to stay abreast of the latest advancements. |
| Task Variety | 7 | Each day is truly different even though the overall goal is the same. Since technology changes daily each day, there are always new obstacles to overcome. Businesses are ever changing which consistently creates new problems to solve. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 7 | Non-IT employees often look up to technology professionals due to their higher level of knowledge. We are often looked upon as wizards that have some sort of mysterious knowledge of solving complex computer problems. I don't feel this position is often looked at as being as glamorous as being a bartender at a tiki bar on the beach. |
| Career Flexibility | 3 | Technology professionals are always "on the clock" and are often called upon after hours. Given the current economic climate, most companies are trying to do more with less and workloads are at an all-time high. |
| Social Orientation | 4 | Since the majority of the work is done from behind a computer screen, social interaction is minimal. We are often dealing more with computers and networking devices, which don't provide that much feedback. There is a certain level of interaction with peers, but not consistently with other business employees. |
Job Title: App Developer
Attended: DeVry University • Fremont, CA
Studied CIS (completion in 2003)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 2/12/2012
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | A lot of technical classes and business classes. All teachers were very proficient with technology and job qualifying skills. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 4 | I worked for one company since school and got promoted once. Unfortunately, the company I went to work for was too competitive for me and after 5 years my reviews dropped. |
| Job Security | 3 | I'm self employed, making apps. The apps are high in potential but currently low in profit. Many of my peers in the industry have been laid off. |
| Earnings Potential | 6 | Better than most jobs, but it has a cap. Requires a lot of stress to be at the upper end. |
| How Stressful | 8 | I'm commonly required to be on call 24/7. When things go wrong, I have at least 30 'managers' to answer to. |
| Task Variety | 3 | Sometimes I help test, or help trainers. Mostly I just fix defects or plan out new work. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 7 | Lots of chances to develop cool software. Very challenging work, better than most HS peers. |
| Career Flexibility | 3 | I have not seen any work-from-home jobs. No companies are interested in part time, or even less than 60 hours. |
| Social Orientation | 7 | Lots of social interaction during the 9-5. After 5, there is no social interaction. |
Job Title: Information Technology Specialist
Attended: University Of Florida • Gainesville, FL
Studied Computer Science` (completion in 1997)
Highest relevant degree: Master's
• Submitted: 2/11/2012
"My work interests me and is different every day, as there are always new problems to deal with. The pay is also very satisfying, and was worth the hard work in school."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | Enough classes were provided on networking, but as with anything, the vast majority of knowledge is accumulated through experience. Many of the courses were geared toward programming instead of networking. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 9 | In my opinion, my future is bright, and hopefully soon, as the company expands, we will be adding to our IT department, and I will be promoted to a management position. I feel that I have the knowledge and experience necessary. |
| Job Security | 10 | I have no fear of being let go because I am knowledgeable in network support, planning, and modeling, and I do my job well. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | Any technological field will produce generous income, and as our world becomes more and more computerized, the demand for people with the skills and knowledge that I possess will grow. |
| How Stressful | 8 | When the internet for the entire office goes down or the server goes down, I am the person that everyone turns to, and I have to identify the problem, and then find a way to fix it. When this happens, a lot of people are depending on me, which can become stressful. |
| Task Variety | 10 | I RARELY have 2 days in a row where the problems are the same, so my tasks vary quite a bit. I have a lot of problem solving to do everyday, and that is one thing that seems constant. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 7 | Well, to someone with no computer knowledge, my job would no doubt be quite dull, but I find it to be very interesting, as it is constantly changing. A lot of my job is problem solving and deductive reasoning, which is not exactly exciting, but very interesting. |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | Much of the time I can work remotely, from my vehicle over an RDC on my laptop or tablet, which is convenient. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | I am constantly communicating with others either via the phone or in person, depending on if I am remote or in the office. We are constantly improving the network architecture, and I need to find out which areas need upgraded equipment, and this requires communication with my co workers. |
Job Title: Network Manager
Attended: Technology Training Solutions • Plainview, NY
Studied Biology (completion in 1998)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 2/13/2012
"My Tech skills are put to good use working in a comfortable, nonprofit environment. We are very "in house" and hands on, and my skill set has evolved over the years."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | The only official 'tech training' I took was essentially a semester's worth of Microsoft courses aimed at getting my MCSE in Windows NT 4.0. I've since taken other classes and certifications, but have not relied on them for anything beyond my own personal edification. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 3 | There's only my supervisor - the CIO, and the COO above him before the president. However, I've received steady pay increases over the years. |
| Job Security | 10 | I am the most savvy, tech-knowledgeable person on staff. I've been here for 12 years and no one knows their way around the network like I do. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | I could definitely make more money if I went to a for-profit institution. I prefer the flexibility and relaxed environment of a school. |
| How Stressful | 4 | I'm very good at what I do, so I don't find doing what needs to be done stressful. A few interpersonal situations might give rise to stress, but they are few and far between. |
| Task Variety | 8 | As a small shop that does things in-house, I jump from technology to technology constantly. I find it refreshing and enjoyable. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | I work at an extremely well known performing arts conservatory. It's located in Manhattan, and occasional contact with fairly significant celebrities isn't out of the question. |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | We are very flexible here - telecommuting is possible when ill or unable to get to work for some reason. My supervisor is very understanding in terms of work schedule, as long as what's needed to be done is done. |
| Social Orientation | 6 | Though I don't have as much interaction with the staff and students as the helpdesk, I'm still responsible for a number of systems they use. I'd say I deal with at least 1 non-IT person per day on average. |
Job Title: Network Analyst
Attended: Wayne State University • Detroit, MI
Studied Computer Science (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 2/24/2012
"I love my job. I assess the networking needs of clients and build their network structures. I often feel that I'm worth more than I make and I tire of personal tech support requests."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | My degree was focused on programming and algorithms. It could have used more hardware and practical practice. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 2 | I was hired for the job I'm doing. I can't get promoted, but there is plenty of room for raises. |
| Job Security | 5 | I'm currently in a decent position. I'm just not sure how much room there is for advancement. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | I have had two raises this year and currently make $50,000. I'm fearful though because the salary caps out at $70,000. |
| How Stressful | 5 | I manage my tasks well. I'm never behind because I never overshoot my expectations. |
| Task Variety | 8 | Tasks can get monotonous. Users make many of the same mistakes often. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 7 | I feel cool because I'm working on what I enjoy. There is plenty of opportunity to learn more about network infrastructure and future technology. |
| Career Flexibility | 3 | I get plenty of work-at-home time. This leaves me open to also work freelance web design. |
| Social Orientation | 1 | I am often confined to a small room with a computer. There are days I never see another person. |
Job Title: IT Security Administrator
Attended: Midlands Technical College • Columbia, SC
Studied Telecommunications Systems Management (completion in 2008)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 2/24/2012
"I am working towards my career goal. I am putting my time in right now in the lower ranks to get the necessary experience I need to make more."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | Midlands Tech gave me the exact knowledge I needed to excel. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 7 | In my current position, there is nothing really higher. If I were with a company or corporation, I think the room for promotions and growth would be better. |
| Job Security | 8 | I am very good at what I do and I work for cheap. Most people do not know how to configure the devices that I support. |
| Earnings Potential | 9 | The sky is the limit in this field. Without people that can interpret the graphs and numbers, they are just squiggly lines. |
| How Stressful | 8 | It is definitely not the worst as far as stress goes. Deadlines and circuit hogs that slow important traffic down is pretty stressful, though, when upper management needs it fixed yesterday. |
| Task Variety | 7 | There is very little stagnation and routine to this job. There is always a different issue to deal with. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | I get to watch the trends of traffic and the different protocols going through the network. I can cut people off and stop programs remotely. This is an awesome job. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | This career field is extremely flexible and the possibilities for work options are bountiful. I can work at home or remotely. |
| Social Orientation | 3 | We are called "server room rats" for a reason. The social interaction for this career is best suited for the socially inept. |
Job Title: Interface Analyst
Attended: Western Governor's University • Salt Lake City, UT
Studied Information Technology (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 2/28/2012
"This is a field that I have always wanted to be in. I'm glad I finally made the choice to go back to school and receive my degree."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | I was pleased to find out that each certification test I took actually went toward credit for a course. I was able to receive certifications while receiving credit at the same time. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 9 | I feel really good about having an opportunity to get promoted. I have a degree and am receiving more experience every day. |
| Job Security | 9 | Although no job is 100% safe, I think the company I work for is about as secure as you can get. We are growing, as a company, by leaps and bounds. |
| Earnings Potential | 9 | This is a booming business with the need for more people like myself with my experience growing every day. |
| How Stressful | 8 | It is a high pressure job. I used to work in retail and I think, though, this job is much less stressful. |
| Task Variety | 5 | My tasks vary somewhat on a daily basis. I do interface programs for different hospitals. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | I don't think I am really considered one of the "coolest" on the block. I do feel, though, there are many employees within the company that receive a lot of prestige and glamour. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | With my job, I will have the opportunity in the future to work from home. I also enjoy the not so strict schedule that I have to abide by. |
| Social Orientation | 6 | I work in an office with one other person. I do not have much social interaction. I do most meetings over the phone on conference calls. |
Job Title: Network Technician
Attended: Fox Valley Technical College • Appleton, WI
Studied IT- Network Specialist (completion in 2009)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 2/25/2012
"It is a rewarding position, but there is always more to learn. The field is full of great people, and technology will always be an interesting career focus."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | The education covered a range of material. The course instructors, however, may have been a bit lacking in quality at times. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 3 | Career opportunities can be few and far between. It is best to find a company that highlights upward movement. |
| Job Security | 5 | In one regard, jobs are dependent on external factors. On the other hand, each person has at least some kind of control over their own job security. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | You can plan on above minimum wage compensation. Sometimes poor upward mobility limits your earning potential over time. |
| How Stressful | 7 | Deadlines and a range of time constraints are sometimes a worry in this kind of position. The patience of clients is not something anyone should rely upon if seeking good customer relations. |
| Task Variety | 9 | In this position, you will find a great range of tasks that must be accomplished. Each site has different technology and configurations of network systems. Every site is new and interesting. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 9 | You get to play with all kinds of new toys. It's an exciting endeavor, though not necessarily a prestigious or glamorous one. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | There are a range of positions that can be tailored to the technician's preference. Contract work on the side is also an option depending on the employer. |
| Social Orientation | 8 | Depending on your specific position, you may deal with a range of personalities in various positions at a plethora of locations. Usually you're solving a problem so that someone is able to do their work, so often interaction is necessary. |
Job Title: Data Analyst
Attended: Penn State • Erie, PA
Studied MIS (completion in 2009)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"It can be extremely boring at times just monitoring the performance of things. The pay is pretty good and the hours are flexible."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | We had great professors at Penn State. The only reason it isn't a 10 is because the course offerings didn't cover any linux. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 1 | I am a contractor so I cannot be promoted within my company. It is possible for the company who owns my contract to hire me. This wouldn't really be considered a promotion, though. |
| Job Security | 5 | I am currently a contractor so in one year my job will "end." At this point it is very likely they'll resign my contract, but that's not guaranteed. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | I think I will earn 30-50k indefinitely if I do not move on to a slightly different career path. That is a good salary in the area I live. |
| How Stressful | 3 | I have almost 0 stress. Anything I can't figure out I just escalate to another team and provide input as needed. |
| Task Variety | 6 | Tasks change fairly often but they are generally just different versions of the same question. Once a person has been in my position for over a year, they are unlikely to encounter anything new. There may be some things that are only seen once every 6 months. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 3 | I close support tickets for a network team and monitor linux systems. Explaining that to a girl or anyone else isn't exactly exciting. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I can work almost any hours I want and take lots of free time off if needed for dentist appointments, etc. My start time in the morning is only set if I have a call that I need to be on. |
| Social Orientation | 8 | I have a fairly young work group so we go out for lunch and chat about off topic things regularly. There is a small group of us who catch happy hour every Thursday afternoon. |
Job Title: Network Administrator
Attended: Champlain College • Burlington, CT
Studied Global Telecommunications (completion in 2007)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/3/2012
"When going into networking, I believed I would setup more than maintain. I would like a career as a contractor setting up full networks for businesses."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | At the time, they were one of the few schools doing the program, so they were a great school. However, they did not provide us with classes to get the various certifications in the field which hurt for job hunting. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 2 | I would need one of the two guys above me to retire for me to move up and they are only a few years older than me. |
| Job Security | 10 | The company is constantly expanding which makes it easier for me to maintain my job. We have obtained a few guys underneath me so I would be one of the last to go. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | As the company is growing, it offers more potential for me to prove my worth and my raises so far have shown this. |
| How Stressful | 7 | Day to day it isn't very stressful. However, when something goes wrong it gets extremely stressful. |
| Task Variety | 5 | I generally know what needs to be done from day to day. Between the coding for the servers and updating the blade drives, I don't have to do the exact same thing every day. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 4 | I find it cool to be working with the network and having control of all that information. Most of my friends don't find it cool though. |
| Career Flexibility | 7 | There are some days I can work from home by connecting to the network. The company does want me there the majority of the time but once in a while I can work from home. |
| Social Orientation | 3 | There are only a few people in my department. The people I generally deal with are higher-ups who want to modify the permissions or work on the security issues. |
Job Title: Information Technology Administrator
Attended: San Jose State University • San Jose, CA
Studied Business Management Concentration: Information Systems (completion in 2009)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/4/2012
"The career itself is not as exciting as I thought it would be. I perform similar tasks throughout the day. Very few differences from day to day."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | The program at SJSU seemed very comprehensive. With the exception of a few professors, classes were very easy to follow. Although classes were very easy to follow, they didn't represent real world experience as well as I had hoped. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 2 | With respect to the field of information technology, there are very little opportunities for promotion. I have been promoted in the company I work for as part of the technical writing department and the marketing department, but I still serve as the only employee in the information technology department. |
| Job Security | 6 | I serve as the only employee that holds a job related to information technology. My position is very secure since I am very competent in my job and have had no prior complaints. However, although my position is secure, I don't believe that the company I work for is secure yet. It is a startup company that has been live for about 6 years. I have been working for this company for 3 years. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | My career has promising earning potential, but the company that I work for probably limits my earning potential. This is the reason why I expanded my skills to the technical writing and marketing departments. |
| How Stressful | 5 | Since I am also lending my skills to the technical writing department and the marketing department, it makes my first priority of head of information technology stressful. Before my other responsibilities, my sole job as the information technology administrator was probably less stressful than most jobs that I have. |
| Task Variety | 2 | Same errors/problems happen throughout the week. Most of the variation comes when my boss needs a new solution to old problems or when new employees come in and they are not familiar with company policy. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 9 | At the company I work for, the position seems very cool since I am responsible for the entire information technology department. I have control over how information technology is applied in the company. For example, I can employ more green IT technologies without the hassle of seeking votes from anyone. The only person I need approval from is my boss. From that aspect, my career is cool, but since the day-to-day tasks are repetitive, the job becomes boring real fast. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | My position has been extremely flexible because I introduced remote technology to the company. Even if I'm not in the company building, I can control every computer in the building if there was ever a software related problem. For problems with the network or hardware related issues, I need to be present in the building. |
| Social Orientation | 1 | There is almost no social interaction because I have my own office. Not only do I have my own office, but I am also the only employee in my department. I have no co-workers that work alongside me. |
Job Title: Network Analyst
Attended: Long Island University • Brooklyn, NY
Studied Computer Engineering (completion in 1992)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/2/2012
"I love my current position, but we always need to be on call 24x7."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | The school's program did not really teach me what I have needed in the real world. My degree is very limited to my position. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 7 | Promotions are very limited. Positions are only upgradable to Management or Security positions. |
| Job Security | 7 | Positions are being overtaken by younger people now. My job is not as stable as before. Because of new technology, my education has to be more advanced. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | Earning potential is very good. But then again, although we earn well, we spend a lot of hours on the job. |
| How Stressful | 9 | Maintaining a Network is not an easy task. Servers are always going down and trying to get every one up and running in a timely fashion is stressful. |
| Task Variety | 10 | We are always working on different tasks, from upgrading to software installs on servers and the user population. Our tasks are never the same, except when we're doing backups. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 6 | My position is not as prestigious as before. We are not treated properly by the staff and we are barely seen since we are in the Network rooms. |
| Career Flexibility | 4 | My position is not very flexible. I'm always working late hours for the network, and sometimes I work throughout the night to do upgrades. |
| Social Orientation | 3 | Very limited social interaction because I am in a LAN room and not interacting with others. Most of my IT team is in the open, unlike my dept. |
Job Title: Network Administrator
Attended: Glendale Community College • Glendale, AZ
Studied (completion in 2002)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 3/1/2012
"I had worked 11 years in another industry prior to my career change. I found technology not only pays well but allows for much better career satisfaction."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 10 | My instructors were top notch, master degree level and well experienced in technology. The path I chose was exactly the curriculum I was looking for. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 1 | This organization does not promote. Someone will have to die before a promotion becomes available. |
| Job Security | 10 | I am a government employee in technology. I have 12 years experience with my job duties. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | $100k annually, here I come! As soon as I leave small town America and go back to Southern California! |
| How Stressful | 1 | I know this stuff well. I still have plenty to learn, though. |
| Task Variety | 10 | This is one of the fastest growing industries in the US. Just backing up servers alone requires a daily learning expedition. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | Everyone asks me to help them with their computers. It gets kind of cumbersome, however most people don't understand them versus those who do. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | With my experience, I could move to relatively any part of the USA and gain employment. The amount of vacation time given at my current employer is nearly equal to that of living in France. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | Who does not require computer help? Even setting up a wireless router for $100 allows me to meet many people. |
Job Title: Communications Analysts
Attended: Bates Technical College • Tacoma, WA
Studied Networking (completion in 2003)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 3/3/2012
"There are ample jobs, but few pay well. It is very competitive."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | It was an average, yet expensive, program. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | My job has an average promotional rate. I have been promoted once. |
| Job Security | 6 | There is a large job pool. Employers will fire people for little reason. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | This job pays me what it should to for the work I do. I don't expect to make a ton of money. |
| Task Variety | 4 | Work varies from time to time, but mostly I do repetitive tasks. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 3 | It's cool among the people who love this work. People who don't share my interests find it rather boring. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | I can travel a lot for my job. There are also many options for different types of work, i.e. part-time, full-time, work form home, etc. |
| Social Orientation | 4 | I have a fair level of interaction. I am not a very social person, so I am okay with that. |
Job Title: Network Analyst
Attended: ITT Tech • San Antonio, TX
Studied Network Technician (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Certificate
• Submitted: 3/10/2012
"I have full time work and I like my boss."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 5 | Some students were not motivated. Some classes were too easy. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 6 | I only have a technical degree. Many companies only hire from staffing agencies |
| Job Security | 7 | Network technicians are in high demand. I have good skills in this field. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | It depends on the company. More schooling will improve my earnings. |
| How Stressful | 7 | Users are impatient when the network is slow. Sometimes we do not have enough staff on hand. |
| Task Variety | 9 | Some tasks are routine, but problems require quick thinking. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 5 | I have an interesting technical career. I can work in many industries. |
| Career Flexibility | 4 | I have to be on-site. |
| Social Orientation | 8 | I work with many people in the company and I know other techs in the area. |
Job Title: Network Analyst/Engineer
Attended: Northern Illinois University • Dekalb, IL
Studied Computer Science (completion in 1992)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/10/2012
"The current economic climate has made good-paying jobs in the IT field hard to find. It is also frustrating that "newcomers" to the industry lack the necessary field experience to properly diagnose issues."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 6 | When I was in school IT was in its infancy. While I learned the mechanics of my trade very well, I was unprepared for the continuous re-certifications that would be necessary to keep current! |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 3 | At this point, I'm rather "on top of the game." Without learning the current "code du jour" and with the advent of mostly plug-and-play devices, I see my role in the IT industry shrinking, if anything. |
| Job Security | 2 | Today, it seems that people are not looking for quality work... work that will withstand the tests of time. Employers want the work pushed out the door with little to no customer training. I DO NOT like doing things this way. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | There is great earning potential in what I do, IF you keep current, which I do. Is it worth the money? Yeah, considering that I love to do it! |
| How Stressful | 2 | The IT field used to be VERY stressful...but then I gained a LOT of experience. In my opinion stress is inversely proportional to the experience you have with a particular issue. |
| Task Variety | 5 | Many tasks are repetitive (like sysadmin) and must be done the same way each day. However, in a company that is informationally dynamic, new challenges always open up. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 5 | Yeah, while its "cool" to be the person that others go to for computer help, it is also really a pain sometimes. One great thing about what I do is that employers see it as magic... therefore I am usually not rushed through jobs. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | Because of my training and experience, everything is simple. After so many years in the field, your brain develops hierarchical "troubleshooting charts." A great day for me is when a problem is TOUGH to solve! |
| Social Orientation | 10 | Haha, this answer would probably be "1" if not for the fact that I am the person EVERYONE else goes to for advanced questions! Still, I love interacting with people in my job, especially explaining unfamiliar technologies in a "language" they can understand. |
Job Title: Engineer
Attended: Boston University • Boston, MA
Studied Computer Science (completion in 1980)
Highest relevant degree: Master's
• Submitted: 3/7/2012
"Interesting work, decent salary."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 9 | Relevant courses. Allowed me to find a job quickly. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 2 | Not enough positions are available at the top. Promotions early on in my career were easy to get. |
| Job Security | 4 | Companies fire people in the US and hire people abroad at cheaper rates. |
| Earnings Potential | 5 | An average salary is pretty good. However, the raises over the last few years has been practically non-existence. The bad economy means people cannot leave at will, even if they are not happy with the poor raises. |
| How Stressful | 10 | Deadlines are very tight, and competition for ranking at review time is very difficult. Some percentage of people are laid off every year. |
| Task Variety | 10 | I am constantly learning new things. Being moved from project to project is very common. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 8 | Working with technology is cool. Seeing the results of your work is exciting. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | As long as you deliver the results, the hours are flexible, and working at home is possible. |
| Social Orientation | 9 | I work with people on my project all the time. It is a fairly small group, but we need to work closely together to accomplish the results that are expected. |
Job Title: Network Analyst
Attended: Texas State • San Marcos, TX
Studied Exercise And Sports Science (completion in 2010)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/13/2012
"I really wanted to be a coach and teach. This job is is also over an hour away. That said, I am treated well and the pay is adequate enough to support my family."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | TSU provides great student to instructor ratios. The professors seem extremely knowledgeable of the subject matter. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 6 | The opportunities are there, but are limited. You really have to be opportunistic at my current employer to advance. |
| Job Security | 8 | This is dependent on how progressive the company is. I feel confident the service of my occupation will always be desired in some facet, but in terms of this industry there would need to be constant progression. |
| Earnings Potential | 7 | The potential is there, but it's limited. You really have to get high up the ladder to earn good money. |
| How Stressful | 5 | I assume all jobs have stress. That said, I'm not one to really stress out, and I tend to leave work at work. |
| Task Variety | 5 | The overall tasks don't change very much, however the challenges to those task vary greatly. The line I'm in also evolves quite a bit. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 5 | I'd say this is very average. I do occasionally get vendor perks, but I would still say it's average. My company does offer free services to employees, so that's pretty cool. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | I currently work once a week from home. They have always been very accommodating to me, and the option to telecommute is certainly present. |
| Social Orientation | 9 | I constantly interact with people. I have internal and external customers. |
Job Title: Network Analyst II
Attended: Tennessee Temple University • Chattanooga, TN
Studied Pastoral Studies (completion in 1993)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 3/13/2012
"About 15 years ago, I was able to turn my computer hobby into a career. It is something that I still enjoy learning about."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 1 | My current career has nothing to do with my college education. After college, I was able to work on Microsoft certifications like MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) to further my education and improve my subject matter knowledge. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 3 | My company has recently merged with several other companies. This has caused the company to be a bit top heavy with upper management. |
| Job Security | 8 | Although in today's economy no job is probably 100% secure, I feel like I have an above average job security level. My knowledge and experience have allowed me to become invaluable to my company. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | The pay for what I do above average. However, it is not as high as it was back around Y2k when IT professionals were high in demand. |
| How Stressful | 6 | Due to constant project deadlines, my job can be very stressful. However, since I enjoy the work that I do, it's not too stressful. |
| Task Variety | 9 | There are new projects and challenges everyday. Also, with technology changing everyday, there is a constant learning curve. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 4 | My job is known for it's "geek" factor. Geeks aren't known to be "cool." |
| Career Flexibility | 7 | Although I am "on call" night and day, I am able to adjust my work schedule to make up for hours that I had to work extra. I am also able to work from home a lot. |
| Social Orientation | 7 | Although I spend some time working solo on servers, routers, etc, I still spend a good amount of my time working with customers. I also work closely with other co-workers. |
Job Title: Server Admin
Attended: UCF • Orlando, FL
Studied Network And Communications Management (completion in 2004)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/18/2012
"I've been around computers my whole life. Also, it's not too stressful (only on days with high traffic and host problems)."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 3 | I learned more on my own than I did from the whole course. UCF definitely isn't a school for anyone going into anything computer related. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 6 | I've gained the experience to go anywhere, since a lot of people are looking for server management (the net is huge now). |
| Job Security | 2 | More and more people are going into the tech field. However, I'm more experienced, which in any tech. development/management job, is better than paying for someone lower. |
| Earnings Potential | 6 | If you're good, you'll get more. Anyone seriously considering and hoping for a job in server comm. or any network analyzation field is good to go. |
| How Stressful | 8 | The constant, CONSTANT monitoring and anxiety of something wrong happening and coming over on me are horrible. |
| Task Variety | 1 | It's the same thing EVERY day, EVERY day. It's horrible at times, it's like deathly boring. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 2 | Haha. Maybe in a group of young computer players, but definitely not something people strive for. |
| Career Flexibility | 6 | The hours are hellish (sometimes having to work 16 hours a day), but I'll be able to get a job at any time. I do get to work at home, too. |
| Social Orientation | 4 | I sometimes have to communicate with other employees in India (which is a PAIN), but otherwise, I hardly talk. |
Job Title: IT Security Analyst
Attended: Keiser University • Sarasota, FL
Studied Computer Networking/Security Management (completion in 2008)
Highest relevant degree: Bachelor's
• Submitted: 3/17/2012
"I am happy with my career thus far after completing 4 years of University. I am giving this an 8 only because I believe job placement could have been a little better."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | They have very informative and experienced professors. Also, it's a very professional education environment, which makes it fun to learn. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | I feel like I would have to go back to school to get where I ultimately want to be. I would want to go back for my Masters. |
| Job Security | 8 | I feel like my career at this moment is stable mainly due to the IT industry constantly evolving. There is also always demand for it as well. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | The IT industry has phenomenal earnings potential. Technology is always growing and evolving. There will always be a need for this kind of technology and it will never become obsolete. |
| How Stressful | 8 | My career can be very stressful at times with given deadlines and due dates to get things done. Also, being liable for people's data can be very stressful. |
| Task Variety | 5 | I do a lot of the same tasks daily. Every day there is something new though. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 3 | Being an IT person isn't very "cool" these days. We might be looked at more as geeks to the average person. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | My job provides me with great hours and flexible off days and vacations. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | I have made several friends in the workplace that I speak with at and out of work. The IT industry is a very social place to work as you are always giving advice or learning from others. |
Job Title: Network Engineer
Attended: University Of Phoenix • Phoenix, AZ
Studied I.T. (completion in 2011)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 3/13/2012
"I have been within the I.T. field since 1992. I have maintained my CCNA since 2001. I enjoy what I do and consider myself an experienced Engineer"
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | UoP afforded me the time and opportunity to work and still finish my degree. It was an excellent curriculum and I thoroughly enjoyed the learning. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 7 | With what I do as an Engineer, it is easy to advance due to the amount of time I have been doing the work. Hands on learning and experience are key. |
| Job Security | 7 | I.T. will always be here and continues to be a leading field for having job security. There are many specialties within I.T., but anything I.T. is a good choice for job security. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | The sky is truly the limit. Income scales are derived according to geographical areas. I could double my salary if I were to move to a larger Metro area. But then the cost of living would be higher as well, so it's hard to judge the exact difference in income. |
| How Stressful | 5 | With my line of work... there is always stress. You either have the ability to adapt or you don't. It certainly can be demanding, but I wouldn't say it's so stressful that I wouldn't remain in this line of work. |
| Task Variety | 8 | There is always something exciting each and every day in this line of work. There will always be new challenges to overcome and new issues to resolve. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | I learn new things every day. I especially like tracking virus point of origins and being able to mitigate them quickly to hinder the potential to damage the data on my watch. It's cool to be able to be challenged and win. |
| Career Flexibility | 8 | I have the ability to telecommute from home on days when I need to be home, and I do not have to use any sick leave. My job and line of work is extremely flexible. |
| Social Orientation | 10 | Being a Network Engineer allows me to interact with people as part of a team, and it's required in order to have a successful relationship with team members and vendors of network products that support the infrastructure. |
Job Title: Computer Network Analyst
Attended: ITT Technical Institute • Lexington, KY
Studied Computer Network Systems (completion in 2012)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 3/13/2012
"My current position is an entry level position at my job site with hopes of advancement. I also want to get some certifications to help improve my chances for advancement."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | My school was well equipped to teach CNS and have it as one of their programs. ITT also provided extra lab time so the students could have more hands-on experience before beginning work in their industry. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 9 | I hope to advance into management after more experience has been gained and certifications obtained. However, management is the only advancement within this organization. |
| Job Security | 7 | The way the economy is now, all jobs are affected when layoffs start coming around. As the newest member, I will probably be at the top of the list if the issue arises here. However, my rating was not less secure because there are just enough employees in the IT department here to perform the daily tasks. |
| Earnings Potential | 10 | The earnings for my specific position at the entry level is at the lower range of the average for my state. However, over time I could potentially earn more with more certifications and more time put into the company. |
| How Stressful | 8 | Any networking position can be stressful - it's just a part of the daily workload. Some administrative employees are not too savvy when it comes to computers, so they repeatedly make simple mistakes. |
| Task Variety | 7 | Day-to-day tasks here are usually simple, like when a network cable becomes unplugged or someone has accidentally moved their desktop interface sideways. Sometimes, however, there could be a more challenging problem like a virus someone downloaded and catching it before it spreads to the other employees throughout the network. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | All of the employees in the IT department are well liked throughout the organization. The IT team here are all hard workers and some of them spend time on activities outside of work. |
| Career Flexibility | 9 | The work schedule here is very flexible and provides the ability to work part-time or at home. The work-at-home is sometimes required to run scans when administrative employees are not using their computers. The only advancement, however, is into management. |
| Social Orientation | 9 | Socially, the IT department spends time on breaks together promoting healthy living within the company by walking and catching up on home lives. Outside of work there are gatherings and activities, like softball and basketball or bowling, that the team gets together for. |
Job Title: Corporate MIS Manager
Attended: Arizona State University • Tempe, AZ
Studied Computer Science (completion in 1984)
Highest relevant degree: Associate's
• Submitted: 3/15/2012
"My career is challenging. I have new problems to solve everyday. Often, I'm the only one at my company that can solve the current problem."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 8 | My college was building a first class program. Some of the elements were fully in place, some weren't complete. The business college at my university also provided a computer curriculum. I took advantage of both colleges. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 5 | I have worked as the go to guy in the computer department for 3 construction companies. I have been promoted as far as I can go. I have moved to larger companies to get promoted. |
| Job Security | 10 | I work for a family owned and operated business that is 65 years old. The business has survived many challenges, so it is stable. The owners depend on me to support the company's computer systems. |
| Earnings Potential | 8 | Computer Science is often one of the highest paying career fields. There have been several shortages of qualified workers which drives up earnings potential. |
| How Stressful | 7 | My career can be stressful, but I manage it by being patient and I don't allow the job to take over my life. |
| Task Variety | 10 | While there are lots of common problems, I generally get the problems no one else can solve. There is always something new to work on. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 10 | My career is very cool to me, but not so cool to the new generation. |
| Career Flexibility | 10 | I leverage all of the mobile and remote access technologies to support people in several states, from where I am at the moment. |
| Social Orientation | 5 | I'm friendly with the people I work with, but I stick to business. I socialize outside of work. |
Job Title: Communications Analyst
Attended: Syracuse • Syracuse, NY
Studied Marketing (completion in 2001)
Highest relevant degree: Master's
• Submitted: 3/17/2012
"Working all day and making money. Completing tasks brings great satisfaction."
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale
| Characteristic | Rating | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| School Rating | 7 | They give you all the training you need. The teachers are phenomenal. |
| Opportunity for Promotion | 3 | It is difficult to get promoted. Be sure to talk to the higher-ups in the company. |
| Job Security | 8 | Chances of me losing my job are minimal. Because of the expertise required, once you have the job, you are set. |
| Earnings Potential | 4 | The potential earnings in this career are modest. Don't expect a mansion. |
| How Stressful | 8 | Working almost six days a week every week is very stressful. Be sure to drink a lot of water. |
| Task Variety | 5 | Fairly monotonous tasks. On occasion, you will do some novelty projects. |
| How Cool Is The Career | 9 | Doing what you love everyday can't be beat. This job is very "cool." |
| Career Flexibility | 2 | You usually have to go to the jobs. There isn't much chance to stay where you want. |
| Social Orientation | 8 | You must talk to clients every day. Social skills are necessary. |
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