WHAT CAN I DO
WITH A MAJOR IN
COMPUTER
INFORMATION
Trends

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35% of recruiting activity takes place on
the web, with 10-20% of firms hiring
directly as a result of these initiatives.
“Organizational fit” will be a critical factor
in hiring process. More employers want
to insure that new hires can socialize into
their workplace quickly and effectively.
So . . . . . What does
this mean to
ME?????
Work Towards becoming
the “TOTAL PACKAGE”
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Communication Skills – verbal, written
and listening skills
Computer/Technical Aptitudes –a given
core skill
Leadership – take charge or be a follower
Teamwork – working cooperatively &
collaboratively with different people
“Total Package”
Continued

Interpersonal Abilities – How do you
relate to others?
Personal Traits
TOP 10 PERSONAL
QUALITIES

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Communication
Skills
Honesty/integrity
Teamwork
Interpersonal
Motivation/Initiative

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Strong Work Ethic
Analytical Skills
Flexibility/adaptability
Computer Skills
Self Confidence
The Glue That Holds it
ALL Together . . .
Critical Thinking/Problem Solving –
identify problems and their solutions
 Intelligence and Common Sense
 Willingness to learn quickly and
continuously
 Work Related Experiences

How Do I Gain These
Skills?
INTERNSHIPS
An internship experience provides
students the opportunity to apply
classroom instruction to work settings.
The student intern receives academic
credit and in some cases is also paid.
Can be from 1 semester to more than
one. A student can have more than one
internship experience.

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Benefits of an Internship
Opportunity to apply classroom
learning to actual work experience.
 Opportunity for new “learning” from
the work experience.
 Develop Self-Confidence and
Professional Skills.
 Begin “Networking” Process

ELIGIBILITY

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Available at
sophomore level
Meet minimum
credit
requirements
Required GPA 2.5
Approval by
appropriate
academic division
PROCESS




Fill out internship
application, return
to Career Services
Meet with Marcia
Foss
Begin work on
resume
Find a placement
PREVIOUS INTERNSHIP
SITES
Dakota Heartland Hospital, Fargo
 Microsoft, Fargo
 Youth Correctional Center, Bismarck
 Open Door Center, Valley City
 Bobcat, Gwinner
 Nash Finch, Edward Jones, Security
State Bank, Nodak Mutual Ins., Walt
Disney World, Sea World +++++

JOB SHADOW
Coordinated through Career Services
Office
 Job Shadow someone in a career
path that you are interested in
 One hour to multiple hour
experience
 Example: Ride along with Barnes
County Sheriff’s Dept.

Take Part in Student
Campus Activities
Student Government – Senate,
V-CAB, Finance Comm.
 Honor Societies & Special Interests
– Viking Ambassadors, FCA, Alpha
Chi, PBL
 Athletics & Intramurals

Campus Activities . .
Continued
Cultural Activities – Art, Community
School of Arts, Drama, Foreign
Languages, International
Opportunities, Medicine Wheel,
Music, Planetarium
 Others – Special Event Committees,
Yearbook
 Jobs – Lab. Assistants

Career Services
Activities
Attend Career Fairs – UND & TriCollege in the Fall & Spring
 Minneapolis Field Trip
 On Campus Company Presentations
& Recruiting Events
 Senior Seminar Class
 Career Decision Making Class

SO . . . WHAT TYPES OF
JOBS ARE THERE?
Computer professionals may be
employed in a variety of jobs by
almost any type of organization

Types of jobs fall into several
general categories:
Categories:

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Computer Design
& Manufacture
Computer Sales &
Services

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Computer
Operations
Systems
Development &
Software
Engineering
CAREERS IN SYSTEMS
DEVELOPMENT:

The development of systems
containing sets of instructions
(software) by which the computer
machinery & equipment (Hardware)
is used for problem solving requires
people who understand both the
problem and the computer’s
capabilities.
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
CAREER PATH:
Manager of System Analysis
 Lead Systems Analyst
 Senior Systems Analyst
 Junior Systems Analyst
 Programmer

CAREERS IN PROGRAMMING

The work of computer programmers
or software engineers involves
writing detailed sets of instructions
according to the problem
descriptions and specifications of the
systems analysts.
3 TYPES OF PROGRAMMERS

1. Operating systems programming –
highly technical – involves writing sets of
instructions to make the programming of
computers easier

2. Applications programming – involves
developing programs that solve scientific
or engineering problems – applications
are mathematical in nature
Business applications programming
– wide range of tasks from
developing programs to handle such
routine business activities as billing
customers to developing programs
designed to satisfy the complex
informational needs of managers

3. Maintenance programming –
works constantly to enhance or
repair the existing major programs
SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING
CAREER PATH:
Manager of Operating Systems
Programming
 Lead Systems Programmer
 Senior Systems Programmer
 Intermediate Systems Programmer
 Junior Systems Programmer

APPLICATIONS
PROGRAMMING CAREER
PATH:
Manager of Applications
Programming
 Lead Applications Programmer
 Senior Applications Programmer
 Applications Programmer
 Junior Applications Programmer

CAREERS IN OPERATIONS
& WORD PROCESSING:

Vary in functions; very flexible in
regard to working hours; salaries
dependent on experience
Operations Career Path

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Manager of
Operations
Computer
Operations Mgr.
Shift Supervisor
Lead Computer
Operator
Computer
Operator
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Data Entry
Supervisor
Lead Data Entry
Operator
Data Entry
Operator
Data Entry
Operator Trainee
Continued . . .
Production Control Supervisor
 Scheduler
 Lead Production Controller
 Production Control Clerk

Careers in Telecommunications
& Network Technology
Data Security
 The Auditor – conduct audits to be
sure that things are being done
according to design

CAREERS IN THE
COMPUTER INDUSTRY:
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Computer design – hardware engineering
& software engineering
Computer manufacturing
Sales & Marketing – Sales
representatives, Marketing Support
Personnel
Computer service – maintenance.
Software services, educational services
Continued . . .
The data services industry –
 The software industry 
Careers in Information
Systems Management:

Career Path:
Top Management
 Director of Information
 Line Management
 Project Leadership
 Systems Analysis & Senior
Programming Analysis
 Programming & Programming Analysis

Additional Career Paths:
Consulting
 Independent Consulting
 Contracting
 Entrepreneurship
 Franchise Ownership
 Education

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College Teaching
TOP TEN HOT CAREERS
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Database administrators & computersupport specialists – expected to grow
37% up to 2016
Computer engineers – 324,000 new jobs,
increase by 38% up to 2016
Systems analysts – 146,000 new jobs,
grow by 29% up to 2016
Desktop – publishing specialists – little or
no change
Ten Top Jobs for the Next
Decade & Beyond
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Computer
Programmer
Day Care Provider
Elder Care
Specialist
Employment
Specialist
Home Health Aide
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Home Health Aide
Management
Consultant
Networking
Specialist
Physician’s Assistant
Social Services
Coordinator
TOP COMPUTER SCIENCE
JOBS:

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Computer Engineering – software &
hardware design & development,
systems/programming, computer
programming, consulting $50,000 to
60,000
Computer Science – software design &
development, computer programming,
consulting, systems analysis & design,
information systems $45,000 – 58,850
EMERGING CAREERS
Database Integrator – building
technical bridges between old
systems & state-of-the-art new
ones; $80,000 to 120,000
 E-Commerce Project Manager –
figures out what it will take to get
an internet customer to come back,
order a product & make sure the
product arrives $50,000-125,000

Continued . . .
Multimedia Training Program
Developer – put training programs
on a CD-Rom format, lets workers
move at own pace - $50,000-80,000
 Software Interface Designer – how
to make software & hardware user
friendly - $50,000 – 90,000

NEW CAREER PATHS:
Web Security Specialists
 Programming Artists
 Robotic Engineers
 Tech Teachers
 Wireless Developers
 Tech Support
 Bioinformatics Specialists

THE DECISION IS
NOW UP TO YOU!
Start
taking the steps
down your chosen
Career Path Today!