Stodola, Steve
English 10, First
Hour
Mrs. Herbach
February 15, 1996
What is it like to be on the forefront of
technology? New technology is constantly
being designed and developed. The people
who are responsible for this new technology in the field of computers are most
likely system analysts. This paper will
attempt to give the reader some insight into the career of a system analyst.
People who work as system analysts work as
teams and are constantly dealing with some form of new computer
technology. They may build and design
new systems, or they may provide consultation on the purchasing of computer
systems for a company, school, or small business as to what type of computer
system to purchase. The analysts who
build new systems must design the circuit boards, peripherals, and choose how
the computer will recognize files.
System analysts must also select or design an operating system, which is
the way the computer interprets files.
During the design of the system, a system analyst must use both math
models and other models to solve any problems they may come across (Wisconsin
Career Information System 1633.3). Once
they are finished, the team must write reports on how to solve any problems the
consumer may have with the new system, which, in turn, involves the use of more
math models. In order to be capable of
completing the above tasks, a system analyst must continue education beyond
high school.
The post-secondary education required for a
system analyst can be found only at a four- year institution. A student looking to become a system analyst
must concentrate on the science and math courses offered by such an institute. Employers look for people who possess a Bachelor of Science degree in one of the
following areas: computer engineering,
computer information systems, computer science, data processing, information
science, and technical engineering (Wisconsin Career Information System
1633.3). These majors all require the
student to be able to excel in math because it is an integral part of computer
operation. If the student thinks he is
done with all of his education once he has graduated, he is in for big shock. In this type of job, continual education is
essential. This is imperative because
technology is changing faster than most people can keep up with. Many large businesses hold their own training
sessions for their employees who use computers, while smaller businesses send
their employees to seminars. Employers
seek applicants who have specialized training.
For example, an accounting firm would seek a system analyst who has a
background in accounting, or a firm that produces medicine would look for someone
with some medical experience. For this
reason, colleges and universities often allow students to design a specific
area of study in computer science.
While
attending the four-year institution, one must develop specific skills and
abilities. One ability that is essential
is the ability to solve problems logically and practically. Without this skill, a student would have no
future in the computer market because math is based on logic. One must also be able to communicate well
with others. A person is constantly
working with others and needs to able to convey his message clearly to the team
and/or people that he must assist. In
this profession, people often work alone, but still need to be an effective
team worker. This is a skill that can be developed at all
levels. Others may think that being a
team worker is a personal characteristic, but for some, it is something they
need to work at to achieve.
Personal characteristics are something that a
person possesses and are difficult to change.
Two personal characteristics that a system analyst should possess are
humility and confidence. These two
characteristics are closely tied together, yet they contradict each other in
some ways. They must be able to admit
their mistakes, yet be confident enough to think that they have done a good
job. While system analysts usually work
forty hours per week, they may be required to work overtime on emergency
projects or to meet deadlines. This
requires employees to be able to handle stress well, work effectively and
efficiently, and be reliable. CEO's
recognize that these qualities enhance their business and seek to hire people
who possess them. Another good quality
for a system analyst to have is a sense of humor. A sense of humor is what keeps tension low in
the work environment and helps to lessen the stress in some situations. All of the things in the previous three
paragraphs are helpful when looking to advance on the job.
However, before advancement takes place, the
opportunity must be made available. To
have this opportunity, one must already be employed as a system analyst. Nationally, there were 463,000 people
employed in the field in 1990 (U.S. Department of Labor 81) and 1,468 system
analysts employed in Wisconsin (Wisconsin Career Information System
1633.3). The demand for system analysts
is expected to grow rapidly. There are
approximately 100 annual openings in Wisconsin every year, and by the year
2005, approximately 2,505 people are expected to be employed in the state
(Wisconsin Career Information System 1633.3).
Once a person has acquired some experience, he is given more
responsibility and independence. If
someone has a lot of experience, he has an opportunity to become a technical
specialist, a team supervisor, or an engineering manager. Anyone who advances in this field has usually
obtained a graduate degree in one of the aforementioned college majors.
Advancement means not only more responsibility,
but higher pay. In my research, the
lowest starting pay nationally for a system analyst is between $17,000 and
$21,000 from the government (U.S. Department of Labor 80). The average pay ranges from $33,000 to
$46,000 per year (Wisconsin Career Information System 1633.3). The top one tenth of system analysts earn
more than $62,400 a year (U.S. Department of Labor 80). On average, people working in the Northeast
were found to be paid the highest, while those working in the Midwest were the
lowest (U.S. Department of Labor 81).
Most system analysts receive benefits in addition to their salary. These benefits may include, but are not
limited to paid vacations, sick leave, health and dental insurance, retirement
plans, and profit sharing. Many places
hire system analysts, but the biggest employers are educational institutions,
government, and large corporations. The
above factors contribute to the working conditions of a system analyst and are
always a consideration when it comes to choosing the right job.
Overall, I believe choosing this career would
be a good choice for me. System analysts
do everything that I enjoy doing. They
work with computers, develop new computer ideas, use math, and are on the
cutting edge of technology. I like the
working hours and the benefits. They are
something that is conducive to my way of life. I also may enjoy this career because most jobs
are in urban areas and I want to live in or near a city larger than
Platteville. This career is important to
me because I feel it will allow me to grow constantly while seeing the results
of my efforts. I will be performing
interesting, exciting, and challenging work while using my own ideas and at the
same time drawing on an extensive knowledge base. It is a job that will force me to be thinking
constantly. Although I like working
under pressure, I do not like the fact that I may have to work overtime to
finish projects. I also do not like the
low job demand in Wisconsin. The low
demand means that I most likely will not be able to stay in Wisconsin and be
successfully employed as a system analyst.
Researching this career has been enjoyable and I feel that it has given
me a better understanding of my current career choice. Later in life I may change my choice, but
right now I think that it is a good choice for me. I plan to continue to pursue the education
required to become a system analyst.
Bibliography
Norback, Judith. The Complete Computer Career Guide. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Tab Books, 1987.
U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Scottsdale, AZ: Associated Book Publishers, Inc., 1992.
Wisconsin Career Information System. Occupations Handbook 1994-1995. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Madison, 1994.
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