Career Tips and So Much More

The coming of computers in the workplace has permitted employees to complete daily tasks with more efficiency than ever before. Nevertheless, when a computer goes on the fritz, no one saves time. Most big companies fight this problem by maintaining a staff of technicians in the office who would be able to respond to computer troubles at a moment's notice so that the least amount of time will be wasted on computer glitches.

It is not strange for a computer help desk technician to come on at a job and find an employee frantic or on the verge of tears. This is usually the case when the employee has spent hours working on a project that seems to no longer exist in the computer files. Computer help desk technicians must be knowledgeable both in computer software and hardware. These technicians would also need to be able to come up with solutions rapidly, as employees are often in a rush to get back to their work, but can't do so till the computer problem has been sorted out.

The salary in this field will vary immensely depending on the area in which you live and the type of company in which you are employed. Someone starting out in this type of work could expect to earn a salary in the $35,000s, but within five years you could expect to make somewhere in the range of $53,000. The job market for computer technicians is still quite healthy, although some companies have turned to hiring consultants to do this type of work.

A bachelor's degree in a computer-related subject—most preferably computer science—is what nearly all employers are looking for in a prospective employee. Employers would also want someone who already has experience working in the field, whether you got this from a part-time job or from an internship.

 If you believe you have the characteristics needed for this field, it's good to know that for the most part, people who do this type of work are quite interested in and knowledgeable about computers. But perhaps more importantly, they should be able to work comfortably with people.

© 2012 Tip Writer

A lot of company officials use accountants' and auditors' reports to judge the financial health of their companies, and they create earnings and sales projections based on those numbers. Many of the figures are pulled out from extensive computer databases that call for a high level of expertise to operate. Enter the data retrieval specialist. This job involves working with the auditing or finance department of a company to pick information from databases and electronic archives. Though the common perception of a database is a highly ordered system that offers information with the stroke of a computer key, a lot of database systems are merely a free- form collection of information from which pulling up financial data is like pulling teeth.

Data retrieval experts spend hours and occasionally days searching for a certain piece of information—be it sales figures for a particular day around five years ago or storewide layaway plan balances. Usually, retrieval specialists write software programs intended specifically to extract the data.   

The pay depends on the size of the company, the part of the country where in you're working, and your experience. The average yearly salary for a data retrieval specialist with a few years of experience is $55,000 to $61,000.

Your prospects include companies that have become much more reliant on their computer systems through the years, and this field has expanded consequently. A lot of companies are realizing that to use their systems with efficiency, they need experts who understand its inner workings. That made this a fast-growing job category.

The standard college background for this job is a bachelor's degree in computer science or information systems. Some people begin in auditing or finance and move into this field. Irrespective of a person's major, computer programming skills are really important. You also must know database programming languages and be knowledgeable about database systems.

It would help if you are the type of person who can't take no for an answer. As you search across files for information, you'll run into blocks and dead ends. Loads of determination and self-motivation are needed to thrive in this job.

© 2012 Tip Writer 

While electrical engineers design circuitry, electronics technicians make certain that it works. If something goes wrong with a circuit, technicians act like investigators, isolating the problem and coming up with solutions. That usually calls for working with the engineer who made it to make changes and testing it over again to make sure it's operating properly.  Technicians likewise design circuit prototypes- using either actual materials or a computer model-to test, out the design. They meet with customers to talk about their needs, and if the design does not include all the customer's product demands, the technicians will either make alterations themselves or instruct the engineers on what's necessary. Helping a product move from a computer design to the real stuff is one of the rewards of being an electronics technician. Since technology is always changing, so is the work, making no two projects the same.

The expected annual salaries start in the low- to mid-$49,000 range. With a few years of experience, electronics technicians can earn $68,000 or more a year.

Good prospects for this job include the government, which has traditionally employed a huge number of electronics technicians, but has been cutting down demands for this expertise in recent years due to a decrease in weapons contracts. Demand in the private sector, nevertheless, is increasing. The ever-growing semiconductor industry, for instance, employs a large number of technicians.

The minimum qualification is a two-year associate's degree in an area like electrical engineering technology. Computer programming and troubleshooting skills are also essential. Some companies prefer these with a few years of experience, while others hire employees right out of school.

You have to posses some characteristics like being organized and able to meet tight deadlines. You will also need to have a heavy interest in electronics and in making things work.

© 2012 Tip Writer

Being an environmental engineer involves cleaning up past mistakes and plans new facilities designed to prevent mistakes in the future. Private environmental consulting firms are usually hired by state and federal government to determine the ideal way to clean up contaminated industrial sites. An environmental engineer may be invited in, if, for instance, a manufacturing plant has buried toxic waste that has started seeping into the water supply. The engineer will evaluate the site, introduce a plan for cleaning it up, and assist in overseeing the cleanup process.

Environmental engineers are also employed to design and oversee construction of facilities like water and sewage treatment pipe lines, plants and pump stations,. This job calls for a lot of fieldwork. Instead of just sitting in front of a computer all day, environmental engineers spend a lot of time in doing biological and chemical analysis, research and working with regulators, clients, contractors, and the public, which in several cases is determining the bill for cleanups and new facilities.

When it comes to salary, Environmental Engineers can expect to start at  $43,000 to $53,300 a year (as of 2010). The average mid-level salary is about $46,800 to $59,000, while salaries for those in the top management can surpass $200,000. The pay is basically dependent on experience and, in a few cases, on the quantity of work an individual brings in.

Not too long ago, somewhere in the late 80s and early 90s, growth was explosive and demand for engineers was quite high. Then it was a steady decline from 10 to 15 percent a year to about 5 percent. The industry is more crowded, and breaking in isn't as easy as it used to be. Recently, though, there has been an increasing demand for environmental engineers with companies needing assistance in complying with environmental regulations.

A minimum of a bachelor's degree in engineering or geology is required, and a master's degree is occasionally preferred. Some companies hire engineers right out of college, while others opt to hire those having a few years of field experience.

You can expect to meet with clients and producing presentations, so you have to be comfortable speaking in public and working closely with other people.

© 2012 Tip Writer

Technical writers are responsible for the manuals that come with new computers, the text that comes out on your computer screen when you set up a new software program, and the troubleshooting guide that accompanies your new color printer. Technical writers even document the companies' manufacturing operations, research and write bids for government contracts, and formulate in-house marketing materials for company employees. In addition to great writing skills, technical writers have to understand how the technology works. Technical writers' schedules are predictable in that the hours are usually long: sixty-hour workweeks are common.

A beginning writer working full-time starts at around $42,000 to $45,000 a year (as of 2010). When you have gained three to four years of experience, it goes up to $50,000, and with five to seven years, $55,000 to $63,000. It is not unusual for a senior contract writer to earn $65,000 to $83,000. It could increase from there, based on how many assignments the writer decides to take on.

The exponential growth of technological products in the past decade has afforded this field quite a big boost. Another plus is that growth isn't bound to particular geographic regions. Contract writers can live just about anywhere, since they only just send out their work through the internet.

Most companies will ask for a bachelor's degree, ideally with an emphasis on technical writing, but it may be possible to break in with a liberal arts degree and no experience in technical writing provided that it is coupled with superior writing skills. The sum of technical expertise necessary totally depends on the product line. Writing directions for using children's software programs does not need as much technical experience compared to working for a company that designs computer semi-conductors.

You must not be easily intimidated or afraid to ask questions. You'll be working with people who hold Ph.D's in engineering and are experts in their field. If you do not understand something, it's up to you to continue asking until you grasp it. Engineers and programmers aren't usually the most patient individuals, so you have to be persistent.

© 2012 Tip Writer