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A Day in the Life of a Computer Engineer/Systems Analyst

"Expect the unexpected," said one computer engineer about her profession, and this statement was reflected on all the surveys we received. Computer engineers coordinate the construction, maintenance, and future growth of a company鈥檚 computer systems. They work with all departments, discovering each one鈥檚 computer needs, then make suggestions about what technical direction the company should proceed in. While this occupation sounds quite organized and logical, most computer engineers enter the profession at companies who have already made uncertain steps into the technical world. Faced with uncertain budget restrictions, presented with old or misapplied systems, and expected to know the nuances of each department鈥檚 needs, systems analysts must rapidly become experts in the company鈥檚 and each department鈥檚 functions and learn how to use second-best systems to satisfy their needs. 鈥淕etting people to tell you up front all the things they want to do is like pulling teeth,鈥� wrote one engineer. Flexibility, strong interpersonal skills, and a friendly disposition are highly valued traits in this industry. The bottom line is performance, and those without strong technical skills find themselves quickly outpaced by the expertise their job demands. Over 30 percent of systems analysts did not intend to become full-time systems analysts: In most smaller companies, the position develops as an ancillary responsibility for the most technically savvy of the current employees. As the company realizes the benefits of a full-time computer representative, that position becomes permanent and exclusive. 鈥淚 was hired as a researcher,鈥� noted one analyst, 鈥渁nd now all I use is my screwdriver.鈥� Many who have fallen into the profession point to continuing education as an attractive part of the job. Others find themselves hamstrung by decisions others have made before them and the technical limitations of the systems they inherit. The high level of satisfaction these high-tech tinkerers feel might be related to the creative thinking and problem solving aspects of their job. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like having the most expensive Tinkertoy set in the world--I love it!鈥� said one systems analyst. Few occupations allow the physical construction of an object and the intellectual challenge offered by computer engineering. For those who can make the most of limited resources and listen carefully for the distinction between what people want and what people need from their computer systems, computer engineering is an excellent profession.

Paying Your Dues

Computer engineers come from all walks of life and all professional fields: Accountants, researchers, inventor-managers, programmers and others who found the technology they worked with fascinating, who assumed responsibility for those systems, and who continued their education in the field. All computer engineers must be good with details and know how to approach structural problems logically. But practical experience is the most important credential. Nearly all the surveys returned to us from computer engineers stressed that experience is significantly more important than education in this field. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 even look at the education portion of the resume,鈥� one candid senior analyst mentioned, 鈥渏ust tell me what problems you鈥檝e encountered and what you鈥檝e done about them.鈥� Technology changes rapidly in this field, so continuous study and learning are part of a professional鈥檚 life. Certain certifications are gaining credence in the field, such as the Certified Systems Professional (CSP) credential and the Certified Quality Analyst (CQA) designation, but none are required.

Present and Future

A relatively new field, computer engineers have been around since the early 1970s, when computers became more widespread in the business sector. Many companies purchased computers individually without considering how they could work together. Out of incompatibility rose LAN systems, which promised to link individual users in each office to a central software, database, and routing computer. The profession of computer engineering is likely to grow very fast and become a significant position within many large and small corporations. The most interesting aspect of computer engineering is that for the first time, it is becoming a unique and distinct occupation that people study in school and look for work in. Certain firms have arisen that act as solely systems analyst 鈥渉ired guns鈥� who handle all computer issues at a company. Computer consulting businesses are expected to grow much faster than other types of consulting firms.

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Quality of Life

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