Try Tech!

If you’re anything like me, the words “math” and “science” instantly conjure flashbacks of long, boring lectures in hot, stuffy math classes, the teacher droning on and on and on about x’s and y’s.

A lot of people pass up wonderful career opportunities because of the myth that you have to like math and science to like technology.

The truth about tech
Truth is, the words “tech careers” apply to a number of very different jobs that require uniquely different skills and appeal to a variety of personalities. And believe me, many are far more interesting than they may sound at first. There’s programming, business analysis, corporate training, PC support, server or network administration, technical sales, marketing, graphic design, technical writing…the list goes on and on. Technology-related jobs exist in every industry, from fashion to finance. Two things they all have in common are quality of life and great pay.

Job tracks vary
Most people I spoke to for this article used their technology skills to build their lives to accommodate their lifestyles. Don Zirilli, a programmer at a major bank in New York, spent a few years working for himself as a programming consultant so he would have time to work on a novel. He also spent several years as a technical writer in order to hone his writing skills.

Steve LeVine, a client services technician at a music company in New York, used the technology skills he picked up while helping friends at computer fairs to move from a sales position into a technical support career.

I took a programming job at a music company in New York so I could make contacts for my songwriting career while making enough money to afford my music equipment.

There are few set tracks for technical careers. Different companies use different names for the same jobs, and many positions overlap each other. And as technology changes, so do the jobs available. That gives people the opportunity to shape their careers as their lives change.

What interests you?
When I graduated from college, I got a job as a business analyst. My role was to understand what people who used our accounting software needed, and to write it up so that program-mers could understand it. I was the translator between the “non-techies” and the “techies.”

Are you creative and logical? Every programmer I interviewed for this article considered programming to require creative, logical thinking. It’s about finding creative solutions to real-world problems. As Zirilli says, it’s about “applying logical thought to illogical realms.”

Nature of the job
Does having a tech job mean you’re stuck staring at a computer for 40 to 50 hours each week? It depends on where you work, what your position is and how you choose to work.

A programmer has to spend a lot of time listening to what people need their computers to do. Software engineers, systems analysts and technical architects typically spend more time working with other people to invent systems than they do coding. Programmers follow instructions to turn plans into reality. Often, one person does both designing and programming.

Doesn’t programming require math? Only if your programs need to do math, and according to Svetlana Tashlitsky, an assistant vice president with programming responsibilities at a New York investment bank. Even then, you might be given the equations to put in your code.

If you like working with people, try help desk, PC support or client-service jobs. LeVine works at a help desk, where he fixes employees’ technical problems over the phone, e-mail or through troubleshooting visits. “I’m basically the same as a detective—each clue you uncover points you in the right direction,” he says. LeVine helps people from all parts of the company, from the CEO on down. Listening, he says, is the most important skill for his job.

Sales is another career option in the tech world. Anthony Molee, a sales engineer for a manufacturer’s representative firm in New Jersey, appreciates being able to work at his own pace. In sales, you also have the option of getting out of the office to meet new people, he says.

Other tech jobs
Are you artistic? Consider graphic design. Do you like to write? Think about technical writing. Would you like to teach? Corporate and technical training can be lucrative businesses. You don’t have to be a math and science whiz to be in a high-tech career!

Sarah Myers has spent seven years in programming-related professions and is currently a programmer at a major music company in New York City. Gene Myers is a poet who spent several years in technical sales and is currently a journalism student in New Jersey.

Video game designer
Name: Mark Parisi
Job: Student studying multimedia with an emphasis in video game design at the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Ariz.

Sample classes: Color theory, drawing, art history, 3-D modeling, game theory, evolution of electronic games, applied game theory, level design, artificial intelligence concepts and game production.

Skills needed: Excellent written and verbal skills; flexibility; ability to work with others.

“If you can’t work well in a group, you won’t last long in the industry,” Parisi says. “If you can’t explain to a programmer what you need out of a toolset, they can’t make it for you.”

Why did you go into video game design?
“I want to tell stories, and I think video games are a great medium to do that,” Parisi says. “I’ve found myself lost in games the same way I get lost in books, but games are so much more dynamic. Instead of reading about Horatius at the Sublician Bridge, you ARE Horatius, holding the line against an overwhelming foe. Victory in a situation like that is sweeter because as a player, you had an active hand in how the story was told.”

What’s a typical day on the job? Researching game ideas and details; discussing ideas with my team; building a design document to serve as reference for our project; managing the artists; and designing the actual levels for a game.

Favorite part of the job? “No day is ever the same,” Parisi says. “There’s always some new challenge popping up. But even when things are at their hardest, I can’t complain. At the end of the day, I’m working on a video game! How cool is that?”

Worst part of the job? “Working in a group environment, there’s always politics involved,” Parisi says. “Cliques form, people talk...stuff like that. But that sort of thing is par for the course when groups form, and if you’re going to step in the ring, you’d better be ready to dance.” —LJH

Help-desk support
Name: Kenny McFarlane
Employer: Multicare Health Systems
Job: User support analyst

Skills needed: Patience; thorough knowledge of major operating systems and hardware; public speaking skills; self-confidence; ability to explain the problem/issue/solution in simplistic terms without talking down to the crowd; certifications.

“It is important to remember that while a certification will get your resume looked at, experience is of paramount importance,” McFarlane says. “Many companies offer paid and unpaid internships and volunteer hours. These look very impressive on a resume and are very likely to get you a second look.”

What’s a typical day on the job? Following up on the night crew’s reports; taking support calls from unhappy customers; providing support and training to the team; managing technicians; administering call tracking software and server.

Favorite part of the job? “Solving a seemingly insurmountable technical or personnel issue,” McFarlane says. “Even if no one notices, it is the best part of every day.”

How do I start? While a college degree certainly helps to get your foot in the door, especially during tough economic times, your most important skills are technical experience, knowledge and the willingness to keep learning. 

Help your friends set up their computers, volunteer to help with computer setup at career fairs, or build a Web site. Learn HTML using online tutorials. Play with Microsoft Office. Build an address database with Microsoft Access. Learn Java online. There are a million ways to get involved and learn the technologies!

Check out these sites for more.
www.whatis.com: This site provides definitions, pronunciations and detailed information about technical terms.
www.webmonkey.com: This great site can help you learn Web programming.

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