Q.
A. To give you the background â There are a number of viable IT majors and I will cover the 4 main ones which will include the Computer Application one you mentioned. There are several main Computer majors and their associated career categories and you need to know these just to get the lay of the land. These degree titles are often found in Associates, Bachelors and Masters degree programs. Generally most IT employers are looking for a 4 year Bachelors degree in an IT related major as a minimum requirement.
Now some of the titles colleges use may consist of different course curriculums. As an example one school may have more programming classes in the same major while another school has fewer. Schools may call their general IT program Computer Information Technology, Computer Information Systems or Computer Information Science. To really tell what the major is about you should look at the courses that a particular school offers in that major. Here are the majors and some associated jobs:
Computer Science (CS) - A technical degree which usually has a Programming emphasis - people with this major usually are developing application software, web development, embedded code and robotics. Sometimes depending on the college the degree may cover some more general topics as listed under CIS below. CS is a difficult major and may include a number of advanced math courses. Many CS students find themselves not enjoying programming, not being gifted at it or not having the math and logic skills to be good at programming and they will switch out into CIS. CS majors that are able to graduate can also qualify for jobs listed below under CIS.
Computer Information Systems (CIS) - This may also be called a variety of other names like Information Technology (IT), Information Systems (IS), Computer Applications (CA), etc. This is a general technical degree and is the degree that I have. Holders of these degree work in a variety of technical jobs like these:
Computer Technician, Service Center Coordinator, Help Desk Staff, Storage Administrator, Network Administrator, Systems Administrator, Systems Engineer, Enterprise Administrator, Active Directory Administrator, Exchange and Messaging Administrator, Backup Administrator, Disaster Recovery Specialist, Database Administrator, Computing Security Specialist, Ethical Hacker, Corporate IT Acquisition Specialist and Data Center Administrator, just to name a few.
Computer Engineering - This is a technical engineering and design degree. These degree holders get jobs related to designing and manufacturing computer related hardware. Obviously when you think of hardware you think of laptops and PCs but this might be all kinds of computer devices like tablets, processors, memory, storage, networking equipment and components of computers.
Management Information Systems (MIS) - The MIS degree is tricky. In some schools this is very much like CIS and in others it is part of the School of Business and related to a Management degree. If you get into the Management based MIS degree it is usually for non-technical students training them in managing people, budgets, creating presentations to management, project planning, creating policies and procedures and the like. If you like that type of work that is fine but many of us like hands-on tech work and the Management MIS will not provide you with training for that. So look carefully at the MIS course listings and see if they are about Technology or Management. If they are about Technology topics then you are good to go. Traditionally, senior IT technical pros would eventually be promoted into management positions after years of technical work. The good news is they understood technical challenges their people were working with but the bad news was that some were great tech people but poor people managers. I have had both types of these managers and the new trend is definitely towards these non-technical managers. If you are thinking about going the Management route remember many of these jobs require a Masterâs degree.
Hope this helps.
Best Wishes!
Now some of the titles colleges use may consist of different course curriculums. As an example one school may have more programming classes in the same major while another school has fewer. Schools may call their general IT program Computer Information Technology, Computer Information Systems or Computer Information Science. To really tell what the major is about you should look at the courses that a particular school offers in that major. Here are the majors and some associated jobs:
Computer Science (CS) - A technical degree which usually has a Programming emphasis - people with this major usually are developing application software, web development, embedded code and robotics. Sometimes depending on the college the degree may cover some more general topics as listed under CIS below. CS is a difficult major and may include a number of advanced math courses. Many CS students find themselves not enjoying programming, not being gifted at it or not having the math and logic skills to be good at programming and they will switch out into CIS. CS majors that are able to graduate can also qualify for jobs listed below under CIS.
Computer Information Systems (CIS) - This may also be called a variety of other names like Information Technology (IT), Information Systems (IS), Computer Applications (CA), etc. This is a general technical degree and is the degree that I have. Holders of these degree work in a variety of technical jobs like these:
Computer Technician, Service Center Coordinator, Help Desk Staff, Storage Administrator, Network Administrator, Systems Administrator, Systems Engineer, Enterprise Administrator, Active Directory Administrator, Exchange and Messaging Administrator, Backup Administrator, Disaster Recovery Specialist, Database Administrator, Computing Security Specialist, Ethical Hacker, Corporate IT Acquisition Specialist and Data Center Administrator, just to name a few.
Computer Engineering - This is a technical engineering and design degree. These degree holders get jobs related to designing and manufacturing computer related hardware. Obviously when you think of hardware you think of laptops and PCs but this might be all kinds of computer devices like tablets, processors, memory, storage, networking equipment and components of computers.
Management Information Systems (MIS) - The MIS degree is tricky. In some schools this is very much like CIS and in others it is part of the School of Business and related to a Management degree. If you get into the Management based MIS degree it is usually for non-technical students training them in managing people, budgets, creating presentations to management, project planning, creating policies and procedures and the like. If you like that type of work that is fine but many of us like hands-on tech work and the Management MIS will not provide you with training for that. So look carefully at the MIS course listings and see if they are about Technology or Management. If they are about Technology topics then you are good to go. Traditionally, senior IT technical pros would eventually be promoted into management positions after years of technical work. The good news is they understood technical challenges their people were working with but the bad news was that some were great tech people but poor people managers. I have had both types of these managers and the new trend is definitely towards these non-technical managers. If you are thinking about going the Management route remember many of these jobs require a Masterâs degree.
Hope this helps.
Best Wishes!
What Type Of Job Is A Payroll Clerk?
Q. what type of job is a payroll clerk ?
A. Payroll clerks compute and record the earnings owed to each company employee on a computer and ensure employees are paid on time. This recording is known as posting. The information for the calculations is often taken from paper worksheets and work tickets. In offices where automated timekeeping systems are in place, the payroll numbers are already in the computer system, and the payroll clerks are required to check the electronic data for errors.
Payroll clerks are also responsible for calculating deductions, such as income tax withholding, Social Security payments, insurance, and union dues. These clerks may also prepare and distribute pay envelopes to employees and set up automatic electronic transfers between the company and an employee's bank. In addition to these duties, payroll clerks may keep records of benefit deductions, sick leave and vacation pay, 401(k) contributions, and other nontaxable wages.
In large organizations payroll responsibilities may be broken down into specialized areas. For instance, in some businesses bonus and commission systems may be in operation. In these organizations some payroll clerks may be known as bonus clerks and commission clerks.
Beginning payroll clerks usually perform routine clerical duties. As they gain experience and skill, they will be assigned more difficult tasks. Some employers have different levels of clerical positions with progressively more responsibility. Clerks may receive promotions to these higher levels with increases in pay
Working Conditions
Payroll clerks work in many different settings. Some work in small, quiet offices; others in large, hectic ones. Much of the work is performed while seated at a desk. Clerks usually work at routine tasks that may be repetitive. They usually work thirty-five to forty hours per week. Many belong to labor unions that are active in the industry in which they work.
Education and Training Requirements
Most employers require a high school education. Completion of a high school business program provides a good background for entry-level positions. Courses in mathematics, business software, and accounting are essential, especially when calculating bonuses and commissions. Some employers prefer to hire graduates of two-year business schools or junior college programs that include office skills. Others prefer beginners with no specialized education but a good general background. On-the-job training is provided and may last from a few days to several weeks.
Some organizations offer classes and certification programs for those who would like to become payroll clerks. The American Payroll Association, for instance, offers the Fundamental Payroll Certification for job seekers who wish to demonstrate a basic understanding of payroll operations.
Where to Go for More Information
American Payroll Association
30 E. 33rd St., 5th Fl.
New York, NY 10016-5386
(212) 686-2030
http://www.americanpayroll.org
Office and Professional Employees International Union
265 W. 14th St., 6th Fl.
New York, NY 10011
(800) 346-7348
http://www.opeiu.org
Payroll clerks, or payroll technicians, are in charge of auditing all timecards to check for any sort of discrepancies or errors. These clerks are in charge of making sure that all federal and state taxes are taken out correctly and that the employees of the company are receiving the pay that they have earned. While computers have started to take over the job of the payroll clerks, computers often make errors and it is up to the payroll clerk to make sure that all information is complete and correct before paychecks are issued
Training
Most of the training and education obtained by payroll clerks occurs on the job. During the hiring and training process, candidates become familiar with the payroll procedures of the specific company that they are working for. Candidates learn about company policies, timekeeping and personnel issues. On-the-job training is an essential part of the learning experience for many payroll clerks.
Other Qualifications
Payroll clerks often work in an office setting and should be able to work well and communicate with others. Having good office behavior and skills is the only way for a payroll to work efficiently and be successful. Computer skills are also very important for payroll clerks. Payroll clerks should be organized and have the ability to multitask. Many times, payroll clerks are asked to handle confidential information and should be able to do so without any problems.
Payroll clerks are also responsible for calculating deductions, such as income tax withholding, Social Security payments, insurance, and union dues. These clerks may also prepare and distribute pay envelopes to employees and set up automatic electronic transfers between the company and an employee's bank. In addition to these duties, payroll clerks may keep records of benefit deductions, sick leave and vacation pay, 401(k) contributions, and other nontaxable wages.
In large organizations payroll responsibilities may be broken down into specialized areas. For instance, in some businesses bonus and commission systems may be in operation. In these organizations some payroll clerks may be known as bonus clerks and commission clerks.
Beginning payroll clerks usually perform routine clerical duties. As they gain experience and skill, they will be assigned more difficult tasks. Some employers have different levels of clerical positions with progressively more responsibility. Clerks may receive promotions to these higher levels with increases in pay
Working Conditions
Payroll clerks work in many different settings. Some work in small, quiet offices; others in large, hectic ones. Much of the work is performed while seated at a desk. Clerks usually work at routine tasks that may be repetitive. They usually work thirty-five to forty hours per week. Many belong to labor unions that are active in the industry in which they work.
Education and Training Requirements
Most employers require a high school education. Completion of a high school business program provides a good background for entry-level positions. Courses in mathematics, business software, and accounting are essential, especially when calculating bonuses and commissions. Some employers prefer to hire graduates of two-year business schools or junior college programs that include office skills. Others prefer beginners with no specialized education but a good general background. On-the-job training is provided and may last from a few days to several weeks.
Some organizations offer classes and certification programs for those who would like to become payroll clerks. The American Payroll Association, for instance, offers the Fundamental Payroll Certification for job seekers who wish to demonstrate a basic understanding of payroll operations.
Where to Go for More Information
American Payroll Association
30 E. 33rd St., 5th Fl.
New York, NY 10016-5386
(212) 686-2030
http://www.americanpayroll.org
Office and Professional Employees International Union
265 W. 14th St., 6th Fl.
New York, NY 10011
(800) 346-7348
http://www.opeiu.org
Payroll clerks, or payroll technicians, are in charge of auditing all timecards to check for any sort of discrepancies or errors. These clerks are in charge of making sure that all federal and state taxes are taken out correctly and that the employees of the company are receiving the pay that they have earned. While computers have started to take over the job of the payroll clerks, computers often make errors and it is up to the payroll clerk to make sure that all information is complete and correct before paychecks are issued
Training
Most of the training and education obtained by payroll clerks occurs on the job. During the hiring and training process, candidates become familiar with the payroll procedures of the specific company that they are working for. Candidates learn about company policies, timekeeping and personnel issues. On-the-job training is an essential part of the learning experience for many payroll clerks.
Other Qualifications
Payroll clerks often work in an office setting and should be able to work well and communicate with others. Having good office behavior and skills is the only way for a payroll to work efficiently and be successful. Computer skills are also very important for payroll clerks. Payroll clerks should be organized and have the ability to multitask. Many times, payroll clerks are asked to handle confidential information and should be able to do so without any problems.
I'm very interested in technology. What are some good careers?
Q. I'm currently a freshman in highschool and I'm very interested in technology. The thing is, I know a good amount of everything, but don't know a super lot about 1 specific thing. Example: I know about all the specs of mainstream tech devices like tablets, smartphones, computers. I have a good idea of how to build a computer. I know some very basic HTML programming (java). I know a lot about headphones and audio. And I know a lot about gaming. I'm also a pretty good gamer (If that has anything to do with anything). And I know how how computers work and know how to operate them better than most kids my age.
I took 2 college classes over the past 2 summers through a program called Duke Tip. One was at Vanderbilt and the other was at a small college in Florida. One was a computer science class and the other was criminal law.
Gaming is my pasion but let's get real, it's not a very wise career choice.
My parrents are getting ready to sign me up for another class this coming summer and I'm not positive which type of classes I should take. I've narrowed it down to 5. Some are computer science classes and some are gaming programming, others are computer engineering and 1 is software programming. They all seem really good to me but I'm worried. So in conclusion, is there a class that would better suit me that another and what other careers are there that deal with the type of stuff I'm good at and enjoy doing?
Thanks guys!
I would also like to say that I'm VERY good at gaming. I mainly play bf3 and I play with the rest of the best. Right now I'm trying to get into the top clan on ps3.
I took 2 college classes over the past 2 summers through a program called Duke Tip. One was at Vanderbilt and the other was at a small college in Florida. One was a computer science class and the other was criminal law.
Gaming is my pasion but let's get real, it's not a very wise career choice.
My parrents are getting ready to sign me up for another class this coming summer and I'm not positive which type of classes I should take. I've narrowed it down to 5. Some are computer science classes and some are gaming programming, others are computer engineering and 1 is software programming. They all seem really good to me but I'm worried. So in conclusion, is there a class that would better suit me that another and what other careers are there that deal with the type of stuff I'm good at and enjoy doing?
Thanks guys!
I would also like to say that I'm VERY good at gaming. I mainly play bf3 and I play with the rest of the best. Right now I'm trying to get into the top clan on ps3.
A. Here are a few thoughts â Iâll call them the 10 commandments of IT education:
1.Colleges have a tremendous amount of latitude in what they label their majors, The same major name at two different schools might have completely different course curriculums. Some IT major fields like Computer Science (CS) will include more courses in Programming and advanced Math courses. It is impossible to answer questions about what a degree is really about unless you can list the underlying classes. A Computer Information Systems degree (CIS is the degree I have) or an Information Technology degree might be very similar or very different â it depends on the school. Another example: A Computer Network Technology degree might be about configuring network devices like switches and routers. Alternately, it could be about networking computers together, computing security and Systems Administration. Once you get a course listing, post that out here in a Yahoo Answers question and we will help you further.
2.Employers seek candidates with Technical IT degrees like CS, CIS or equivalent. It you have that, employers will overlook that your degree does not exactly match the job requirements. Watch out for non-Technical business degrees like Management of Information Systems (MIS) degrees. They may be geared more for people interested in management of project planning, budgeting, people management, policies, procedures, etc. If that is what you want to do fine â it will just not be hands-on Technical work. Beware â MIS job positions may require a Masterâs degree.
3.Employers often view a college degree as a âlearners permitâ indicating you are teachable and will finish what you start.
4.Employers realize that college course content is pretty dated and is not up to date or it is "not the way we do things". They just want some proof you are teachable and then they will train you what they really need you to know.
5.Almost all IT jobs start out at about $30,000-$35,000. This will double and triple in time.
6.Employers don't recognize certifications unless you have a college degree to go with the certifications. The Cert class schools & trainers will overstate how beneficial these are. I have lots of certs but am not sure I ever got a job due to them. Certs will expire but your degree will always be important.
7.On the topic of GPA - You need to graduate with a GPA in the 3.0-3.5 and above area (90%+). If you plan to just gut out courses you are weak in and come out with a 2.5 or 2.7 average you may find yourself having spent years and lots of $$$ to get a degree that will not inspire employers.
8.Tech schools like ITT Tech, Devry and others offer highly advertised and very expensive IT related programs that employers donât universally accept. An ITT Tech 2 year Associates degree program is over $40,000 and if you decide to upgrade your degree you may have the rude awakening that the course credits may not transfer to another school.
9.Stats show that in their working lifetime (age 25-64) a high school grad will make about $1 million. The number jumps to $1.5 million is you get a junior college Associates degree and to over $2 million with a 4 year Bachelorâs degree. The best way to get an IT degree is get a 2 year Associates degree at a junior college and transfer those credits into a 4 year school and finish out your Bachelorâs degree in night classes while working. Live at home and just go to a good school in your local area. There is no advantage of going to some high profile school. I have a job in a top Fortune 50 company with a degree from a local college. I worked for Microsoft as a contractor for a short time - again with a local college degree.
10.Here are a few jobs that you might do with a technical IT degree: Computer Technician, Service Center Coordinator, Help Desk Staff, Storage Administrator, Network Administrator, Systems Administrator, Systems Engineer, Enterprise Administrator, Active Directory Administrator, Exchange and Messaging Administrator, Backup Administrator, Disaster Recovery Specialist, Database Administrator, Computing Security Specialist, Corporate IT Acquisition Specialist and Data Center Administrator, just to name a few.
1.Colleges have a tremendous amount of latitude in what they label their majors, The same major name at two different schools might have completely different course curriculums. Some IT major fields like Computer Science (CS) will include more courses in Programming and advanced Math courses. It is impossible to answer questions about what a degree is really about unless you can list the underlying classes. A Computer Information Systems degree (CIS is the degree I have) or an Information Technology degree might be very similar or very different â it depends on the school. Another example: A Computer Network Technology degree might be about configuring network devices like switches and routers. Alternately, it could be about networking computers together, computing security and Systems Administration. Once you get a course listing, post that out here in a Yahoo Answers question and we will help you further.
2.Employers seek candidates with Technical IT degrees like CS, CIS or equivalent. It you have that, employers will overlook that your degree does not exactly match the job requirements. Watch out for non-Technical business degrees like Management of Information Systems (MIS) degrees. They may be geared more for people interested in management of project planning, budgeting, people management, policies, procedures, etc. If that is what you want to do fine â it will just not be hands-on Technical work. Beware â MIS job positions may require a Masterâs degree.
3.Employers often view a college degree as a âlearners permitâ indicating you are teachable and will finish what you start.
4.Employers realize that college course content is pretty dated and is not up to date or it is "not the way we do things". They just want some proof you are teachable and then they will train you what they really need you to know.
5.Almost all IT jobs start out at about $30,000-$35,000. This will double and triple in time.
6.Employers don't recognize certifications unless you have a college degree to go with the certifications. The Cert class schools & trainers will overstate how beneficial these are. I have lots of certs but am not sure I ever got a job due to them. Certs will expire but your degree will always be important.
7.On the topic of GPA - You need to graduate with a GPA in the 3.0-3.5 and above area (90%+). If you plan to just gut out courses you are weak in and come out with a 2.5 or 2.7 average you may find yourself having spent years and lots of $$$ to get a degree that will not inspire employers.
8.Tech schools like ITT Tech, Devry and others offer highly advertised and very expensive IT related programs that employers donât universally accept. An ITT Tech 2 year Associates degree program is over $40,000 and if you decide to upgrade your degree you may have the rude awakening that the course credits may not transfer to another school.
9.Stats show that in their working lifetime (age 25-64) a high school grad will make about $1 million. The number jumps to $1.5 million is you get a junior college Associates degree and to over $2 million with a 4 year Bachelorâs degree. The best way to get an IT degree is get a 2 year Associates degree at a junior college and transfer those credits into a 4 year school and finish out your Bachelorâs degree in night classes while working. Live at home and just go to a good school in your local area. There is no advantage of going to some high profile school. I have a job in a top Fortune 50 company with a degree from a local college. I worked for Microsoft as a contractor for a short time - again with a local college degree.
10.Here are a few jobs that you might do with a technical IT degree: Computer Technician, Service Center Coordinator, Help Desk Staff, Storage Administrator, Network Administrator, Systems Administrator, Systems Engineer, Enterprise Administrator, Active Directory Administrator, Exchange and Messaging Administrator, Backup Administrator, Disaster Recovery Specialist, Database Administrator, Computing Security Specialist, Corporate IT Acquisition Specialist and Data Center Administrator, just to name a few.
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