COMPUTER NETWORK SPECIALIST
The demand for "networking" to facilitate the sharing of information, the expansion of LAN/WAN (Local or Wide Area Networks), client/server environments, and the need for specialists to use their knowledge and skills in a problem solving capacity will be a major factor in the rising demand for network specialists. Growth in these areas is also expected to create demand for computer scientists, computer engineers, and systems analysts knowledgeable about network, data and communications security.
First came corporate sites using web pages to promote and support their products. Interested customers would still call toll-free numbers to place orders or visit local retail outlets. From there, companies began letting customers make full transactions via the firm’s web site. This includes commercial banking and other financial services, such as managing one’s investment portfolio. Now, there are companies whose sole links to their customers are via the Internet and the World Wide Web.
Government also has moved to the Internet as a new marketplace. Many state, federal, and local agencies now use the Internet for many transactions; from driver’s license renewals to bid application submissions. In the future, governments expect to handle, at least in part, additional areas of electronic commerce. This will speed up many government transactions and reduce administrative costs.
As commercial transactions move in this direction, the need for more complex and interactive web sites has emerged. Additionally, with the transfer of confidential information including account numbers to credit cards and bank accounts needed to make these transactions, the need for secure communications has increased dramatically. Security measures involve keeping hackers from collecting information as it is transferred from a customer’s home computer to vendors and to keep hackers out of vendors’ databases containing confidential information about their customers. In fact, an on-line survey conducted by the Intranet Institute identified security as the most important issue facing businesses that use the Internet and intranets.
In addition to the general skills required of all computer professionals, many network specialists must possess knowledge of telecommunications protocols, hardware and software; including transmission, broadcasting, switching, control and operation of telecommunications systems, the Internet, and corporate intranets, which are similar to the Internet, but only available to users within the company. They also have access to the firm's confidential information, and often must pass security clearance checks.
Database administrators are responsible for the oversight of a company’s computer database files, such as inventory, accounting, payroll, mailing lists, and customer account files. Because they design, maintain, and repair these databases, they may require the knowledge of a computer programming language like COBOL or a proprietary database platform like dBase or Oracle.
Webmasters and multimedia specialists should have creative and artistic talent, as well as technical skills in audio-visual and graphic art production. They must also be competent with computer hardware and software, not only on the production side, but on the user side as well, to insure the product will run properly on any given computer. In addition to creativity, these professionals should be excellent programmers. They must be familiar with hypertext markup language (HTML), Perl, and Java coding languages. The web pages they design may be part of the Internet, available to outside users, or an intranet. Good Web and multimedia design requires originality, creative writing ability, good visual skills, and the techniques and methods to inform and entertain via written, oral and visual media.
Traditionally, employment in many of these occupations required a Bachelor’s degree. With the current and forecasted shortage of IT workers, it is likely that shorter-term training programs will gain wider acceptance along side Baccalaureate degree programs. Such programs would include Associate’s degrees, technical school certificates, and even less formal self-study programs or other "learn by experience" routes. Still, there always will be a preference for formal training. It is difficult to determine whether less formal training alternatives can be adapted in a fashion to satisfy burgeoning demand. Institutions that offer short-term training and have the ability to modify or expand their current programs are in a position to provide training to help fill the gap between demand and supply.
Formal training programs, especially in areas dealing with web technologies, are just beginning to surface in community colleges and senior colleges. Many of the specialists now employed developed their knowledge by experience, and were "ex-hackers." In the future, most candidates will have at least an Associate’s degree in a computer- related field with special course work.
An Associate’s degree or better in electronic communication or computer science or a vocational school certificate with 3-4 years work experience in networking or other computer technical fields would be minimal for these positions. Vendor-specific certifications may also be required by some employers. WAN administrators may require FCC licensing.
An Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in computer science or business information systems is usually preferred by employers, but some individuals are able to move into the database administrator’s position from other technical fields within the company. Larger firms may require senior database administrators to have a Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree in management information systems.
Formal training programs for webmasters and multimedia specialists are just emerging. Presently, a potential webmaster’s experience and portfolio of designs are more important in hiring decisions than degrees or certifications. Most current webmasters have trained by experimenting with web page design on their own. As technical schools and community colleges develop or adopt curriculum plans for this field, formal training will become more of a requirement. Prior experience in the field or related fields seem to be the most valued asset by potential employers. Most employers will also expect at minimum an Associate’s degree in electronic technology or computer science.
Because many of these careers are so new, national data is not available for all disciplines. Some national earnings figures are available through salary surveys and other information-gathering processes. Available statistics are as follows:
Though the wage is highly sensitive to local labor market conditions, network technicians can earn $20,000 - $37,500 per year.
According to a DataMaster survey, LAN and WAN Administrator’s median salary in 1997 was $53,500.
According to a 1997 Computer Industry Salary Survey by DataMasters, the national median salary for a computer security specialist was $56,800.
From a survey of webmasters and employers, the average salary was between $1,900 and $2,900 per month. Most of the people in positions have had several years experience in computer related fields.
Employment for networking specialists is expected to grow much faster than the national average in all areas. Because many of these positions involve emerging technologies, employment statistics are not currently available. However, the employment outlook for all of these careers is excellent.
No employment outlook for network technicians is currently available. Generally, as firms depend more and more on networked computers, one should expect a positive scenario for entrants into the field.
Though no outlook information is currently available specifically for LAN/WAN administrators, computer related jobs are expected to have above average growth through the year 2005. As more companies rely on networks, the need for administrators will likely be significant.
Though no specific outlook information is currently available, increasing usage of the web and Internet by businesses and rising job demand should make future prospects for webmasters very positive.
In general, there is an increase in the use of multimedia presentations in long-distance learning, training, computer hardware/software tutorials, and other educational materials and the increased usage of multimedia on the Internet. With this increase, it would follow that a demand for specialists in the field would be significant.