1.

IT technical support officer:Job description

IT technical support officers monitor and maintain the computer systems and
networks of an organisation. They may install and configure computer systems,
diagnose hardware and software faults and solve technical and applications
problems, either over the phone or in person. Depending on the size of the
organisation, a technical support officer's role may span one or more areas of
expertise.
Organisations increasingly rely on computer systems in all areas of their operations
and decision-making processes. It is therefore usually crucial to ensure the correct
running and maintenance of the IT systems.
IT technical support officers may be known by other job titles including help desk
operators, technicians, maintenance engineers or applications support specialists.
The work is as much about understanding how information systems are used as
applying technical knowledge related to computer hardware or software.

Typical work activities

IT technical support officers are mainly responsible for the smooth running of
computer systems and ensuring users get maximum benefits from them. Individual
tasks vary depending on the size and structure of the organisation, but may include:

installing and configuring computer hardware operating systems and

applications;
monitoring and maintaining computer systems and networks;
talking staff or clients through a series of actions, either face to face or over

the telephone to help set up systems or resolve issues;

troubleshooting system and network problems and diagnosing and solving

hardware or software faults;

replacing parts as required;
providing support, including procedural documentation and relevant reports;
following diagrams and written instructions to repair a fault or set up a system;
supporting the roll-out of new applications;
setting up new users' accounts and profiles and dealing with password issues;
responding within agreed time limits to call-outs;
working continuously on a task until completion (or referral to third parties, if
appropriate);
prioritising and managing many open cases at one time;
rapidly establishing a good working relationship with customers and other
professionals, e.g., software developers;
testing and evaluating new technology;
conducting electrical safety checks on computer equipment.

2. Business analyst job description

Business analysts are sometimes thought of as the bridge between the
troubles within a firm and the answers to fixing them.
And when you look at their vital role and job description, its easy to see why
theyd have this reputation.
This senior level job involves working within an organisation, identifying areas that
need improving or updating, and then finding solutions to any problems using
computers to carry out intensive research and deep analysis.
Investigating a companys activities to make them more efficient, business analysts
play a key role by testing systems and providing competitive commercial solutions.
This can involve inventing new systems or revamping existing areas of the business,
such as payment, stock control or dispatching processes.
Other duties and responsibilities of the role include:

Task analysis and evaluating surveys and workshop results.

Document any identified required changes, and communicate them to the
relevant third parties/colleagues.
Using IT resources at an advanced level to create IT solutions, enabling
organisations to better meet their goals.
Advising senior management.
Training staff in how to use the new systems.

11. Programmer job description

IT jobs involving programming essentially want high-tech problem solvers.
You'll need to look at how technology can solve real life business problems to
make the organisation more efficient and more productive by developing,
testing and implementing IT solutions.
ACTUAL WORK?

It's a detailed process, usually project-based. Once an area for improvement

has been flagged up, you'll be expected to work closely
with analysts and management to understand more about the problem and
the expected outcome before translating these requirements into detailed
technical specifications.
Once the specs are approved you can get busy writing the code, or adapting
existing codes and testing the system to make sure there are no glitches in it.
The last, important part of the process is to document the project so there is a
detailed record to use for future reference.
As a programmer you'll find yourself working as part of a close knit team,
although you might own smaller projects alone.

3. Database administrator job description

As a database administrator you'll be in charge of computerised information
systems, which in simple terms means keeping an eye on databases and
ensuring they're performing well. You could think of yourself as a kind of high
tech librarian...
So, what will I actually be doing?

You are responsible for the performance, integrity and security of a database
and your job includes updating existing databases and building new systems
for fresh information.
If you find a job building a new database there are various processes you'll
have to consider. Establishing what the database is for, who will use it and
what systems it will link to. Thinking about a user friendly structure for
organising the data and building a test system to iron out any 'bugs'. Finally
filling the database with the information and setting up storage, back-up and
ensuring the database has adequate storage.
Depending on where you work, you might have extra duties like training staff
and producing performance reports for other people in the business. People
including analysts, programmers and IT managers need these reports to
collate information for planning, reference and communications purposes.
Different businesses have different databases - banks have records of their
customer's information and hospitals have stores of patient details for
example. All information held on the public is governed by the Data Protection
Act, so you'll need to be up to speed with the law and any changes to it in
order to make sure your database is fully compliant with all legal
requirements.

4. IT administrator job description

Putting it simply, IT administrators are responsible for a wide range of admin
tasks which keep the company's IT network, servers and security systems in
good
health.
So, what will I actually be doing?

This job includes investigating and diagnosing network problems, collecting IT

usage stats, making recommendations for improving the company's IT
systems and carrying out routine configuration and installation of IT solutions.
You'll help employees with some of their more basic computer needs, like
setting up new users and managing back-up, security and passwords. You are
also the company's internet police, monitoring internet and email use to make
sure everyone is behaving.

5. Database manager job description

A database manager is responsible for the way a company manages,
organises, stores and accesses its information.
It's a role you'll often find in companies that hold a lot of information that
needs
putting
into
reports
or
documents,
for
examplemedia
companies, marketing companies, public sector organisations or financial
institutions.
So, what will I actually be doing?
You'll have to work closely with the teams who need to use the data and you'll
manage a database administrator or a team of database administrators to help you
with the work.
Much of your job involves modelling and designing databases. This means you'll
spend a lot of time working with users to find out what information they need to use,
how frequently, what categories they need to split it by and what would make it easy
to use. Once you've built the database, you'll need to test it thoroughly.
Your main responsibilities will include :

Improving the effectiveness of the database tools and services

Ensuring all the data complies with legal regulations
Making sure the information is protected and backed-up
Regular reporting to the teams you work with
Monitoring database performance
Improving the technology used
Building new databases
Monitoring data entry procedures
Troubleshooting

6. IT manager job description

IT manager, IT project manager or IT consultant. Either way your role is the same.
You'll be expected to advise businesses on technology and how it can help them
perform better, then oversee new systemsdesign and development.
It's a sociable job which involves working with a team to make sure the new system
is completed on time and on budget.
You'll get to work on lots of different projects; some might take years to complete
(like a new patient database for the NHS) others just a few weeks (like a switch to a
new phone system).
No matter what the project is, as IT manager you'll be responsible for a lot of the
planning, justification and evaluation. You'll spend most of your time on the following
tasks:

Speaking to your management team/clients to find out what they want

Advise clients objectively on where IT might make a difference to the
business
Planning the stages of the project and how each affects the business
Co-ordinating the project team
Agreeing costs, timescales and standards to be met and monitoring these
through the project
Adjusting the plans where needed
Making sure there is a smooth change over from the old system to the
new one
Keeping management and clients updated on progress
Evaluation of each project stage and once completed

7. IT support job description

So if friends and family go to you when they're having trouble with technology
and if you're a logical person with excellent problem-solving skills, then you
may be the perfect candidate for working in technical support.
You'll be part of the IT crowd if you work in a technical support job or as a helpdesk
operator, so youll be monitoring and maintaining the computer systems as well
as the networks within an organisation.
Youll be at the very busy front-line, dealing directly with employees or customers
who have technical issues such as forgotten passwords, viruses or email issues.
Tasks may include:

Installing and configuring computer systems

Diagnosing and solving hardware/software faults
Logging customer/employee queries
Analysing call logs to spot trends and underlying issues

8. Network analyst job description

As a network analyst it's your job to tailor-make computer systems for

large businesses.
Unlike many other IT jobs you'll be really involved on the business side
as well as the technical side so you'll need to wear two hats - your non
technical hat to identify problem areas in the business followed by
your technical hat which suggests computer-based solutions.
The type of projects you might work on include the restructuring of a banks'
customer accounts to make them more secure or the integration of phone
and internet systems at a call centre to help the staff manage enquiries
better.
You'll
have
to
work
closely
with
the
IT
team
of programmers, designers and IT managers to design systems. You'll
oversee the installation of them, and once completed you'll have to test and
evaluate their success and make sure everyone is trained to use them
properly.
Network
analyst
jobs
are
often
found
inside big
retail
companies, government departments and financial institutions. Alternatively
you could work for an IT company which specialises in these kinds of
trouble-shooting projects.

9. Network manager job description

A challenging and varied role in IT, a network manager is a job of two halves
as you are responsible for both installing and maintaining your company's
computer networks.
Your job includes setting access to files, email, internet and security systems to
prevent hackers from getting into the system. You might even have to write
programmes.
Once the system is in place your main tasks are to:

Train staff
Provide technical support
Support staff queries
Monitor system use
Set up user accounts
Manage back-up
You'll also need a clear disaster recovery plan to minimise the disruption to the
business if the network goes down.
Once a new system is in place it's back to planning and implementing new
developments again to ensure long-term growth.
Depending on the size of the organisation there might be more than one type of
network to manage.

10. Network support engineer job description

The IT systems that allow employees and organisations to operate and
communicate with each other on a daily basis are your responsibility as a
network support engineer.
Basically, when you hear that a company has upgraded its communications
infrastructure or has installed a new system; that will be the kind of work you
manage.
ACTUAL WORK?
It could be a new call handling system for a call centre or an improved ATM network
for a bank. Network support engineer jobs are all about designing, installing and
maintaining the communications, file sharing and the general IT resources people
rely on every day.
There are four terms you'll need to be really familiar - the types of networks you will
be working with:

Local area networks (LANs) - connecting computers within a limited area

like a home or office
Metropolitan area networks (MANs) - joining LANs together across a city
or a university campus
Wide area networks (WANs) - linking systems in cities across the UK
Global area networks (GANs) - combining networks over an unlimited
geographical area, often using wireless and satellite technology.

It is your job to make sure that these networks have the capacity to meet the
demands of a business Can everyone log on at the same time or will that crash the
system? Can the network carry the multimedia files certain businesses like
architects' offices rely on or can it only cope with smaller text based files?
Your typical 'to do' list will probably look something like this:

Installing new software

Installing new hardware (servers, printers, computer work stations etc)
Setting up user accounts, permissions and passwords
Overseeing security of all systems, especially the internet
Installing anti virus protection
Fixing network faults
Technical support for people using the network
Training staff on new systems
Day to day admin and monitoring of network use
Planning future improvements
Suggesting IT solutions to business problems
Making sure all IT meets industry standards
Supervising helpdesk staff

12. Software developer job description

Software developers (or computer programmers) are the brains behind the
design, installation, testing and maintenance of software systems.
Much more than just playing around with codes, if you work with
softwareyou'll play an important part in making a business more efficient and
helping to provide a better IT service.
ACTUAL WORK
You might be responsible for the replacement of a whole system based on the
specifications provided by an IT analyst, but often you'll work with 'off the shelf'
software, modifying it and integrating it into the existing network. The skill in this is
creating the code to link the systems together.
You'll also be responsible for:

Reviewing current systems

Presenting ideas for system improvements, including cost proposals
Working closely with analysts, designers and staff
Producing detailed specifications and writing the programme codes
Testing the product in controlled, real situations before going live
Preparation of training manuals for users
Maintaining the systems once they are up and running

13. Software tester job description

a product reaches a certain point in its development the developers must hand
it over to the tester to see if it works (or doesn't work).
Testing plays an important role in the development of new IT programmes and
many every day products, like cars and electronic goods.
TASK?

It's your job to work as hard as you can to 'break' the new product to help the
design process. You'll work closely with software designers and programme
managers to understand more about what each product is meant to do, its key
features and who will use it.

Then you'll run functional tests, customer scenario testing, stress testing,
performance testing, scalability testing and international testing. The ultimate
goal is to iron out any bugs and improve the quality of the finished product.

14. Technical architect job description

So if you are a computer whizz with great organisational skills then a career as
a technical architect (or IT systems architect) will suit you perfectly.
As a technical architect you'll work as part of a team to deliver innovative, costeffective and efficient IT solutions to an organisation.
You daily duties will include:

Identifying an organisation's needs

Agreeing plans with the client
Discussing the best products and systems with the client
Explaining plans to designers and developers
Producing progress reports
Dealing with problems as they arise (the path to IT never did run smooth)
Advising clients on future developments