Programming
IT Career Level 2
Following are some of the most popular IT job titles that companies are looking for, as well as their job description, salary and education/credential requirements. There are many more IT job titles than what you see below; we have only listed a few of the most popular in each sector.
Software Designer, Programmer, Application Developer,
Application Engineer, Software Architect, QA Engineer
Job Description:
You should have two to five years of programming experience. Programmers write, test, and maintain the detailed
instructions - called programs - that computers follow to perform their functions. Programmers also conceive,
design and test logical structures for solving problems by computer. With the help of other computer
specialists, they figure out which instructions to use to make computers do specific tasks. Many technical
innovations in programming—advanced computing technologies and sophisticated new languages and programming
tools, for example—have redefined the role of a programmer and elevated much of the programming work done today.
Different programming languages are used depending on the purpose of the program. Programmers generally know more than one programming language, and because many languages are similar, they often can learn new languages relatively easily. In practice, programmers often are referred to by the language they know, such as Java Programmers, or by the type of function they perform or environment in which they work - for example; Database Programmers, Mainframe Programmers, or Web Programmers.
Programmers also update, repair, modify, and expand existing programs. Some, especially those working on large projects that involve many programmers, use computer-assisted software engineering (CASE) tools to automate much of the coding process. These tools enable a programmer to concentrate on writing the unique parts of a program. Programmers working on smaller projects often use “programmer environments”, applications that increase productivity by combining compiling, code walk-through, code generation, test data generation, and debugging functions. Programmers also use libraries of basic code that can be modified or customized for a specific application. This approach yields more reliable and consistent programs and increases programmers’ productivity by eliminating some routine steps.
Programs vary widely depending on the type of information they will access or generate. For example, the instructions involved in updating financial records are very different from those required to simulate flight for pilot training. Simple programs can be written in a few hours, but some programs draw data from many existing systems or use complex mathematical formulas. These programs may take more than a year to create. In most cases, several programmers work together as a team under a senior programmer’s supervision.
Education/Credential Requirements:
(Note: The requirements listed below were assembled based on the most popular IT job titles and
company expectations. We have listed the most likely requirements. You may not need them all, but you will
certainly be required to have some of them. If you need help with this, please speak to one of our Training
Advisors at 877-872-4646 and they can guide you to the correct path.)
(Required): [High School Diploma or Equivalent];
[Software Programming Fundamentals];
[Microsoft VBScript];
[Certified ColdFusion MX Developer];
[IBM Certified Associate Developer];
[Microsoft ASP];
[Soft Skills in Communications]
(Recommended): Working towards
[Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Applications];
[Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): .NET Framework 2.0 Distributed Applications ];
[Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications];
[Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform];
[C++ Programming];
[COBOL]
Also review the following page on Understanding Soft Skills
Salary information:
National Average Salary: $46,113.00
For more detailed Salary information see our Salary Statistics page.