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Programming and Software Engineering Jobs in this specialty area are responsible for designing, writing, and testing the instructions computers use to do useful tasks.

Meet a woman in this IT Speciality!

Description

• Write, test, and maintain programs computers use to perform tasks like playing games, sending e-mail, and creating greeting cards; etc...
• Update, repair, and change existing software programs.
• Listen to and use customer feedback and opinions to create new software programs.
• Use programming languages like C++, Java, and Visual Basic to write instructions for computers to use.
• Test and debug files.

Skills

• Logical thinking
• Detail-oriented
• Imagination
• Creativity
• Understanding of how to use technology to solve people's challenges
• Ability to visualize and understand abstract concepts

Education

• Illinois Public Colleges and Universities
• Community Colleges:
  • Black Hawk College
  • Carl Sandburg College
  • City Colleges of Chicago
  • College of DuPage
  • College of Lake County
  • Elgin Community College
  • Harper College
  • Heartland Community College
  • Highland Community College
  • Illinois Central College
  • Illinois Eastern Community Colleges
  • Illinois Valley Community College
  • John Wood Community College
  • Joliet Junior College
  • Kankakee Community College
  • Kaskaskia College
  • Kishwaukee College
  • Lewis & Clark Community College
  • Lincoln Land Community College
  • McHenry County College
  • Moraine Valley Community College
  • Morton College
  • Oakton Community College
  • Parkland College
  • Prairie State College
  • Rend Lake College
  • Richland Community College
  • Rock Valley College
  • Sauk Valley Community College
  • Shawnee Community College
  • South Suburban College
  • Southeastern Illinois College
  • Southwestern Illinois College
  • Spoon River College
  • Triton College
  • Waubonsee Community College

Career Ins & Outs

About the Job: Programming and Software Administrators are responsible for designing computer systems and software. They write the programs and software that make computers useful.

Job Advantages: Many Programming and Software Administrators have flexible scheduling. There are a number of job opportunities to explore in this area.

Job Disadvantages: Designing and developing systems and software is costly. Programming and Software Administrators must be able to work well under pressure and meet deadlines.

Transferable Skills: The traditional path for entering IT is to obtain a computer science degree and then get a job as a programmer. Programming and Software Administrators often benefit from project management experience. Experience in Network Administration and Analysis or System Testing provides a good foundation for programming for people who enter IT from another path.