What is IT? Looking to start a career in IT? Where to Start? Check out our presentation on different fields and roles in the ICT industry, along with resources to start learning new skills to improve your chances of getting employed. Note: This presentation was originally prepared for our organisation, ChunriChoupaal's Work to Equality project for their informational evening themed: More Women in Technology. The main aim was to inform the participants about the job opportunities available in the IT sector and the skills required to get hired.

1. What is IT / ICT?
A quick introduction
Mine Ogura, ChunriChoupaal

2. DISCLAIMER
The opinions expressed in this presentation are my own
and do not reflect those of my employer, eBay.

3. Why are we bringing this
to your attention?
#WorkToEquality

4. There are many jobs in this
sector — well-paying ones. We
need you.
#WorkToEquality

5. There are many online schools to get your foot in the
door. We are also coordinating Code to Change
conference.
#WorkToEquality

6. SAVE THE DATE
E-skills Bootcamp & Conference Amsterdam
15 - 17 October 2015
Register your interest at info@worktoequality.org
#WorkToEquality
chunrichoupaal.org
#WorkToEquality

7. What is IT & ICT?
What types of jobs are there
in these fields?
#WorkToEquality

8. Information technology (IT) is the application of computers and
telecommunications equipment to store, retrieve, transmit and
manipulate data, often in the context of a business or other
enterprise.
,
Information and communications technology (ICT) is often
used as an extended synonym for information technology (IT),
but is a more specific term that stresses the role of unified
communications and the integration of telecommunications
(telephone lines and wireless signals), computers as well as
necessary enterprise software, middleware, storage, and
audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store,
transmit, and manipulate information.
WIKIPEDIA SAYS IT and ICT are…
#WorkToEquality

9. ¿What?
#WorkToEquality

10. Mobile'Device'
Let’s say you submit a bid on
Marktplaats or write a comment
on Facebook in the mobile app.
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11. Mobile'Device'
Your action goes to your mobile provider’s
cellular towers.
#WorkToEquality
Cellular'Towers'/'Antennas'

12. The'Internet'
Mobile'Device'
The telecommunications systems translate and
relay that information to “The Internet”.
#WorkToEquality
Cellular'Towers'/'Antennas'

13. Server'Computers'in'a'Data'Center'
Mobile'Device'
The data from the mobile device gives the
Internet instructions on what group of server
computers to go to. "
"
The image on the right is a typical group of
server computers in a data center. Facebook
has tens of thousands of these across the
world.
#WorkToEquality
Cellular'Towers'/'Antennas'
The'Internet'

14. Mobile'Device'
Personal'Devices'/'computers'
When the server computers process your action, they
send back the changes to computer devices (e.g.,
the added comment in Facebook).
#WorkToEquality
Cellular'Towers'/'Antennas'
The'Internet'
Server'Computers'in'a'Data'Center'

15. Cellular'Towers'/'Antennas'
Mobile'Device'
Personal'Devices'/'computers'
Each step is possible due to
IT / ICT technologies and
engineers.
#WorkToEquality
The'Internet'
Server'Computers'in'a'Data'Center'

16. Let’s look at the IT / ICT
technologies and
professions which allow
this.
#WorkToEquality

17. Hardware
Engineering
The people who design and build the computer devices
used, as well as any physical item used in IT/ICT, are
called HARDWARE ENGINEERS.
Their work has sped up machines significantly over the
years. In fact, every 2.5 years, the speed of computers
double. This allows the internet products to do more.
#WorkToEquality

18. Hardware
Engineering
The above are the guts of
a device. It includes silicon
chips and platinum
connections.
#WorkToEquality

19. Telecommunications
Telecommunications is the field of engineering which deals with
data moving between devices over mobile cell lines as well as
the internet. It is a rapidly growing field.
#WorkToEquality
Cellular'Towers'/'Antennas'

20. Network Engineering
Network Engineering is the field of
engineering which handles all of the
communications between devices.
#WorkToEquality
Cellular'Towers'/'Antennas'

21. Software Development & Maintenance
This is the field your presenters
tonight specialise in. It will be
covered in detail later in this
presentation.
#WorkToEquality

22. Site Operations /
System Administration
Site Operations / System Operations
Engineers manage all of the server
machines, their configurations, setup,
maintenance and our hardware. They
focus on the data centres and
networking.
#WorkToEquality

23. Helpdesk, IT Support,
IT Technicians
These IT workers make sure that the
machines in a company are working.
They make sure that software is up-
to-date, that we can connect to the
networks, and that we are up-to-date
on anti-virus software. It is an entry-
point into the IT field.
#WorkToEquality

24. Customer Service and Tech Support
help when customers have a
problem. This is an entry point into IT.
Ability to solve problems and speak
with customers is critical.
Customer Support &
Tech Support
#WorkToEquality

25. Summary so far
• Hardware Engineers are electronics specialists who design and build the
devices and their components
• Telecom Engineers are specialised network engineers who specialise in
the telecommunications field.
• Network Engineers build, manage and maintain hardware which allows
communication flow between devices.
• Software Development and Maintenance will be covered shortly.
• Site Operations / System Administration manages the server computers,
their configurations, hardware and software.
• IT Support, Helpdesk and IT Technicians are IT staff in companies who
make sure that people’s devices (computers, laptops, mobiles, tablets
and wearables) are working.
• Customer Support and Tech Support are IT staff who answer questions
for people who have problems with a product.
#WorkToEquality

26. So what does it take to develop
and maintain internet software?
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27. We expect internet sites to work: be reliable, quick, secure, to be
improving all of the time, read our minds, and more. How hard can it be?
#WorkToEquality

28. Internal'Support' So<ware'Development'&'Maintenance' Site'Ops'/'SysAdmin'
An'IT'organisaBon'is'made'up'of'the'
following'areas.'
#WorkToEquality

29. It’s all about teamwork
#WorkToEquality

30. Programmers'/'
Developers'
QA'/''
Testers'
Project''
Managers'
Product'Managers'
&'Product'Owners'
User'Experience'
&'UI''Designers'
Data'Analyst'/'
Data'ScienBst'
Write'code'to''
create'programs'
and'apps'
Write'code'to''
test'programs'
and'apps'
Create'requirements'
based'on'needs'
Make'sure''
impediments'
removed'
Verify'things''
are'needed'
Users'“know”'how''
to'use'so<ware'
#WorkToEquality

31. • Programmers / Developers: ability to code, think abstractly, tell a story with the software and
apps they are building, ability to focus on the user.
• Testers / QA: Understanding of technology and its intricacies, ability to find things which are
not “right” and explain to others, customer focus, ability to code
• Data analysts / data scientists: ability to manipulate data and numbers to understand why
people do certain actions. A mathematical mind and love of analysis is required.
• User Experience Designer / UI Designer: creativity, visual acuity, understanding of how a
user would interact with the software or app.
• Product Managers and Product Owners: ability to translate fuzzy requests from many into
concrete requirements which can be coded by developers and tested by testers. Innate
understanding of the market, ability to talk to users and understand their needs, ability to talk
to abstract thinkers, clarification, and leadership are critical for this job.
• Project Managers: Understanding of the software development process, be pushy but not
bossy towards the delivery of software, and ability to work with third parties and deadlines.
#WorkToEquality

32. Again, a reminder: there are online schools you can learn from to get your
foot in the door, and we’re offering the following eSkills conference!!
#WorkToEquality

33. #WorkToEquality

34. Take time. Invest in yourself. Take advantage of opportunities.
Thank you.
Dankuwel.
Gracias.
Arigatou.
#WorkToEquality