Janice Weinberg, the author, is a career consultant (http://www.janiceweinberg.com) formerly with IBM and GE, whose background as a systems programmer and application developer enabled her to identify the 20 careers she describes. While most of them aren't usually thought of as computer-related jobs, computer proficiency is a key qualification for success in each. For example:
-- A business analyst or software developer who guided finance and/or
sales staff in defining their information technology requirements
could become a global procurement project manager supporting those
functions.
-- A software architect's knowledge of best practices in systems design
would be a strong asset in a technology due diligence position.
-- A network security administrator's experience would be quite valuable
in a cyberliability insurance broker or underwriter role.
-- An IT professional's ability to assess the commercial potential of new
computer technology would be a highly desirable qualification in a
technology sector equity analyst candidate.
Most of the careers can be entered without further education beyond a BS in information technology, management information systems, or computer science. Several require a certification. Some readers may be motivated to become an attorney specializing in computer law. Many of the fields can be springboards for consulting practices -- or new revenue streams for those already employed as computer consultants or contract programmers. New graduates with computer-related degrees and students excelling on computer skills assessment tests will realize that the opportunities accessible to them go well beyond those typically associated with information technology and computer science jobs.
As Weinberg describes each career, readers will:
-- Be able to imagine themselves in the field by reading the hour-by-hour
Typical Workday
-- Understand the degree to which a recession can affect job security,
and learn strategies for minimizing or avoiding any negative impact
-- Learn the extent to which offshoring is already happening, and what
the field's future vulnerability will likely be
Readers will learn job-hunting techniques tailored to specific fields, including guidance in identifying employers and determining the most relevant aspects of their experience to highlight in their resumes, cover letters, and interviews.
While there are many books providing IT career advice, Weinberg's gives new -- and much broader -- meaning to the term "computer job," demonstrating that an IT professional's knowledge constitutes precious currency in a world dependent on computer technology.
