Computer Engineering Jobs Guide

Computer engineers are involved in the installation, repair and servicing of computers and associated equipment, or peripherals. They may sometimes be described as information technology (IT) hardware technicians, service engineers or computer systems engineers.

Computer engineers may perform the following tasks:

• devise and undertake a regular service program, including support of operating systems
• analyse problems and develop and implement solutions
• provide input on matters associated with site preparation and installation of large computer systems
• install cables for computer networks
• assist staff in establishing the computer hardware and peripherals required to run IT systems
• manage projects and supervise staff (in senior computer engineering roles).

Specialisations:

Hardware Design Engineer

A hardware design engineer plans, designs, constructs and maintains the hardware equipment of computers. They may also monitor the development of hardware according to design, and carry out repairs and testing of computer equipment and peripherals.

Network/Systems Engineer

A network/systems engineer designs, installs, analyses and implements computer systems/networks. They may also make sure that the existing network is effective, and work out how it should evolve to meet new requirements of the organisation or business.

Software Engineer

A software engineer creates, maintains and modifies computer and software programs such as operating systems, communications software, utility programs, compilers and database handlers. They may also evaluate new programming tools and techniques and analyse current software products.

Personal Requirements:

• able to understand and communicate with a wide variety of people
• able to work as part of a team
• logical approach to work
• self-reliant and able to work independently
• active interest in maintaining personal technical skills and knowledge
• able to investigate, identify and solve problems quickly and efficiently
• enjoy electronics, computers and electro-mechanical equipment
• good customer service and public contact skills.

Latest Highest Paying IT Skills 2009

Each month, ComputerJobs.com publishes a number of statistical IT reports, including its Top 25 Skills Report. This report, based on current ComputerJobs.com Web site traffic, shows the most popular IT skills according to the number of times the jobs were viewed - in other words, these are the jobs that you are looking for. Holding steady for about four months now, network security positions top the list - and not surprisingly the average maximum annual salary for these people, as posted on the actual job ads, is over $92,000.

This report also shows the highest paid positions currently on the ComputerJobs.com Web site. Again, the data reports the average maximum annual salary as most job ads contain both high and low salary points. While several of the top paying positions are director-types, many are niche networking, database and development roles.

Guide to Get a Computer Science Degree Online

If you are looking to utilize your love of computers and technology with one of the various types of computer science jobs, it is more important than ever to consider an invaluable computer science degree. Once abounding with endless job possibilities, the field has become more competitive and selective than it once was. Because of this, many positions that once only required experience now ask for at least a Bachelor’s degree in computer science. Have the upper hand over others competing for the same position by earning your online computer science degree.
ONLINE COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAMS

Students working towards their online computer science degree will become proficient in computer systems design, programming languages and computer science research. Your degree will also teach you skills about both the practical and theoretical programming of computers. This includes a foundation in computing skills such as Unix, software design and professional software engineering issues. This knowledge will help you to obtain entry-level computer science jobs. Students may want to consider advancing their education with specializations or advanced degrees in areas such as mathematics or systems design if they wish to work for software developers, government agencies or consulting firms.

Obtaining your degree online gives you the option of adding specialties to your degree while working with a schedule that suites them. There is no need to quit your current job or sacrifice time with your family while completing your computer science degree.
COMPUTER SCIENCE JOBS THAT WORK WITH YOUR DEGREE

Gone are the days when aspiring computer scientists had to consider starting their career in technology epicenters such as Silicon Valley. Nowadays, almost every industry employs computer scientists. Consider a career in:

* Business
* Science
* Aerospace engineering
* Higher education
* Government
* Information technology

ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE

Technology is constantly changing and keeping up with the latest systems and programming languages is vital to keeping a job in computer programming. If you already have a degree in computer science, consider continuing your education with graduate degrees or individual classes and seminars that focus on new changes in the computer science field.

US Government Failed Stimulus in Pictures: 10.2% Unemployment

When President Barack Obama was pitching his $787 billion economic stimulus package, the White House produced a report claiming their plan would keep unemployment under a peak of 8%.

Reality has not been kind to President Obama’s promises. On November 6, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released their Employment Situation Summary showing that the nation’s unemployment rate had soared from 9.8% to 10.2% in October. You can see how President Obama’s promises compare to reality to the right.

Reading the BLS report more closely, Heritage fellows Rea Hederman and James Sherk note:

Jobs losses in October–190,000–were higher than expected. … The unemployment rate for males is 10.7 percent while the teenage unemployment rate is 27.6 percent. These are the highest levels of unemployment for these groups since the Great Depression.

The unemployment rate increased even as 31,000 potential workers left the labor force. The labor force participation rate has now fallen to 65.1 percent–the lowest since 1986. When people reenter the labor market to find work, the unemployment rate will further increase.
…
Despite this ongoing deterioration in the job market, the Obama Administration continues to argue that the $800 billion stimulus bill has improved the economy. On October 30, the Administration released data claiming that the stimulus has created or saved 640,000 jobs. These claims are mistaken, as demonstrated by the 2.8 million jobs that have been lost since the stimulus became law. The Administration’s figures greatly exaggerate the positive effect of the stimulus for two reasons:

1. The data used to create these estimates contains serious flaws. The Administration provided unclear guidelines for how to report jobs created or saved. Media analyses of these jobs reports have found severe errors. For instance, the Associated Press found that two-thirds of the 15,000 jobs one agency reported creating or saving did not really exist. Rather, the agency reported workers who received raises with stimulus funding as having their jobs “saved.” In another case, a shoe store in Kentucky that provided nine pairs of boots to the Army Corps of Engineers for $889.60 reported saving nine jobs. Such errors pervade the stimulus job creation estimates.
2. A deeper problem with the Administration’s numbers is that they estimate the wrong figures. The Administration estimates the jobs directly funded by stimulus spending. However, they ignore the jobs that the money spent on the stimulus would have otherwise created. Congressional spending does not create wealth; it redistributes it. Had Congress not passed the stimulus bill, the private sector would have used those funds on other projects that would have also created jobs.