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Lesson plans - page 1

TechFuture TeachersCareers Resource Pack

Inspiring and exciting students to move into a career in IT


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ContentsCareers Resource Pack 03

Part 1 Personality Traits and Attributes 04

Lesson Plan 05

Job Advert Worksheets 07

Teacher’s Copy, Job Advert Answer Sheets 10

Part 2 Industries and Sectors 13

Lesson Plan 14

Part 3 What is Tech? 16

Lesson Plan 17

Biographies Worksheets 19

Scenario Worksheets 20

Teacher’s Copy, Scenario Answer Sheets 23

IT Career Pathways 26

Contents/Introduction 27

Jobs 28

Resources/References 40

Artwork provided. Please do not recreate.

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In this pack you will find:An outline of career pathways for 12 core IT jobs.

Three lesson plans with complementary PowerPoint presentations for you to deliver in class.

An inspirational video featuring young professionals working in IT.

To download the full resource with PowerPoint presentation and video please visit www.thetechpartnership.com/techfutureteachers

TechFuture Teachers Careers Resource PackThis resource is designed to excite and inspire students in key stages 4 and 5 to move into a career within IT.

TechFuture Teachers Careers Resource Pack


National Curriculum1. Finding things out.

2. Developing ideas and making things happen.

Cross-curricular linksCareers guidance

Pupils will be researching and thinking about the tech industry in particular what is needed in tech careers and what jobs are available.

a) how to analyse the requirements of tasks, taking into account the information they need and the ways they will use it.

b) use ICT effectively to explore, develop and interpret information and solve problems in a variety of subjects and contexts.

Lesson Resources Key wordsAll Teacher’s PowerPoint

1 Teacher’s PowerPoint

Job Advert worksheet 1 worksheet per group of 4-5 pupils

Characteristics, traits, attributes


Blank paper 1 sheet per group of 4-5 pupils

Developer, manager, analyst, engineer


Biographies worksheet

Scenario worksheet

Internet access (if possible)

Stereotype, IT issues in the workplace, consultancy

Lesson number

Success Criteria (learning outcomes)

All students are able to…

Some students are able to…

Most students are able to…

1 Identify personality traits needed in a tech job

Justify why certain personality traits are needed in certain jobs

Evaluate personality traits they have that would suit a tech career

2 Identify industries that include tech jobs

Analyse an organisation and decide what roles would be needed

Justify why particular jobs would be needed in the organisation

3 Identify problems in a given scenario

Analyse the problems and create solutions

Analyse the problems and create in-depth and sound solutions

Learning objectives• Analyse personality traits needed for

tech jobs.

• Research tech roles and how they can be applied to different industries.

• Analyse IT issues faced in a workplace and propose solutions.

PLTS (Personal Learning and Thinking Skills)Team Workers Reach agreements Start managing discussions to achieve results

Independent enquirers Support conclusions Start using reasoned arguments and evidence

TechFuture Teachers Careers Resource Pack


Part 1Personality Traits and Attributes


Part 1 Personality Traits and Attributes

Key QuestionsStarter

• What kind of people do IT jobs?

• Where might they work?

• What sort of companies or industries would they work in?

Traits

• Do you think these are all positive traits?

• Name some negative traits that wouldn’t help someone in a tech job.

• Can you name some traits that aren’t on the board?

Job advert

• What do you notice about the attributes or personality traits requested in these adverts?

• Are they the same as the attributes they picked out from the list earlier?

TasksStarter

Slide 2 Pupils to think about the questions




Feedback to class

Traits

Slide 3 Explain what a characteristic/trait is

Slide 4 pupils work in pairs and discuss which of the attributes and personality traits shown on the board would suit someone in an IT Job?

Job adverts

Slide 5 Pupils to work in pairs on the job advert hand-out and discuss what they think the title of the job being described is.

Plenary

Slide 6 pupils write down a trait that would help them get a tech career.

Context This is the first lesson of three in TechFuture careers. Pupils are introduced to relevant personality traits.

Objective Analyse personality traits needed for tech jobs.

Assessment Targeted questioning and job worksheets can be marked by teacher or peers.

Keywords: CHARACTERISTICSTRAITSATTRIBUTES

DifferentiationStarter

What about the person that wrote the apps on your phone? Describe them.

Traits

Name some negative traits that wouldn’t suit someone in a tech job.

Job Adverts

Highlight where skills related to attributes/traits are in the job advert.



StarterIntroduce the lesson:

We’re going to spend some time today exploring tech jobs. If you want to broaden your options for careers, it’s helpful to know what other jobs are out there, what they involve and what kind of person you might need to be to succeed. So, today we’re looking at tech/IT jobs to see what we can find out about the career options there.

Slide 2

Ask pupils to think about the questions displayed




Prompts

Think about who wrote the apps they use on their phones? Who designed the phone? Who makes sure their apps communicate with each other and link to things like discount offers at their favourite shops? Who emails them about their favourite products? How do they know that’s your favourite product?

Ask pupils to feedback to the class and discuss what they think the answers are.

MainTraits

Slide 3

Explain that an attribute or trait is a characteristic that belongs to someone and makes up their personality. It doesn’t include skills like ‘good football skills’ or ‘great programmer’, but instead is a characteristic that makes them who they are. Read out some examples.

Slide 4

Ask pupils to work with the person next to them and discuss, which of the attributes and personality traits shown on the board would suit someone in an IT Job?

Ask pupils to feedback to the class.

Prompts

What’s interesting to be aware of is the fact that not every tech role requires the same attributes, and not every person in a tech role needs to have all those attributes. When we say that certain people suit certain jobs more than others, what do we mean? We all have personal preferences or attributes, how we like to work and tend to behave.

Some of us might be outgoing and talkative, which might mean we suit jobs where that’s important. An outgoing person working in sales or running training courses might have these attributes, it can help, but not all people who work in those roles are outgoing. And not all roles to do with sales and training courses may require an outgoing person.

Job AdvertsSlide 5

Hand out the job adverts and ask the pupils to discuss in pairs what they think the job title is and what type of company the job is for.

Differentiation

Ask pupils to highlight where skills related to attributes/traits are in the job advert.

Extension activity

What would you need to do to be employed in this job? What skills/attributes would you need?

Ask the students what they notice about the attributes or personality traits requested in these adverts?

Are they the same as the attributes they picked out from the list earlier?

Often we stereotype tech careers as being for introverted, quiet people who like to get lost in front of their screen, and not really talk to people, but that’s just not the case.

Many roles require a creative mind, someone who likes to work in a team, and someone who is great at explaining things simply. Equally, there are many people who work in tech roles who do not enjoy those aspects so much, but make their job’s work for them by enjoying the design work where they can work alone.

PlenarySlide 6

Explain to the class that certain jobs suit certain people and their characteristics better than others and that tech careers aren’t limited to working in an IT company.

The point to realise here is that yes, certain jobs suit certain people more than others – but often our assumptions about what those jobs might be for us, can be limiting. It’s worth exploring different jobs within a career and seeing what appeals to you.

Also, our assumptions about what jobs exist in different career choices can be very limited. We may not have expected to see jobs in fashion advertised as a tech career. It’s worth looking into career options and the jobs available more to see what options there are for you.

Ask pupils to write down one personality trait that you have that would help you get a tech career.

Settler activityQuick activity for pupils to complete while waiting for everyone to arrive.

Ask the pupils to think what personality characteristics you have that will help you build your career?



Worksheet Job Adverts

Pupils’ names

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ActivityIn pairs discuss what you think the job title is and what type of company the job is for.

Job Title …………………….…………………………………………………………………………

Type of company …………….………………………………………………………………………..

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Extension activityWhat would you need to do to be employed in this job? What skills/attributes would you need?

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Job Advert 1




Pupils’ names

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Job Title …………………….…………………………………………………………………………

Type of company …………….………………………………………………………………………..

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Job Advert 2




Pupils’ names

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Job Title …………………….…………………………………………………………………………

Type of company …………….………………………………………………………………………..

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Job Advert 3





Job Title …………….………………………………………………………………………..…………

Type of company …………….………………………………………………………………………...

Possible AnswersJob Title: Web Developer

Type of company: Fashion E-commerce for example, ASOS or Paul Smith


……………………….…………………………………………………………………….…………….

Possible AnswersAttributes:

• Eye for detail

• Creative

• Meticulous

• Keen

• Able to work under pressure

• Thrive in a fast-paced working environment

• Strong attention to detail

• Can-do attitude

Skills:

• Experience in email design and production

• Knowledge of marketing

• Desire to work with fashion imagery

• Communication

• Can think from a customer view point

• Understanding the marketing team’s needs

TEACHER’S COPY

Job Advert 1





Job Title …………….………………………………………………………………………..…………

Type of company …………….………………………………………………………………………...

Possible AnswersJob Title: Software Engineer

Type of company: Chocolate Products Company for example, Nestlè


……………………….…………………………………………………………………….…………….


• Motivated

• Proactive

• Creative

• Innovative

• Personable

• Likes to solve problems

• Enjoys working in a methodical way

Skills:

• Knowledge of design software

• Communication skills

• Interpersonal Skills

TEACHER’S COPY

Job Advert 2





Job Title …………….………………………………………………………………………..…………

Type of company …………….………………………………………………………………………...

Possible AnswersJob Title: Innovation Apps Developer

Type of company: High Street Bank for example, HSBC


……………………….…………………………………………………………………….…………….


• Motivated

• Hard working

• Good communicator

• Teamworker

• Creative

Skills:

• Knowledge of financial services

• Knowledge of application development languages

TEACHER’S COPY

Job Advert 3


Part 2Industries and Sectors


Part 2 Industries and Sectors


• Can you think of another name for sectors?

• Would a school or college require any tech jobs? What sector would a school be in?

• What sector would a high street bank be in? Would a bank have any tech jobs? Can you think of any specific tech jobs that would be involved in a bank?

Main

• What is the difference between a developer, a manager and an analyst?

• What role would that particular (one that a group has named) perform in your organisation?

Plenary

• What tasks do you think would be required from that role? Do you think that role could also be used in another company that is listed?

TasksStarter

Slide 6

• What do we mean by industries and sectors?

• Can you think of some industries and sectors that would include IT jobs?

Group work part one

Slides 4-6

Teams need to choose an organisation and work in their teams to list as many tech jobs they can think of in that particular company.

Group work part two

Show pupils the descriptions of job roles and allow to continue with the exercise.

Plenary

Pupils feedback from main task

• Show slide 12 and ask pupils “What would people in these roles do in these companies?”

Context 2nd part of 3 looking into TechFuture careers. Pupils have identified personality traits.

Objective Research IT Roles and how they can be applied to different industries.

Assessment Recorded targeted questioning.

DifferentiationPair lower ability students with higher ability in group tasks.

Adapt targeted questioning.

Allow internet access for main activity.

Keywords: DEVELOPER MANAGER ANALYSTENGINEER


StarterSlide 2

Ask the pupils to think about:

• What do we mean by industries and sectors?

• Can you think of some industries and sectors that would include tech jobs?

Prompts

Can you think of another name for sectors?

Would a school or college require any tech jobs? What sector would a school be in?

What sector would a high street bank be in? Would a bank have any tech jobs? Can you think of any specific tech jobs that would be involved in a bank?

Class shares their answers.

Slide 3

An industry or sector is way of defining what type of business a particular company is involved in such as Banking and Finance, Education or Manufacture. With the importance of the World Wide Web and the use of computers and technology in our lives, Tech jobs appear in every industry and sector.

Part 2 Industries and Sectors

Extension activity: Pupils to describe the job role and what it would involve in their chosen company.

MainSlides 4-6 - Explain to the class that this is a team work activity and they will be competing against the other groups in the class.

Groups (4-5 pupils) need to choose an organisation and work in their teams to list as many tech jobs they can think of in that particular company.

Explain that some organisations will have more tech roles than others. A football team for example, may not have as many as an international bank.

Explain that with the knowledge of the difference between a developer, a manager and an analyst etc. roles can be broken down and easily analysed to their function.

Engineer - Someone that is able to design, build and maintain something such as a piece of software or hardware.

Developer - Someone that will follow plans already created to ‘develop’ something such as a mobile app.

Manager - Someone that is in charge of all aspects of a particular area such as staff, resources and deadlines. For example an IT Project Manager may be overseeing the implementation of specialist software.

Analyst - Someone that looks at raw data and looks for trends that would benefit the company.

Prompts

While groups are working on this, show slides 7-10 with examples of common job titles and selected descriptions.

If pupils are struggling, allow one member of each team access to the Internet to research.

PlenaryAsk individual pupils to pick a role (from fig 1) and a company and explain what someone in this role would do in that particular company.

Extension

Pupils to try to use roles in bold pink that haven’t been described in class

Examples could include:

Data Analyst at EE (Telecoms Company) - Analyses users data such as popular areas their network is used and finding high volume users (people that spend more by going over their free minutes) so they can best target future marketing/advertising.

Games Developer at Oxfam (Not for Profit) - Creates Flash games (simple web based games) to be used on the Oxfam website to advertise their current campaign such as a game based around water shortages in the developing world.

IT Project Manager (in financial consultancy) - Organises the upgrades of software (computer programs) and hardware (computers) so that they can run Windows 7 as their current operating system Windows XP is no longer secure (can be hacked easily and data stolen).

RolesApplications Developer Data Analyst Games Developer Hardware Engineer IT Project Manager IT Technical Support Officer Penetration Tester Software Engineer Systems Analyst Technical Architect Website Developer

fig1

Sectors Football Club Finance Clothing Label Music Label Telecoms company Energy Provider Not for Profit High Street Retailer Glastonbury Festival


Part 3What is Tech?


Part 3 What is Tech?


Can you remember any tech jobs we looked at last lesson or what their job function was? Can you think of any IT based jobs?

Biographies task

What is this person’s traits? Do they suit any of the careers listed below? What are their duties in their job?

Scenario

Can you identify any problems in this scenario? How would you solve this using technology?

Plenary

Encourage pupils to question other groups.How would that solve the problem? Would there be another way to solve this? What would the job title be of someone that did that job?

TasksStarter

Ask pupils:

What do we mean by a tech job?

Can you think of any examples of tech jobs?

Task

Hand out the Biographies worksheets and ask pupils to identify the jobs to the descriptions. Dispel stereotypes around tech jobs.

Task

Hand out the Scenarios worksheets to groups of three.

Plenary

Feedback to class pupils’ answers to scenario and hold an open discussion. Explain that pupils have completed the role of an IT Consultant.

Context 3rd part of 3 looking into TechFuture careers. Pupils have identified personality traits and roles.

Objective Analyse IT issues faced in a workplace and propose solutions.

Assessment Peer marking of worksheets.

DifferentiationPupils paired with different abilities.

Varied targeted questions.

Keywords: STEREOTYPEIT IN THE WORKPLACE CONSULTANCY


StarterSlide 2

Ask pupils to reflect on what they learnt from the previous lesson and answer the following questions.

What do we mean by a tech job?

Can you think of any examples of tech jobs?

Pupils to feedback to class.

A tech job is a job in the technology sector that needs specific skills and attributes revolving around computers.

Examples include:

Applications Developer Data Analyst Games Developer Hardware Engineer IT Project Manager IT Technical Support Officer

MainBiography task

Slide 3

Teacher to hand out the Biographies work sheet and ask pupils to read through these, identify key activities and attributes, and decide what job each person does. Explain that there are a lot of stereotypes around people that work in IT Jobs that are not true to life such as they are geeky or quiet. When in fact ‘techies’ are no different from people in other careers.

What key aspects of their job does this person describe? Do you think that suits any of the jobs below? Do you think a (insert IT job title) would do this and have these attributes?

DifferentiationPair lower ability pupils with higher ability and allow discussion.

Ask pupils to hand their sheet to the person next to them for marking.

Answers

1 - Penetration Tester

2 - Data Analyst

3 - Systems Architect

4 - Web Developer

PlenarySlide 5

Pupils feedback to class and discuss their proposed solutions within their scenario. Encourage other groups to input on whether they feel this is an effective way of dealing with the problems faced.

Slide 6

Explain to the pupils that they have just performed the role of an IT consultant as they have been employed by a company on how they can improve efficiency using IT. This role can provide an income of anywhere from £25k - £80+ a year.

Problems in the workplace taskSlide 4 - Hand one of the 3 scenarios to groups of 3 pupils. Ask the pupils to identify problems faced within the scenario and propose solutions.

Extension activitiesPupils to create their own workplace efficiency problem scenario to be solved by another pupil.




Worksheet Biographies

Job role 1Hi my names is James. It’s my job to test the security of web systems and networks.

I’m the one that finds a way through when everyone else says it can’t be done. It’s sort of like being a legal hacker, but instead of breaking the law by finding security weaknesses and identifying flaws, I actually get paid for it.

I genuinely love my job. Not only do you get the thrill of solving the puzzle, but you get recognition, and even more difficult problems to solve. Eventually you become the go-to person.

Job role 2Being a ................................... may not sound like the coolest job of the 21st century, but it’s actually one of the most sought after positions.

We are becoming a data driven society and the demand for data analytics specialists, or data scientists like me, has never been higher.

There is a huge imbalance between supply and demand at the moment. Companies are falling over themselves to find qualified talented people who know how to deal with this amount of information, and the salary offered for people with these skills is making it a very attractive job role.

Job role 3I think that when people hear my job title they picture a doddering old man with grey hair and half moon specs. Perhaps because being a ...................................... is one of the top jobs out there.

I am basically responsible for the overall design, maintenance and also the construction of the Data systems. Since so many companies are using databases to enhance their productivity and communication, they are in need of good system architects who are capable of testing and debugging applications and looking into the many computing needs of their clients.

And because on top of everything else I also provide consultation on complex projects my role is considered to be the top level contributor/ specialist.

Job role 4My name is Amien and I’m a .................................................... which I still love saying to people!

Every day is different, but I love the creative part. I like to make things. To me it’s really rewarding to work with lots of different clients and work out what each of them are looking for, and then have the technical skills to make that come to life for them. It’s a lot more collaborative then people expect.

To be honest, I didn’t think studying the sciences and technology could take my career in this direction. But here I am, and I love it.

Pupil name

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I think this job role is:

..............................................................

..............................................................


..............................................................

..............................................................


..............................................................

..............................................................


..............................................................

..............................................................

Choose from: Penetration Tester, Network Security, Data Analyst, Systems Architect


QuestionWhat IT professionals or services would you employee to boost Garms’ business and increase their sales? Why?

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Scenario 1‘Garms’ is a chain of 18 clothing shops in the South West of England that is looking to go National. Ali (the owner) has decided that he has put off going fully digital for too long and this is the easiest way to get his clothing worn by people all over the UK.

Ali has a very basic website that he updates at the start of each season with pictures and information of the clothing that the store stocks. To order a piece of clothing, a customer needs to call up the head office (telephone number is on the website) and enquire. The sales team at head office then have to find out whether the item is still in stock in any of the 18 clothing stores and whether it is in the correct size. If they find it, they call back the customer and inform them of what store it is at and that they can pick it up in store opening times.

The website is very old and clunky. It is only designed to be used on a PC and doesn’t convey the young and fashionable company image that a clothing shop needs.

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Worksheet Scenario

Pupil name

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QuestionWhat IT professionals or services would you employ to help Barnet FC advertise on an international scale, in a cost effective manner? Why?

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Scenario 2Barnet Football Club (known as the Bees to supporters) is a conference team in North London that has recently had new investors. It is expecting promotion back into the professional leagues and will enjoy the cash injection that comes from this.

They are currently in a temporary stadium with a capacity of 5,100, which regularly sells out. A number of supporters are left with no choice but to try view the game updates in local pubs and cafes via the BBC website. Unfortunately, as they are not a premiership club, the football commentary available on websites is very minimal.

The club owns a plot of land where they could possibly fit a stadium but would need a few different designs to show to the board and changes would need to be made to the chosen design.

As Barnet FC is a smaller club, it cannot compete with the larger premiership clubs with player wages. In the past they have had an excellent youth team and players from this have progressed into the 1st team. This has seemed to dry up and the chairman is keen to explore international players but is unsure how to advertise the club on an international scale in a cost effective manner.


Worksheet Scenario


QuestionWhat IT professionals or services would you employ to help modernise Lejla’s business and to help it thrive in today’s competitive market? Why?

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Scenario 3Lejla Johnson is an architect that designs buildings for individuals and companies. Over the past 40 years she has designed office blocks, football stadiums, shopping centres, houses, extensions and loft conversions to people’s homes.

Being an architect is becoming a lot harder and in recent years, the industry has changed. Lejla is stuck in her ways and still runs her business the same way she did in 1980. Accounts are still done in a profit and loss book with a calculator, customer details are kept written on scraps of paper and all paperwork is sent via post.

Lejla advertises in the Yellow Pages and local paper. This in the past was a great way to get business but recently less people use these big printed directories to find company details. So now Lejla relies on word of mouth and recommendations to get business. When she hears of a big project, she does a pencil and paper plan of the proposed building and gives it to the project manager of the new building and hopes they will contact her to work on the project further. However, these plans of buildings take a long time to draw and when they require an adjustment, Lejla has to start the drawing again from scratch as it is not easy to simply adjust these plans on paper.

Lejla is going to have her three children (David, Joanna and Susan) join the company at the end of the year and so that she can retire soon. Lejla feels that she needs to modernise the business soon and make any improvements so that the company flourishes and can provide a good income for everyone. Fortunately her children are not only great architects but are also great with technology and IT and have programming and design skills.


Worksheet Scenario


Scenario 1‘Garms’ is a chain of 18 clothing shops in the South West of England that is looking to go National. Ali (the owner) has decided that he has put off going fully digital for too long and this is the easiest way to get his clothing worn by people all over the UK.

Ali has a very basic website that he updates at the start of each season with pictures and information of the clothing that the store stocks. To order a piece of clothing, a customer needs to call up the head office (telephone number is on the website) and enquire. The sales team at head office then have to find out whether the item is still in stock in any of the 18 clothing stores and whether it is in the correct size. If they find it, they call back the customer and inform them of what store it is at and that they can pick it up in store opening times.

The website is very old and clunky. It is only designed to be used on a PC and doesn’t convey the young and fashionable company image that a clothing shop needs.

1


Worksheet Scenario

TEACHER’S COPY

QuestionWhat IT professionals or services would you employee to boost Garms’ business and increase their sales? Why?

Possible Answers Web Designer

Design a fully functional website with online checkout facility so that customers can purchase goods easily and have them delivered.

Database Architect

A back end database system would also need to be designed that would be integrated with the shop’s till system. This would ensure stock levels will be updated automatically.

Graphic designer

A Graphic Designer would enhance the photographs so they look the best they possibly can.



Worksheet Scenario

TEACHER’S COPY

QuestionWhat IT professionals or services would you employ to help Barnet FC advertise on an international scale, in a cost effective manner? Why?

Possible Answers Architect

An architect that uses CAD software such as Sketchup to design the stadium.

Web Designer

A web designer could create a new and fully functional website that not only looks good but also works on multiple platforms accessible internationally such as mobile phones, smart phones, laptops and tablets.

Flash Game Designer

A Flash Game Designer could make fun and simple games for the website that will help attract younger fans to the club.

Web Content Editor

A web content editor can add news stories, update web content and add live commentary to the website to ensure that the fans keep visiting the site. This will ensure supporters are happy and more engaged with the club. This will also enhance the visitors to the site which means online advertising could increase.

Web Optimisation Expert

A web optimisation expert can concentrate on getting the club high up the search engine listings for certain searches. This could target gaining new fans and also new players from abroad. For example the expert could ensure that people in Greece searching for “English Football Clubs with transfer prospects” will see Barnet FC at the top of their Google search.

Scenario 2Barnet Football Club (known as the Bees to supporters) is a conference team in North London that has recently had new investors. It is expecting promotion back into the professional leagues and will enjoy the cash injection that comes from this.

They are currently in a temporary stadium with a capacity of 5,100, which regularly sells out. A number of supporters are left with no choice but to try view the game updates in local pubs and cafes via the BBC website. Unfortunately, as they are not a premiership club, the football commentary available on websites is very minimal.

The club owns a plot of land where they could possibly fit a stadium but would need a few different designs to show to the board and changes would need to be made to the chosen design.

As Barnet FC is a smaller club, it cannot compete with the larger premiership clubs with player wages. In the past they have had an excellent youth team and players from this have progressed into the 1st team. This has seemed to dry up and the chairman is keen to explore international players but is unsure how to advertise the club on an international scale in a cost effective manner.



Worksheet Scenario

TEACHER’S COPY

QuestionWhat IT professionals or services would you employ to help modernise Lejla’s business and to help it thrive in today’s competitive market? Why?

Possible AnswersLejla could modernise her accounts process and use a specialist accounts software package. This would make the process quicker and easier especially if she has new employees as this would lead to extra accounts to process.

Lejla could start using specialist CAD design software for creating the architecture drawings. This doesn’t need to be expensive or need a lot of training as packages such as Google Sketchup is free and easy to learn. This would mean that not only will the new building plans look professional but also that changes can be made quickly.

Advertising could move to fully online. They could advertise the company on search engines such as, Google, MSN, Yahoo and directories such as Yell.com and Thomson Local. Lejla could also use websites that people may look on if researching architecture.

The company could create a database system which stores customer details so that they can keep in touch with them regularly. They could send out a quarterly newsletter with news on what has happened in the industry and the great projects that they have worked on. This could generate more business for the company.

Scenario 3Lejla Johnson is an architect that designs buildings for individuals and companies. Over the past 40 years she has designed office blocks, football stadiums, shopping centres, houses, extensions and loft conversions to people’s homes.

Being an architect is becoming a lot harder and in recent years, the industry has changed. Lejla is stuck in her ways and still runs her business the same way she did in 1980. Accounts are still done in a profit and loss book with a calculator, customer details are kept written on scraps of paper and all paperwork is sent via post.

Lejla advertises in the Yellow Pages and local paper. This in the past was a great way to get business but recently less people use these big printed directories to find company details. So now Lejla relies on word of mouth and recommendations to get business. When she hears of a big project, she does a pencil and paper plan of the proposed building and gives it to the project manager of the new building and hopes they will contact her to work on the project further. However, these plans of buildings take a long time to draw and when they require an adjustment, Lejla has to start the drawing again from scratch as it is not easy to simply adjust these plans on paper.

Lejla is going to have her three children (David, Joanna and Susan) join the company at the end of the year and so that she can retire soon. Lejla feels that she needs to modernise the business soon and make any improvements so that the company flourishes and can provide a good income for everyone. Fortunately her children are not only great architects but are also great with technology and IT and have programming and design skills.


TechFuture Teachers IT Career Pathways

IT Career Pathways - page 27

Introduction

IT Career PathwaysThe following pages will include a summary of the following 12 core IT jobs:

1 Applications Developer

2 Games Developer

3 IT Project Manager

4 Hardware Engineer

5 IT Technical Support

6 Penetration Tester

7 Software Engineer

8 Systems Analyst

9 Technical Architect or IT Systems Architect

10 Data Analyst

11 Business Analyst

12 Web Developer

You will find a brief outline of each role, the expected salaries, desirable skills and qualities required and tertiary education options.

IT Qualifications A number of the roles included in this resource require relevant university degrees, however, employers will often consider graduates with a maths, science or engineering degrees who demonstrate a passion for technology.

The most common IT Degrees are Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology and Electrical and Computer Engineering. Educational routes and courses are constantly developing with the evolving nature of IT.

Apprenticeships are now also offered and are highly valued among employers. There are various apprenticeship providers throughout the UK such as, QA Apprenticeships, Just IT and TDM, who work to provide employers with relevant course materials to ensure their apprentices are gaining the skills most needed in the workforce.

The most common IT Apprenticeships include:

• IT, Software, Web and Telecoms Professionals

• ICT Professionals

• IT Applications Specialist

• Information Security Apprenticeships

Degree Apprenticeships are due to be launched in Autumn 2015. These will allow young people to complete a digital honours degree qualification whilst working in the IT industry. The Degree Apprenticeships will be available for a number of roles explored throughout this resource.

Employers involved in this new initiative include Accenture, BT, Capgemini, Ford, Fujitsu, GlaxoSmithKline, HM Revenue and Customs, Hewlett Packard, IBM, John Lewis, Lloyds Banking Group, Network Rail and Tata Consulting Services.

The academic side of the courses will be provided by universities including Aston, Exeter, Greenwich, Loughborough, Manchester Metropolitan, University College London, the University of the West of England and Winchester.


1 Applications Developer

About the roleApplications Developers convert software requirements into workable programming code and maintain and develop programme-specific development fields such as mobile phone applications, office suites or graphics software. Applications, or ‘apps’, can be written for a particular system such as Windows or Android, or across numerous platforms, including computers and mobile devices.

Skills and qualities• High level programming and related technical skills

• Creativity

• Logical approach to problem-solving

• Analytical thinking

• Ability to work under pressure

• Attention to detail

• Tenacity and patience

• Communication skills, including the ability to convey information to non-technical colleagues in a concise and understandable way

• An understanding of business processes

Tertiary EducationThis area of work is open to all apprenticeship or university graduates however, the following subjects are recommended to help increase your chances at building a successful career as an Applications Developer:

• computer science/software engineering

• information systems

• mathematics

• business/management

• physical/mathematical/applied science

According to the National Apprenticeship Service you can complete an Advanced level apprenticeship in IT, Software, Web and Telecoms to build your skills as an Applications Developer.

Due to the rapid changes in IT, vendor certifications are becoming highly sought after as they recognise particular skills and knowledge for working with different languages, applications and operating systems.

SalaryJunior Applications Developers salaries can start at £18, 000 - £22,000. The typical salary range for an experienced Mobile Applications Developer is approximately £45,000 - £55,000.

• Ability to work under pressure


2 Games Developer

About the roleComputer Games Developers produce games for the internet, mobile phones and games consoles, such as, Xbox or PlayStation. There are a variety of career paths and jobs in games development this can include: artists, animators, computer programmers, audio programmers, designers and testers. Each role works hand in hand to develop a complete game.

Skills and qualities• Writing ability (both technical and creative)

• Skills in design theory, computer knowledge

• Sketching/storyboarding

• An understanding of coding

• Presentation, management and leadership skills

• Ability to think outside the box

Tertiary EducationA Higher Apprenticeship in Creative and Digital Media is recommended to build your skills as a games developer. After completing the Higher Apprenticeship you can go onto study a Foundation Degree. This option is more popular for programmers, designers and artists.

A number of colleges and universities offer courses in computer games design and development, these courses include:

• computer science or software engineering

• animation, graphic design, fine art or illustration

• interactive media

• maths

• physics

• multimedia and computer games design

Another route is to start working in the games industry is as a quality assurance (QA) tester. It is not always a necessity to have a degree to become a quality assurance tester but it is important to have experience of game playing, and an excellent knowledge of game platforms.

SalaryStarting salary for a graduate or junior Games Developer is approximately £25,000. Experienced and skilled designers, head programmers and producers can earn between £40,000 and £60,000.

• Ability to think outside the box


3 Hardware Engineer

About the roleComputer Hardware Engineers design and develop computers and the computerised parts of other appliances such as: computer chips, circuit boards, displays, sensors, keyboards, modems, printers and test equipment.

Skills and qualities• Strong technical skills

• Good interpersonal and communication skills

• Adaptable and able to pick up new techniques quickly

• Able to work on own and in a team

• Enjoys solving scientific and technical problems

Tertiary EducationThe most common route into this profession is with a relevant bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, electronic engineering or computer systems engineering.

Studying the following subjects will help you develop skills as a Hardware Engineer:

• mathematics

• computer science

• electronic engineering

• computer systems engineering

As an alternative to entering with a bachelor’s degree, it may be possible to start in a junior computing or technical support level and work your way up to becoming a computer hardware engineer.

IT, Software, Web and Telecoms Professionals Level 2/3 Apprenticeships will also provide you with the adequate education and skills to become a Hardware Engineer.

SalarySalaries range from at least £18,000 for junior roles to more than £65,000 a year for Senior Hardware Engineers.

• Enjoys solving scientific and technical problems


4 IT Project Manager

About the roleIT project managers oversee the planning, development and installation of computer systems to meet their clients’ business needs.

Skills and qualities• Excellent organisational and leadership skills

• Problem-solving skills

• The ability to understand complex information and work out requirements

• A methodical and structured approach to projects

• Excellent written and spoken communication skills

• Excellent IT skills

• A flexible approach to work

• A good understanding of business demands

• The ability to work effectively with other professionals

• The ability to work within budget limits

• Excellent time management

• Enjoy working with a wide range of people

Tertiary EducationIt is vital to have project-based work experience before you can become an IT Project Manager.

Skill specific training and qualifications will also help to develop your career as an IT Project Manager, in particular, PRINCE2 certification.

Relevant subjects to help progress your career as an IT Project Manager include:

• computing

• information systems

• project management

• business management

SalaryStarting salaries range between £25,000 and £28,000 a year. Experienced or specialist IT project managers can earn from £35,000 to £60,000 plus.

• Excellent IT skills


5 IT Technical Support

About the roleIT Technical Support Officers monitor and maintain the computer systems and networks of an organisation.

Skills and qualities• Good IT Skills

• Strong organisational skills

• Good written and communication skills

• Ability to work as part of a team or individually

• Problem solving

Tertiary EducationThis area of work is open to all graduates however it would be worth exploring the below subjects.

• Business information technology

• Business systems engineering

• Computer networking and hardware

• Computer science

• Computer software development

• Information technology

• Internet engineering

• Software engineering

Employers also usually look for in-depth knowledge of the programs and applications they use, typically Microsoft, Linux and Cisco technologies. If you are not working in IT, a degree in Information Systems or taking the IT, Software and Telecoms Apprenticeships are the most relevant qualifications for gaining a job in this field.

SalaryAverage starting salaries can range from £15,000 to £21,000. It is possible to progress to salaries of around £26,000 - £35,000 with experience and Technical Support Managers with over 10 years of experience can earn salaries of over £47,000.

• Problem solving


6 Penetration Tester

About the rolePenetration testers are also referred to as ‘legal hackers’. The role of a Penetration Tester is to access recourses without knowing usernames or passwords in order to expose weaknesses in security. The main objective of the role is to increase security of existing systems.

Skills and qualities• Eye for detail

• Perseverance

• Creativity

• Flexibility


• Problem solving

• Excellent written and verbal communication

It is vital to have exposure to hacking and computer science to work as a Penetration Tester.

According to the National Sector Council, there is a shortage of cyber skills in the UK so upskilling in this area would give you a higher chance of obtaining employment!

Tertiary EducationA unique way to build your skills and get noticed as a penetration tester is to enter a Cyber Security Challenge. These are widely becoming virtual fairs!

The QA Apprenticeship in IT Systems and Networking is a great place to start your career as a Penetration Tester. You can also complete a specialist ethical hacking degree, some qualifications include:

• The certified ethical hacker (CEH) badge

• The computer hacking forensic investigator (CHFI), secure analyst (ECSA)

The military also offers opportunities in Penetration Testing. They offer paid positions even if the role is in a part-time branch such as the National Guard or Reserves.

SalaryTrainee penetration testers can earn from £15,000 per year and a can increase to over £70,000 for qualified Penetration Testers with over 5 years industry experience.

• Creativity


7 Software Engineer

About the roleSoftware engineers are responsible for the complete life cycle of a new or modified software product, from research and design to implementation, training and support.

Skills and qualities• Team-working skills

• Numerical and analytical skills

• Ability to work to another’s design

• Commercial awareness

• Good communication skills


Tertiary EducationMost employers now expect a degree in computer science, software engineering or similar as well as substantial working experience. For graduates without computing experience, or an appropriate qualification, a postgraduate IT conversion course can be useful.

Relevant programming knowledge is normally required and it is role where you have the opportunity to work your way up!

IT Software Engineer apprenticeships are also available through a number of employers.

SalaryGraduate Software Engineers can earn between £28,000 and £35,000 per year. Your salary could increase to up to £60,000 as a Senior Software Engineer.

• Numerical and analytical skills


8 Systems Analyst

About the roleA Systems Analyst is employed by a company to examine their IT systems and processes, and recommend where improvements can be made.

Skills and qualities• It is important to have programming skills and analysis

methods. Some of the most common are:

• SQL

• Visual Basic, C++ and Java

• Unified Modelling Language (UML)

• SAP business software applications.

It is also important to possess:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Interest in both hardware and Software

• Problem analysis

• Interest in planning and problem solving

• Interest in business

• Listening skills

• Critical thinking

Tertiary EducationTo work as a Systems Analyst you would need relevant industry experience, a degree or Higher National Diploma.

Some analysts enter the profession as Junior Programmers, progressing to developer and/or consultancy roles.

Alternatively, the Information Technology Management for Business (ITMB) degree has been developed by e-skills and employers to meet specific industry skills shortages such as project management and business awareness.

Studying the one or more of the following subjects will help you build your skills as a Systems Analyst.

• Computer science/studies

• Information management systems

• Business information systems

• Maths and operational research

SalaryStarting salaries may be between £17,000 and £25,000 a year. The average salary in the UK is £40,000 and senior analysts involved in project management can earn up to £60,000 a year.

• Problem analysis


9 Technical Architect or IT Systems Architect

About the roleTechnical Architects help plan, design and implement IT systems for clients.

Skills and qualities• Communication skills

• Ability to interpret client briefs

• Strong problem-solving skills

• The ability to build good relationships with clients and colleagues

• The ability to gather and interpret data

• Excellent presentation skills

• A broad knowledge of technologies and applications

• The ability to explain ideas clearly to technical and non-technical staff

• A knowledge of industry quality standards, legislation and best practice

• The ability to work effectively under pressure and to deadlines

• A flexible and adaptable approach

Tertiary EducationYou will need experience and qualifications in IT to work as a Technical Architect and employers will look for a background in systems development, analysis, programming or testing. A common route into this career is to start with a company in a role, such as programming, and to work your way up.

You will normally be expected to have a Technical Apprenticeship a degree or postgraduate qualification.

Relevant subjects can include:

• computer science or computer engineering

• information management systems

• business information systems

• software development

• mathematics

SalarySalaries can start from £30,000 and go up to £60,000 a year. Senior Technical Architects can earn between £60,000 and £80,000.

• Strong problem-solving


10 Website Developer

About the roleWeb developers design, build and maintain websites.

Skills and qualities• An interest in computers

• Software programming experience

• Graphical design or other artistic interest

• An interest in working with different media

• Good interpersonal skills


It is important to have knowledge of the following:

Java, C#, Perl, PHP, JavaScript, ActionScript, Ajax, HTML, XML and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). An understanding of SQL and MySQL databases, and application frameworks such as ASP.

Tertiary EducationMost web developers have some experience in IT. Common entry routes involve graduate training schemes after university, or starting as a junior developer which can be done without a degree. Employers value creativity and experience.

Training courses for many of these areas are widely available, especially online. A recommended site is the Creative Skillset website.

Relevant degrees can include:

• multimedia web design

• information technology


• software engineering

• digital media production

• graphic design

• fine art

SalaryStarting salaries for junior roles are between £16,000 and £24,000 a year. This can rise with experience to between £25,000 and £35,000, with Senior Web Developers earning £50,000 or more a year.

• Good interpersonal skills


11 Data Analyst

About the roleData Analysts collect maintain and troubleshoot problems generated from the storage of digital information.

Skills and qualities• Strong analytical skills

• Excellent communication skills

• Confidence to present information

• Systematic approach to work and strong problem solving skills


• Knowledge of Database programming, Oracle, SQL Server, ER Modeling

Tertiary EducationIndividual employers will set the selection criteria however, a degree in Information Systems is highly sought after. Some employers will accept other relevant qualifications or experience, including a relevant Level 3 ICT Apprenticeship.

A qualification at undergraduate level in the following subjects can also be useful:

• statistics

• mathematics



SalaryJunior roles start out at around £23,000 with Senior Data Analysts earning anywhere between £40,000 and £70,000 per year.

• Systematic approach to work and strong problem solving skills


12 Business Analyst

About the roleBusiness Analysts aim to understand how information flows around an organisation. Their aim is to determine what happens to that information at each processing stage and then make recommendations based on whether the current processes are most efficient and what could be used to ensure the business it the most effective.

Skills and qualities• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Good presentation skills

• Clear aptitude for both planning and problem solving

• Keen interest in business

• Broad understanding of computing

• Excellent listening skills

Previous experience of project management will also be beneficial and a knowledge of project development methods like Waterfall or Agile.

Tertiary EducationMany analysts have a technical background in software development or programming.

A qualification at degree or postgraduate level can also be useful in subjects such as:



• computing and systems development

• business management.

The Chartered Institute for IT offers a Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis for people new to the role or those who may be thinking about working in this field.

SalaryStarting salaries for Business Analysts can range from £20,000 to £25,000 per year. With experience, Senior Business Analysts can earn from £50,000 to £80,000 or more.

• Excellent listening skills


References

Useful Websites The Tech Partnership

National Careers Service

Plotr

National Apprenticeship Services

NotGoingtoUni

Big Ambition

PayScale

Computeach

Home Learning College

National IT Learning Centre

Referenceshttp://www.prospects.ac.uk

http://www.bigambition.co.uk

http://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

http://creativeskillset.org

https://www.plotr.co.uk

http://www.ocr.org.uk

http://getsmaart.com

http://www.uk.capgemini.com

http://apprenticeshipvacancymatchingservice.lsc.gov.uk

https://community.rapid7.com

http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk

https://targetjobs.co.uk

http://www.itmb.co.uk

https://www.udacity.com

http://education-portal.com

https://www.thetechpartnership.com

http://www.cwjobs.co.uk/

http://www.eccouncil.org

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-30193095

http://apprenticeships.qa.com/vacancy-search/vacancy-details?vrn=1211-0001-00002373

http://payscale.com

http://www.monster.co.uk

https://www.thetechpartnership.com/

https://www.thetechpartnership.com/

https://www.plotr.co.uk/

http://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/

http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk/

http://www.bigambition.co.uk/news/your-tech-future/why-choose-a-career-in-information-technology-it/

http://www.payscale.com

http://www.prospects.ac.uk

http://www.bigambition.co.uk

http://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk

http://creativeskillset.org

https://www.plotr.co.uk

http://www.ocr.org.uk

http://getsmaart.com

http://www.uk.capgemini.com

http://apprenticeshipvacancymatchingservice.lsc.gov.uk

https://community.rapid7.com

http://www.notgoingtouni.co.uk

https://targetjobs.co.uk

http://www.itmb.co.uk

https://www.udacity.com

http://www.education-portal.com

https://www.thetechpartnership.com

http://www.cwjobs.co.uk/

http://www.eccouncil.org

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-30193095



http://www.payscale.com

http://www.monster.co.uk/

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