Technology Q&A

Answers to Your Engineering Career Questions
By John R. Platt

Question: I am 53 years old and due to graduate 12/08. My major is ETIS Industrial Systems and will be a BS Degree. Will my age be a problem finding employment? - Ralph, Tennessee

Answer: Hi Jeff. There shouldn't be a problem for you, as an ETIS degree provides a lot of core, marketable skills that put you in a good place in the job market, no matter what your age.

ETIS (Engineering Technology and Industrial Studies) is a broad category, giving you the chance to work in fields as wide-ranging as environmental science, construction management, mechanical engineering and safety. As an extra advantage, by the time you get out of school, you will have learned some of the most current advancements in your field, and may actually have an advantage over someone who graduated a few years ago. Experience is equally important, of course, but keeping up with the latest technologies and techniques always makes you a more valuable employee.

In addition, as an ETIS graduate, you will also be in a very good place to get your certification in Six-Sigma -- an incredibly valuable asset that will further enhance your employability.

Q: I have two questions: 1. What kind of degree/certification will I need for a career in Computer Security? 2. What program languages would I need experience with to be successful in eCommerce? - Kat, Cincinnati, Ohio

A: A Bachelor of Science degree is sufficient for most computer security jobs. Amazingly, you don't necessarily need to graduate with a Computer Science degree. Other majors of value in this field include Electrical Engineering, Information Science, Information Systems, Physics, and even Mathematics.

Regarding certifications, you don't necessarily need a certification to get started, but they always help your chances at landing a job and often result in a higher salary. The ones you may want (or need) depend on where you want to work. Some of most valuable certifications include Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP) and Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP), but there are literally dozens of others to choose from.

As for eCommerce, there are more programming languages than I have pairs or socks, and every company seems to use a different combination of systems and programs, but some of the essentials include JavaScript, J2EE, CSS, XML, XMLST, SQL -- and of course, HTML. You'll also want to have experience using Linux or UNIX, and understand some basic network concepts like TCP/IP. With these basics in your toolbox, you should be able to pick up any other languages you might need quickly and easily.

Q: I've heard that a quick and easy way to start a career in the high-tech industry is to become a systems engineer. And that a six-month course that gives a Windows certification can open doors to entry-level positions. Positions that offer further training and $30K+/yr, for anyone with a 4 year degree. Is this true? - Michael, Madison, Wisconsin

A: Becoming a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) does, indeed, open doors. There are always job opportunities for MCSEs, as businesses will always need people to design and implement core IT infrastructures.

But MCSE certification is not a starting point for your career, nor is a systems engineer position. According to Microsoft's site, "An MCSE candidate should have at least one year of experience implementing and administering a network operating system and a client operating system, and designing a network infrastructure." In other words, you're going to need to get some basic job experience before first, then start thinking about certification.

But don't freak out -- there are other Microsoft certifications more valuable to entry-level jobs. You could become a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, a Microsoft Certified IT Professional, or a Microsoft Certified Professional Developer to start. Visit http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/certifications.mspx for a full list of certifications and more information about the requirements for each program.