Job Title / Job Description

Self-employed Computer Programmer & Consultant

Write computer programs for small businesses, including a lot of law firms. I meet with owners, managers and staff and discuss technology changes that would help them improve their work. Then I write the programs that integrate with their existing office systems, review them with the people using the programs and finally install them on users‘ computers.

What are some related career opportunities and job titles in your company or in your career area?

database administrator, web site designer, network engineer.

What new technology will be important?

Smart phones, cloud computing and probably one or two other big things I don‘t know know about.

What education or training did you have to prepare for this career?

None. I got a PC when they were first invented, started using it and self taught myself as the industry grew. I have taken a few specific courses, read a lot of textbooks and read a lot of manuals over the last 20 years.

What education or training do you recommend for students today who want to enter this field?

University degree majoring in computer science. Hardly anyone will hire people nowdays without this qualification in this field.

When you were in high school, did you know that you would enter this field?

No, when I was a senior in high school I was briefly exposed to computer programming and became certain I would NEVER enter the field. I chose to enter the field about 12 years later.