Network and Computer Systems Administrators

People in this career often have these skills:

• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
• Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
• Programming - Writing computer programs for various purposes.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Operations Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

People in this career often know a lot about:

• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Engineering and Technology - Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

People in this career often have talent in:

• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

People in this career often do these activities:

• Maintain computer networks to enhance performance and user access.
• Implement security measures for computer or information systems.
• Create electronic data backup to prevent loss of information.
• Resolve computer network problems.
• Troubleshoot issues with computer applications or systems.

• Resolve computer software problems.
• Monitor the performance of computer networks.
• Develop computer or information security policies or procedures.
• Analyze data to identify or resolve operational problems.
• Provide technical support for computer network issues.
• Collaborate with others to resolve information technology issues.
• Analyze project data to determine specifications or requirements.
• Identify information technology project resource requirements.
• Recommend changes to improve computer or information systems.
• Test computer hardware performance.
• Test software performance.
• Design integrated computer systems.
• Document operational activities.
• Install computer hardware.
• Train others in computer interface or software use.
• Document network-related activities or tasks.
• Collect data about customer needs.
• Coordinate resource procurement activities.
• Maintain the inventory of equipment.
• Conduct research to gain information about products or processes.
• Update knowledge about emerging industry or technology trends.

• Computer Network Architects

• Computer Systems Analysts

• Database Administrators

• Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers

• Computer Systems Engineers/Architects

• Computer User Support Specialists

• Information Security Analysts

• Web Administrators