IT Career Comparison - Research Paper Example

The internet is filled with information from all kinds of sources. The information is used for different purposes by different people. However, with such vast repository of information available, not every information is credible and reliable. While using a source for information, it is important to evaluate whether a source is reliable or not. It is also important to note that not every source may be useful for every purpose. In this research paper we shall try to highlight the criteria that should be used in evaluating the different sources found on the internet.

There can be a number of problems with the information mentioned on the websites. The following criteria need to be applied in the form of checklist to evaluate a source of information:Authority – who is sponsoring and managing dataAccuracy – is the data free from errorsObjectivity – purpose of putting data on the websiteCurrency – is the content recentCoverage – is the material complete and comprehensiveHaving studied the criteria to evaluate the sources, we shall apply this in evaluating the different sources of information available on websites which advertise for jobs and compare three different careers.

In terms of salary, the range of salaries for graphic designers varies from $32000 to $55000 per annum. On the other hand, salaries for computer support specialists range from $40000 to $48000. The post of Information Security Engineer is stated to be drawing the maximum salary out of the three which ranges from $80000 to $140000. In terms of education, Information Security Engineers need to have a bachelors degree (preferably in computer science) with other certifications related to computer networking and information security.

For graphic designers, in some cases, a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts is required with majors in graphic designing. However, for some posts, a bachelor’s degree in some other field may also be acceptable with graphic designing qualifications. Due to differences in the nature of jobs for Computer Support Specialists, there are also differences in the educational requirements. Some employers prefer the candidates to have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or computer engineering, whereas, some others may only require an associate’s degree with qualification related to computer support.

In some cases, the employers also require specialized courses beyond the bachelor’s degree. In terms of travel, all the listed jobs for three fields do not offer any provisions for travel. This indicates that the job is mainly in-house and does not require the person to spend much time out of office. When it comes to work hours, graphic designers follow a fairly regular work schedule with normal office timings. However, occasionally, they may be required to work long hours to meet a deadline.

For computer specialists, the hours depend solely on the nature of work. In some cases, the professionals may be required to work in night-shifts while providing support to overseas clients or night staff. For information/network security engineers, the work hours are also standard and stable. In this project, we analyzed the different sources of information available and identified the criteria that should be used to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the source. Further, we researched about the different career opportunities available and compared the nature of work and other related factors that were mentioned on the websites featuring the jobs.

As learning outcomes, we learnt how to evaluate the web sources and then how to use these for our purpose.