Careers and the Job Market in High Technology and Engineering

Careers and the Job Market

in High Technology and Engineering

A talk to guidance counsellors

Timothy C. Lethbridge (English) and

Daniel Amyot (Français), October, 2005

Careers in High Tech and Engineering 2

Topics in this talk

• Examples of some of the types of high-tech careers available– Education requirements for the above

• Job market prospects– Evidence that there are plenty of jobs!

• Programs available at the University of Ottawa to prepare students for high-tech jobs– Differences among fields such as computer science and

software engineering


Sample high-tech jobs for which a university degree is needed

• Software Developer / Software Engineer– Perform all aspects of software development: requirements,

design, programming and quality assurance– Suitable degrees:

• Computer Science• Software Engineering• More on the differences later

– Programs teach • Mathematics knowledge to ensure students can do proper

analysis and abstraction• Programming knowledge (they learn some languages and can

easily learn others)• Design knowledge• Knowledge of special techniques and technologies



• Systems Analyst / Software Architect– Focuses on the high level needs of an application or a

business– Suitable degrees:

• Computer Science• Software Engineering



• Computer Engineer / Hardware Developer– Designs some of the following:

• Computers and devices with embedded computers– Could include robots, cell phones, vehicles, etc.– More and more electronic devices have embedded

computers• Software to run on embedded computers• Computer networks

– Suitable degrees:• Computer Engineering• Software Engineering (for some embedded applications)



• IT Manager / CIO– Has a deep understanding of

• the technology• business

– Suitable degrees• Computer science with IMS option• Software engineering with management and

entrepreneurship option• Computer engineering with management and

entrepreneurship option (For hardware-intensive environments)

– Also required• Experience in the previous 3 jobs

– MBA suggested for the most senior positions



• Biomedical Engineer– Designs systems that operate in health care, including those

embedded in the human body– Suitable degrees

• Biomedical Mechanical Engineering• Biomedical Electrical Engineering• Biomedical Software Engineering• Computer Science with minor or second major in biology,

biochemistry, biomedical science


Sample IT jobs for which a college diploma would be adequate

• Computer operator, computer technician– Keeps the computers, software and networks in a company

running– May do limited programming

• Database administrator– Installs databases, grants permissions, and makes sure they

are kept running smoothly

• Web designer or programmer of small systems


Think carefully about education level

• Consider the following about college-level education– Industry is less and less interested in pure programming

(college level)– Outsourcing is primarily a problem for those involved in

writing code• University degrees are in demand

Source: Direction informatique Express, October 2005

http://www.directioninformatique.com/DI/client/fr/DirectionInformatique/Nouvelles.asp?id=36911


Topics in this talk






Fortune Magazine: “16 Fastest Growing Professional Jobs”

Source: Fortune Magazine, March 21, 2005, p. 131. Conclusions derived from data published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Increase over the period 2002-2012

Increase High University degreeProfession % Tech IT Required Recom.Environmental Engineers 54.3% X XNetwork systems and data communications analysts 41.9% X X XPersonal financial advisors 36.3%Database administrators 33.1% X X XSoftware engineers 27.8% X X XEmergency management specialists 27.8%Biomedical engineers 27.8% X XPublic relations specialists 27.8%Computer and IT managers 25.6% X X XCompensation, benefits and job analysts 25.6%Systems analysts 24.9% X X XNetwork and systems administrators 24.9% X X XTraining and development specialists 22.3%Medical scientists 22.1% X XMarketing and sales managers 21.3%Computer specialists 20.8% X X X


Ten highest paying university degrees for 2004-05 (In the US, salaries in USD)

And the trend is ever upwardsSource: Summer 2005 Salary Survey, NACE, http://www.jobweb.com/SalaryInfo/05_toppdmajors.htm


Trends in the job market & university computing enrollment

0

500000

1000000

1500000

2000000

2500000

3000000

3500000

4000000

4500000

5000000

1997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Jobs

Enrollment


Job breakdown 1999-2004

Source: Comm. of the ACM, Sept. 2005


CS popularity 1971-2004

Source: Communications of the ACM, Sept. 2005


Why is enrollment not tracking projected jobs?

• The public does not know about the projections• The public has a deep fear resulting from news

stories of layoffs in 2000-2003• The public is entranced by the lure of life sciences• IT has lost its ‘cool’ in the high schools• Girls, particularly are affected by negative

stereotypes– High tech people don’t really sit behind their desks typing all

day!– They have a lot of social interaction with users, customers

and other colleagues– Solving user’s problems can be very satisfying


Other evidence that the high-tech job market is strengthening

• Industry Canada (2005):– Employment growth for information and

communication technology professionals between 1990 and 2004 was about four times higher than overall employment growth in Canada


Other Evidence …

• Mercer Human Resource Consulting (2004)– Trained workers in Canadian high-tech

companies are earning both more than they did three years ago and more than their peers in other industries

– Software design engineers, earned an average of $101,000 a year in 2004, up from $80,000 in 2001

– Hardware engineers earned on average $97,000, up from $81,000.


Other Evidence …

• Computerworld, quoting IBM, 2005– The potential market for young people with

mainframe expertise is expanding as big-iron specialists head for retirement in the U.S. and Western Europe


Salaries for Co-op students (2005)

• Statistics for SITE students: – 1st work term: about $500 per week– 2nd work term: about $600 per week– 3rd work term: about $650 per week– 4th work term: about $700 per week


Other evidence…

• Bill Gates urged the smartest minds on Canadian campuses to work in computer science and consider a job at Microsoft Corp., promising them that the information technology revolution has only just begun.

• “Software is the place where the action is. It's an area that will continue to generate jobs,” he told students at the University of Waterloo.

Source: The Globe and Mail, October 13, 2005 http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051013.wgates1013/BNStory/National/


Other evidence… COOP @ uOttawaPercentage of COOP students placed (2000 to 2005)

75.0%

80.0%

85.0%

90.0%

95.0%

100.0%

105.0%

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

% placement

CEGCSIELGSEGMoyenne


Other evidence … COOP @ uOttawaEngineering Student Not Placed (2000 to 2005)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

Students not placed

Engineering

SITE

CHG, CVG, MCG

• Fall 2005– 100% SITE students placed!– There were 30 more positions than there were

students!


There have been some layoffs in 2005

• Hewlett-Packard: 14,500 jobs– 10% of their workforce– Half of these were in:

• Technology maintenance, human resources, finance, etc.

• IBM: 14,500 jobs– Out of 359,000 jobs– Mostly in Europe– According to spokespeople, most of the people concerned

had already left

Source: Direction Informatique Express, 27 juillet 2005


Hiring announcements …

• From the last uOttawa career fair: – Communications Security Establishment (CSE)

• 200-300 positions per year to fill (in Ottawa) for several years

– Accenture (IT consultants)• At least 500 positions to fill this year in Canada, 100 for

new graduates.• SAP Labs Canada announced plans in June to double its

workforce with 100 new software developers who will work at its R&D center in Montreal

• MD Robotics is looking to hire 20-40 new people soon• Even IBM has been hiring (in areas where it needs to grow)


What about ‘offshoring’?

• Large numbers of companies are outsourcing software development to offshore locations (India, Eastern Europe)

• But:– The total market is rising faster– Only some of the most mundane programming is being

offshored– Jobs that generally stay here include

• IT management and Analyst postions• Jobs requiring interaction with the customer (requirements, large-scale

software engineering, UI design, etc.)• Jobs in the more innovative industries• Jobs in the public sector• Jobs in smaller enterprises that would find offshoring too complex


What to advise students who are interested but skeptical

• Study computing, but broaden your knowledge– Combine it with a minor, or option in a related field– Particularly consider business options– Register for co-op programs, such as at the University of

Ottawa

• Browse the web for evidence about the job market!• Be aware of new trends in universities

– Multidisciplinary studies– Employers are more and more interested in those with

masters degrees


Topics in this talk






Programs in the Faculty of Engineering Engineering

(B.A.Sc.)

Computer Science (B.Sc)

Civil Engineeri

ng

Chemical Engineeri

ngS I T

E

Mechanical Engineerin

g

Software Engineering

Electrical

EngineeringComputer

Engineering

School of Information Technology and Engineering

Coop Coop Coop

Coop Coop Coop Coop

Management Management

Management

Management

Management

Management

Management

B.Sc.


Differences among computing disciplines - 1

• We teach three main computing programs– Computer Science: For students who want to

develop applications and underlying technologies

– Software Engineering: For students who want to focus on large software system requirements, design and architecture, plus project management

– Computer Engineering: For students more interested in hardware issues and low-level software

• Job prospects for all are good, but in the long run the software fields are more promising

• In the following tables ‘+’ refers to cases when the student takes suitable electives

SEG

ELG

CSI

CEG



Computer Science


Computer Engineering

Programming HIGH MED-HIGH MEDIUM

Computer hardware

MEDIUM MEDIUM HIGH

Software design MED-HIGH +

HIGH MEDIUM

Electronics LOW LOW + MEDIUM

Databases HIGH HIGH LOW



Computer Science



Networks & communications

MEDIUM + MEDIUM + HIGH

Web technology MEDIUM + MEDIUM LOW

User interfaces LOW + MEDIUM LOW

Project Mgmt. LOW + HIGH LOW +

Algorithms HIGH MEDIUM LOW

Other common electives

AI, Graphics many others



Computer Science



Accreditation CIPS CEAB (CIPS?) CEAB

Professional designation

ISP P.Eng P.Eng

Flexibility to choose electives

HIGH MEDIUM LOW

Management option

Information Mgmt Sys

Mgmt & Entrepreneur.

Mgmt & Entrepreneur

Other options Major/Minor Biomedical


Computing technology: A year combined with other disciplines

• Computing technology is a scaled down version of computer science– Certain core courses in 30cr (1 year)

• We offer:– A minor in computing technology for Arts, Social Sciences

etc.– Combined computing technology programs that in 5 years

give you an engineering degree and a computing technology degree.


For more information

• Tim Lethbridge– [email protected]– (613) 562-5916

• Daniel Amyot– [email protected]– (613) 562-5800 x6685


Be creative

Discover

I m p l e m e n t

I m a g i n e

DREAM

V I s

u a

l I z

e

Construct

FULFIL YOUR

AMBITION

A c c o m p l i s h

DesignDesign

P L A Y


Questions?

Careers and the Job Market in High Technology and Engineering

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