Vanessa Aragon

My True Color result is color green. According to the result, I have a propensity to be a natural leader. I like searching for facts and figuring out problems. I like to be inquisitive in variety of topics or issues. In most occasions I am an objective thinker who needs to know the theory or the principle, in other words the tenet behind any concept and don’t like simplistic or rudimentary explanations. I am meticulous about the details of a project and like to have control in a group. I can succeed in a variety of occupations as long as the job does not involve too much perfunctory works.

My career is in Computer & Information Systems. What they do is plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as electronic data processing, information systems, systems analysis, and computer programming. People interested in this work like activities that include leading, making decisions, and business. The entry-level education that is usually needed is Bachelor’s degree in computer or information science.  Most computer and information systems managers work full time. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2012, about one third worked more than 40 hours per week. The annual salary for computer and information systems managers was $120,950 on average.

Interview

Interviewer: Vanessa Aragon

Interviewee: Prof. Junaid “Jay” Siddiqui M.S.

Mr. Siddiqui is a college educator in the field of Business and CIS with 10+ years of Teaching, Training and Management experience. He is currently a professor at El Camino College.

Interviewer: What kind of education is needed for this type of work?

Interviewee: I would say that in this day of age there’s a lot of competition in this career so I would recommend a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree and along with that while the student is getting that degree, I would also recommend some internships on the way specifically paid internships so that students is financially compensated. And what does that is when the time that the student completed that degree; he or she also has a résumé built through the internships that he or she has taken.

Interviewer: What parts of your job do you find most challenging?

Interviewee: Challenging? You see, I enjoy what I do. As far as challenge goes, I guess that would be to keep up, it’s because the field of computers and IT is constantly changing so that’s why you know, you need to keep up in the world of computers.

 Interviewer: What is your favorite thing about this career?

Interviewee: My favorite thing in the field of IT is to spend time in the classroom. I kid you not when I am sick or not feeling well, the moment I step inside the classroom I’m rejuvenated. I feel like it’s a brand new energy going on inside me. So, that’s the best thing.

 Interviewer: Is this field growing enough so that there’s room for someone like me?

Interviewee: Oh, definitely. In the field of computers, generally speaking, especially anything related to the Internet area these days still in the infancy stages. So, we are still having a lot of room for growth.

Interviewer: Are there any negatives to your job?

Interviewee: You see the thing is, again I’m going to refer back to the issue of keeping up. Some people have a hard time to keep up with the changes in the field of IT and some are not. So, I guess the hard thing is adapting with the changes.

Interviewer: What would be a reasonable salary range to expect if I entered this field?

Interviewee: For an entry-level person, again you know that the field of IT is very broad. So different field or subareas of IT have different range, having said that an entry- level person or fresh out of college provided he or she have done some internships, I would put it close to 50K to 55-ish.

 Interviewer: If you could start all over again, would you change your career path in any way? Why?

Interviewee: In my case, my Bachelor’s was in Business Education and my Master’s was in CIS. So at that time, I kind of slightly thinking in the field of teaching and then you know in my case it worked well in that sense. If I were to start all over again, I would say that I would look more in teaching at a younger age.

Interviewer: How would you describe this profession in two words?

Interviewee: It’s difficult to describe it in two words, but the field of computers in two words is interesting and evolving.

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