 IT specialist 3
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Anyone who has read the chapter "IT Specialist 2" and seen the videos that hopefully are still available will be amazed at the extremely positive portrayal of starting out in this
profession in the
video above. Big differences become visible.
Such extensive advertising for this profession is often a sign of a shortage of staff. There is a massive promotion to encourage entry into this profession. Here, the much-cited
shortage of
skilled workers in Germany is clearly evident.
It is rather strange that such a demanding profession can theoretically be pursued without any formal educational qualifications. Of course, finding a suitable company would be
very difficult in
that case.
The previous chapter already made it clear that the so-called basic training or retraining program may not be entirely suitable for the actual job duties later on. We have added
that, despite
this, the salary is relatively high.
Given this, it's no surprise that there's a thriving market for retraining programs, accompanied by extensive advertising. In some cases, this type of training is even offered
during the initial
apprenticeship program, something almost unthinkable for a traditional trade like automotive mechatronics.
Here, there is also a comprehensive further education in the master craftsman school and maybe then the corresponding qualification as an engineer. The apprentice wears a
standard work uniform, the foreman wears a blue one, and the engineer usually wears a white lab coat.
This seems to completely change with the role of a computer systems specialist; it's more comparable to office jobs. After all, it's not the craft guild, but the Chamber of
Commerce and Industry that has jurisdiction over this profession. Hopefully, at least the system integration area is more hardware-oriented.
Watch the video below. Apart from perhaps a brief walk with a dog, there's little activity in the typical workday. Meetings are short and often take place on a screen or at a
whiteboard. Working from home is a new experience and might even make people feel more isolated.
A feeling of loneliness sets in for the observer. Is programming, or 'coding' as it's often called in technical circles, truly a team activity? Or is it more about simply outlining the
topics, areas, and transition points?
Perhaps it's not entirely appropriate, but let's stick with our comparison to the automotive industry. In a car repair shop, such a low level of interaction would be unthinkable, even
though they're only dealing with the object 'car'. Or should we perhaps compare IT specialists already with engineers?
And what happens if someone changes companies? In the automotive sector, he/she again works 'only' on cars, perhaps those of a different brand. The new task may deprive
the IT specialist of all the skills they have acquired up to that point.
This also explains the high pressure exerted through advertising for continuing education programs, and the promises of involvement in large projects, which in reality often turn
out to be just small parts of a larger scheme in successful practice settings.
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