Philadelphia ISO Finds Continuing Education Imperative To Stay Ahead
Technology is constantly changing and as an everyday user, it is hard to keep up. As a professional in the tech business, keeping up is a necessity. David Lingenfelter, Information Security Officer for Fiberlink, finds continuing education to be very important to stay ahead in the fast-changing industry.
What sort of education is needed to successfully do your job?
"Having a B.S. in IT or computer engineering is a good start, but a B.S. in other engineering majors like electrical engineering or business management helps show employers that you have an analytical mind. The computer industry changes very quickly. It's important to stay on top of the changing technology and the increasing speed at which the computer industry moves. To do this, you have to take ongoing education classes in a specific technology or area of focus."
Do you believe education plays a vital role in landing a great job in the technology field?
"Having a degree with some type of computer or engineering major is a good starting point, and a good way to show recruiters that you have a good foundation when getting into the computer industry. Beyond education, employers also look for on-the-job experience that shows you know how to use your knowledge in a practical setting."
What is the most relevant aspect of your education that applies to your day-to-day job?
"Every new technology brings new challenges. I think the most relevant aspect that has helped me in my day-to-day job has to do more with being able to deal with problems and break them down into smaller pieces to work through them."
What is the most fun aspect of your job?
"Every day there's an opportunity to learn something new, experience new technologies or work through a new problem. It's those challenges that continue to make my job exciting every day. I learned very early in my career that staying on top of the changes and advancements in the computer industry was going to be key to having a successful career, and a great way to keep from getting bored."
Christina Thompson is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
