1. GIRLS
in
ICT
DAY
2016
27th April, 2016

2. LET’S CUT IT STRAIGHT,
ICT CAREERS ARE VERY BAD!

3. ICT CAREERS ARE VERY BAD BECAUSE
1. The job market is constantly in transition
2. As a result you have to continuously train yourself with your own money
3. Even though no one appreciates that you put in extra long hours every day
4. Plus they always assume that you are an expert in everything related to
ICT
5. Which makes everyone points a finger at you whenever something goes
wrong

4. BUT HOLD ON!
DO YOU SEE THE BRIGHT SPOT HERE?
WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE IT’S SO HARD
TO LEAVE AN IMPACT.

5. “GREAT HEROES NEED GREAT SORROWS
AND BURDENS, OR HALF THEIR
GREATNESS GOES UNNOTICED. IT IS ALL
PART OF THE FAIRY TALE.”
― PETER S. BEAGLE, THE LAST
UNICORN

6. SO HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS IN THIS HARD CAREER
1. You’re the HERO when you solve problems
2. You get to work and play with really awesome gadgets.
3. You help people to be more efficient at their work
4. Your job is rarely dull or stagnant
5. Irrespective of how Mummy or Uncle is mad at you, when their gadgets are
broken, they’ll call you
6. If your boss wants it fixed urgently, he lets you sit on his chair while he stands and
watch
7. You’re so AWESOME

7. NOW, LET’S SAY WE’RE EXCITED
OR PERHAPS, OUT OF CURIOUSITY,
YOU’RE ASKING, “BUT WHERE ARE THESE IT
JOBS?”

8. IT JOBS ARE IN EVERY SECTOR IN LIFE
1. Banking
2. Transportation
3. Hospitals
4. Schools
5. Telecommunications
6. Offices
7. Entertainment, etc.
8. I even heard Angel Gabriel uses a laptop to verify people’s faces at the gate of
heaven.

9. SOME COMMON IT TOOLS YOU MIGHT HAVE USED
1. Computer Software (e.g. Firefox, Excel 2013)
2. Mobile Phone Apps (e.g. Whatsapp, Candy Crush)
3. The Internet
4. Computer Hardware (Keyboard, printer, laptops)
5. Cell phones
6. ATMs
7. Cameras
8. Angel Gabriel’s laptop (that’s if the story is true)

10. YOU MUST KEEP IN MIND THAT
1. ICT is an extremely broad field
2. The range of jobs are extremely vast
3. The skills required differ from area to area
4. Most ICT jobs are extremely challenging
5. ICT Professionals focus on improving usability and efficiency of tech systems and
processes
6. You might land a dream job in Heaven as Angel Gabriel’s Personal Assistant

11. LET’S GET TO THE CRUX OF THE MATTER
BY IDENTIFYING ICT CAREER PATHS
AND PROVIDING SOME DETAIL TO HELP YOU

12. MAJOR ICT CAREER PATHS
1. Programmer, Developer (Web, Apps, Games, Systems)
2. Administrator (Systems, Network, Database)
3. Managers (Information, IT, Project, Security)
4. Data Modeler
5. Analyst (Software Implementation, Computer Systems)
6. Engineers (Software, Computer, Quality Assurance)
7. Technicians (Tech Support) & Consulta
8. Designer (Web, Graphics, Information)
9. Consultants

13. SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
1. Java Developer – for servers and desktops, Web browsers and mobile
devices.
2. .NET Developer – mostly targets enterprises and is built around
several Microsoft languages (Visual C++, Visual Basic, C#, etc)
3. Apple Developer – using Obective-C, applications for Apple based
products, iPhone, iPad,etc.
4. Others – C/C++, Perl, Python, Eiffel, Assembly

14. WEB DEVELOPER
1. Web Designer/Master – does a little bit of everything, including
marketing
2. Web Developer – more specialized
3. Expected to know HTML, XHTML, Coldfusion, CSS, PHP, Ruby,
Javascript, Java, Flash, Photoshop, XML, databases (mySQL, SQL, etc)
4. Web hosts & servers – Apache, IIS
5. Web 2.0 & Ajax
6. Added assets: Adobe Air, Microsoft Silver, Flex, Lazslo

15. DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR
1. Designs, develops and maintains databases
2. Usually responsible to back-up, and recover information (in
the event of a disaster)
3. Would also plan and implement data security measures

16. INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER
1. Designing and handling hardware, software, and networks (systems)
for companies
2. Aimed at helping companies run efficiently
3. Somewhat jack-of-all-trades
4. Requires a wide skill set

17. INFORMATION SECURITY SPECIALIST
1. Data security is very important and a very lucrative area
2. Responsible for securing data, devices and networks from
unauthorized access
3. Both internal and external
4. Also involved with designing & implementing clear security policy

18. SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR
1. Design, test, evaluate data communications systems
2. Local area networks, for example
3. Research and recommend network hardware and software

19. NETWORKING CAREERS
1. Network Administrator
2. Network (Systems) Engineer
3. Network (Service) Technician
4. Network Programmer/Analyst
5. Network/Information Systems Manager
6. Generally, configure and manage networks (LANs and WANs)

20. TECH SUPPORT
1. Treated as entry-level, frontline job
2. Deals directly with customers
3. Requires working knowledge of product
4. Patience and good communication skills
5. Ability to troubleshoot and diagnose problems

21. SALARIES
1. Don’t pick an ICT job first for money.
2. Pick it for your passion.
3. Remember it could be challenging, and you could be the first one to
be blamed.
4. Compensation depends on skills and varies by area.

22. SALARIES
1. Don’t pick an ICT job first for money.
2. Pick it for your passion.
3. Remember it could be challenging, and you could be the first one to
be blamed.
4. Compensation depends on skills and varies by area.

23. SALARIES/ MONTH
1. • Application programmer or analyst: 200,000frs to 1,200,000frs
• Database administrator: 150,000frs to 800,000frs
• Quality Assurance Engineer, entry-level: 150,000frs to 800,000frs
• Software Engineer, entry-level: 200,000frs to 2,000,000frs
• System Administrator: 150,000frs to 800,000frs
• Technical support, entry-level: 80,000frs to 300,000frs
• Training consultant: 150,000frs to 1,000,000frs
• Web developer, front end, entry-level: 150,000frs to 1,200,000frs
• Webmaster: 100,000frs to 1,000,000frs

24. HOW TO GET STARTED
• Visit a job search engine like NJORKU.COM and search for jobs in the
careers of your interest. This is the verify the availability of opportunities.
• Look for different opportunities to acquire your desired skills
• Consider looking at University programs offering Computer and
Software Engineering Programs. Most of them will require 4 years to get a
Bachelors Degree.
• Consider taking short courses from an IT School like I.T. Solutions
Academy
• Consider looking to self studies or technical mentoring from online
platforms like www.Skademy.com

25. DURING & AFTER YOUR STUDIES
PRACTICE & JOIN TECH COMMUNITIES
LIKE ACTIVSPACES CAMEROON
AND TRY TO GET EXPERIENCES FROM BOTH A
FORMAL JOB & FROM ENTREPRENEURSHIP

26. WHAT IS
ACTIVSPACES is an organization that helps people to build products with information technology and to build
their technology companies.
We have 2 offices, one in Buea and another in Douala
We help by offering our office Space and Internet services for free to developers. We also offer business advice,
follow-up and deal making with your partners.
For people who have good ideas and have shown seriousness and progress, we invest a sum of 1 million FCFA in
cash and we hire legal, personal development and advertising consultants combined worth 3.7 millions frs into
your project.
To learn more and register your project, visit our website at www.activspaces.com
You are also welcome to join our community. You will discover great tech events and job as a member of our
online community.

27. THANKS FOR LISTENING
Otto Akama
Community Development Specialist
ActivSpaces Cameroon
Fakoship Plaza, Buea. SWR, Cameroon
akamaotto@activspaces.com