Just a couple of additions to what Glenn Wrote...

Once you're there, you must UPDATE... UPDATE...UPDATE your skills..
a) Definitely in your area i.e your Banking/Financial Sector as well as
the
    Technical Aspect.
b) Read the Articles and see the demos of features of new software in
your
    Company's area...cost / budget v/s features/enhancements. Although
your
    company may not be willing to change/buy/create anything right now,
    if it is really needed, you must have the right arguments to prove
your point.
c) Think Ahead of Technology.

If you are a Systems Analys, Your Technical Skills are must. You cannot
be a  starter in IT. You may be in a different Platform, but you need to
have a sound understanding and problem solving skills.

Roshan

>----------
>From:  Glenn J. Koster, Sr.[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent:  Monday, November 30, 1998 10:44 AM
>To:    [log in to unmask]
>Subject:       Re: System analysts where are you?
>
>[log in to unmask] wrote:
>> I am a student at PCC. I have an assignment that asks to interview
>> someone who is or plans to be a system analyst. I want to know:
>>
>>   ~What are the requirements for entry into this field?
>>   ~What is more relevant in the search for employment as a system
>>    analyst, education or experience?
>>   ~What is a typical salary for a new analyst? An analyst with 5
>>    years of experience?
>>   ~What skills are needed to enter a job market now? in 5 years?
>>
>
>I am willing to reply... but you will get a completely different
>perspective from me than most because of my background.  I am currently
>working as a systems analyst / contract programmer, so I think that I
>would qualify.
>
>Some background so you will understand what I mean when I say I have a
>distinct background.  I have 3+ years of college, but no degree.  My
>college major was in philosophy.  I have worked as an IT Manager, a
>consultant, a VP or R&D for a software firm, a multi-platform developer
>for a software firm and many years as a consultant.  I started as an
>operator (3 months) - but within a year of my entry into the wonderful
>world of IT I was working as an IT manager for a marketing firm.  The
>most successful systems analysts that I have seen traditionally do best
>in one geographical location either moving up the ladder at the same
>firm or moving up by changing firms in the same vacinity.  I have worked
>as a programmer, programmer / anaylst in 3 different states and 8
>different cities during my career - in 7 different markets (from a
>marketing firm to oil & gas to education to software development, etc.).
>
>Before I start, I should say that I have never seen the field referred
>to as "System Analyst".  It has always been "Systems Analyst" because
>once you are in the field, you will a-l-w-a-y-s be analyzing a multiple
>number of applications systems - never just one at a time!
>
>1.  What are the requirements for entry into this field?
>
>The best response here would be to say "experience".  I have never met
>anyone who has managed to enter the field without a multitude of
>experience in either programming or as a user of application systems.
>Personally, my track was through programming (22+ years now).  However,
>one of my best friends has been a systems analyst for approximately 8
>years now - after spending 20+ years as a math teacher.  Several of the
>analysts that work for Managed Business Solutions are from engineering
>backgrounds.  The three things that are almost universal, however, are:
>
>--> a college degree (or adequate work experience to overcome this);
>--> an aptitude for computers and logic (yes, that philosophy course!);
>--> excellent written and oral communications skills.
>
>2.  What is more relevant, education or experience?
>
>Neither!  You will not become a systems analyst without experience.
>However, you will also not have many doors opened for you if you don't
>have the education.  I figure that I am part of a dying breed.  I don't
>have a degree (despite 3 years of college), but I have a number of other
>skills going for me that compensate for the lack of formal education.  I
>have been actively involved in the education arena for many years -
>including teaching at the college level (shows the importance of
>education).  I have published several articles.  I have made numerous
>presentations to my peers at regional users' groups.  I have taken
>numerous "non-credit" courses to continually update my skills.  Despite
>all of this, I wrangled an interview for three of my last four jobs
>simply because of who I knew (in every case I knew someone already
>working for the company).
>
>3.  What is a typical salary range?
>
>Considering the fact that I already said you wouldn't land an entry
>level systems analyst position...  I don't think you can define
>"typical" in any sense.  Based on my own personal experience in both
>being hired and doing the hiring, I have found that if you work for a
>specific company, depending on your location, you will see salary ranges
>in the $45-80K for new systems analysts - but they have earned this
>salary level because of their experience in other fields.  After 5 or
>more years in the industry the range will vary only slightly - perhaps
>$60-80K.  However, if you are a consultant, the salaries become
>meaningless.  Consultants are typically paid hourly, from $25-80 per
>hour, depending on experience and particular expertise.  You have to
>remember that many consultants must pay for all of their own benefits
>from this income - from insurance to vacation to sick time.  So the net
>effect is basically the same.
>
>4.  What skills are needed to enter the job market now?
>
>The first part is easy - an understanding of the basics of pc operation
>and programming, an understanding of web principals, an understanding of
>at least one open operating system (UNIX or Windows/NT) and an
>understanding of at least on proprietary operating system.  In addition,
>it is extremely useful, and usually required, to have a thorough
>understanding of at least one type of end-user application, such as
>banking, or manufacturing (MRP, ERP, etc.).  It is also helpful to
>understand and be able to converse in the "buzzword" areas of the day -
>currently those are client/server and web applications (e-commerce,
>etc.).
>
>Since the industry changes so dramatically every year, it would be
>preposterous to assume that I (or anyone else) would know what would be
>required 5 years from now.  At this point no one even knows what kind of
>systems we will be operating on...
>
>Glenn J. Koster, Sr.
>--
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