This task cover progression routes and trends into Creative Media Production. While there are several different routes to my own particular goals I wish to analyse each route to establish the effectiveness of them for my own future ambitions. It is hoped that by increasing my knowledge in this field, I can make a more informed choice regarding my future. My chosen pathway software engineering requires qualifications starting from further education to higher education.
Future Education
Further education in the United Kingdom and Ireland is education in addition to that received at secondary school, that is distinct from the higher education offered in universities and other academic institutions. Further education starts from level 1-3 and can give you an opportunity to qualify for a degree level. Future education offers you to gain qualifications such as Functional Skills, GCSEs, A Levels, Vocational Courses BTEC/UAL and etc. From my chosen path way it is said to believe, learning Information Technology will help my chances of entering the technology industry. It will give me the base knowledge of which is needed in any software developer role.
Pros of becoming pursuing this pathway are:
- Your skills are always highly in demand pretty much anywhere in the world
- The Elite Few (relatively): It is hard to learn to program well. Most of the juniors who attempt it in college end up switching majors or graduating with seriously paltry skills. Despite the popularity of this profession, most will struggle to get through the door and that is great for those that do!
- Opportunity to enter the field through unorthodox means is very real. I myself self-studied and participated in a bootcamp instead of the traditional 4 year university experience. There are differences but you can still end up on the other end with skills companies wish to employ.
Cons:
- Unhealthy lifestyle – Free food and sitting all day is something you have to actively work against in order to ensure your long term health.
- Hard brain work (sometimes). Sometimes the work you do will be very very challenging and require thinking through complicated problems and investigating their solutions. Can get stressful/draining.
- Must have an ABL (AlwaysBeLearning) philosophy. Your education is never over and the thing you are an expert in today may be a historical artifact in just a few years.
Higher Education
Higher Education is a developed learning stage meant for individuals who want to thoroughly go through their chosen pathway. This allows them to gain deep understanding of their pathway and gives them a rough idea what opportunities are available when completing Higher Education. H.E often are delivered at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, conservatories, and institutes of technology. Completing Software at Higher Education can offer me roles such as IT/Telecom Management, System Development, System Design, Network Technician and etc.
Pros of becoming pursuing this pathway are:
- Software engineering pays well, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As of 2009, the average annual salary of a systems software engineer was £96,620. As of 2008, the average annual salary of an applications developer was £87,900.
- The typical work environment is clean and well lighted. Many software engineers work in cubicle arrangements, the typical arrangement for software developers of all kinds.
Cons:
- Software engineering can be very stressful, especially when tight deadlines are involved, which is often. Engineers also meet with demanding users and must be able to communicate reasonably and personably with these difficult customers.
- Most software engineers work 40-hour work weeks, typically from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Occasional project demands may require overtime and weekend work
- Software engineers must stay on the cutting edge of technology in order to keep their skills relevant and up to date. This is both a pro and a con. It is a con in that it sometimes requires time off the clock to stay current, and a pro in that most companies pay for formal training oriented toward new technology and skills.
Employment and Self Employment
Self Employment, someone who is self-employed generally works for themselves as a business owner, freelancer, or as an independent contractor for another company. Earnings are usually directly from the business or freelancing, instead of salary or commission-based reimbursement. If you’re self-employed, you are responsible for paying your own taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and to your state tax department. While there are many positives to being self-employed such as choosing your own hours (full or part-time), shortening or completely avoiding your commute, focusing on career objectives that matter most to you, being able to work remotely and tax deductions, one of the downfalls is that benefits usually included in salaried work must be paid for out-of-pocket.
Employment, When you are employed by a company you are considered an employee. Employees are on the company payroll, and the employer withholds federal and state taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. Employee benefits. The perks of being an employee include paid vacations and sick days, health and life insurance, a retirement plan, social security, workers compensation, and more. That makes life much easier for the employee. Imagine having to deal with all these yourself and paying for them from your pocket.
Media Production Extended Diploma 