Catherine Beattie

My responsibility as a computer programmer was to code programs for Mercy Hospitals.  We made changes to the programs that processed payroll for all the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff.  Any time there was a change in how a person was paid we were asked to change the program to accommodate it.  We made the changes and tested them thoroughly before they were put into production and used by the hospital.  Our programs were ran at night so if there was a problem with it we had to get up and log in from home and fix it.  We worked closely with the computer staff at the hospitals to make sure that what we were doing and the end result was correct.

My job required a 4 year Bachelors of Science degree.

My ending wage in 1995 was $38,000.  Today it would be much better.  Experience should make a difference wherever you work and you should be able to negotiate your salary according to what you have accomplished each year and if you reached or exceeded the goals set by your boss at the beginning of each year.

This is an excellent career to get into because everyone needs and uses computers and they all have to be coded to do what you need them to do.  There are many different types of computers and systems to work on and many different languages you can learn.  It is a very competitive field and I would recommend making sure you are learning the most current and most in demand systems available because new languages and computers come out all the time and you need to be ready for the latest one to be the most in demand.  The more in demand your skills are the better you should get paid.

The best thing about my job was making a whole payroll system work properly by putting in the correct code.  I set up the direct deposit system for the Hospitals and it was very satisfying to see it work after many hours of hard work and testing. 

The hardest part of my job was being on call 24 hours a day so if my program "blew up" in the middle of the night I had to get up and fix it and still be in to work by 8:00 the next morning.  I also did not like it when I had to work late hours because I missed by husband and children.

Computer Programming is a great choice for a career because we will always need and use computers and if you keep learning and keep up with this changing field you will always be able to find a job and should be paid well enough to support yourself and or your family.