BinaryGirl Spotlight: Joni Edwards

Are you self-employed?

No

What is your background? What types of degrees, skills, experiences are necessary for this field?

I am a self taught "computer geek", I have had no formal training in this industry, I find that as long as you have an analytical mind, and a detail oriented mind, you can do almost anything in this industry.

How did you get started in this field?

I crashed my computer on Christmas day, and my friend that built my computer told me he would not do it again, so he came over and told me this is how you load software, start learning!

What college (if any) courses have been most helpful for your career?

I have had no formal computer education, I think that most math courses, and some analytical thinking courses would be most helpful.

What are your specific responsibilities?

Responsibilities: Quality Assurance of all production projects, HTML production, Studio Management, Systems Administration, User Orientation/Setup, Desktop Support/Maintence, Network Management, Software Control, and anything that goes wrong that's plugged into the wall! LOL

Describe a typical workday and workweek. What do you do during a typical day?

I am working for a Web Development Startup. There is NO TYPICAL DAY! I can do anything from QA on a web site to programming, rebuilding desktops and servers.

Name 5-7 job skills that are needed for your job.

1. Detail Orientation
2. Common Sense
3. Analytical Thinking
4. Flexibility
5. Willing to work until the job is done (long hours)

Are you in a team oriented position?

Yes, I manage our Production Artist and work directly with the CIO to accomplish company goals.

Do you have flextime? Vacation time? Work at home? Telecommute?

Yes, to all of the above, although flextime around here seems to mean flexibility to stay late!

How many hours per week are expected or warranted for peak performance?

As many as it takes to get the project finished! Mostly work from 45-60 hours a week.

Are many evenings or weekends required for your job?

Same as above, you are expected to get the project done on time with client deadlines!

How much travel is involved with a job in your field?

None for my current position

Could you give me examples of projects that you are working on?

I am currently working on a back end database driven web site for a large VC company: Programming, debugging, design, content development, Quality Assurance.

Could you describe your work settings? Offices, machinery, resources etc.

I work in a converted Mortuary, (beautiful old building). We are a company of about 13. We are running an NT Server, Linux Gateway, and a mix of Win 98, NT, 2000 on the desktops.

What personal qualities do you think are necessary for someone to be successful in this occupation?

Detail Orientation, Analytical Thinking, Common Sense, ability to translate Client Demands into what the client really wants.

What is the major challenge you face at work?

Delegation!

What aspects of your job do you find most rewarding (pros) ? Least rewarding? (cons

I really enjoy delivering an excellent product that exceeds client expectations! In order to do this I have to put in long hours and do not always have time for the "fun" things in life.

Are you confronted with difficult decisions or situations in your position?

Always, trying to meet client expectations and deal with conflicting personalities is part of the job.

Do you have a lot of interaction with a certain occupation? I.E. media, engineers, etc.

None particularly

What is the Female to Male Ratio in your position/field?

In my company I am the only female in the IT/Web production departments. 12 to 1.

Has the field changed since you first started your career?

Yes, the IT industry is in a constant state of flux, either you grow with it or get left behind.

Describe the changes taking place in your field. Project future trends? Turnover rate?

I think due to the constant change in the industry and the influx of people getting into the industry because "everyone is doing it", make for a lot of turnover while companies find the right mix of people to match their company dynamic.

Do you think women avoid technical careers? What do you think can be done to encourage girls to get more involved in the technology field?

I think that anyone who shows an affinity for mathematics or analytic thinking would thrive in this industry. Just know it is not an easy field to be in, lot's of change and long hours.

Do you believe that women will be in more technical jobs in the future?

Yes, I believe that women will continue to expand into many fields that were dominated by males before.

Do you have any advice for women and girls that are interested in going into the field?

Work hard, and believe in yourself!