Technologies for the Os
Terry D ixon is p ro g ram m er analyst for B-D
Drake W illo c k , one of the n atio n 's leading
manufacturers of dialysis equipment.
(Photo: Richard J. Brown)
Grassroot News N .W . - As the 80s surge along, cer
tain careers are predicted to increase in demand. The
ever-evolving computer industry is one where software
and hardware is designed to contain the enormous
amount o f information generated in Science, Business
and labor. T erry D ixon, 24, forsaw the role this
technology would play and altered his career according
ly. Originally, his training was geared toward account
ing. “ My first career was in accounting and by working
directly in industry 1 was able to predict the role that
computers would play in the accounting field. This is
why I derived an interest in computer programming."
This forsight into the role computers would take, lead
Dixon to enhance his Associate degree in Accounting
with Data Processing classes that enabled him broader
employment possibilities. Currently, he’s a programmer
analyst at one o fth e w o rld ’ s leading kidney dialysis
distributors and manufacturers, B-D Drake W illock.
"P rim a rily , I ’ m a computer program m er; one who
programs the computer to perform tasks previously
done by accoutants. A programmer sits back and dic
tates to the machine the functions that i t ’ s suppose to
perform.”
M r. D ixon pursued the necessary skills at the
vocational level rather than at the academic level. " A
lot o f people believe that you can’t get into the business
environment without a degree and that’s not true.”
Since his o rigin al career was developed under the
auspices o f accounting, Dixon gave his estimation o f
those accounting positions that are and will become ob
solete. “ Today, an accounting clerk is not obsolete but
in the future it is predicted to be. Basic bookkeeping and
the junior accountants whose tasks involved routine en
try will be over taken by computers. Only a CPA can be
insured o f any type o f job security."
Dixon was reared in Portland and is a graduate o f ,
Lincoln High School. " I think o f myself as an average
person w ith an average education and knowledge.
People th in k o f computer program m ing as a highly
technological field that they themselves couldn’t get in
volved in. That’ s not true. Programming is actually a
combination o f technological knowledge and common
sense. I f you have all the technological knowledge in
the world and not any common sense, you're not going
to be successful, and vise versa.”
Where do computers stand as a career? As you might
guess, at the top. “ It ’ s a field that's wide open and an
area where there’ s a lack o f people with experience and
knowledge. So for anyone who has the ability and ap
titude it’ s definilly to their advantage to investigate."
He lives up to the d e fin itio n o f a careerist. He has
calulated every career move as a stepping stone in
developing the career o f Terry Dixon. And with this
calulation he certainly will be provided with success.
A lthough Dixon approached this technology as a
vocation, he indicated that a person must m aintain a
consistent effort at keeping abreast with the science and
the application o f computers. “ It’ s a career where a per
son shouldn’ t get involved in it if he just wants to go to
college and be set with a career for life. This is an ever-
changing type o f field and you have to be w illin g to
retrain yourself on a regular basis. I recently was at a
train in g class in L .A . and I'm w illin g to go back to
school and learn what’s new. This is the type o f life I ’ m
going to have to lead to be in this profession.”
July 20-31
The City of Portland is now accepting
applications for
€ OFFICERS
Approximate monthly pay rate:
$1420 starting
$1600 after one year
$1802 after three years
$2023 after five years
To qualify applicants must:
- Be a high school graduate or have passed the GED
eqivalency test
- Have completed 90 quarter or 60 semester hours of
liberal arts curriculum at an accredited college or
university or must do so within 5V4 years of appoint
ment
- Be at least 21 years of age by their date of employment
- Be a U S. citizen by the date of their employment
- Possess a valid Oregon Driver's License
- Not have been convicted of a crime, the punishment
for which could have been imprisonment in a State or
Federal Prison
For further information contact:
Portland Police Bureau Personnel Division
7 7 ? S . W. Pine
Portland, Oregon 97204
Jean Bradley (503) 248 5653
The City of Portland Civil Service Board
510 S W. Montgomery St.,
Portland, Oregon 97201
248 4352 for applications.