Since I am going into Information Technology, what are some of the tasks that someone in that particular field do each day on the job?

There are actually quite a wide range of IT jobs and the nature can be very different.
1. Internal IT staff
This will be supporting employees of the company on Technology related questions and problems. You will be helping to solve their issues on how to use different applications and technologies to perform the tasks they need to do for their job.

1. 
   

   Consulting
   You will get involved in projects with customers. The nature of the projects can varies a lot as well, you can be giving advice to clients or helping them to implement computer systems.

   
   


2. 
   

   Vendors
   Computer software or hardware vendors. Within the vendor environment, technical people has multiple roles as well. You can be internal focus and do research and development on the products. Or you can be involved in structuring the solution to sell the company products to potential customers (Presales).

   
   

The nature of the life on the job are very different.

Internal IT staffs tend to be more stable and you will work within one company's environment.

Consulting tend to be very intense and you may need to travel to different places and help different customers. You will need to learn new things very quickly and interact with customers a lot. People often say 1 year in consutling equals 3-4 years in a normal job.
Research and Development will focus on development and software / hardware design
Presales will have many opportunities to meet with customers and help them to realize the value the solution you are selling.

Personally, I start with an R&D job and then move to a Consulting job and then go back to Vendor to be a presales. I think my previous experience in Consulting helped me a lot on the current job.

You will constantly be learning each day. Technology is changing every day so you will need to have continuous education.

Hi Sam,
Daily tasks in IT will vary greatly depending on the focus and responsibilities of your IT role.
Knowledge areas I’ve found helpful in multiple IT roles (business analysis, software quality assurance, customer engagement, project management, production delivery, and program management) as an employee and consultant are:
• Analysis: Identifying the current state of the business or technology, understanding the desired future state, defining gaps between current and desired state, and identifying solutions to close the gaps. Related tasks are interviewing business managers and front line employees, creating process maps, developing written proposals, delivering face to face presentations.
• Project Management: how to launch, monitor, and manage a project to delivery. Related tasks are defining process and technology requirements, writing user stories, creating project plans, identifying a project schedule, determining the type and allocation of project resources, managing the scope and budget until delivery, presenting status updates.
• Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodologies: following project phases, using tools and templates, and producing deliverables required by different SDLC’s, for example, Agile, Scrum, RAD, X/P.
• Risk Analysis & Mitigation: how to identify, evaluate, and mitigate risks to projects, operations, technology. Possible tasks are interviews, analysis, documentation, reporting, presentations, influencing and negotiation.
• Quality Assurance & Controls: the practices, processes, and design considerations to efficiently and effectively fulfill requirements and to adhere to legal, regulatory, financial, or internal compliance requirements.
• Communication and Customer Service: the soft skills that help you clearly convey your objectives and results, support strong internal/external partnerships, and help you build trust and consensus.
Best Regards,
Cathleen

Solve problems that align to the services or products your company represents.