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As a computer operator what does a typical workday look like?

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Zahid’s Answer

On a daily basis, Computer Operators type command on keyboard to transfer encoded data from memory unit to magnetic tape and assist in labeling, classifying, cataloging and maintaining tapes. They monitor the system for equipment failure or errors in performance.

A typical day for a Computer Operator will also include:

* Retrieve, separate, and sort program output as needed, and send data to specified users.
* Answer telephone calls to assist computer users encountering problems.
* Enter commands, using computer terminal, and activate controls on computer and peripheral equipment to integrate and operate equipment.
* Operate spreadsheet programs and other types of software to load and manipulate data and to produce reports.
* Clear equipment at end of operating run and review schedule to determine next assignment.

More at : https://www.owlguru.com/career/computer-operators/job-description/

Also, check out this video from the same link about about a typical day: https://youtu.be/JQ5mRfi6kMk
Thank you comment icon Thank you, I'll be sure to check out the link. Computer Operator is something I've been interested in and i'm so happy that career village allows me to ask these kind of questions. Have a nice day, thanks again so much! Aliyah
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Gerald’s Answer


Hi I started my career in the IT industry as a Computer Operator before becoming a Computer Programmer.
This was in the 90's and I have no doubt a lot has changed technologically since then.
I will do my best to share what a typical day or night was for me during that time but bare in mind my experience can be slightly different with today's Computer Operators.
I actually had two separate jobs working as a Computer Operator. One of those jobs was working for UPS....I am sure you have heard of them.
For starters Computer Operations as a whole has a lot to do with Data Management. It's many systems looking to streamline and loan a plethora of data for users to use in a company.
A typical day for me was to monitor ( what was a 24/7 all day all night operations) a data management system that was constantly asking me to load a cartridge or 9 track tape or disk to the system. Be aware as a Computer Operator, you might be asked to work night since it's an all day all night nonstop operations. Not everyone can work night shift so please keep that in mind.
A tape or cartridge number would pop up on my screen and I would look for that particular tape from a tape library and load it to the system...this was for the most time a smooth process and that was I did during my shift...Simply watch a computer screen the tape number the system is looking for, find it from the tale library and load it to the system.

My other Computer Operation job was a little more interesting. It required to know a programming language called JCL (Job Control Language).
Back then, this was the programming language used to perform all the tasks on those huge IBM Computer Mainframes. Mainframes are still around so I would imagine JCL is still one of the main language for Computer Operators today. By learning JCL I was able to perform many tasks like: print a variety of reports for all users in the company, Purge, start, prioritize jobs that were in the queue for processing, take requests from users about jobs that were supposed to run but didn't run so depending on where you land as a Computer Operator, your role can be performing a specific task for your entire shift or many tasks managing jobs users have submitted to run. A lot of those jobs are request by the users to the systems for specific information they are querying for from the mainframe computers or from a database. I hope this gives everyone an idea of what working as a Computer Operator can be like....hope that helps..as I mention above, your responsibility will be very similar however the tools that are being used today can be different based on where you work.
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