CompTIA 25th Anniversary Contest

CompTIA is celebrating our 25th Anniversary and we want to thank you for participating in our activities as an Association. This issue of IT Professional Access contains the final edition of the CompTIA 25th Anniversary Quiz Competition. Answers to some of the questions can be found at our special 25th Anniversary Web site or the CompTIA Web site. Those with the highest scores overall will be entered into a drawing to win cash prizes. The prizes for this contest will be a $1,000 grand prize, two $500 second prizes and six $250 third prizes. Click here to take the final quiz.

Missed the first three quizzes? Follow the links below to start participating today.

Quiz One, Quiz Two, Quiz Three

You must take all the quizzes to be eligible for the prizes.

Lee Myers Shares His IT Experiences
By Natalie McGregory, staff writer

In high school, Lee Myers’ guidance counselor told him he would have a great career as a truck driver.

But Lee wasn’t interested in trucks, he liked computers. He found a job at Circuit City; however, he soon realized that selling computers might not be the right job for him either.

Find out what career Lee decided to pursue, and how he incorporates Linux solutions at his workplace.

Tell Us About Your Experiences as an IT Professional
We would like to talk with active IT Professionals about their careers. Do you have any stories or insights to share? If you are interested in talking with us and sharing your experiences, please send an e-mail to editorial@comptia.org. Thank you.

CompTIA Study Shows Security is a Top Priority for Management
By Kristin Clifford, staff writer

Security training is proving to be very valuable to employers. Thanks in large part to proper training, fewer breaches are caused by human error alone. Spyware, e-mail attacks and viruses account for more than half of all security attacks. Viruses account for twice as many attacks compared to 2005, and viruses/worms and spyware/malware lead the list of concerns for the future.

Read more about the study.

IT Pros Maintain Their Skills
By Kristin Clifford, staff writer

The majority of respondents (86%) to a Web-based survey launched in IT Professional Access said they choose the training they need based on their own career plan. Five percent choose based on their employer’s requirements or recommendations, while two percent are told by their employers what they need to take.

How else do IT Pros keep their skills current?

CompTIA A+ 2003 Retiring June 30

CompTIA A+ 2003 will no longer be generally available beginning on June 30, 2007.

CompTIA A+ 2006 is available now. The upgraded CompTIA A+ satisfies the job requirements for the new IT Technician roles. It covers the technology and job-specific knowledge, as well as the communications skills necessary to provide excellent customer service.

Study materials and vouchers for CompTIA A+ 2006 are available now on the CompTIA Online Store.

CompTIA A+ takes a new approach to validating the skills for entry-level IT Technicians by covering basic technical skills on one exam and the job role-specific application of those skills on the other.

Getting CompTIA A+ certified will provide you with an entry point into an IT career, covering the latest technology and skills required for entry-level IT Technicians and adding security and soft skills. Security skills are an important tool for any entry-level computer support professional, and soft skills are a top skill set sought out by employers. As a technician, you must be able to communicate with customers and fellow workers and maintain a level of professionalism.

Example job roles for CompTIA A+ include the following: IT Technician, Enterprise Technician, PC Technician, Desktop Support Technician, Field Technician, PC Support Specialist, Remote Support Technician, Help Desk Technician, Call Center Technician, Depot Technician, Bench Technician.

In addition to affording you those job opportunities, CompTIA A+ serves as a stepping stone to specializations or higher level certifications, such as CompTIA Network+ and Microsoft MCSA.

For more information, visit certification.comptia.org/a+.

Linda Hanks Tells of Her Experiences with Training Trends
By Kristin Clifford, staff writer

Linda Hanks can speak to the fact that a career in IT has definite longevity.

Hanks started with Focus: HOPE in 1983 as a programmer, and has managed their training program since 1999. In between, she also managed their IT department. Focus: HOPE is a nationally recognized civil and human rights organization in Detroit, Mich. As part of their training program, they train thousands of individuals for successful careers.

Read more about Linda's industry experience on the CompTIA 25th Anniversary Web site.

Have a suggestion for us? Write to tellus@comptia.org.

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