| Career guidance and advice for IT professionals | April 2008 |
| 1. | What's
New on the IT Pro Web site IT Pro Webinars
IT Pro Webinars are offered to all CompTIA IT Pro and StudentPro members at no cost. These webinars are geared to help IT Professionals formulate career plans, share data, ask questions and speak with internal CompTIA personnel and colleagues around the country - all from the comfort of your own computer.
New this Month on Career Development
Map Job Roles with the TCC - Find out what you really want to do before you sign up for a certification course or begin planning out your career. With CompTIA's TechCareer Compass, you can look up a job title to see its critical work functions, required skills, and alternate job titles you may be interested in.
New this Month on the IT Pro Forum
The IT Pro Forum. It is your membership privilege. Check it out now!
Check out what we have added to the IT Pro Forum
Our IT Pro Mentor Mark Zuber is awaiting your responses and questions for discussion on the IT Pro Forum. He is there to offer his expert advice. New discussions this month on the IT Pro Forum:
New this Month in Technical References The Technical Certification Database - Use our online, searchable database of information and communications technology (ICT) certifications to help you choose the right certification(s) to meet your career goals.
Books24/7 new links:
Top Tech Web sites:
Latest News Check out the Latest News - They've been called everything from narcissists to "Generation Me," but those wily post-Gen X employees might just show their elders how to revamp an enterprise. Follow this link for more. |
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| 2. | CompTIA
TechCareer Compass (TCC) Webinar Attention IT Pro Members – Web Conference on the Tech Career Compass (TCC) On Tuesday May 6, 2008
CompTIA is pleased to offer all IT Pro members a unique insider’s look at one of the IT industry’s most powerful IT career development resource, the Tech Career Compass (TCC).
Developed in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor and major industry vendors and subject matter experts, the TCC provides lists common standardized IT job roles along with their alternate job titles, skill, knowledge, critical work function requirements, and as well as related training and certification options. The TCC is an excellent career development tool as it helps demystify dozens of job roles you may be considering.
This presentation will feature the management behind the scenes and will provide a way to apply to become a Subject Matter Expert for the TCC, should you seek to help shape the IT skill standards of the IT industry
This Web conference is set for Tuesday May 6, 2008. We hope to see you there. Register online at www.itpro.comptia.org. |
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| 3. | CompTIA
PDI+ Webinar CompTIA PDI+ Webinar - May 20, 11 a.m. (CST) Register online at www.itpro.comptia.org.
CompTIA is hosting a webinar that explains what the CompTIA PDI+ exam covers, available training and why earning this certification is important to your career. The recently-announced CompTIA Printing and Document Imaging (PDI+) certification is the first and only certification for technicians supporting printers, copiers, scanners and multifunction devices. OEMs and service providers are adopting CompTIA PDI+ to validate baseline knowledge and skills of their technicians. The name of each webinar attendee will be placed in a drawing for one lucky winner of a CompTIA PDI+ exam voucher.
For more information about CompTIA PDI+, visit certification.comptia.org/pdi or e-mail PDIplus@comptia.org. |
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| 4. | IT
Pro Member of the Month
R.L. (Ric) Johnson Waynesfield, Ohio (West Central Ohio ) CompTIA: What is your IT experience?
What are your work responsiblities?
Describe a typical day at work.
Working with architects, engineers, developers, general contractors, business owners and home owners to develop a complete electrical and or electronics systems design. Pull wires, trim out devices, program subsystems and install IP devices, i.e. media services, PLCs, lighting controls, VoIPs, etc. interface with local and state authorities and working with local service providers. One to two hours per week in training or updates.
What part of your work do you find most rewarding? Why?
Designing a complete Home Automatic System. This allows for our client to enjoy their media, control their lighting, HVAC and experience as well as provide life safety protections. Arriving home with a preprogrammed pathway of light, music playing quietly in the background and the proper temperature of the room bring great satisfaction to our clients and us. What kind of training, education, or course work is required for what you do? A basic knowledge of electrical, electronics, audio/visual, lighting and an ongoing manufacturers training program are very necessary to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of this fast-changing industry. A solid background in networking and Windows continues to grow in this field. Of course, we believe that the CompTIA DHTI+ Certification is one of our primary courses that continues to pay dividends as we grow our Electronics Systems Company. What kinds of prior IT and professional experiences are absolutely essential to get this kind of position? We started with Apple in late 1979 and continued to expand our client base as we started pulling networking cabling in the late 1980s. Being computer geeks helped us move towards providing these services to our account base. A strong desire to get your hands dirty, pulling wire, drilling holes and basic programming logic is extremely important to build quality subsystems to drive media from difference sources throughout the home. As many equipment providers continue to provide more IP-based products, understanding how they work, DRM, and network security issues continue to be areas that ongoing training as well as prior experience is absolutely necessary to provide the client with the best possible experience and the fewest call backs. What types of internships/part-time jobs would you suggest before entering this field? Working with an Electronic Systems Contractor, attending an ESPA Certified Education facility and/or working for a manufacturer in this area are extremely important. The CompTIA DHTI+ certification requires at least two years of experience ... This field is very open and has areas that can appeal to many tastes, i.e. home theater, media centers, home automatic, home healthcare and wellness are all areas that need specialized experience and training. What are some of the job possibilities for experienced workers in this field? System Designer, Systems Programmer, Lead Integrator, Media Center Integrator If the work you do was suddenly eliminated, what different kinds of IT work do you feel you could do? Commercial IP Networking, i.e. installations, designer and programmer. Board rooms, meeting spaces, green initiatives - all will need trained experienced CompTIA DHTI+ certified people. What is the best advice you could give to someone starting a career in the IT field? If they are interested in a daily changing environment, then I would recommend the Residential/Light Commercial Integration field. Working with IP-based media centers, controllers and audio/video subsystems continues to be an exciting and challenging field. Plus, each client has different needs and wants a different experience. Using your experience and knowledge to bring this about is the most rewarding aspect of the job. What in your mind are the most important benefits of the CompTIA IT Pro Program? Getting to meet and hear from a different group of people that have varied experiences to solve sometimes complex problems. Networking with various groups allows for a broader knowledge base and also gives me a better perspective of our industry. Besides, I have developed great friendships thanks to CompTIA’s IT Pro program. Contact Ric with any questions or comments: Installer@EliteSystemsSolutions.com |
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| 5. | Strong
Outlook for Software, Systems Engineers By
Sonia Lelii If you have high-level software and system engineering skills, you'll be among the top 30 professions in demand by 2016, says the Department of Labor. The department's Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks this as one of the fastest growing professions in the coming years. "Software engineers are absolutely an area that is growing," says Barbara Massa, senior director of recruiting at information-software provider EMC Corp., based in Hopkinton, Mass. "What we are looking for are leading-edge software developers, [and] these people are tough to find." Software and system engineering requires distinct skill sets depending on the type of position you want. People who want to work within a company's IT operations will need sophisticated engineering and management abilities. On the other hand, technology vendors are hunting for people who can develop emerging software products. Storage is a clear example of a sector where software developers and engineers specializing in emerging software technologies are in demand. As hard drives, raid controllers and disk arrays have become increasingly commoditized, and innovation has shifted to software, the industry has been evolving its focus away from hardware. EMC is searching for software engineering talent that specializes in content management, archiving, virtualization, security, data de-duplication, file systems, Unix and Linux platforms, to name a few. While some software development jobs - particularly in programming - have been migrating overseas lately, the move has resulted in a demand for a new breed of American software expertise. Job seekers who have the mind-set of an engineer coupled with an ability to ensure technology is aligned with business needs are the kind of technologists companies seek to fill jobs within IT operations. Mark P. Diamond, president and chief executive of Contoural, Inc., a data and storage consulting firm based in Los Altos, Calif., sees shifts in both the types of software jobs in demand here in the U.S., and the positions that are increasingly moving offshore. People who can apply the basic principles of engineering to architect complex systems, and holistically understand how those systems work together, are what companies need today, says Diamond. Software experts who only have the ability to program are likely to find their jobs vulnerable, he says. "What you are seeing here in Silicon Valley is the high-level functions are done here and low-level functions are being outsourced," Diamond says. "If all you do is test code and write programs or maintain systems, then you run the risk your job will go offshore." |
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| 6. | CompTIA
University Presents Interactive Four-Part Audio Conference Series
on Sales Skills Calling Your Way In for IT Solution Providers: Prospecting Strategy for IT Business Owners and Their Sales Team: A Four-part Audio Conference Series
CompTIA University is pleased to announce a new audio conference series. In an exciting partnership with KLA Group, this four-part series will help Solution Providers break into new accounts, achieve revenue projections, and expand their market share.
During each one-hour audio conference you and your sales staff can dial in from any location to learn new strategies that will increase your sales. This series will be interactive in nature, allowing you to pose your toughest questions and receive expert advice. Each audio conference in the series will build on the skills learned in the previous session, incorporating feedback on shared successes and pitfalls encountered along the way for a continuum of learning.
Calling Your Way In for IT Solution Providers: Prospecting Strategy for IT Business Owners and Their Sales Team
Register multiple staff members for one low price! $295 members/$320 non-members Handouts and a complimentary MP3 recording of the four-part series will be included as well.
To register click here.
Use audio conferences to give your sales team just-in-time skills to meet the demands of your business.
CompTIA University is dedicated to arming Solution Providers with the educational opportunities and resources needed to improve business operations. KLA Group specializes in the IT Industry and works with manufacturers, distributors and channel resellers launching new product offerings, penetrating new markets, or experiencing mergers or acquisitions.
For further information regarding this audio-conference series or information or suggestions around other CompTIA University offerings, e-mail University@comptia.org |
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Read
about Ric Johnson – CompTIA DHTI+ Certified