http://www.globalknowledge.com/training/generic.asp?pageid=2568&country=United+States
In the Global Knowledge/TechRepublic 2010 Salary Survey, conducted at that end of last year, one of the questions put to respondents was "What skill set will your company be looking to add in 2010?" The skills listed by respondents include the perennial favorites: security, network administration, and Windows administration. Also included are virtualization/cloud computing and Web development. Meanwhile, an old favorite, business analysis, makes a come back. Here's the complete list, with the No. 1 skill listed being in the highest demand.
1. Project Management
--------------------------------------------------
As we emerge from the recession, organizations aren't likely to go back to the go-go days of throwing money at IT initiatives or taking risks and deploying without careful thought and planning. Organizations are putting pressure on IT to only implement projects that can show real return-on-investment. The first step to achieving a good ROI is professional project planning and implementation.
Project management skills often appear in top 10 skills lists, perhaps because some organizations got their fingers burned in the 1990s through the poor implementation of IT projects such as enterprise resource planning initiatives. But even though the profession is mature (in IT terms), project managers still have work to do to advance their status within organizations. According to an article on the Project Management Institute Web site, project managers still have to develop their people skills, organizational leadership, and individual professionalism.
2. Security
--------------------------------------------------
It's a never-ending game of cat and mouse for security professionals and 2009 proved to be another fun filled year. According to Symantec's Security and Storage Trends to Watch report, the number of spam messages containing malware increased nine-fold to represent more than 2% of e-mails, while other criminals manipulated people's love of social networking sites to launch attacks. Twitter, for example, spent much of 2009 battling DDoS and other attacks. Meanwhile, top headlines, such as the H1N1 flu and the death of Michael Jackson were used by criminals to lure people to download malware.
Symantec predicts more of the same in 2010, warning that attackers will continue to use social engineering to get to consumers' sensitive data, and criminals will take Windows 7 as a challenge for seeking and exploiting vulnerabilities in the new platform. Mac and smartphones will also be targeted more by malware authors, Symantec says.
Despite the economic challenges of '09, organizations continued to hire security pros. The most sought-after security skills were information risk management, operations security, certification and accreditation, security management practices, and security architecture and models, according to a survey last year of 1,500 U.S.-based security pros by security certification provider ISC2. 2010 is expected to be another busy year from security professionals.
3. Network Administration
--------------------------------------------------
Networking administration skills never lose their luster. It's the second most sought after skill in the Global Knowledge survey and it will be the top skill sought by CIOs in the first quarter of 2010, according to a survey of IT chiefs by Robert Half Technology. In 2010, organizations are expected to upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2 and the Windows 7 client, and perhaps install Exchange Server 2010 and SharePoint 2010. Enterprises are going to need network administrators to ensure network traffic continues to move without a hitch.
Meanwhile, Cisco hopes to push more data-intensive traffic onto corporate networks. Video is a key focus for Cisco in 2010 as it works to finalize its control of video conferencing maker Tandberg and through its 2009 purchase of Pure Digital, developer of the Flip video camera. At the end of last year, Cisco introduced two TelePresence certifications: the Cisco TelePresence Solutions Specialist for midcareer voice or networking engineers seeking to specialize in the planning, design and implementation of Cisco TelePresence; and TelePresence Installation Specialist aimed at installation technicians.
4. Virtualization - Cloud
--------------------------------------------------
The projected cost savings and efficiencies are no-brainers for organizations seeking to implement virtualization and cloud computing. With the cloud computing space now taking shape it's difficult for enterprises to find pros with substantial relevant experience. Instead companies are drawing expertise from a range of IT skill sets, including storage, networks and desktop, according to a Network World article. Initially companies will set up cross-functional teams to buy and implement virtualization, but eventually cloud computing will be an expected skill set of systems administrators. In a few years, it could even be a standard skill set of all IT pros because it touches different aspects of IT.
For details about virtualization certifications from leading virtualization software vendors VMware, Citrix and Microsoft, see Global Knowledge's Top IT Certifications in Demand Today newsletter of June 2009.
5. Business Analysis
--------------------------------------------------
Business analysis roles were commonplace in many organizations in the 1990s when big projects, such as enterprise resource planning initiatives, required the critical thinking that business analysts could provide. But as businesses began moving at a faster pace, business analysis fell by the wayside. Factors such as the economic downturn and regulatory compliance have forced companies to take a step back and to think through business problems and their solutions, and business analysis is making a comeback, as a result. Kathleen Barret, president of the International Institute of Business Analysis says the discipline is a phoenix rising.
The IIBA describes the job of a BA as a "liaison among stakeholders in order to elicit, analyze, communicate, and validate requirements for changes to business processes, policies, and information systems." IT pros are good candidates for BA jobs because they have a broad perspective of a company's business, says Barret. There are three types of BAs: enterprise BAs who identify opportunities for business change and defines the work to be done; transition BAs who fine-tunes the plans; and project BAs who work on project teams that implement the changes. Annual salaries average around $75,000 with enterprise and transition analysts earning more, Barret says.
For more about business analysis, see the IIBA's Guide to the Business Analysis Body of Knowledge.
6. Business Process Improvement
--------------------------------------------------
With project management and business analysis skills appearing in this skills list, it's no surprise that business process improvement skill is also here. Business process improvement and business analysis go hand-in-hand. Business analysts identify areas for improvements to business processes, while business process improvement or management pros use BPM techniques and technologies to help companies optimize their business processes.
A recent BPM survey by IT researchers, the Aberdeen Group says the top reasons business are driving BPM activity are the need to reduce operating costs and to improve cash flow. However, the top barrier to adoption was the lack of knowledge about BPM. According to Gartner, among the competencies required for successful BPM initiatives include process skills, tools and process assets, and transformation skills.
To learn more about BPM, go to the Web site of the Business Process Management Initiative (BPMI.org), which promotes the standardization of common business processes; and the BPMinstitute.org, which describes itself as a peer-to-peer exchange for business process management professionals.
7. Web Development
--------------------------------------------------
If you are -- or you know friends who are -- addicted to the FarmVille game on Facebook you'll know the power of Web development. In just a few short months, FarmVille's popularity has spread across the globe as Facebook fans tend to their farms and purchase virtual goods. The game, including others by FarmVille developer Zynga, has netted the start-up more than 200 million monthly unique users for its online apps. One financial analyst reckons Zynga could be valued at $1 billion if it were to go IPO in mid-2010.
Developing Facebook games is just one extreme of the vast Web development spectrum. Building iPhone apps could also be very profitable, writes Web developer and blogger Glen Stansberry. As moderator of the Freelance Switch job board, Stansberry listed other popular Web development skills including Framework knowledge, widget development, content management system customizations (for small businesses looking to create a unique look to their standard Wordpress and Drupal blogs), and Javascript Plugin creation.
8. Database Management
--------------------------------------------------
Databases are the hearts of key business systems that drive payroll, manufacturing, sales, transaction processing, and more. Programmers must be able to build programs that quickly and efficiently interface with the database management system (DBMS), while database administrators "must be able to bring the full power of database features to bear on business problems", writes Oracle- and IBM-certified DBA Howard Fosdick in his whitepaper Database Skills Availability: Critical to Your Selection of Database. "DBA expertise can be the Achilles' heel of database projects - many IT projects have failed due to the inability to secure DBA talent or successfully address DBA issues," he adds.
The major database vendors are Oracle, IBM and Sybase. Oracle runs three main certification programs for database professionals. Oracle Certified Associate is the first rung of the Oracle certification ladder. Next is the flagship Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) credential, which certifies an individual's ability to manage, develop, or implement enterprise-wide databases and other software. Oracle Certified Master (OCM) is Oracle most advanced accreditation. IBM offers a dizzying array of certifications surrounding its DB2 product series. The main credentials are IBM Certified Database Associate, Database Administrator, Application Developer, and Advanced Database Administrator. Sybase has two sets of certifications for its Adaptive Server Enterprise product: ASE Administrator Associate and ASE Administrator Professional; and ASE Developer Associate and ASE Developer Professional.
9. Windows Administration
--------------------------------------------------
As previously mentioned, Microsoft shops are expected in 2010 to upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2 and the Windows 7 client, and perhaps install Exchange Server 2010 and SharePoint 2010 as well. Windows administration skills is going to be key for many enterprises implementing and maintaining existing and upgraded systems.
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 certifications at the MCTS level cover configurations for Active Directory, networking, and applications. Certifications available for the MCITP level are Server 2008 Server Administration, Enterprise Administration. In a November blog posting in Microsoft's Born to Learn blog, the company wrote that the first of its Windows Server 2008 virtualization exams would be entering beta soon. The exams will cover server virtualization, desktop virtualization, and virtualization administration. Windows 7 pros can certify as MCTS: Windows 7 - Configuration, and MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7.
10. Desktop Support
--------------------------------------------------
Our recent article "Top Certifications in Demand Today" listed desktop support as a hot skill. In Global Knowledge's 2010 salary survey, it was named as the 10th most sought-after skill this year. In the June article, we quoted Robert Half Technology Executive Director Dave Willmer as saying that businesses will need desktop support personnel to support new workers as organizations begin hiring as the economy improves. The introduction of Microsoft Windows 7 is also expected to generate additional interest.
Microsoft currently provides the MCITP: Consumer Support Technician, and MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician certifications, but they are based on Windows Vista. Microsoft, in its Born to Learn blog, in November said that it is working on a MCITP: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technican certification. Prospective candidates are advised to prepare for 680: Win 7, Configuring and 685: Win 7, EDST.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
10 things you can do to advance your career as a developer
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=1297&tag=content;col1
10 things you can do to advance your career as a developer
----------------------------------------------------------
1: Build a PC
----------------------------------------------------------
I have heard the saying “Hardware is easy and software is hard,” probably said by a programmer. I’m guessing that many software developers have never built a PC and therefore know little about component compatibility, how PCs work, or how to replace them. Software is hard, but hardware poses its own set of challenges.
I have over the past three years built three PCs, and I gained a lot of knowledge about hardware in the process. This is an opportunity missed. Had I built a PC early in my career, I could have saved a lot of time — and the projects requiring basic hardware skills could have gone much smoother.
There is a good chance that as a developer, you will eventually need to get inside a PC. For example, I have had to install a Token Ring card, an IBM 3278/79 emulation adapter card, and more than one hard drive. By building a new computer, you will learn some basic hardware skills that can save you hours of OJT or time spent waiting for a tech during an important project. Just do your homework before ordering components and beginning your build.
2: Participate in an online forum and help others
----------------------------------------------------------
When I wanted to learn more about hardware, I participated in the alt.comp.hardware forum on UseNet. I read the postings for weeks until I had a better feel for the type of information that would benefit those seeking help. Then, I selected specific posts to lend some help. My goal was to successfully solve the poster’s issue and learn something in the process.
I had experience with RAID, so I selected a post from a person who couldn’t get RAID set up on his computer. I had to download the manual for his motherboard and carefully read it to help. I learned to ask for the pertinent information up front and patiently have a dialog with the original poster until the issue was resolved.
Helping others is one way to give back to the community. It not only benefits those you help but you can learn a lot yourself — just ask any teacher.
Note: This is one item that you should do on your own time unless you have approval from your manager. The forums here at TechRepublic are also a good place to help others needing your expertise.
3: Man the help desk
----------------------------------------------------------
I worked in an IT group that rotated its staff in for a one-week stint at the help desk. Some of the most terrifying weeks of my career were spent manning the help desk for systems I knew nothing about. It became less terrifying when I learned that it was fairly simple to create a help ticket if I couldn’t solve the problem with the user on the phone. I helped out as best I could. I soon learned from some of my helpful peers how to fix some recurring issues and found some comfort in the fact that I could be useful. I learned to understand user needs, and while it wasn’t exactly enjoyable, I found the interaction a good experience. I dreaded the duty, but it was a good policy.
You may not want to answer phones, log user issues, and deal with someone else’s problems, but again, there is the satisfaction of helping others. You will almost certainly gain a new level of gratitude for those underappreciated front-line help desk soldiers.
4: Perform field service
----------------------------------------------------------
In addition to help desk duty, we were required to close as many tickets as possible. This sometimes meant a “road trip” to the user’s workstation. There’s no better way to understand the needs of users than to meet them and their computers one on one. I’m not suggesting that you try to solve hardware problems, but there are a number of help desk tickets that software developers can diagnose and fix.
You might be tempted to sit down at the user’s computer and dig into the problem, for the most part ignoring the user. But the field tech’s bedside manner is just as important as his or her computer skills. Take the time to ask the user what the problem is. If users need to vent, let them. Try to put yourself in their shoes long enough to feel the frustration that is most likely there. Removing that frustration can make you a hero for a day.
5: Perform DBA functions
----------------------------------------------------------
If your company or IT group doesn’t have a dedicated DBA, the programmer/developer is the best person to design, build, and maintain the system database. If you do have a DBA, work closely with that person. Submit the data requirements and learn why the DBA creates the tables, indexes, and fields the way he or she does. As the developer, you are in a unique position to help the DBA with the database design.
Having a good working relationship with your DBA can be critical to the success of your project. Help out where you can. If you are transferring data from another system, offer to help the DBA with this process.
As the system developer, you will need a good understanding of the database structure. Whether or not you are fortunate enough to have a DBA, your participation in the database development process will benefit you directly when it comes time to write code.
6: Perform all phases of the project lifecycle
----------------------------------------------------------
If you have limited your job function to programming, you are missing most of the phases of the project lifecycle (Figure A).
Figure A
The seven Project Life Cycle steps (originally found on Wikipedia). For more information, see Processes and meta-processes.
By performing the analysis and design, you will have a much better idea how you are going to write the code. Testing, documentation, and maintenance should be easiest for the programmer, although I believe that maintenance is best done by support staff and not the developer, if possible. You may not be exactly excited about documentation. But you can benefit directly from documenting your own work, as I discuss in 10 things you can do to create better documentation. Briefly put, the better the documentation, the fewer interruptions you will have during your next project.
The greatest satisfaction I have gotten on the job is the full ownership and successful completion of a project. There’s no one else to blame if the project fails, and you can take pride in the system when it is completed and performs as designed.
7: Recognize and learn the latest technologies
----------------------------------------------------------
I have built many traditional application-based client-server systems, but I never got a chance to develop a browser-based equivalent while on the job. Sure, I built a Web site in the late ’90s and have done some Java scripting. I have several times started to develop a database-driven browser-based app that is so essential in today’s business environment, but I always get sidetracked onto another project. To say that this has been career limiting is an understatement. Failing to broaden your skill set with the latest trends in technology can be costly.
Web developers shouldn’t overlook the traditional application-based client-server world and PC applications, either. IT job security is increasingly important, and a developer with skills in both areas is a more valuable commodity to employers.
8: Be an independent contractor
----------------------------------------------------------
You can learn a number of business skills as an independent contractor. You’ll need to understand contracts, negotiating, self employment tax payments, income planning, and often, new systems. You may need to budget for expenses, like additional software and hardware. You will likely have to work closely with other IT professionals you have never dealt with.
I have been an independent contractor twice — once part time, while already gainfully employed, and once full time in a temporary assignment. There are several pieces of advice I would give. First, be careful about trying to work as an independent contractor “on the side.” I found it to be very difficult. There is the risk of burnout, and your full-time employer may not like your non-availability and lack of downtime. Also, avoid working for a close friend or relative. The network of friends and relatives is the easiest to mine, but something always went terribly wrong when I used this network.
Full-time work as an independent contractor has its risks as well. When the project is finished, you may not have another contract assignment lined up. Independent contracting isn’t for everyone. While you can gain valuable skills as an independent contractor, be cognizant of the risks to your career or current income source before you commit to this career choice.
9: Lead a project, supervise, or manage
----------------------------------------------------------
The dark world you may have cursed quietly under your breath more than once is awaiting your leadership abilities. Maybe your leadership skills are lacking. You can work on them just as you would any other skill.
I have led several projects during my career. Both were successful, but I had an uncooperative employee for one project. Looking back on it, I realize that my manager and I could have handled the situation better. When a problem like this arises, your people skills will be tested. You may need to seek help from an experienced manager whom you trust and who is not involved in the situation. I failed to seek help when my people problem arose. Don’t make the same mistake I did.
Taking a supervisory role will give you fascinating new insights, and you will gain a new appreciation for your management team. What you learn will help you work better with your peers and managers in the future. And who knows? You might even like being project lead or some other managerial position.
10: Seek additional education
----------------------------------------------------------
Formal education may be the best course if you learn better in the classroom. This option is especially worth pursuing if adding a BS, Masters, or PhD degree can increase your take-home pay. Some companies will even pay part or all of the tuition. If this option is available to you, seriously consider taking advantage of the opportunity.
I have always found OJT to be the best way to learn a new skill. But I now find myself questioning whether I should have pursued at least a couple of classes at the local community college to supplement my education.
The final word
----------------------------------------------------------
There is a saying among bodybuilders: “No pain, no gain.” The same goes for career building. Stepping outside your area of expertise can be painful. But if you really want to develop new skills, solidify your employability, and expand your career horizons, you’ll have to step out of your comfort zone and take on some tough new challenges.
You might fall flat on your face and fail. You might find that you can’t bear waking up in the morning if you have to man the help desk. That’s okay. You won’t know until you try. I haven’t always liked my job assignment, but I always did my best and enjoyed the challenge. And although I’ve certainly made my share of mistakes, I have learned from them and moved on.
10 things you can do to advance your career as a developer
----------------------------------------------------------
1: Build a PC
----------------------------------------------------------
I have heard the saying “Hardware is easy and software is hard,” probably said by a programmer. I’m guessing that many software developers have never built a PC and therefore know little about component compatibility, how PCs work, or how to replace them. Software is hard, but hardware poses its own set of challenges.
I have over the past three years built three PCs, and I gained a lot of knowledge about hardware in the process. This is an opportunity missed. Had I built a PC early in my career, I could have saved a lot of time — and the projects requiring basic hardware skills could have gone much smoother.
There is a good chance that as a developer, you will eventually need to get inside a PC. For example, I have had to install a Token Ring card, an IBM 3278/79 emulation adapter card, and more than one hard drive. By building a new computer, you will learn some basic hardware skills that can save you hours of OJT or time spent waiting for a tech during an important project. Just do your homework before ordering components and beginning your build.
2: Participate in an online forum and help others
----------------------------------------------------------
When I wanted to learn more about hardware, I participated in the alt.comp.hardware forum on UseNet. I read the postings for weeks until I had a better feel for the type of information that would benefit those seeking help. Then, I selected specific posts to lend some help. My goal was to successfully solve the poster’s issue and learn something in the process.
I had experience with RAID, so I selected a post from a person who couldn’t get RAID set up on his computer. I had to download the manual for his motherboard and carefully read it to help. I learned to ask for the pertinent information up front and patiently have a dialog with the original poster until the issue was resolved.
Helping others is one way to give back to the community. It not only benefits those you help but you can learn a lot yourself — just ask any teacher.
Note: This is one item that you should do on your own time unless you have approval from your manager. The forums here at TechRepublic are also a good place to help others needing your expertise.
3: Man the help desk
----------------------------------------------------------
I worked in an IT group that rotated its staff in for a one-week stint at the help desk. Some of the most terrifying weeks of my career were spent manning the help desk for systems I knew nothing about. It became less terrifying when I learned that it was fairly simple to create a help ticket if I couldn’t solve the problem with the user on the phone. I helped out as best I could. I soon learned from some of my helpful peers how to fix some recurring issues and found some comfort in the fact that I could be useful. I learned to understand user needs, and while it wasn’t exactly enjoyable, I found the interaction a good experience. I dreaded the duty, but it was a good policy.
You may not want to answer phones, log user issues, and deal with someone else’s problems, but again, there is the satisfaction of helping others. You will almost certainly gain a new level of gratitude for those underappreciated front-line help desk soldiers.
4: Perform field service
----------------------------------------------------------
In addition to help desk duty, we were required to close as many tickets as possible. This sometimes meant a “road trip” to the user’s workstation. There’s no better way to understand the needs of users than to meet them and their computers one on one. I’m not suggesting that you try to solve hardware problems, but there are a number of help desk tickets that software developers can diagnose and fix.
You might be tempted to sit down at the user’s computer and dig into the problem, for the most part ignoring the user. But the field tech’s bedside manner is just as important as his or her computer skills. Take the time to ask the user what the problem is. If users need to vent, let them. Try to put yourself in their shoes long enough to feel the frustration that is most likely there. Removing that frustration can make you a hero for a day.
5: Perform DBA functions
----------------------------------------------------------
If your company or IT group doesn’t have a dedicated DBA, the programmer/developer is the best person to design, build, and maintain the system database. If you do have a DBA, work closely with that person. Submit the data requirements and learn why the DBA creates the tables, indexes, and fields the way he or she does. As the developer, you are in a unique position to help the DBA with the database design.
Having a good working relationship with your DBA can be critical to the success of your project. Help out where you can. If you are transferring data from another system, offer to help the DBA with this process.
As the system developer, you will need a good understanding of the database structure. Whether or not you are fortunate enough to have a DBA, your participation in the database development process will benefit you directly when it comes time to write code.
6: Perform all phases of the project lifecycle
----------------------------------------------------------
If you have limited your job function to programming, you are missing most of the phases of the project lifecycle (Figure A).
Figure A
The seven Project Life Cycle steps (originally found on Wikipedia). For more information, see Processes and meta-processes.
By performing the analysis and design, you will have a much better idea how you are going to write the code. Testing, documentation, and maintenance should be easiest for the programmer, although I believe that maintenance is best done by support staff and not the developer, if possible. You may not be exactly excited about documentation. But you can benefit directly from documenting your own work, as I discuss in 10 things you can do to create better documentation. Briefly put, the better the documentation, the fewer interruptions you will have during your next project.
The greatest satisfaction I have gotten on the job is the full ownership and successful completion of a project. There’s no one else to blame if the project fails, and you can take pride in the system when it is completed and performs as designed.
7: Recognize and learn the latest technologies
----------------------------------------------------------
I have built many traditional application-based client-server systems, but I never got a chance to develop a browser-based equivalent while on the job. Sure, I built a Web site in the late ’90s and have done some Java scripting. I have several times started to develop a database-driven browser-based app that is so essential in today’s business environment, but I always get sidetracked onto another project. To say that this has been career limiting is an understatement. Failing to broaden your skill set with the latest trends in technology can be costly.
Web developers shouldn’t overlook the traditional application-based client-server world and PC applications, either. IT job security is increasingly important, and a developer with skills in both areas is a more valuable commodity to employers.
8: Be an independent contractor
----------------------------------------------------------
You can learn a number of business skills as an independent contractor. You’ll need to understand contracts, negotiating, self employment tax payments, income planning, and often, new systems. You may need to budget for expenses, like additional software and hardware. You will likely have to work closely with other IT professionals you have never dealt with.
I have been an independent contractor twice — once part time, while already gainfully employed, and once full time in a temporary assignment. There are several pieces of advice I would give. First, be careful about trying to work as an independent contractor “on the side.” I found it to be very difficult. There is the risk of burnout, and your full-time employer may not like your non-availability and lack of downtime. Also, avoid working for a close friend or relative. The network of friends and relatives is the easiest to mine, but something always went terribly wrong when I used this network.
Full-time work as an independent contractor has its risks as well. When the project is finished, you may not have another contract assignment lined up. Independent contracting isn’t for everyone. While you can gain valuable skills as an independent contractor, be cognizant of the risks to your career or current income source before you commit to this career choice.
9: Lead a project, supervise, or manage
----------------------------------------------------------
The dark world you may have cursed quietly under your breath more than once is awaiting your leadership abilities. Maybe your leadership skills are lacking. You can work on them just as you would any other skill.
I have led several projects during my career. Both were successful, but I had an uncooperative employee for one project. Looking back on it, I realize that my manager and I could have handled the situation better. When a problem like this arises, your people skills will be tested. You may need to seek help from an experienced manager whom you trust and who is not involved in the situation. I failed to seek help when my people problem arose. Don’t make the same mistake I did.
Taking a supervisory role will give you fascinating new insights, and you will gain a new appreciation for your management team. What you learn will help you work better with your peers and managers in the future. And who knows? You might even like being project lead or some other managerial position.
10: Seek additional education
----------------------------------------------------------
Formal education may be the best course if you learn better in the classroom. This option is especially worth pursuing if adding a BS, Masters, or PhD degree can increase your take-home pay. Some companies will even pay part or all of the tuition. If this option is available to you, seriously consider taking advantage of the opportunity.
I have always found OJT to be the best way to learn a new skill. But I now find myself questioning whether I should have pursued at least a couple of classes at the local community college to supplement my education.
The final word
----------------------------------------------------------
There is a saying among bodybuilders: “No pain, no gain.” The same goes for career building. Stepping outside your area of expertise can be painful. But if you really want to develop new skills, solidify your employability, and expand your career horizons, you’ll have to step out of your comfort zone and take on some tough new challenges.
You might fall flat on your face and fail. You might find that you can’t bear waking up in the morning if you have to man the help desk. That’s okay. You won’t know until you try. I haven’t always liked my job assignment, but I always did my best and enjoyed the challenge. And although I’ve certainly made my share of mistakes, I have learned from them and moved on.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Graduate Student's iPhone App Gives Voice to Disabled Users
Samuel Sennott, a doctoral student in special educaton at Pennsylvania State University's main campus, created an iPhone application that helps people with communication disabilities speak. He worked with David Niemeijer, an Amsterdam-based developer, to build the software, called Proloquo2Go.
http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Graduate-Students-iPhone-App/20549/
http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Graduate-Students-iPhone-App/20549/
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