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Monthly Archives: August 2009
Computer Science Still an In Demand Career in Pennsylvania Going to the Future
Author : Eyeflow Articles
The age of computer is within us now and what better way to advance into the future than to embrace this era of information technology Many people are so engrossed with technology these days that they would not hesitate upgrading their gadgets and other devices as new models are introduced in the market Additionally, most organizations also operate today with the aid of electronic data processing systems while students make their research and other assignments faster with the help of computers
Students pursuing courses in computer science, computer programming and other information technology (IT) related courses are on the right track IT careers still have a bright future in the U S including Pennsylvania despite the reality that many companies are outsourcing their workload The Bureau of Labor Statistics has shown that more IT jobs are being created and the rate is faster than they are outsourced to other countries It also confirmed that computer skills application will increase in areas such as healthcare, retail trade and construction
Various computer and IT-related courses are available today for high school graduates or even for professionals who want to change their career path or improve their current careers These include Computer Systems Software Engineering, Computer Applications Software Engineering, Computer Systems Analyst, Database Administration and Network Systems and Data Communication Analyst These courses can lead to some of the fastest growing jobs through 2014, according to the Labor Statistics Bureau They are also among the top 10 jobs with computer or programming degree listed by CNN com and CareerBuilder com Employment and wage in the computer science field is seen to go up by 68 percent until 2014
Computer Science deals with the theories of information and computation or the study of algorithmic processes Computer science has four important areas as identified by the Computer Sciences Accreditation Board (CSAB) – theory of computation, algorithms and data structures, programming methodology and languages and computer elements and architecture
In colleges and universities such as in Pennsylvania, this discipline normally delves into the computation theory, concurrency theory, analysis of algorithms and systems, databases, computer graphics and computer programming A major part of the course usually provides college students hands-on training covering software applications, computer programming, online data and information and computer networking A Computer Science education can be earned in two ways – either by getting a bachelor’s degree or an associate’s degree One can undergo training online or by going to a traditional school
An associate degree is a two-year general program that tackles computer operations, problems and solutions as well as designing computer systems Students who choose this program are taught about computer theory, hardware design, computer applications and programming The emphasis is more on the basic skills that an individual may need in performing his or her job This degree program is ideal for people who want to land an entry level job right away and for professionals seeking advanced education in the field of computer programming
A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, on the other hand, has a wider and more extensive coverage This four-year course is also more mathematical in nature Subjects taught in this program include theories of algorithms, programming languages and database management
Graduates of Computer Science have excellent job opportunities ahead of them They can work in different fields such as business, government and the academe From the present through 2014, a 40 percent growth is seen in the demand for computer scientists with an expected median wage of $81,000
Article By : William Hauselberg
The McCann School of Business and Technology is a PA vocational school that offers a wide array of degree programs, including Computer Science Associate Degree.
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Finding The Best Sales Manager Jobs
Author : Shaun Parker
The range and variety of jobs available for sales managers is vast Sales jobs can be incorporated into any business regardless of the type of product they sell or the service they offer For a business to become successful they need to sell themselves well and every organisation benefits from having a skilled sales manager as part of their team Such is the importance of sales jobs that they are necessary in every industry and the choice of role can be made to supplement your specific interests and skills
Roles and responsibilities
A sales manager plays a very important role in the business It is up to the sales manager to organise and motivate a team of sales people to make sales and optimise the number of new clients for the company The sales manager often has a very important role in the organisation The sales manager will also often have a lot of influence over the entire marketing strategy It is often a very influential job that requires a positive outlook and high levels of motivation Sales managers also have responsibility over encouraging and ensuring that their sales team achieve the targets that they have set The job encourages involvement beyond that of a normal job and is great for people that can constantly challenge themselves and able to respond with innovation The sales manager is also often involved in arranging the incentive scheme for their sales team
In some cases the sales manager can be involved in a broad range of aspects of the business They can be asked to contribute to product development ideas, identification of new business opportunities and the development and implementation of new marketing strategies The usual roles that a sales manager will deal with are aspects of the business such as recruitment and training of new sales staff They will, as mentioned supervise and monitor the performance of sales staff They will also have to lease with other managers and line managers as well as setting budgets and targets They will also often be client facing and will lease with clients and keep abreast of what their competitors are doing
Types of industry
The great benefit of a sales job is that you can often find a job in an industry that suits your skills and your interests So if you are interested in IT, finance, consumer goods, recruitment, real estate or any type of industry there is likely to be a job for you somewhere
Pros
These types of jobs are great for motivated people that want responsibility and the ability to make changes and be instrumental in the success of a business The results that you achieve are measurable in that you can judge your performance based on the amount of money you bring in for the company
Cons
The job can be associated with stress because of the level of responsibility that is placed on the shoulders of the sales manager This can be both a blessing and a curse If things are going well then the manager receives the accolade but if things are not going well the manager will be under pressure
Shaun Parker has been involved in the Jobs industry for many years and is fully aware of the pitfalls you may face when you conduct a job search for sales manager jobs.
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How To Get Through A Job Loss And Your Anxieties
Author : Stanley Popovich
Nowadays, all most everybody worries about what will happen in the future in regards to their job The prospect of not knowing if you will be downsized can be very stressful As a result, here is a list of techniques and suggestions on how to manage the fear of losing your job
The first step is to get into the habit of always updating your skills just in case something would happen Learning how to use a computer or learning how to use the latest software are ways to keep abreast in the market Continuous education in your field of work will also help you If for some reason you do lose your job, having the proper skills will reduce the fear of being unemployed
Stay active in your current job Communication with your employer and coworkers is very important If you communicate with your boss and coworkers, you should have a general idea on how safe your job is Knowing where you stand in your company can help predict whether your job is safe Always keep the lines of communication open in your work environment
Sometimes we tend to exaggerate when we start to worry Instead of worrying about what could happen, try to focus on the facts of a certain situation Do not assume anything and do not focus on your negative thoughts In addition, try to read something uplifting that will make you feel better
Take it day by day Do not worry about what may happen next week or next month Things change all the time and it is all most impossible to predict what may or may not happen Do the best you can today and hope for the best
Take advantage of the help that is available around you If possible, talk to a professional who can help you manage your depression and anxieties They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem By talking to a professional, a person will be helping themselves in the long run because they will become better able to deal with their problems in the future Remember that it never hurts to ask for help
Remember that people lose their jobs all the time and they are able to find other jobs It might take awhile but eventually you will find a job Just do not let your fears and worries get the better of you
Stan Popovich is the author of, A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear, an easy to read book that presents a overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com
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CIW Certification Courses For Focused IT Specialists
Author : James Copper
CIW certification courses also known as the Certified Internet Web Professional program is a vendor-neutral Internet certification program It is a Web Technology standard that is a number of governments, businesses and academic institutions are adopting today The core curriculum of CIW focuses on several standards like web design, networking, security and administration
The Need For Synergists
Today with increasing progressive changes taking place in the IT industry, specialists are being replaced by synergists IT synergists are specialists that have a broader skill set Their set of skills includes handling interdependent systems like integrating, designing and troubleshooting And for gaining such skills it is very important to acquire people with varied experience and multidiscipline knowledge
The above need is met by ciw certification courses Such courses hone the skills of professionals and turn them into IT synergists that have the best knowledge of the industry standards
Benefits Of CIW Certification
Professional ciw certification courses can help one master today’s technology driven world and achieve their career goals Some more benefits of becoming a CIW professional are:
- Inclusion of industry-recognized credentials to the resume
- Specialized and defined job role skills
- A jump in the salary structure and increased job responsibilities
- A sharp advancement within the organization
- A different category than the co-workers
- Pathway to up-to-date skills and knowledge in the fast evolving technology world
Several students have experienced a rise in their career after successful completion of their ciw certification courses If you too wish to gain a competitive edge over your competitors then enroll for a CIW course today These courses are beneficial both for employers and employees For employees, these courses act as the direct gateway to several career opportunities For organizations and employers, CIW certification helps reduce hiring and training related costs thus creating a skilled workforce within the company itself
CIW Certification Exams And Courses
There are several CIW certification courses to choose from For beginners there are foundational CIW Associate certification programs and for advanced learners there are CIW Professional certifications and advanced-level Master certification programs
Some commonly sought after ciw certification courses are:
- CIW Associate: For gaining basic hands-on skills and knowledge for Internet professionals It includes basic knowledge of network infrastructure, Internet technologies and Web authoring
- CIW Associate Design Specialist: A certification pathway for Web design students with two popular CIW courses combines into one
- CIW Professional: Those who have already earned an Associate certification can attain a CIW Professional certification
- Master CIW Designer: Certification for a successful career as a Web designer, Web marketing specialist, Creative director or e-commerce developer
- CIW Database Design Specialist: A new certification program that enables gaining knowledge of database design principles, theory and their application
- Master CIW Administrator: For professionals who are interested in a career in intranet administration or networking system
- CIW Security Analyst: The job of a security analyst is to protect an organization’s assets and operations The certification course is allowed to those who have already earned a Master CIW Administrator certification
- Master CIW Web Site Manager: Helps the student gain a cross-functional set of Web skills that would help take up the role of a Web manager
- Master CIW Enterprise Developer: Helps professionals develop enterprise web-enabled applications and implement the same to e-business solutions
James Copper is a writer for http://www.trainingplace.co.uk where you can find information on ciw certification courses
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Investment Banking Salaries Just How High Are They
Author : Ian Spellfield
Just how much do investment bankers actually earn? Most of the people who want to break into investment banking have no idea how much money is really involved
Sure, the Managing Directors and other senior people make several million a year on average; group heads can make $10 million or more And the CEO of an investment bank can make upwards of $20 million, with Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein making over $70 million in 2007
But what does an entry-level investment banker – an investment banking analyst – actually make? Making six figures as a 23-year old just out of college is nice, but if you have to work 120 hours per week, you can’t possibly be making that much per hour, right?
I honestly didn’t know, so I had to investigate this and do some math myself Could you actually make more working at McDonald’s than you could at Goldman Sachs, at least on an hourly basis?
For investment banking analysts, the best case scenario ever happened in 2007 Base salaries were $60,000 and bonuses were $90,000, for a total of $150,000 in compensation Again, not bad for a 23-year old’s first “real-world job ”
But what about the hours? Typically, entry-level bankers work around 90-100 hours per week in their first year This could be off by a bit, but we’ll go with it for now
With 52 weeks of work per year (nope, no vacation) and 90 hours per week, you would have earned $32 05 per hour in the 2006-2007 year If you had worked 100 hours, that would have dropped to $28 85
Even if you had worked 140 hours a week, every week, you would still be at $20 60 per hour And realistically it’s impossible to work that much consistently, so you could have only done better than that
But times have not always been that good After the Nasdaq crash and at the start of the last major recession, investment banking took a turn for the worst and bonuses disappeared
In 2001-2002, Analysts were lucky to get $10,000 for their bonuses They still worked a lot, but mostly on marketing and pitching clients rather than doing deals and bringing in revenue
A $10,000 bonus and $60,000 salary means $14 96 per hour at 90 hours a week Believe it or not, that’s still above McDonald’s wages and is actually not even that bad relative to a lot of jobs in the US
But if you had worked 140 hours per week, consistently, back then? You would have made 9 62 per hour
According to a Wiki Answers page on McDonald’s, the wage is $9 30/hour for those under 17 and $9 57/hour after “4 months of training ”
This is a very low wage, and it looks like even in the worst possible years of investment banking, hourly analyst wages never dropped this low
Actually, the above is not strictly true What if you earned $0 for the bonus and only made the base salary of $60,000 while working 140 hours each week?
That would be $8 24 per hour Finally: below McDonald’s wages So theoretically it is possible to earn less than a McDonald’s worker as an investment banking analyst, though not terribly likely
It could only happen if you worked a ridiculous amount in the very worst years of investment banking and got absolutely nothing for your bonus
Even with a looming US recession, this scenario seems unlikely to return anytime soon So your hourly wages as an investment banking analyst should be safe
Ian Spellfield, a former investment banker, advises students and young professionals on understanding investment banking and how to earn high investment banking salaries.
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When it Comes to Your Dreams Sometimes the Best Advice is to Ignore Everything Your Parents Told You
Author : Valerie Young
When Robin Williams told his father about his desire to become an actor, his dad advised him to study welding — “just in case ” My own parents urged me to become a teacher, but it wasn’t because they noticed the early signs of a gifted educator My parents’ dreams for me were far more practical Going into teaching was a Plan B — in case something happened to my future husband, I’d have something to “fall back on ”
Most of the time my parents did get it right But everything I learned about achieving career bliss I learned by actually ignoring my well-meaning but cautious parents That’s because, if you aspire to find work that you truly love, some of what your parents taught you could actually work against you
Here are three childhood lessons every adult career changer should ignore as well as some exercises to help you achieve your goal
Old Advice: Grow up
New Advice: Don’t
If you were still throwing tantrums at 12, be thankful your parents told you to “grow up ” But, if you want to recapture the experience of getting deliriously lost in a favorite pastime, growing up isn’t all it’s cracked up to be Lots of people, director Steven Spielberg among them, knew from a young age what they wanted to do when they grew up Your own childhood may well contain clues to a new career direction
Make a list of all the things you were really into as a kid Did you love to build forts? Sing? Compete in science fairs? Draw? Do magic tricks? Learn about dinosaurs? Tell jokes? Watch scary movies? Play sports? Play dress-up? Play video games? Play school?
What do your answers tell you? How might you build on these childhood interests today?
Old Advice: Follow the straight and narrow road
New Advice: Wind your way to happiness
You probably got the message growing up to always follow the straight and narrow road Good advice for staying on the right side of authority, bad advice for coming up with “outside the box” career options That’s because it is often the wide road with lots of detours that lead to the most interesting places Say you wanted to turn your love of astronomy into your vocation, what career destination would you most likely wind up at, if, vocationally-speaking, you took the straight and narrow road? Astronomer Right? A fine occupation, but it is just one of many options
Here’s where what Patrick Combs calls his “Super-Simple, Unique & Weird Job Idea Jogger” can help Even though his book, Major In Success, is aimed at college students, his idea jogging exercise can help anyone looking to chart a new course
To start, fill in the blanks in the following sentence: A great job would be [verb] in the [your interest] field The astronomy-lover who also enjoys reading would write: A great job would be reading in the astronomy field This might lead to such off-the-beaten-path careers as: Editor of an astronomy magazine, NASA researcher or author of books about the latest astronomy developments Change the verb to drawing, says Combs, and see what ideas get jogged You could: Illustrate astronomy books Design observatories Map star systems Create science fiction paintings, murals, or coloring books
Old Advice: Never talk to strangers
New Advice: Talk to lots and lots of strangers
“Never talk to strangers” is good advice if you’re approached in a dark alley, bad advice if you need encouragement to quit your programming job to become a park ranger In fact, if the choice is to seek out support from a group of total strangers or from your own family, go with the strangers The reason, says career counselor Barbara Sher, is that “almost any stranger would respect your dreams more easily than our family does ” To prove it, try this assignment from her book I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was
Tell a group of strangers the most offbeat dream you can think of — like raising Dalmatians in the Himalayas Tell them, however, that you don’t yet have any contacts in Tibet Not only will they be interested, says Sher, “they’ll even try to solve your problem ”
Now, she says, try the same experiment with your family by announcing that you’re going to quit your corporate job and sign on as crew on a clam boat off Rhode Island [or the reverse] Observe whether they “drop their forks before or after they scramble to talk you out of your ‘folly’ ”
If you’re ready for a big career change, maybe it’s time you actually do get bigger than your career confining britches It can be as simple as re-igniting your childhood passions, exploring a more creative career search path, and seeking out the right people to encourage your dreams
Oh, on the wearing clean underwear thing in case you’re ever in an accident — your mom was right
Valerie Young abandoned her corporate cubicle to become the Dreamer in Residence at Changing Course, a career change website for people who want be their own boss and work at what they love. Her career tips have been cited in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Woman’s Day, MSN, CareerBuilder, and iVillage. Go to http://ChangingCourse.com/work.htm for a free report on how you can make a career change that gives you the freedom to do work you love.
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The Secret To Having More Time And Energy
Author : Andrew McCombe
Do you ever feel tired for no logical reason?
Do you ever feel like you never have enough time for the things that are important to you?
You may feel constantly tired and always out of time because you are carrying a lot of unfinished business
Unfinished business, what that you ask?
Unfinished business is simply all of the energy that you have put into many different goals in the past and even with all your good intentions you never actually saw the goal through to its completion
Does this sound familiar?
When you start to perform anything put energy in motion) and then don’t complete it, the energy actually remains trapped in the past, which means it is not 100% available in the now, or present moment
The key to allowing your emotions to flow freely on a day to day basis, giving you more energy and freeing up your time is to establish a system of elimination
By establishing a system of elimination you are effectively providing an outlet to remove unnecessary clutter in your life This can be mental, emotional, spiritual or physical clutter and often comes in the form of unfinished business That is, tasks you have started but not finished which can often lead to toxicity, in your environment, in your living space, in your relationships, in your direction and of course, in your physical body
Be aware that if you start something and do not finish it you are trapping energy in the past If you do not have 100% of your energy available in the present you will not be as productive as you can possibly be and you may feel tired for no logical reason Therefore it is highly important to create a system to eliminate any unfinished business or toxins in your life
Failure to establish a system of elimination can lead to the symptoms of emotional dis ease in your life Such symptoms include; toxicity, anxiety, stress, sadness, melancholy and depression
How to eliminate your unfinished business and instantly free up your energy and time
Use the following guidelines to provide you with an excellent system to assist you to eliminate any energy you may still be storing in your past
1 Close off all unfinished business or incomplete cycles of action including your work, finances, family, partner, friends, health and well being etc
2 Remove toxic thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behaviours from your mind simply by focusing on what you want, not on what you don’t want
3 Declutter and simplify your life, your house, car, garage, wardrobe, office etc Eliminate any old energy that no longer serves you
4 Make your life leaner and more purposeful
5 Give every situation or coincidence its due attention, every day regardless of how small it may seem, always address every situation with the respect it deserves and at the time it arises
6 If feeling frustrated, impatient or annoyed then ask what needs to be addressed at present Ask your self; What is it that is causing my progression to be halted? Then ask what do I need to do in order to get my life flowing smoothly again?
By eliminating the unfinished business in your life you will allow your emotions to become more positive which will make you feel a lot fresher and provide you with the necessary energy and time to manifest your life of ease
The author Andrew McCombe (BPhEd) is a Personal Trainer, Life and Business Coach and Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Practitioner, Author and Speaker. For more information download the Free 10 Steps to a Life of EASE E-Book at http://www.activateyourlife.com.au
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Tips To Get A Salary Increase
Author : Jim Brown
Freelancers are very much lucky for having majestic and powerful minds making them earn even they don’t get out from the four corners of their rooms But nowadays that transportation and other factors affecting your 8-5 job are rapidly hitting the higher rates, number of freelancers are also increasing Competition in writing and other freelancing jobs is very tight On the contrary, the working rates are rapidly degrading So we are trying our best to negotiate about salary matters right? The following are some of the tips we can do to spill our problem out
Be Persuasive
You may have a hard time telling your boss to raise your salary It might affect your working relationship with him and that’s given but makes him understand it will do well if you’re going to increase your rate Say for example; tell your boss you’re not going to look for other side jobs since you have the best rate you are looking for That will help you render a quality service
Be Realistic
Do not ask for too much you know for sure that your boss can’t give It’s just proper to work efficiently and be paid fairly, though
Be at your perfect right tone
Avoid ultimatums, threats and coercive behavior towards your boss Make him know you are asking for something but let him feel you are ready to understand his point as well This will create a good relationship despite distance between the two of you
Prioritize your Boss’ Interests
Your boss also has needs and concerns just like you To persuade him, address those things that are important to him Always remember whatever attitude he has, he is still your boss and the one who feeds you Many are those looking for a job and you are only one of the few who were chosen!
Create Options
Create possible solutions that your boss might consider Plan your options beforehand so that everything will run smoothly as you negotiate Make sure you have a backup plan in case he won’t agree on the first option
Focus on Objective Criteria
It is not hard to please someone if you are showing objective criteria Nobody will reject a plan that is as good as luck itself
Actually, these are some tips to help us before we finally negotiate with our bosses Include the other one below if you are not a freelancer
Talk in details and tell what you really want
If you are working on 8 to 5 job, you may create a not so obvious conversation with him regarding your bonuses and other benefits, and not your salary concerns alone Make him learn you are well informed of your rights as an employer
But make sure you are not annoying your boss because one you make him feel bad, it might affect your working relationship with him This is especially if you are waiting for promotion or anything else
The tips given were useful to regular employees and experienced freelancers, those who are working for outsourcing companies for a long period of time and may ask for a salary raise
Please do not jump into salary negotiation if you are on probationary period of employment because you might lose your job because of that simple move
James Brown writes about CareerBuilder.co.uk bargains, InterviewGOLD bargains and Mean and Green bargains
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