Average annual compensation for software developers and system engineers in the USA is around $104,500. A career in the IT sector not only offers a handsome salary and tremendous learning opportunities but it also provides a global exposure. The demand for digital tools and services is growing across all industries in the USA which is driving the growth in employment in Information Technology sector.  There is no better time than today to build a sound career in the IT industry!

Here are your 5 Steps to Landing a Job in the IT Industry

1.) Learn a Programming Language

To develop a career in the IT sector, you need to learn a programming language or a particular IT skill. Join an online course and gain mastery over any programming language or related skill set. Check out the applications and specialized software programs that are powered by the language you are learning. Try to work on as many real word projects as possible.  Practice rigorously, and build a robust portfolio. The portfolio will be extremely useful in showing your skills to potential employers.

2.) Get Certified

Not all programming languages have official certification exams. However, for some languages such as Java SE 8 programming, etc. you have the option to get certified by an authorized body. Taking advantage of certifications to advance your career in the IT sector is a smart move. Get certified by the appropriate widely recognized body. While the certification may not be entirely necessary, it will help you gain more credibility in your area of expertise and set you apart from other similarly qualified applicants.

3.) Write a Focused Resume

You need to invest significant time in developing a resume that represents your skills and accomplishments. Don’t copy the buzzwords from the internet. Prepare a short resume (1-2 pages) with all relevant details. It must be tailor-made for the job you are applying. This means it should have only the pertinent information related to the position you are applying for. By creating job customized resumes, you will increase your chances of getting that all important first interview.

4.) Expand your Network

Make an impressive LinkedIn profile and add relevant connections on a regular basis. Use a professional profile photo and complete the employment section with updated information. Use the right keywords that reflect your personality traits and professional skill sets. Engage with industry professionals and develop genuine relationships on the platform. Ask your classmates, current and former colleagues for a recommendation on LinkedIn. Remember that a majority of recruiters go through candidates’ LinkedIn profiles before calling them for the interview. Thus, an excellent LinkedIn profile can contribute significantly to your career’s success.

5.) Prepare for the Interview

An interview may last for 30 minutes or more. However, almost a third of interviewers know within the first 90 seconds whether they are going to hire you or not. That means, your first impression not only counts but impacts the selection process significantly. Thus, work on your personality and do everything that boosts your confidence. Pay close attention to your  outfit and personal hygiene. If the interview is on the phone, be aware of background noise and any speaking habits that hurt your credibility (“uhhh…”, “like…like…like”, speaking too fast, etc.)

Before appearing for the interview, brush-up your knowledge about the company and make sure to have a list of relevant questions pertaining to the job in question. During the interview, maintain a direct eye contact with the interviewer. Crack a smile when you are feeling less confident and speak assertively. Recruiters don’t hire people who are not sure about their expertise. Thus, stay positive and be confident during the entire interview process.

The Bottom Line…

Being prepared for the role you want and the company you’re interviewing for is crucial.   Be ready to work hard and become an expert in your field. Enroll for advanced online IT courses to keep your knowledge updated. Remember that to be successful in the technology industry, you need to learn new things continuously so that you can add value to the business from the start and all the way through your career.

Revenge of the nerds?!

A report ranking the best jobs in 2013 is chock full of IT roles, with database administrator, systems analyst, software developer and Web developer achieving rare air.

According to the recent U.S. News and World Report findings, reported on recently in InfoWorld, those positions took up nearly half the “top ten” spots on the list. Computer programmer, IT manager and systems administrator roles cracked the top 25.

The ranking of 100 jobs was based on the hiring demand using U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics findings and scored out through salary, job prospects, growth potential and other factors.

Though these factors don’t universally grade out at the high end for each and every IT job on the list (for example, IT manager roles rank high for stress level, but also top out on potential with a projected 18 percent employment growth rate in the next decade), the “in-your-face” presence of so many IT roles among the upper echelon of this list signals that, indeed, techies are in high demand these days.

Are you behind in newer technologies, or need a fresh career in IT? Look at GogoTraining’s curriculum offerings. Training can move your career in new directions.

Source: CompTIA IT Career Blog

Computer World has completed its survey that evaluates what are the technologies that companies will be implementing in 2013. Responses also showed that one third  say they’ll be hiring additional IT employees. This is a significant improvement – up 5% from last year and 10% from 2010. While 5% doesn’t sound like alot, 5% of 235,500,000 over age 18 US citizens is 11, 775,000; almost 12 million more people will become employed in 2013. Two thirds of those responding said that they’ll be making a major IT purchase or important upgrade. All of this bodes very well for 2013! So let’s see what are the “hot” jobs that the results of the Computer World survey identified:

1. Programming and Application Development  – Companies have held off moving into new technology areas, upgrading their systems and designing new systems, so 2013 is that year that it will happen for two thirds of the companies polled. With all the changes in social media and communications, database enhancements, and networking and VoIP improvements, companies have got to jump on implementation to compete and stay ahead of their competition. The survey indicates that web developers, computer programmers and software engineers will be the most in demand with skills in Java, Java Enterprise Edition (J2EE), .Net and PHP.
2. Project Management – If you’re an experienced project manager without your PMP, you’re doing yourself a disservice. The PMP certification offering through the Project Management Institute (PMI) now comes in a variety of flavors including PgMP (managing programs that include several projects), PMI-RMP (managing risk within programs) and CAPM (project management for entry level managers). This is a consistently good area in which to be involved as the complexity of projects has increased with such variables as outsourced development, connectivity to the web, databases and networks and responsiveness.
3. Help Desk and Technical Support – Are you a Windows 7 geek who can talk to people? It’s your turn! As companies make decisions to move from their “beloved XP” to the “newly loved 7” (they don’t have a choice  – the new cheer heard at Microsoft  is “No support team in 2014” :-)), they will be looking to hire additional talent with a solid understanding of features, problems, patches and glitches of Windows 7, as the volume of calls will increase as it always does with a new OS. The survey shows that in addition to Windows 7, mobile device support and those ever important interpersonal skills are in the hot seat for jobs.
4. IT Security – Yes, we know;  you’ve heard this before…but this time it’s true!  IT Security is moving from the “lip service” category to a truly identified need within many organizations. Skilled Security professionals are needed to deal with the increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks plaguing companies. The losses due to these attacks not only impact revenue streams but reputations as well. Got Security certification along with experience? You’re on your way to a job, my friend!
5. Business Intelligence – Data abounds in all forms: customer feedback, quality management systems, revenue streams, purchasing systems, process control measures…the list goes on, and now with the Cloud, there’s even more data! And someone (actually a bunch of someones) needs to analyze the data, appropriately group the data and present it to management in a usable form. That’s where you can come in! The survey points to areas like Big Data, math and statistics, and a solid understanding of the business along with IT, as being the high demand arena in BI.

Come join us back here at IT CareerCast on Thursday, October 11th for the other 5 hot areas of employment for 2013. I know, you’re waiting with bated breath…..breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out…

Credits: Survey results taken from 2013 Computer World. Additional content taken from posting on IT CareerFinder September 26, 2012.

As part of our March Madness Program we are giving away a course to every 100th person to Register for a Free Account. All you have to do is create a Free Account and tell us which course you would like to win.  This promotion will run through March 2012.  Don’t hesitate, Sign Up for Free TODAY!

Today more than ever knowing more is always the way to go.

Companies are looking for ways to advance and save at the same time.  Outsourcing is big and one of the main reasons for outsourcing is the ability to tap into a field of talent in a heartbeat.  If you want to get or stay employed in today’s economy, you must take the time to master as many technologies as possible and thereby make yourself an invaluable asset to the global market.

So what is the ticket today in the world of programming?

• Java lays the foundation for Android Programming
• Objective C lays the foundation for iOS 5 Programming
• Python is just plain hot

If you are considering becoming a programmer, then C Programming is a good place to start.

If you have any questions you can reach me directly at 877.546.4446 or by email at marianne@gogotraining.com.

Big News!

• FREE Courses NOW available to all GogoTraining Members

• All courses ONLY $397 for 3 more days – you SAVE $200/Course

• Individual users and groups SAVE 45% on 10 Packs – Only $3,276

Have questions?  Call us at 877.546.4446 or Email Us.

GogoTraining spoke with Michael Simpson, one of our leading industry-expert instructors, about technology and his involvement and reflections on the past, present and future.

GogoTraining: What inspired you to get involved in IT?

Michael Simpson: I have been fascinated by music and languages from a very young age, playing piano and violin while growing up.  I’ve always considered music, mathematics and languages just different means of expression — and computing / information technology yet another branch.  I built synthesizers and studied acoustics in college, which further blurred whatever faint divisions there were for me between music and computing. 

GGT: Of all the changes that have happened, which would you say was the biggest so far?

MS: The “democratization” and explosion of information that occurred due to the transformation of the ARPANet into the Internet and the arrival of the World Wide Web.  Today, we take for granted access to information that would have overwhelmed the world’s leaders only two generations ago.

GGT: What was a favorite or most interesting project you worked on, and why?

MS: One of my favorite projects involved interviewing experts to understand how they solved problems, translating those concepts into objects and classes, and representing those objects and classes in C++ (and, later, Java) constructs. I was able to combine programming skills and artificial intelligence skills in a cross-disciplinary technique known as “knowledge engineering.”

GGT: As an expert in Java, what’s a good tip for someone just starting to learn it?

MS: The  language’s syntax mimics that of C or C++, but take a deep breath, realize that it *is* case-sensitive, and understand object-oriented programming concepts and constructs BEFORE you take your first Java class.

GGT: Where do you see Android going in terms of growth and application?

MS: The Android software stack will grow to fill the void left by the gradual withdrawal of Symbian from the smartphone arena.  The development of emerging markets such as China, India, and the African / South American / Asian continents will create a burgeoning market for inexpensive, reliable mobile phones, bypassing landlines entirely.  “Cheap is good,” and free is better.  Android’s cost advantage will make it easier to penetrate those markets on a volume basis than Apple’s iPhone, Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7, or RIM’s BlackBerry.  A second avenue of Android growth will be the “embedded / smart appliance” area — refrigerators that know how to re-order, smart thermostats, better and more reliable car engines and so forth.

GGT: Any tips for those starting to learn Android programming?

MS: The Android stack is designed to run on many different types of devices, so determine what your “target market” is.  Think about your application’s appearance, “look and feel” and behavior before you write a single line of code.  Realize that knowing Java is a necessary, but NOT sufficient, condition of becoming an Android programmer.

GGT: GogoTraining’s Android Development Training Program has Java AND Android programming courses (Java being optional if one already knows it).  What is good to know coming in to the program?

MS:  Each Android application runs in its own miniature Java environment, so you should be proficient at creating, compiling and debugging standalone Java applications before tackling the Android programming courses.

GGT: What other sorts of practice or activity should one do in addition to the training program?

MS: After you go through the Java and Android courses, pick some non-trivial task that would have some value to your organization — organizing or scheduling deliveries, for example — and design and implement it using Android.  Once you’ve gotten the bugs *THOROUGHLY* worked out, show it to your friends, then to your management.  This will act as confirmation of your knowledge, and show your colleagues and supervisors that (A) you got something out of these courses and (B) you turned your new-found knowledge into something of benefit to the company.

GGT: What level of ability can someone expect to have upon completion of that program?

MS: You should have the ability to create, design and implement a small program that can solve or speed up a task whose solution has value to your company.  (A good tip is to think of a task like that while you are taking the course.)

GGT: What’s out there in IT that interests you the most right now?

MS: In the Android world — how Android will fare as vendors try to push it onto tablets.  The iPad and MacBook Air offer stiff competition.

In the non-Android world — security and “neural networks” (how information technology keeps data secure in a world of interconnected networks continually talking to each other, and to humans.)

GGT: What’s next for Michael Simpson?

MS: Finding the next boundary to push.  Seeing what’s over the next hill.  Discovering the next “what if …?”  Come join me!

…

Michael Simpson‘s is a knowledge engineer, developer and instructor with 27 years of experience in technology.  Michael teaches Java, Android and more.

School is in for the summer with Michael Simpson, programming expert and technical instructor, as he brings online video courses coupled with live mentoring sessions during July.

Simpson’s courses are part of nine unique online IT training courses with live mentoring sessions designed to fast-track career advancement opportunities as part of GogoTraining’s Mentor-Accelerated Summer IT Training Program.  The courses are scheduled in July of 2011 only, are affordable for anyone to take, and offer limited seats available.

Michael Simpson’s courses are:

• Introduction to Android Programming: This training course is designed to quickly get you up to speed with writing apps for Android devices. This course will teach you the basis of the Android platform and the application lifecycle. You will be able to write simple GUI applications, use built-in widgets and components, work with the database to store data locally, and much more by the end of this online course.
• Java 6 with Swing & Servlets: This course covers Java 6, an object-oriented programming language specifically created for developing applications that will run on a local-area network (LAN) or on the Internet.  The training teaches you the fundamentals of the Java language and packages. You will be able to use graphical user interfaces to persist information to the file system upon completion of this Java training.  You will also learn how to use databases and Web technologies with Java.  After completing this training course, you will be able to create multi-threaded, networked applications, use generics, access relational databases, and use servlets.

Michael Simpson’s 27-year career as a knowledge engineer, developer and instructor have afforded him the opportunity to develop a unique set of skills for technical training. Mr. Simpson has created almost one hundred weeklong training courses in diverse technical areas and supervised the development of over fifty others.

These courses include the following student experience:

1. WATCH online video course modules (assigned by week).
2. DO hands-on lab work and exercises.
3. ATTEND live, weekly online sessions with instructor.

The live, weekly online sessions allow students to:

1. REVIEW the material watched during the previous week.
2. DISCUSS the material with instructor including any questions.
3. PREVIEW the material for the coming week.

GogoTraining recently released 11 new developer training programs.  One of them, the Java Developer Training Program, is very worth looking into for those who are interested in not only Java development but eventually going into Android mobile app development.

Java is already a very widely used language.  We encounter instances of it being used without even realizing it most of the time.  It’s not only used online.  Java can be found as an embedded system in a wide variety of home, auto and office products.

The job market for Java is truly robust.  A recent search for “java developer” on popular job sites yielded approximately 10,000 open positions.  The current average salary for a Java software or applications developer is $79,135, with senior engineers and architects climbing into $125,000 and more.

The Java Developer Training Program is comprised of six online, self-paced courses.  It includes the GogoTraining Programming Essentials Pack of two initial courses meant for those with no programming background.  Student with a programming background can consider forgoing those first two courses and going right into the C Programming set of two, and then the Java Programming set of two.

Learn more about the Java Develper Training Program, including course details and our very affordable pricing.

GogoTraining has released eleven new self-paced, online training programs designed to allow students with no previous programming knowledge to train for careers in major programming languages.

The training programs are a breakthrough for people with nothing more than general computer skills and familiarity to pursue a career in software.  Similar training programs are either much high in cost or require initial experience and knowledge that exclude most people.

“Our new training programs are geared to open up the market and make programming and software development a viable career option for literally anyone who is interested and has an Internet-capable computer,” said Marianne Cherney, CEO of GogoTraining.  The programs are taught by leading experts with years of experience.  The courses are easy to use and students have access to them for one year following purchase, including the ability to ask the instructor questions.

The programs are also offered at a fraction of the cost compared to other IT training providers with less- than-comparable training programs.  Competing programs are almost never designed for non-programmers and cost upwards of $5,000 to $10,000 or more per student.  Almost all of the GogoTraining Developer Training Programs are very affordably priced between $500 and $800 per person.  Volume discounts are available upon request.

“Recruiting in IT has risen sharply and demand for selections in our 140+ course catalog have skyrocketed, however those without IT skills interested in programming have always has been an underserved market,” said Tim Salam, Director of Marketing for GogoTraining.  “People with business skill sets are looking for a way to enter the lucrative world of software development and this is it.  We have worked hard to meet that market in an affordable and accessible way.”  The programs are also suitable for those seeking to learn additional software languages as the core courses are available to be purchases separately.

Learn more about the GogoTraining Developer Training Program or see one of the specific training programs below:

1. Become a C Developer
2. Become a C# Developer
3. Become a Java Developer
4. Become an Objective-C Developer
5. Become a COBOL Developer
6. Become a SQL Developer
7. Become an Android Developer
8. Become an iPhone Developer
9. Become a Perl Developer
10. Become a Python Developer
11. Become a Ruby Developer