Despite innovations, disruptions, and rapid changes, IT is one industry that continues to survive and thrive

Contrary to popular misconceptions, the information technology sector is flourishing and will continue to employ skilled workers in large numbers. Factors like automation and new technologies only open new opportunities for your IT career path.

Technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and robotics, scientific advancements like space exploration and medical procedures, provide tremendous opportunities for IT experts.

For IT professionals in the US who are scared of outsourcing, fear not! Most of the outsourced jobs are mundane, repetitive jobs which will be automated sooner or later.

However, the innovative IT jobs are on the rise. In addition, there are numerous opportunities for someone who is a tech wizard.

If you’re interested in knowing what an IT professional’s career path looks like, keep reading….

It’s difficult but interesting

Working in the IT industry is not a cakewalk. But then, nor is it in any other industry!

If you have an affinity for technology and enjoy working on new complex challenges, the IT industry is for you.

You might have heard numerous stories of IT professionals who work day and night in their offices without even the time to go home just for a few hours.

It’s true. There are times when they have to slog and stretch. However, what most of the people ignore is the fact that a large number of people in this industry are highly passionate about their job. They enjoy their work more than anything else, which is the reason for their sustainability and growth despite the work pressure.

Working in the IT industry lets you apply your analytical mind, logic, and creativity.

If you want to become a successful IT professional, you must have passion, persistence and stamina.  If you do, success will be yours.

Career paths in the IT industry

Information technology is a vast industry with 100s of specialties. Some are discussed here:

Database Administrator

Big Data’s a revolution. Every enterprise generates massive volumes of data through its customer interactions, which is needed for analytics. This is where a DBA plays a key role.

Graphic Design

It’s where the creativity meets technology. If you’re a skilled artist, becoming a graphic designer is the right career for you.

Video Game Developer and Tester

Advancements in technology and graphic designing have made video games more sophisticated than ever. There’s tremendous scope as a games developer or tester.

Animator

Animators get to show their skills to a far greater extent now than ever. From animated movies to live action films, and advertisements and games, animation offers tremendous scope.

IT Security

The advancements in IT have also increased the threats. Viruses and malware are pretty common, and there’s always a requirement for more skilled IT security professionals to deal with the threats.

Programming and Coding

Coding shall never be out of the fashion. Most of the top entrepreneurs such as Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerburg started out as coders. There’s immense scope in this field.

Project Manager

This comes as an advanced career path once you’ve moved up the ladder in the IT industry. As a project manager, you get to manage people and entire projects.

Conclusion

IT industry continues to offer significant scope for those who are willing to work hard and smart. Learn IT courses and programming languages online to move one step ahead towards building an exciting career in the IT industry.  If you’re looking to begin a new career, browse our course catalog and see how easy it is to get started in an IT career.

Python powers some of the most popular online sites such as YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.  Millions of high-traffic websites use Python because it is unarguably the program with the most intuitive syntax.

To understand this let’s take a look at the “Hello World” snippet below, written in Python and other popular programming languages.

Java Programming

1. class hello {
2. public static void main(String []args){
3. System.out.println(“Hello World”);
4. }
5. }

C Programming

1. #include <stdio.h>
2. main() {
3. printf(“Hello World”);
4. }

Python Programming

1. print “Hello World”

Here are some useful tips to get started with Python:

Pick up the right version

Python has two existing versions, Python 2 and Python 3. As a beginner, you may not be able to differentiate between the two versions. However, do some research and find out the right version for you. Python 3 is the significantly improved version of Python 2. But, since many developers didn’t like Python 3, they went back to Python 2, so you will find applications based on both the versions.  Choose your version carefully so that you don’t need to switch it later.

Use Python interpreter

Install Python interpreter and use it extensively. The interpreter will read instructions and execute commands. It also gives instructions on how the code should be executed. The interpreter is mainly needed to run the code you write.

Check this example of an online Python interpreter: http://mathcs.holycross.edu/~kwalsh/python/

As you can see,the interpreter reads the instructions, asks for inputs (the commands) and returns an answer. It helps you understand how your code is working. If the code has an error, it will highlight the same.

Don’t mess with indentations

If you have ever worked with a programming language, you know how a small mistake in coding can lead to a failure of the entire program and leads to endless frustration. In Python, indentations or Tabs, play a crucial role in the coding. An unintentional ‘tab’ while writing the code can lead to a never ending loop. So, plan and organize your code appropriately. Don’t use an indentation unless it is a must!

Join communities

Online communities provide a great opportunity to learn programming and share experiences. Join active Python communities and participate frequently. Ask senior members when you are stuck on something. Check out the problems, solutions, and code which are shared by other members. Always try to write fewer lines of codes for achieving complex programming goals. Unlike other programming languages, Python is quite straightforward and will enable you to learn to code efficiently and bring ideas to life using fewer lines of codes.

Invest in Your Education

There are plenty of resources on the internet on Python programming. Some of them are free while others are premium courses with active support from the service. If you are serious about making a career in Python development, you need to choose the resources carefully. Premium online training programs come with an organized step-by-step training methodology that saves time and teaches you the best practices of coding. Also, expert trainers bring with them years of industry experience. They can guide you through the application of concepts in various contexts and real-world situations. Therefore, it is advisable to invest in training and development to perfect your technical skills in Python to understand the applications of concepts in various contexts.

Conclusion

Attention to details sets excellent programmers apart from the crowd. Anyone can learn the syntax and write hundreds of lines of code. However, you need to plan your project and develop the right strategies to turn concepts into reality. Python is a high-level programming language that can be used to solve many business challenges. Learning this programming language can significantly boost your career. So, it is wiser to invest in a good Python training program and learn it like a boss to become a True Python professional.

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.

The world of training has changed. Used to be you had find a location offering a course, travel to take the course and pay $2,000 or more to take the course. These days are gone. It is time to say goodbye to expensive, time consuming classroom courses and hello to the affordable, online 24/7 experts at GogoTraining.

Shake It UP!

Management at GogoTraining has over 50 years experience delivering instructor-led classroom training.  About 3 years ago we were asked to put instructor-led classroom courses online 24/7 for less than $600/course.  The deal was that the courses HAD TO be written and taught by top experts.  The courses HAD TO be identical to their classroom equivalent AND they HAD TO include the ability to interact with the instructors.

The Solution

Enter the GogoTraining interactive platform where you can take courses that cost $2,500 to $4,000 in the classroom for under $600/course from the same great course authors and instructors who teach these courses in the classroom.

Free Training Resources

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Android…AIX…Business Intelligence…COBOL…DB2…iPhone…ITIL…Linux…Mobile Apps…Oracle…Python…and More!

Your friends at GogoTraining!     www.GogoTraining.com 877.546.4446

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.

Hiring Linux Pro’s in 2012 is a top priority for 8 of of 10 hiring managers says the 2012 Dice/The Linux Foundation hiring manager survey.  Key highlights include:

• 8 out of 10 hiring managers need to hire Linux Pro’s
• 85% of them are having a hard time finding Linux Pro’s to hire
• Companies are doing everything they can from better salaries to bonuses and perks to keep their current Linux talent
• Mid-level Linux developers and system administrators are in most demand.

If you are considering a move into Linux or want to up your current Linux skills, here is a list of courses taught by great Linux professionals:

• Hands-On Embedded Linux – New vLearning Format!
• Linux Device Drivers: Programming at the Kernel Level
• Red Hat Linux Essentials – New vLearning Format!
• Red Hat Linux Network Administration – New vLearning Format!
• Red Hat Linux System Administration Part 1 – New vLearning Format!
• Red Hat Linux System Administration Part 2 – New vLearning Format!

If you have any questions, be sure to give me a call at 1.877.546.4446 x 102 or send me an email to marianne@gogotraining.com.

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.

Limited seats are available for two courses in July that include online video course material combined with weekly, 2-hour live mentoring sessions with the instructor.

The courses are introductory training for programming, including the following:

• Programming for Non-Programmers: This course presents programming skills to the nonprogrammer. By the end of the course you will be creating programs to calculate square roots, asking for input from the user and moving graphics objects around the screen. This course hopes to prepare you for continuing your programming skills by moving onto other more traditional programming languages.
• Introduction to C Programming: Introduction to C Programming Part 1 and Part 2 mentored online training introduces you to the C programming language. You will start with the layout of a C program and venture into control statements, loops, functions and basic I/O. Your development skills will continue in Part 2, where you will learn more complex data types such as arrays, structures and pointers. Solid programming techniques will continue to be emphasized.

The 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.

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.

Register today as seats are limited and filling up!

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.