1. Chapter 16 Computer Careers and Certification

2. Chapter 16 Objectives
Describe career opportunities in the computer industry
List the benefits of certification
Discuss how to prepare for a career in the computer industry
Explain considerations for choosing a certification
Define the term certification
Describe methods of preparation for certification
Describe types of IT certification
Discuss features of certification examinations and recertification requirements
Understand how to keep informed about changes in certification
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p.16.2

3. Careers in the Computer Industry
What is the expected demand for computer professionals?
A great demand for computer and information technology (IT) professionals in today’s technology-rich world
Incredible opportunities increase daily as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics
By the year 2006, American businesses and schools will require more than 5.6 million new systems analysts, computer scientists, engineers, and programmers
Nearly 20 percent of the U.S. information technology careers – 800,000 jobs – are are open today
Click to view Web Link
then click Employment Projections
Fewer than three percent of college freshmen are majoring in a computer-related field
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p.16.2

4. Careers in the Computer Industry
What are the four primary areas where job opportunities are found?
Companies that manufacture computer-related equipment (hardware)
Companies the develop software
Companies that hire IT professionals to work with these products
Companies and organizations that provide computer-related training and education
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5. Careers in the Computer Industry
Where can you find information on specific computer-related careers?
Through typical job-searching methods
Career- oriented sites on the World Wide Web
Click to view Web Link
then click Web Resources
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p.16.3 Fig. 16-1

6. Careers in the Computer Industry
What is the computer hardware industry?
Consists of manufacturers and distributors of computers and computer-related equipment
Some are huge organizations with thousands of employees worldwide
Others are start-up companies that appear each year
Often offer stock options to induce college graduates to join their firms
Click to view Web Link then click Benefits
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p.16.4 Fig. 16-2

7. Careers in the Computer Industry
What are some of the more popular job titles in the computer equipment industry?
In larger companies there are several levels to each job title, including management careers
Click to view Web Link
then click Salaries
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p.16.4 Fig. 16-3

8. Careers in the Computer Industry
What are the Web site addresses for some major computer companies?
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p.16.4 Fig. 16-4

9. Careers in the Computer Industry
What is the computer software industry?
Composed of companies that develop, manufacture, and support a wide range of software products
Some companies specialize in a particular type of software product
Others produce and sell multiple software products
operating systems and system software
productivity software
network software
Click to view Web Link
then click Computer Software Industry
software development tools
Internet software and technologies
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10. Careers in the Computer Industry
What are some career opportunities in the software industry?
Involve designing and programming all kinds of software products
Click to view video
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p.16.6 Fig. 16-5

11. Careers in the Computer Industry
What is an IT professional?
Sets up and manages the computer equipment and software in an IT department
Includes programmers and systems analysts
Job titles are not standardized
Click to view video
Click to view Web Link
then click Career Mobility
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p.16.6 Fig. 16-6

12. Careers in the Computer Industry
What are the categories of jobs in an IT department?
system development Analyzes, designs, develops, and implements new information technology and maintains and improves existing systems
management Directs the planning, research, development, evaluation, and integration of technology
technical services Evaluates and integrates new technologies, administers the organization’s data resources, and supports the centralized computer operating system or servers
operations Operates the centralized computer equipment and administers the network including both data and voice communications
end-user computing Assists end users in working with existing systems and in using productivity software and query languages to obtain the information necessary to perform their jobs
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13. Careers in the Computer Industry
What are some of the jobs in a typical IT department?
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p.16.9 Fig. 16-7

14. Technology Trailblazer
Marc Andreesen
While a computer science student, he worked at the University of Illinois’ National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)
Worked with a friend to create NCSA Mosaic, which gave users a user-friendly graphical tool to browse the Web
Later founded Netscape Communications with other NCSA colleagues and developed the Netscape browser
Click to view Web Link
then click Marc Andreesen
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15. Company on the Cutting Edge
divine interVentures
Andrew “Flip’ Filipowski is the head of divine interVentures, an Internet holding company
Goal is to create an Internet Zaibatsu™ community, a family of businesses working collaboratively to create mutual opportunity and gain
Click to view Web Link
then click divine interVentures
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16. Careers in the Computer Industry
What are career opportunities in education and training?
Schools, colleges, universities, and private companies all need qualified instructors
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p Fig. 16-8

17. Careers in the Computer Industry
What are careers in computer sales?
Sales representatives must have a general understanding of computers and a specific knowledge of the product they are selling
Some work directly for hardware and software manufacturers
Others work for resellers, including retailers
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p Fig. 16-9

18. Careers in the Computer Industry
What are some careers in service and repair?
Challenging for individuals who like to troubleshoot and solve problems
Have a strong background in electronics
Click to view Web Link then click Computer Equipment Industry
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19. Careers in the Computer Industry
What is a consultant?
computer selection
An individual who draws upon his or her experiences to give advice to others
Must have strong technical skills in their area of expertise
Must have the people skills necessary to communicate their suggestions effectively to their clients
system design
communications
Click to view video
network design and installation
Click to view Web Link
then click Information Systems Consulting
Web development
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20. Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry
What are the first steps in preparing for a career in the computer industry?
You first must decide on the area in which you are interested
Obtain education in that field
Fastest Growing IT Positions
Click to view Web Link
then click U.S. Commerce Reports
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21. Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry
What Web sites can help you identify prerequisites and opportunities?
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22. Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry
What are the three broad disciplines in higher education that produce the majority of entry-level employees in the computer industry?
Click to view Web Link then click IT Training
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23. Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry
What is an articulation agreement?
Many local community colleges offer the A.A.S. or A.S. degree
Ensures that if you transfer to a college or university from a community college you will receive credit for most of the courses you took at the community college level
Students often transfer to a four-year college or university to complete their B.S. degree
Individuals with advanced degrees in specific fields have a better chance of success
Many computer degree graduates round out their education by obtaining a Masters in Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree
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24. Technology Trailblazer
Jerry Yang
Came to the U.S.A. from Taiwan when he was 10 years old
At Stanford in 1993, he worked with David Filo to create Jerry’s Guide to the World Wide Web, a precursor to Yahoo!
Left Stanford's Ph.D. program to work on their growing company
Click to view Web Link then click Jerry Yang
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25. Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry
What is a trade school?
An alternative to a college or university
Offers programs primarily in the areas of programming and maintenance
Students can complete trade school programs in a shorter time than college or university programs
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26. Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry
How can you plan for career development?
professional organizations
Because of continuous change in the computer field, experts must constantly
keep up to date on industry trends and technologies
develop new skills
increase recognition among peers within their companies
Several ways to keep up to date
certification
professional growth and continuing education activities
Click to view Web Link
then click IT Careers
publications
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27. Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry
What are some organizations for computer professionals?
Computer professionals with common interests and a desire to extend their proficiency have formed computer-related professional organizations
The Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP)
A professional association of programmers, systems analysts, and information processing managers
The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
A scientific and educational organization dedicated to advancing information technology
Click to view Web Link
then click IT Professionals
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28. Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry
What are benefits of a professional organization?
Chapters throughout the U.S., for both professionals and students
Monthly meetings
Publications, including magazines, journals, and books
Workshops, seminars, and conventions
Click to view Web Link then click Professional Organizations
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) that bring together members with shared interests, needs, knowledge, and experience
Programs to help with continuing education needs
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29. Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry
What are the URLs for some professional organizations?
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30. Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry
What is a user group?
A collection of people with common computer equipment or software interests
Meets regularly to share information
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31. Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry
What is professional growth and continuing education?
A way to stay aware of new products and services in the computer industry
books
workshops
events
video-based training
training
seminars
computer-based training (CBT)
conferences
Web-based training (WBT)
conventions
Click to view Web Link
then click Issues
Next
trade shows
instructor-led training
p.16.14

32. Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry
What is COMDEX?
One of the larger technology trade shows in the world
More than 2,100 vendors and 200,000 attendees
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33. Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry
What are computer publications?
A way to stay informed about happenings in the computer industry
Hundreds of publications are available from which to choose
Some cover a wide range of issues
Others are oriented toward a particular topic
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34. Preparing for a Career in the Computer Industry
What are some Web news sites?
Most of the more popular publications have Web sites
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35. What is Computer Certification?
A way for employers to ensure a level of competency, skills, or quality in a particular area
Demonstrates the mastery of a skill set and knowledge base in a specific IT area
Usually obtain certification by passing an examination
Click to view Web Link
then click Certification
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36. What is Computer Certification?
What are some of the benefits of certification?
Proof of professional achievement, a level of competence commonly accepted and valued by the industry
Opportunity for advancement. Certification can be a plus when an employer awards job advancements and promotions
Enhancement of job opportunities. Many employers give preference in hiring to applicants with certification.
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37. What is Computer Certification?
What is a sponsor?
An organization that develops and administers each certification
hardware and software vendors
independent training companies
professional organizations
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38. Types of Computer Certification
How are certifications classified?
Usually classified based on the computer industry to which they are most closely related
software applications
operating systems
programming
hardware
networking
Internet
database systems
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39. A Guide to Computer Certification
What are software applications certifications?
Certify the proficiency of productivity software users
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40. A Guide to Computer Certification
Who may be interested in software certification?
desktop publishers
Helpful to anyone who works in the computer industry
draftspeople
graphical designers
layout editors
office managers/workers
photographers
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41. A Guide to Computer Certification
What are operating systems certifications?
Certifications represent several different knowledge levels
Focus on particular skills – the user, the operator, the system administrator, and the system engineer
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42. A Guide to Computer Certification
Who may be interested in operating systems certification?
computer consultants
Beneficial for occupations such as an operating system administrator or engineer
May also benefit from networking, hardware, and Internet certifications
hardware technicians
help desk operators
system administrators
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43. A Guide to Computer Certification
What are programming certifications?
Usually supported with training programs that prepare applicants for the certification test
Programmers can add to their skill base
Tied closely to certifications in networking and Web design, which can broaden employment opportunities
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44. A Guide to Computer Certification
Who may be interested in programming certification?
ActiveX, Perl, or Java programmers
Programmers may also benefit from certifications in networking an Web design
Network administrators
Oracle database managers
Programming consultants
SQL programmers
Web page designers
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45. A Guide to Computer Certification
What are hardware certifications?
Vary in scope from a narrow focus with an emphasis on the repair of a specific device to an integrated hardware solution that addresses a company's current and future computing needs
Implies that you have achieved a standard of competence in assessing a company's hardware needs
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46. A Guide to Computer Certification
Who may be interested in hardware certification?
Cable installation technicians
Personal computer consultants
Hardware specialists may also benefit from networking and operating system software certifications
Personal computer field technicians
Personal computer help desk specialists
Personal computer repair technicians
Personal computer trainers
System engineers and administrators
Technology coordinators
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47. A Guide to Computer Certification
What are certifications in networking?
Implies that you have achieved a standard of competence, enabling you to address the complex issues that arise when planning, installing, managing, and troubleshooting a network
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48. A Guide to Computer Certification
Who may be interested in networking certification?
Network managers
Hardware service technicians
System administrators
Network consultants
Help desk personnel
Networking engineers
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49. A Guide to Computer Certification
What are Internet certifications?
Require technical expertise in networking hardware and network configuration before enrollment in the training program
For people interested in designing, implementing, and maintaining Web sites
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50. A Guide to Computer Certification
Who may be interested in Internet certification?
Those working in an Internet-related occupation can benefit from certifications in hardware, networking, operating systems, and programming
Internet and intranet managers
Internet service provider staff
Java, Perl, or ActiveX programmers
Network administrators
Web page designers
Webmasters
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51. Company on the Cutting Edge
RealNetworks
Producer of RealPlayer®, the fourth most popular application among U.S. home users
One of the 20 most popular Internet destinations
Software delivers audio, video, and other multimedia services to personal computers
Formats used in 85 percent of Web pages using streaming media
Click to view Web Link
then click RealNetworks
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52. A Guide to Computer Certification
What are database systems certifications?
For professional staff supporting a large database system
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53. A Guide to Computer Certification
Who may be interested in database certification?
Database specialists
Database application developers
Database administrators
Database designers
Database analysts
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p.16.22

54. Certification Benefits
What is a primary benefit of certification?
IT certification can enhance employees’ careers and provide them with a better standing as industry professionals
Certification can increase salary
Microsoft’s Fifth Annual Salary Survey
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55. Certification Benefits
What are benefits of certification?
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56. Certification Benefits
What are benefits of vendor-sponsored certifications?
Often provide special access to technical and product information
secure online electronic resources
special technical support
automatic notification of updates
access to beta products and early releases
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57. Certification Benefits
Who are other beneficiaries of certification?
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58. Choosing a Computer Certification
What are factors to consider in choosing a certification?
Reflect on your career goals and interests
Consider your long term career path
Assess your background and experience
Research certifications
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59. Preparing for Computer Certification
What options are available to prepare for certification?
self-study
Most certification programs do not require academic coursework
Test results determine certification entirely
Most people prefer to follow a study program to prepare for the test
online training classes
instructor-led training
Click to view Web Link
then click Loans
Web resources
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60. Preparing for Computer Certification
What is self-study?
Click to view Web Link
then click Self-Study
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61. Preparing for Computer Certification
What are online training classes?
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p Fig and Fig

62. Preparing for Computer Certification
What is instructor-led training?
Click to view Web Link
then click Instructor-Led Training
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63. Preparing for Computer Certification
What are Web resources?
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64. Computer Certification Examinations
How can you find a testing center?
Authorized testing centers provide most certification exams
Certification sponsors often have a link to the testing company's site
At the training company’s site, you can locate test centers near you
Sylvan Prometrics
prometric.com
Virtual University Enterprises
vue.com
e-certifications
tekmetrics.com
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65. Computer Certification Examinations
What are examinations like?
Examinations are taken using computers
Processes the results as you take a test
Most are in a multiple-choice format
Click to view Web Link
then click Examinations
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66. Computer Certification Examinations
What is computerized adaptive testing (CAT)?
These tests analyze a person’s responses while taking the test
The number and order of the test questions are modified to correspond to each individual’s progress and demonstrated ability
If you do not pass a certification exam, you must pay the fee again to retake the test
Most people opt to review before trying to take the test again
Some training centers offer a guarantee for their program
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67. Career Development after Computer Certification
How can professionals keep pace with the computer industry?
They must maintain and continually monitor technological developments
Sponsors often provide restricted- access Web resources specifically for certificate holders
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p Fig

68. Summary of Computer Careers and Certification
Careers in the computer industry
Preparing for a career in the computer industry
What is computer certification?
Types of computer certification
A guide to computer certification
Certification benefits
Choosing a computer certification
Preparing for computer certification
Computer certification examinations
Career development after computer certification

69. Chapter 16 Complete