Launching your IT Career By Ko Chit (MITP) MITP Webinar Series 12/26/2018

Agenda Introduction Understanding IT field Building IT Foundation Knowledge Finding your IT passion Creating your experience Other important skills (non-IT) Requirements for IT Entry/Intermediate Jobs Current IT Job market and trend Internet-based Freelance IT Job opportunities Conclusion and Q&A MITP Webinar Series 12/26/2018

Introduction Presenter’s background Target audience Presentation time 18 years of IT experience (Consultant, Entrepreneur, and MITP Co-founder) currently work at Deloitte Consulting (based out of San Jose, CA, USA) Education/Certification: MBA, MS, PMP, CSM Target audience IT Students, Beginners of IT Career, IT Pro “want-to-be” Presentation time 30 minutes MITP Webinar Series 12/26/2018

Understanding IT field IT is a general / broad filed (and evolving and expending field) Work very closely with other subjects/disciplines (e.g. engineering, business) Have many branches Information System/Management Computer Science/Engineering Software Engineering Network Engineering Bioinformatics Etc. MITP Webinar Series 12/26/2018

Build your IT Foundation Knowledge and skills (no matter what role you are going to do) Computer Programming Object Oriented Analysis and Design Data Communication / Internetworking Relational Database Management Computer Hardware / System Architecture MITP Webinar Series 12/26/2018

Find your IT passion: What kind of IT person are you? Love code? Programmer, developer Prefer creative work? UI designer , Web designer Play with system/network? System admin, webmaster, Network technician Like to fix technical problem? Technical Support, service technician Want to know big picture, underlying processes, and business value? System analyst, business analyst Passion to lead a team? Team lead, Project Manager MITP Webinar Series 12/26/2018

Create your story/ Build your profile (own experience) Find somewhere you can practice what you learn You can’t get a job create one How? Start an open source project, offer free technical support to school’s computer lab, design a website for monastery, etc. Try to focus one area and go through a full cycle Example – Free Web Site Project Document client’s requirement, design, develop, and test the new site, implement/host the site to go-live, modify/change as needed after upload, get feedback from client And ask the client that you will list his/her website as your project in your CV or profile MITP Webinar Series 12/26/2018

Other important skills for IT Professional Communication skill (English Language – at least intermediate level reading/writing/speaking) People / soft-skill (able to work with team) Basic business functions (finance, HR, marketing, etc.) Basic research skill (we use Google a lot , comparing tools/technology etc.) People/professional networking skill (meeting new people, making connection) MITP Webinar Series 12/26/2018

What is a typical requirement for entry to intermediate level IT job? An ideal candidate has: A degree or equivalent training 1-2 years of work experience 1-2 entry level professional certification (optional) Can’t generalize which one is more important than other (it’s depend on employer/country/project) Should have a degree (at least will help you to qualify to apply for the job since most jobs will ask for it) 1-2 years of work experience (could be your part-time project, open source contribution, freelance work for your friend, but at least you show that you have applied the knowledge/skill you have leant in real work setting) 1-2 entry level professional certification (show that you are committed to learning and developing yourself) MITP Webinar Series 12/26/2018

Knowing type of jobs that are in high demand Web Developer Web / UI Designer System Administrator / Webmaster Software Engineer/Programmer Software Tester/QA engineer Tech/Network Support Technician IT Business Analyst IT Project Team Lead (Tech + Business) MITP Webinar Series 12/26/2018

Understanding IT Jobs and market trend Find many different Job titles / opportunities IT Project Manager, IT Business Analyst, IT Trainer, IT engineer, Programmer, Technical Support, Webmaster, UI Designer, Network Engineer, System Engineer, Application Specialist, and so many more (never ending) Is a global profession Similar language we speak (mean IT language) Same skill-set and background requirements Transferable from one country to another IT workforce is becoming global workforce (offshore) Our world (everywhere) needs many highly skilled IT professionals (no matter how our economy is and how we are doing with the recession, there is always shortage for skilled IT workforce) It can be up and down (roller coaster ride), but you are stick with IT, you will thrive for sure MITP Webinar Series 12/26/2018

Project-based Freelance Job Opportunities If you have a good IT skill, good Internet connection, and good English (at least read/write well) you are in luck! In today’s world, thousands of IT jobs are done by freelancers working remotely Check out oDesk.com Elance.com Guru.com MITP Webinar Series 12/26/2018

Conclusion Build your IT foundation Knowledge Apply your knowledge and transform into skill-set Create your own experience / Profile Reach out to other professionals / Network Improve communication skill and other Start making some real $$$ online MITP Webinar Series 12/26/2018

Q&A Sample questions Thanks! I am a talented programmer. Do I really need a degree? How can I get a job oversea (SG)? How can I find out more about freelance job opportunities? Thanks! MITP Webinar Series 12/26/2018