Gaining a Competitive Edge A Special Lecture, Brought to You by the Oracle Academy

Presentation Available facebook.com/thinkquest academy.oracle.com

Today’s Agenda Introduce Oracle and what it does. Discuss how globalization has affected the 21 st century workplace. Detail the skills that are most necessary for success in today’s workplace. Present how you can transform your existing assignments into a technology portfolio that impresses. Challenge and motivate you to do what it takes to become job-ready.

Oracle Overview Co-founded in 1977 by Larry Ellison Leader in enterprise software and hardware products # 1 provider of database software (43% market share) 370,000 customers in 145 countries 108,000 employees, including 29,000 developers & engineers 10 million developers in Oracle online communities 2+ million students supported/year

Oracle Overview Industry# of Companies Aero and Defense10 of top 10 organizations Education and Research20 of top 20 universities Communications20 of top 20 service providers Life Sciences20 of top 20 pharmaceuticals Travel20 of top 20 airlines Financial Services10 of top 10 global banks Retail20 of top 20 retailers #1 in 50 product or industry categories

The Internet changed everything.

Centralized Product Development

Distributed Product Development

The global economy raised the competitive bar for workers.

Not just by a few inches…

By several feet.

The Global Economy

How Do You Compete? +- Obtain a degree in a growing field. Global competition is fierce. Understand the skills employers want. Unemployment is 9.2% in the US 1. Don’t be passive. Actively develop your skills! 1 Source: June 2011, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trading EconomicsBureau of Labor StatisticsTrading Economics

Technology Skills Critical Thinking Skills Communication Skills

Top Technology-related Skills SQL Unix C, GCC, C++ Java, JavaScript Exchange MS WinNT/2k/XP XML, XSLT, XHTML HTML, CSS PHP, ASP, CFM Solaris Perl AJAX TCP/IP Linux AIX Novell Python IRIX Flash Dreamweaver

Career Options for IT Students Career PathsPossible Career Opportunity Information Support and Services Computer information systems manager Database administrator Help-desk specialist Programming and Software Development Computer software engineer Applications programmer Computer programmer Web and Digital Communication Graphic artist Web designer Webmaster Network SystemsNetwork administrator PC support specialist Security administrator

Mapping Technology Skills to Careers Career PathTechnology Skills Information Support and Services Database administrator SQL, Unix, PL/SQL, Oracle Open Office, XML, Solaris, Programming and Software Development Applications programmer Java, JavaScript, C, C++, GCC, Perl, Python, SQL, PL/SQL, VB Web and Digital Communication Web designer JavaScript, HTML, CSS, XML, XSLT, PHP, Flash, Dreamweaver

Example: Software Developer Requirements Technology Skills B.S./M.S. or Ph.D. degree in engineering, computer science, or related field. Experience programming in C++ & Java (required), as well as other languages (preferred). Strong technical skills, including understanding of algorithms, systems architecture, and end-user experience. Critical Thinking Skills Strong problem-solving and analytical skills. Experience solving complex problems & managing complex project schedules. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Communication/Collaboration Skills Strong written and verbal communication skills. The ability to collaborate effectively with remote team members.

How Do You Compete? +- Obtain a degree in a growing field. Global competition is fierce. Understand the skills employers want. Unemployment is 9.2% in the US 1. Don’t be passive. Actively develop your skills! 1 Source: June, 2011, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trading EconomicsBureau of Labor StatisticsTrading Economics

Developing Your Skills Microsoft Imagine Cup IBM Battle of the Brains Google Programming Contest CES Apps for Innovation HASTAC Digital Media & Learning Competition

ThinkQuest Application Development Competition Form a team of 1-6 students and 1 coach. Select a problem to solve. Produce an interactive application or game that elegantly solves the problem. Use the programming languages, software and development environments of your choice. Compete in one of two age divisions: – – 17 & Under.

ThinkQuest Application Development Competition Entries must be in English. Resources are available on thinkquest.org.thinkquest.org Competition closes on April 25, Test your skills on an international stage.

Prizes Winners attend ThinkQuest Live. – Experience Oracle OpenWorld with 42,000 global professionals. – Receive face-to-face mentoring from top software architects, developers, and usability experts. – Develop friendships with peers from around the world. – Participate in educational workshops. – Be honored at a red-carpet gala with Oracle executives. Winning team members receive laptop computers.

Internship Opportunity with the Oracle Education Foundation Students 18 and older who finish in the top 10% are eligible to apply for a paid internship. Interns hone business and technology skills in one of three areas: – Marketing Strategy – Technology Strategy – Applied Technology

Additional Prizes Teams that finish in the top 10% will be eligible to receive certificates of distinction. The 10 schools that engage the most teams win $5,000 USD. All teams that submit entries will be eligible to receive certificates of participation. “Winning the ThinkQuest Competition gave me an edge and helped me secure a job as a Software Developer right out of college.” Shakeeb

Java, JavaScript, Flash, Dreamweaver Application Development Algebrain Application Development Collegiacook Application Development InternsInc University of Virginia, B.S., Computer Science PL/SQL, PHP, Oracle Application Express Ben’s Resume

Dear Mr. Williams, I would like to apply for your open software developer position. Attached is my resume. I possess a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Virginia. In addition to completing my college course requirements over the past four years, I developed the following applications using Java, JavaScript, PHP, PL/SQL, Oracle 10g Express Edition, Oracle Application Express, Dreamweaver, and Flash. Alegebrain is an interactive game that helps students master Algebra. is a web application that enables college students to apply for summer internships with employers. Collegiacook is an online library that helps college students make healthy eating choices. Please feel free to peruse these applications. If you like what you see, I would be happy to discuss with you my qualifications for your position. Regards, Ben

Further Opportunities to Develop Skills Demonstrate job readiness through other endeavors. – Campus/community activities – Clubs and organizations – Professional associations Identify a problem and develop a solution. Add the solution to your portfolio. Impress potential employers.