Moderator:
Welcome to today's Education Marketplace discussion with Janice Glenar. Janice, thank you for joining us, and please get us started by describing the current state of the tech job market.
Janice Glenar: Thank you and washingtonpost.com for this opportunity to tell you about the technology job market, career training, and GW's Center for Professional Development.
The tech job market continues to be very active as more and more companies are moving to the Web for commerce, information, and normal business operations. Employers are in so much need for people with technical knowledge that the field is still wide open--even for those who are contemplating moving into this field.
Silver Spring, MD:
Janice, you say there are misperceptions about the tech workforce shortage. What are they? Thank you.
Janice Glenar: The most common misperception is that people with no technical skills or experience can win employment at all levels of job opportunities. With a strong employment history and diversity of experiences, a non-technical person will be considered for many jobs--not just entry-level. Another misperception is that training cannot substitute for experience. In fact, many employers are looking for fast learners who are motivated to enter at a somewhat lower level than they enjoyed in another field, but to learn on the job. Many employers also prefer to train new employees themselves. But a survey done by the Information Technology Association of America shows that employers still prefer to hire employees with technical training over those with none, despite their business background.
Beltsville:
I just received a Master in Public Admin. and would like to shift to Technology. I would like to consult federal and local governments in database design and development. Currently I am taking a few tech courses (mainly in database design) and I would like to get an Oracle certificate. Would the certificate be worth it considering I have no experience currently? I have been told that employers will train so it doesn't matter what I do not know. Is that true?
Janice Glenar: Great followup question to my last reply. Your Master's degree will make a difference, and you've picked one of the best areas to focus on for your career. Databases are behind everything in information management (business infrastructure) as well as in support of customer interface and service. I would advise you to take some courses in system architecture, networking and application development that relate to web site architecture or you will find your options limited. Yes, employers will hire you and train you, but the broader your knowledge of this entire are of web databases, the higher level of position you will qualify for. Oracle professionals are in such high demand that they are the most likely to be hired without experience. Good luck!
Upper Marlboro, MD:
Most of my work experience has been as an administrative assistant. How can I qualify for a job in Web Page desgin or perhaps in another IT field?
Janice Glenar: I'd like to answer this question next since it is so closely related to the last one. You obviously realize that a job related to the Web is the most promising. And particularly if you are creative, which most office administrators need to be, you will find web design most interesting for you. As in all career advice, you still need to work towards a career that interests you, not just seems the most popular or in which you can make the most money! Start with HTML, scripting and multimedia--then you will know what you like best and can plan the rest of your training from there. At our Center for Professional Development, we offer beginning to advanced courses, tool-specific and broad area-based, for entry level positions aned those for experienced professionals who realize they need to continue their learning to keep up-to-date and multi-talented to advance their careers. Good luck!
Arlington, VA:
In the October issue of ComputerWorld, Frank Hayes' article "Beating IT age bias" talks about folks over forty who find themselves competing with "fresh-from-school kids and IT guest workers for jobs they claim that older IT people can't fill." Frank Hayes advises one to learn the new technology and to keep skills up-to-date. However, this can be time consuming and costly, depending on the particular skills one is trying to obtain. Which companies and types of fields offer the most opportunities for people where time is not on their side?
Janice Glenar: I'm glad you asked this question. Older workers continue to be discriminated against--even in this technology workforce shortage. It is not fair. But there are companies who recognize the value of someone with years of experience across many fields, so you need to research companies who have and will hire "mature" individuals. This will not be easy, but I would look for small to medium-sized firms where wearing many hats is a great advantage! Most large companies do the college recruitment thing and provide gobs of in-house training. You need to explore what in the field of technology interests you by taking some broad courses that compare and contrast different fields. I want to refer you to our website (Information Technology Program) for those introductory courses, and to the headhunter.com website for more support on how to conduct job research. I think you will find these very helpful. And, of course, I would be happy to converse with you (anyone on this forum today) by email at jglenar@gwu.edu.
Boston, MA:
I am a mainframe capacity planner with about 15 years of experience. I also have done UNIX capacity planning. The problem is that mainframe people are really looked down upon. People in other computer related jobs with a lot less experience make a lot more money and get things like bonuses and better pay raises. I like what I am doing but I do want respect which mainframe people do not get today.
I would like to branch out and do something like Web performance and capacity. How should I do such a transition? Go back to school (I have a BS in Math and MS in comp sci) or get a certificate. My company won’t help. Web stuff is outsourced and when I tried to go to a seminar on web performance it was denied.
Janice Glenar: It is so unfortunate that some companies do not realize the human resource value that they have and do not help motivated employees to continue their learning and branch out into something new. Congratulations on your attitude! You are on the right track with your interest in web performance and capacity. You definitely don't need another degree. That is why we offer professional certificates so you can get just the skill-set and knowledge you need. There's a place for degrees, but in your case I would recommend our system architecture for e-commerce and e-commerce security courses. You may decide to complete an e-commerce certificate, or a more specialized one such as System and Network Management for E-Business or Network Security. E-commerce nearly equals Security, so you might decide to focus on this very-popular area. Don't worry--you can leverage your mainframe background in the area of data storage and enterprise application integration.
Chantilly,Virginia:
I have 12 years of computer support experience and I am finding it harder to keep my skills current. What courses, or technical school classes are best for the computer market today?
My experience is hardware repair and Helpdesk support managment. How can I keep my skills current is my employer is not willing to help ?? - keep in mind, I have three children and limited time.
Janice Glenar: Wow, you have a high-stress job. And helpdesk support and customer service, particularly, for network call centers are a burgeoning field. We offer a helpdesk management certificate that could help you update your skills and move into a management position. But I would also recommend that you learn about the Web, the Internet Protocol, and general networking so you can branch out into network management or security (especially if you like hardware troubleshooting). But if you like the people interface part, you should look at training and/or web design and development because more and more jobs are being created to help people update content on a website (instead of centralizing it) and/or to manage customer service or back-office business operations via interactive interfaces where understanding the architecture will be a great asset. Many of our programs are self-paced so you can take one course at a time if you need to balance your family life with work and school. But remember that making a little sacrifice now will pay huge dividends down the road. If you keep doing what you've been doing, you'll keep getting what you've got!
Arlington, VA:
What are a few of the best certificate courses to take given the direction Washington's tech jobs are headed?
Janice Glenar: Nice broad question--thank you! The short answer is anything to do with the Web. That could be networking, security, website design, application development, database administration/management. Again, it depends on your interests--and you want to leverage whatever background you do have. The shortest path to an entry-level job is database administration because there is great demand, the job market is broad (small to large companies all have this need), and it is very focused. The longest path is security because you need a networking background first, but the workforce shortage is greatest in this area. Web design, moving into development, then into programming, is a very sequential process with great jobs all along the way. I think it has the broadest options.
Poolesville, MD:
I am a recent recipient of a certificate in Graphic Design with Computers from Montgomery College and want to get into Web design. I have even taken some programming courses and have done voluntary Web design for a couple of non-profit groups. All of this is on my resume. But I can't seem to even get a nibble of interest. Is it because the competition is too high in Montgomery County? Thank you for your advice.
Janice Glenar: My field is technology and marketing, not career counseling, per se. But I do think you are just not doing enough company research. You need to find out--through informational interviews or attending job fairs--what kinds of jobs are available in your preferred area. But don't rely on job ads--either in print or on the web. Ask anyone you know who has a friend in the web development or tech support areas of a company for a referral to just ask questions! The link I provided to headhunter. com explores these avenues of job search well--I think you'll find great advice. You were smart to do some volunteer work--getting experience of any kind on your resume is important. I assume you have developed a website as a demonstration of your skills. Be sure to refer prospective employers to that example. Keep at it--I'm sure you'll find a place to begin.
Bethesda, MD:
Will there still be a demand for MSCEs if I enroll for training now and finish within a year or less?
Janice Glenar: There will always be a need for MCSEs, but you have probably guessed that they are not as popular as before. I think that getting certified in the Windows 2000 environment, however, will become popular again. Many professionals with an NT 4.0 background are able to get up to speed on the new Windows version, but the move to Windows 2000 has really just begun. I would try to get a job before you finish the program. We do provide some job search assistance here at GW and many of our students get jobs because of referrals from their instructors in the program. Adding Cisco certification (even a course or two) to the MCSE will greatly enhance your job possibilities.
Bowie, MD:
How critical is certification?
Janice Glenar: Certification is becoming more popular as a way for employers to narrow the applicant pool. I believe that is not only because of the skillset that is certified, but because it shows that the prospective employee is motivated to learn and self-disciplined. The catch with certification is that the tests are really tough in the beginning, but after awhile there are more and more test-prep books and sample exams, and more knowledge about what the exams cover. So, sometimes the certification is only worth the paper it's on. I encourage you to select a training program that teaches you how to perform the job--not just to pass the test. And then demonstrate that when you are applying and interviewing for a job. Of course, some fields do not have certifications, or more than one which means that it is still unknown which will carry the most value in a year or so, but I would still encourage you to seek certification at any level--even if it is just one exam in a Microsoft technology, for example, which will qualify you as a Microsoft professional. One of the added benefits of that is that you will have access to Microsoft's (or whatever vendor's) web resources to keep up-to-date on trends and technologies. Just be prepared to support your certification with real evidence that you know how to apply what you learned.
Janice Glenar: Thanks to all of you who joined us for this discussion today. I wish all of you the best in pursuing your educational goals and career objectives.
Moderator:
Our thanks to Janice Glenar, The George Washington University and all who participated.
Yes, there really is a technology workforce shortage. But there are some misperceptions out there. GWU's Janice Glenar answered questions about what jobs are in most demand, how you qualify for them, education vs. experience, and how you can best position yourself in a particular market.
