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Interview: Skill Inventory for Computing Careers

I was offered to interview two experts in the computing field as an opportunity for job seekers and students alike. Job seekers in computing careers need to calculate carefully. It is important to take coursework, but successful careers require fundamental skills. There were some important take-a-ways to focus on Part I of this interview with Ed Hill and Bob Bunge, both DeVry University Professors:

1) The importance of perpetual learning and growing within his or her profession

2) For young people to grasp and remain vigilant of the changing trends occurring from year to year, not just by graduation

3) It is not enough to just have course work. Fundamental skills like Math should be a strength, especially graduates from High School going into his or her freshman year in college

Ed Hill is a professor in the College of Engineering and Information Sciences at DeVry University in Miramar, Fla. Before joining DeVry in 2002, he served as the vice president of information systems at FSD, Inc. in Miami, Fla. Hill holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southern Methodist University and a master’s degree in computer information systems from the University of Miami.

Robert (Bob) Bunge is an associate professor in the College of Engineering and Information Sciences at DeVry University. He has nearly ten years of teaching experience in computer information systems, network security and simulation development. As a cyber security and cloud computing expert, Bunge has presented on various subjects at numerous events, including the NWSec Conference and the Washington Association for Skilled and Technical Sciences Conference. Careers are growing in the areas of cyber security and cloud computing, learn more at www.devry.edu/knowhow.

Q: How do students approach you as they are interested in cloud computing other than signing up for classes?

Ed: Students are generally aware of the big trends in information technology including the explosion of cloud computing and mobile technology. It’s definitely an area of interest for them. They tend to focus on technologies that they have heard of, and may not be looking at trends that will impact the industry over the next few years while they are in school.

Q: What must a young person be prepared for while training and being educated in 2012?
Bob: Be prepared for everything to change multiple times during your career. Learn how to learn. You will have many jobs. You will probably work in industries that do not even exist yet.

Ed: The important thing about starting school in 2012 is to realize that you will be graduating in 2015-2016. That’s an eternity in “techno-time” as the pace of change accelerates. Students must always look at the big picture and focus on being adaptable. The truth is that no one knows what the next “big thing” will be and they have to be ready to learn throughout their careers. Few of the languages I learned in college are popular now and chances are that technologies that are just in the development stage today will be pushing aside older platforms that students learn in school.

I recently spoke with a prospective student, and he asked about specific languages that have been around since the early days of the Web. He didn’t mention any of the new languages that are being created for the next generation of cloud apps. Students should focus on learning fundamental skills that will translate to new platforms. They shouldn’t get locked into any specific language or technology.

Q: What skills must students master other than computer science?
Bob: Problem solving, team work, good communication and people skills will always be in demand. Get a good general education. Take some electives in arts, humanities, and the sciences.

Ed: Critical thinking and problem solving are critical. Employers want solutions, and users don’t care what underlying technology was used. Students need to be able to approach development as a problem solving exercise, not a coding exercise.

Q: Do you feel that high school students are coming to college with enough skills to build on?
Bob: No. Math, in particular, is a huge weak spot for many high school graduates. Too many students pay college tuition to take basic reading, writing, and math courses they could have passed in K-12. Most educators acknowledge this problem.

Ed: It’s no secret that the U.S. students have fallen behind their peers in much of the developed world. We keep hearing that students are not prepared for careers in the STEM areas (science, technology, engineering, math). Students are not as prepared in critical thinking and problem solving as they need to be.

Q: If you could influence the high school system, what would you do differently?
Bob: High schools are too focused on “one size fits all”. Current technology allows extreme customization. We need to take advantage of that.

Ed: I think our schools have been distracted by standardized testing, and are not necessarily preparing students for STEM-related fields. I speak with students and teachers who are frustrated that they cannot take or teach more programming courses in high-school.

The good news is that we have great models from around the world about how to prepare our young people. It’s not a secret, it’s not complex, and surprisingly fixing schools is not very expensive. The big problems are political, not a lack of resources.

We are having to compete in a global economy where our partners in Europe and Asia generally have a different approach to primary and secondary education. Schools there generally compete to get the best students, and students compete to get into the best schools. It’s really nothing more complicated than that. They’re not spending more than we are (and typically spend less per student). (http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/edu_spe_per_pri_sch_stu-spending-per-primary-school-student).

We have tried a one-size-fits-all approach, where students are generally assigned to schools based on their address. There were very good reasons for having tried this approach in the past, but we now have decades of data showing that it’s expensive and does not prepare students for the needs of our economy in the 21^st Century. In the U.S, higher education is closer to the model of primary and secondary education in other countries, and we are able to attract students from around the world to attend our colleges and universities. We know that this flexibility works in the rest of the world at the primary and secondary level, and we know that it works here in the US at the college level. I think we should consider how we can adopt this approach at our primary and secondary schools.

Part 2 will be published on Wednesday, November 28.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Book Review: The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave

Editor’s note: This book review is a part of The Voice of Jobseekers content partnership with AMACOM Books, who sent it to me complementary. This is a non-paid review of the book.

The author Leigh Branham, CEO and Founder of Keeping The People, Inc., has written two other workplace books including the 1st edition of this book. The 7 Hidden Reason Employees Leave by Leigh Branham is not only for the employee, but is also for unemployed and under-appreciated job seekers.

Whenever I receive books from AMACOM Books, I consider the benefits of the job seeker value first. When I sent the inquiry, I went to YouTube and searched another site to see if there is practical for the unemployed. I agreed to review the book but it wasn’t a resounding yes, until I started reading.

BAM!

What a useful resource this is! It gives job seekers more reasons to research companies and continue the needed due diligence to find the ideal workplace.

Another factor is that there are job seekers who are ready to leave their current positions. As mentioned last week, job seekers are looking for new opportunities, despite the overall job outlook. For many of them, this is not a suggested career move. The study states that only 17% are prepared to tackle a job search.

Included with my thoughts on the book, I am offering reasons that job seekers should read and engage the principles that are included. Branham’s book should be read as a standard and reasonable advice for management professionals and non-management personnel looking to plan his or her career:

1) Job seekers must evaluate what he or she values, then pursue that career

Branham confirms that out of the many reasons that employees leave a position is not financially driven. Branham discusses that employees disengage from the position sometimes years before leaving the company. If you value training, promotions, or a flexible schedule more than your ideal salary, you must make that a part of your search criteria.

2) Job seekers must seek clear expectations from future employers as much as possible

Branham states that the #1 reason for employees disengaging and leaving is that the “job or workplace was not as expected. Exit comments from surveys said that, “Improper representation of the job description and hours of work” and “Things are not explained well by HR when you are hired” are noted by Branham as, “At the root of all these comments is an expectation that was not met.” Job seekers must ensure that expectations are written if they wish for guarantees.

3) It’s all about the relationships, networking, and feedback

Branham observes as indicated in the surveys mentioned in the book that the more coaching and feedback is given, the more engaged the employee will remain. Job seekers must accept and pursue relationships that sustain momentum in his or her job search. It is likely that a job search success means more when you talk to people than CareerBuilder results. As the workplace should be an environment of continual coaching and feedback, a job search that has that much engagement will be successful.

4) Whose responsibility it is to enhance your career path? Yours.

The book contains a number of studies and results that points away from the company and re-directed to the employee. Branham states that many of companies do not cultivate a clearly defined career path. Job seekers must own and steer his or her career path, no matter the decision the future employer makes.

The amount of detail included in “The 7 Hidden…” will provide much food for thought as it becomes clearer what each reader desires out of his or her career path. After reading this book each job seeker should learn and be advised:

How to ask and research questions about company culture and environment that helps define immediate and future expectations through networking contacts and informational interviews
Not only look for inconsistencies in what employers say about his or her company, but what is not said. What employers say they are willing to do and what they commit to are two different things
Grow clarity about tolerances and intolerances (what you don’t like but will put up with).

I can’t express the importance of reading “The 7 Hidden …” to gain additional insight to your job search arsenal. Since I am raving about this book, my content partners at AMACOM Books agreed for me to give-a-way a copy of the book. Here are ways you can qualify for a FREE COPY of The Hidden:

Share this review through your Twitter account and include me so I can see it (@MarkADyson)

Share the review through your blog and link to this article

Share the NEW “The Voice of Job Seeker” Facebook page on your business or personal page.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Job Networking Lessons from My ‘Hood

Editor’s note: The beautiful photography is owned by Tieshka K. Smith whose bio is at the end of this article.

I cannot express how vigilant some people in my neighborhood are into watching, listening, and talking to people in our neighborhood. There are some who know everything that happens to everyone. At one time, I just couldn’t stand people who appeared intrusive, nosy, and obtuse. Until I started to understand the person. Then I understood their story. And now I’m appreciative that they have their finger on the pulse of our home, at least what goes on the outside. Job networking requires vigilance, diligence, and conversation. Are you doing all three?

Everyone is waiting for a radical change in the job market? But what are you doing to radically change and enhance your chances.

Everyone is talking about the scarcity of jobs, but what does that say about you?

Job seekers should be vigilant like your neighborhood watch person when it comes to their selected careers. Sometimes you have to sit and watch, and test what people say works and doesn’t work. Then apply the good to yourself customizing it to fit you.

Finding out who’s successful is important and we’ve discussed that before. But what not to do is important to find out. Looking successful is one thing, but maintaining a successful heart will spill over to the outside. It is much harder for success in a suit or facial expression occupy an unsuccessful space on the inside.

When something appears to be wrong, question it

I own a two flat building and cringe anytime my tenants drop something that’s heavy. Objects like a bowling ball, or a person is loud. I discerned at that time if I need to go see what made the noise. If you are watching and listening to your industry news for changes and developments, then you have a great chance of being successful.

It also doesn’t hurt to sound the alarm by sharing news through your social media channels or blog. It may change your interview responses. Or your resume. The good information should get implemented immediately, while the old information is not relevant.

Be where the idea exchanges occur

In my neighborhood, the barber shop (or beauty shop) is the hub of all opinions right, wrong, or indifferent. The no holds barred conversation is enlightening to what people are thinking. Sometimes the conversation exposes the root of where the idea originates. Are you where ideas are exchanged? How about your professional organization meeting? How about your LinkedIn group?

If you want to be sharp and conscious at networking events and interviews, participate in the conversation. Social media often provides that barbershop mentality and there are tools for that. But there is something special about seeing, hearing, and experiencing people’s responses first hand. Live networking events are paramount to know what others are talking about.

A happy disposition is infectious. No one is attracted to a scowl. Concentrate on things that will make you happy!

Read, read, read. Know what your target industry is saying and saying. Understand how it is evolving. Some professions change trends like hairstyles. To work in that industry, know how that trend will effect business and the world.

The road less traveled is a lonely one

All of us want the job that is just for us, without competition, and to win effortlessly. Well, how will you know if it’s right for you if no one talks about it? If it’s easy to obtain, how much value will it sustain over time? The suggestion to partner with someone is not a new idea, but a bold one. Just to keep each other accountable.

Only if you could just talk to the person next to you.

Just because the job search is competitive doesn’t mean each person is an enemy. Like we discussed, engage through different channels about specific employers.

A confidence and smile despite hardship

To be likable and optimistic, you have to look it. There are people who have lost jobs, have the worst circumstances, yet have the most positive attitude. When it feels the worst, you have to find your own reason to keep going. Yes you can rely on quotes, sayings, and inspirational sayings for a short time, but your own personal narrative will create endurance, confidence, and resistance. No matter who you are.

So I wonder what’s on your mind.

The year is coming to a close, and I hope during our conversation, you had one with yourself. How will your outlook change in the near future? Does it need to change? Let’s discuss below or on the new Facebook page.

And I still want you to smile.

Tieshka Smith is a Philadelphia-based photographer who makes images that challenge prevailing notions of otherness. Her body of work explores the ways that marginalized people interact with one another in and with shared but unsanctioned public/community spaces. A Chicago native, Smith is a graduate of Northwestern University and Keller Graduate School of Management, DeVry University.

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/photographywithoutthepretense

Portfolio: http://500px.com/momofthreephotography