
Does Your Personality Match Your Career?
Every career has some type of persona associated with it. You may have heard that stereotyping is wrong, but I say, this is how the world works!
Knowing the type of personality or behavior expected of you, can only help you grow or succeed in your career. However, not fitting the expected stereotype can hurt your career. If you must behave differently from the norm, be advised of the consequences.
In this post, I will advice you on how to mold your personality so it fits the requirements for your job!

How To Learn .NET Programming In Six (6) Months And Get A Job
[Ask IT Career Coach] is a Career Advice Column for Information Technology (IT) professionals looking for answers to their most challenging career situations …
Submit questions about your career using the [Ask IT Career Coach] service and I will answer it for you just like I am answering this question …
Hi My name is Josh Kemp I am 26 married and self employed currently, I have read almost half of “Learn .Net 3.5 in 24 hours” by SAMs.

How To Become A Faster Programmer?
[Ask IT Career Coach] is a Career Advice Column for Information Technology (IT) professionals looking for answers to their most challenging career situations.
This post answers the question of “how to write or code faster in ASP.NET, C#, .NET Framework or Visual Studio” or any computer programming language.
If you have a question about your computer programmer or software developer career, post it here and I will answer it for you, just like I am answering this computer programmer’s question today!

Hands-on Experience Is The Key To Landing Good Jobs!
Once a computer programmer with marketable programming skills gains handson experience by building real-world, practical applications, he or she is virtually guaranteed not just any type of job … but a portable, marketable, high-paying professional career as a software developer!!
Why? Because in the software development industry, Experience is King!.
Real world, hands on, practical, computer programming experience is valued more than computer programming certifications or even computer science diplomas or college degrees!

Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses
The answer to the question: “
Is College Worth The Money?” is YES … so please go to the best college you can afford because there are doors in life that
will be easier for you to open if you have a college degree.
That being said, there are pros and cons to attending college and a right / wrong mindset that you need to be aware of.
In a new book, “Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses,” sociologists Richard Arum of New York University and Josipa Roksa of the University of Virginia, are of the opinion that “College Students in the US are not learning Much“

What Is Your Personality Type?
One of the reasons why professionals struggle with their careers or under-perform at their jobs is that their work or career does not match their personality!
When hiring someone to do job, it’s easy to see what skills and training they have acquired or what types of jobs they’ve previously performed from their resume.
What is not so easy to see is how that same person’s personality traits will fit in with that of other employees or how their personality will thrive on a daily basis after you’ve have hired them.
STOP, if you’re about to register for our training and read this post now because we are only interested in the right type of participants for our online bootcamp courses.
In many ways, we are not like traditional classroom classes or most training schools.
For example, we focus more on experiential learning in the sense that we want you to perform well on the job and not just have a certificate that you can show-off on your resume.
Click here to read our thoughts on experiential learning.

Which Certifications Or Courses Guarantee Jobs?
This question is frequently asked by job candidates searching for certifications or training courses they can put on their resume, present to an employer and get a job.
However, the answer to the question: which online courses, certifications, college degrees or classroom courses guarantee a job is NONE!
This type of question is seriously flawed because it assumes that there is something out there … a college degree or online course or certification program, that you can put on your resume and hired fast!

Pros and Cons of Computer Programming vs. Business Analysis
[Ask IT Career Coach] is a Career Advice Column for Information Technology (IT) professionals looking for answers to their most challenging career, job or business situations.
I get a number of questions from computer programmers or software developers looking to change their careers to business analysis or project management.
I also receive questions about the suitability of business analysis, project management or computer programming as a career.
If you sent me a question along these lines, please use this post to evaluate your choices or decide on the best career for you!
I dedicate a considerable amount of time to debunking myths and half-baked truths. And one about the future prospects of software developer careers has just been ratified!
According to a survey of the best and worst jobs in the United States, Software Engineers will have the best jobs in 2011.
For this survey, 200 professions were analyzed based on their pay, environment, hiring outlook, stress and physical demands using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Census Bureau and trade association studies.
According to this survey, the high-demand for Software engineering jobs is fueled by the desire for high-tech gadgets, iPods, tablets and other devices.

Pursuit Is The Proof Of Desire
Life Is About What You Have … And Not About What You Don’t Have!
I get a number of questions along the lines of:
I am 25 / 39 / 50 years old, I don’t have any work experience and I don’t have a college degree.
But I want to become a good business analyst / computer programmer / project manager, what do I have to do?
If you find yourself thinking along those lines, this is what you should do: use what you have to get what you want!

Complete What You Start
Completing projects on time and under budget is required for success in any profession.
That is why this question submitted by a software developer on how to complete assigned projects or tasks is a must read.
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to submit your question as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
If you enjoy reading this post, please be sure to … Share this Post with Friends

Cowboy Coder Or Agile Programmer
Are You A Cowboy Coder Or Agile Software Developer?
Software Developers facing a new programming project sometimes start coding before thinking through or planning an approach.
Coding without first planning or thinking through is a programming method known as cowboy coding.
Cowboy coders approach work with the mindset of coding without estimating or planning.
And they are at a complete lost when the results achieved by their cowboy coding tactics does not meet expectations.
Cowboy Coding Is Dead, Long Live Cowboy Coding
While many programmers publicly ridicule cowboy coding, they privately practice cowboy coding because it is the easier thing to do.

Personal Branding Book
The concept of personal branding is all the buzz these days, but it is really a common sense approach to business and career that has been around for a long time and is now back with a new twist and new technologies thrown into the mix. Basically, image is everything.
What do employers think of when they see you, speak to you, read your resume or your internet profile? If you are not sure what your brand conveys, or you’re not sure you have a solid personal brand, then you need to read Me 2.0 by Dan Schawbel.

customer relationship management business analyst
This question was posted by Sri who needs advice on “how to transition careers to customer relationship management (CRM) business analysis.”
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering Sri’s questions below!
Please, send this post to your friends “Using this Link” .
Here is Sri’s Question on Becoming A Domain Business Analyst
Hi Kingsley,

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756 – 1791
Have you ever heard of “The Starving Artist”? It’s an often used cliché that describes talented, skilled or creative folks like writers, painters, musicians or others who starve while doing what they love.
The idea behind the Starving Artist is “an individual who works for pennies and then dies broke doing what he or she loves”.
Some of history’s renowned or talented artists like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Vivaldi and Van Gogh lived in poverty, misery or debt because their society didn’t care for or reward them.

learning multiple programming languages?
This question was posted by a reader who needs advice on
“how to learn many programming languages!”.
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.

Business Analysts Learn Computer Programming
Are database development, computer programming, data analysis or web development required skills for Business Analysts?
Perhaps you’ve seen, heard about or applied for jobs asking for a broad or seemingly impossible range of skill sets?
Like those job descriptions for business analysts requiring computer programming skills or those for PMP Certified Project Managers with 5 years of software development experience!
This post addresses “how to bridge the gap between business analyst skills and unfair job descriptions written-up by Information Technology (IT) departments”

marketing and sales business analyst
Granted, changing careers is challenging but you must learn how to believe in yourself before expecting employers to believe in and hire you!
Eleanor Roosevelt words; “the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams” rings true for career changers.
Begin your career transition by first discovering yourself. Look for the gold in your career, put yourself in an employers shoes and transition from a position of strength. Finally, get your foot in the door at any cost

Ask IT Career Coach
Can one make a career or earn a living out of just writing SQL Reports?
Considering that there’s more to the SQL Report Writer’s job than just writing reports, the answer is yes!
The following question was posted by a report writer who is trying to get a handle on the duties, roles, responsibilities or functions of a SQL Report Writer.
Can I Make A Career Out Of SQL Report Writing?
Can one make a career out of just writing SQL Reports?

highly paid corporate programmer
Becoming a corporate software developer is not the same thing as becoming a freelance programmer or a systems programmer.
-
Corporate programmers are hired for coding skills in programming languages like Microsoft .NET (ASP.NET, C#, VB.NET, SQL Server) and they tend to work regular, office jobs as contract or full-time programmers.
-
Systems programmers tend to work with programming languages like C/C++ and they also work for companies like Microsoft that build operating systems or systems software.

Become A Leader-Get The Job You Want!
Become a Leader And Get The Job You Want!
Getting a job by sending out resumes to employers is known as the push method because it depends on you pushing the employer to hire you!
The problem with the traditional method of getting a job is that everyone who is out-of-a-job is probably doing the same thing … pushing their resumes to hiring managers or employers!
Getting hired in a competitive job market doesn’t mean … “do what other job applicants are doing” … it means “do more than your competition!“

Volunteers Wanted
Michael Surkan a former Microsoft Senior Product Planner and Program Manager is looking for Volunteer Software Testers and Project Managers for an on-line customer relationship management (CRM) and business management software service project.
While at Microsoft, Michael conducted customer, industry and research to help make decisions for future versions of the Windows operating system.
Michael’s work includes using surveys, focus groups, and customer interviews as part of research strategies and synthesized all the data into conclusions and recommendations for senior managers.

Ask IT Career Coach
This question was posted by a reader who needs advice on “what to do about making wrong career choices”.
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.

Ask IT Career Coach
This question was posted by a reader who wants to overcome obstacles posed by employment gaps in an Oracle Programming Career!
Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!

Beat the Recession
You’ve got a
college degree, a
good looking resume and an
impressive listing of Information Technology (IT) skills but can’t seem to find an IT job.
Finding a Job doesn’t have to be a traumatic, nerve racking or frustrating experience filled with rejection, fear and pain!
Just follow this article series to find out what’s wrong or get back in control of YOUR job search.

microsoft.net software developer job
This question was posted by a reader who wants to become a Microsoft .NET Developer!
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
Please, send this post to your friends using “This Link”.
By Sharing This Post you are helping your friends receive valuable information or succeed.
Here is the Reader’s Question:
First, a little bit about myself.

Ask IT Career Coach
This question was posted by a reader who wants to become a computer programmer!
If you need help with a Question or Challenge, be sure to ask it as a comment on this page and I will answer it fully just as I am answering this reader’s question below!
Please, send this post to your friends using the “Tell a Friend” Button button below. You earn points or cash each time you refer an article to your friends using the Tell a Friend Button.
Here is the Question:
hi

The Software Developers Internship Coaching Opportunity
About The 2012 Software Developer Internship Opportunity!
Computer programming is one of those few careers that offers you the option to either freelance, get a full-time job or become an independent consultant even when you are really just a beginner!
As a freelance software developer, you may live in the United States, India, UK, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa or any country and work for clients located anywhere on the planet!
There are several specializations available to software developers including Mobile Application Development, Desktop Programming and Web Programming.

How To Become A Web Programmer
The post which you are just about to read answers the question of:“what is the most compelling thing on a web programmer’s resume or how do you gain the type of resume that will make you standout in the web development industry!“
Let me begin by saying that, the key thing that hiring managers are looking for on your resume is not your programming certifications or your college degrees or computer science education but your handson web programming experience.
Jonathan Babcock has an interesting article highlighting the differences between Use Cases and User Stories.
- Scott Sehlhorst on how to capture User Stories and Use Cases
- Martin Fowler on the difference between use cases and XP stories
- Mike Cohn on the advantages of using user stories for requirements
- Use case guru Alistair Cockburn’s comparison of use cases and user stories
Click here to read the rest of Jonathan Babcock’s article

The current economy makes it a bad time to be isolated at work. Many job cuts are being announced every single day, making it critical that you build your network of co-workers, colleagues and acquaintances up to provide a safety net if your job situation is ever in jeopardy.

You Need People and You Need Information
Are you missing out in information at the office that could be critical to your career? You may be a hard working employee who eats lunch at your desk and prefers reading another IT book to attending company parties.
However, knowledge is power. Networking within your company prevents you from being the one who is always the last to know about major changes that may impact you, your team or the organization.

Requirements Elicitation is a crucial aspect of Requirements Gathering and Analysis. There are many tools and techniques available to business analysts to succeed at gathering the right requirements for a software development project. These tools and techniques include Interviewing, Observation, Brainstorming, Focus Groups, Prototyping and Surveys

Effective Requirements Elicitation Techniques
What is Requirements Elicitation?
Requirements elicitation is the process of identifying the sources of requirements for a new system and obtaining those requirements from those sources.
Potential sources of requirements include users, documents, regulators and even legacy software code.
Requirements elicitation is a crucial part of the Requirements Gathering, Documentation and Analysis Process.
It is a critical business activity that requires the focus of a skilled business analyst.
Regardless of the elicitation techniques you choose or how you implement those techniques, you need to do whatever it takes to understand the real needs of your customers.

Be Wise ... Get Experience
In the computer programming industry, experience is King.
Real world, hands on, practical programming experience is valued more than computer programming certifications, software development diplomas or even programming job titles.
What you know is much more important than how you obtained the knowledge!
The next time you read a computer programming job description and you feel overwhelmed by the list of degrees or certifications required, just remember that the job market for computer programmers is not really that formal.
You Have Less Than 24 Hours to Save 50% On the SQL Boot Camp or Business Analyst Boot Camp or Software Developer Boot Camp.
This special one-time offer expires 11:59 PM on Thursday, January 15, 2009
Special 50% Discount
To place your order now, simply enter the discount code: EarlyBirdCoupon in the Shopping Cart and you are done. This offer is valid only for a few more hours … so, act now before the offer expires!
About The 2009 IT Professional Boot Camps
The online, hands-on, instructor-led, training covers the beginner to advanced, end to end training requirements for Business Analysts, Computer Programmers, SQL Query Writers, Database Developers, Data Analysts and other Software Development professionals

This article is a discussion of the many Requirements Elicitation tools and techniques that are available to Business Analysts and project management team. A mastery of these tools and techniques help the business analyst have more success in the requirements gathering process.

Gathering Requirements
It is common knowledge that the biggest reason for IT project failure is poor requirements. If the requirements that the developers are working from are wrong, incomplete or otherwise inadequate, that project is doomed to join the 70% of IT projects that fail every year.
So why not simply gather good (SMART) requirements? Ask any business analyst and they will tell you that the biggest problem they face is getting users to tell them what they really want out of a new system or process. Why? The reasons are varied. Sometimes it appears that users simply won’t communicate what they really want. Sometimes it appears that the business analyst is asking all the wrong questions. Sometimes it appears that the users change their minds all the time.

In 2009, there will be technology changes that business analysts, software developers and database developers should note for the purpose of advancing their careers. Social Media and Agile Development are two of the major trends that IT workers would do well to utilize in the year 2009.

2009 Tech Predictions
Happy New Year!! Here are some technology predictions for 2009 that are worth a read for software developers, business analysts and database developers who want to position themselves for success in 2009:
1. Pay attention to Social Media says CapGemini:
“2009 will be the year when use of social networking tools within companies will be the talk of the town. Yes, it has been around for a while but to be honest, nothing much has really happened apart from that Serena Software uses Facebook internally.
If you are interested in registering for an online training class, here is some additional information that you need to consider before you sign up for the ongoing SQL BOOT CAMP or BUSINESS ANALYST BOOT CAMP or SOFTWARE DEVELOPER BOOT CAMP.
Career Roadmap and Career Planning
1. The online SQL BOOT CAMP class is for database developers, data analysts, report writers / developers, business analysts or software developers who want to learn or master two (2) core or fundamental programming skills:
a. Relational database design and database development
b. SQL query writing and SQL programming
I just received a question that has to do with age discrimination for a Java programmer and I would like to share it with you.
Reader Question:
I would like to find an IT Career Coach in San Diego CA.
I am a certified Java Programmer, and have an academic background in applied mathematics, but I did not work with J2EE and data bases, I would like to know what type of career is available in my age 55, what additional training is necessary.
Sincerely.
Here is my answer to this question:
Hi :
The training courses at
target="_blank"
title="SQL Boot Camp">SQL Boot Camp is for data analysts, report
writers, SQL developers, business analysts, computer programmers and database
developers who want to improve their SQL or database skills .
Hands-On Training
The SQL training courses are a combination of hands-on, practical training
combined with real world projects.
Step By Step Training Courses
You study step by step the concepts you need to master to design efficient,
enterprise scalable relational databases at your own pace, schedule
and time and from the comfort of your home or office.