Career Advice - Ask IT Career Coach

This post is a first in an important way. It is the first post in our [Ask IT Career Coach] series where we present a lesser known but equally valuable Information Technology (IT) career option.

Announcing The [Ask IT Career Coach] – Career Advice Column

I would like to start this post by introducing our [Ask IT Career Coach] service, a Career Advice Column that offers answers, help or solutions for your most challenging career situations.

How Do I Start My Career In Information Security?

Here is the first question on Information Security sent in from Waukesha, Wisconsin

I have a bachelors degree in Business from 2003 and am now in a masters in MIS program.

My goal is to obtain a management job in the IT field eventually, possibly with an emphasis in security and move on to higher levels of management from there.

Would it be a good move for me to obtain an A+ certification and try to enter the field as a remote desktop support associate or can you suggest other ways to enter the field that would lead me to my management objectives?

What about trying to enter as a business analyst or another position?

Looking forward to hearing back from you soon.

How To Become An Information Technology Professional

Let me start by making sure we’re on the same page since the Information Security (INFOSEC) Career is a relatively new career path in the Information Technology (IT) Industry.

In today’s digital economy, we leave a good deal of digital footprint as we utilize the services offered by our hospitals, financial institutions, government agencies, internet service providers (ISPs), web hosting firms, telecommunications providers (AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.) and other corporate and non-profit organizations.

Some of the digital data created by using services in banking or medical institutions are extremely sensitive, valuable or important to us. So, if they were accessed by un-authorized individuals, stolen, altered or lost, the damage to our lives could be incalculable, devastating or almost irreparable.

From another standpoint, Information Security Auditors, Professionals, Consultants or Analysts are valuable because they help assure the stability and peace of mind of the society considering the therat posed by Hackers or the real possibility of Cyber Warfare.

How To Become An Information Security Analyst

I have established the role or importance of Information Security Analysts, Auditors or Consultants. Next I would like to discuss how you can become an Information Technology professional.

I’m not going to suggest that you do ten (10) things but that you do just one thing in order for you to become an INFOSEC Professional!

I suggest that you do everything in your power to become a Network Administrator or a Systems Administrator on the way to specializing in Information Technology.

The Network or Systems Administrator is traditionally responsible for the integrity, availability, confidentiality, access control, intrusion detection or prevention and security of the computer or networking infrastructure of an organization.

From that standpoint, becoming an Information Technology professional is a logical extension of your career path.

Would An A+ Certification Help Your Career?

Yes, starting out with an A+ Certification may be good for you because it would help you land an desktop or technical support job from which you can rise to become Network or Systems Administrator job.

Keep in mind that what you really want to be is, a Network or Systems Administrator. So, you have to make sure that getting an A+ certification does not stand in your way of getting there.

How To Become An IT Manager or IT Director

Getting into a Network Administrator role can also help you get an IT Management job because in some organizations, the top Network Administrator is also the IT Director because of the scope or responsibilities traditionally assigned to the position.

Just know that this would be on a company by company basis. Some companies may prefer business analysts or MBA degree holders or Network Administrators.

Setting on the Systems Administrator career path could work well for you because that would help keep the door to IT management or IT security doors open for you.

Information Technology Career Advice Column

In this post, I answered the question of how to get into an Information Technology (IT) or an IT Management career path.

If you have any question about this, be sure to post it as a comment on this page and I would answer it for you.

What Is The Toughest Challenge Facing Your Career?

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Learning A Marketable Skill?

Hi,

Do you want to learn the C++ programming language or become a C/C++ computer programmer?

Have you ever asked this question? which programming language is the most complex and challenging?? and received the answer C++?

If you answered yes, you are not alone. About 13 years ago, I asked my mentors in computer programming which programming language is the hardest, toughest, most difficult to learn? and I got the same reply as you… C++.

I asked the question because I wanted to become a successful computer programmer.

So, I reasoned that if I could prove myself by conquering the hardest programming language, my success in computer programming would be guaranteed.

Do You Want To Learn The Hardest Programming Language?

Recently, a number of C/C+ software developers have been turning to me for help with their computer programmer careers.

You can do this by taking advantage of the developer coaching or training sessions available to computer programmers who enroll in the software developers boot camp.

So, what could go wrong with the career of a software developer who has conquered one of the meanest, hardest, most complex computer programming languages?

The real problem with learning C/C++ is not whether it leaves up to its reputation for being a tough guy, because it does!.

The challenge facing those who succeed in learning C/C++ is more subtle.

Continue reading and you will find out for yourself soon.

Is C/C++ Programming Good For Your Career?

A few months ago, I started mentoring a C/C++ computer programmer with real-world programming experience in C/C++, Microsoft Foundation Classes and Windows 32 API and a college degree.

He couldn’t get a computer programmer job, so he signed up for my coaching program to find out why he couldn’t get a job with C/C++ programming skills.

After he explained his situation to me, I presented him with a list of 3 hot programming technologies in high demand.

I told him that these programming languages were so hot that just having them on his resume would land him programming job offers, even though he had been out of work for 2 years!

Well, he acted on the information I gave him, took MASSIVE ACTION and in a FEW MONTHS learnt all he could about the 3 hot programming technologies!

Guess what? a few months after taking advantage of my software developer mentoring, he got the first programming job he interviewed for on the spot, after being out of work for two (2) years!

So, why couldn’t a C/C++ computer programmer with real world industry experience and a college degree get a programming job in the middle of a hi-tech boom?

WHY C++ PROGRAMMERS CAN’T GET JOBS

The simple reason why C++ programmers can’t get a job is that the C++ programming language is not suited for business or web applications development!

But, wait a minute, isn’t C/C++ also one of the fastest programming languages?

Yes C++ is one of the fastest programming languages. But the speed of C++ applies to the speed with which it executes on a computer and not to the speed with which you can code or develop software programs.

STOP! Think about what I just said. Don’t just read it, digest my last statement until you really comprehend it.

C/C++ is the wrong programming language for business or web programming because employers care more about the speed with which you code or develop software and care less about the speed at which your software program executes.

Why Employers Don’t Care About The Execution Speed of C++ Programs?

The reason is that the dramatic increases in computer processing speed and memory has made the personal computer faster and much more powerful.

So, the amount of processing power available on most personal computers makes the execution speed of any programming language sufficient for most business software development projects.

What Do Employers Care About?

Employers really want their software developers to code or write programs faster. And C/C++ fares badly at this, because it’s one of the meanest, hardest, most complex programming languages to either learn or develop real-world business applications with.

The problems of C/C++ does not stop with the difficulty of learning the language. It’s also harder, tougher and slower to develop web or business applications in.

This is the real reason why most employers will not hire C/C++ programmers for business or web application development.

Is C/C+ Dead?

Certainly not. C/C++ is best suited for software projects like writing operating systems, compilers, computer or video games, data mining applications, scientific applications or applications where the execution speed is critical.

Stop for a moment now and answer this question: do you really want to make money from programming computers quickly or easily?

If you answered yes, I recommend you go into an area of computer programming where the demand is hot and where there are lots and lots of jobs.

That area right now is in internet or web application programming which C++ is unfortunately not suited for.

Secondly, if you want to success in web or business applications development, learn a programming language which allows you to quickly create programs that meet business needs.

After 13 years, I realize that employers don’t care about the beauty of the C++ programming language.

Employers care about automating their business processes or making their businesses work better, quicker and faster.

Employers also want to hire programmers whose speed of development matches or outpaces their business operations.

The ugly truth is that C/C++ is not the right tool for achieving either of these results.

Dear friend, enroll in the Software Developers Boot Camp now and learn those programming languages that excel at creating business software applications easily and quickly and you will discover success in computer programming quickly and easily.

Finally, if you are a programmer needing help with career decisions, no matter how bad your situation is, sign-up for the Software Developers Boot Camp now and you will be personally coached on how to achieve success in your situation.

What Is The Toughest Challenge Facing Your Career?

Visit the Shopping Cart, Click Here

ABOUT TRAINING & COACHING COURSES

• Business Analyst Boot Camp - Online, Web Based, Instructor Led, Business Analyst Video Training


• SQL Boot Camp - Online, Web Based, Instructor Led, Hands On, SQL + RDBMS Video Training


• Software Developer Boot Camp - Online, Web Based, Instructor Led, Software Developer Video Training


• Data Analysts Boot Camp - Online, Web Based, Instructor Led, Hands On, Data Analyst Video Training


• Get Hired Fast - Online, Web Based, Resume + Job Search + Interview Video Training


• Become A Leader Coaching - Develop hands-on experience, gain domain expertise, solve industry problems, Stand Up and Be Noticed, market your career using PULL instead of PUSH techniques!

Visit our Shopping Cart