Seven years ago, as part of the "Now What?" series I wrote an article discussing the first steps someone should take if they wanted to enter the IT sector. That was seven years ago; think of it-2001. Think of how much we have all changed, and how much IT has changed, and how much IT…

Since the early part of this decade, when I wrote several certification articles for InformIT, IT certifications have changed a great deal, and the industry's perception of certifications has waned. IT certifications have fallen out of favor in the eyes of many.…

Is there a shortage of IT professionals in the workforce? Some people swear it's bad and getting worse. Others say there's absolutely no evidence of a real shortage of IT talent.…

Over the last several years the role of the Business Analyst has been increasing in prominence and the BA is now seen as a pivotal player in a successful IT project. The role has been around since the mainframe days in various forms, but the influence of the analyst seemed to wane as business moved…

Cisco Systems has some of the most widely respected and highly sought after IT certifications in the industry. Individuals who earn the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification are consistently among the highest paid IT workers. To preserve the integrity of the certification process and the value of its certifications, Cisco has partnered with Pearson…

I heard from a number of people following publication of our interview with Bill Horzempa about the IT Certification Council (ITCC) and the work they are doing to address problems with IT certification. All of the comments were complimentary of the work the council is doing and hopeful that their efforts will succeed.…

Global Knowledge and Tech Republic surveyed over 7,000 IT professionals on skills, salaries and significant issues in the IT community. Some of the key findings included: modest overall salary growth, the impact of education on salary, widespread multi-tasking among IT pros, nervousness about the IT job market, and a 20% annual increase in outsourcing. A Joint…

Microsoft has been phasing in a new certification framework over the last couple of years and there are a lot of certifications and acronyms circulating. A lot of people aren’t sure how the old certifications map to the new certifications or which path they should take. This overview provides a look at the new certifications…

Mergers and Acquisition activity in the IT Training sector was average to quiet in 2007. M&A activity in the broader training industry started out strong, but cooled steadily during the year according to Whitestone Communications who monitors the training industry. IT training acquisitions followed that general trend. In all, there were only five acquisitions of…

The US IT training market is fragmented and dispersed. In the commercial sector, it is comprised of companies that range from one man shops to companies with annual revenues in the hundreds of millions. In the educational sector, it includes community colleges and technical schools as well as major universities.…

It was my privilege to participate in CompTIA's 2008 Colloquium in Tucson, Arizona recently. For those who haven't attended the conference, it is notable for its intimate size and the opportunity to network with some of the industry's leading IT training professionals. It brings together executives and prominent leaders from industry, academia and government involved…

In the wake of the update to the core IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) publications last year, more details of the accompanying intermediate level qualifications have now been agreed. Helen Boddy, IT Training Magazine, January 2008.…

Thirteen percent of chief information officers (CIOs) plan to add information technology (IT) staff and 3 percent anticipate personnel reductions in the first quarter of 2008, according to the latest Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report. Certification Magazine, December 2007.…

Younger workers bring a new set of expectations to the marketplace. The good news: IT may have some built-in advantages for meeting the challenge. By Edward Cone, CIO Insight, December 2007.…

ISACA recently announced a new certification in Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) for professionals with significant management experience in IT governance. Highly experienced professionals can fall under a grandfather provision, having shown a lengthy career of impact in the field. IT governance is applying risk management and performance metrics to IT systems. The need for…