Cisco's CCVP (Cisco Certified Voice Professional) certification is one of the hottest certifications in the industry, and with growth in IP telephony projected at double digit rates through 2012, it will only grow in popularity. Read about the latest changes in the CCVP exams and courses and see which path to CCVP certification is right for you.

By Rick Gregory, July 2008

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Cisco's CCNA concentrations in voice, wireless and security build on the core CCNA skills and the highly specialized concentrations offer IT professionals a career springboard in converged technologies.

By Rick Gregory, June 2008

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What is the best way to break-in to IT? The author, recommends training and certification paths to help people get into four hot IT jobs: networking, databases, web development and programming. His recommendations are based on cost effective training and certification, potential earning power and long term career advancement. Whether you’re changing careers or recruiting new talent, you’ll want to get his take on the best path to becoming a successful IT professional.

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Less than ten years ago, having an IT certification was an almost guaranteed path to a good job in a fast growing sector. However, certification no longer assures that an individual will find a high quality job in IT. Certification still plays an important role in recruiting and hiring for IT professionals, but over time the certification industry developed some systemic problems that have yet to be fully addressed.

By Warren Wyrostek

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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.

Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Craig Barrett (Intel) think there is and they are pushing for an expansion of the H-1B visa program to bring more foreign talent to fill the gap. Vivek Wadhwa, a former IT CEO (Relativity Technologies) now with Duke University, says the whole issue is bogus and that it shows a lack of understanding of the labor market in the U.S.

So who’s right?

By Rick Gregory, May 2008

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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 to implement networks of personal computers. What has caused the reemergence of the BA as a central member of the project team?

By Rick Gregory

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On top of a tech skills shortage, hundreds of thousands of baby boomers will begin to retire this year, and the rate of retirement will increase sharply over the next several years. The over 75 million people born between 1946 and 1964 comprise almost half of the workforce. It will be the largest exodus from the workforce by a single generation in history.

By Alisa Blum, April 2008

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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 VUE to implement a tough new set of security measures.

By Rick Gregory, April 2008

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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 and how they impact Microsoft IT professionals.

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Caveon, a data forensics firm that specializes in test security, estimates that 15 to 25 percent of all IT certification exams taken show some level of aberrant activity, indicating that some form of cheating has probably occurred. It's hard to believe that one in four exams could be suspect.

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What can be done to restore the integrity and the reputation of IT certification? We asked Bill Horzempa, chairman of the IT Certification Committee (ITCC) to talk with us about the ITCC and what it is doing to address the problems with IT certification.

By Rick Gregory, IT Training Community, March 2008

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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 Study by Global Knowledge and Tech Republic

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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 and how they impact Microsoft IT professionals.

Members may click here to read the full article

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.

Rick Gregory, January 2008

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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 IT education and training in a relaxed atmosphere that promotes interaction and the exchange of ideas.

Rick Gregory, IT Training Community, January 2008

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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.

Rick Gregory, January 2008

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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

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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

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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

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More than 35,000 IT professionals responded to the Certification Magazine 2007 Salary Survey, reporting average salary increases that outpaced the rate of inflation.  The average salary in 2006 was reported as $68,820 and the average salary for 2007 at $74,730.  The top five highest-paying certifications saw a reshuffling from past years, with some old favorites rallying back toward the top.

By Daniel Margolis, et. al., Certification Magazine, November 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 increased IT governance has skyrocketed as companies — small or large — face keeping up with major compliance initiatives.

By Ben Warden, Certification Magazine, November 2007

You’re an accomplished technologist. You have several highly sought-after technical certifications. Perhaps you’re a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or an Oracle Certified Professional (OCP). You have a few years of experience and have taken on progressively more challenging assignments.

By Robert Winding, Certification Magazine, November 2007

Information security probably doesn’t cross the minds of learning leaders very often, if it ever does. Yet, given the increasing number of Web-based development offerings — not to mention a frequent lack of understanding of online threats on the part of employees — this should be a concern for the people in charge of the learning function.

By Brian Summerfield, CLO Magazine, October 2007

An organization large enough to employ a CLO likely has an internal IT department, as well. The CLO is not part of this IT department, but that doesn’t mean he or she shouldn’t be exceptionally savvy about the rapidly changing world of technology and how technical innovations will affect the business of learning.

By Kellye Whitney, CLO Magazine, September 2007

When TrainingOutsourcing.com and Expertus began the Training Challenges Survey Series a year ago, the goal was to explore the critical operational areas of training to find out what areas of corporate training are most painful, expensive, and difficult to manage. In other words, we wanted to know what are the biggest headaches in training.

Summary of Survey Results on 6 Key Topics - Research Conducted by Expertus/TrainingOutsourcing.com, July 2007

For many people, unified messaging, mobile connectivity, virtual collaboration and real-time video aren’t simply technology terms — they’re an integral and growing part of everyday life. Technology will continue to evolve, and the IT workforce needs to evolve with it.

By Scott Schauer, Certification Magazine, July 2007

When the IT certification industry really began to grow in the 1990s, the focus almost exclusively was on technology, and in most cases, a specific vendor’s technology.

At issue was being able to demonstrate the usual abilities in that technology: How do I install it? How do I set up basic configurations? How do I troubleshoot it when it breaks? How do I design systems with it?

By Patrick von Schlag, Certification Magazine, July 2007

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An effective IT solutions salesperson is a valuable piece of manpower. Such an individual necessarily combines the qualities of a good salesperson — listening skills, the ability to sell yourself, persuasiveness, etc. — with the technical knowledge needed to explain complicated yet potentially advantageous applications in a way a customer can understand.

By Daniel Margolils, Certification Magazine, July 2007

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Research indicates the average 21-year-old has played about 10,000 hours of video games. Other studies show adults learn and retain more in courses that incorporate game elements such as competitive scoring, increasingly difficult player levels and fantasy role-playing. With this in mind, Cisco Systems, a worldwide leader in Internet networking, in 2005 introduced its online Learning Game Trilogy: Rockin’ Retailer, Network Defenders and SAN Rover.

By Kellye Whitney, CLO Magazine, March 2007

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The task of ranking the top companies of employee-sponsored workforce training and development is no easy feat. This year, Training’s sixth annual report, adds 25 more companies to the list…Training Top 125.

Training Magazine March 2007

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For our first feature on the top players in training and development (T&D), we contacted 35 learning providers to gather some key data and facts about themselves and major competitors, which led to the determination of the final 13. They not only administer but also deliver training services to many of the largest companies. Some vendors use their own learning courseware to train a variety of employees, some implement learning software and programs developed by other companies, and others incorporate outside services. Besides administering training, providers track employees for data on attrition, completion, and results.

HRO Today, February 2007

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Mobile technologies are everywhere today — more than 1.5 billion of them, according to a recent report by Strategy Analytics with 10 percent year-over-year adoption expected through 2008. Cell phones, PDAs, iPods and handheld game consoles are just a few examples of the devices that have become common, everyday accessories.

By Ellen Wagner, Ph.D., CLO Magazine, February 2007

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With the war for talent in full swing, today’s CLOs find themselves thrust into a more strategic role, as company leaders look to them to help address a wide range of talent management issues. Learning no longer is just about “training,” but it is now seen as a strategic function that can transform a company into a high-performance organization.

By Peter McStravick, CLO Magazine, January 2007

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As we gaze toward the vista of 2007, we find our e-mail inbox inundated with IT predictions for the new year from analysts, vendors and consultants. From those predictions and our own prognostications we present our forecast for the top IT stories in the year ahead.

Global e-News, December 2006

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Chief information officers (CIOs) anticipate increased information technology (IT) hiring in the first quarter of 2007, according to the Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report. Sixteen percent of executives polled plan to add IT staff in the next three months and 2 percent anticipate cutbacks. The net 14 percent hiring increase, the highest since the fourth quarter of 2001, is up four percentage points from the previous quarter's forecast.

Global e-News, December 2006

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Most organizations reported healthy increases in their training budgets, with an average budget increase of 7 percent over last year. Today, companies are spending $1,273 per learner on training, including staff salaries. These higher budgets have driven the growth of overall training industry expenditures. U.S. organizations spent a total of $55.8 billion on training (including staff salaries) this year, with $15.8 billion earmarked for external learning products and services. These numbers are up from last year’s figures, which showed $51.1 billion in total industry spending and $13.5 billion in spending on products and services.

Training magazine, December 2006

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The third survey in the Training Challenges Survey Series, conducted by Expertus and TrainingOutsourcing.com, focused on LMS consolidation – defined as the tendency of organizations using more than one learning management system to standardize on a single system.

Survey Results from Expertus/TrainingOutsourcing.com Study, November 2006

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Offshoring is not what it used to be.  From the 1970s, when manufacturing jobs were being relocated to low-labor-cost countries, through the early 19990s, when IT applications work first migrated to India, offshoring - literally - meant moving jobs elsewhere with all the dislocation and distress that it entailed.  The most recent findings of a multiyear survey conducted by Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and Booze Allen Hamilton (the Duke/Booze Allen Offshoring Research Network Survey) reveal profound shifts in the rationale and direction of what we've come to call Offshoring.

Duke University - Offshoring Research Network, October 2006

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More than 240 books on Amazon.com and 90 articles on the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) website are devoted to the measurement and evaluation of training.   There are also more than 2,000 websites featuring consultants and tools to help the measurement process.  Yet, despite all these extensive resources, most training managers do not yet have a complete and actionable measurement program.

By Josh Bersin, Bersin & Associates, October 2006

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The second survey in the Training Challenges Survey Series, conducted by Expertus and TrainingOutsourcing.com, focused on global training - defined as training provided to employees, customers, and partners outside of an organization's home country.

Survey Results from Expertus/TrainingOutsourcing.com Study, October 2006

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It appears professionals may have more negotiating power with employers than they think. Fifty-five percent of hiring managers surveyed for this year's Employment Dynamics and Growth Expectations (EDGE) Report said it was difficult to find qualified candidates 12 months ago; 81 percent said recruiting is equally or more challenging today. More than half of hiring managers who are having trouble recruiting cited a shortage of qualified professionals as the primary culprit. Nearly two-in-five hiring managers plan to increase starting salaries in the next year to attract new talent.

Global e-News, September 2006

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Learning leaders can’t reach consensus on something almost all of them value intensely: measurement of learning impact on the business. ROI measurements or metrics continually spark conversations and debates in the enterprise education space. Parties on both sides of the fence — those who say learning can be measured, and those who subscribe to “We know intuitively that learning works” — might want to go back to the beginning of the debate and evaluate their learning and development expectations before they initiate programs, are disappointed and potentially conclude that learning program content or delivery was to blame when results are less than stellar.

Kellye Whitney, CLO Magazine, September 2006

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The first survey in the Training Challenges Survey Series, conducted by Expertus and TrainingOutsourcing.com, focused on channel partner training - the training conducted by companies to assist third-party partners in selling their products or services.

Survey Results from Expertus/TrainingOutsourcing.com Study, August 2006

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On July 27, global learning services provider NIIT, headquartered in New Delhi, India announced that it had acquired Rochester, N.Y. based Element K. Combined the companies will have more than 3,000 employees throughout the world with revenues in excess of US $250 million. Instead of terming this an acquisition, I like to view it more as the perfect marriage of two complementary organizations. The union of the two companies has the ability to become one of the most powerful companies in the corporate and educational marketplace.

Written exclusively for TrainingOutsourcing.com, By Doug Harward, July 2006

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As a technology executive, you require access to the most current employment information. The Robert Half Technology Midyear IT Employment Outlook is a timely synopsis of hiring trends based on our quarterly surveys of chief information officers (CIOs) nationwide. It is designed to provide you with the insight you need to successfully position your department – and company – for new business challenges and growth opportunities.

Global Knowledge e-News, July 2006

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CHANNEL PARTNERS of software maker Autodesk Inc. are enhancing their selling skills, technical competence, and product knowledge with a nifty new web-based performance support tool that guides them through every aspect of the customer sales process. Assisting Autodesk in the learning endeavor is training outsourcing supplier Intrepid Learning Solutions.

By Paul Harris, T+D Magazine, June 2006

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The recent acquisition by Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. (NYSE: ACS) of Ernst and Young's Intellinex Learning Services business will create a welcomed new powerhouse in the marketplace for human capital and training outsourcing services. Indeed, it has already created a buzz in the training outsourcing industry that we haven't heard in quite some time.

Written exclusively for TrainingOutsourcing.com, By Doug Harward, June 2006

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Alignment: It’s the term that describes the continuous process of mobilizing enterprise resources to execute company objectives. For several years, organizations have grappled with how to align their most critical enterprise resource—the workforce. Thus far, most organizations have charged the human resources department with building an alignment strategy. Although HR is an important stakeholder, the development and execution of optimal workforce alignment will never occur without equal participation of the corporate strategy and learning organizations.

By James Harvey, CLO Magazine, May 2006

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You probably wish you didn’t have to spend any of your training budget on marketing. Wouldn’t you rather focus your resources on developing top-quality learning? The reality is that if you don’t have marketing, you don’t get heard at all.

Written exclusively for TrainingOutsourcing.com
By Gordon L. Johnson
April 2006

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