1. Mansib wrote, Need Help Learning:
   
   I would like to be a computer programmer, but I just can’t understand anything.
   I’ve read books and searched through websites but only find things such as “Coding tutorial, we assume you know so-so language before starting” or messages telling me to look up google. On many sites i’ve seen you writing that you offer coaching and mentoring services. So can you help me learn programming? I’m dedicated and I actually want to learn not ask you to do projects and the like.
   I only know a little bit of html and I use to know a bit of C++. I hope you won’t ignore this.
   
   IT Career Training Coach reply:
   
   Mansib, one of the biggest myths of learning programming is that of starting with C++. I don’t recommend it … even though C++ is one of the fastest programming languages and it is object oriented and it has been around for a log time, it’s not necessarily the best programming language for a newbie to cut their teeth on. I usually recommend other programming languages in my training programs. You can read this post I wrote a while ago, about why training on C++ is not always recommended: why C++ training may not be recommended for you

2. Srikanth wrote, Business Analyst Career:
   
   Hi Kingsley,
   
   I want to become a business analyst. It is all I wanted since I entered IT. But something or the other kept diverting me away from it. I really need your help in reviving my career. I’m willing to put in any number of hours to succeed in this quest. I have 3 years of IT experience, where I have also had client facing roles. Please include me in your internship program. I really really want this badly.
   
   Thanking You !
   
   With Best regards,
   
   IT Career Training Coach reply:
   
   Sri, I would be glad to help you get your career started. The first step is to get a copy of the business analyst book . At the time of writing of this post, it contains more than 150 carefully selected business analyst training concepts. These are concepts about business analysis, requirements analysis, etc. that you need to know and master. These concepts are presented within the framework of our online training system … so you will be getting enough reading materials and homework to keep you busy for a while. You should build up on that by also registering for the business analyst training.

3. Joel wrote, Can I Do This:
   
   I have messed up my job record from past health challenges and decisions I made.
   My question is it possible for a person to learn programming, software development, etc. and get a really good job or better work for themselves/contracting. I am trying to start my life over and this seems like a great path-a person would always be in demand.
   
   IT Career Training Coach reply:
   
   Joel, the demand for Software Development Consultants with the right skill sets is very high. I typically get 5 to 10 phone calls or emails from recruiters daily … and that is without me having to get on the phone and call them for a job like you would in so many other professions.
   The software development career is one of those careers that is constantly in demand. Software developers are in demand-because of the ever increasing need to automate business processes. Business software applications enable a business or firm to do produce more with less resources, thereby increasing the level of productivity of the firm. As the firm expands it’s operations and grows, it comes up with more processes that need to be automated. This is fundamental to how businesses operate. The increased growth, expansion and revenue making increases the demand for software developers as well. In addition, in the last ten years across, there has been an explosion in the demand for software development professionals because of the Internet.
   So, if you are thinking of beginning a software development career or improving your existing programming skills … now is the best time. Read more about how to become a programmer or register for a software developer training class.
   Yes, it is quite possible to get a good job working for yourself as a software developer, if you have marketable, in-demand software development skills.

4. Jovelyn wrote, Fresh Grad Want To Be A Web Designer:
   
   Hi,
   I’m a graduate of Computer Engineering just this last April 2008, I am working now in a call center and im really bored.
   I really want to be a web designer but i am afraid of applying to different company because I dont have any working experience as a web designer. But i know to myself that I am willing to be trained. I know how to use HTML, frontpage, VB 6.0, and ASP.net but I am only a beginner. I hope you can give me an advise ..
   Thank you very much…
   
   IT Career Training Coach reply:
   
   Jovelyn, I feel your pain. I graduated as a chemical engineer just like you and at one time, I actually worked in a call center … girl, was I bored!!!
   Anyway, since you already know some ASP.NET and HTML, I would encourage you to go ahead and apply for programming jobs, because the demand for software development skills is quite high. If you don’t, you may find it much harder to get a job if the economy enters a full blown recession because then you have to complete with experienced ASP.NET developers.
   What you need to do, is to sharpen your existing programming skills while you shop your resume around to different employers. Also, work on your job interviewing skills because … here is a secret … hiring managers do not always employ the best programmers, the hire the best presenters or technical job interviewers. So, I have giving you to things to work on …

   1. your ASP.NET programming skills
   2. your ASP.NET technical job interviewing skills

5. KING wrote, Computer Programming Career:
   
   I have been very incline to computer programming since high school.
   I started with Turbo-Pascal (an old language I know). I did one year of college and put school on the side. I want to start my computer career before getting my Computer Science degree. I have taught myself some C++ and Java from books. I am a fast learner. I would also like to read your book.
   IT Career Training Coach reply:
   
   KING, the proof of the pudding is in the eating … so you are doing quote well, because the literal proof of your passion for computer programming is how much programming you have learnt either by teaching yourself or by attending programming courses.
   
   You may get a copy of the e-book “how to become a computer programmer” or attend a full-blown online software developer training programmer at the SOFTWARE DEVELOPER BOOT CAMP

6. Alma wrote, Help:
   
   I am 24 years old girl. I got my bachelors in Computer Information Systems that includes computer programming like C#, Java, ASP.net and more but I understand more about it.
   
   Please help to understand. Most jobs they need a lot of years of experience and I don’t have it. What should I do?
   
   IT Career Training Coach reply:
   
   Alma, This is the classic chicken and egg which came first puzzle.
   The good news is that it is quite easy to solve with some patience and investment of time on your path. First, pick a few programming languages that are in very high demand and at the same time are easier to learn. You need to learn the programming languages that are actually in demand by employers otherwise no-one and I repeat nobody is going to hire you. Next, you then need to get some real world, on the job, practical programming skills because in programming you are not hired for your skills or certification or degrees but for your practical, hands-on computer programming skills. The how to become a programmer ebook goes into this in more detail.

7. Dan wrote, Getting In This Career Field:
   
   Hi, I want to get into this job field but Im not sure where to start. Ive never worked in the field before but am pretty computer savy. Im wondering which of your programs would be best for me.?
   
   IT Career Training Coach reply:
   
   Dan, I would advise you to read both and then make up your mind about you want to be. The how to become a business analyst ebookexplains the roles and responsibilities of business analysts, provides you with a carer roadmap and schedules you for a series of practice job interview questions that last about a month. The how to become a developer ebook walks you through the myriads of programming languages and software development platforms available to beginning or senior computer programmers as well as provides you with a roadmap for becoming an expert software developer. Both e-books are excellent, easy to understand or implement and are written for working professionals who are crunched on time and only interested in getting practical, proven results.

8. Dean wrote, Computer Training, Beginner:
   
   Hi there,
   ive just been reading your site,which is brilliant,its get me well interested,i wanted to ask you,if i start learning from now to be a computer expert and devote my time into it,how long roughly would it be until im an expert?
   many thanks,dean
   IT Career Training Coach reply:
   
   Dean for an average person (whatever that means) … it will take you about 6 months of steady, consistent study, learning and practice to learn computer programming or business analysis and about 3 years of hard work to become competent or expert. The secret here is consistency.
   Many years ago, when I decided to push my skills to the highly competent or expert level, I studied, practiced and researched for about 18 months
   The most important thing is to start now, set a learning goal and to never give up until you achieve your goal!

9. Shaun wrote, Starting A Programming Career:
   
   Hi, I graduated high school this summer but I didn’t apply to any colleges because I don’t feel that I can put in another 4 years of school successfully.
   I’m really interested in beginning programming, but I’m skeptical at the same time because I’ve heard that it isn’t stable due to constant changes.
   I was wondering if you could help me out with I should start with in terms of programming. I also have no previous knowledge or training.
   I was thinking of buying a bunch of books to start learning various languages, but I don’t want to waste my time learning a language that will quickly become outdated. Could you please give me a direction as to what I should start with, while making sure it will be around for awhile at the same time?
   Thanks in advance.
   
   IT Career Training Coach reply:
   
   Shaun, your programming career is as stable as you want it to be. You have been seriously misinformed by so-called well meaning people.
   I had the same advise about 15 years ago and I threw all that into a garbage can … which is where it belongs.
   Listen let me tell you something … there is no career in life that is not subject to change. You need to learn why dodos are extinct. Do not begin your life looking for stability … because there is none. Look for what interests you, excites your passion, keeps you awake at night or what you would pay someone money to do.
   The demand for computer programmers is so high because there are not enough skilled people to fill the software development positions available right now. if you had the right skills … I could pick up my phone and make just one call and you would be hired before the week is over. Your starting pay for the right programming skills could be in six figures if you are that good. So, quit analyzing and take massive action towards learning a marketable, in-demand software programming skill.

10. Priyanshu wrote, Suggest Best Career For Me:
    
    I am from England. I have done my bachelors in Computer Science and Masters in Computer Science with ICT Management.
    Everywhere, there is a demand of programmers but I do not want to do coding very much because I do not like coding. Also that is the reason that I am not very high skilled in programming too.
    Please Suggest me which field is best for me in IT. Basically I think I would like to go for Business Analyst because of very less coding. But for this position companies want industrial experience that I don’t have. Please tell me what to do.
    
    IT Career Training Coach reply:
    
    Priyanshu, you are going in the right direction. Do not learn programming or become a programmer because of the money or because every one else is doing it or become someone else recommended it to you. Make this a rule … do not choose any career because of third-pary recommendations, money or prestige.
    You need to choose a career you love, period.
    If you have decided to become a business analyst and are encountering resistance in the job market, consider getting the basic business analyst training from the business analyst handbook. It has enough preparation and training content to keep you busy for an entire month. Also, consider registering for online business analyst training at the business analyst training.

How Can You Ask A Question?

Asking a question is simple. Just post your question as a comment on this page using the comment form at the end of this post

How Will You Receive An Answer?

I will answer your question by posting a reply using the comment form at the end of this page or post .If your questions is a private or sensitive question, I will email my answer back to you.

If you post your question as a comment on this post, I will answer it … if you email me your question, I may not answer it. That is all. The floor is yours, so go ahead and ask me the pressing or important question on your mind about your career

About The Author

How to become a Web Designer

With the launch of the Internet in the 90’s and the boom of the dot-com era in the new millennium. Web Designers have had a ball with designing cool-looking sites for businesses and individuals. However, with the development of newer easy-to-use tools like Dreamweaver and Frontpage, as well as online journals and blogs like this one, some people are beginning to say that Web Design skills are no longer in demand.

THOSE PEOPLE ARE WRONG!!!

Yes, the availability of purely Web Design jobs when compared to Web Developer jobs, may have somewhat cooled down, however, to think for a second that Web Design careers or jobs will go obsolete is totally ridiculous. Web Designers are alive and well, and cranking out more HTML and CSS than ever. As a matter of fact, with the rise of Web-based applications (and the lack of cool styling and imaging that comes with them) Web Designers are once again finding new bread in assisting ASP.NET and PHP developers with optimizing their sites with clear, good looking HTML and CSS to make their web projects look awesome.

In this article, I will show you how to become a Web Designer or how to utilize your Web Design skills.

Who is a Web Designer?

A Web Designer is someone who designs and develops web pages and websites for the internet. When working with Web Applications a Web Designer typically adds static content to the different sections and uses styling and formatting to make the site look clean and uniform.

What is the Job Outlook for Web Designers?

As I said before, while Web Design has somewhat cooled in demand when compared to Web Development skills, the Web Design industry as whole is definitely here to stay. As long as the internet and the World Wide Web exists, there will be a need for highly skilled Web Designers because a web application, website or blog has limited appeal until a web designer’s magical human touch is applied.

Web Designer’s Roles and Responsibilities

To be a Web Designer, you must be good or strong in the following:

1. Strong working knowledge of HTML and CSS.
2. The ability to understand, to some degree, programming languages like C#, VB.NET, PHP which you interface with while working on web application development projects.
3. Strong analytical skills because working with HTML is very much like traditional computer programming.
4. The ability to work with pages and sites on different browsers, like IE, Firefox, Opera, Netscape.
5. Strong attention to detail. A small glitch on one page could present a wacky layout to an end user or to a user with another type of browser.
6. Fast learning and the capability to keep up with the current evolving standards for HTML and CSS.
7. At least some working knowledge of graphics design so you can manipulate graphic images to suit different layouts on a website.

How does Web Design compare to Computer Programmer?

In some ways they are very similar. Web Design and Computer Programming require coding, testing, and adjusting. Web Design code is usually read top to bottom and left to right. Also there are rules to what you can write in web design code just like there are rules to writing in each computer programming language. These web design rules are embodied in a SYNTAX known as CSS and HTML.

One advantage of Web Design over computer programing is the reduced complexity of web design jobs. While computer programming may sometimes not be easy, all Web Design is usually done on the front-end.

If your are designing a simple site, it is relatively easy to test it; all you have to do is click around the site and see if you are getting your expected results.

If you are a Web Designer working on a Web Application project, you are usually the last person to work on the site after all coding is done. Compared to Web Design, Computer Programming is much more complex. You have databases, routines, functions, controls, and handles for user input and output and error handling. Computer Programmers not only have several layers to work on, but they also have the front-end to deal with and assist the Web Designer on, just to make sure that their Website displays well within the Web Designer’s styling.

One thing to note is that while Web Design is simpler than computer programming, computer programmers tend to earn more money, but that doesn’t mean that Web Designers are not well paid either. The average Web Designer salary in low cost of living areas is about $35,000 a year assuming a 2 year college degree and some experience.

Web Design Training Opportunities

Currently we are working on a curriculum to train Web Designers. Stay tuned!

About the Author

My name is Michael Mobley and I am a Web Designer at Exacticity Inc. If you would like to learn more about “how to become a web designer” Click Here to Contact Us

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

2. The online BUSINESS ANALYST BOOT CAMP class is for data analysts, system analysts or business analysts who want to learn or master the core business analyst skills including:

1. UML
2. Use Cases
3. Requirements Elicitation or Requirements Analysis

The online SOFTWARE DEVELOPER BOOT CAMP class is for computer programmers, software developers or web developers who want to learn or master the core software development skills including:

1. Database Development and SQL Programming
2. Object Oriented Web Programming Languages
3. Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Real World, Practical, Skill Based Job Training

The best way to learn business analysis or computer programming or database development or any technical skill is to establish the tasks you will be performing for your employer in the real world and then perform those tasks in our training program with guidance, progress monitoring and feedback.

The study guides used in our online training boot camps match the types of tasks, assignments and projects you perform for employers on the job guaranteeing that the skills you gain are immediately useful to you and your employer.

Learning By Doing

The more effective way to master business analysis, data analysis or computer programming skills is by doing or performing the skills you are learning because your brain is wired to retain and remember 80% of what you do or practice versus 20% of what you read or hear.

This is why the online training boot camps includes practical tasks, assignments and hands on learning activities that will help you understand the technical skills you are learning, faster, better and easier.

Study Guides or Courseware

We developed the study guides used in our online technical training boot camps based on the tasks, responsibilities or competencies employers expect you to demonstrate on the job!

Our study guides and hands on exercises are constantly updated, improved and perfected using feedback on the skills, experience and training employers want to see you demonstrate on your resume, job interviews or after you are hired.

Finally, you are guided through an intense, hands on practical training curriculum that dramatically improves your understanding and retention, competency, self confidence and finally your ability to perform on the job.

The outcome of your training is that you will begin to demonstrate the technical mastery or competence needed to excel on the job easily to your employers.

Learning On Your Own Time

One of the core benefits of the database developer, business analyst or computer programmer online training boot camps is that our course schedules are guaranteed to match your work and life schedule and not the other way round.

Here is the reason why

You may enroll and take your online courses in the morning, evening, weekend or any time of the week that best fits your schedule.

You will also not be forced to adopt a schedule that doesn’t work for you and you are always guaranteed that our courses are always flexible or adaptable enough to match your work and personal time commitments.

You Need To Take Action Now

All I am asking you to do, is to invest in your career, your skills and your future by taking a minute to sign up for an online training boot camp or contact me with a question, comment or request for more information.

About The Author

My name is Kingsley Tagbo and I?m a technical expert living in Saint Louis, Missouri. I write about the training, coaching, mentoring and personal development of software development professionals including business analysts, computer programmers, testers, project managers, web designers, data analysts, report writers, software developers and other information technology professionals .

My firm, Exacticity, performs software development consulting and training for clients throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. If you are in need of software development consultants or training, click here to get in touch with me.

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 :

Thanks for getting in touch with me today about your java computer programming career.

I would certainly like to help you achieve your java training career goals.

Your age does not have a lot to do with your software development career success and here is why:

1. There is a federal law against age discrimination and most employers are aware of that. Click here to read an article on Wikipedia titled: Age Discrimination in Employment Act

2. A lot of hiring or recruiting is done based on your resume and your interviewing skills. If your resume looks good and you perform at your technical interview, you will get a JAVA programming job in the current job market for java programmers …. guaranteed!

3. The demand for programming skills far outstrips the supply, so you will probably end up having multiple job offers, even if you don’t have a lot of experience, but can demonstrate reasonable java programming aptitude and an excellent attitude during your technical interview.

In other for me to help you assess how much work you need to do to get a Java programmer job, please answer the following questions:

1. How much practical, real world, hands on Java programming experience do you have?

2. What types of Java programming projects have you been working on for the last 5 years?

Please do get back to me with these answers as soon as you can.

Thanks,

Kingsley Tagbo, IT CAREER COACH
http://www.it-career-coach.net

Do you have a question about your software development career, business analyst career or software tester career you would like for me to answer?

Post your question as a comment on this page and I will answer that burning question on your mind …. guaranteed!

About The Author

My name is Kingsley Tagbo and I?m a technical expert living in Saint Louis, Missouri. I write about the training, coaching, mentoring and personal development of software development professionals including business analysts, computer programmers, testers, project managers, web designers, data analysts, report writers, software developers and other information technology professionals .

My firm, Exacticity, performs software development consulting and training for clients throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. If you are in need of software development consultants or training, click here to get in touch with me.

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.

Database Design Training Curriculum

Here are some of the topics covered in the database design training class:

How to use Keys and Indexes in relational databases.

How to establish Foreign Keys, Alternate Keys, Primary Keys, Candidate Keys and Composite Keys.

How to use Tables, Records, Columns and Views.

How to use One-to-One Relationships, One-to-Many Relationships and Many-to-Many Relationships.

How to establish Referential Integrity, Cascade Update Rules and Cascade Delete rules or constraints.

How to use the First Normal Form, Second Normal Form or Third Normal Form in a database design session.

How to use or follow Field Naming Guidelines.

How to resolve Multivalue Fields or Multipart Fields during the database design process.

How to identify the Domains, Entities, Data or Relationships in a database design session.

How to establish Domain Integrity, Entity Integrity, Data Integrity or Referential Integrity in a database design session.

Please note that presently, the training courses at SQL Boot Camp include SQL Development Courses, Database Design Courses and Database Development Courses. This topics listed above are taken from the database design course only.

If you are interested in improving your SQL programming, SQL querying, database design, database development, data analysis, business analysis or software development technical skills, register for a class on SQL Boot Camp

About The Author

My name is Kingsley Tagbo and I?m a technical expert living in Saint Louis, Missouri. I write about the training, coaching, mentoring and personal development of software development professionals including business analysts, computer programmers, testers, project managers, web designers, data analysts, report writers, software developers and other information technology professionals .

My firm, Exacticity, performs software development consulting and training for clients throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. If you are in need of software development consultants or training, click here to get in touch with me.

Is any of these the fastest way to learn a skill?

1. Articles, tutorials or books?

2. Video or CD based courses?

3. Audio or MP3 based courses?

My Career Makeover Secret

If you have been following my blog, you probably know by now that I was educated as a chemical engineer.

However, I changed my career to information technology after I graduated and started work.

Why I Choose An Information Technology Career

I found my chemical engineering courses abstract, dull, lifeless and boring in college! The problem wasn’t that the material was hard to grasp, but that it was too theoretical!

At that time of my life, I couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I always had to work extra hard to motivate myself to study and whenever I studied, it was just to pass my exams!

Have you ever found yourself in a similar situation?

How I stumbled upon the fastest way to learn a skill

Then I stumbled upon a couple of friends who where computer science majors. These folks enjoyed their courses and looked forward to their exams.

Do you know their secret?

They had real jobs working as computer programmers while attending college! So, they applied the theoretical knowledge from computer science college courses to real world software engineering and computer programming problems!

These students were motivated because their learning wasn’t entirely theoretical like mine was. They received a big, immediate, real-world payback from their studies by working on real, living, practical problems.

This my friend, is the fastest way to learn a skill.

Look at it this way. What is the fastest way to learn Chinese or any foreign language if you are an English speaker?

1. Studying books, videos or CDs on Chinese or any foreign language?

2. Attending language classes on Chinese or any foreign language?

3. Going to live and work in China or any foreign country?

Studies have shown that the human brain is not really designed and does not perform well with abstract subjects.

This is because our brains are designed to make meaning and interpret what it studies. so, concrete real-world concepts are easier for our brains to understand than abstract, theoretical information.

However, you have to be careful how you interpret the data I am giving you!

You cannot just learn information technology or software development concepts like UML, Use Cases, Requirements Analysis, Web Design, Database Design, Computer Programming, just by doing!

You Cannot Learn Just By Doing!

You cannot learn just by doing! If you try to learn just by doing, you will soon become one of those that don’t understand what they are doing and are always trying to guess at the correct solution!

The Best Way To Learn A Skill Includes Both The Theory and Practice

You need to have a sound theoretical understanding of the problem you are solving and a lot of real-world experience with applying your theoretical knowledge!

This my friend is the principle that I follow in all my training courses and books.

1. I emphasize the exact amount of theoretical knowledge in my training courses, no more and no less and

2. I emphasize the exact amount of practical, real-world, hands on problem solving learning, no more and no less

If you are interested in “learning both the exact” theoretical knowledge and practical skill that will take your business analyst career or computer programmer career or IT analyst career to the next level, order my training courses at SQLBOOTCAMP.COM or BUSINESSANALYSTBOOTCAMP.COM or SOFTWAREDEVELOPERBOOTCAMP.COM or ORDER MY BOOKS!

About The Author

My name is Kingsley Tagbo and I?m a technical expert living in Saint Louis, Missouri. I write about the training, coaching, mentoring and personal development of software development professionals including business analysts, computer programmers, testers, project managers, web designers, data analysts, report writers, software developers and other information technology professionals .

My firm, Exacticity, performs software development consulting and training for clients throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. If you are in need of software development consultants or training, click here to get in touch with me.

Whatever your current career (business analyst, data analyst, software developer, report writer, database developer, web designer, etc.), you need to sharpen your skills using one or more of the following training options:

1. Self Learning

2. Online Training

3. On The Job Training

4. Coaching or Mentoring

5. Classroom Training

The best training programs I have found include a combination of two or more of these training options.

Personally, I have invested a lot of time and money in self learning, online training, on the job learning and coaching or mentoring. I have also invested in class room training, but not to the same extent as the other training methods.

What is really important, is that you create a definite goal for what you want to attain and then define the specific training you will use to achieve those goals.

This is important because without constantly training your skills, you will begin to lag behind your colleagues.

When that happens, you will find it hard to ace your technical interview or get hired, you will be passed over for promotions and you will be one of the most likely to get fired on your team. Your job performance will also suffer and you will begin to show signs that you lack the confidence to do your job well.

How to choose the best training program for your career

Here are some tips that will help you choose the best training program for your career:

Choosing Self Learning or Teach Yourself Programs

Self Learning or teach yourself programs are usually the cheapest programs of studying. All you have to do is buy a book on the subject or topic you are interested in learning. For example, there are books on Amazon.com on almost any subject under the sun. You can also purchase e-books written by subject matter experts (SMEs) on any skill you want to learn.

The advantage of self study is that it is the cheapest way to learn a topic.

The disadvantage of self-study is that you may still not understand a topic after reading a book on it. Also, the books you buy may end up collecting dust on your shelf because it takes a lot more personal discipline or effort to buy a book and read it.

Choosing Online Training

Online training also known as e-learning, virtual classroom training or distance learning is growing in popularity because online training is cheaper than physical class room training.

Online training is usually location independent which means that you can in theory take an online class from any location in the world as long as you have a computer and an internet connection.

Online training is also more convenient for working adults who cannot afford to take out time from work and family committments to drive to a physical training class.

Online training is more self-paced and more convenient than classroom training because you may attend a virtual class at a time (evening, morning, afternoon).

The disadvantage of online training compared to to physical class room training is that you don’t have the physical, intimate bonding experience of being in the same class with students and course instructors. For some, the lack of physical proximity with other students and class instructors is intimidating, so they will not enjoy an online training class.

Choosing On The Job Training

Learning with or mastering “on the job training” is a necessity requirement for today’s information technology careers. This is because no matter how much online training, or self-studying or class room training you take, you will always have to learn something new on your job.

For example, you will need to learn the business processes of every company you work for, on-the-job. Also, it is not practical for your employer to send you to a class, each time a new software program or technology is installed at your place of work.

What this really means, is that you need to be adept at learning on the job to survive in today’s fast-paced and highly competitive information technology job market.

Choosing Coaching or Mentoring

You need to have at least one coach or mentor at every level of your career.

Your coach should be someone who is more experienced than you and can help guide you through the challenges you will face on the job.

As you progress in your career, you will be faced with decisions that you will not be able to find answers for in an online training class or book or classroom.

Successful people in every career or discipline can easily name coaches or mentors who influenced, inspired or guided them to greater success than they where capable of by themselves.

The question “you should be asking” is not whether you need a mentor, but “who is best suited to be your mentor“?

Adopting a mentor can be as simple as asking someone who is much higher than you at work to be your mentor.

You can also read the publications, articles, books and informational products published by professionals or experts that you recognize in your industry.

Remember that you need a mentor and that you also have complete freedome in how you go about selecting or choosing a mentor … so choose wisely

Class Room Training

Class room training is one of the more traditional programs of learning a skill.

The advantage of classroom training is the physical proximity between you and your teacher.

The disadvantage of classroom training includes the cost of attending it. Classroom training usually requires more of your time and costs more money.

My advice to you is to constantly sharpen and improve your skills, your career and your life using two or more affordable and flexible career training programs. If you do that continuously, you will become one of those people who succeeds in developing their personal talents and skills in their career or life.

About The Author

My name is Kingsley Tagbo and I?m a technical expert living in Saint Louis, Missouri. I write about the training, coaching, mentoring and personal development of software development professionals including business analysts, computer programmers, testers, project managers, web designers, data analysts, report writers, software developers and other information technology professionals .

My firm, Exacticity, performs software development consulting and training for clients throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. If you are in need of software development consultants or training, click here to get in touch with me.

If you are interested, all you have to do is register for the special at SQL BOOT CAMP and then place a special, one-time discount code in your shopping cart when you order your online training.

Here is the special, one-time discount code: XxT95763

This offer ends on March 1, 2008.

About The Author

My name is Kingsley Tagbo and I?m a technical expert living in Saint Louis, Missouri. I write about the training, coaching, mentoring and personal development of software development professionals including business analysts, computer programmers, testers, project managers, web designers, data analysts, report writers, software developers and other information technology professionals .

My firm, Exacticity, performs software development consulting and training for clients throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. If you are in need of software development consultants or training, click here to get in touch with me.