Archive for the ‘Career’ Category

The Importance of Investing in Your Future

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

We hear the word investment thrown around constantly. We invest in many things in life, from relationships to the stock market. The end result, we hope, is some sort of benefit to us—a wonderful spouse or perhaps money. Investments are incredibly important to us as humans and as individuals. Every investment we make in life—and there are many—have some sort of effect, be it positive or negative.

One of the most important investments you can make in life is that of your Education. Education is an incredibly powerful asset because it can lead to impressive outcomes–success, opportunity, understanding, and even happiness. When you invest in your education, you are ensuring that you have control of your life.

Warren Buffett, Investor/Billionaire

You must invest in yourself. Any certified IT Professional will tell you how grateful they are to have spent the time and energy to create a future for themselves. They are working in an ever expanding industry doing what they love and making a nice living doing it. Yes, they spent hours studying, learning and perhaps struggling—but now they aren’t. They are settled, knowledgeable, employed and certified.

Sometimes, making an investment can be hard. It’s easy to be short sited and only see what we are losing, rather than what we are gaining. What must be remembered is that long term gains are far greater than the short term losses involved with making the proper investments in our future. Do you think Warren Buffett regrets spending $25 to buy a Pinball machine to place in barbershops at the age of 15, only to own several more machines months later? Absolutely not. This investment preceded a long, successful career which placed him in the running as the wealthiest person in the world.

Chances are you have some things in mind already. Ideas you have been toying with. Perhaps you want to start a business or invent something. Maybe you want to build up your certifications to increase your job options. Regardless of what your investment is, don’t be afraid to make it. Get out there and give it all you got, because that is the only way to make big things happen. You have to just go out and do it. Then one day, when you reflect on your life journey, you will remember the sacrifices you made to achieve your goals and become what you always wanted to be.

What goals in life do you need to invest in? Let us know by leaving a comment!

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Tech Author Sheds Light on How Technology Drives the “Mesh”

Friday, April 1st, 2011

TED hosts author Lisa Gansky, the mind behind www.meshing.it, who speaks on the topic of “the mesh”. Gansky discusses how technology is a positive factor which drives convenience and information. Viewing cities as platforms, she discusses how developers can create new technologies that can increase data, which enhances information. She uses the example of how transit information is becoming more conveniently available through data, allowing users to make better decisions throughout their day. Ganksy sees technology as an unstoppable force that should be utilized instead of resisted. Technology drivers such as network administrators, developers, etc are driving this growth through constant innovation.The more useful they become, the more demand there will be for them–meaning job security for technology professionals. Watch the video below and let us know what you think about this idea of the “Mesh”.



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Communication: The Heart of Networking Technology

Friday, February 4th, 2011

Cisco asks tech industry leaders, “What’s the power of the network?” Hear their thoughts on the floor of the 2011 International CES in Las Vegas, NV.

-newsroom.cisco.com

Find out how to earn a Cisco certification and other Cisco training by calling a PrepLogic account representative at 1-800-418-6789.

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Competition for Good IT Employees Drives Up Salaries

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

In a survey by Dice Holdings Inc., a technology and engineering career site, and reported in the Wall Street Journal, the average annual tech salary in Silicon Valley rose 3% in 2010 to an impressive $99,027. In comparison, the national annual tech salary increased by less than 1% to a still impressive $79,384.

“Tom Silver, Dice’s senior vice president of North America, says the biggest demand for hires was for Java programmers, Oracle database experts and network security specialists. An advanced Java programmer in Silicon Valley can garner as much as $107,000 in the region versus $91,000 in other parts of the nation, he says.”

-“Local Technology Salaries Lead the Nation“. The Wall Street Journal. 3 February 2011.

Recruiters report quality engineers are in high demand, with even novice engineers commanding $120,000 to $150,000 a year. Project managers are no stranger to these kinds of high-paying salaries. Ali Behnam, founder of Riviera Partners, a recruiting firm for start-ups, says a good project manager can earn a salary of $150,000 a year.

Pay Gains - WSJ

Not such great news for young start-up companies who can’t afford to match these kinds of salaries quite like Facebook Inc. or Zynga Inc. But, fantastic news for all of the hard-working techies! As competition among firms for good employees increases, so too will the price of a “competitive” salary.

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What Happened to CompTIA’s “Good for Life” Certifications?

Thursday, January 20th, 2011

January 1, 2011 marked a new era for three of the most popular CompTIA certifications. Falling in line with many other major IT certification vendors, CompTIA has put an expiration date on their A+, Network+ and Security+ certifications. Effective January 1, 2011 all CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+ certifications will be valid for three years from the date the candidate is certified. After three years, the certification must be renewed.  Gone are the days of being “certified for life”…at least for those IT pros certified after January 1, 2011.

If you are one of the many techies who earned a “lifetime” CompTIA certification prior to January 1, 2011, you have not been bamboozled. The new renewal policy does not affect those individuals who were certified prior to 2011. All individuals certified on or before December 31, 2010 will retain their “certified for life” status. So what’s the catch? There is no catch…per say. But there is a difference between a person’s certificate who certified before 2011 and a person who certifies now, in 2011.

Anyone certified before 2011 will have no valid through date on their certificate or certificate holder CompTIA ID card. Anyone certified on or after January 1, 2011 will receive a certificate and certificate holder CompTIA ID card with an expiration date, along with a “ce” notation.  The ce notation denotes the new CompTIA Continuing Education (CE) Program associated with the renewal program and signifies that the certification will expire three years from the date certified.

If you are planning on getting CompTIA A+, Network+ or Security+ certified, there is an alternative to taking a new exam every three years. The certification renewal policy includes the continuing education component that allows certified individuals to renew their certifications by earning continuing education units, opposed to retaking the most current version of the CompTIA A+, Network+ or Security+ every three years.  CompTIA.org reports, “The CompTIA Continuing Education (CE) Program has been designed to allow individuals a cost-effective method for keeping certifications current through the completion of variety of activities that demonstrate relevant industry knowledge.” (Look for more on CompTIA’s Continuing Education Program in a future blog).

What’s the reason for this policy change? Why are CompTIA certifications no longer “good for life?”  CompTIA’s Continuing Education Program and Certification Renewal Policy cites:

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO), an international body which standardizes the procedures used by personnel certification bodies, requires that individuals have a way to renew the currency of their certification on a regular basis. In CompTIA’s case, that renewal will occur every three years.

This change in policy is in line with the practice of other major providers of certifications for IT professionals. In today’s IT environment it’s important for IT professionals to demonstrate that their knowledge and skills are current. CompTIA’s new renewal program is a way to assist those individuals who would like to take advantage of it. Our certification renewal program includes a continuing education component that gives eligible certification holders a range of ways to keep their CompTIA certifications current without necessarily having to take a new exam.

As we all know, technology is ever-evolving and constantly changing. And in order for your certifications to stay relevant in this fast-paced technological world, those certs must reflect that your IT skills have evolved along with technology. And with CompTIA’s A+, Network+ and Security+ continually being updated with new content developed in conjunction  with the latest must-know subject matter, having to renew your certifications will demonstrate to employers that your IT knowledge is up-to-date and pertinent.

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Exam Retirements; SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005, more

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Microsoft recently announced that a number of certification exams are being retired. With mainstream product support ending for SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005 and BizTalk Server 2006, the certifications for those products will no longer be offered. Here’s a few of the certification exams that will no longer be offered after June 2011.

70-431 TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Implementation and Maintenance
70-441 PRO: Designing Database Solutions by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-442 PRO: Designing and Optimizing Data Access by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-443 PRO: Designing a Database Server Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-444 PRO: Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Administration Solution by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-526 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Windows-Based Client Development
70-528 TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Web-Based Client Development
  • (70-431) TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Implementation and Maintenance
  • (70-441) PRO: Designing Database Solutions by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
  • (70-442) PRO: Designing and Optimizing Data Access by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
  • (70-443) PRO: Designing a Database Server Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
  • (70-444) PRO: Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Administration Solution by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
  • (70-526) TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Windows-Based Client Development
  • (70-528) TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Web-Based Client Development

It’s important to note that if you have already earned these certifications, that credential will never retire. Retirement for these exams just means that new people will no longer be able to get certified in these skill. A full list of exams being retired can be found at the Microsoft Born to Learn blog.  If you have any questions about Microsoft exams or certifications, please give our career counselors a call at 1-800-418-6789.

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Can You Say Adobe Certification?

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010
PrepLogic’s newly released Photoshop CS5 LearnSmart Video Training is a great course for graphic designers of all skill levels. Photoshop is a fun-to-use graphic design tool, with a host of features, including the use of masks, color spaces, transparency, manipulation of alpha channels and clipping paths and the ability to layer changes to images. The new CS5 version of Photoshop includes many new features, including the Puppet Warp tool that allows you to take elements of your design and manipulate them just like a puppet on a string. Many people use Photoshop as a hobby, but mastering this program can also lead to an exciting career in Graphic Design.
Adobe offers a full selection of certifications that can help you validate your skills as an Adobe expert. By combining Adobe certifications with an impressive portfolio of work, you can help set yourself apart from the crowded field of graphic designers in today’s workforce. In this video, Photoshop CS5 instructor gives you an overview and explanation the Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) and the Adobe Certified Associate Certifications (ACA).
Be sure to check out Adobe’s website for more information about the Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) certification, as well as the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) in Visual Communication (Photoshop), Web Communication (Dreamweaver) and Rich Media Communication (Flash). To find out how you can get access to all of our Adobe CS5 courses, give our career counselors a call at 1-800-418-6789.

PrepLogic’s newly released Photoshop CS5 LearnSmart Video Training is a great course for graphic designers of all skill levels. Photoshop is a fun-to-use graphic design tool, with a host of features, including the use of masks, color spaces, transparency, manipulation of alpha channels and clipping paths and the ability to layer changes to images. The new CS5 version of Photoshop includes many new features, including the Puppet Warp tool that allows you to take elements of your design and manipulate them just like a puppet on a string. Many people use Photoshop as a hobby, but mastering this program can also lead to an exciting career in Graphic Design.

Adobe offers a full selection of certifications that can help you validate your skills as an Adobe expert. By combining Adobe certifications with an impressive portfolio of work, you can help set yourself apart from the crowded field of graphic designers in today’s workforce. In this video, Photoshop CS5 instructor gives you an overview and explanation the Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) and the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) Certifications.

Be sure to check out Adobe’s website for a complete exam listing and  more information about the Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) certification, as well as the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) in Visual Communication (Photoshop), Web Communication (Dreamweaver) and Rich Media Communication (Flash). To find out how you can get access to all of our Adobe CS5 courses, give our career counselors a call at 1-800-418-6789.

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Press Release: PrepLogic Gives Back to Community with Donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

PrepLogic, an IT certification and skills training company with headquarters in Tampa, is one of the title sponsors of the 2nd Annual Golf Fore Kids’ Sake Scramble benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Inc.  PrepLogic is making a $5,000 contribution to the Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraiser, which takes place on November 15th at Eaglebrooke Golf & Country Club in Lakeland. The donation from PrepLogic will go towards the Big Brothers Big Sisters children’s mentoring program. This donation is part of PrepLogic’s continuing initiative to support local charitable projects that help out children in need.

As a web-based IT training company, PrepLogic provides high level skills training and IT certification exam preparation to people all over the world. They offer computer-based and interactive training for such IT skills as system administration, networking, security, voice technologies and project management. Individuals and companies can choose from a wide array of well-respected IT certification vendors, including Cisco training, MCITP training and CompTIA training. PrepLogic has helped thousands of people earn IT certifications in their twelve year history.

PrepLogic’s $5,000 contribution will fund five “Big” and “Little” matches. “We are really excited and proud to take part in such a great organization,” said PrepLogic’s President Jay Gandee. “Big Brothers Big Sisters has really made a difference in the lives of children here in Tampa Bay. We are thrilled to be a part of that and help out however we can.”

“The lingering impact of the recession has affected children living with families at or below the poverty level the most,” said Stephen Koch, Big Brothers Big Sisters President and CEO.  “PrepLogic’s investment in services for kids who need it the most is an inspiring example of corporate philanthropy at its best.  We know from our documented outcomes that providing these children with a properly screened and trained volunteer will change their perspectives on life and consequently, change their lives forever.  We applaud PrepLogic for their generosity and focus on the future……our children.”

To find out more about the 2nd Annual Golf Fore Kids’ Sake Scramble, call 813-769-3600 or visit the Big Brothers Big Sisters website.

For more information about PrepLogic, call PrepLogic at 1-800-418-6789 or visit http://www.preplogic.com/.

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Posted in A+ Certification, Career, CCNA, Certification, Cisco, CompTIA, Donations, IT Industry, IT Service Management, IT Training, MCITP, Microsoft, Microsoft Office, Network+, Preplogic, Security+ | No Comments »

Updates to Cisco Voice Certifications: New Exams for CCNA Voice and CCNP Voice

Thursday, October 21st, 2010

Cisco, the vendor behind the well respected CCNA certification, has announced a few major changes to their Voice certifications.  The company has updated their Voice certifications to be more in line with recent advances in data, voice and video convergence.   The two certifications that have been updated are the CCNA Voice and the CCVP certification.   The CCNA Voice certification has been updated with new content and a new exam titled ICOMM v8.0 (640-461).   The CCVP certification has been re-branded as the CCNP Voice and all five exams have also been updated.    Both the CCNA Voice and CCNP Voice certifications are intended for people in IT who work with Unified Communication applications and voice networks.

Changes to CCNA Voice
The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Voice certification validates associate-level knowledge and skills required to administer a voice network.  The CCNA Voice certification demonstrates skills in VoIP technologies, such as IP PBX, IP telephony, handset, call control, and voicemail solutions.

The new CCNA Voice certification exam is called the “Introducing Cisco Voice and Unified Communications Administration (ICOMM v8.0) 640-461 exam.   This exam tests a candidate’s knowledge of the architecture, components, functionality, and features of Cisco Unified Communications solutions.  The ICOMM (640-461) exam replaces the IIUC (640-460) and CVOICE (642-436) exam.

The last day to test for the CCNA Voice certification using the IIUC (640-460) or CVOICE (642-436) exam is February 28, 2011.

Changes to CCVP, Now Called CCNP Voice
The Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Voice certification, previously called the CCVP, validates advanced knowledge and skills required to integrate collaboration and voice applications into underlying network architectures.  The CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) Voice is the next level up after the CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) Voice certification, which is a prerequisite to CCNP Voice.  The CCNP Voice certification demonstrates that an IT professional has a strong and sophisticated skills set in implementing, operating, configuring, and troubleshooting a converged IP network.  The CCNP Voice curriculum  focuses on Cisco Unified Communications Manager (formerly Unified Call Manager), quality of service (QoS), gateways, gatekeepers, IP phones, voice applications, and utilities on Cisco routers and Cisco Catalyst switches. Additionally, the integration and troubleshooting of Cisco Unified Communications applications are now covered in the CCNP Voice, specifically the Cisco Unity Connection and Cisco Unified Presence applications.

Beginning March 1st, 2011 the following new CCNP Voice exams must be passed in order to earn the CCNP Voice certification:

  • 642-437: Implementing Cisco Unified Communications Voice over IP and QoS v8.0 (CVOICE v8.0)
  • 642-447: Implementing Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Part 1 v8.0 (CIPT1 v8.0)
  • 642-457: Implementing Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Part 2 v8.0 (CIPT2 v8.0)
  • 642-427: Troubleshooting Cisco Unified Communications v8.0  (TVOICE v8.0)
  • 642-467: Integrating Cisco Unified Communications Applications v8.0 (CAPPS v8.0)

The last day to test using current CCVP exams is  February 28, 2011.  The CCVP exams consist of:

  • 642-436: Cisco Voice over IP (CVOICE v6.0)
  • 642-446: Implementing Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Part 1 (CIPT1 v6.0)
  • 642-456: Implementing Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Part 2  (CIPT2 v6.0)
  • 642-426: Troubleshooting Cisco Unified Communications Systems (TUC)
  • 642-642: Quality of Service (QoS)

From now until February 28, 2011 candidates who take and pass the older exams (versions 6.0) will still receive the title of CCNP Voice.  CCVP candidates can mix and match CCVP exams with CCNP Voice exams.  For example, a candidate can take the old TUC and QoS exams and fulfill the other three exam requirements (CVOICE, CIPT1, CIPT2) with the new 8.0 versions.   However, beginning March 1, 2011 Voice candidates must pass the new exams (versions 8.0) to become a CCNP Voice.

PrepLogic offers a variety of Cisco certification training, including LearnSmart Video CCNA training and LearnSmart Video CCNA Voice training.

Learn more about Cisco Voice Certification changes.

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Posted in Career, CCNA, CCNA Voice, CCNP, CCNP Voice, CCVP, Certification, Cisco, Convergence+, IT Industry, IT Training, Preplogic | No Comments »

Spotlight On Windows 7 Configuration (70-680) LearnSmart Video Training

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

One of our most in-demand LearnSmart Video Training courses is the CBT (computer based training) Windows 7 Configuration (70-680) LearnSmart Video Training course.  This should come as no surprise considering the wide spread use and popularity of Windows 7, Microsoft’s newest enterprise class operating system. So, today we are going to spend some time talking about the Windows 7 Configuration LearnSmart Video Training, highlighting all the cool features that make this training one of our customer’s top picks.

To begin, let’s talk a little bit about the actual Windows 7 operating system.  Windows 7 can be considered the launching pad for many newer technologies.  One of these being the focus on 64-bit computing.  While still able to support 32-bit computing, Windows 7 can also be deployed as a 64-bit operating system.  Windows 7 is equipped with a number of new features that make it the most attractive and fitting operating system for today’s modern environments.   A couple of these new features include the ability to encrypt portable drivers, the ability for users to automatically reconnect if their VPN connection is lost and users can connect to a corporate network from multiple locations without initiating a VPN, but still maintaining a high level of security.

In PrepLogic’s Windows 7 Configuration LearnSmart Video Training course, Windows technology expert Tom Carpenter explains, step-by-step, how to implement, configure and maintain Windows 7.  Whether you want to deploy Windows 7 on a couple computers or an entire enterprise, Tom has got you covered with 14 hours of video instruction.  The Windows 7 video training is enhanced with all of PrepLogic’s new LearnSmart features.  These new features include integrated audio and PDF study guides, which can be sent to e-readers, an expanded video index, IT glossary and a “Personal Trainer” tool that helps you set a training completion date goal and keeps track of your progress through out the course.  The new Content Reader delivers “wiki-style” study guide content related to the video segments, so while you are watching a video on “Managing Network Configurations” the Content Reader displays information about “Managing Network Configurations”.  This information in the Content Reader can then be sent to your iPad, Kindle or Nook.

The Windows 7 Configuration course is designed to teach you the fundamental knowledge base you need to implement, configure and maintain Windows 7 in your work environment as well as prepare you for the TS: Windows 7, Configuring (70-680) exam. Passing this exam earns you the MCTS Windows 7, Configuration certification.  This is a widely popular exam because passing the 70-680 counts as credit toward three MCITP certifications, the MCITP Enterprise Admin, MCITP Enterprise Desktop Admin 7 and the MCITP Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7.  MCITP candidates are IT professionals capable of deploying, building, designing, optimizing, and operating technologies for a particular job role, in this case job roles that deal with the Windows 7 operating system.

Windows 7 Configuration LearnSmart Video Training offers comprehensive, online CBT that is an affordable alternative to expensive, inconvenient classroom courses and dull, tedious textbooks.  Any IT professional who works with Microsoft technologies needs to be up-to-date and proficient with the latest operating system. PrepLogic’s Windows 7 Configuration training ensures that you have the knowledge and high level skills to properly install, configure and manage Microsoft’s latest operating system so that you can efficiently mange your business’s network environment.

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