bdpa: 'it certifications vs experience vs degrees' - gerald smith (sogeti)
DESCRIPTION
Businesses are investing in IT to help leverage existing resources more thoroughly and find hidden nuggets to put to use. For this reason, there are now more jobs in the IT field than we've seen in quite a few years. It’s that inevitable fork in the road for an IT professional. As a result, a lot of folks are starting to take another look at the IT field as a career choice. What are employers looking for? Certifications? Experience? Degrees? Some combination of the three? Which is more valuable? The answer to these questions depends upon many factors. After all, not all IT certifications or college degrees or job experiences are the same. These are questions that were addressed by our guest speaker, Gerald Smith at the October 2013 program meeting hosted by BDPA Cincinnati chapter. Gerald is a senior manager with Sogeti and an IT professional with a number of important certifications in program management and agile transformation. He has been a hiring manager looking over resumes and job seekers during his management career at Kroger and Luxottica Retail. Gerald is also a long-time BDPA supporter … once serving on the board as BDPA Cincinnati chapter VP-Strategy & Planning.TRANSCRIPT
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IT Certification vs.. Degree vs. ExperienceBDPA Cincinnati Chapter MeetingOctober 16, 2013
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Who am I? Who is Sogeti? Descriptions of each
>Certifications>Degree>Experience
Industry Data>2013 Top IT Skills
Q & A Contact & Other Information Current Job Openings
Agenda
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Senior Manager, Certified Project Manager and Agile Realist
IT professional with 21 years of experience Managed the following:
> $14M e-commerce program for a major U.S. Grocery Chain
> $2.5M POS system development and deployment for the largest eyeware manufacturer and retailer in the world, 350 locations (U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico)
> $2M+ annual generating revenue help desk team for a large U.S. IT distributor
> 14 Project Managers & Business Analysts MBA, University of Phoenix, 2012 BS, Miami University, 1994 Entrepreneur, Blogger, Author, Inventor, Fraternity
Member, Husband, Father
Who Am I?
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Who We Are
New Zealand Auckland Wellington
UK Aston/Birmingham
Bristol Inverness London Sale
Woking Wynyard
Australia Melbourne
Perth Sydney
Germany Berlin
Dusseldorf Essen Munich
ItalyMilan
Norway Fredrikstad-Oslo-
Bergen Oslo
Oslo Andalsnes
Sweden Orebro
Stockholm
France Clermont-Ferrand Grenoble, Lyon &
Clermont Lille Paris
Toulouse Montpellier
Nantes & Rennes
Singapore
Belgium Antwerp Brussels
India• Mumbai
• Bangalore• Kolkata
• Hyderabad• Chennai
Finland• Helsinki
Netherlands Nieuwegein
Utrecht
Japan • Tokyo
Denmark• Copenhagen
China Hong Kong
United States Baltimore Chicago
Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus
Dallas Dayton Denver
Des Moines Detroit
Ft. Lauderdale
United States Baltimore Chicago
Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus
Dallas Dayton Denver
Des Moines Detroit
Ft. Lauderdale
Indianapolis Houston
Minneapolis New York Omaha Phoenix Seattle
St. Louis Tampa
Washington DC
Indianapolis Houston
Minneapolis New York Omaha Phoenix Seattle
St. Louis Tampa
Washington DC
Mexico Mexico City
Mexico Mexico City
Brazil Rio de Janeiro
Brazil Rio de Janeiro
Argentina Buenos Aires
Argentina Buenos Aires
"Société de Gestion des Entreprises et de Traitement de l'Information"
SogetiSogeti is a Strategic Business Unit of the Capgemini Group, a leading global management and IT consulting services provider
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Pass Out Index Cards
Write which one, in your opinion, is more important Certifications Degree Experience
You can only write/vote once … no voter fraud!
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Certification
• Certifications are a crucial stepping stone for almost any IT career. According to a CompTIA survey of IT hiring managers, 64 percent indicated that they value certifications and regard certified professionals as candidates with a high or very-high degree of expertise. In a recent report from Network World, 60 percent of the IT networking pros surveyed said "certifications led directly to a new job." Clearly, certifications are resume worthy, but are they the end-all be-all?
• While screening resumes, many hiring managers place a great weight on having relevant certifications to move ahead in the interview process. Companies look at certifications to see how up-to-date your skills are. Current certificates are a clear indication that you have put in the time and effort to master the technical skills needed for a particular position?
• Beyond giving employers a way to rate your base knowledge, certifications show a personal commitment to learning, a key quality for any IT professional. In an industry that is constantly advancing, the most valuable employee is one who shows a willingness to continue growing and adapting to a quickly-evolving workplace.
Source: IT Career Finder
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Degree
Austin
Certificates may show expertise in highly targeted technical areas, but a degree at the undergraduate or graduate level is a sign of accomplishment and dedication that is universally accepted. A college degree also exposes students to a variety of disciplines and perspectives, helping to develop business acumen and analytical skills. Many already have these degrees before even entering the IT field. But if you don’t, don’t feel trapped! Lacking a degree is not a deal breaker, as long as you have certifications and work experience in your back pocket.
In today’s IT job market, the fear of not having a degree is becoming less warranted. According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, only 56% of employers expressed satisfaction with colleges’ abilities to prepare students for success in the workplace. Chances are if you have relevant, up-to-date experience and technical skills, you’re going to be in high-demand with employers, whether you learned these skills from a degree program or in training courses for certifications.
Ultimately, it helps to consider where you’d like to end up in your career. Many colleges and universities are embracing the fast-paced technology domain with the launch of specialized IT courses & degrees based on popular career paths. If you are interested in a managerial position, MBA programs will help you build the leadership skills and personal networks important for those types of roles.
Source: WSJ, 2013
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Experience
At the end of the day, degrees and credentials only make up 50% of the decision to hire. A survey conducted by Foote Partners shows that non-certified, but experienced IT professionals receive more bonuses than their less experienced but more certified peers. As for most industries, experience is the most important indicator of your ability to execute and be successful on the job.
While certifications and degrees are an important factor, hiring managers look to your actual experience to grasp how well you are able to execute in a work setting. It’s easy to list the number of certifications and degrees you’ve earned, but what is more important is how you have put those skills into practice. Did you help your previous employer transition to the cloud or implement a new system? Highlight these real-world scenarios to demonstrate how you’ve applied your technical knowledge.
Managers are often looking for people who have worked in a similar IT environment, indicating that they’ll work well on a team. That’s why peer interviews are now playing a much bigger role in hiring decisions. Companies are looking for people who can come up with solutions to problems on the job, not just answer questions on a certification exam.
Source: IT Career Finder
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Short Discussion on Vote Results
Certification vs..Experience vs..Degree
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Top 15 Paying Certifications - 2013
1. PMP – Project Management Professional - $105,750
2. CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional - $103,299
3. MCSD: Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer - $97,849
4. MCDBA: Microsoft Certified Database Administrator - $95,950
5. CCDA: Cisco Certified Design Associate - $94,799
6. MCAD: Microsoft Certified Application Developer - $93,349
7. VCP-DV: VMWare Certified Professional Datacenter Virtualization - $92,400
8. CNE: Certified Novel Engineer - $91,350
9. ITIL v3 Foundations - $90,900
10. CCA: Citrix Certified Administrator – Citrix XenServer - $90,850
11. MCITP – Database Administrator - $90,200
12. MCTS: SQL Server - $90,100
13. MCT: Microsoft Certified Trainer - $89,949
14. CCNP: Cisco Certified Network Professional - $89,749
15. CCA: Citrix Certified Administrator – Citrix XenDesktop 5 - $89,499
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New Hire Forecasts
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10 Hot IT skills for 2013
1. Programming & Application Development• 60% plan to hire for this skill in the
next 12 months2. Project Management
• 40% plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months
3. Help Desk/Technical Support• 35% plan to hire for this skill in the
next 12 months4. Security
• 27% plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months
5. Business Intelligence/Analytics• 26% plan to hire for this skill in the
next 12 months6. Cloud/SaaS
• 25% plan to hire for this skill in the next 12 months
7. Virtualization• 24% plan to hire for this skill in the
next 12 months
8. Networking• 19% plan to hire this skill in the next
12 months9. Mobile Applications & Device Management
• 19% plan to hire this skill in the next 12 months
10. Data Center• 16% plan to hire this skill in the next
12 months
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IT Permanent Software Skills Advertised: Q3 2008-12
Source: ComputerWeekly.com
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Top 10 Business Skills Needed
1. Commitment
2. Go the Extra Mile
3. Wear Multiple Hats
4. Positive Attitude
5. Decision Makers
6. Passion
7. Organized
8. Dependable
9. Communication
10. Conscientiousness
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Top Business Degrees in Demand
1. Entrepreneurship
2. Business Administration
3. Finance/Accounting Degree
4. Economics
5. Marketing
6. Management Degree
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Starting Salary of Business Degrees – 2012/13
1. Bachelor in Accounting - $44,600*
2. Bachelor’s in Business Administration - $41,100*
3. Bachelor’s in Marketing - $38,600*
4. Bachelor’s in Economics - $53,000***
* Starting Salary
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Top 10 Certifications with Staying Power
1. CompTIA A+
2. CompTIA Security+
3. (ISC)2 CISSP
4. CompTIA Project+ / PMI PMP®
5. ITIL®
6. Six Sigma
7. CompTIA Linux+ / RDCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer)
8. CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Administrator)
9. Oracle Java
10. IBM Cognos
11. Bonus: EMCDSA (EMC Data Scientist Associate)
Source: Global Knowledge (2013)Since 1984
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Bringing IT Home
• The relative importance of experience, certifications, and degrees will vary according to the position you are applying for and the person doing the hiring.
• IT certifications and degrees are valuable assets in your job search, and can help you land a better - and possibly higher paying - freshman position.
• Owning current certificates also proves your skills are relevant and speaks to your dedication.
• However, real-world experience remains the best indicator of how well you will perform on a new job.
• Building a well-rounded [on-line] resume showing significant accomplishments in all three areas is a goal everyone should aim for.
• But at the end of the day, you need to make sure your resume highlights your strengths and emphasizes your actual hands-on experience.
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One More Anecdote…..
• CNN Money has identified the Project Management field as “One of the top five ways to increase your salary.”
• In addition, the outlook for project management looks positive: Computerworld, “The Voice of IT Management,” recently surveyed 334 executives, 40 percent of which indicated they plan to hire personnel with project management skills in the next 12 months.
Source: (PRWEB) December 06, 2012
• Sogeti-Cincinnati is hiring college graduates in the Cincinnati area!
Source: Bill Blaxton, Senior Vice President, Sogeti USA, Cincinnati/JnJ/GE Region
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Contact & Other Information
Gerald D. SmithEmail: [email protected]: 513.325.6513
Current Certifications/Education:2011
19961997
1998 2002 20072008
1994
2012
1992
2015?
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Sogeti -Cincinnati Current Job Openings
1. Product Design Engineer
2. Teradata Database Admin
3. Senior IT Analyst (SAP)
4. Salesforce.com Solns.
Architect
5. Java Developer (Jr. to Sr.
Level
6. Entry Level Technical PM
7. PM/BA Agile
8. UI/UX Designer
9. BI Manager (Big Data)
10. Agile Coach
11. SharePoint Architect /
Developer
12. Account Executive
13. Ruby Developer/Architect
14. Senior Data Modeler
15. Microsoft .Net Cincinnati
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And drive safely…….
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Bibliography
Campus Emplorer (2013). In Demand Careers in Business. Retrieved on July 12, 2013 from http://www.campusexplorer.com/college-advice-tips/37EDB6AB/In-Demand-Careers-in-Business/
Hales, John, (2013). Top 10 Certifications with Staying Power. Global Knowledge (2013).
Korn, Melissa (2013) Your College Major Is a Minor Issue, Employers Say. Retrieved on July 12, 2013 fromhttp://blogs.wsj.com/atwork/2013/04/10/your-college-major-is-a-minor-issue-employers-say/
Mehta, Raman (2012). Career Watch: Noncertified skills pay still has edge over certs. Retrieved on July 12, 2013 from
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9232074/Career_Watch_Noncertified_skills_pay_still_has_edge_over_certs
Ostrowski, Steven (2011). IT Certifications Grow in Importance in Hiring Process, but Employers Challenged by Evaluation, Validation Issues, CompTIA Study Finds. Retrieved on July 12, 2013 from
http://www.comptia.org/news/pressreleases/11-02-07/IT_Certifications_Grow_in_Importance_in_Hiring_Process_but_Employers_Challenged_by_Evaluation_Validation_Issues_CompTIA_Study_Finds.aspx
Pratt, Mary (2012). 10 Hot IT Skills for 2013. Retrieved on July 12, 2013 from http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9231486/10_hot_IT_skills_for_2013
SixSigma Online (2013). Retrieved on July 12, 2013 from http://www.sixsigmaonline.org/six-sigma-training-certification-information/ten-top-business-skills-needed-today.html
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Appendix
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Cincinnati Business Courier
In case you haven’t already noticed, business owners in certain sectors are having an even tougher time now filling jobs than they did a year ago. That’s one of the key findings in the Greater Cincinnati Human Resources Association’s semi-annual Talent Acquisitions Survey Report. Hiring managers in four key sectors – business, health care, information technology/computer and scientific/technical – said they’re having a more difficult time now finding qualified job candidates than they did six months ago. Fully three-fourths of the IT/computer managers surveyed said they have more difficulty than expected finding people who are qualified to fill their job openings. That’s up from 60 percent six months ago. Likewise, more than 50 percent of hiring managers at companies classified as business, health care or scientific/technical said they have more trouble than they expected in finding people who can do the jobs they have open, according to the survey.
So what do companies do? Career fairs, giving incentives for employee referrals and hiring a search firm were the most common actions companies took to fill those jobs. Employee referrals are by far the most effective recruiting tool, hiring managers said. More than 72 percent answered that was their best bet to fill a job.
The local organization surveyed 131 local hiring managers at 112 companies.
A few other key findings:
• The jobs picture looks bright. Nearly 85 percent of companies surveyed said they expect to hire people during the second quarter. And more than 67 percent expect to both replace existing positions and add jobs.
• The first quarter was a bit slow. Among companies surveyed, 86.5 percent said they were hiring during the first quarter. Sounds pretty good, except that 87.9 percent said last year they were hiring during the third quarter. Hiring freezes have thawed. For the first time since summer 2011, none of the respondents said they had a hiring freeze in place.
• Pay raises aren’t much to write home about. They’ve held steady, with companies saying their average pay hikes for current employees range from 2 percent to 3.9 percent. That’s the same pay increase range that the survey has shown going back to summer 2011. And around 70 percent of companies said they’re paying new hires the same as last year at each of the various job categories, ranging from executive to nonexempt/nontechnical.
Survey: These four Cincinnati sectors find it's harder than ever to fill jobs
Steve Watkins Staff Reporter- Cincinnati Business Courier, May 2013
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Master's degrees that pay off
January 2013 Salary Survey1. Computer science
Average starting pay in 2012: $73,700Average starting pay in 2011: $70,900Percent change: 3.9
2. Business administration/managementAverage starting pay in 2012: $69,200Average starting pay in 2011: $66,400Percent change: 4.2
3. Mechanical engineeringAverage starting pay in 2012: $66,800
Average starting pay in 2011: $64,300Percent change: 3.9
4. Electrical/electronics and communications engineering
Average starting pay in 2012: $66,100Average starting pay in 2011: $63,800Percent change: 3.6
5. FinanceAverage starting pay in 2012: $64,300
Average starting pay in 2011: $61,700Percent change: 4.2
6. NursingAverage starting pay in 2012: $63,800Average starting pay in 2011: $61,400Percent change: 3.97. Economics (business/managerial)Average starting pay in 2012: $63,400Average starting pay in 2011: $60,800Percent change: 4.38. Health and related sciencesAverage starting pay in 2012: $62,900Average starting pay in 2011: $60,100Percent change: 4.79. AccountingAverage starting pay in 2012: $62,300Average starting pay in 2011: $59,900Percent change: 4.0
Source: Debra Auerbach, CareerBuilder Writer