Job Offer/Continuing Education Evaluation

Luke, 195

Stephanie, 175

Matt, 185

Randy, 205 Labor Costs Hours Rate($10.30/Hr)

Luke 195 $ 2,008.50

Stephanie 175 $ 1,802.50

Matt 185 $ 1,905.50

Randy 205 $ 2,111.50

Totals 760 $ 7,828.00

Dec06-03

Abstract Students moving into the next stages of their lives often have many different options tochoose between for higher education or careers.  Possible choices may include attending atech school, a community college, a university, a graduate school, or accepting one ofmultiple job offers.  This project aims to provide assistance in making the best choice for each particular individual.  The objective will be to identify the various components of typical higher education options and job offers.  The various evaluation criteria used by the users will be found by research, consulting fellow students, and other individuals, such as counselors. The software will provide a web-based log-in system that collects and stores personal preferences and objectives based on the aforementioned investigated criterion along with the various options for each student.   The preferences will be compared against all of the students possible options and show the options that best fit the students aspirations. The design team shall implement the package using a web based software package and shall test the package using fellow students and high school age students. The end result shall be a tested software package that includes instructions, an example case, and a helpfunction.

Project Requirements

Design Objectives• Easy navigation• Help Functions• Documentation• Visual appeal• User Input• Easy accessibility

Design Constraints• Budget Constraints• Web Browser• Operating System• Language

Functional Requirements• User Accounts• User Profiles• Criteria• Store Job Offer/Higher

Education Criteria• Score Computation• Recommendation

Milestones

Project plan 02/10/2006

Design plan 03/31/2006

Design presentation 04/19/2006

Poster 10/12/2006

Web site development 11/10/2006

Senior Design presentation 10/10/2006

Industrial review board 12/05/2006

Approach and Considerations

Proposed Approach• Compatible with most popular web browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla)• PHP web-based implementation of program• User help documentation accessible at the website• End-product testing

Technology Considerations• Different types of programming languages (web-based vs. client software)• Data Access (server supported vs. local storage)

Testing Considerations• Testing by the team members (alpha testing)• Student group testing, both high school and college students (beta testing)• Selective advising office testing

Resource and Requirements

Project Schedule

Closing Summary This project was created to assess the need for a tool to help people make decisions about their future, whether it be education or entering the work force. Going through the process and being exposed to all the criteria is as beneficial as the actual generated results. Through the use of the internet and information pertaining to certain categories that factor into these decisions, people will have a means to help them in the future decisions.

http://seniord.ece.iastate.edu/dec0603/

Dec06-03 Team Information

MembersLuke Wenz CprElwenz@iastate.edu

Matt Lien EEtdxmjl@iastate.edu

Stephanie Cox CprEsdcox@iastate.edu

Randy Gebhardt EEJazz32@iastate.edu

Client

Senior DesignAdvisorsProfessor John Lamont jwlamont@iastate.edu

Professor Ralph Patterson IIIrepiii@iastate.edu

Introduction

Problem Statement The general problem of this project is to develop a web-based program that compares job offers or educational options based on user inputs to the program. This project will be a useful program that will be accessible to users at any time or in any location via theinternet. The proposed solution to this problem is to create a web program that allows the user to input their personal information pertaining to job offers and/or their desire to continue their education. The user will input the information through a series of criteria that the program will evaluate and then offer advice. In order for this web site to be personalized to each and every user, a log-in system will be used to allow each user to create and edit their ownprofile as they see fit.

Operating Environment Available to any internet accessible computer

Compatible with Internet Explorer and Mozilla

• User able to save information• Thorough project documentation• Built-in help function

Expected End Product• Useful free web-based program• Comprehensive lists of criteria• Ability for user to create a profile

Limitations• User data entered in the program will be on a numerical rating system• Web-based program will be reliable and require minimum maintenance.• User will be able to use the program without needing to download or buy other

software

Assumptions• The user will have gathered enough information about a job offer and/or continued

education option to create a valid evaluation.• The results of the analysis done by the program can be shown as an overall score.• The user can select the criteria which he or she wishes to be considered in the

comparisons.• The user will be able to access the site without having to download or purchase any other

software.

Intended Use• Help user reach decision about his or her future

• Allow users to compare jobs or educational options

• Stimulate the thought process of a comprehensive list of factors to consider and what is

most important to him or her

Intended Users• High School Students

• College Students

• Professionals contemplating different jobs or advancing their education

Personal Efforts Financial Requirements

Figure 1. Example screenshot

START

LOGIN

SELECTION

SAVE

SAVEDATA

END

SET CRITERIAVALUES

DONE

PRINT CRITERIA IF

DESIRED

ENTER OFFERS

EVALUATE

DONE

PRINT RESULTS IF

DESIRED

EXIT

Job

Graduate SchoolProfessional School

Trade SchoolJunior College

University

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

A

AA A

Figure 2. System Flow Diagram