Archive for Career
Which Kind of Certification Should You Obtain?
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Which Kind of Certification Should You Obtain?
When you’re choosing which computer certification to pursue next, you should also be formulating a plan for your career. Your time is precious, and you should never choose to pursue a certification because it’s “hot”. There are some hard questions you should ask yourself before deciding to pursue the CCNA, CCNP, CCVP, CCSP, CCIE, MSCE, or any of the many other vendor certifications that are out there.
Why do I want this certification?
This is the biggest and most important question you should answer before you spend a dime on books or classes.
If your primary goal in earning a certification is the money you feel companies will throw at you after you get it, make sure to do your research first. Basing your certification pursuits on a salary survey can lead to some serious frustration on your part. Don’t get me wrong, I like money. J But those surveys can be very misleading. There’s really no such thing as an “average” salary in IT. Job responsibilities and requirements vary greatly from company to company, to the point where a “network admin” may make K at one job and K at another. You can see where such variations in pay can lead to some misleading statistics. (And if you’re thinking of attending a tech school whose main pitch is “look at all the money this cert can get you”, ask a lot of questions about how they arrived at this amount.)
A positive answer to this question works wonders. If you have a plan for your career, you’ll know how this certification can fit into your plans. If you don’t know what you’re going to do with it when you get it, or worse, don’t have a plan for your future, you may be wasting your time. Ask yourself the hard questions now – you won’t regret it.
How does the vendor protect my investment of time and money?
Let’s face it: earning your certification costs time and money. You’ve got to set time aside to study, you’ll need books, perhaps a class, etc. If you’re spending that money and time, it should be to make yourself more valuable in the workplace.
The vendor should also have a vested interest in keeping your certification valuable. Take Cisco, for instance. I was at a bit of a career crossroads a few years ago. Should I pursue my masters degree, or pursue the CCIE? I took a strong look at both choices, and I knew that Cisco works endlessly and tirelessly to protect the value of their certifications. While other major vendors have made strides to do so, I felt Cisco did the best job of protecting the value of their certifications. That’s why I felt secure in the investment of my finances and time into a major Cisco certification, and I’ve never made a better decision.
Before making a major investment into a computer certification, consider the steps that a vendor does or does not make to protect your investment.
Computer certifications have helped me tremendously in building my IT career. By asking the right questions, and taking a hard look at your motives and plans before pursuing a given certification, they can do the same for you.
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Nice Career Management photos
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[47/365] iPhone 3.0 Internet Tethering & MMS on O2 UK
Image by Ben Dodson
As those of you that follow the many mac related blogs will know, someone hacking around in the code of the new iPhone 3.0 beta found that there was indeed built in support for internet tethering, the process of allowing you to use the iPhone 3G / Edge connection to provide network access to another device (e.g. a MacBook). Apple acknowledged that support was built in yet was dependent on network provider and therefore wasn’t available yet.
After doing a bit of research, I managed to find the IPCC file which contains the network settings for O2 UK (my network) pre-hacked to enable not only internet tethering but also MMS which still hasn’t been turned on by O2 (who haven’t replied to my emails about why it isn’t available yet). You can download the file at drop.io/o2ukipcc and getting set up is as easy as holding alt (or shift if you’re on windows) whilst clicking the "check for updates" button on the iPhone screen of iTunes. This will open a browse dialog box in which you need to choose the IPCC file that you just downloaded. Pressing OK will update your iPhone with the new network settings (takes around 5 seconds) and then after restarting your iPhone you’ll find the MMS options are all available (including a camera icon within the Messages app) and the Internet Tethering panel is now available within Settings -> Network.
This photo shows my MacBook successfully using the internet via O2 thanks to my iPhone connection. You can connect via either BlueTooth or USB but I couldn’t quite get the BlueTooth connection going so am using the standard dock cable in this photo. I’ve opened up iTunes so you can see the version number (and also that there is a new "Phone Number" section) and also Network Utility which shows the USB Connection transferring data correctly. You can also see the network is O2-UK on the iPhone and that there is no ethernet or wireless network enabled on the MacBook.
I found the speed to be very good at home with full reception of 3G but I don’t know how well it will fare under different circumstances (e.g. on a moving train) but I’ll try and find out tomorrow. It’s also debatable as to how long this particular hack will work once O2 find out about it but it’s interesting to see it working for the time being. Oh, and I don’t take any responsibility if you apply the hack and end up with a bricked iPhone that doubles as a paper weight, or if the phone blows up, sleeps with your wife, takes up a career in bank management, or any other number of wild possibilities.
If you have the iPhone 3.0 beta but are not on the O2-UK network, then you can learn about how to make your own IPCC file at gist.github.com/81465
Update 21st Mar 09: In order to get internet tethering working correctly, you need to have the 3.0 SDK installed on the machine you are tethering. This is because it patches some system files and iTunes to make it all work correctly (no tethering for you windows!). I’ve also done some tests out and about and can confirm that the tethering works fine when on a moving train switching between 3G, Edge, and GPRS. If you lose signal, it’ll just reconnect again automatically when it gets signal again. Also, with MMS in the UK, you need to get O2 to turn on your MMS settings as well as running the IPCC update in order to get the ability to send and receive. I found the best way was to email them as you can explain exactly what you want – the call centre staff don’t seem to understand about the 3.0 update!
Update 24th Mar 09: The above IPCC file doesn’t work for O2-UK Pay As You Go (PAYG) but luckily Scott Wilcox has made one available for download at http://media.tig.gr/download/o2_uk.ipcc – You install this in the same way as the file above. Please note that MMS on PAYG cost 35p and do not come out of your SMS allowance like the contract ones do.
Update 27th Mar 09: O2 have taken the strange decision not to enable any more accounts with MMS. I’m currently debating it with them and you can see it unfolding on the O2 forums – will update here when more details are available.
Update 31st Mar 09: Beta 2 of the iPhone 3.0 OS is now available from developer.apple.com/iphone/ for registered developers. Doesn’t appear to be any new features but will hopefully fix a few crashing bugs! I’ll post an update shortly as to if the IPCC file still works but my gut feel is that it should do.
Update 1st Apr 09: iPhone 3.0 Beta 2 still allows internet tethering if you use one of the IPCC hacks detailed on this page. Bluetooth tethering still doesn’t work but the overall OS is smoother and less buggy.
Update 2nd Apr 09: Just tried pairing my G4 Mac Mini with my iPhone via bluetooth and it worked first time with internet tethering! Seems to be that the new unibody macbooks don’t want to play with bluetooth but you may have some success with the older models. The key difference I noticed was that my macbook didn’t make me type a pin number into the iPhone to make it pair whereas the mac mini made the iPhone prompt me to type the pin displayed on the mac mini.
Update 14th Apr 09: iPhone 3.0 Beta 3 (9M2728) is now available from the Apple iPhone Developer site. There are a few new features mainly relating to the iPod application (e.g. better scrubbing through songs, more information on podcasts, etc) but mainly it’s bug fixes and stability improvements. Both MMS and Internet Tethering are still working on my iPhone (activated by O2) with the IPCC patch above applied.
Update 29th Apr 09: iPhone 3.0 Beta 4 (7A300g) is now available from the Apple iPhone Developer site. This version is slightly different in that it demands you install iTunes 8.2 beta which is also available from the Apple iPhone Developer site. There are several notices when installing about sending information to Apple to be verified which leads me to believe that they are cracking down on jailbroken or pirated copies. I’ve installed Beta 4 but had to do a full restore after the installation froze halfway through updating. There are not many new features apart from the ability to sync with Google Calendar (amongst others) and a newly designed "Store" section in Settings which just gives you information about your iTunes account. I assume this will be used for in-app purchasing. The only other interesting point about this release is that you can now sync notes with your mac although that requires OS X 10.5.7 which of course isn’t yet available – this suggests it will be available very shortly. MMS and tethering are still working for me after applying the IPCC update posted above (although it is subject to O2 activation although I’ve heard a few people have managed to persuade them to activate recently).
Update 6th May 09: It looks like you can now enable USB Internet Tethering by having iTunes 8.2 Beta installed – previously you had to have the SDK installed but this doesn’t seem to be a requirement anymore as they must have bundled the necessary usb->ethernet driver with iTunes. That’s good news for any windows users out there!
Update 7th May 09: iPhone 3.0 Beta 5 (7A312g) is now available for download. There are no major updates apart from parental controls but the bad news is that you can no longer perform the IPCC update through iTunes 8.2 beta thus meaning no more enabling of MMS or Internet Tethering. Boo! However, I always said from day one that this would happen so I’m kind of surprised it took 5 betas for them to stop that….
Update 7th May 09: Apparently you can keep MMS if you don’t use the latest beta of iTunes 8.2 but instead use the version that shipped with iPhone 3.0 Beta 4 – that way you can still sideload the IPCC file onto the phone and it will work. I imagine this will get patched with Beta 6 (in that it will require you to update iTunes) but this will keep people going a little longer. In other news, Apple sent an email to all developers stating that all apps now being submitted to the App Store will be tested on 3.0 and if they don’t work they won’t be going in the store. They also mention they’ll be removing existing apps from the App Store that don’t work with 3.0 – "After iPhone OS 3.0 becomes available to customers, any app that is incompatible with iPhone OS 3.0 may be removed from the App Store."
Update 8th May 09: It turns out that it is possible to enable MMS on O2 contracts without the IPCC file hack that was required previously. You can instead go to "Settings"->"General"->"Network"->"Cellular Data Network" on your iPhone and fill out the MMS section with the following details (note that you need to restart the phone after filling these settings in):
APN: wap.o2.co.uk
Username: o2wap
Password: password
MMSC: mmsc.mms.o2.co.uk:8002
Proxy: 193.113.200.195:8080
MMS Max Message Size: [leave blank]
MMS UA Prof URL: [leave blank]
Thanks to "squigles" on the O2 forums for pointing this out. Please note that you still need to have MMS activated on your account by O2.
There is currently no known way of enabling Internet Tethering on Beta 5 without either upgrading from a previous version that had the IPCC hack applied or instead using an earlier version of iTunes to load the IPCC file on.
Update 10th June 09: The WWDC announcement has been and gone and the iPhone 3.0 GM (gold master) is now available for download to iPhone devs. The final build will be released to the public on the 17th June 09 with the new iPhone 3G S following two days later in six countries (i’ll be posting pics and a review when I get my hands on it). Interestingly, in the UK tethering is being priced at around £15 for 3GB and £30 for 10GB but a few people have found a way around it for the time being (see comments below). However, I think this will be blocked by the carriers very shortly so looks like we’ll have to pay if we want Internet Tethering.
Update 18th June 09: Want to get Internet Tethering for free on O2 without the bolt-on? It looks like you do as this picture has had 5000 hits in under two days for those very search terms… so I’d best oblige you! Simply point Safari ON YOUR IPHONE at help.benm.at/uk.php and click the "O2 Vertigo" link – this will download all the settings you need for Internet Tethering to become enabled – just click the "Install" button and the APN settings will be entered for you. Now go to Settings->Network and marvel as Internet Tethering becomes an option screen where you can turn it on or off. If you are using a new macbook, please make sure to do a software update in order to get bluetooth updates that will make tethering via bluetooth work. Enjoy 
Update 19th June 09: It looks like O2 are going to go legal with the Terms of Service with people who use the Internet Tethering work around described above. Get the details at www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-ph… – at the moment it sounds like scaremongering but it could develop into something more sinister. I’d recommend that people still use the tethering hack but try not to use too much data (e.g. email and website browsing is probably fine – streaming youtube or torrents isn’t)
As a side note, you can follow me on Twitter for these kinds of updates!
I recommend using the ‘all sizes’ option on the photo to be able to see all of the details clearly
Day 47 of 365
ING Investment Management – Contact – ING Careers_1242321161467
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080117 1011 easel notes
Image by Dan4th
I was all proud of the multi-colored notes I took during a table session in a training. I thought our easel looked the best, so I took a picture of it. My coworkers were appalled and embarrassed for me: "I can’t believe you just did that."
Microsoft Offers Certification Training For MCDST Free of Charge
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Microsoft Offers Certification Training For MCDST Free of Charge
Microsoft has many computer certifications that appeal to a wide range of expert computer repair technicians to operating system geniuses. They also have certifications in administration and engineering. Microsoft Certified Professionals are a standard above in the field of information technology. Microsoft certification is widely accepted and recognized by the service and support industry. Microsoft curriculum has the practical knowledge that only an advanced developed company can provide.
MCDST is one of the most sought after Microsoft certifications on the market today. Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician is a title that has much recognition for employers who want a highly qualified technician to work as a help desk specialist and give desktop support by phone and by servicing the individual station. Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) on Microsoft Windows XP is a certification that validates the fundamental and higher skills needed to enter the IT industry as a support desk professional.
Because of the recognition that Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) receives many online and classroom IT schools are offering some free tutoring. You will find free information technology Microsoft computer training on the web almost as much as you will find pay certification training. There is a long list of online schools that offer free study guides, some free online tutoring and free practice exam questions in order to prepare you for your certification.
MCDST certification demonstrates valuable troubleshooting expertise with the Windows Desktop Operating System to employers and consumers. It provides a structure for learning the skills that support technicians need. As a desktop support technician, you will use excellent customer service skills, educate users, and solve hardware or software operation and application problems on the desktop. You will learn valuable skills and best practices consistent with networking and file sharing to maintaining DHCP communications devices and Domain name system for Internet system to translate names into IP addresses.
Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician certification validates the fundamental skills needed to enter the IT industry as a support professional. It communicates the technical skills of the individual to clients and employers and distinguishes career candidates from their peers. MCDST certification enhances job satisfaction through increased technical proficiency as you increase your knowledge and skills. MCDST certification helps advance support technician careers by providing a structured framework for learning skills, and provides a knowledge basis for additional Microsoft certifications, such as the MCSA and the MCSE.
Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician Certification Requirements on Microsoft Windows XP are to pass two core exams that provide a valid and dependable measure of technical proficiency. These exams are developed with the input of professionals in the industry and reflect how Microsoft products are used in organizations throughout the world. The two core exams are: Exam 70-271: Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System consisting of about 60 questions and Exam 70-272: Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System consisting of about 50 questions.
A candidate for Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician will need training for your Microsoft certification. There is free Microsoft training available online with free Microsoft practice exam questions, free study guides and free MCDST training to make your preparation less complicated. Free will only take you so far, you will need to purchase some Microsoft certification training in order to be fully prepared for your actual exam. Your training is not the objective but receiving your Microsoft certification. Learn how to pass your information technology certification exam. There are good resources accessible all you will need is a little searching.
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Pass Certification Concerning The Field Of Information Technology
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Pass Certification Concerning The Field Of Information Technology
Online commerce in the area of the formation of computer certification relating to information technology for the prolongation is large on the Internet. The market is enormous with the formation on line for the preparation of examination, the handbooks, the examination of the practice of certain questions and the guides of study. The products and the services of information and the preparation of IT of the qualifications are much to choose on the Internet. You will find many instructors, the handbooks, the guides of study and the examination of the practice of the questions in line, which will help it with obtaining the conditions.
The Internet has to choose much. You all can say that which you must obtain a good start to simply use the search engines to find the best means. Does any among us know really who to seek when it comes to the formation and the preparation suitable for the official identification from IT qualification? The employers want that the technicians repair your PC, errors of software, the analysts, of the coordinators and the skillful administrators. The employees want to advance your career with a position, which pays higher. The official identification of the computer is the answer for the employee and the employers. Certification proves that you are eligible and are adapted in the position appropriate referring to the working area of the field of IT concerning the implementation.
There are many certifications for the information technology include: Microsoft, Comptia, MCDST, MCSA, MCSE, has +, MCPD, CCNA, Novell, CIW and more. Many people try to be certified in one or more service sectors of information. We all want to improve our probability of receiving the work, which we want. There are many places where you can obtain the information to be had for the consideration data processing specialist. How much do you want to spend? Who can trust you to obtain the suitable material, which is appropriate to the true test?
Who can turn you in order to be entirely prepared to take their final examination for certification paying less quantity of your pocket? How can you make a success of the examination for the certification of the information technology in their first attempt? How much do difficult east obtain their documentation? Which quantity of computer material, with the books and the fees for the examination? Do fact the catch of the obviousness make you nervous? There much of facts to memorize are to be prepared for an examination for the official identification? Do many researchers in the certification of technology information of the formation want to know how much work really costs implied and study to pass the final test in the first attempt?
Which would be the best place to seek those, which try to be certified in any sector of technology information? Many people buy books, study guides and questions of test in practice or receive the supervision in the line waiting to make a success of their examinations of technology information to find that only one, which bought the material, covered only part of the true test. You need confidence to pass it your examination, which you know where to start. You think that you could learn that somebody was really there? You may learn from somebody’s lack of success and could help to the minimum to reduce the effort and the cost, which you prepare for the certification of the computer.
The main aim of the formation for the certification of computer technology is to pass the examination. You can have the best knowledge in the world and not pass the test. The key is to include/understand the process of the obviousness taken to better prepare with the true examination. I have a suggestion. Made a research of the certification of the information technology in the search engines, or start to see some new places in the subject. I hope that your success is large. You point out that the goal does not receive the training, but by obtaining certification.
Bill Naugle Th. M. Information Technology Certifications. Microsoft (MCDST) and CIW Server Administrator. Home Internet Business Entrepreneur. Writer of many articles, books and ebooks.http://billnaugle.blogspot.com/ http://www.freeinformationtechnologycomputerhelp.com/