IT courses still a good choice despite layoffs<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Just in the past two weeks, we have read news
\nafter news about job losses in major IT companies.<\/p>\n
\"Nokia to cut jobs in networks unit,\" reported Reuters on June
\n28.<\/p>\n
CNet News.com reported that Intel was in the process of
\ncutting 5,000 jobs, several hundreds of which would be in Denmark
\nas the chip giant had decided to stop selling its general-purpose
\nrouters and switches.<\/p>\n
Another leading networking company, 3Com, has announced job
\ncuts for the remaining months of the year.<\/p>\n
Lucent Technologies announced it would reduce several
\nthousands of jobs after it had completed its voluntary retirement
\nprogram. Even IBM has to let thousands of its workers go.<\/p>\n
And, as the Internet seems to be losing its credibility as the
\nbackbone of the New Economy, job cutting in Internet companies
\nhave also been taking place at a frightening pace.<\/p>\n
Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas Inc. reported
\nlast month that the number of layoffs in U.S. dotcoms were close
\nto 125,000, up 56 percent compared to the number in May. During
\nthe first half of this year, the firm said, almost 800,000
\nworkers were displaced in this sector.<\/p>\n
So, if jobs are so quickly disappearing from global IT
\nindustry leaders and Internet companies, has the end of the IT
\nprofessionals' golden age finally arrived?<\/p>\n
Does it still make sense to pursue skills in the information
\ntechnology? Will you be able to earn a living with a good skill
\nin XML or Java programming, for example?<\/p>\n
Absolutely. What is happening now is a temporary setback,
\ncaused by a hiccup in the global economic expansion. It forces
\nthe IT leaders to streamline their operations and consolidate
\ntheir businesses.<\/p>\n
And, as John A. Challenger, CGC's CEO, said, \"The good news
\nfor displaced workers as well as for the economy is that the jobs
\nthat are being affected the most by downsizing are still in
\ndemand.\"<\/p>\n
So, if IT is your profession of choice, how can you prepare
\nfor it? The good thing about becoming an IT professional is that
\nyou do not need a university degree to become one.<\/p>\n
All you need to have is proven skills in the latest technology
\nand a willingness to learn new technologies as they come around.<\/p>\n
That is why attending IT courses should still be in your list
\nof daily activities, whether you are a student studying economics
\nor a store manager working 50 hours a week.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, there are a number of good IT courses around,
\nmany of which are international and follow international standard
\ncurricula. Two institutes in Jakarta where you can pursue IT
\ncourses are SSI and NIIT.<\/p>\n
SSI, which focuses on providing IT professional training, is
\nlocated in the Kebayoran area and has a branch location in West
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Boasting qualified expatriate and local faculty, it offers
\ncourses for \"high-end\" professionals as well as high school and
\ncollege students.<\/p>\n
Professionals can take courses in e-commerce, Oracle, Java
\nprogramming, networking, etc. Students and even beginners can
\ntake courses on how to use Microsoft Office as well as the
\nInternet.<\/p>\n
With course materials developed based on industry
\nrequirements, this IT course center provides an affordable avenue
\nto IT job opportunities. Perhaps most notable of all is SSI's 24-
\nhour computer lab facility which students can use seven days a
\nweek.<\/p>\n
Like SSI, NIIT also has its origin in India, the Asian IT
\npowerhouse. NIIT has been in Indonesia for much longer, and has
\nalso established an international presence.<\/p>\n
NIIT, however, concentrates more on long-term programs -- up
\nto two years. Students can choose to take one, two or four
\nsemesters and learn all the latest technologies in the industry.<\/p>\n
During the semesters, they will learn SQL, Java programming,
\nC++ programming, Visual BASIC programming, CGI, Active Server
\nPages (ASP), DHTML, XML, ARSDA, all the way to Web design, and
\nprogramming and software quality assurance.<\/p>\n
To really prepare the students for the real life at work, the
\nlast two semesters will feature case study presentations and
\nprofessional practice in real industrial settings.<\/p>\n
Both of these international IT institutes will issue
\ncertificates that are recognized in other countries. They can
\nalso help with job placement, too.<\/p>\n
Just remember, the IT golden age is not over yet. Far from it.<\/p>\n
Zatni Arbi<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/it-courses-still-a-good-choice-despite-layoffs-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }