TechKnow | Volume #2 | January 13 2009

In This Issue:
News: Improve Yourself, Test Your Knowledge and Get a JOB
Education: You Deserve a Cert-cation
Tips: Tech Toys

IT Jobs Resource Center

An informative IT career resource guide! Our goal is to provide you with the information that you will need to be successful in the competitive IT world.
www.cbtjobs.com

Improve Yourself, Test Your Knowledge and Get a JOB

While many people are talking about their New Year’s resolutions, how many will actually accomplish them? As the bubbles fizzle out, so will their inspiration.

Is it just us or is it getting really bleak around here? Well, the government reported last week that the unemployment rate increased to 7.2 percent in December (compared to 6.8 percent in November). The President-elect Barack Obama is pushing for a stimulus plan as fast as possible, but experts predict that the economy…

Okay, here’s the thing: pessimism never accomplishes anything. Yeah, we know that delivering the news is important, but the more the media reports about the bad economy, the worse it gets. Fine, you understand, you say, but you’ve been looking for a job for months and no one’s exactly knocking down your door. How can you be optimistic in Dreary Land?

First, know this: there ARE jobs out there; you just need the right tools to get noticed. If you’re not getting call-backs, improving your resume and brushing up on your interview skills are a must, especially since the process of interviewing has changed a lot since the last time you were really “out there”. For help with your resume and to find out what interview questions employers are asking and the answers they’re expecting, click here.

Then, how much do you really know about IT? Seriously. Do you know how you rank in your IT knowledge compared to the competition? Take an IT assessment quiz to test your IT IQ and you’ll know what strengths to highlight with employers as well as which weaknesses you need to improve. CBT Direct can help you with all of this with their online training, so turn that frown upside down and get testing!


 You Deserve a Cert-cation

It’s a New Year and you keep putting off getting your certification, because you just don’t have the time, right? Maybe you’re not motivated or focused enough to take a long course in certification so you keep searching for another answer or an excuse to work around it? Well, how about taking just a few days off in beautiful Tampa Bay, Florida, to stay, study and sit for your certification class and exam at a luxurious resort and spa?

CBT XPress Certification Boot Camps are held in the perfect surroundings of convenience and comfort of Safety Harbor Resort and Spa. You’ll be just one elevator trip away from the classroom and lab during and after class hours. You haven’t stayed at a resort this nice, even when you were on vacation!

CBT XPress Boot Camps are taught by instructors who have actually authored some of the books, training materials and award-winning practice exams that you need to study for your certification. Why not learn from the best, right?

CBT XPress Certification Boot Camps include CompTIA A+, Network+ and Security+ Boot Camps; Microsoft MCITP Enterprise Administrator 2008; MCSE 2003; MCITP Messaging Administrator; Cisco CCENT and CCNA Boot Camps; for certification at the luxurious Safety Harbor Resort and Spa in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Recently, we read a blog that said, “No Cert? You’re Dirt” and, while we like to be a little kinder than that, the truth can hurt. How do you get treated in the workplace compared to the confident cert guy? Like dirt sometimes? Don’t you deserve a little more acknowledgement, a little more respect?

Get some more information about CBT XPress Boot Camps and find out what you can do to turn your New Year into your Best Year Yet!


Tech Toys

Here are a few tech toys that are reasonably priced, even on a budget. If you didn’t get what you wanted this holiday season, perhaps you owe yourself a little tech treat?

Acoustibuds - Again, maybe it’s just us, but earbuds seem to be named after the fact that they’re always budding out of your ear, right? Well, these silicone rubber adapters actually rest in your ear canal and fill the space between. Think of the old earbuds as a handshake with a stranger and the Acoustibuds like a great, big bear hug. The circular fins of the bud conform to your ear canal and actually seal your ear better to improve volume, fidelity and comfort. For only $13, they’re a sound choice.

IOGEAR Bluetooth 2.0 USB Micro Adapter - Now that the Bluetooth has become far more popular than the “sweet tooth”, why isn’t your PC or laptop Bluetooth-equipped? IOGEAR answers that with the 2.0 USB Micro Adapter. You just plug it into a USB port, install the software and connect to Bluetooth headsets for VoIP apps like Skype, etc. It’s as small as a penny so you won’t block any surrounding USB ports, yet the Bluetooth EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) technology transfers at rates that are 3 times faster than traditional Bluetooth 1.1. and 1.2 adapters. It consumes very little energy, has a transfer range of 30 feet and is compatible with both Mac and PCs. Even better – it’s less than 20 bucks!

Movie Collector - Are you the tech type that has more movies than a person can keep up with? In order to appreciate and share your collection, you need the ultimate Movie Collector by Collectorz.com. Just type in the title or UPC code of your DVDs or VHS tapes (we hope not tapes) and click through the options to quickly catalog your collection. Movie Collector downloads and imports the front and back cover art, the synopsis, name of the actors and directors, length of the film and more of each title…automatically. Of course, you can then print out your collection to share with your friends when they come over. For just $29.95, this application prevents your movies from collecting too much dust. However, if your collection is the size of a movie rental store and you plan on loaning out your movies, you may want to upgrade to one of the Pro versions for $49.95 - $199.90.