Getting Energized About Your Future

Qixing ZhengUser Experience Advisor

Microsoft Canada

I’m here to talk about...

The right package of skills to get a great career in IT

Taking the Initiative is the KEY!

What are you facing?Tough Economy Skill Shortage

New Industry Trend

Technical & Career Skills Needed

What are you facing?Labour and Skill Shortage

ICTC Outlook for Human Resource in ICT Labour Market 2008 - 2015

What are you facing?New Industry Trend

Top Technology Trends for

2009

Virtualization

Cloud computing

Servers

Web-oriented architectures

Enterprise mashups

Gartner Research

What are you facing?Technical & Career Skills Needed

Core Technical Skills

Experience with specific apps or

platforms

ICTC Outlook for Human Resource in ICT Labour Market 2008 - 2015

Strong non-technical skills, e.g.

communications, team-working skills

Deep insight into drivers of business

value microsoft.com/igniteyourcareer

How do you prepare yourself?

In-class learning: stay on top of your game at school

Career skills: practice is the key

E-learning: keep up to date with industry trends

Demonstration: prove your skills and passion

I n-class learning: stay on top of your game at school

Projects

Grades

Differentiation

References

Career skills: practice is the key

Communication: verbal and written, presentation

Collaboration: team-work and leadership

Business Acumen: Business Insights, ROI,

Top Career Skills:

E-learning: keep up to date with industry trends

A Microsoft Example

Technology and Career Guidance

microsoft.com/learning

Microsoft DreamSpark

dreamspark.com

Demonstration: prove your skills and passion

Blogging

Participating in Clubs, User Group

MentorsCompetitions Certifications

Open Source Projects Internship/Co-op

Student 2 Business

Find an internship or job on msemploy

•Free access for student to search and apply jobs in Canada, will launch in April

• A job portal for Microsoft technology professionals

• There are many jobs in the portal already

msemploy.ca

Student Tech Club

studenttechclubs.com

Competitions: Imagine Cup

Theme this year: Solve the World's Toughest Problems

Competition Categories: Embedded Development, Game Development, Robotics and Algorithm, IT Challenge, MashUp, Design, Photography, Short Films

imaginecup.com

Your Future is Bright

“ICT in the coming half century will be part of a new

and challenging revolution that maintain its importance

as a major generator of value and a large employer.” 1

“Over the period 2008 to 2015, Canadian employers

will need to recruit around 126,400 to 178,800 ICT

workers, an average of 15,795 to 22,345 per year.” 2

2. Outlook for Human Resource in ICT Labour Market 2008 - 2015

1. Introduction to Information Communication Technology, 2008

Things to do!

• Start today

• Create a project “Me” Plan

• Check out http://student.energizeit.ca

• Take the initiative!