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A publication of the Corporate & Continuing Education Center

Featuring
  • IT Opportunities Booming for the Eastside
  • The Growing Need for Software Testing, by Anu Arora 
  • Funding for Employee Training
  • Spring Courses Start Now
IT Opportunities Booming for the Eastside 
King County has the largest number of employed tech-based jobs in the State of Washington. Sources: Washington State Employment Security Department, 2014; Community Attributes Inc.

A recent Information & Communication Technology Economic and Fiscal Impact Study  , published by the Washington State Information Technology Association, revealed that "companies and local and state governments anticipate shortfalls of competitive labor in ICT (I nformation and Communications Technology) due to a variety of factors, including rapid product innovations that require evolving skill sets; a more complex, technical environment; an aging workforce; offshore outsourcing; and newly emerging industries."

This means that training of entry-level employees, as well as retraining current employees, will be a top a priority within the ITC industry. The Corporate & Continuing Education Center offers information technology training that includes:

Q&A with Anu Arora:
The Growing Need for Software Testing
Anu Arora

Q: What is your professional background and how did you come to teach software testing?

A: My specialty is in quality control of software products, including Microsoft Windows. I have experience implementing state-of-the-art quality assurance practices. I worked for the Microsoft Corporation for 16 years, and for three years I was a Principal Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) for Microsoft's Engineering Excellence.

I have been presenting about and teaching software development classes for several years now. I helped develop the Software Testing program for CCEC last year and am excited to share my experience to even more people who are looking to break into and thrive in the industry.

Q: What is driving the growing need for software testers?

A: Time, changing roles, and the need for quality products and services.

With shorter release cycle, the time to test continues to shrink. Efficient, timely and effective testing is the need of the day. Understanding testing tools and techniques and knowing what to use and how to implement it will reduce the testing overhead. QA (Quality Assurance) best practices focused on defect presentation will ensure higher quality software. 

Combined Engineering increases the need for developers to know testing. With a shift to Combined Engineering and as the lines between development and testing disciplines blur, developers are asked to do more and more testing. In the last six months of my classes, I have seen ratio of developers attending testing training rise. They recognize the gap they have in their understanding of how to test. Employers who choose to  proactively  train their developers in software testing will have a healthier, more equipped workforce.

The bar for software quality continues to rise.  Software is an essential part of everyday life. Customers have high expectations from products and services and  lower patience with buggy software. Software Testing is seldom offered in its full spectrum in universities and colleges across the US. As such, even computer science majors may graduate with a limited knowledge of this craft. Engineers will ship higher quality products if they have the right training on software testing, including the current shift to testing in agile and scrum environment. 

Q: What key advice would you give someone working in the IT industry?

A: It's simple: get trained or become extinct. I have heard this for years. It is even more relevant today, to thrive, you need to have a key differentiation. How do you set yourself apart from your competition? What is your value proposition? Training helps you to identify and define that.

Register Today for CCEC's Software Testing Series or sign up for a free information session. 

Are you an employer? If you are interested in customized training or options for sending your employees to our courses, c ontact us at [email protected] . 
Funding for Employee Training 

Washington State provides Job Skills (JSP) funds to qualifying companies to substantially offset the cost of employee training. JSP Training is customized to meet employers' specific needs and is delivered to new or current employees at the work site or in a classroom. A central focus of JSP is to provide training and employment for those at risk of losing their jobs due to technological or economic changes.

Your business is eligible to apply for the Job Skills Program if:
  • You are a Washington employer
  • Your business is in need of assistance for employee training for the purpose of remaining competitive in the marketplace
  • Your employees need skill training to ensure or improve their employability
  • You can provide dollar-for-dollar match of all grant funds (in salaries, benefits, in-kind contributions, and cash.)
Upcoming JSP Deadline: June 1, 2016
 
Interested?
If you are interested in the Jobs Skills Program, contact us so we can discuss your needs and if JSP is the right fit for you. If it seems like the right fit, we'll apply. If approved, we'll set up a customized training plan to take place at your site, our site, or a combination - whatever meets your needs. 

Email  [email protected]  or call 425-267-0162 to discuss your options with our customized training team. 
New courses start weekly  
Spring Courses Start Now!

New! Classes offered in Redmond
  • Understanding Budgets
  • Lean Practices Overview
  • Project Management Essentials
  • Digital Photography
  • Software Testing Series
  • Introduction to Performance Excellence
  • View ALL Redmond Classes
Classes offered in Bothell
  • Flagging and Traffic Control Certification
  • Welcome to Computers
  • Excel 2013 Level 1
  • Databases Designs and Concepts
  • Project Requirements Management
  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt - Advanced
  • Personnel Issues
  • View ALL Bothell Classes
Take courses in Redmond, Bothell, or Everett! Search ALL Classes

 

Next steps: Let us help you find a job with your training!

 
I hope you find these periodic newsletter updates useful in keeping you informed about funding and other workforce development opportunities available through the Corporate & Continuing Education Center. Please contact me if I can be of service in any way.
  
Best Regards,
   
John Bonner
John Bonner
Vice President of Corporate & Workforce Training
Industry Liaison
Everett Community College

   

CCEC-Eastside is a partnership between Cascadia College, Lake Washington Institute of Technology, and Everett Community College. 

 
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