The Scientists Who Make Apps Addictive

Greetings,

We were happy to have so many of you stop by at our AFCEA TechNet Asia Pacific exhibit in November. We enjoy hearing what you're up to and we especially appreciate folks who told us about their training needs. We had numerous requests for BICSI, cybersecurity training and for hybrid delivery of courses to reduce the number of training meetings without diluting the content. Your requests are taken seriously; we're working on them.

All the best to you,

Beryl Morimoto

CyberSeek

There is much talk about the shortage of cybersecurity professionals or the lack of skills. What is the real situation and what is the career pathway to cybersecurity careers? The CyberSeek site has excellent tools to answer these questions. Although sometimes left out of the national picture, you can view the cybersecurity job situation in Hawaii with an interactive map. The site indicates the number of job openings, certifications people have earned and certifications required for job openings.

Free and Inexpensive Ways to Study for Certifications

Whether you agree or not with the need for certifications, there are jobs and situations that require or encourage them. Here are great ideas for finding cost-saving ways to study and prepare for your IT certifications. The article from Computer World requires registration but if you're in need of test prep, this is a good resource. Of course there is always PCATT for your training needs, then testing at our Pearson VUE test location.

CompTIA's IT Employment Tracker

CompTIA has a handy tool to check the pulse of national IT employment. Reports are updated each month. IT sector employment, occupation job postings and sector breakout are some of the listings available for a broader view of the industry as a whole.

The Scientists Who Make Apps Addictive

For people interested in behavior, this is an interesting article from The Economist written by Ian Leslie about how you can use science to create apps and products that are addictive. For example, Netflix lets the next episode of a TV show continue without your intervention, which can facilitate binge-watching. Why is social media addictive for some people? If you like the slot machines in Las Vegas, you may want to know how the casinos keep you playing.

2017 Tech Career Outlook

According to a Spiceworks IT Data Snapshot, 45% of IT pros are planning to either start a job search or accept a new job in 2017. For the worried IT or human resource manager, there is more to this. 69% of IT pros say the reason for this job search is to advance their IT skills. Offering training or job opportunities could stem the potential loss of valued employees. The most important IT skill in 2017? 95% say cybersecurity.

Is Your Security Awareness Training Program Working?

CSO writer Kacy Zurkus shares good ideas from industry experts for making security training meaningful, especially to frontline and back-office staff. With so many types of threats and warnings to remember, training that "sticks" is important. PCATT also has training for office staff, especially for small businesses, if you have a need.

Gartner's Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2017

Looking ahead to 2017, Gartner is an excellent source for insight. In his presentation at the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo 2016, Gartner vice president David Cearley presented three themes - intelligent, digital and mesh - as the basis for the Top 10 technology trends for 2017.

Tips for Building Tech Leadership Skills

According to Todd Thibodeaux, President and CEO of CompTIA, "Soft skills are the most common things tech workers lack". For Techs wanting to get into leadership positions, soft skills along with opportunities for training and practical experience are helpful. This article from TechRepublic by Alison Denisco has a list of practical tips for gaining skills and 3 takeaways at the end.

And Finally...

You know we end with something odd or weird. This YouTube video has little to offer but we think you'll enjoy it. Be sure to watch the Algorithm March With Ninja, not just the Individual Algorithm March. (Note: We're not responsible for the video that follows.)