Uncategorized – Career Planet

Be a Techie without a degree #6 – Programming

Team Career Planet — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 18:01:53 +0000

Computers use a code (which is their ‘language’) which we have to learn if we want to communicate and make them do anything. The programming code allows us to create computer software, apps and websites. Browsers, apps on your phone, Facebook, and this website – they’re all made with code.

Coding is the place to start and there are dozens of training courses online to help you on your way. But like learning any new language, it is not easy, especially at first, so commit yourself to long-term goals.

Programming languages: According to several sources these are the best programming languages to learn for different goals:
If you’re looking for something easy: Python
If you want a solid foundation to make you a master developer: C
If you’re looking for a job or want to make mobile apps: Java
If you want to try front-end development: Javascript
If you’re programming for your startup website:
However many people starting with creating websites may choose HTML HTML is used to create electronic documents (called pages) that are displayed on the World Wide Web. Each page contains a series of connections to other pages called hyperlinks.

MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO HELP YOU MASTER TECH LEARNING ONLINE

W3Schools.com

W3Schools.com focuses on written instruction and coding exercises on their site. They include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, jQuery, SQL, PHP, Bootstrap, XML

It is free for anyone to use. If you prefer video instruction, you may not enjoy this site as much. However, the coding exercises are easy and fun to use. Any experienced computer programmer will tell you that the best way to learn coding is to “tinker” with the language until you feel comfortable with it.

If you want a certificate it will cost you for example: HTML $95 (roughly R1700)

Udemy (Computer Skills Courses)

Udemy is not free, but they are low-cost (most courses cost less than R150). Their course catalog is vast. If you are looking to learn about specific computer skills or programs, you can use the search bar at the top to find what you are looking for.

Udemy: Master Computers – From Beginner to Expert in One Week

This is one Udemy class that many students with bare minimum computer knowledge say they enjoyed. The instructor is a former college professor. Check out the preview on the right-hand side, and read through the course overview to see if this is a course you’d be interested in.

MIT Opencourseware: Introductory Programming Courses

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is perhaps one of the world’s leading tech universities. Naturally, tuition costs are extremely high. But the MIT Opencourseware is a registry of free online classes.

App Academy

App Academy is a Silicon Valley computer programming school. It was the first coding school to base students’ tuition on their first year’s salaries after the course. They say ‘No matter what changes, we will continue to tie our success to yours.’ , Switchup, a comprehensive resource where prospective students can compare top-rated tech bootcamps and programs, gave it a 5 star rating.

edX Computer Science

edX is a platform for education and learning. Founded by Harvard and MIT, it is home to a majority of top-ranked universities in the world. Fulfilling the demand for people to learn on their own terms, edX is provides stackable learning experiences including the MicroMasters® programs. Courses ranging from data and computer science to leadership and communications.

Example: Python for Data Science. Beginner friendly. This course is part of a Professional:

1 Weeks Effort: 2–5 hours per week Price: FREE Add a Verified Certificate for $39 (about R700)

LinkedIn Learning (Beginner Computer Skills Courses)

LinkedIn is not just a professional social media platform, it also is a place for people to build basic computer skills.

Also, if you haven’t already built a LinkedIn Profile, doing so will help you become acquainted with some critical computer skills to boost your professional career (as well as help you connect with peers and potential employers).

Coursera

Coursera offers a wide range of courses from leading universities, free to start, and a fee once you want a certificate.

Be a Techie withot a degree #5 – Applications

Team Career Planet — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 18:00:52 +0000

Computer Applications are those programmes designed for the end user. Applications software (also called end-user programmes) include such things as database programs, word processors, Web browsers and spreadsheets.

Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Presentation.

Microsoft is the leader in the field, but there are others

- Microsoft 365 Fundamentals Office 365 Enterprise includes the latest Office apps for your PC and Mac (like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook), and a full suite of online services for email, file storage and collaboration, meetings, and more. Windows 10 Enterprise, secure version of Windows with comprehensive deployment, device, and app management. Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) Designed to help manage and protect users, devices, apps, and data in a mobile-first, cloud-first world. Includes Microsoft Intune, Azure AD Premium, and Azure Rights Management.
- NOTE: While the course is free, you need to pay for the exam. Those that graduate from this course and pass the exam may continue their Microsoft education in courses like the Modern Desktop Administrator Associate and Enterprise Administrator Expert courses.
Spreadsheets alternative
- https://zapier.com/blog/best-spreadsheet-excel-alternative/
Presentations alternative
- https://visme.co/blog/presentation-apps/
Databases
- The modern business world is built on information stored in databases. The challenge comes in using the right database with the right structure to hold the information you need, while being able to access that data easily.
- This article suggests these: Microsoft Azure or Oracle Autonomous Database or TeamDesk or Knack or TablePlus
- https://www.techradar.com/best/best-database-software
Graphics

There are many graphics programs supported by learning material online, from the most basic to the professional.

Here is a list: https://financesonline.com/top-20-graphic-design-software-solutions/
As you will see from that list, Adobe leads the way but they are commercial products and so you may prefer others like Canva, which are free. All of thes products have training modules online and you can also use the help menus when you are stuck.

Social Media

These are the applications which are popular now: Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Pinterest, Discord.

If your job depends on using Social Media, especially for marketing purposes then increasing your knowledge will benefit you. You will find online courses as well as help from the HELP MENU.

MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO HELP YOU MASTER TECH LEARNING ONLINE

W3Schools.com

W3Schools.com focuses on written instruction and coding exercises on their site. They include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, jQuery, SQL, PHP, Bootstrap, XML

If you want a certificate it will cost you for example: HTML $95 (roughly R1700)

Udemy (Computer Skills Courses)

Udemy: Master Computers – From Beginner to Expert in One Week

MIT Opencourseware: Introductory Programming Courses

App Academy

edX Computer Science

Example: Python for Data Science. Beginner friendly. This course is part of a Professional:

1 Weeks Effort: 2–5 hours per week Price: FREE Add a Verified Certificate for $39 (about R700)

LinkedIn Learning (Beginner Computer Skills Courses)

LinkedIn is not just a professional social media platform, it also is a place for people to build basic computer skills.

Coursera

Coursera offers a wide range of courses from leading universities, free to start, and a fee once you want a certificate.

Be a Techie without a degree #3 – Operating Systems (OS)

Team Career Planet — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 17:58:10 +0000

Operating systems are how computers store files, switch between different applications, manage memory, keep secure, and connect with outside devices like printers and cameras.

Some of the most common operating systems are Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, Linux, Android and Apple’s iOS.

Here are some YouTube videos explaining Operating Systems:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AjReRMoG3Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTdSs8kQqSA&list=PL4316FC411AD077AA&index=8&t=0s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBURTt97EkA&list=PLBlnK6fEyqRiVhbXDGLXDk_OQAeuVcp2O

Here is an article on Operating Systems

https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/computerbasics/understanding-operating-systems/1/

MOST IMPORTANT:

Every Operating System (Microsoft, Mac and Linus) has extensive course and material available and you can find useful YouTube videos on the specific Operating System you work with, online.

Note: This article refers to online courses only, but there are numerous face-to-face courses which cover this material and offer qualifications.

FREE TUTORIAL

https://www.tutorialspoint.com/operating_system/index.htm

Here is a link to an article which may be of use:

https://smallbusiness.chron.com/five-common-operating-systems-28217.html

MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO HELP YOU MASTER TECH LEARNING ONLINE

W3Schools.com

W3Schools.com focuses on written instruction and coding exercises on their site. They include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, jQuery, SQL, PHP, Bootstrap, XML

If you want a certificate it will cost you for example: HTML $95 (roughly R1700)

Udemy (Computer Skills Courses)

Udemy: Master Computers – From Beginner to Expert in One Week

MIT Opencourseware: Introductory Programming Courses

App Academy

edX Computer Science

Example: Python for Data Science. Beginner friendly. This course is part of a Professional:

1 Weeks Effort: 2–5 hours per week Price: FREE Add a Verified Certificate for $39 (about R700)

LinkedIn Learning (Beginner Computer Skills Courses)

LinkedIn is not just a professional social media platform, it also is a place for people to build basic computer skills.

Coursera

Coursera offers a wide range of courses from leading universities, free to start, and a fee once you want a certificate.

Be a Techie without a degree #2 – Hardware

Team Career Planet — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 16:26:30 +0000

Your computer and monitor are referred to as Hardware. Input and output devices (to communicate with your computer) include keyboard, mouse and trackpads are all classified as hardware.

This is a very good Youtube video to give you a deeper understanding of the subject.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7bQKGEfMpI

The tutorial link below deals with Computer Basics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lT9Ywuhd4&list=PL4316FC411AD077AA&index=4

MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO HELP YOU MASTER TECH LEARNING ONLINE

W3Schools.com

W3Schools.com focuses on written instruction and coding exercises on their site. They include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, jQuery, SQL, PHP, Bootstrap, XML

If you want a certificate it will cost you for example: HTML $95 (roughly R1700)

Udemy (Computer Skills Courses)

Udemy: Master Computers – From Beginner to Expert in One Week

MIT Opencourseware: Introductory Programming Courses

App Academy

edX Computer Science

Example: Python for Data Science. Beginner friendly. This course is part of a Professional:

1 Weeks Effort: 2–5 hours per week Price: FREE Add a Verified Certificate for $39 (about R700)

LinkedIn Learning (Beginner Computer Skills Courses)

LinkedIn is not just a professional social media platform, it also is a place for people to build basic computer skills.

Coursera

Coursera offers a wide range of courses from leading universities, free to start, and a fee once you want a certificate.

Be a Techie without a degree #1 – Computer literacy

Team Career Planet — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 16:22:07 +0000

To prepare for a career in Computer literacy, here are the basic skills which everyone needs to master Plus links to tutorials to help you gain a deeper and more thorough knowledge of the skills required.

Typing. You only have to watch a touch typist to realise how much more productive you could be! How long does it take to learn touch typing? 8 – 10 hours, that’s all! You would not be fast, but you would soon improve if you were motivated and dedicated. Here is one Youtube video to start you off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_zfcHlisqc Here is another https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S3lhm8LaZo
There are many others.
Mouse Easier than touch typing but still does need practice in the beginning.

There is another skill which may be useful in certain circumstances:

Trackpad/ Graphic tablet skills. There are trackpads which offer more than just moving or tapping – these are called ‘gestures’. If you are into graphics, graphic tablets allow you to use pad with a ‘styllus’. There are many Youtube tutorials online.

Here is a good basic tutorial Computer Basics Tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4316FC411AD077AA

MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO HELP YOU MASTER TECH LEARNING ONLINE

W3Schools.com

W3Schools.com focuses on written instruction and coding exercises on their site. They include HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Python, jQuery, SQL, PHP, Bootstrap, XML

If you want a certificate it will cost you for example: HTML $95 (roughly R1700)

Udemy (Computer Skills Courses)

Udemy: Master Computers – From Beginner to Expert in One Week

MIT Opencourseware: Introductory Programming Courses

App Academy

edX Computer Science

Example: Python for Data Science. Beginner friendly. This course is part of a Professional:

1 Weeks Effort: 2–5 hours per week Price: FREE Add a Verified Certificate for $39 (about R700)

LinkedIn Learning (Beginner Computer Skills Courses)

LinkedIn is not just a professional social media platform, it also is a place for people to build basic computer skills.

Coursera

Coursera offers a wide range of courses from leading universities, free to start, and a fee once you want a certificate.

Most in-demand jobs and skills in SA right now.

Team Career Planet — Sun, 29 Sep 2019 07:57:29 +0000

Leading SA recruitment platform Career Junction has released its latest CJI (Career Junction Index Sept 2019). The findings are based on actual supply and demand of the online job market and analysis of current recruitment statistics from the Career Junction website.

Here are the results of the latest CJI report:

Trending jobs for August include nursing/caregiving, IT project administration/management and business analysis.
Top employment sectors include Medical & Health, IT, Architecture & Engineering, Manufacturing & Assembly, Business & Management.

These are the three job types trending right now:

Nursing / Professional Caregiving

Average salary offerings for intermediate level position:

GP R22,467 to R31,833 p.m.
WC R24,628 to R35,432 p.m.
KZN R26,933 to R31,204 p.m.

IT Project Administration / Management

Average salary offerings for an intermediate level position:

GP R41,798 to R56,526 p.m.
WC R49,804 to R62,549 p.m.
KZN Not available.

Business Analysis

Average salary offerings for an intermediate level position:

GP R37,326 to R47,660 p.m.
WC R38,967 to R45,017 p.m.
KZN Not available

Most in-demand skills

The CJI report reveals that the most sought-after skills are in software development, management and in sales representatives and consultants.

Hiring activity for software developers increased by more than 20% since June 2019.
There is a high demand for professionals with management skills, particularly in the financial sector. Currently, 40% of managerial vacancies are allocated to sales and financial managers.
Sales representatives/ consultants remain in high demand within the South African job market.

The CJI Report is based on comprehensive data gathered from the CareerJunction website – where around 3,000 of the country’s top Recruiters (both agencies and corporate companies) advertise their positions to millions of registered job seekers.

Walter Sisulu University of Technology

lizanne@careerplanet.co.za — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 14:52:18 +0000

Walter Sisulu University is a proudly Eastern Cape university. Our four campuses are spread throughout the eastern part of the Eastern Cape, from East London in the south, to Butterworth and Mthatha in the north and Queenstown to the west.

What is a Call Centre Team Leader?

Team Career Planet — Tue, 21 May 2019 09:29:55 +0000

Call Centre team leaders are responsible for the day-to-day running of the business. They must ensure the highest level of quality customer care. They are hands-on people who push to get the best out of people. They inspire and motivate.

What does a Call Centre team leader do?

As a mid-level manager, you report to a customer service director or centre manager. Your daily responsibilities are to maximise productivity while keeping your team motivated and customer-focused. You will also:

Make sure that regulations and procedures governing the business are being followed.
Guide your team in dealing with customer queries and when needed, step in or offer advice to a new team member.
Be responsible for setting work schedules for your team.
Set goals to motivate better performance and measure effectiveness.
Be a listener. You must “be there” for your team members. You won’t make it as a leader if you’re lacking in empathy.

Depending on your employee needs, you could be tasked with recruiting and interviewing candidates.

What skills you’ll need

Basically, you need A-grade people management skills. And a thorough knowledge of the industry you’re operating in. You must be an excellent communicator. It will be your responsibility to:

Encourage those around you to perform to their optimum capabilities
Ensure all contact inquiries are processed and completed to the customers’ satisfaction
Be tough, be disciplined, be considerate and tactful
Be able to handle the most difficult customers with patience and knowledge
Multitask, multitask, multitask

How do I become a Call Centre Team Leader?

Most employers require a Matric or Matric Equivalent, but experience of 2-4 years as a team leader seems to be the benchmark. There are specialist colleges like Ucademy who provide skills training across the BPO sector covering all job descriptions.

Do you have a savings plan?

Team Career Planet — Fri, 10 May 2019 14:48:24 +0000

Like most things in life that require a little discipline, saving money is easier said than done. Often, the most difficult part of it is getting started. What you need right from the get-go is a plan – which means you should set some goals.

These steps will help you get going.

Note your expenses

Obviously, the starting point is looking at your expenses. Try break it all down into categories and don’t leave anything out. Write everything down. Start with the big numbers – rent, transport, insurances, accounts, groceries. Keep track of the small numbers too – coffees, snacks, tips. Now that you have your costs grouped, you can begin the next step.

Budget

Here again, some banks have useful tools to help you structure your personal budget plan. Once you have an idea of what you spend in a month, you can begin to organise your recorded expenses into a workable budget. This should measure your expenses against your income – and give you a clear picture of where you’re over-spending and where you can trim. Besides all your monthly commitments and living needs, be sure to allow for those “surprise” expenses, like new tyres or a medical emergency.

Be tough on yourself

Common wisdom is that you should aim to allocate 10% of your income to savings. Not always possible, right? You may have to trim a little here and there. Look at those expenses that you can realistically cut. Usually, the money you spend on yourself or on entertaining others. To make it a little easier on yourself, try thinking of savings as an essential expense, like food or rent. That might help put your “night out” spending into perspective.

Goal setting

One of the best ways to save money is to set a goal. Start by thinking of what you might want to save for—break them down into short-term and long-term lists. Then figure out how much money you’ll need and how long it might take you to save it.

Short-term (1–3 years)

– Unexpected expenses

– Holidays

– Deposit on a vehicle

Long-term (4+ years)

– Home renovations

– Kids education

– Your Retirement

Again, check your bank’s website for savings tools or free Apps.

Open a savings account

Choose a bank that gives you a choice of savings plans to suit your personal goals. Fixed, flexible or tax-free savings plans are available. Compare interest rates and monthly service fees. Having a savings account creates a framework of discipline to help you stick to your plans and reach your goals.

10 tips for building self-esteem

Career Planet — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 13:19:45 +0000

Fact: Each and every one of us has self-esteem. Self-esteem is made up of the thoughts we have about ourselves and plays a role in almost everything we do. Having healthy self-esteem is really important as it helps you make positive choices in your everyday life, gives you the courage to be your own person, have good relationships and helps you deal with difficult situations.

Did you know that 87% of those who have been bullied felt it had a negative effect on their self-esteem…

Low self-esteem can have harmful effects on your mental health, your decisions about your appearance and ultimately, your future. It’s not easy to like every part of the way you look, but getting stuck on negatives can really bring down your self-esteem.

Other effects of low self-esteem include:

You avoid difficult situations
Sensitive to criticism
Anxiety
Withdrawal from social situations
You are reluctant to trust yourself

It’s important to believe, deep down that you can change. Change doesn’t necessarily happen easily or quickly, but it can happen. There are simple interventions aimed at helping you increase your self-esteem. Here are the DTL expert’s top tips and the best ways to build and improve your self-esteem:

1. Challenge bad thoughts about yourself

Replace them with more positive thoughts which celebrate things you’re good at. You can do this by writing down a list of at least three things you do well. Remember this list when you start feeling low, this will help bring yourself back to reality.

2. Take care of you

Eating well and exercising boosts endorphins, the body’s natural opiates, which make you feel good on the inside and stimulates a more positive mood. When you exercise, you’ll ease stress and feel better about yourself. Having a cheesy dance in your bedroom, or going for a jog around the block are great ways to boost your self-esteem.

3. Relax

Stress plays a huge role in self-esteem. Reduce your stress by taking time out to do something you find relaxing. This can be anything from taking a bath, meditation, gaming, exercise… you name it: if it works, it works!

4. Set Goals

Take the time every day to think about what you’d like to achieve. Then set yourself realistic goals for each day and keep track of your progress by writing down all your accomplishments. This can be as simple as finishing off a piece of work or tidying up (we all know how challenging this can be!) You’ll feel an enormous sense of accomplishment when you’ve ticked off everything on your list for the day. The trick is to not get bogged down by the list; some days you won’t manage to get it all done and that’s OK too!

5. Help someone out

This can be a friend, family member or even a classmate who is struggling with their work or having a tough time at school. You could give them some advice or just be there to listen to a problem. It’s amazing how much our confidence is boosted when we do selfless things – do one thing a week to help someone else without expecting anything in return.

6. Take a different perspective

Look at tricky situations from alternative angles. Try to replace thoughts like ‘why should I bother?’ with ‘I won’t know unless I try’. By looking at a situation through a more realistic lens you’ll realise that you actually can do what you want – you just need to apply a bit more positivity! By doing this every time you have a negative thought, you’ll eventually default to this kind of positivity on the regular, and who doesn’t love a go-getter?

7. Try new things

Our brains are really good at learning new stuff and the more new stuff you learn, the better you get at learning it. Everyone needs a creative outlet; music, art, dance, games, sewing, cooking, web design – all you need to do is get on YouTube and find some tutorials. All the information you need is out there – it’s just waiting for you to click on it.

8. Surround yourself with people who make you feel good

Spend your time with people who appreciate and care about you. It can be a little tricky at first, but try to distance yourself from people who make you feel bad about yourself. Even if they’re the most popular kid in school or the coolest person you know, it’s really not worth hanging out with them if they make you feel rubbish! Strengthen other friendships and you’ll most certainly feel better about things in the long run!

9. Accept yourself

First up: self-acceptance is key to feeling confident. When people pay you compliments, simply say ‘thanks’ rather than brushing them aside or countering them with a negative. Second: Nobody is perfect. Accept your ‘flaws’ or imperfections and learn to love them, they are what make you unique, work it!

10. Keep visual reminders of things that make you feel good

Mementos are a great way to see all the cool things you’ve been doing. How about making a ‘wall of fame’ in your bedroom with snaps of you and your friends? We are living in an age where we have a camera in our pocket at all times…take more pictures! Capture those memorable moments and when you look back at them, you’ll realise how many awesome things you’ve done this year!

Source: Ditchthelabel.org