Friday Aug 24, 2012
NEW: Oracle ePractice Exams
By Harold Green on Aug 24, 2012
The
Oracle University team continues to strive to make high-quality certification
preparation tools available to our candidates. In support of this effort, we
have expanded our relationship with Kaplan
SelfTest. Kaplan SelfTest is now an Oracle Authorized Practice Test
Provider delivering a new feature-rich and fully authorized series of
certification practice exams.
Practice
tests are one of the most effective ways candidates can prepare for an Oracle
certification exam. Authorized practice exams help candidates to self assess
their knowledge using realistic exam simulations. These practice exams utilize
best-in-class practice exam tools including: Learning Mode (fully customize your
own practice exam preferences), Certification Mode (simulates a real, timed
testing situation) and Flash Cards (self check on key topical concepts).
Customers
may purchase practice exams from Oracle, with 30-day or
12-month
access, or from
Kaplan
SelfTest directly. As
an added benefit, Oracle University Learning Credits may be applied to purchases
made from Oracle.
Elance: It Pays To Be An Oracle-Certified Contractor
By Harold Green on Aug 15, 2012
Thanks to the
growing demand for online freelance workers, Oracle-certified experts like
Benjamin Gould are rolling in gold.
Based in Buffalo, NY,
Gould uses the popular online work website Elance to freelance for
companies in need of programming for their Oracle products. Because the work is
all done online, Gould is able to contract for companies in the U.S., Canada and
even internationally.
“I love the freedom of
working on the projects I want,” he notes. “And if you do a good job, the sky is
the limit.”
Oracle-Certified experts
are highly-demanded on Elance and the website provides many opportunities to
showcase your Oracle credentials and rise to the top of talent searches. In your
online Elance profile you are able to list your Oracle certifications and
include Oracle skills as keywords for clients who are searches. You can also
list the Oracle groups you’ve joined, and take free Oracle skill tests to
further validate your know-how.
Gould notes that
freelancing gives him the opportunity to work on interesting projects he might
not find in the corporate world. “I earn money while keeping my skills
up-to-date by working with the latest tools,” he explains. Ben Gould has
completed several Oracle-based projects as an online contractor, including
leveraging his Java Certification to work on Oracle GlassFish Server
projects.
Click here to join the “Oracle Certified Experts” group on
Elance. QUICK LINKS
Prepare For Your Oracle Certification At OpenWorld and JavaOne
By Harold Green on Jul 23, 2012
Oracle University will be hosting two
full-day "Exam Cram" sessions on September 30th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m for
the Oracle DBA Certified Professional Upgrade to 11g exam and the OCA and OCP,
Java Programmer SE 7 exams. These sessions will cover concepts covered in each
of the exam objectives so you are fully prepared and feel more confident when
you take your exam. Our sessions include lecture, tips, opportunities for
Q&A with our expert instructors plus a course kit that you can use as an
ongoing reference while preparing for the exam.
Learn more about these sessions and register today:
- Certification Exam Cram: Java SE 7 Programmer I and II
- Certification Exam Cram: Oracle Database 11g: New Features for Administrators
To register, simply add on "Oracle
University" or "Java University" Pre-Conference training to your pass. And if
you happen to live in the Bay area but can't make the full conference, you can
still choose to attend one of these sessions on Sunday. Don't miss this
one-of-a-kind opportunity to prep with the experts.
Please note that these Exam Cram sessions will not fulfill the training
requirement for certifications that require training. Additional Skills That Can Help You Get Ahead
By Paul Sorensen on Jul 16, 2012
As you work to advance your career, most IT
Workers are highly focused on developing technical skills and gaining technical
experience. Sharpening your technical skill-set is extremely important. However,
I want to also remind you that developing other skills and characteristics that
are less technical in nature can also be very important in helping you move your
career forward. These skills can make you more valuable as an employee and more
competitive when advancement opportunities come along.
A few examples of non-technical skills and knowledge that can be
important for IT Workers:
- Interpersonal skills
- Communications skills (verbal and written)
- Problem-solving skills
- Fundamental understanding of business management
- Fundamental understanding of accounting principles
In addition to your IT skills, an investment in
developing the skills above can have a multiplying effect on your career and
make you more valuable to your employer and customers.
Good luck!
Opportunities in Cloud Computing
By Paul Sorensen on Jul 10, 2012
A recent
article from CIO Journal indicates that there is an extreme labor shortage
(in certain technology areas) that is is leading to upward pressure on wages for
IT Workers. This represents a great opportunity for those with certain
skill-sets, among which include Java (Oracle certification is mentioned
specifically).
The article points out that a key driver of the
labor shortage is the expansion of cloud computing. Cloud computing is set up to
make life extremely simple for end-users, but the model pushes the complexity to
back-end systems which are sophisticated, enterprise-level computing stacks
(Oracle has an extensive set of cloud computing solutions).
These complex systems require very highly-skilled IT professionals (the
best-of-the-best) to successfully develop, implement, administer and maintain
them.
What this mean for you is that there is
opportunity for those who have the appropriate skills at the appropriate levels.
If you want to be a part of this opportunity you should do a self-assessment of
your own skill-sets and experience. Based upon your results you can decide where
it would be most appropriate to spend your time and resources for the highest
return on your investment. By expanding and sharpening your skills and by
gaining greater experience you will be better prepared to take advantage of
career opportunities (like this) that come along periodically.
As you evaluate your needs remember that Oracle
University has a tremendous selection of high-quality eduction offerings
(including training
and certification)
that can you help move your career forward.
Thanks and best of luck!
