Fastest growing careers

Demand for personal financial advisors is projected to grow a whopping 41 percent between 2006 and 2016. Which other careers on Money and PayScale.com' s list of America's best jobs will see big opportunities?
1. Telecommunications Network Engineer
Best Jobs rank: 30
10-year growth: 53 percent
Current total employment: 21,000
Traditionally hired to control and maintain power grids and communications for phone and cable companies, telecommunications network engineers are seeing demand from potential employers rise with the demand for Wi-Fi, broadband and other new technologies. Telecom has gone green, too: Energy and environmental companies have opportunities for engineers to help build communications infrastructure for their new products.
2. Systems Engineer
Best Jobs rank: 1
10-year growth: 45 percent
Current total employment: 88,000
Systems engineers possess a wide breadth of knowledge and engineering skills that have long been widely sought within the aerospace and defense industries. Now companies from car manufacturers to consumer products firms are quickly realizing the value of systems engineers as well, leading to a hiring boom.
3. Personal Finance Advisor
Best Jobs rank: N/A
10-year growth: 41 percent
Current total employment: 20,000
The personal financial advisor profession has exploded as baby boomers reach retirement age and seek advice on making their nest eggs last. Meanwhile, younger folks are seeking guidance on managing savings and retirement accounts in lieu of a company pension plan. "People know they have to manage their own financial futures, and they're turning to financial advisors to help," says Richard Salman, president of the Financial Planning Association.
4. Veterinarian
Best Jobs rank: 25
10-year growth: 35 percent
Current total employment: 68,000
Pet ownership has grown 17 percent in the past 10 years, and as more people embrace furry friends, more vets are needed to keep them healthy. The veterinary medicine field has echoed advances in human medicine, and veterinary specialists in fields like oncology and ophthalmology have found clients clamoring for services. Another growth driver: An increased demand for vets in fields like food safety, disease control and pharmaceutical research.
5. Senior Financial Analyst
Best Jobs rank: 21
10-year growth: 34 percent
Current total employment: 127,000
Recession or not, investors and businesses need to put their money somewhere, and they continue relying on experts to examine the risk-reward profile of securities and projects. "One of the things that came out of the financial crisis is people need to do their own due diligence, and there is even more attention being paid to analysis," says Bob Johnson, a senior managing director at the CFA Institute.
6. Business Analyst, IT
Best Jobs rank: 17
10-year growth: 29 percent
Current total employment: 125,000
Companies are increasingly relying on IT business analysts to make sure they're using technology efficiently and cost-effectively. In the past, this job was often farmed out to consultants, but many companies now prefer to use in-house analysts who have in-depth knowledge of their specific industry.
7. Software Development Director
Best Jobs rank: N/A
10-year growth: 28 percent
Current total employment: 12,000
Just like an architect would design a building to be structurally sound, aesthetically pleasing and functionally practical, a software architect designs computer programs that help a business run efficiently and practically. The auto industry is a particular hot spot: Cars these days can easily have at least 40 computers inside to run everything from the lights and radio to the seat-warmers -- and these gurus are needed to design the programs that keep them running.

Technology Security: understanding how malware attacks your computer.

Whenever you connect to the Internet, read your email, or share files with others, you are at risk. Why? Because there are automated attacks against your computer. These attacks can come directly, or indirectly, by malicious software (or malware) designed to harm your computer. Fortunately, you can protect yourself by taking a few simple precautions. But you need to understand the risks and how to avoid them.
How They Attack By Email:
Email Malware.

. May appear to come from someone you know or trick you into opening.
. May not have symptoms of infection but may be silently gathering information .
. Some may reduce performance or cause strange behaviors like a spontaneous reboot .

What To Do

. Only open email attachments that come from a trusted source and that are expected.
. Scan email attachments with AntiVirus prior to opening .
. Delete all unwanted messages without opening.
. Keep security patches up to date.

Email SPAM : How You Know

. Spam is a serious security concern as it can be used to deliver Malware.
. Messages that do not include your email address in the TO: or CC: fields are common forms of Spam .
. Some Spam can contain offensive language or links to Web sites with inappropriate content.

What To Do

If you suspect an email is spam, do not respond, just delete it .
Consider disabling the email's preview pane and reading emails in plain text.

Email Phishing : How You Know

. Requests for confidential information via email are not legitimate .
. Phishing attacks may use scare tactics to entice a response.
. Fraudulent emails are often not personalized .
. Phishing attacks may consist of a group of emails that share similar properties like details in the header and footer.

What To Do

. Be extremely wary of emails asking for confidential information .
. Confirm the authenticity of a suspicious request before responding in email.

How They Attack From The Web, Web Phishing
How You Know

. Fraudulent websites are used to steal personal information.
. Phishing attacks re-direct victims to a bogus Web site where malicious code is downloaded and used to collect sensitive information .

What To Do

. When visiting a website, type the address directly into the browser rather than following a link.
. Only provide personal information on sites that have "https" in the web address or have a lock icon at bottom of the browser.
. Do not provide personal information to any unsolicited requests for information.
. Confirm authenticity of a Web site .

Web Spyware : How You Know

. Many "free" programs downloaded from the web install software that tracks your behavior and displays unwanted advertisements.
. Some web pages will attempt to install spyware when you visit their page.

What To Do

. Allow only authorized programs to connect to the Web.
. Do not accept or open suspicious error dialogs from within the browser .
. Spyware may come as part of a "free deal" offer - Do not accept free deals .

Internet Vulnerabilities : How You Know

A vulnerability in the web browser may create a weakness in the computer security providing an opportunity for some websites to download malicious code

What To Do

. Install product updates and security patches before using the internet .
. Keep web browser up to date with latest patches.
. Make sure your computer is configured securely.
. Automatically shield newly discovered security holes with your Antivirus software .

How They Attack: From Instant Messaging; Instant Messaging Malware : How You Know

. IM attachments, just like email attachments, can carry destructive viruses, Trojan horses, and worms .
. Some new worms use IM software to send themselves to every member of your buddy list .

What To Do

. Don't open attachments or click on Web links sent by someone you don't know .
. Don't send files over IM.
. If a person on your Buddy list is sending strange messages, files, or web site links, terminate your IM session .
. Remove viruses from IM with your AntiVirus software .

Instant Messaging SPAM : How You Know

Some Spam can contain offensive language or links to Web sites with inappropriate content

What To Do

. Reject all Instant Messages from persons who are not on your Buddy list
. Do not click on URL links within IM unless from a known source and expected

Instant Messaging Vulnerabilities : How You Know

Most instant messages still travel unencrypted across the Internet, exposing private conversations to anyone who can find a way to listen in .

What To Do

. Never send personal information through an IM .
. Keep your IM software up to date.
. Keep your operating system and security software up to date'

How They Attack From File Sharing: File Sharing Malware

. Malware may spread through common peer-to-peer file sharing applications by placing themselves in shared directories with enticing filenames.
. Some Malware threats use peer-to-peer networks to communicate out from an infected system .

What To Do

. Scan all files with an Internet Security solution before transferring them to your system.
. Only transfer files from a well known source .
. Use your Windows Firewall to block all unsolicited outbound communication.

Use Virus Protection:
Viruses, worms, and Trojan horses are programs created by hackers that use the Internet to infect vulnerable computers. Viruses and worms can replicate themselves from computer to computer, while Trojan horses enter a computer by hiding inside an apparently legitimate program, such as a screen saver. Destructive viruses, worms, and Trojan horses can erase information from your hard disk or completely disable your computer. Others don't cause direct damage, but worsen your computer's performance and stability.Antivirus programs scan e‑mail and other files on your computer for viruses, worms, and Trojan horses. If one is found, the antivirus program either quarantines (isolates) it or deletes it entirely before it damages your computer and files.Windows does not have a built-in antivirus program, but your computer manufacturer might have installed one. Check Security Center to find out if your computer has antivirus protection. If not, go to the Microsoft Antivirus Partners webpage to find an antivirus program.Because new viruses are identified every day, it's important to select an antivirus program with an automatic update capability. When the antivirus software is updated, it adds new viruses to its list of viruses to check for, helping to protect your computer from new attacks. If the list of viruses is out of date, your computer is vulnerable to new threats. Updates usually require an annual subscription fee. Keep the subscription current to receive regular updates.

If you do not use antivirus software, you expose your computer to damage from malicious software. You also run the risk of spreading viruses to other computers.

Use Spyware Protection:

Spyware is software that can display advertisements, collect information about you, or change settings on your computer, generally without appropriately obtaining your consent. For example, spyware can install unwanted toolbars, links, or favorites in your web browser, change your default home page, or display pop-up ads frequently. Some spyware displays no symptoms that you can detect, but it secretly collects sensitive information, such as which websites you visit or text that you type. Most spyware is installed through free software that you download, but in some cases simply visiting a website results in a spyware infection.

Office 2010: What Microsoft will and won't say. By Mary-Jo Foley

A new build of Office 2010 — more recent than the Community Technology Preview (CTP) Microsoft delivered in July to a select group of testers — allegedly has leaked. (But as of this posting, not yet leaked to the Web.)

The new build, which, according to Wzor, is labeled “Beta 1,” (Build 14.0.4417.1000) includes some updates to Office 2010’s built-in Backstage document-management platform and some of the new volume-licensing-activation tweaks that company officials recently acknowledged were coming. There is also a new “upload center” in the leaked build, which could be related to Office Web Apps, the Web-ified versions of key Office apps that Microsoft is planning to release to testers this fall.

Microsoft officials declined to comment on the leak. I asked whether the allegedly leaked bits would be what Microsoft is planning to release as part of the public Beta 1 of Office 2010 due out later ths fall. A spokeswoman provided this statement in response:
“Microsoft officially released the Office 2010 technical preview in July and we are on track to deliver the public beta later this year. No additional Office 2010 code has been released by Microsoft since the technical preview. We strongly recommend that customers only download or use officially released Microsoft products, through appropriate Microsoft channels, since unofficial copies might contain malicious code.”

Even though Office 2010 seems pretty well baked, there’s still lots the company won’t say about the release, which Microsoft execs indicated to partners will ship in May/June 2010.
However, there are a few things the Office team is willing to talk about, especially regarding the product’s user-interface changes.

As Microsoft officials have said before, with Office 2010, all of the Office apps are getting the Ribbon interface. In Office 2010, OneNote, Publisher and Visio all will become “Ribbonized,” as will the rest of Outlook, said Aaron Butcher, Senior Program Manager on the Office User Experience Team. The Ribbon works a bit differently with each app, so adding it isn’t as straightforward a task for the User Experience team as it might seem. (The User Experience Team, a group of about 70 testers, designers, programmers and usability engineers, are the ones behind the UI changes in Office.)

“People said they would be better at their jobs if the could master Office,” Butcher told me during a recent phone interview. “We wanted to help them save time and to make everyone a power user.”
In spite of all Microsoft’s telemetry data that company officials cite when claiming the Ribbon is a success, there are plenty of customers and potential customers out there who aren’t Ribbon fans. Butcher noted that the Ribbon can be collapsed so that it takes up less room. (”Menu mode” is the closest you an get to doing away with the Ribbon all together, Butcher said.) Additionally, with Office 2010, users will be able to create their own custom set of commands. Users will be able to hide all labels or surface even more commands using the Ribbon.
If you’re holding out hope that Microsoft might completely do away with the Ribbon or offer a classic/Luddite option with Office 2010 or a future version of Office, you might want to come up for air. There are no such plans, Butcher said.

“We are really committed to the changes the Ribbon provides. Microsoft doesn’t want to have to support two distinct models (a Ribbonized view and a classic mode.” Plus, if we provided a classic mode, we’d be hurting developers who are building around Office,” Butcher said.
The Ribbon isn’t the only new UI element upon which the User Experience team is working. The aforementioned Backstage feature is part of that team’s domain. The Ribbon will be applied to the Backstage view in ways that it makes sense, Butcher said. Related to the Backstage overhaul, Office’s print function from scratch for the 2010 release. “There won’t be three different areas you need to go to to print,” Butcher said.

The User Experience team also has been instrumental in Office 2010’s enhanced tool tips — via which hovering over a specific tab will give a user a paragraph description on how to use a particular feature. And galleries — which Butcher describes as “mini-scripts, basically dialogues and commands under a single script,” is another.

What don’t you know about Office 2010 that you’d like to, at this point — other than when the heck those promised Office Web Apps are going to show up?

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1153060451636228908

Korea's educational system with emphasis on vocational training has produced the robust manpower necessary for labour-intensive industries:

Cameroon Tribune :

Education, vocational training, science and technology are important domains in which Cameroon and the Republic of Korea can foster bilateral cooperation. The experience can be beneficial to Cameroon in its development endeavour. Talking to C.T. on the subject, Cho Yulrae, Director General for Policy Planning in Korea's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said, "Education and vocational training have been government's priority" which has produced the necessary manpower for labour-intensive industries from the 1960s. He said sharing experiences in education could be beneficial to Cameroon in its development drive.

Incheon bridge (12.3km) will link Soeul to Incheon expressway

It is known that education has contributed to democracy and political development in modern Korea by encouraging upward political socialization, opening opportunities to explore new fields of knowledge and sharing value systems and views about the country. Education has also played a major role in the nation's economic development by helping to produce robust manpower necessary for economic growth and facilitated the development of sophisticated industries and improved labour productivity. In the social and cultural domain, education has been instrumental in Korea's social and cultural development contributing to the formation of a modern value system and the establishment of development- oriented views.

Dr. Kin Jae-Kum, planning officer with the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said his country's educational system has what he called "a single-track 6 - 3 - 3 - 4 system" that requires six years in primary school, three years in middle school, three years in high school, and four years in university.

Education in Korea is crucial to individual success and competition is very heated and fierce. Cho Yulrae, Director General for Policy Planning with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology says the problem "results from the one-size-fits- all school system, excessive competition for university entrance exams and lack of responsibility of public education". With the advent of a knowledge-based post-industrial society where human capital and knowledge are key to growth and prosperity, Korea has adopted a new concept of human resource development. It was the reason why President Lee Myung Bak's administration in 2008 merged the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development with the Ministry of Science and Technology to enhance its synergetic effects.

The Korean government has also adopted a new educational programme to increase the number of their foreign students by 2010. It is planned that by that time the number of scholarships for foreign students in Korea will be doubled, and the number of foreign students will reach 100,000. Cameroon is not yet fully benefiting from the educational experience of Korea as there are only 66 Cameroonian students currently studying in Korean universities. There is however room for improvement as the two countries have expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation and exchange programmes in the field of education.

Dominique & Stephane discuss their experience at ECA holiday program.

Dominique 1. Why did you choose to undertake this holiday program?

I have chosen to undertake this computer holiday program because with the High Technology nowadays, everything has been computerize .Due to this fact, there is a need for me to know about computer. Besides, the computer holiday program will also help to occupied me during this Long holiday period.

2. How do you think it's going to help you in your future career?

I think it's going to help me in my future career because today everything is computerized. And with the knowledge from the computer holiday program will be able to bring innovations, and may be save confidential information (secret professional) or do some researches concerning my future career.

3. What are your future goals and ambitions studying computer?

My future goal and studying computer is due its team as a fashionable instrument which can be used to measure the intellectual capacity of someone and I don't want to be part of those who don't have any basic knowledge of it. As for my ambition I wish to be a computer engineer. So, studying computer now will help me to be a bit familiar with its functioning and it basics which will help me full in perusing my goals.

Stephane Pourquoi avez-vous choisi d'entreprendre ce programme de vacances?

J'ai choisi d'entreprendre ce programme de vacances, parce que, avec la haute technologie de nos jours, tout a été d'informatiser. De ce fait, il existe un besoin pour moi de savoir sur ordinateur. En outre, l'ordinateur de vacances programme contribuera également à me occupés au cours de cette longue période de vacances. Nous savons tous que dans le mondeentier l'informatique est a la cle de tous activite et c'est pour cela que nous devions apprendre a travailler et a traier les information

Comment pensez-vous que cela va vous aider dans votre future carrière?

Je pense que cela va m'aider dans ma carrière, car aujourd'hui tout est informatisé. Et avec la connaissance de l'ordinateur du programme de vacances, je vais être en mesure d'apporter des innovations, et de mai enregistrer des informations confidentielles (secret professionnel) ou faire des recherches concernant ma future carrière. L'infiormatique est comme pour nous aujourd'hui un pasport dans le dommaine de l'mploie et c'est pourquoi j'ai decider de faire 'limformatique pour faire plus tard les dessind'achitecture et mieu travailler dans word et exel ou encord etre plus tard un ingegnieur et pour pouvoir construir nos route et developper notre pays.

Quels sont vos objectifs pour l'avenir et les ambitions d'étudier l'informatique?

Mon objectif futur est d'étudier l'informatique en raison de son équipe comme un instrument de la mode qui peut être utilisé pour mesurer la capacité intellectuelle de quelqu'un, et je ne veux pas faire partie de ceux qui n'ont pas de connaissances de base de celui-ci. Quant à mon ambition, je tiens à être un ingénieur en informatique. Ainsi, l'étude de l'ordinateur maintenant m'aidera à être un peu familier avec le fonctionnement de base et qui pourra m'aider en pleine lecture de mes objectifs. Il est bien et tres avantegieux l'apprentissage de l'informatique parce que avec sa nous pouvons tout faire en 2010 celui qui ne serai capable d'ultiliser un ordinateur ne serai pas a la pointe de l'information.

Why computer education is important for youths in Cameroon: ECA summer camp experience.

Summer Camp Computer youth program

According to the Princeton review, computer science now ranks in the top 10 of undergraduate majors for young people entering American Universities. It is for this reason that in most parts of the world, even in developing countries, like Cameroon – computer science education is fastly being integrated into primary and secondary school curriculum. Some of the advantages of learning computers early are teamwork, algorithmic thought process, problem solving practice and comfort with emerging technology.

Summer camp youths listen to computer lectures. Over the past years, we see computers vastly becoming popular as household items. Imagine the luxury of sending an instant email instead of posting a letter. Checking news, weather and watching even favorite sports programs via the internet has become a normal routine.

Today our children’s lives are getting influenced by technology. We find computers in use everywhere, whether going to the supermarket or bank. This is because it is faster and helps us complete our work without mistakes. It is in this regards that parents too have to realize the need to help children develop strong computer skills. Computers and internet are here to stay with software titles targeting children increasingly available in the market.

Internet research session at Summer computer camp

One benefit of the computer is that children are learning to become smarter. They are growing up computer literate and thus will have a huge advantage in their future lives. One reason is because computer literacy has become a huge job qualification and developing an early comfort zone puts children ahead.

At ECA, we have therefore developed a computer literacy program every summer holiday to train our youths, and acquaint them with specific knowledge of computer technology. Our program focuses on the following principles:

1. Teaching young people operational skills by immerging them in a variety of software programs and internet technology
2. Creating an awareness of what the computer can do, as a tool for learning and finding out about things through research.
3. An awareness of ideas and behavior that are part of the computer culture, such as knowledge of safe behavior on the internet.
4. A body of successful experiences that over time will develop within a young person the intuition for dealing with new things he or she encounters in a computer environment.
5. A clear attitude of the mastery, discovery, purpose and pleasure in using computer effectively.

Students pose with instructor In general, computers are offering substantial benefits to young children and their overall development. With parental guidance, quality software, safe surfing tips, their own love of discovery and learning, we see that children can reap lifelong benefits of computer literacy for the rest of their technology filled lives. Accordingly, if a family can afford a computer without sacrificing other important items for the child, then the current environment calls for an investment on a computer. This tool will in most occasions replace books for learning and be integrated in the family’s day to day activities.

Choosing a Career in Computer Hardware Engineering:

Computer Laboratory for hardware testing

One of the most difficult decisions every young person has to make in their lifetime is deciding on a career. It is even a more daunting task in societies where there are few or no career counselors in high schools, and universities where such decisions can be made much early.

For most young people, figuring out what their purpose in life is and how to find their dream career is a lifetime decision. Who is there to guide them through this crucial life cycle stage? It isn’t everyone who can set goals and believe they will work for him or her. It is therefore important to know who you are first as well as where you want to be in life down the road. There is no doubt; everyone has a purpose on earth. For some people, it may becoming a musician, soccer player, lawyer or computer hardware engineer.

We have discussed about the importance of computer education and how it has become an integral part of life. It is therefore a given that computer knowledge coupled with certain job skills increases one’s chance of getting a job. Higher education involving network administration, hardware maintenance or software skills open doors for brighter job opportunities.

Computer Hardware Engineer:

Within the domain of computers, the hardware engineer’s job includes research, development and installation of computer hardware. Ideally a Bachelors degree in engineering or technology is required to work as a computer hardware engineer. The rapid improvements we see today in computer technology are due to the work of computer hardware engineers and technicians.

Circuit Board design by Hardware Engineer

They design and test keyboards, modems, computer chips, printers, circuit boards, computer systems and also oversee the manufacturing of these items. To become a successful computer hardware engineer you must be creative, analytically minded and detail oriented. You must also be willing to work in a team environment since hardware engineers must relate with people from a variety of fields as well as having good interpersonal skills.

Fully designed computer motherboard - heart of personal computer

A typical day in the life of a computer hardware engineer may include providing technical support to designers, marketing and other team members throughout the product development and implementation process. He or she may also test and verify hardware support peripherals to ensure they meet specifications by recording and analyzing test data. Finally, the hardware engineer may monitor the functioning of equipment, make modifications, analyze information to determine, recommend and plan layout.

If you are therefore thinking about a career as a computer hardware engineer, then you are about to make a wise life decision. The opportunities for income generation and growth are enormous. You are on the right path to success.