CAREER CORNER                    
   

R you Ready?

Let’s review before you Interview!   You’ve addressed the basics. You are well kept, dressed appropriately, and on time. You’re revved up and raring to go, but R you ready for your Interview? Have you remembered these R’s of Interviewing? Let’s run through them and see.  

relationships, research, resumes, relax

Relationships:
An interview is an opportunity to build a new one. 

Interviews are not designed to be interrogations; they are about exchanging information and building relationships in pursuit of employment. You not only have the present company and opportunity to explore with a potential employer when interviewing, but the chance to meet others in your industry and to discover new connections and opportunities.

*Try to make a connection and develop a two way conversation with the person interviewing you.  

Research:
The key is knowledge.  

Interviews are an opportunity for you and a potential employer to discuss how you will successfully meet the company’s needs. Have an idea what these are and how your background addresses them. Research the company. Know something about the company’s products, services, technologies, customers, competitors, and corporate culture and history.

*Know in what direction the company is heading so you can tell them how you can help them get there.   

Resumes:
Do you have copies with you?  

Remember to bring at least four resumes with you on your interview. One resume is for you or the interviewer during the interview and the other three resumes are extras to hand out as you are introduced to others or move on to a second interview.  

Relax: You’re Ready!    

This article was submitted by Theresa Billy.  Theresa is SetFocus' Career Development Specialist.  For questions on your career search or for career advice contact Theresa today!
Net.Work:  A True Story

My name is Mike Guan and I'm a graduate of Class 2005 3rd Quarter. I was one of the youngest students at SetFocus, having recently graduated from Penn State with a B.S. in Accounting.

I'm gonna keep it real, I was not the top student in my class and occasionally I was late (ok, often).  However, I’m so glad that I chose to attend SetFocus as it taught me much more than just .NET. 

SetFocus is a common ground for people with similar interests. In my class, we had people from many different locations across the US from VA to TX and to this day, I still have my SetFocus friends.

Besides building relationships, I also got to develop cognitively and mentally.   There were many times I was given a project and thought it impossible for me to get it completed in the timeframe given. More than once I wanted to give up. Then, it happened. My brain was like clay, where the SetFocus instructors molded the crap out of it! After several moldings, I knew how to think on my own, differently. I knew how to tackle errors and overcome fear of bugs.

Following graduation, I got a job!  Currently, I'm working as a financial system analyst at Gartmore Global Investment, where my job is a blend of programming and financing. Without the skills that I learned at SetFocus, I wouldn’t be where I am today.  Thanks SetFocus! 

Mike Guan
SetFocus Alumnus
2005Q3
Net.Work will be a regular feature in upcoming Newsletters.  If you have a story that you would like to share, please contact Theresa Billy
TECH CORNER                         
   
Building an RSS Feed Reader with MS Infopath
By:  S.Y.M. Wong-A-Ton		 May 19, 2006
ASPAlliance.com
Full Article
While Microsoft Office InfoPath 2003 offers out of the box connections to several types of data sources such as XML files, databases, SharePoint lists and web services, we can also use InfoPath to connect to web sites to retrieve or submit data. In this article we will create an RSS feed reader sample form in InfoPath to retrieve data from the Internet.
 
Article Contents:
 
"Employers Speak"         
   
"SetFocus is a highly valued partner for The Henson Group (THG), a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner founded and operated by former Microsoft consultants and engineers. Because we work so closely with Microsoft and because we are the preferred solution provider for many US and international corporations, there is no room for inexperience. Our consultants have to be the best of the best. That’s why Microsoft turns to The Henson Group, and that’s why The Henson Group turns to Set Focus.

A successful THG IT consultant possesses a rare combination of highly specialized technical skills and well-honed customer service abilities. Recruiting such talented individuals is obviously a constant challenge, especially in the ultra-competitive IT market in New York. For our Application Platform Practice, SetFocus makes the difference when it comes to recruitment. During the last few years, THG has hired four graduates from SetFocus, two of whom now hold senior ranking positions in the company. Whether it is senior.NET developers to lead our engagements or Microsoft Certified Trainers to staff our technical instruction programs, Set Focus will continue to be our preferred partner for our recruitment needs."

Mike Stacy
Director of Consulting Services
The Henson Group, Inc. (THG)
ALUMNI SPEAK!                      
   

Even though .NET has been around for a few years now, I still think people don't really understand what it can do for them.  I am referring to developers who have picked up .NET on their own or learned it at their jobs.  I also think they don't realize how thorough SetFocus' .NET training is. 

When interviewers or other developers who "know" (I use that word loosely) .NET hear that your experience with .NET is through SetFocus, their initial reaction is "oh you took a class." 

I've worked with or am currently working with developers who have been using it for a few years now and I can honestly say that the majority of them only know a small part of .NET. 

The most common misconception I run into (especially with VB programmers...sorry no offense to VB programmers) is that people who use .NET for development only use the C# language and plain vanilla object oriented concepts.  I have to shake my head when I hear them call themselves .NET programmers.  I asked one of them to describe what they do with .NET one time and he told me he uses C# as the language and creates objects. 

I looked at him and asked "how does that make you different then a developer using non .NET languages such as C++, Java, and Delphi?  These languages all have object oriented capabilities."   Needless to say he had no answer. 

I agree that there is no substitute for hands on experience but experience doesn't necessarily mean breadth of knowledge. 

Anyway, I'm writing to you to let you know  I am happy to hear that SetFocus alumni are making their mark in the real world. 

Who knows, before long having SetFocus on your resume will be like having Harvard on your resume!

I would like to inform you that I have accepted an offer from First Consulting Group in NYC starting on May 15, 2006 and I owe that to all of you folks.

I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for giving me a second chance on life in the career that I have chosen. Thank you for patience's, support, and words of wisdom in teaching the .NET technologies.

Sincerely,

Joe Capan
SetFocus Alumnus
2003Q4
I want to thank you all for making the past three months a much more fun and enjoyable experience than I ever thought a quarter of school could (or should) be.  I have made friends here that I will never forget.  I have learned more in three months than I would ever have learned by myself in three months or in 3 semesters of college.  And as I embark on this journey towards an as-yet-uncertain future, the horizon has never looked more promising than today.  As much as I will miss you all (and I will, greatly), I want you to know that over the past three months, you have all become my friends, and friendship doesn't expire.  I will carry a little bit of all of you with me wherever I go, and I'll keep you posted when I find the next place I'm supposed to be.  Until then, keep in touch, and don't forget me.
Sincerely,

Pamela Macario
SetFocus Alumna
Class of 2006Q1

 


ALUMNI SPEAK will be a regular feature in upcoming Newsletters.  If you have a story that you would like to share, please contact Stacey Uhrig.
 

 

SetFocus Alumni Newsletter
 June 2006 / Version 2

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PRICELESS...

  • 25 days job hunting

  • 21 interviews

  • 2 job offers

  • 1 new job!

Thanks to you and all of the SetFocus staff.  I mean it!

Yours truly, 
Dennis Mullen, 2006Q1

Announcements!

Engagements:

4/20/2006
Johana Velez (2006N1) to John Lozzia in Jamaica.  Johanna and John are planning a June 2007 wedding.   Congratulations!

 

Certified!

Both from 2005Q4

Ellison Capers, MCAD
Michael Paris, MCSD

 

If you have a special milestone that you wish to share with your peers such as a birth, marriage, new job, etc. contact Stacey Uhrig.

SetFocus Staff
 The following individuals have joined SetFocus within the past 6 months.

Johanna Velez
 Teachers Assistant

Laura Caputo
 Corporate Account Executive

Dina Bivona
 Admissions Representative

Dictionary:  Podcasting

Podcasting is the method of distributing audio programs or music videos, over the Internet for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. The distribution format of a podcast uses either the RSS or Atom syndication formats.

The term podcast, like "radio", can mean both the content and the method of delivery. The host or author of a podcast is often referred to as a "podcaster".

Podcasters' web sites may also offer direct download or streaming of their files, however a podcast is distinguished by its ability to be downloaded automatically using software capable of reading RSS or Atom feeds.

Podcasting's essence is about creating content (audio or video) for an audience that wants to listen or watch when they want, where they want, and how they want.


SetFocus intends on creating a number of podcasts for developers over the course of the next several months to be created by .NET experts from across the country. Stay tuned for updates in the near future!
 

For more on the history of podcasting click here...

Listen to some top Podcasts that focus on software development.

If you have a podcast that you have created and want to share with your peers, contact Stacey Uhrig.
 

Who Is: 
Linda Yanez?

Who is the person who answers the phone when you call or is sitting at the front desk with a warm smile?  Linda Yanez!

Linda has been with us for just over 1 year and is a pleasure to have onboard the SetFocus team from the moment she started. Since her arrival, the office runs smoothly and efficiently and spotlessly I may add. She is an organized diligent office administrator and executes all of this with a smile.

A hearty thank you to Linda!

R U LinkedIn?

LinkedIn is an online network of more than 4.8 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 130 industries.

When you join, you create a profile. Your profile helps you find and be found by former colleagues, clients, and partners. You can add more connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you.

Your network consists of your connections, your connections’ connections, and the people they know, linking you to thousands of qualified professionals.

Through your network you can

  • Find potential clients, service providers, subject experts, and partners who come recommended

  • Be found for business opportunities

  • Search for great jobs

  • Discover inside connections that can help you land jobs and close deals

  • Post and distribute job listings

  • Find high-quality passive candidates

  • Get introduced to other professionals through the people you know

LinkedIn is free to join. 

SetFocus strongly recommends that you join LinkedIn.  The more alumni that join, the larger YOUR personal network will be.

What do you have to lose?  Join Now!

SetFocus is seeking qualified candidates for The Master's Program.  To this end, we are willing spend $200,000 (yes - two hundred thousand dollars!) in order to find the MOST qualified candidates possible.

If you know of someone that you believe would benefit from The Master's Program, refer them!  If they are accepted into the program, you will receive $1,000.  There is no limit to how many people you can refer and we are willing to accept up to 200. 

For more details visit our Refer-A-Friend webpage.