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Showing posts with the label Training & Development

Bridging the Gap: Women of Color in Tech

The tech industry continues to face a significant shortage of women of color. Systemic barriers, including limited access to resources, mentorship, and career development opportunities, have made it challenging for women of color to enter and thrive in tech careers despite their immense talent, skills, and potential. Cultural biases and stereotypes create an unwelcoming environment that discourages women of color from pursuing and succeeding in tech roles, and addressing these multifaceted challenges is essential to promote inclusivity and ensure that women of color enter and thrive in the technology field. Also, the lack of mentorship and networking opportunities disproportionately affects women of color, making it difficult to connect with experienced professionals who can provide guidance, support, and career insights. The SOFEI Group is committed to changing this narrative through our training programs, career workshops, and partnerships with tech companies that will lead t...

The Importance of Giving to Nonprofits That Serve Women and Girls in the Washington, DC Region

There is a stark contrast at the heart of our Nation's Capital, where the political, cultural, and economic power of the United States converges: a growing trend of women and girls who are vulnerable to the cycle of poverty in the Washington, DC region. Nonprofit organizations are diligently working to provide essential services and support that empower women and girls to overcome challenges and create a brighter future. To sustain these efforts and make a meaningful impact, organizations dedicated to serving women and girls need assistance breaking the cycle of poverty. The Reality of Economic Vulnerability for Women and Girls in DC Washington, DC, is often perceived as a hub of wealth and political authority; however, it also contends with some of the highest rates of poverty and inequality in the United States. According to the DC Policy Center, women in the District of Columbia face economic challenges that significantly impede their ability to succeed. In particular, women...

Building a Career as a Technical Writer in AI

In the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence (AI), technical writers are becoming indispensable. They bridge the gap between complex AI technologies and the audiences that use or implement them. If you’re considering a career as a technical writer in AI, here’s a roadmap to get you started. Why AI Needs Technical Writers AI technologies, including machine learning models and software platforms, require clear documentation to ensure proper usage and understanding. Companies need professionals to translate technical jargon into accessible content, such as user guides, tutorials, and white papers. As AI applications expand across industries like healthcare, finance, and education, the demand for skilled technical writers with expertise in AI is on the rise. Skills Development for Aspiring Technical Writers in AI Core Writing Skills Hone your ability to write clearly and concisely. Master the art of organizing complex information for novices and non-experts. Technical ...

Breaking Barriers: How the Good Ole Boy Network Stifles Progress in Business and the Workforce

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are more than buzzwords - they are essential for innovation, growth, and sustainable success. Despite progress in many areas, one barrier remains stubbornly intact: the good ole boy network - an unwritten system of connections and opportunities, often based on exclusivity and informal relationships, perpetuates inequities and slows progress for businesses and the workforce. What Is the Good Ole Boy Network? The good ole boy network refers to an informal system of relationships, often dominated by individuals who share common backgrounds, values, or experiences - typically those rooted in privilege, gender, or race. This system favors insiders for promotions, opportunities, and decision-making roles, leaving others out based on factors unrelated to merit or capability. The Cost of Exclusivity Missed Talent Focusing on who you know instead of what you can do, the good ole boy network overlooks highly qualified individuals. Women, people of co...

The Benefits of Certified Scrum Master Online Course for Women of Color

The Certified Scrum Master (CSM) online course is a transformative approach for individuals seeking to enhance their project management skills. For women of color, this course offers benefits that can contribute to their career growth and foster leadership empowerment in the workplace. This blog post explores the specific advantages the CSM online course provides women of color, emphasizing the potential for skill acquisition, network expansion, and leadership development. Accessibility and Flexibility - One of the primary benefits of a CSM online course for women of color is the accessibility and flexibility they offer. Many women face unique challenges, like balancing self-care, work, and family; however, online courses allow women to tailor their educational journey to fit their schedules to pursue professional development without sacrificing other essential aspects of their lives. Inclusive Learning Environment - Online CSM courses foster an inclusive learning environm...

Mastering AI

Learning AI (Artificial Intelligence) has become increasingly important for professionals due to its transformative impact across various industries because AI can: Enhance or advance career opportunities in high-demand industries in healthcare, finance, manufacturing, marketing, and more. Increase efficiency and productivity by automating routine tasks, streamlining processes, providing data-driven insights, and leveraging technologies to improve efficiency, productivity, and decision-making in their respective roles. Reshape the job market by future-proofing careers against automatic and technological advancements. Enable professionals to extract valuable insights from large datasets to make informed decisions, optimize strategies, and drive innovation within their organizations. Develop creative solutions, explore new opportunities, and drive transformative change within their respective fields. Help professionals bridge gaps between multiple disciplines, fostering coll...

Your Pathway to Cybersecurity Career

An increase in cyber attacks validates the growing need for skilled cybersecurity professionals. And hiring cybersecurity experts to mitigate cyber attacks is not a budget item for many businesses. However, helping employees gain cybersecurity skills (i.e., protecting people from harm and tracking the culprits who compromise their data) and certifications may be an effective way to address cyber attacks when they emerge. The online CompTIA Cybersecurity Career Pathway Bundle with Labs course is a building block to earning cybersecurity certifications. Employers like the federal government and Fortune 500 companies value CompTIA as an authority in cybersecurity certifications, and upon successful completion of this course, students can sit for the following exams: CompTIA FC0-U61: IT Fundamentals CompTIA A+ 220-1001 (Core 1) and CompTIA A+ 220-1002 (Core 2) CompTIA N10-007: CompTIA Network+ CompTIA SY0-501: Security+ CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CSA+) CompTIA CAS-001: Ad...

It's a Good Time to be a Technical Writer

Technical writers manage the flow of information among projects, workgroups, and during system development and testing. In addition, they are responsible for preparing instruction manuals, periodicals, and documents to disseminate complex and technical information via an organization's channels. Therefore, technical writers must understand complex information and transform it for people with diverse professional backgrounds. Following are sample Technical Writers Careers: Content Writers Documentation Specialists Information Developers Manual Writers Policy Writers Technical Illustrators Technical Trainers Web Content Writers The median salary for Technical Writers is $69,850, and the hourly rate is $33.58. If you're interested in becoming a Certified Technical Writer to pursue a career as Technical Writer, visit www.sofeionline.org.

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Certification

The Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB) certification program prepares small business owners and leaders to succeed in today's competitive business landscape. An ESB certification will validate the skills and knowledge for individuals to work in a middle-skill trade profession, as an entrepreneur, or to pursue small business career aspirations with an understanding of core business principles and essentials to launch and sustain a successful business. Candidates of the ESB Certification will need to have a conceptual knowledge of entrepreneurial and small business principles with a minimum of 150 instruction hours. However, students are not required to have real-world business experience to take and successfully pass the ESB exam. The ESB core concepts are: Entrepreneurship Recognizing and evaluating opportunities Planning, starting, and operating a business Marketing and sales Business financials and funding Exam criteria: Complete a one-year high school level cours...

Microsoft Office Specialist 2019

Microsoft Office offers essential tools for productivity in the workplace. Knowing how to use these tools can be critical for accomplishing daily tasks. From creating documents and spreadsheets to presenting information in a slide show or managing projects, the Microsoft Office 2019 - Training Bundle is your step-by-step guide to getting it all done. Get started now, and be on your way to mastering Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and more. Project files included! Whether you're just starting out using Microsoft Office products, or you want to improve your basic knowledge of Microsoft applications, this training bundle will offer you beginner to advanced-level insight and techniques to become more productive in the workplace or wherever you use Microsoft Office! The Microsoft Office 2019 - Training Bundle provides 12 months of access to the following video courses, and project files to follow along with your expert instructors: Microsoft Access 2019 - Beginners Microsoft Access 20...

Management Essentials

When you’re a manager, there are some basic, essential skills everyone should have. Whether it’s setting clear work priorities, building great teamwork, listening well to others, or performing a performance review. Each of the skills impact how effective you’ll be as a manager. The Management Essentials e-course will help you build these skills and others. By giving you on the job development exercises to evaluate performance, set clear expectations, and create the right level of challenging work, you’ll build the skills required to be a great and motivating manager for each of your employees. This bite-sized course includes: Giving Clear Work Priorities What Employees Need Reinforce Great Teamwork Valuing Employees Listening to Others’ Ideas and Opinions Problem Solving Expectations The Right Workload for Employees The Great Things Employees Do An Ethics and Integrity Discussion Perform a Performance Review Creating Challenging Work Receive Feedback From Your Creating a Great Work...

Autism 101

Approximately, 1 in 54 children is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrem Disorder (ASD) in the United States. And, many parents, teachers, and caregivers are scrambling to understand: What is ASD? The cause of ASD The signs of ASD ASD symptoms If you're a parent, teacher, or caregiver of a child that may have ASD, the Autism 101 online course will guide you through these challenging questions. The SOFEI Group wants to provide you with information and resources to help you create a plan to support your child emotionally, physically, and academically. We believe that the more informed you are, the more equipped your child will be for success.

Stop Thinking Like an Employee

Stop Thinking Like an Employee is a workshop The SOFEI Group provides to individuals seeking to become an entrepreneur. Since we started facilitating this workshop, we have learned there isn't a vast distinction between an employee and entrepreneur; except for their attitudes and their approach towards work. For example, if you're an employee whose work is based on the instruction of your employer, you're what Seth Godin states in his book, The Linchpin - a "cog in a machine." A “cog in a machine” is a compliant person who shows on time to work, do what they’re told, but get paid less than what they're worth. The gap between their worth and pay creates a profit for the business owner. The Linchpin is a non-conformist to the cog system. They're a career activist! They know how to take control of their career and have a clear understanding of the value they bring to a work environment or project. And, here are a few suggestions to help you perform and th...

Technical Communication - an Emphasis in Project Management

There is a strong connection between project management and technical communication. The skills we refine as technical communication have a critical place in project management: communicating content, identifying audience needs, extracting knowledge from subject matter experts, and ensuring quality deliverables. Many technical communicators can step into a project manager role using these highly transferable, existing skills. How can you work toward a broader role in your organization? What is project management? Why is project management important to the technical communicator? Using an interdisciplinary approach applicable across multiple programs of study, Technical Communication with an Emphasis in Project Management can enhance your understanding of project management and prepare you for a project management career using basic technical writing skills. Click here to learn more. #ProjectManagement #OnlineCourses #WomeninTech

Communicate with Confidence

Don`t know where to put that apostrophe? Bamboozled by "who" and "whom"? It`s hard to communicate with confidence with uncertain rules about grammar. And there's an easy and fun way to learn the rules. Packed with fun explanations, examples, and memory devices, Communicate with Confidence is the course that can help you learn the crucial aspects of grammar. Communicate with Confidence has four lessons that target the most common real-life misunderstandings and mistakes that can surface in the workplace or home. If you're ready to reverse bad habits and ingrained mistakes to converse with confidence click here .

Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence

Immerse yourself in the fields of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence! With over 40 hours of expert instruction, you’ll have a firm grasp of core machine learning concepts and be positioned to apply this technology to your career. This course includes: An Introduction to Deep Learning & Computer Vision Recommendation Systems in Python Machine Learning: Decision Trees & Random Forests Twitter Sentiment Analysis in Python Python Programming: From Beginner to Intermediate Quant Trading Using Machine Learning Factor Analysis Linear & Logistic Regression Course Outcome Upon successful completion of this course, you will have learned the following concepts & so much more! Discover Core Machine Learning Concepts & Build an Artificial Neural Network. Build a movie recommendation system in Python. Learn Intuitive Machine Learning Techniques by Exploring a Classic Problem. Use Python and the Twitter API to build your own sentiment analyzer. Go from beginner to ...

Stand Out from the Crowd!

According to CIO.com there are thirteen IT certifications that have emerged that can help you get a leg up on your career. Whether you're a seasoned IT professional, recent college graduate, or an individual transitioning to an IT career, an IT certification can help you stand out from the crowd and show hiring managers you have the credentials to meet their IT business needs. We've highlighted our IT certification courses that made the list to help you emerge in your business and/or career. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) The Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) is a certification program developed by ISACA to develop an individual's career as a a security manager. Once certified, the CISM qualifies students to design, manage, asses and oversee an enterprise's information security infrastructure. IT Security without question is one of the hottest and most lucrative areas of Information Technology and the CISM is one of the most valu...

You Can Have a Great Career

Do you have a great career? How do you measure your greatness? Is it measured by what you acquire or what you contribute? A great career is more than working in a profession to collect a paycheck. It’s about using your unique skills, gifts, and talents to serve (i.e., add value). And, a great career is achievable to anyone who wants one. Here are three ways to get started: Take Inventory of Your Strengths - What are your current strengths and how have you added value to your clients through your place of employment or business? If you can't answer these questions with clarity or certainty, a career assessment can help you develop a framework to discover your true passion, personal, or vocational traits. Develop a Contribution Plan - Once you’ve discovered your passion and strengths, create a plan to determine the contribution(s) and impact your passion and strength will make in the lives of others. Invest in Your Strengths – When you invest in yourself, your strengt...

Invest in yourself

"I only take classes my job pays for." "If my company wants me to stay, they should pay for my training." "As soon as I get my MBA, I’m out of here!" "I only enroll in workshops or classes that are free." If your company pays for training, who’s investing in your professional development, you or your company? If your company pays, what do they get in return? If you pay, what’s the ROI (Return on Investment) for your growth and development? Imagine hiring a contracting company that specializes in home renovations showing up at your doorstep without the skills, tools, or resources to perform the job. Would you pay for the training and resources the contracting company needs to complete the job? Or, would you hire another contracting company equipped with resources and expertise to meet your requirements and deadline to renovate? Corporations are discovering better ways to yield returns on their resources and investments. And unfortun...

Training is a waste of time and money

Another federal government agency was snubbed last week for allegedly wasting tax payer’s dollars (50 million) for training conferences over a three-year period. Training is a waste of time and money when its goals and objectives aren’t clearly defined and connected to an organization’s mission, and the actual value training will add when completed. Government waste didn’t start in this Administration; it has been a normal way of business to avoid a decrease in appropriation dollars for each fiscal year. When an agency learns that it has an excess in appropriation dollars towards the end of their fiscal year, many government employees reap the benefits of training, conferences, and/or new equipment. Training should never be used as a last resort to save appropriation dollars that will result in waste. This strategy decreases the value of education and training. If a government agency can operate on less money than originally appropriated, this money should be returned to Congre...