1. As the world's #1 business software company, we are often asked how students studying computer
science/engineering, management information systems, or information technology can prepare themselves to be job-ready when they graduate from college. In response to this challenge, the Oracle Academy has developed an informative, compelling, and motivating lecture for college students of all ages.
Are You Job Ready?
A Special Lecture, Brought to You by the Oracle Academy

2. Presentation Available
This entire presentation, including my remarks, is available for download. You can access it by visiting us on Facebook or the Oracle Academy website.

3. Introduce Oracle and what it does.
Today’s Agenda
Introduce Oracle and what it does.
Discuss how globalization has affected the 21st century workplace.
Detail the skills that are most necessary for success in today’s workplace.
Present how you can transform your existing assignments into a technology portfolio that impresses.
Challenge and motivate you to do what it takes to become job-ready.
During our discussion today, I am going to:
Introduce Oracle and what it does.
Discuss how globalization has affected the 21st century workplace.
Detail the skills that are most necessary for success in today’s workplace.
Present how you can transform your existing assignments into a technology portfolio that impresses.
Challenge & motivate you to do what it takes to become job-ready.

4. Co-founded in 1977 by Larry Ellison.
Oracle Overview
Co-founded in 1977 by Larry Ellison.
Leader in enterprise software and hardware products.
# 1 provider of database software (43% market share).
370,000 customers in 145 countries.
106,000 employees, including 29,000 developers & engineers.
10 million developers in Oracle online communities.
1 million students supported/year.
 Oracle Corporation was co-founded by Larry Ellison more than 30 years ago.
We are a market leader in enterprise software and hardware products.
We are the world’s #1 database software provider and we service 43% of the database market,
We support 370,000 customers in 145 countries.
29,000 of Oracle’s 106,000 employees are developers and engineers.
We support 10 million developers through our online communities, and more than 1 million students like you through the Oracle Academy.

5. #1 in 50 product or industry categories
Oracle Overview
Industry
# of Companies
Aero and Defense
11 of top 11 organizations
Education and Research
9 of top 10 universities
Communications
20 of top 20 service providers
Life Sciences
20 of top 20 pharmaceuticals
Travel
3 of top 5 airlines
Financial Services
10 of top 10 global banks
Media/Entertainment
All of the Fortune 500 global companies
What type of organizations use Oracle products? Well, we are #1 in 50 product or industry categories.
In the financial services industry, for example, 10 of the top 10 global banks use Oracle.
In the communications industry, 20 of the top 20 service providers use Oracle.
In the life sciences industry, 20 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies use Oracle.
The technology industry is an exciting place to work. Think about Google, Yahoo, Intel, Cisco, Apple, Dell, Microsoft, Oracle, and the many other companies that are creating innovative technology. We are all playing a role in shaping the way people communicate, learn, work, and ultimately, live.
#1 in 50 product or industry categories

6. The Internet changed everything.
Just look at how our lives have changed since the Internet emerged.
The Internet changed how we network socially…how we pay our bills…how we conduct research for class assignments.
It changed education.
It changed business, how we work, and how products are developed.

7. Centralized Product Development
Before technology enabled the Internet, product development was often centralized in one location. As a software developer or systems engineer, I would usually work with other employees who were all based in the same building. Our meetings were primarily face-to-face and we collaborated multiple times daily.

8. Distributed Product Development
Now, product development is often distributed. I typically work with other employees who are based in different locations, even different countries. While meetings are sometimes face-to-face, conference calls, web conferencing, and are increasingly my primary vehicles of communication.

9. The global economy raised the competitive bar for workers.
The global economy raised the bar for workers.

10. Not just by a few inches…
And not just by a few inches.

11. By several feet.
It raised the bar by several feet.

12. The Global Economy
In the global economy, I must be clear in my written and verbal communications. Not doing so may cause scheduling delays.
I must be able to solve problems autonomously, without relying on the help I sometimes used to receive from my manager in the office next door or my colleague in the next cube.
I must be able to learn new technology quickly, because technology is advancing at a very rapid pace.
And my skills must match or best those of my peers internationally.

13. How Do You Compete? + - Obtain a degree in a growing field.
Global competition is fierce.
Understand the skills employers want.
Unemployment is 9.6% in the US1.
Don’t be passive. Actively develop your skills!
How do you successfully compete? Beyond acquiring your degree, it is important to understand and actively develop the skills that employers require.
What are these skills?
1Source: October, 2010, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trading Economics

14. Technology Skills Critical Thinking Skills Communication Skills
There are three of them:
Technology skills.
Critical thinking skills.
Communications skills.

15. Example: Software Developer Requirements
Technology Skills
B.S./M.S. or Ph.D. degree in engineering, computer science, or related field.
Experience programming in C++ & Java (required), as well as other languages (preferred).
Strong technical skills, including understanding of algorithms, systems architecture, and end-user experience.
Critical Thinking Skills
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
Experience solving complex problems & managing complex project schedules.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Communication/Collaboration Skills
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
The ability to collaborate effectively with remote team members.
To prove this point, I want to show you a typical job posting for a software developer. This job description was taken from a famous computer company’s website and, except for the 3 headers that we applied to each section, was only modified slightly. It is very likely that when you look at other technical job descriptions, you’ll see these 3 skill categories referenced over and over.

16. How Do You Compete? + - Obtain a degree in a growing field.
Global competition is fierce.
Understand the skills employers want.
Unemployment is 9.6% in the US1.
Don’t be passive. Actively develop your skills!
Now that you understand the skills that employers want, how do you actively develop them?
There is no shortcut here. Skills don’t magically appear out of nowhere. You must build them.
1Source: October, 2010, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Trading Economics

17. Developing Your Skills
Microsoft Imagine Cup
IBM Battle of the Brains
Google Programming Contest
CES Apps for Innovation
HASTAC Digital Media & Learning Competition
Fortunately, several technology companies run competitions to help you do just this. I strongly encourage you to participate in one of the competitions on this slide or the one I am going to discuss in detail now – The ThinkQuest Application Development Competition.

18. This competition is designed to help you hone the skills you need for the 21st century workplace. I believe it is the only competition out there that evaluates your performance based on the technology, critical thinking, and communication skills you demonstrate.
By participating in the ThinkQuest, you can transform your existing assignments into a technology portfolio that impresses and, in the process, show employers that you are job-ready.

19. ThinkQuest Application Development Competition
Select a real-world problem to be solved.
Produce an application or a game that elegantly solves that problem for users.
Use your choice of programming languages, software and development environments from a defined set provided to you
Age divisions: 22 & under, 19 & under, 16 & under.
Teams of 1-6 students & 1 adult coach.
Entries must be in English.
Resources available at
Competition closes on April 27, 2011.
Here’s how:
ThinkQuest Competition participants select a real-world problem to be solved and then produce an application that elegantly solves that problem for users.
Your choice of programming languages, software, and development environments may be used.
There are 3 age divisions – 22 & under, 19 & under, 16 & under – and students may participate as individuals or as a member of a team. And team members can reside in the same country or different countries.
Entries must be in English and the competition closes on April 27, 2011.

20. Receive a laptop computer and other prizes. Attend ThinkQuest Live.
Experience Oracle OpenWorld with 42,000 global professionals.
Receive face-to-face mentoring from top software architects, developers, and usability experts.
Develop friendships with peers from around the world.
Participate in educational workshops.
Be honored at a red-carpet gala with dignitaries and executives.
“Winning the ThinkQuest Competition gave me an edge
and helped me secure a job as a Software Developer right out of college.”
Shakeeb
ThinkQuest allows you to compete head-to-head with your peers globally. Beyond the great prizes you’ll win as a top-place finisher, participating in ThinkQuest allows you to impress employers – at the click of a mouse – with what you can do.

21. Ben’s Resume Application Development Algebrain
Java, JavaScript, Flash,
Dreamweaver
Application Development
Algebrain
Collegiacook
InternsInc
University of Virginia,
B.S., Computer Science
PL/SQL, PHP, Oracle Application Express
Let me show you how.
Benjamin submitted his resume to a potential employer via an that read, “I would like to apply for your open software developer position. Attached is my resume.” Ben just graduated from the University of Virginia and has some impressive technical skills. He also has a little work experience. He was sales representative at Radio Shack for 6 months, a Mac and PC support specialist for 6 months, and he did some application development and testing work during a summer internship. At the bottom of his resume, Ben has listed some of the technical projects he completed.
Ben’s cover letter and resume likely will not stand out in a stack that includes those from people with technology industry experience. And if his resume does get him an interview, how will he show that he has the requisite skills for success?
Ben would be in a much stronger position if he submitted a cover letter like this:

22. Dear Brad,
I would like to apply for your open software developer position. Attached is my resume.
I possess a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Virginia. In addition to completing my college course requirements over the past four years, I developed the following applications using Java, JavaScript, PHP, PL/SQL, Oracle 10g Express Edition, Oracle Application Express, Dreamweaver, and Flash.
Algebrain is an interactive game that helps students master Algebra.
is a web application that enables college students to apply for summer internships with employers.
Collegiacook is an online library that helps college students make healthy eating choices.
Please feel free to peruse these applications. If you like what you see, I would happy to discuss with you my qualifications for your position.
Regards,
Ben

23. Now, here is Ben in the actual interview. <Play audio file>.
How did you come to develop the applications in your portfolio?
For the past 3 years, I’ve participated in ThinkQuest, an application development competition sponsored by the Oracle Education Foundation. During my first year, I built Collegiacook with a team of 3 other students from the University of Virginia. I was the lead programmer for that application and wrote all of the Java and JavaScript code. I also used Dreamweaver and Flash to produce the application’s interface. During my second and third years, I decided to team with other students in China, India, and Indonesia. I thought this would be a good way for me to experience the challenge of developing an application across time zones. When we built I was solely responsible for writing the PHP, PL/SQL, and Oracle Application Express code. I also independently tested the application to ensure its quality. Finally, I was the architect, UI designer, and project manager for Algebrain.
How would you rate your technical skills?
I think they are very solid. Algebrain won second place in ThinkQuest, and the competition attracts thousands of students from all over the world. I am quick to learn new technology. In fact, with each passing year, I challenge myself to learn at least one new language or tool.
What did you learn as you developed these applications?
The process taught me several valuable lessons, but the 2 most important lessons were:
It is enormously important to be a clear communicator when you are working on a team. And clear communication is even more important when your colleagues are in remote locations. I definitely sharpened my written and verbal communication skills while working on these 3 projects.
Initiative and the ability to think critically are crucial skills for software developers. On each project, I focused and solved each problem as it came up. Not doing so would have resulted in project delays, which we didn’t have time for.
Keeping pace with latest technologies is vital. Technologies are rapidly being developed and I intend to remain familiar with the cutting-edge tools.

24. That’s impressive! Ben took a few extra steps over and above his regular coursework and it enabled him to answer these interview questions with a voice of experience.
In closing today, I promise to challenge & motivate you to do what it takes to become job-ready. I am not much for sugar-coating when it comes to something as important as your future. So, here are the facts:
Global competition for jobs is fierce. So fierce, in fact, that a college degree alone is no longer a ticket to great career. You’ll need to do more and I hope you will.
Look at what doing more can get you….Did you ever imagine that you could go into an interview and potentially sound like that? I’ll bet you didn’t. But if you are strategic about a.) the projects you select for your portfolio, and b.) the skills you are mastering, you can. You can sound like your own version of Ben!
Good luck to you. I’m happy to take any questions you may have.