certificates and the current job market

[Ellen Vanrenen <ellen -dot- vanrenen -at- clear-technology -dot- com>]

Hi, all

As all of you are, I am concerned about the economy and lack of job
opportunities. Granted I am working now, but I keep thinking, what if
something happens to my job? How can I best prepare myself to compete on the
current job market? More to the point, how can I best prepare myself to keep
my current positon?

CU Boulder, which is very close to me, has 3 relevant continuing education
certificate programs. One of these is a certificate in Web graphics. I am
taking one of the classes this Spring: Introduction to Graphics Design. I
will also take a Photoshop class a bit later (I would love to take an XML
class, but I really should get a stronger hold on the basics first). 

Another certificate is in web site design. The last sort-of related program
is in programming.

I wonder if investing time and money (both in short supply) in any of these
certificates would be of use in the job market? Would be of use to me here?

What do you think? Would I be "in demand" with a programming certificate
passed pass/fail, which would mean a better understanding of programming but
no real ability to program?

My preference is one of the graduate certificates in technical communication
from CU Denver, but that involves a considerable investment, and I'm not
sure that I have the time for it this year. Yes, but wouldn't the
programming certificate involve considerable demands?

I want to prepare myself for the future: here, preferably.

I'd like some advice from all, but especially those involved with hiring.

Thanks.

Ellen Vanrenen
Technical Product Documentation Specialist
Clear Technology, Inc.

telephone: 303-583-4170 (direct line)
email: ellen -dot- vanrenen -at- clear-technology -dot- com


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Collect Royalties, Not Rejection Letters! Tell us your rejection story when you 
submit your manuscript to iUniverse Nov. 6 -Dec. 15 and get five free copies of 
your book. What are you waiting for? http://www.iuniverse.com/media/techwr

  Your monthly sponsorship message here reaches more than
  5000 technical writers, providing 2,500,000+ monthly impressions.
  Contact Eric (ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com) for details and availability.

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot-  Visit 
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.