Software

Have you been tempted to join one of those innumerable computer courses promising to offer you the edge' over others? You're not the onl...

Have you been tempted to join one of those innumerable computer courses promising to offer you the edge8217; over others? You8217;re not the only one, as the numbers at institutions offering computer lessons swell, with youngsters being lured in by the classroom-full these days. Filled with the ardent desire to learn what8217;s now the latest buzz-word computers teenagers and young, not-yet-professionals, often turn to courses which they feel would equip them with computer knowledge and lucrative careers as well.But, before you reach a computer institute and shell out those fat bundles of dough, remember to get answers to questions which are of utmost importance. Firstly, you ought to know you8217;re studying the right languages and keeping pace with the latest in computers, since the technology changes at the tap of a keyboard. Also, if you8217;re spending three to four years of your valuable time moving towards your career goal as a software professional, you must know whether you8217;ll get absorbed in the top bracket of a good software company. In other words, you ought to know whether doing a diploma in computers really worth it. What exactly are the real criteria as far as getting absorbed by good companies is concerned?8220;Owing to the internet boom in the world of computers, students must have Java and web-based technology as part of their course curriculum. These are the languages to look out for, because they are used for web designing and Internet,8221; says Narendra Saxena, CEO, Software Technology Group.

Besides, youngsters can also check out e-business, which is the transforming of business processes by using Internet technologies. Since developing and maintaining such applications and networks requires highly skilled professionals, e-business is well-paying and much in demand. 8220;At present, all good institutes will equip students with a fundamental understanding of core Internet technologies, because it8217;s an area that rapidly changes gears,8221; says Rajendra Pawar, Founder and Managing Director, NIIT. 8220;It was for this reason that we decided to launch a web-centric curriculum, designed to equip students with a thorough knowledge of web-designing.8221;

With things changing so rapidly in computer technology, it becomes imperative that the student knows what he8217;s learning is relevant and should be assured the course structure is not outdated. Good institutes keep altering their course structures and content from time to time. Many institutes like STG, NIIT and Oracle have a special course curriculum cell which keeps updating its curriculum as and when the course demands. 8220;Our main thrust is to provide the latest in Information technology and eliminate all outdated courses from our curriculum,8221; says Gopinath Pillai, Chairman, Edutech Informatics India.

8220;Any good institute will give students a thorough insight into UNIX, Visual C, HTML, web designing and development and anything which is relevant to the current situation in computer technology,8221; says Rajeev Mallik, HR Manager, IBM, India Ltd. So while you should have all your basics clear, if you8217;re not moving beyond BASIC, Pascal, COBOL, or even FoxPro for that matter, it might be a waste of time, money and energy to invest in a computer course.

And even if institutes are offering the latest in the field of computers, it is not always easy to get absorbed by the big names in the IT industry. Says K.P. Dutta, HR Manager, Birla Horizons, 8220;Even today, good software companies prefer students who have a formal degree, a Masters in Engineering or preferably in Computers, rather than a diploma.8221; As far as the recruitment policy goes, such a degree is usually a criterion for most companies. 8220;Students who8217;re doing their Masters in Engineering and Computers definitely have an edge over the diploma holders because their fundamentals are very clear.

Unlike getting into an institute where no one knows the intake criteria, students have to fulfil some standards and a cut-off percentage to get into good engineering institutes or colleges offering Masters in Computers or Engineering,8221; says Debashish Patnaik, HR Manager, Microsoft India, insisting that students have to be focused and have to be geared with degrees to get into good companies.

8220;Everyone can8217;t get into a good engineering institute, but that doesn8217;t mean I don8217;t study computers at all,8221; retorts Nonie Singh, B.Com, Final year, Delhi School of Economics, who is doing the four-year GNIIT course from NIIT. 8220;After a period of four to five years, more than the degree, what really matters is the amount of work experience one has in the field of computers,8221; confirms Vineet Singh, a software programmer in NIIT Software Ltd. Most of the institutes offering computer courses have a placement cell which will equip students to join a company for a period of one year. 8220;Our GNIIT course gives one year of professional experience, as students intern with an organisation for a year. We also have a tie-up with IBM,8221; says Sanjiv Kataria, General Manager, NIIT.

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Confirms Mallik from IBM, 8220;Our company has a learning services8217; division, where students are selected for a year and if found eligible, may get absorbed as trainees.8221; Students who have a diploma don8217;t need to panic even if they don8217;t get absorbed by the best IT firms in the first go. 8220;I know my course structure equips me with software and web technology learning, which are important for a career in computers, so eventually I will be placed. And, ultimately, with my experience I will have a career in computers,8221; says a positive Nitin Ralhan, II Year Economics, Sri Venkateswara College, who8217;s doing a three-year computer course from TULEC.

The computer institutes, of course, refute the argument about degree holders having an edge over diploma holders. 8220;Good institutes don8217;t just skim the surface. They offer the best possible knowledge in terms of computer technology and placement cells in most institutes help students carve a great career in computers,8221; insists Kataria.

The value of computer education cannot be undermined, but it is most relevant only when you8217;re assured that what you study equips you to be among the best.