Information Technology is one of the most dynamic industries with new technologies surfacing frequently. In such a scenario, it can get intimidating for information technology professionals at all levels to keep abreast of the latest technology innovations worth investing time and resources into.

It can therefore get daunting for entry and mid-level IT professionals to decide which technologies they should potentially be developing skills. However, the biggest challenge comes for senior information technology professionals responsible for driving the IT strategy in their organizations.

It is therefore important to keep abreast of the latest technology trends and get them from reputable sources. Here are some of the ways to keep on top of the latest trends in Information Technology.

·         Subscribe to leading Analyst Firms: If you work for a leading IT organization, chances are that you already have subscription to leading IT analyst firms notably Gartner and Forrester. These two firms are some of the most recognized analyst firms with extensive coverage on almost every enterprise technology including hardware and software. These Analyst firms frequently publish reports on global IT spending and trends that are based on primary research conducted on vendors and global CIOs & CTOs. However, subscription to these reports is very expensive and if you are a part of a small organization you may have issues securing access to these reports. One of the most important pieces of research published by these firms happens to be the Gartner Hype Cycle which plots leading technologies and their maturity curve.Even if you do not have access to Gartner research, you can hack your way by searching for “Gartner Hype Cycle” on Google Images and you will in most cases be able to see the plots similar to the one below

If you’re interested in building modern websites or applications which use ASP, XML, or mobile technology, you’ve heard of Visual Studio .NET.  It is one of the more popular suites of development tools available to aspiring programmers, as it consolidates several different tools and languages into the same development environment, which helps in turn to integrate this code across development languages.  Here are three important benefits to using the visual studio suite:

·         Use of Visual J# - This development tool is specifically oriented towards people who already are familiar with basic Java syntax, and is designed for use by those people to build apps or services which will then run on the Microsoft .NET Framework.  This is useful because it fully supports Microsoft Extensions, among other reasons.  Visual J# was developed completely independently by Microsoft.

·         Utility for Smart Devices – Another huge benefit of using visual studio .NET is the ability to immediately integrate your programming efforts with deployment across a variety of smart devices.  PDAs, smartphones, Pocket PCs, and any device which has a limited amount of resources all require a compact framework for the programming of applications it is designed to run.

·         XML Web Usage and Support – Because XML services aren’t married to any particular technology or programming language, they can be accessed by any system, and this broad-based utility has made the services increasingly popular.  Visual Studio .NET takes advantage of this by fully integrating with XML services, including the ability to create and edit them from scratch.

In Python, the following list is considered False:

False, None, 0, 0.0, "",'',(),{},[]

The job market is extremely tight these days, with several qualified workers being available for each empty position. That means that should you find yourself looking for work, for whatever reason, you need to make sure your interview skills are up to snuff. We will be taking a look at a variety of different tips that will help ensure your success during the interview process, including how to make sure your employers know about your C training experience. Here are some others:

• Do your own research in advance – Before you even step through the doorway to initiate the application process with a company, you should already know quite a bit about it. Investigate the corporate culture, speak with contacts who have experience with the firm, or search online; however you do it, having as much information as possible can really help you get an advantage during the hiring process. If you have specific experience, such as C training, that is of exceptional value to the firm you are applying to you can market yourself more effectively to the hiring agent.
• Dress Appropriately – In a perfect world, programming skill and experience such as C training should be the only factors in consideration when looking at a prospective hire; in real life this is often not the case. Don’t miss out because you gave a bad impression to someone, and strive to look your absolute best during your job interview. It is unfortunate, but the IT industry in particular tends to have a reputation for lacking in this department, so breaking the mold can be of great benefit to you.
• Be ready to interview at all times – You may be surprised how often job candidates are asked to participate in an off-the-cuff phone interview on the spot. Same-day in person interviews also are rising in popularity. Make sure you are always able to respond quickly if these situations come up and you get a fast interview. Memorize a few points in advance you can use to pump yourself up, such as an anecdote about your C training or other particular skills you may possess.

Job interviews are notoriously stressful for many people. Using simple tips like these can help you to prepare in advance for situations you may encounter during the interview process, and help you ultimately secure that new job. Make sure to emphasize whatever makes you special as an individual, such as your extensive C training.