Coffee or Beer?

Its coffee! Things has changed these days. IT guys prefer coffee than beer. Its hard to believe. Could this be the in thing nowadays? Or the lifestyle brought by the trend in the workplace? Go around Asiatown IT park, coffee shops are all over the place. Starbucks, Bo's, Coffee Beans, BrownCup, you name it. They're all there, like the sidewalk stalls along downtown Colon.

In IT, coffee is synonymous to guys who do not sleep; software engineers, programmers, geeks who have to stay awake to meet pressing deadlines and tight schedules; a chick who needs a date or two, whatever. Coffee is just a part of everyday routine, so addictive. Frochino Oreo please!

Accenture Cebu holds Job Fair

To software engineers, programmers, administrators and IT practitioners alike who are still looking for job, Accenture maybe a good place for you. The company will hold a job fair from August 31 to September 1, 8:30 AM to 6 PM at the Accenture Cebu Office located at the Pioneer Building, Cardinal Rosales Avenue corner Panglao St, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City. Bring a copy of your updated resume and recent 2x2 photos.

And don't forget, preparation for this kind of event is necessary. Review all the necessary stuffs on programming, software design methodologies, databases, web technologies, networking technologies, systems design and the latest trends in IT. Best of luck!

Hiring period for IT fresh grads

For graduating students taking up IT courses particularly Computer Engineering and Computer Science, this would be an opportunity to find and secure work after graduation. IT companies in Cebu such as NEC, Lexmark, NCR and Epson usually start recruiting fresh grads beginning this month. These companies will visit university campuses in Cebu, Visayas and as far as Mindanao. This is a very important event and a rare opportunity that bright and deserving students should not pass. So guys, get yourself ready. In IT, qualifying exam focuses on mainly two things, programming and mathematics. That means preparation and review are necessary, especially for average students who wanted to make a cut. Check your school's IT department and job and placement office for updates on this event, or inquire directly with these IT companies (their links are found at the right side of this page). Do it now.

OpenOffice good enough as replacement to MS Office

If you haven't tried the latest OpenOffice version, then I suggest you do so after reading this article.

OpenOffice have come a long way and is now prime to replace MS Office. For average users, OpenOffice boast feature sets that are comparable if not better than MS Office. Folks who have shunned OpenOffice before for lack of features and stability issues are now embracing OpenOffice.

Aside from the feature sets, OpenOffice is free and runs on almost all popular operatings systems. Here in Philippines, the license for a home edition of MS Office is at around Php4.5k. Why spend that amount when you can get the same for free? Why spend a peso for a feature on MS Office that you will never use? The learning curve from switching MS Office to OpenOffice is a non-issue. For an average user it would just take an hour or so to get used with the features, functionalities and all the bells and whistles.

So grab the latest version of OpenOffice and spend your Php4.5k for something more valuable.

Lack of Unix background amongst IT grads

This is one thing you can observe among IT grads these days. Whether its a reason of plain ignorance and preference, Linuxes and unixes haven't made such a good stride among our lads. Where Linuxes, BSDs and opensource have gained to much popularity in other countries like India and Brazil, here in Phils particularly in Cebu is quite the opposite. This is a pressing problem when IT companies hire fresh grads, there is just a few who have the experience or skills in Unix environment. IT companies have to invest time and resources for training.

There are several factors on this issue, one can be rooted in the failure of IT schools and universities in introducing and integrating Linuxes, BSDs and opensource at their curriculum. Students were not given much choices and exposure to these stuffs. IT schools and universities serve are playgrounds for students to learn the Unix world. These institutions must priorities and give particular importance in teaching the necessary skills set upon by the IT industry.

While its still a windows world out there, having skills in Unix could be ones weapon when applying for a job. Known companies such as NEC, Lexmark, Exist and Epson pay particular attention to applicants who have background in Unix. Thats really a big plus!

Programmers food at IT Park

For 70php, one can have a good and luscious meal at e-diner cafeteria. Thats really cheap! With so many restaurants and fastfoods within IT park, this is still the best place where one can get a decent meal at a very affordable price. E-diner has been a haven for programmers and IT practitioners alike who prefer a wider selection of non-monotonous foods and beverages. A meal set with 2 viands, a cup of rice and a can of softdrink cost a measly 70php! Thats almost half the price of the same set at the nearby restaurants. And you don't have to experience the hassle of long wait while ordering the food. This is so practical for IT guys who squeeze their time between dining and working.

Want a chiller? No problem. There is a Thirsty kiosk inside e-diner.

Accenture opens new office in Cebu City

"Not a call center company". Thats according to Keith Haviland, chief of Accentures delivery center network for technology.

Accenture inaugurated it office in Cebu City on April 04. The inauguration was highlighted with the presence of her excellency President Arroyo. Accenture occupies six floors of the Pioneer House at the Cebu Business Park. This is the company's second office in the country with the first one in Manila.

The company plans to hire 500 to 1000 software developers within this year and has already hired 150 developers prior to the inauguration. As expected, most of the applicants will be coming from the Visayas and Mindanao region.

Accenture's Cebu office is part of Accentures Global Delivery Network that will provide application management, system development and other services on an outsourced basis.

Congratulations to Accenture! A way to go!

Software Engineer's Wish List

Here's a list of every software design engineer wishes to have:

• Company issued Laptop computer.This is a weapon for every engineer and topped our list. The laptop allows an engineer some extra mobility to perform his or her job. In todays environment where computing is not confined to ones desks, the laptop is an indispensable tool for every engineer when doing presentations, meetings, discussions and working from remote location. However, laptop is expensive and only a few can afford to have one specially the high-end models, so the company should be the one providing laptops instead of the engineers buying their own.


• 15days sick leave and 15days vacation leave with pay.Every engineer should be given some time to relax and do something not related to work, specially when tending family or personal matters. While you prevent from getting sick as much as you can, sometimes its inevitable and nature has her way of bugging you down. Sick leave with pay prevents you from penalized financially when you cant make it to work.


• Flextime schedule. You can't afford to be late because it has a negative effect on you. Sometimes you woke up at the wrong side of the bed and you cant make it on time to the office. In most cases, you have to deal with the traffic and travel time between home and office. Flextime schedule allows you to manage well of your time and yourself, so you don't come to work unprepared.


• Overtime pay. While its rare this days, still some software development companies in Cebu do not pay overtime work rendered by employees. Its very normal in software development where projects have very short schedule, lack of manpower and resources and worst of all changing requirements which in effect force engineers to work past the normal schedule. Overtime pay also motivates engineers to commit working past their regular schedules just for the sake and completion of the project. So its always a win-win situation.


• Bunoses and 14th to 15th month pay. This should be considered as a reward to deserving engineers who worked hard and having a successful project.


• Tax shield. While this country is known for rampant corruption in the government, it is the ordinary working class who are paying taxes that get the most of the beatings, that includes workers in the IT industry. Our tax stood around 25% of our income. Thats a huge deduction from ones earnings if compared against what is returned from government services and infrastructure. Though it is our duty to help this country but we can't just leave the system as it is. It must be fixed, not later but now. With tax shield, the company pays a certain percentage of employees tax, say 30%. That would end up with more take home pay for the employees.


• Stock option. This is common to software companies in the US. The result is unwavering level of dedication and loyalty of employees to their company which would result to success. This is the only proven system in the IT industry where an average employee can be a millionaire. A win-win situation for all.


• Car plan. Who wouldn't want to have a car? A car is a symbol of independence. No longer a luxury but a necessity. We can't always rely and depend on our transport system. When security, availability and comfortability is an issue, having a car is a necessity. Its unimaginable getting a cab at midnight, tired and sleepy and you live 20miles away from your office.


• Housing plan. Who wouldn't want to have his/her own house.


• Competitive medical/insurance package.


• Access to clinic and doctor at the office.


• Post-graduate studies.


• Paternal leave.


• Christmas vacation. Have time for the family and loved ones. This is a very serious issue for us Filipinos where we can really feel the boundary between work and family.


• Technical trainings.


• Managerial and technical career paths.