On Tuesday night, the candidates will meet for their only scheduled debate. Will you be watching?
Ready for a tech career? How to choose between IT and cloud support
You may have seen the news that Microsoft launched three new Professional Certificates on Coursera, with a fourth that’s also open for pre-enrollment.
Let’s take a closer look at the relationship between IT support and cloud support.
As noted, these two roles are closely related, and if you’re interested in a technical career, you may engage with both of these roles at some point throughout your career journey.
IT support is the broader starting point. IT support specialists maintain and improve the computer systems that organizations rely on for everyday business operations. They also help users securely install software and troubleshoot technical issues. People who start their careers as IT specialists may end up advancing into cybersecurity, network administration, system administration, software development, software engineering, web development, or even cloud computing roles.
Cloud support is a more niche, rapidly evolving industry. Cloud computing allows organizations to store data and access computational resources via the internet rather than local hardware or installed software. Since this architecture doesn’t require organizations to maintain their own servers or data centers, it can cut costs and increase efficiency. Starting out as a cloud support associate is one way to guide toward roles like cloud architect, cloud developer, or cloud engineer.
Choosing between IT support and cloud support
Knowing where you should get started often comes down to knowing where you want to end up.
If you have no experience working in a technical field and aren’t quite sure where you’d like to end up, IT support is a great first step. Working in IT will introduce you to a range of career paths, which you can choose to pursue when you’re ready to advance. Cloud support primarily differs from IT support because it focuses on troubleshooting, maintaining, and optimizing cloud services. In a cloud support role, you’ll likely specialize in vendor-specific platforms such as Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services (AWS).
If you know you eventually want to advance into a cloud computing role, cloud support may be a better choice for you. Entry-level cloud computing jobs tend to require background knowledge and hands-on experience working in IT or a similar field, so starting out as a cloud support associate can be a productive entry-point into those more advanced specialties.
Where to begin
Essentially, if you have any uncertainty regarding where you’d like to end up, start with the Microsoft IT Support Specialist Professional Certificate. Later, if you decide to enroll in the Microsoft Cloud Support Associate Professional Certificate, the aligned IT Support Specialist courses you already completed will count toward your progress—or perhaps you’ll decide to take a different route, like cybersecurity, data science, or data engineering.
No matter which you choose, you can feel confident that you’re working toward an in-demand career. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer and information technology occupations in general are expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 through 2032, and as of May 2023, the median annual wage for these roles was $104,420—much higher than the median across all occupations, $48,060.
Learn more about IT career paths and cloud computing, and feel free to drop any lingering questions in the comments below!
Weekly Student News Quiz: Record Heat, Chicken Nuggets, Summer Song
Barely a month into the new school year, a 14-year-old student opened fire with a military-style rifle on Sept. 4 at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., killing two students and two teachers.
One day after the deadliest school shooting in Georgia’s history, which of the following happened?
Forum 1 | How Does Your Identity Inform Your Political Beliefs and Values?
We invite you to introduce yourself and to think about when you first became aware of having political opinions. What do you think shaped them? Have they changed over time?
Athletes and Anime
What fandoms are you a part of that might surprise people?
Word of the Day: impunity
This word has appeared in 256 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?
Learning Systems rollout of AI, a learning lesson from Workday’s AI rollout (what not to do); plus why beta testing isn’t the panacea
I rarely talk about and dive into HCMs or any HR solution. It’s just not my scene. Nevertheless, several readers of the blog contacted me regarding AI and systems, in this case, the system they use—Workday.
Workday is rolling out AI in two weeks (this would be around 9-23). A few said in two weeks, others within a week and a half. Anyway, the rollout will be the Search for tasks and reports, Job Descriptions Generate and separately, the Workday Assistant (exists already, but the new update will have AI in it).
For starters, they have yet to receive any information from Workday about the AI implications—nothing on hallucinations, potential issues, what to look for, how they can see the outcomes from their end-users, and other bits of nothing.
If none of them were readers of the blog – and thus the extensive coverage about AI – gen AI, which is provided, they would be without any idea of anything.
To me, Workday landed a colossal fail.
It would be easy to send all leaders who oversee the HCM information about hallucinations—fake and false information—how to offset the potential issues if their end-user receives such information, be aware that it is not 100% accurate, and so on.
Workday plans to do further rollouts of AI (Generative AI) to their customer base, allowing them to opt in or out. I can’t wait to see how well that works, knowing the typical MO of Workday sending out updates to their customers.
Workday likely tested Gen AI with a group of customers.
Now, I am unsure of that—i.e., there is no verification—but this is a common MO for any vendor, regardless of system, target markets, or anything else, when they are going to launch something to the greater audience.
Switch to Learning Systems, Learning Tech, Content Creator Tools, et al. & Beta Testers
The vendor may refer to it as a beta test (a common term used). The bigger piece here is the selected group of customers.
For the most part, vendors in the learning system space, learning tech, and content creator tools (AKA authoring tools) do the same thing. With learning system vendors, it is a given (albeit a few just roll).
Their methodology for selecting customers for the select group is all over the place, but it’s only some customers.
I like to think of it as the early days of kickball in elementary school when there were two teams, and two people got to be the heads of the teams (I did once—I felt total power!).
These two people then pick the players for their team. You never know why they chose you, but if you go early, you are in the “group of talent.” The downer is that there are always two people who are picked last.
I surmise it isn’t a good feeling – who wants to be picked last?
No, there isn’t a pick-last angle here. Instead, the team leaders (using the kickball analogy) decide to join the team to test the feature, UI/UX (yep, that is common), and so forth.
Based on my research, any vendor I have spoken with that is rolling out something or planning on; I always ask them their methodology and why they picked these customers over others.
The Common Ones
- The customers that use the system the most
- A select group of customers that are the biggest clients (i.e. by users)
- Customers who are well-known that use our system (what – Mike’s Beef and Cheese isn’t in there?)
The Less Common
- A selection of customers who are in the large enterprise/enterprise, a group from mid-market, and a group of small business
- Customers we have selected in the past, that we found provided positive feedback prior to
Take a look at the common ones. One vendor told me that the biggest ones are those in the F500 that they have as clients (one of the worst ideas ever) by size—number of users and usage shouldn’t be the methodology here.
First, it is difficult to ascertain how many people are beta-testing the system. Is it 20? 10? 50? 200?
Next, if you have 75 F500 clients but only 10 are using the system heavily, and of those 10, nine have over 100,000 users – do they get to be in your select group or not?
Finally, the biggest miss, and the one I would zero in on, are the customers who are not using the system – or have the lowest usage rate.
I would include those customers who have contacted support the most.
Why the relevance of the support thing?
These are the customers who are likely to bolt at the end of your contract—and who knows, they could be Big Name, with 200,000 end users.
For me, that’s more relevant than Sammy, over at WidgetLand, who has 50,000 users and is on the F50 side.
What is the Beta Group?
It’s part focus group, part people playing around with the system, who may not be experts in the system, to begin with (the people normally testing are the heads of the departments—such as the head of L&D, a CLO, or the head of training, etc.), nor may they be wizards in tech.
Sure, they know how to do a bunch of things in the system, to begin with, but all of it?
Even if it is the admin, you cannot assume that said admin knows the entire system inside and out, even before you rumble in ZCG.
With Gen AI going into the systems, the idea of a beta group testing it out and providing feedback could be better.
You are dealing with folks (as one would expect) who overwhelmingly do not know the pluses and minuses of Gen AI. Hallucinations? What’s that?
If I put only in all my content, it will always be accurate with AI, right? (Wrong). If the vendor lacks a feedback loop, how many beta testers will ask about it? How many even know?
Are they aware of how AI learns? Do they know anything about the LLM(s) you are using, and specifically the strengths and weaknesses of the LLM (because all of them have strengths and weaknesses – even if it is looking only at your own content)?
Do they understand how token fees work? Sure, it costs minutia these days, but I want to know if I get charged for whatever touches the Gen AI.
Content Creator tools are proof that whatever group got to see it in the beta test were unaware of feedback loops? How do I know this?
Because the vendors who have an AI content creator that I have seen (and I have seen a lot of systems that have one) all lack a feedback loop, it’s bonkers.
Sure, you can edit the content and click save, but that isn’t a feedback loop, and the AI has no idea what it pushed out was wrong (if it did occur). It learns from itself.
The same thing applies to when the learner can ask questions or inquires to the Gen AI offering in the system.
Of the systems I have seen that have this capability, a whopping two have a feedback loop. One only offers it when the learner enters one of their sims.
A couple of vendors track this data behind the scenes, i.e. what was wrong – if wrong, how many times people selected thumbs up or thumbs down (assuming the system has this, and again, it is very rare) and count that—big deal.
Do they do anything else? Nope. Then what’s the importance of that?
The people overseeing your learning system, learning tech, content creator, e-learning tool
How many of them are going to know all about Gen AI that they need to know, and how many will send out and train their end-users on it?
If they don’t know, how will the others know?
Even if they have some knowledge, as I have said before they need to keep up, because that LLM the vendor is using, is at some point going to have an update, and then the change occurs within the system itself – at some level.
The feedback I heard from the readers using Workday and learning about the Gen AI rollout, included questions such as whether they will get to access the AI to test it out, and why didn’t Workday explain more about Gen AI with the potential for fake and false information, when you conduct a search for tasks/reports, and with Workday Assistant?
Needlessly to say, people will find out the hard way about AI, the moment they ask a question to Workday Assistant, and it pushes out information that is wrong, and that person doesn’t know it’s wrong. In the case – that is a big, big, Godzilla problem.
And who exactly will find out this is happening? Even if Workday is watching from behind the scenes, that isn’t going to help the person who just received the wrong or inaccurate retorts mixed in with some correct information.
They will go back try to do it, find out it doesn’t work, try it again, still doesn’t work, then gets irritated and is left to talking to Workday Assistant which is where they are asking those questions.
Anyone who has used a chatbot knows it is awful. I mean it is as awful as you going into a hotel room that is freezing (and it is warm outside) and you can’t change the dial because it is set by the hotel? YES.
Is it as awful as you grabbing the wrong shoes after you go through the airport security line? Well, it is if you that did it – walking back will make you feel awful. (Side note – I was at an airport where that actually happened, and everyone was seeing if the person came back)
Is it as awful as you shanking your golf ball into the woods, where crocodiles are waiting to eat you? Yes.
Because the scenario of receiving such erroneous information without knowing it and assuming it is right, never will push out the right outcome. And in this case, could have real ramifications to the rest of the company that relies on that HCM (including HRIS and other ilk).
I want to make it clear that this AI rollout from Workday is across the entire system, and not just learning.
Bottom Line
When I hear of beta testers, I immediately think are there testers whose responses weigh more heavily than others? My gut says yes.
The others are added for their feedback too, but if KingKONG client, who is generating a lot of revenue says this needs to be changed, and the vendor doesn’t see the response as being unreasonable or confirmation of what they are debating about, then that one person changes everything.
I hear about it with roadmaps, so why wouldn’t it occur with beta testers?
I’ve been a beta tester before, it is interesting to take a look at it, and provide feedback, but it gets back to how relevant is that info compared to the group itself, and to say a favorite or two clients?
I always find it interesting that the vendor relies so heavily on the beta testers when it comes to say UI/UX. My assumption is that the people who designed this, were hired for this role, because they had the knowledge and experience.
Then my assumption is that someone or multiple people including the CPO (Chief Product Officer) would have reviewed it, provided feedback or not, and at some point, green-lighted it.
I would then assume that these are the experts. Otherwise, what is the point in hiring them?
When you can have your biggest and best customer give you the feedback and knowledge
Instead.
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Should Schools Ban Student Phones?
More and more states are cracking down on students’ use of cellphones. Are these restrictions fair? Can they work?
Word of the Day: scalable
This word has appeared in 31 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?
Corteiz Clothing The Streetwear Fashion UK Top Trend
In the dynamic world of streetwear fashion, Corteiz Clothing has emerged as one of the most influential and trendsetting brands in the UK. Known for its cutting-edge designs, cultural relevance, and strong community following, Corteiz is more than just a clothing brand—it’s a movement. This article will explore how Corteiz Clothing became a top trend in the UK streetwear scene, what sets it apart from other brands, and why its popularity continues to rise.
The Rise of Corteiz Clothing in the UK
Corteiz Clothing started as a small, independent label but quickly gained traction due to its bold designs and connection to street culture. Based in London, the brand was founded with a vision of empowering individuals to express themselves through fashion. From the very beginning, Corteiz set out to differentiate itself from mainstream brands by offering apparel that speaks to the heart of urban culture, combining elements of graffiti, hip-hop, and skateboarding subcultures.
The brand’s ability to tap into the pulse of youth culture, combined with its limited edition drops, has helped Corteiz gain a cult-like following. Unlike many mainstream brands that rely on mass production, Corteiz Cargos has built its reputation on exclusivity, releasing limited quantities of clothing that sell out almost instantly. This has created a sense of urgency among customers, eager to get their hands on the latest designs before they disappear from the market.
Unique Designs and Cultural Relevance
One of the primary reasons for Corteiz Hoodie success is its distinct design language. The brand is known for its minimalistic yet bold graphics, often featuring its signature “Alcatraz” logo, which symbolizes rebellion, freedom, and standing against the norm. This iconography resonates deeply with its target audience, making each piece of clothing not just a fashion statement but a symbol of cultural identity.
Corteiz is also famous for its hoodies, T-shirts, cargos, and jackets, all of which embody a clean yet edgy aesthetic. The clothing is designed to reflect the hustle and grit of urban life, with a focus on comfort and practicality while maintaining a stylish edge. The muted color palettes—often black, grey, and earth tones—add to the brand’s streetwear appeal, making Corteiz pieces versatile for both casual and more fashion-forward outfits.
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The designs often incorporate clever references to UK street culture, whether it’s in the form of slogans, symbols, or patterns. This connection to the streets, where much of the fashion inspiration comes from, ensures that Corteiz remains relevant and appealing to its core demographic of young, style-conscious individuals.
The Power of Community and Social Media
Corteiz Clothing has leveraged the power of social media to build a loyal and engaged community. The brand’s presence on platforms like Instagram and Twitter has played a huge role in its meteoric rise. By regularly teasing new drops and engaging with fans, Corteiz has created a sense of exclusivity and excitement around its collections. Fans often share their purchases online, showcasing how they style their Corteiz pieces, which has helped to spread the brand’s influence across the UK and beyond.
One of the most successful strategies employed by Corteiz is its direct-to-consumer marketing approach. The brand often limits distribution to its website, avoiding traditional retail channels. This allows Corteiz to maintain full control over its brand image and customer experience. By keeping the supply limited and marketing directly to its audience, Corteiz ensures that each drop feels like an event, fueling the hype and keeping demand high.
Limited Edition Drops and High Demand
A significant factor in Corteiz’s rise to the top of Corteiz UK streetwear fashion is its approach to limited edition drops. The brand frequently releases small batches of clothing, creating a sense of exclusivity and scarcity. These drops often sell out within minutes, leading to a high demand in both the primary and resale markets. The limited availability makes owning a Corteiz piece feel special and contributes to the brand’s allure.
This strategy of scarcity has also resulted in Corteiz pieces being highly sought-after on the resale market. Many fans are willing to pay premium prices for Corteiz clothing after it has sold out, further solidifying its status as a must-have streetwear brand.
Quality Over Quantity
Another key element behind Corteiz’s success is its commitment to quality. While many streetwear brands focus on churning out mass-produced clothing, Corteiz takes pride in the craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into each piece. The materials used are of high quality, ensuring that the clothing is durable and can withstand the rigors of everyday wear.
The brand’s focus on quality has earned it a loyal following, with customers appreciating the fact that they’re getting more than just a logo. The fit, fabric, and construction of Corteiz pieces are carefully considered, ensuring that each item not only looks good but feels great to wear. This commitment to quality has helped Corteiz build a reputation as a brand that delivers on its promises, further fueling its popularity.
Why Corteiz Is More Than Just a Trend
While many streetwear brands come and go, Corteiz has managed to stay relevant because it’s more than just a fleeting trend—it’s a cultural force. The brand’s ability to stay true to its roots while evolving with the times has allowed it to maintain its position at the forefront of UK streetwear fashion.
Corteiz’s connection to the streets, combined with its limited edition drops and strong social media presence, has made it a brand that is not just worn but celebrated. Fans don’t just buy Corteiz clothing—they become part of a community that values self-expression, individuality, and authenticity.
The Future of Corteiz Clothing
Looking ahead, Corteiz shows no signs of slowing down. As streetwear continues to dominate the global fashion landscape, Corteiz is well-positioned to expand its influence beyond the UK. The brand’s commitment to exclusivity, quality, and cultural relevance ensures that it will remain a dominant player in the world of streetwear for years to come.
With new collections, collaborations, and international expansion on the horizon, Corteiz is set to continue its reign as one of the top streetwear brands in the UK and beyond. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the brand, Corteiz offers clothing that is both stylish and meaningful—a true reflection of the streets and the culture it represents.
Conclusion
Corteiz Clothing has cemented itself as a leading force in the UK streetwear scene through its bold designs, limited edition drops, and strong connection to urban culture. Its ability to consistently deliver high-quality, culturally relevant pieces has made it a top trend in fashion, with fans eagerly awaiting each new release. As the brand continues to grow and evolve, Corteiz is set to leave an indelible mark on the world of streetwear, both in the UK and globally.
