Hidden careers in the business field: There is such a demand in the technological field that most employers are willing to hire and train employees with certain soft skills such as critical thinking, customer service, good attitude, and willingness to learn new things. Folks who have worked in marketing, customer service, and sales of any kind don't think of a career in Information Technology, but it's easier than they think it is to get very good paying jobs in this field because of the severe lack in applicants that the industry faces. Getting college credit for certifications you already hold, and for life experience (experiential learning). Trying classes before you commit to college debt. Paying for school.

1. Education in the Field of
Technology
WHERE WE ARE,
AND WHERE TO GO FROM HERE.
Presented by:
Colleen Ruggelo - Business Development Manager
CRuggelo@Kaplan.edu or (207) 523-9528 for more information.

2. The Agenda
• Industry Needs: Where are the gaps, and what are employers
looking for?
• Certificates & Degrees available at Kaplan University
• Crossover Articulation Agreements
• Where to Start
• What KU-Maine & Employers can do for each other

3. Computer Systems
Analysts (15-1121)
Education/Training Required:
Bachelor's Degree or
Higher
Annual Total Openings: 47
Growth Rate: 15.8%
Entry Wage: $25.28
Median Wage: $35.38
Software Developers,
Applications (15-1132)
Education/Training Required:
Bachelor's Degree or
Higher
Annual Total Openings: 45
Growth Rate: 16.0%
Entry Wage: $28.97
Median Wage: $40.85
Computer User Support
Specialists (15-1151)
Education/Training Required:
Post-Secondary
Education Less Than
Bachelor's Degree
Annual Total Openings: 39
Growth Rate: 7.1%
Entry Wage: $15.15
Median Wage: $20.99
Computer and
Information Systems
Managers (11-3021)
Education/Training Required:
Bachelor's Degree or
Higher
Annual Total Openings: 26
Growth Rate: 11.2%
Entry Wage: $32.47
Median Wage: $48.91
Computer Programmers
(15-1131)
Education/Training Required:
Bachelor's Degree or
Higher
Annual Total Openings: 21
Growth Rate: -10.5%
Entry Wage: $21.22
Median Wage: $32.54
High-Wage, In-Demand Jobs in Maine by Education: Based on Job Outlook to 2024, the Maine Department of Labor, Center for Workforce Research and Information has highlighted a number of occupations considered "in-
demand" by expected employment opportunities from average annual job openings between 2014 and 2024. http://www.maine.gov/labor/cwri/data/oes/hwid.html
Industry Needs: The Job Market
Computer Occupations
Annual Total Openings: 246

4. Industry needs: Filling the Gaps From the Ground Up
Immediate
Entry Level
Jobs
Training
Certification/
Education
Promotion
From
Within

5. Industry Needs: What employers are looking for?
• Soft Skills to Start
• Critical Thinking
• Professionalism
• Customer Service Focused
• Team Player
• Coachable
• Eager to learn new skills and take
on new challenges.
• Education to Forward and Up
• Certifications for specific entry
level positions
• Associates as a stepping stone or
to move into more professional
positions
• Bachelor for managerial or mid-
higher level positions
• Masters: Because you think you
should be running this show.

6. KU-Maine Career Services
• For Employers:
• Recruitment
• Internships
• Graduates and Current Students looking for work
• For Students:
• Job Search, Career Planning & Career Changes
• Resumes, Cover Letters, Mock Interviews
• Internships and employer networking opportunities
• Career Fairs – both virtual and physical locations

7. Certificates and Degrees Available
• About 150 available… so this is NOT an all-inclusive but most relevant for this group may be:
• Associate of Science in:
• Information Technology
• Business Administration
• Bachelor of Science in:
• Communication (with IT courses as a concentration)
• Business Administration (15 concentration areas)
• Information Technology (concentrations in business, network administration, database management, information security
and assurance, and multiplatform software development.)
• Cybersecurity
• Health Information Management
• Master of Science in:
• Management
• Cybersecurity Management (must have B.S. in an IT or Cybersecurity related area)
• Information Technology (Concentrations in: business intelligence and analytics, information security and assurance, and
project management)
• Master of Business Administration

8. Certificates and Degrees Available
• Certificates:
• Cisco Networks Postbaccalaureate Certificate
• Computer Forensics Postbaccalaureate Certificate
• Human Resources Postbaccalaureate Certificate
• Information Security Postbaccalaureate Certificate
• Microsoft Operating Systems Postbaccalaureate Certificate
• Multiplatform Software Development Postbaccalaureate Certificate
• Oracle Database Administration Postbaccalaureate Certificate
• Graduate Certificates:
• Graduate Certificate in Information Security
• Graduate Certificate in Project Management

9. The Certification/Degree Crossover
• If you have a degree through us, but no industry certification
through organizations like (ISC)2, you may qualify for that
certification if you took certain classes (see hand out).
• It works both ways!! If you have an industry certification through
certain organizations, then you may qualify for college credit.
• HOW DO YOU ACCESS THOSE CREDITS AND CERTIFICATIONS?
• If looking for college credit, then send your OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT to see an
Advisor. A BDM can introduce you to one, or set an appointment for you.
• If you’re looking to see what courses translate into an industry certification,
then send your official college transcripts to that organization. Call first to
see specifically who to send them to for evaluation.

10. Wait! There’s more crossover!
• If you have been working in the business or technology field for over 5 years,
then you may qualify for college credit based on PROFESSIONAL and PERSONAL
experience!
• Our portfolio courses allow you to gather all of your previous education, training, work
experience, hobbies, board and organization memberships, etc., and create a portfolio.
• With this information to back you up, you can petition to get credit for which ever courses
you feel you would qualify for.
• A committee takes a couple of weeks to review your portfolio and petitions, then if you
qualify for credit, will send you a college transcript with all the credit that you earned
through your life experiences.
• Kaplan University automatically gets a copy of that transcript, so we’ll be able to tell you
exactly how many classes you have left to complete your Associate or Bachelor degree!
• Get up to 75% of your degree through this method. Average person gets about
6-7 courses through our Experiential Learning Course – but even if you get just
1 or 2, you’re saving a lot of money!

11. Where to Start?!
1) Call or email Colleen Ruggelo (that’s me) and I’ll set you up with an Advisor to talk about the
degree program that is right for you.
• They will have you talk with a Finance Advisor to find out if you qualify for a reduction in tuition, how to
apply for other grants (and loans if necessary), and how to take advantage of any employer tuition
reimbursement you might qualify for.
• Your Student Advisor will also give you a tour of the school, tell you what to expect while are a student here,
give you a schedule, and will stick with you as your “go-to” Advisor until you graduate!
2) To see what credits or training may transfer into one of our degree programs,
• send official E-Transcripts to: rsupport@kaplan.edu
• OR have the University or Organization send OFFICIAL transcripts DIRECTLY to: Bethany Tweed - ADEM,
Kaplan University, 265 Western Ave, South Portland, ME 04106.
3) Helpful, but not necessary right away:
• Ask your employer if they offer tuition reimbursement.
• Apply for grants and/or loans at FAFSA.ED.GOV and search for the school code of Kaplan University in
Augusta, Lewiston, or South Portland.
• Apply for other outside grants and scholarships that may be available to you as a student with a Technology
Major.

12. What Employers can do for Employees,
& What KU-Maine can do for Employers:
• KU can take in Cohorts to allow students more success and opportunity
for study groups and unified support.
• Tuition reduction through MEI or in working directly with each other to
form a partnership.
• Direct billing and easy access to services and partnership benefits (such
as tuition reimbursement and reductions) through a local campus.
• Lunch and Learns or other information sessions in your workplace to
help employees learn more about their options through us.
• Some specialized training available.
• Help grow Maine’s IT and Cyber Security workforce!

13. Thank you!
For more information about this presentation and its content, or to
find out more about the “Hidden Careers in the Business Field”
Discussion Panel on May 24th contact:
Colleen Ruggelo
Business Development Manager at KUMaine
CRuggelo@Kaplan.edu or (207) 523-9528