YOUR FutureYOUR Future

YOU… have choiceYOU… have choice

• Take control of your future

• Find something you enjoy

• Take a chance

• Don’t settle

• Understand that the world is CHANGING

Decisions…Decisions…

DID YOU KNOW?DID YOU KNOW?• Facebook was recently valued at $15 Billion

when Microsoft made a $240 million investment. The CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg is only 23 yrs old.

• The video game industry is worth a whopping $7 Billion a year in the U.S. which is more than the motion picture industry.

• Bill Gates was only 17 years old when he started Microsoft

• Donald Trump has been bankrupt twice which proves that sometimes you have to fail in order to succeed.

CAREERS in Information TechnologyCAREERS in Information Technology

GIS Technician

Graphic Designer

Network Administrator

Computer Games Programmer

Web Designer

Web Writer/Editor

GIS Technician…GIS Technician…

GOOGLE EARTH COMMUNITY PORTAL

Computer Games Programmer…Computer Games Programmer…

Web Designer…Web Designer…

YOUthe entrepreneur

An Entrepreneur…An Entrepreneur…

• A person who organizes resources to create a business that satisfies a need

BUSINESS

NEED

YOU + IDEA

Characteristics of EntrepreneursCharacteristics of Entrepreneurs

• Innovative

• Competitive

• Conceptual

• Willing to take risks

• Aggressive

• Self-confident

Community SUPPORTCommunity SUPPORT

Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC)

Business Incubator, support services, 2 youth programs

science enterprise Algoma (seA)

Opportunities in natural resources and life sciences

Upper Lakes Environmental Research Network (ULERN)

Youth Science Forum; creates jobs for youth

Enterprise Centre Sault Ste. Marie

Essential Start-up Information

Summer Company $3,000 to start a summer business

NOHFC Young Entrepreneurs Program

$25,000 (grant)

Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF)

$15,000 (loan)

SSMIC Focus AreasSSMIC Focus Areas

TechnologyIncubator SME Support

Services

Market Development

Projects

Technology IncubatorTechnology Incubator TechnologyIncubator

Helping IT start-ups succeed!

•State-of-the-art facility

• Guidance and mentoring

• Access to funding opportunities

SME Support ServicesSME Support Services

IT Business Guidance

Bid Monitoring

NetworkingEvents

Workshops

Funding Access

IT CommunityConnection

SME SupportServices

Helping Small to Medium Size IT Enterprises Succeed!

YOU + CHOICES =

SUCCESS

Current and Future IT Market TrendsCurrent and Future IT Market Trends

Average salary in IT?

$59,507 or over $1100/week

(Workopolis.com Salary Wizard, January 2007)

Most positions are FULL TIME

While the vast majority of IT positions involve a standard

35-40 hour work week, salaries can vary

significantly.

Current and Future IT Market TrendsCurrent and Future IT Market Trends

Technology will continue to set the pace for jobs.

As technology becomes a greater part of doing business, more computer-related jobs will be created.

Employers will seek and pay a premium for people who not only have technical skills, but also have the ability to:

listen

solve problems

interact with co-workers

Sault Ste. Marie Innovation CentreSault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre

Thank you