ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING

ERP(ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING)

Scope:

ENTERPRISE Resource Planning, or ERP for short, denotes a software application that allows an organisation (or enterprise) to effectively and efficiently manage its resources. The resource could be manpower, raw material, vehicles, equipment and finances to name a few. Some leading software solution providers have developed ERP packages, which now form the backbone of several large organisations. ERP packages comprise several modules that can be used either in a stand-alone mode or in conjunction with one or more of the other modules. Oracle 11i, SAP, J D Edwards and People-soft are some of the popular ERP applications. These packages have found ready acceptance amongst several large and medium enterprises, and in return have helped the organisations achieve an optimal level of performance in their respective areas.

Demand for these applications is increasing by the day, primarily because of the huge potential they hold out for users. Such an exponential growth has created job opportunities for professionals opting for a career in ERP Package implementation and maintenance.

The ERP scenario primarily offers two types of job options -- that of the Functional Consultant and the Technical Consultant. There would also be other parallel openings in the fields of database administration, systems administration, software testing and network administration. Barring the first two, all the other jobs are more generic in nature and pertain to the software field as a whole.

Functional Consultant: These professionals require a fair understanding of and experience in a particular physical process. For example, an ERP package implementation in a pharmaceutical company would require functional consultants experienced in finance, HR, pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, procurement processes, inventory management, customer relationship, supply chain management, etc.

The functional consultant would thus be a person who analyses the business process of an organisation and designs the process flow of a particular business area.

A functional consultant should ideally be an MBA in the business area he is functioning in; and should have undergone a training session in the ERP, which he is implementing. Solution providers hold training sessions in their respective areas. For example, SAP conducts training modules for functional consultants in all the different business areas involved in a programme. These courses are, however, costly. A minimum of two to three years' experience in the relevant functional area is mandatory. As for monetary benefits, pay scales start from about Rs.12,000+ per month.

Senior consultants may also be employed as architects to design and implement the entire ERP package for an organisation. Pay scales for seniors are generally very high, ranging between 500,000 and a million rupees per annum.

Technical Consultant: Technical consultants basically are software developers or IT professionals. Their task involves development of forms and reports based on inputs provided by a functional consultant. These professionals need to code the business requirements into the software and integrate them to form a contiguous package.

Typically, you should be a graduate in computer sciences to qualify for the position of a technical consultant. You should also have taken part in a training programme conducted by the respective ERP developer. Experience is not an issue at the entry level. However, senior developers and system integrators need to possess at least 5 to 7 years of experience in development. Pay scales vary from about 10,000 rupees per month at the entry stage to 30,000 rupees at the senior level.

A very senior IT professional may qualify as an architect to work along with a functional consultant in designing and implementing the application.

Many job opportunities also exist in the US and other developed countries, where there is a high demand for experienced ERP professionals

Skills:

Broadly speaking the soft skills and attributes required of the ERP professional will vary significantly depending on the business sector and the type of client.

Soft skills & attributes required of the ERP professional should also include:

For the Small to Medium Business Sector 
a) the ability work in small teams with greater responsibility towards the project success 
b) the ability manage a large portfolio of customers at any given time 
c) the ability to deal with clients who are much less systems /IT savvy 
d) ability to operate under strict budgetary constraints 
e) the ability to deal with staff/business owners, who have less time for the project but are more demanding 

For The Corporate Sector:
a) ability to work in large structured teams, comprising of very many specialists
b)ability to focus on one or two large projects/bids until completion
c) ability to work to strict deadlines 
d) ability to operate in an environment where one may have very little influence over the direction of the project
e)ability to deal with higher levels of organisational politics amongst business users.

References:

wikipedia

Softwares,planning,Vendors

SAP

Others

Challenges:

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementation is the most challenging issue for the companies. It takes a lot of time and resources at the time of implementation. The company owners need to keep all the challenges in mind and make all the resources available for successful implementation. This article briefs you on some of the challenging issues at the time of ERP implementation.

ERP implementation needs certain or specified pre assumed resources to carry on the work. If the customer doesn't get all these resources in place, it takes a lot of time to implement a huge application like ERP. The customer should ask vendor about the resources he needs to keep in place to implement the application successfully. It might be the manpower, hardware system requirements or any other related issues.

There is a lot of coordination required between the core enterprise resource planning teams form both the vendor as well as customer side to execute the project. It is all about the communication between the functional consultants and the ERP project manager of the customer. If the communication is not well streamlined between both the teams, it is very difficult to streamline the business processes. The business owners must ensure the proper communication between both the teams to execute the project successfully.

Most of the enterprise resource planning implementations come to impasse because of the lack of support from the top management of the customer. The top management has to support the implementer by giving the required resources and managing the core ERP team. After all, it is the decision of the top management to have an ERP system but at the time of implementation they feel so lethargic to arrange the required tools for the implementation. This is what the major challenge normally faces at the time of implementation.

ERP implementation is said to be the most challenging task for the project managers. Unless, there is a strong and experienced project manager, the success rate of ERP implementation diminishes. Getting the right project manager who can coordinate with the implementation service provider would be the challenging task. If the business owner ropes in the right project manager, the implementation process would go without many hassles.

Certification:

PeopleSoft Enterprise 9 Certifications:

Oracle Education now offers four PeopleSoft Certifications. They are:

- PeopleSoft Enterprise 9 Financial Management, General Ledger Consultant Certified Expert
- PeopleSoft Enterprise 9 Human Capital Management, Human Resources Consultant Certified Expert
- PeopleTools Developer Certified Expert
- PeopleTools Advanced Developer Certified Expert(you must obtain the PeopleTools Developer Certified Expert certification first)

 Each certification requires one exam. If you are already a PeopleSoft Certified Developer you will have to take the exam 1Z0-241 to upgrade to a PeopleTools Developer Certified Expert.

Each exam costs US $195.
Oracle offers training classes and in some cases, self study courses for each of these exams. Prices vary so check the website.

CIERP - Certified Implementer of Enterprise Resource Planning:

You must pass one 4 hour exam.
Although previous experience is not required, it is recommended that a candidate have some amount of experience or education in ERP practices.

According to CIBRES, "The cost of the program including the exam ranges from $325 to $1000+ depending on the method of study. Individuals can study at home through the use of self study materials or attend the more expensive seminars that are held regulary in different locations around the USA."

CNERPS - Certified Novice of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems:

 This is an entry-level ERP certification that requires only one exam which can be taken online. It is ideal for candidates looking for a jumping point into ERP or working towards completion of the CIERP certification.

 One online exam is required. There are no prerequisites.

SOFTWARE TESTING

SOFTWARE TESTING

Scope:

A Software Test Engineer is involved in the testing of software and is generally a member of the software quality assurance team. Software QA Engineers may test software, but are not always expert Test Engineers.

There are two main types of testing, which are white box testing and black box testing. The differences between the two are based on the assumptions and the view points taken by the testers while performing the tests. White box testing assumes an internal view of the software and black box testing basically assumes an external view of the software.

Testing is done at different phases of the software development life cycle (SDLC) and includes unit testing, integration testing, functional testing, system testing, acceptance testing (often performed by the internal or external client) and regression testing (which is often automated).

There are different level of Test Engineers. At an entry level, a testing engineer may set up and document simple test cases. As they become more experienced, Software Test Engineers may set up very complex test case scenarios, write test scripts and perform white box.

Companies Hiring Software Test Engineers:

Microsoft Corporation

Sun Microsystems

Cisco Systems

Oracle Corporation

Apple Computers

Google

Skills:

Education – Software Test Engineers

Software Testers do not always have Computer Science degree.

Becoming a Software Test Engineer

Analytical thinking skills are a key to becoming a successful Test Engineer. Communication and documentation skills are also important. There are often internships and entry level positions available in larger companies. Check out the entry level job boards for the best leads.

References:

Wikipedia

Complete Guide

books,jobs,interview questions

Tutorials

Challenges:

In our opinion, we encounter a challenge when our thought process and the thought process of an important stakeholder (e.g. the client, your management or your team) do not match. Here are some examples:

Challenges due to your client or management-

1. Your client or management thinks about testing as a cost which should be minimized. As is usual with cost approvals, you need to build a solid case for every piece of testing that you think would help.

2. Your client or management thinks about testing as a very predictable process. You are expected to prepare very detailed test plans (akin detailed project schedules) and explain every discrepancy between the planned and actual activities.

3. You receive little input on your planned tests. However, if bugs escape to the delivered application, you are grilled about your test plans.

4. There is limited or no budget for testing tools or support tools. You have to spend a lot of your valuable time to manually perform certain repetitive tasks.

5. The test environment is too restrictive (e.g. it is available only for limited times, it is also used by other teams or it is ridden with stability problems). You end up spending a lot of time waiting for the test environment to be available or need to check it constantly for problems.

Challenges due to your own abilities

1. You have been asked to use a tool that you know little about. Therefore, you face two problems. First, you need to learn the tool. Then, you need to find ways to effectively use the tool in your project.

2. You are expected to use a communication style that is different to your natural communication style. For example, if you prefer a verbal communication style, you have been asked to create detailed written reports in your project. Or, if you prefer to take time to carefully draft written reports, you are now expected to provide constant verbal updates.

Challenges due to your team-

1. You have been added to an established team and you are finding it hard to integrate and collaborate with the team quickly.

2. Your team members are less skilled in certain testing activities. Therefore, you find that the bulk of the required work has fallen in your lap.

3. Your team members are casual in their approach to testing. You now need to double check the completeness and accuracy of their work.

4. Your team is located afar and you lack instant updates from them.

Challenges due to another team or individual(s)-

1. Word is spread unofficially about your poor performance or the poor performance of your team. This discourages you.

2. Due to any reason, another team (e.g. the development team, the deployment team or the IT team) does not effectively collaborate with you or your team.

->Realizing a challenge and coming to terms with it takes time. It requires your long-term commitment to resolve a challenge. Then, you need to put in constant effort to either ease the challenge or resolve it partially or completely. The good thing about handling challenges is that they force you to solve a complex problem and you emerge even more confident than before. If nothing else, talking about a challenge and how you resolved it makes a great story. What is a big challenge that you have faced in your testing career so far?

Certification:

If you are exploring new career opportunities or want to stay current in your field, certification programs can provide focused career training and skill development for working professionals, and recent college graduates. certification programs are designed to supplement degree education.

The Certified Software Tester Program (CST)

-is appropriate for individuals who want to enter the testing field or seasoned Quality Assurance/Tester professionals seeking certification. The program focuses on the concepts of essential testing principles that are required to perform industry standard quality assurance practices.

The Certified Software Test Analyst Program (CSTA)

-is designed for individuals who want to build on their basic quality assurance knowledge. Anyone who is a Certified Software Tester qualifies for this advanced program. The program focuses on workplace processes and procedures that are related to structured and unstructured development settings. 

WEB DESIGNING

WEB DESIGNING

Scope:

 Web designing is an integral and significant part of IT industry. Today, it is a promising career option. Web services are applied in industries, business, education and public sector. Web design services include Need analysis, Solution designing, Web content writing, web content planning, Product photography, Graphic designing, Designing Flash, HTML coding and Java scripting. Careers in web designing can be the right option for those having a flair for creativity. 

Skills: 

Various private Technical institutes in India provide a certificate program in Web Designing. Web designer has to concentrate on designing graphics and layout. A web designer should be visually artistic. Web designer has to learn color theory and work of art and should have a degree in visual arts and visual design. A web designer should have a flair for creating a design flow. If one chooses a career in Web designing, a degree in computer science would be an added advantage.Various web-designing courses are offered by many popular institutes in India including Arena,Aptech and edit etc.

Web designers should focus their education on design - graphics and layout. Most companies hiring designers want people who are visually artistic. You should study color theory and composition and get a degree in visual arts or visual design.

Focus your education on design and less on building Web pages specifically. The sad fact is that most Web designers have spent a lot more time learning HTML and how to use Dreamweaver than they have learning anything about white space and creating a design that flows. If you get educated in classical design techniques and skills and then learn how to apply them to Web pages you will stand out as a designer.

Most companies looking for Web designers will want to see a portfolio of sites that you've designed. Be sure to keep screen shots and color prints of the designs you've worked on - even if they were just class projects or sites you built for yourself. Try to have a diverse portfolio that shows more than just the front page of any site, and remember that your designs won't remain on a site forever, so keep your own copies.

Web Programmer Education and Experience

Web programmers focus on the behavior of Web sites - many companies don't hire Web programmers specifically, but rather software developers who are skilled at a specific programming language. The most common languages used by corporations on the Web are: PHP, JSP, and ASP.

Web programmers do best when they get a computer science degree. It used to be possible to get a Web programming position without a degree in computer science, but the level of programming required for most enterprise Web sites demands highly skilled computer science professionals.

Don't focus on any one programming language. Chances are, by the time you finish school, that language will be "out" and something completely different will be "in". Companies follow fads just as much as any other industry, and Web programmers need to be aware of what's hot and not. You're better off learning how to learn programming languages and then scanning the jobs 6 months or so before you are going to start working to find out what language you should focus on to get hired. Some good bets right now are: ASP, JSP, and Ruby. PHP is popular with smaller companies, but has a lot of security issues.

References:

Wikipedia

Tutorials

Examples

Tips

Challenges:

Web designing involves many technologies,basically HTML,apart from this,the websites which are created these days mostly uses PHP,ASP.NET,Java Script,CSS,XML,XHTML.

                               So,knowing and implementing all the technologies is very tedious for any professional web designer,choosing between these according to the need is the challenge which is faced in every project.

                                Some other challenges may be designing websites which really works,i.e it should have higher user interactivity and easy to surf.

Certification:

So you have become quite the master at web design. Your pages look fabulous and you are pretty sure this is what you want to do for a living. If you are also looking for a way to make your skills stand out in the pile of resumes on the desk of a future employer, then you might want to consider a web master certification. There are quite a few web design certifications out there that will test your ability to design, code, and implement web pages and sites. Although many are oriented towards the beginner, there are also a few very advanced certifications that will elevate you to the level of Web Master.

Beginner Web Design Certifications

Beginner web design certifications focus on page layout, use of graphics, HTML, use of browsers and style sheets. These will start you on the path to more advanced certifications.

CIW Associate
The CIW Associate certification only requires one exam. It's referred to as the Foundations exam and must be passed before going on to any other CIW track. The exam covers internet, page authoring, and networking basics. Earning the CIW Associate also qualifies you for the CWP Associate Certification

CWD (Certified Web Designer) 

The CWD certification is offered by the Association of Web Professionals (AWP). You will need basic internet and design knowledge to pass the single exam. The exam is given online by Jupiter Systems, who are the current sponsors of the AWP. A Web Manager and Technician Certifications are also offered by the AWP. These are more intermediate certs and focus less on design.

CAW (Certified Associate Webmaster)

The CAW certification is offered by WOW and covers most of the basics with a focus in markup and scripting. One exam is required, costs $125 and is available through VUE.

HTML Developer Certificate from W3C

The World Wide Web Consortium (WC3) is the group that sets the standards for the internet. They offer a basic, 70 question exam that results in a certificate and tests you on HTML, XHTML, and CSS. All the materials needed to study are free on the site so considering the source and the cost, this is a great choice for a certification.

BCIP (Brainbench Certified Internet Professional)

Brainbench offers several good certification preparation exams. In addition, you can apply several of the skills exams to get the BCIP certification. It requires 4 exams total and a couple of them are free. Most run from $20 to $50, making this a very affordable certification and an excellent way to test your skills in preparation for more advanced certs.

Intermediate Web Design Certifications

 Expect to have knowledge of coding and scripting along with some solid job experience to jump to the intermediate level of certification.

AWP (Associate Webmaster Professional)

Sponsored by WebYoda, the AWP requires one exam. Exam topics cover Internet Fundamentals, basic and advanced HTML & XHTML knowledge, and expertise with CSS.

Coldfusion MX Developer Certification

If you have experience with programming languages and one year of working with Coldfusion, you are elegible for this exam. It consists of 66 questions and a score of 80% or above will earn you an Advanced Developer Certification.

DreamWeaver MX Certification 

Proficiency in Dreamweaver plus experience with coding, graphics, and website management will help you with this exam. The exam is 65 questions and you must score 70% or better to pass.

Flash Certification 

Macromedia offers two tracks for the Flash certification: Flash MX Designer & Flash MX Developer. Each requires one 65 question exam. The Designer exam requires knowlege of Flash motion design, optimization and publishing. The Developer exam requires knowlege of relational database design along with one to two years of experience in software development & web design.

MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist 

This certification was created for anyone developing on .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications. You must pass two exams, one focusing on the .NET Framework 2.0 foundational skills and another focusing on Web-based client development. From here you can take one additional exam to obtain the MCPD: Web Developer certification.

 Advanced Web Design Certifications

Advanced certifications will require that you expand your horizons well beyond proficiency in internet and design concepts. Depending on the cert you choose, you will now need to master ebusiness, marketing, security, management, and more advanced scripting skills.

CIW Master

There are several tracks for CIW Master candidates to choose from, including Administrator, Developer, Web Site Manager, and Security Analyst. Each track requires multiple exams on a variety of subjects.

CWP 

The CWP certification requires that you hold the AWP certification and take one exam. Although training offered by WebYoda (the sponsor of the CWP) is recommended, it is not required. The exam covers web design & graphics, ebusiness concepts, intermediate Java skills, and e-marketing concepts.

Global Knowledge Webmaster

This certification is acheived through a serious of lecture and lab classes covering Java (or Perl), advanced web design, databases, and XML development.

ANIMATION

ANIMATION

Scope:

The word animation is derived from a Latin word anima, meaning soul i.e. when life breathes into characters. The art of animation started with the cavemen who used to draw pictures on the rocks surfaces. Then who can forget Walt Disney for the creation of his cartoons especially the Mickey Mouse! In the present sense it means linking the series of drawings and simulating their movements together. It is a rapid display of 2D or 3D images to create an illusion of motion. It is an art form in which inanimate objects are brought into life by sequencing the drawn images.
Animation is emerging a special form of media now days. Animation is growing into a multi-billion dollar industry generating a great scope of employment for those who ready to try their skills into it. From a simple flick book to the computer 3D animation of stories, animation involves a lot of hard work and long hours of meticulous planning. This field being new to the Indian sector has a lot of hidden potential and talent, which needs to be properly groomed and exploited according to the international standards. There are many companies like Walt Disney, I Max and Sony who are ready to outsource their cartoon characters and are ready to invest heavily in this sector in India.

 Nature of Work:

3D animation is a complete teamwork and works on the creative ideas.3D animation itself is a combination of wide variety of career combinations. The various steps included in the making of a 3D animation movie consists of:
Story → Story Boarding → Character Sketch → Concept creation → Modeling → Environments → Rigging → Character and Mechanical Animation → Storyboard Animation → Lighting → Texturing → Dynamics → Voice Recording → Digital Editing → Vfx → Final Film
So one can work as a

 Model Layout artist

Clean-up artist

Scanner operator

Digital ink and paint artist

Compositor

Key frame animator

Background artist

In-between animator

Every role is crucial for the successful creation of the Animated project.PersonalityAnimation is a creative thing and one needs to have creativity while handling it. It not being a mechanical subject needs lot of passion and imaginative skills. One should have flair for sketching/drawing. It needs long hours of continuous work with a whole lot of dedication. One should be good at visualizations, choice of colors and acting too. Though this profession seems to be quite unglamorous, yet it is very exciting and unless one has the complete dedication and interest in it one should not enter this field.

Educational Qualifications:

For a diploma and for a bachelor degree in animation one needs to have passed 12th standard from any recognized board with minimum of 45% marks. For postgraduate program one should have a bachelor's degree in any discipline preferably arts. One should have a basic knowledge of handling computers.
Some of the institutes like Industrial Design Center (IDC), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Indian Institute of Design (NID) have a strict eligibility criterion-only graduate of architecture, technology and engineering, fine arts can apply for this course.

Skills:

So just who, exactly, can aspire to a career in computer animation?

The answer, quite simply, is you.

Anyone can seek out a career in computer animation, regardless of any measure of artistic talent; all that you need is to know what you want, and to be willing to put in the necessary effort to achieve it. Computer animation is not an easy task; nor is it one that you can learn overnight, or ever stop learning, for technology in the field advances daily. But if the career path of computer animation is one that you truly want to follow, you'll find the effort as well as the end result to be enjoyable, rewarding, and fulfilling.

Know Your Path.

Just where do you start? The first and most important step is to know where you want to go in your career. Computer animation can be applied in a startling range of industries; do you want to work in 2D or 3D animation? Do your interests lie in the entertainment fileld, in gaming, in the the oil and pipeline industry? What about architectural drafting, medical imaging, web and graphic design services, or any number of other fields? If you know what field that you want to work in, it will help you in choosing a school that excels in your chosen specialty.

Hone Your Skills.

Once you've chosen your field and school, that's when the real work starts. The key products of your years of education will be your portfolio and your demo reel; these presentation pieces will be your key to showing employers your best work, and many require them when you apply. Make sure to show your best work and present it in the best light in relation to the position that you're applying for; some animators have even been known to have multiple demo reels, each highlighting specific talents and capabilities. But also, don't forget that you aren't just presenting your work; you're presenting yourself, and your resume and cover letter can weigh just as much as your portfolio and demo reel when it comes to choosing candidates for an interview.

Put Yourself on the Job Market.

So you've got your portfolio and demo reel, and your resume and cover letter are ready to send out; now it's time to start looking for a job. It's time to walk right into Sony headquarters, dazzle them with your demo reel, and demand the position of their key animator. Right?
->Wrong.

Many have the idea that one can jump right out of animation school and into a top-level, high-paying position. While this can be true in rare cases, the reality is that you will probably start off in an entry-level position doing mintor, repetitive tasks that may or may not appeal to you. Even with the convenience and expediency of computers, animation is rarely a single-person process; instead it is accomplished by teams of specialists coordinated by one or more directors. The best productions can be large-scale efforts involving over a hundred people, each a cog in the machine that produces stunning, smooth computer animations.

But don't let that discourage you. Even if you wind up as an intern that spends eight to ten hours a day resizing texture maps, you'll be gaining the most valuable tool of your entire career: experience. This is why, while you  should know where  to look in your job search, you should also never limit yourself to a specific job description, or a specific position; there are too many opportunities out there. Taking an internship or entry-level position in your general area of expertise is a good way to lead in to the job that you really want, and will give you a broader range of experience that will make you more valuable to employers down the line; also, when applying for entry-level positions without any prior experience, you're more likely to be considered for an interview.

Prepare Yourself for Your Interview.

Your interview is your foot in the door; be prepared. While the world of animation seems like it could be all fun and games, don't ever assume that it's all right to walk into an interview in a T-shirt and jeans, even if you know for certain that the dress code is Casual Everyday and Sketchers are part of the company uniform. Unless your interviewer tells you ahead of time that casual dress would be preferable for your interview, try to follow at least the business casual dress code; if you know for a fact that the company that you're applying with prefers a more corporate style, then dress to impress. It's no different from any other interview, from application to interview, follow-up to thank-you letter and acceptance. There'll be time enough later to dress down, once you've settled in and established your place.

And once you've settled in and established your place, you're well on your way. A career in computer animation isn't just a job; it's a learning process, and one that provides new chances for exploration every day. The opportunities are out there; now it's up to you to make the best of them.

References:

Wikipedia

Animation Library

Course Details

Magazines

Challenges:

A career in animation requires strong artistic skills and a solid familiarity with the latest in computer animation technologies. It also requires the ability to turn creative thoughts into compelling images, using them to effectively communicate an idea. Is this industry right for you? Could you become an animator?

There are a number of different career paths for animators. We often think of animators as the talented artists who create the cartoons we love, either for film or movies. Animators continue to work in these areas, but increasingly, many are employed creating animated graphics for a variety of projects.
This can include websites, online advertisements and video games. Animators can find full-time employment with movie or television production companies, with advertisers, web design firms, video game companies or with animation firms. Free lance work is another option for animators, particularly those specializing in web animation. Most entry-level positions will require an animator to have a bachelors degree in a related field such as fine arts or media. There are a number of computer Animation schools that offer course work specifically in computer animation and associated technologies. In addition, a strong portfolio of work which a training program can help you to develop is an essential part of landing a job in computer animation and becoming an animator.

Video Game Animation: The video game industry is just exploding right now, with no slowdown in sight. Nearly all games will need a team of animators to bring the games to life. Motion capture often is being used here as well as in movies to nail down convincing character animation. But there is still a lot of work involved obviously. This is where you could come in. : ) But this of course is one narrow example. Texture mapping, lighting effects, and other special effects are just as important to the success of a video games attempt to draw you in and immerse you. It might sound like many of the same elements in a feature film. That's because technology is closing in the gap, and the paying consumer demands more.
There is an obvious bridge between animation and video game design. This connection is often reflected in video game design programs and degrees that have strong elements of animation in their coursework.

Movie & Television Production: The full spectrum of animation in these areas is quite large. Jobs may include character animation in the form of a cartoon, logo, special effect and more. In case you haven't noticed, 3D really has taken off in the realm of computer animation and animation in general.Movies such as Lord of the Rings, Finding Nemo, the latest Star Wars prequels are all relying extensively on 3D computer animation. What would have looked fake and rigid a mere 6-7 years ago now looks photo realistic and seamless for 3D rendering and animation. A program like Maya can spit out amazingly detailed and convincing characters like Gollum (seen below), Ring Wraiths, and an insane amount of fighting, screaming Orcs. Exciting techniques involving motion capture can really add to the realism of characters. It really is an exciting time to be in the industry. Texture mapping, lighting effects, collision detection and special effects also need to be covered.
TV also offers a fair amount of opportunity in computer animation. Commercials are littered with animated logos, cats that sing, and bottles that dance. : ) Local News always has an animator of some kind doing the logo fly in or that kind of thing. There are also TV movies, and obviously shows that rely on a computer artist to do some digital special effects. Some may start their animation career this way. 

Certifications:

There are no such certifications available for Animations.Just a degree or a diploma from a reputed university will do.Some of the major training institutes of Animation are MAYA and ARENA MULTIMEDIA.