Here we go again. Stocks are falling worldwide, most major markets are hovering at their lowest levels in almost 5 years and fears of a global recession are increasing. Large corporations and small companies alike are announcing plans for layoffs, putting projects on hold and making preparations for significant budget cuts.
In the midst of all the gloom and despair, those of us in IT need to remember that we’ve been through this before. And if we position ourselves appropriately, we can not only survive, but maybe even thrive in the current economic situation.
In 2002, the dot-com crash was wreaking havoc with IT careers; however there were still opportunities for those with the right skills. In an article on the hot IT jobs in 2002, eWeek stated:
“Given the sagging economy, there aren't many enterprises hiring techies these days. But despite the gloom, some jobs remain hot. That’s because certain skill sets are must-haves in enterprises' arsenals.”
Those 2002 must-have skills included database, security, networking and development.
Fast forward to 2008 and Baseline magazine had a similar lead in an article on in-demand IT skills:
“Even in tough economic times, employees with the right skills will always be in demand in the IT industry…”
Those “right skills” included security professionals, wireless network engineers, and application developers.
And in an article on the most recession-proof IT jobs in 2008, Computerworld stated:
“If you want to stay employed in IT amid the economic uncertainty, look for jobs in software design and development, networking and systems administration, software implementation analysis, testing and quality assurance, database administration and general IT management with cutting edge mobile IT and Web 2.0 skills.”
If you compare the 2002 and 2008 articles, you see a common thread throughout the years: the demand for IT skills such as network engineering, application/software development, information security and database administration remains constant. No matter what state the economy is in, companies need these skills to (1) connect with their suppliers and customers, (2) develop and enhance revenue-generating products and services, (3) protect company assets and insure regulatory compliance and (4) manage enterprise data for cohesive financial analysis, productive sales campaigns, and effective customer service. As these are the lifeblood of business, IT skills are always in demand.
Granted you may need to relocate, enhance your skillsets, or join an IT services outsource company to keep up with the demand, but unlike some jobs, IT skills are crucial for the success of a business – no matter what market conditions exist.
Many economists see the current market volatility continuing for the foreseeable future, yet even with this volatility, business will continue as it is an adaptable entity that can morph as needed to meet market demands. And as business continues, so will job opportunities continue for those with the right skills.
Economic uncertainty can bring both threats and opportunities. A drop in the stock market can result in both lost savings and low-cost investment opportunities. Market downturns can result in both lost revenue and new marketing opportunities. The current economic situation will have an impact on some IT jobs; however it will also increase the demand for those skills that are essential for the survival of a business. By positioning ourselves appropriately, we in IT stand a chance to survive – and maybe even thrive – in these uncertain times.
Showing posts with label Career. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Career. Show all posts
Thursday
Monday
It is indeed a Monday. While sitting in Interstate gridlock for over an hour due to a multi-car wreck, I hear the even more stifling news that the Dow is down over 500 points and the index is under 10,000 – the lowest it has been in over 4 years.
My own small portfolio has dwindled from a potential cruise fund for me and the wife to a long-term college investment for my newly-born granddaughter. If all goes well, in 18 years it will be back up to the levels of last November.
And yet in the midst of the gloom and despair, we in IT need to remember that we’ve been through this before. And if you position yourself appropriately, you can not only survive, but actually thrive even with today’s economic situation.
In 2002, the dot-com crash was wreaking havoc with IT careers; however there were still opportunities for those with the right skills. eWeek magazine noted this in the article on Hot IT Jobs for 2002:
“Given the sagging economy, there aren't many enterprises hiring techies these days. But despite the gloom, some jobs remain hot.
“That’s because certain skill sets are must-haves in enterprises' arsenals. For example, as companies continue their e-business expansions, they must have database experts who can handle the flood of data produced by new, enterprise-wide technologies.
“Security experts are also essential to help companies protect systems externally and internally. Networking experts who can build and support the infrastructure that runs any technology project are crucial. Also vital are Internet/ intranet developers, who create and integrate the customised applications that power digital infrastructures.
“Because they represent IT skill sets that are still in demand with businesses now and that will continue to be so as businesses rebound from the economic slump, eWeek chose these four titles, senior Internet/intranet developer, database administrator/database manager, network engineer and corporate security manager, to profile as hot IT jobs for 2002.”
Fast forward to 2008 and Baseline magazine had a similar lead in their article about IT careers in demand:
“Even in tough economic times, employees with the right skills will always be in demand in the IT industry…”
Baseline selected the following 10 titles as representative of what they saw as jobs in demand for 2008 based on current supply and business demand
· Senior Level Java/J2EE and .NET Developers
· Application Development Managers
· Security Professionals
· Architects of All Stripes
· Talented IT Managers
· Business Technology Professionals
· Infrastructure Pros with Strong Backgrounds in Virtualization
· Web 2.0 Developers
· Wireless Networking Experts
In another article, CIO Insight stated:
“If you want to stay employed in IT amid the economic uncertainty, look for jobs in software design and development, networking and systems administration, software implementation analysis, testing and quality assurance, database administration and general IT management with cutting edge mobile IT and Web 2.0 skills.
“Those are the hottest IT job fields today, according to a new report on the "Top 20 Most Recession-Proof Professions," released late last week by McLean, Va.-based online job placement firm JobFox.com.”
The fact is that economic uncertainty is a part of life anymore. From dot-com crashes to terrorist attacks to sub-prime mortgage scandals the economy is no longer a stable environment. As globalization continues and the economies of individual countries become more and more intertwined, the roller coaster ride will continue as the impact of economic issues in one country will reverberate throughout the globe.
Many analysts believe the current market volatility will continue for at least the next few years with economic upturns and downturns becoming a part of life. But even with this volatility, business will continue as it is an adaptable entity that can morph as needed to meet market demands. And as business continues, so will job opportunities continue for those with the skills that are in demand.
Looking at the 2002 eWeek article and the 2008 Baseline/CIO Insight articles a few common items stick out. The demand for specific technical skills such as network engineering, application/software development, information security and database administration remain constant. No matter what the economy, businesses need these skills to (1) connect their business both internally and externally with customers, (2) develop or enhance products and services, (3) protect their data and insure regulatory compliance and (4) manage their data for cohesive financial analysis, productive sales and marketing campaigns, and effective customer service – all of which are the lifeblood of a business.
A drop in the stock market can result in both lost savings and low-cost investment opportunities. Market downturns can result in both lost revenue for some companies and new marketing opportunities for others. The current economic situation will have an impact on some IT jobs; however it can also increase the demand for those skills that are essential for the survival of a business. By positioning themselves appropriately, IT professionals can survive – and even possibly thrive – in these uncertain times.
My own small portfolio has dwindled from a potential cruise fund for me and the wife to a long-term college investment for my newly-born granddaughter. If all goes well, in 18 years it will be back up to the levels of last November.
And yet in the midst of the gloom and despair, we in IT need to remember that we’ve been through this before. And if you position yourself appropriately, you can not only survive, but actually thrive even with today’s economic situation.
In 2002, the dot-com crash was wreaking havoc with IT careers; however there were still opportunities for those with the right skills. eWeek magazine noted this in the article on Hot IT Jobs for 2002:
“Given the sagging economy, there aren't many enterprises hiring techies these days. But despite the gloom, some jobs remain hot.
“That’s because certain skill sets are must-haves in enterprises' arsenals. For example, as companies continue their e-business expansions, they must have database experts who can handle the flood of data produced by new, enterprise-wide technologies.
“Security experts are also essential to help companies protect systems externally and internally. Networking experts who can build and support the infrastructure that runs any technology project are crucial. Also vital are Internet/ intranet developers, who create and integrate the customised applications that power digital infrastructures.
“Because they represent IT skill sets that are still in demand with businesses now and that will continue to be so as businesses rebound from the economic slump, eWeek chose these four titles, senior Internet/intranet developer, database administrator/database manager, network engineer and corporate security manager, to profile as hot IT jobs for 2002.”
Fast forward to 2008 and Baseline magazine had a similar lead in their article about IT careers in demand:
“Even in tough economic times, employees with the right skills will always be in demand in the IT industry…”
Baseline selected the following 10 titles as representative of what they saw as jobs in demand for 2008 based on current supply and business demand
· Senior Level Java/J2EE and .NET Developers
· Application Development Managers
· Security Professionals
· Architects of All Stripes
· Talented IT Managers
· Business Technology Professionals
· Infrastructure Pros with Strong Backgrounds in Virtualization
· Web 2.0 Developers
· Wireless Networking Experts
In another article, CIO Insight stated:
“If you want to stay employed in IT amid the economic uncertainty, look for jobs in software design and development, networking and systems administration, software implementation analysis, testing and quality assurance, database administration and general IT management with cutting edge mobile IT and Web 2.0 skills.
“Those are the hottest IT job fields today, according to a new report on the "Top 20 Most Recession-Proof Professions," released late last week by McLean, Va.-based online job placement firm JobFox.com.”
The fact is that economic uncertainty is a part of life anymore. From dot-com crashes to terrorist attacks to sub-prime mortgage scandals the economy is no longer a stable environment. As globalization continues and the economies of individual countries become more and more intertwined, the roller coaster ride will continue as the impact of economic issues in one country will reverberate throughout the globe.
Many analysts believe the current market volatility will continue for at least the next few years with economic upturns and downturns becoming a part of life. But even with this volatility, business will continue as it is an adaptable entity that can morph as needed to meet market demands. And as business continues, so will job opportunities continue for those with the skills that are in demand.
Looking at the 2002 eWeek article and the 2008 Baseline/CIO Insight articles a few common items stick out. The demand for specific technical skills such as network engineering, application/software development, information security and database administration remain constant. No matter what the economy, businesses need these skills to (1) connect their business both internally and externally with customers, (2) develop or enhance products and services, (3) protect their data and insure regulatory compliance and (4) manage their data for cohesive financial analysis, productive sales and marketing campaigns, and effective customer service – all of which are the lifeblood of a business.
A drop in the stock market can result in both lost savings and low-cost investment opportunities. Market downturns can result in both lost revenue for some companies and new marketing opportunities for others. The current economic situation will have an impact on some IT jobs; however it can also increase the demand for those skills that are essential for the survival of a business. By positioning themselves appropriately, IT professionals can survive – and even possibly thrive – in these uncertain times.
Thursday
Is IT Still A Viable Career?
As I currently reside in Denver, I spent a lot of my free time hiking in the oxygen-thin air of Colorado’s mountains. Often I will reach a level spot where I have to stop and ask myself if this is a resting place where I can catch a quick breath to continue on or have I reached a plateau where I need to consider if I can go any higher.
Many people are asking that same question about careers in IT - have they reached a plateau or is the current market situation just a short resting place in preparation for the next climb?
The signals from the market are mixed. Almost weekly there is an article or commentary about the projected talent gap in IT due to the impending retirement of baby boomers. The number of college students enrolled in technology programs has decreased and employers fear the demand for IT talent will exceed the available supply.
Yet at the same time we are hearing about more and more companies cutting IT staff, outsourcing development to reduce costs and putting technology projects on hold. Due to the current economic crisis, I personally know very few baby boomers who are actively considering retirement. Most of my baby boomer associates are looking at ways to leverage their experience to keep their careers going.
Is IT still a viable career? When I’m asked that question, I relate the story of my friend Bob. Bob was a history buff. During grade school and high school he constantly read books about historical events. In college, he majored in History and studied it with a passion, eventually obtaining a Ph.D. Even though jobs for history majors are few, Bob devoted himself to the subject. And it paid off.
He worked hard and ultimately became one of the top experts in world history. He is a tenured college professor and has published several books on historical topics. He also conducts executive-level seminars on how to use the lessons of history to create effective business strategies and become more successful. The combination of teaching salary plus book royalties plus speaker's fees provides Bob a comfortable living. In a field with little apparent opportunity, Bob realized that there are always opportunities for those who strive to be the best.
And so it is with IT. The job outlook is debatable and the amount of future job opportunities is open to conjecture. But the same can be said for any number of career paths from marketing to sales to journalism to management. However, there will always be opportunities for those with a passion for technology and who strive to be the best. Granted, they may never become rich, but they will be doing what they love and providing for their families. And in the end, isn't that what a career is all about?
Many people are asking that same question about careers in IT - have they reached a plateau or is the current market situation just a short resting place in preparation for the next climb?
The signals from the market are mixed. Almost weekly there is an article or commentary about the projected talent gap in IT due to the impending retirement of baby boomers. The number of college students enrolled in technology programs has decreased and employers fear the demand for IT talent will exceed the available supply.
Yet at the same time we are hearing about more and more companies cutting IT staff, outsourcing development to reduce costs and putting technology projects on hold. Due to the current economic crisis, I personally know very few baby boomers who are actively considering retirement. Most of my baby boomer associates are looking at ways to leverage their experience to keep their careers going.
Is IT still a viable career? When I’m asked that question, I relate the story of my friend Bob. Bob was a history buff. During grade school and high school he constantly read books about historical events. In college, he majored in History and studied it with a passion, eventually obtaining a Ph.D. Even though jobs for history majors are few, Bob devoted himself to the subject. And it paid off.
He worked hard and ultimately became one of the top experts in world history. He is a tenured college professor and has published several books on historical topics. He also conducts executive-level seminars on how to use the lessons of history to create effective business strategies and become more successful. The combination of teaching salary plus book royalties plus speaker's fees provides Bob a comfortable living. In a field with little apparent opportunity, Bob realized that there are always opportunities for those who strive to be the best.
And so it is with IT. The job outlook is debatable and the amount of future job opportunities is open to conjecture. But the same can be said for any number of career paths from marketing to sales to journalism to management. However, there will always be opportunities for those with a passion for technology and who strive to be the best. Granted, they may never become rich, but they will be doing what they love and providing for their families. And in the end, isn't that what a career is all about?
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