TOP 10 JOBS IN TECHNOLOGY

I found this post on neowin.net written by Steven Parker... Thought it was interesting that I am seeing the same thing in my day to day contact with consultants and clients. What do you think?

The next time you poke fun at the techies, consider that IT workers can expect starting salaries to increase an average of 5.3 percent in 2008, according to the “2008 Robert Half Technology Salary Guide.” Base compensations in high-demand positions are also expected to rise as high as 7.6 percent.“Business expansion and the increased reliance on technology within all sectors has resulted in a competitive environment for skilled IT professionals,” says Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology. “Many companies are raising base compensation for new hires and offering additional perks, including signing bonuses and equity incentives, to recruit and retain top candidates.”Thinking twice about a career in technology? Here are the top 10 jobs in IT, based on increases in salary offers, according to the salary guide.

1. Lead applications developerWhat they do: Manage software development teams in the design, development, coding, testing and debugging of applications. **What you need: Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field and three to five years experience in specific technologies.Salary range: $80,250 - $108,000Salary change*: 7.6 percent

2. Applications architectWhat they do: Design components of applications, including interface, middleware and infrastructure; comply with employer’s design standards.What you need: Bachelor’s degree in computer science or information systems; a master’s degree is desirable. Employers request a minimum of eight years related work experience and specific software skills.Salary range: $87,250 - $120,000Salary change: 7.5 percent

3. Messaging administratorWhat they do: Control e-mail and groupware systems, including associated servers, operating systems, and backup and recovery programs; fix system problems and attend to service requests.What you need: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer information systems or a related field, plus two to three years or more of experience working with the messaging systems used by the employer.Salary range: $87,250 - $120,000Salary change: 7.5 percent

4. Data modelerWhat they do: Analyze organizational data requirements and create models of data flow.What you need: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT or mathematics, and several years of data management experience.Salary range: $74,250 - $102,000Salary change: 7 percent

5. Network managerWhat they do: Direct day-to-day operations and maintenance of the firm’s networking technology; collaborate with network engineers, architects and other team members on the implementation, testing, deployment and integration of network systems.What you need: Ten years (or more) experience in a networking environment combined with several years of experience managing technical personnel. Professional certifications are also valuable.Salary range: $74,500 - $98,500Salary change: 7 percent

6. Senior IT auditorWhat they do: Establish procedures for audit review of computer systems; develop and apply testing and evaluation plans for IT systems and ensure compliance with industry standards of efficiency, accuracy and security.What you need: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, business or a related field, and an average of five years experience in IT auditing.Salary range: $86,750 - $114,750Salary change: 6.9 percent

7. Senior Web developerWhat they do: Plan and implement Web-based applications; coordinate with product development, marketing, product management and other teams in bringing new applications online.What you need: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering or a related field, plus a minimum of five years of experience working with a mix of Web technologies.Salary range: $76,250 - $108,250Salary change: 6.6 percent

8. Business intelligence analystWhat they do: Design and develop company data analysis and report solutions; review and analyze data from internal and external resources; communicate analysis results and make recommendations to senior management.What you need: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems or engineering, and several years of experience.Salary range: $78,250 - $108,250Salary change: 6.6 percent

9. Help desk (Tier 2)What they do: Resolve difficult issues that derive from Tier 1 support and require five to 15 minutes to settle; decide when to create work tickets for issues that can’t be solved by phone or e-mail and require a visit to the user’s workspace.What you need: Besides patience and a positive attitude, requirements depend on your position level. Tier 2 positions call for two to four years work experience, and a bachelor’s degree or a two-year degree and additional work experience in a help desk setting.Salary range: $35,750 - $46,250Salary change: 6.5 percent

10. Staff consultantWhat they do: Assist with project planning and requirement specifications; create prototypes and alternatives with colleagues.What you need: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, business or a consulting-related field. Industry-specific proficiency, plus business experience and two or more years of consulting experience are also typical requirements.Salary range: $59,250 - $82,250Salary change: 6.4 percent

What is it you are looking for in a career move?

I read this survey put out by RHI andYahoo - hot jobs (coming to hotjobs website soon)_It talks about how we look for jobs... 1/3 rd use recruiters, 1/2 of us are looking on line at the want ads (monster, DICE, Craigslist) 1/6th of us are asking friends and family for referrals for our next career opportunity...What is it you are looking for in a career move?





side note:



I reviewed these free guides (careerhub.com) over the weekend and thought I would share them. Your first impression is your resume so it goes without saying that writing the right resume could mean the difference between getting an interview or not.


http://careerhub.typepad.com/careerhub_guide_to_resume_writing.pdf

Interviewing is a skill all by itself... being prepared is 90% of the interview. http://careerhub.typepad.com/careerhub_guide_to_interviewing.pdf

What CIO's WANT !

January 07, 2008 (Computerworld) -- It's a good market out there for IT job seekers, but that doesn't mean your technical abilities will automatically land you a rewarding position. CIOs seek professionals who can contribute immediately to their companies' success. Faced with multiple candidates who are similarly qualified and technically proficient, how do they make tough hiring decisions? The choice often comes down to skills that are hard to quantify but essential to any successful IT career. Here are five nontechnical abilities that will help separate you from the crowd. 1. Communication skills Verbal and written communication abilities continue to grow in importance as IT establishes itself at the forefront of business. Technology professionals must be able to interact not only with their immediate teammates, but also with colleagues throughout the company. The ability and willingness to explain a complex technology in terms the listener will understand -- and care about -- is as important as it is rare. One key is to always keep your audience in mind. Tailor your message to their needs and preferences. For example, if you are speaking to a team of senior managers with little time to spare, highlight only the most important aspects of your project and save the details for a different conversation. And don't forget to keep your written communication skills sharp too, especially given the prevalence of e-mail in the office. If you have a colleague or friend whose e-mails are always clear and concise, ask him for tips. 2. Interpersonal skills While technically impressive solutions are sometimes produced in isolation, the innovations that benefit a business the most are almost always the product of a joint effort, often involving people who don't share the same abilities or experience. Productive collaboration requires a willingness to see things from a different point of view. One way to build these skills is to begin cultivating your internal network. Reach out to others, both inside and outside your department, and talk to them about what they do and how you might be able to partner. Gradually, you'll build a network of people you can interact with and turn to for ideas, suggestions and questions. 3. Customer service mind-set Those with a customer service mind-set measure their work not by how much effort it took or how brilliantly it was executed but by how well the project served customers. Such an attitude puts you in sync with the company's overarching goals and steers you away from work that will have little business impact. Familiarizing yourself with the company's customers (be they internal or external) is a first step toward developing this kind of results-oriented disposition. Always have an idea of the person who will be using the product, program or service you are developing. If it is the sales team, for instance, consider meeting with the group and watching them interact with technology to determine whether the software you've designed has a user-friendly interface as well as the features they seek. 4. Ability to apply technical skills to business challenges The most sought-after job candidates don't just know how the technology works -- they also know how it will be used and by whom. IT professionals need to constantly learn new proficiencies to keep pace with industry advances, but today's hottest skills may not be the ones a particular company needs the most. For example, while a hot programming language might be interesting to you, a given project may call for a more routine solution. When you keep in mind the business reasons underlying an IT project, you're more likely to find the best solutions, rather than trying to force a favorite technology into a situation where it doesn't quite fit. 5. Initiative CIOs want staff members who consider their job description a starting point, not a checklist. The best employees don't wait for others to come to them with assignments, and they're often the first to volunteer for difficult challenges. Initiative also applies to your own skills -- have you demonstrated an ongoing commitment to training and education, especially in areas that may not be core strengths? Don't confuse initiative with a willingness to take on mountains of work. Taking initiative means you're sufficiently engaged with both your work and your company's business that you can identify new ways to solve problems. Ever wonder why interviewers sometimes ask for an example of how you've handled failure in the past? Initiative-takers also tend to take ownership of their mistakes, a key ability of future leaders. These five standout skills may not be easy to measure, but they're critical to the success of any IT professional. By approaching your career with a business-first, collaborative mind-set, you'll give yourself a better chance to be one of the people making tough hiring decisions down the road.

Katherine Spencer Lee is executive director of Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis. Robert Half Technology has more than 100 locations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia and offers online job search services at www.rht.com.
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