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Demographic Shifts Bring New Opportunity The anticipated retirement of millions of baby boomers from the U.S. workforce also will affect IT employment as job vacancies are created. This is a demographic shift that will take place over several years, generating demand for seasoned managerial talent to replace tenured employees. The baby boomer retirement movement will create a consulting career track for those boomers who want to ease into retirement by first serving in consulting roles, either with their current employers or with a range of businesses that require experienced professionals for special projects. These changes present an increasingly bright picture for IT professionals at all levels. If the economy maintains its momentum, companies will require additional workers to address expanding business. Even now, many firms have waited as long as they can to resume hiring and are soon likely to enter the market for IT talent. Keeping Skills Current Placing yourself in the running for emerging career opportunities requires keeping your skills sharp. If your employer doesn't offer training, pursue courses through local technical colleges, professional associations or independent study. Involvement in user groups also can help you identify emerging areas of specialization and become an early expert of new technologies. IT professionals who become familiar with new products through research and beta testing will also be ahead of the curve when the technology becomes widely available. Consider, for example, ways to gain experience with Microsoft Vista or Microsoft SQL Server 2005. Because technology changes so fast, you must continually look for emerging trends. What technical skills will employers seek six months, one year or even three years from now?
Growing Specialties Security is a fast-growing field, due to the demand for technologies that help companies assess and remedy system vulnerabilities. Individuals with LAN/WAN, WLAN management and systems administration experience, as well as backgrounds in virtual private networks, TCP/IP, intrusion detection and firewall implementation, are well suited for security positions. Networking and wireless communication skills are two other hot specialties as telecommunication companies expand voice-over-IP offerings and wireless technologies are adopted by more and more businesses. Certification Will Pay Off Another way to expand your skills and differentiate yourself in the job market is to earn certification. By pursuing technical accreditations offered by companies such as Oracle and Microsoft, as well as vendor-neutral designations from industry groups such as the Help Desk Institute, you can learn a new technology or enhance your existing experience. Companies view certifications as evidence of an individual's familiarity with a particular technology or practice, as well as his or her level of initiative. Certification is of greatest value when it is accompanied by practical work experience. For example, a job applicant who possesses a Microsoft Certified Database Administrator designation is highly marketable, but one who also has spent five years working with Microsoft systems and has a track record of completing projects on time and under budget is even more desirable to prospective employers. Develop Those Soft Skills No matter what your role is within the IT department, being an effective communicator is essential. As companies increase their reliance on technology to support and drive the business, IT professionals are relied upon to convey complex technical information to varied audiences, build rapport with end-users and serve as vital members of project teams. In a Robert Half Technology survey, CIOs polled said interpersonal skills, the ability to work under pressure and communication abilities are the most valued staff traits. There are also additional areas where technology professionals can distinguish themselves:
- Business acumen. Firms seek IT managers who can provide big-picture views and insight into how technology investments benefit the company's short- and long-term goals. The most marketable professionals are able to think beyond the technology and focus on how to derive business value from it. An easy way to start building your business knowledge is to regularly read business and industry publications. You also can enroll in general business classes, such as finance, marketing or business administration, at a local college or university.
- Flexibility. In a survey of CIOs commissioned by Robert Half Technology, respondents said the ability to easily adapt to change was the most vital characteristic for career success. As businesses reinvent themselves, your flexibility can position you as a valuable resource within your firm.
- Diplomacy and tact. These qualities are essential when working in team environments and enable you to build effective working relationships with colleagues throughout the organization. These relationships might even pave the way to new career opportunities at your company.
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