Dr. Dobb's Journal April 2001
Whether you work as a consultant or as part of an organization's internal staff, it's a good time to be an IT professional. Rapid advancements in technology and consistent Internet growth are creating an ongoing demand for technical talent. Organizations of all sizes are focused on sustaining growth and reducing operating expenses — and technology professionals are developing some of the tools that can help them get there.
Because IT impacts every aspect of a company's operations — from supply chain management to customer service — firms are not only recruiting qualified candidates with the technical skills required, they're also seeking those with a combination of strong interpersonal and analytical skills who can serve on interdepartmental project teams.
So, what sort of hiring environment can you expect in the next year as an IT professional? According to the RHI Quarterly CIO Hiring Index, the forecast remains strong for the next three months, and compensation — particularly for those with skills in the hottest job categories — will continue to increase. Overall, average starting salaries in the United States are expected to increase 8.4 percent over last year.
Whether you're considering a new job or not, here's what you need to know about the hottest positions this year — and some critical information on how to successfully manage your career over the long term.
Networking experts remain in strong demand as companies continue to upgrade their infrastructures to meet internal and external communication requirements. In fact, it was ranked as one of the job categories most in demand by chief information officers (CIOs) surveyed for the semiannual RHI Consulting Hot Jobs Report (the Hot Jobs Report tracks job growth in information technology through a survey of more than 1400 CIOs nationwide); see Table 1. As technology is further integrated with business objectives, businesses will continue to seek those skilled in systems design and implementation as well as network architecture. Networking specialists are needed to help firms design, administer, and expand local and wide area networks (LAN/WAN) including voice and data integration. Companies will also seek individuals who can incorporate distributed data and troubleshoot technical problems.
How much will starting salaries rise for those in the networking field? According to RHI Consulting's 2001 Salary Guide, network engineers will see the largest projected average rise in starting salaries — from $62,500 to $85,250, a 10.1 percent increase over 2000. Network administrators can expect a 9.8 percent increase in starting compensation, from $48,000 to $69,250.
What are some of the skills and certifications required for this area of IT? Experience in Windows NT, UNIX, Novell, and Linux systems; and certifications such as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Certified NetWare Engineer/Administrator (CNE/A), Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE), and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) are highly valued. And in addition to technical knowledge, those in networking should possess strong interpersonal and business skills since their projects may involve colleagues from many departments within a company.
Skilled web site developers will remain in strong demand this year. E-business initiatives continue to fuel hiring activity as more firms rely on the web to streamline internal processes, increase productivity, and market products and services. Companies seek web developers, administrators, and programmers who can assist with the development and integration of web-based business applications.
Internet developers will be paid average starting salaries of $56,250 to $76,750 per year, a 10.8 percent increase over 2000. E-commerce specialists will see a 10.1 percent increase in starting compensation, to the range of between $59,750 and $89,500 annually.
Those professionals who are most marketable in this area possess Visual Basic, Visual C++, HTML, ASP, Java, and JavaScript experience. They also should have an understanding of business strategy and company objectives because their jobs can directly affect the growth of business in areas such as consumer and business-to-business electronic commerce.
Companies are becoming more proactive in securing internal and external networks — particularly those that are web-based — to prevent security breaches before they disrupt business operations. In a survey conducted earlier this year by RHI Consulting, 58 percent of CIOs said they had increased their investment in hardware, software, and personnel to support their company's network security initiatives. Firms are placing a premium on technical expertise in such areas as encryption and authentication, safeguarding firewalls, intrusion monitoring, and administration of virtual private networks (VPNs).
Network security leads all job categories with average starting salaries projected to rise 10.9 percent. A security manager can expect to be paid between $70,500 and $102,750 to start, a 12.7 percent increase over 2000. Network firewall specialists will see an average starting compensation rise of 8.4 percent over 2000 to between $59,750 and $82,750 annually.
Those in this field should possess security-related hardware and software experience; LAN/WAN management and systems administration (Windows NT/2000, UNIX, or Linux), as well as a background in VPNs, TCP/IP, intrusion detection, and firewall implementation.
The increased demand for specialists in this area has been fueled largely by the need for database-driven applications that provide management with up-to-the-minute information about business expenses, sales, and customer demographics. Competitiveness in the global marketplace coupled with pressure to bring products to market even faster has prompted businesses to allocate resources to these applications. More database professionals are also required due to the growth of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems that incorporate finance, manufacturing, and HR functions into a single software package. A third major contributor to the increased demand for database expertise has been the need to mine data stored in corporate databases for e-commerce and other web applications.
Database administrators will see the largest increase in starting salary for this category — between $72,500 and $105,750 annually, up 11.8 percent from the previous year. Close behind are database managers, who will earn between $82,000 and $106,000 in 2001 — an increase of 10.8 percent over the prior year.
The job market is particularly favorable for database administrators who can manage, maintain and develop database systems; systems integrators proficient in working with applications from SAP, Siebel, PeopleSoft, and Oracle; and Java programmers experienced in integrating Internet applications with corporate databases.
While it's important to possess the technical skills for today's hottest jobs, it's also necessary for your long-term career growth to know how each specialty fits into the business as a whole and to develop your soft skills.
Not clearly understanding your company's industry and needs limits your effectiveness in creating solutions. Learn more about your business's goals and objectives. Have you read your company's annual report? How about its mission statement? These are the absolute basics, but many workers fail to demonstrate the initiative to become experts on their employer's operations.
Similarly, soft skills are as important as technical knowledge in an IT professional's career. Just like doctors, technology specialists need to be able to diplomatically translate technical terms and issues into something that is relevant to a nontechnical audience. In a recent survey by RHI Consulting, 97 percent of CIOs indicated that they look for well-developed soft skills when hiring IT staff. Whether you're training an end user or strategizing with senior management, here are some guidelines to help you develop your interpersonal skills:
It's important to seize every opportunity to enhance your skills because new technologies are introduced constantly. Committing to lifelong learning to improve your technical abilities will play a major role in your future marketability and success on the job. Here are some suggestions to help you refresh your skills on a regular basis:
Even though the demand for IT expertise is high, it's still critical to remain up-to-date on the latest trends in your particular area of specialization and the technology industry as a whole so you can update your skills accordingly. If you stay flexible and open to new developments that could change your job in the future, you'll be on your way to being a master in your field.
DDJ