Technology

Software and IT jobs are still in high demand

Even though the U.S. is in an economic recession, software and IT related jobs are still in very high demand. According to Business Week magazine, among the 20 most sought-after positions in the U.S. are software developer (#2), system administrator (#6), and software test automation engineer (#12). Microsoft alone has averaged over 4,000 open positions in the U.S. daily during 2008. Of these 4,000 positions, on average 18% (720 positions) are for software developers, 12% are for software testers (480 positions), and 10% (400 positions) are for technical program managers. A recent survey of Microsoft hiring managers showed that the top-requested skills include C# and .NET programming, ASP.NET and AJAX/JavaScript Web programming, intermediate and advanced SQL skills, test automation and scripting skills, and project management skills.

A Computer World magazine study suggests that the best way to take advantage of these open positions is to upgrade your technical skill set. "Keep your skills fresh. It's never a bad idea to work on your skills, both technical and nontechnical. Training can bolster your skills while keeping you productively engaged during your job search." The software and IT field is constantly evolving and it is critically important to learn new technologies. For example, InfoWorld magazine identifies technologies which were once in high demand but which are now in decline and are being rapidly off-shored: basic, early Web technologies such as plain HTML (being replaced by AJAX/JavaScript and ASP.NET), old programming languages and platforms such as Visual Basic (being replaced by C# and .NET), and basic manual networking skills (being replaced by advanced tools and scripting with PowerShell).

VTE, the technical training arm of Volt, offers instructor-led classes to employees working at the Redmond, WA campus. Upcoming classes include "VS 804 - Project Management IV", "VS 419 - SQL and LINQ with C#", and "VS 313 - Intermediate JavaScript". visit the website of Volt Technical Education or send a message to techTraining@volt.com or call (425) 702-9000 and ask for Stacey or Shirley.

James McCaffrey