Saturday, June 23, 2007

IT Hiring Index & Skills Report


Looking for a technology-related job in the third quarter? Prospects couldn't be brighter according to a survey of more than 1,400 Chief Information Officers (CIOs). Here's a quick snapshot:
  • 17 percent plan to add IT staff in the next three months
  • 2 percent foresee personnel cutbacks
The net 15 percent increase is the highest in nearly six years! In Boston the ratio is 14 to 1.

When asked "Within your IT department, which single job area is experiencing the most growth?" the response included the following:
A closer look at the skills most in demand shines a light on which Web-related skills will grab the attention of CIOs.

When asked "Which of the following technical skill sets are most in demand within your IT department?" the response included the following:
This survey reveals that, at least in large organizations, Web-related skills that incorporate database connectivity and programming expertise, especially in the form of Microsoft's .NET technology, will help open doors. A summary of the Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report for the third quarter is available for review.

Relational Databases

Sales of relational database management systems (RDBMS) continues to expand at a 14 percent clip according to report issued by Gartner. Adding database knowledge and expertise to your resume offers perhaps the single best return on investment that a Web designer/developer can make.

Three top-tier vendors account for more than 85 percent of worldwide RDBMS sales. These vendors are as follows:
  • Oracle (47 percent)
  • IBM (21 percent)
  • Microsoft (17 percent)
The language common to each of these database systems is Structured Query Language (SQL). The most popular open source database is MySQL, which can be downloaded for free to either a Mac or a PC. Training to learn the SQL language is also available for free at the following:
With SQL topping the list of the most in-demand Web-related technologies at more than 2,000 current job listings, there might never be a better time to add database connectivity to your Web arsenal.

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