Startup Watch | July 2010

Is working for a startup company the right move for you? If you are simply "looking for a job," then maybe not.

However, if you are more of a generalist who enjoys wearing multiple hats and is driven to get things done with minimal bureaucracy, then consider your options. A blog entry at ReadWriteWeb helps shine a light on questions to consider.

According to StartUpHire.com there are currently more than 900 job openings at startup companies in the Boston metro area.

According to Ron Conway, famed Silicon Valley angel investor, startups have a high failure rate. He estimates the rate to be about 40 percent at companies he invests in. However, he considers 40 companies for every one that he makes a commitment to, so actual failure percentages are likely higher. For additional insights check out a TechCrunch interview.

Mass High Tech highlights startup companies each week in a series called "Five You Should Follow."

Startup Watch for July

Here are 20 startup companies to keep your eye on:

[NOTE: Hover over company name to view a tooltip summary of that company's value proposition.]

» Abine, Inc. | Cambridge

» Ayantek, LLC | Bedford

» Bloson | Cambridge

» BlueLeaf | Cambridge

» Create-A-Mattress, LLC | Needham

» Futureful | Boston

» HuddleHub | Cambridge

» Kayanta, Inc. | Brighton

» Led 2.0 | Brookline

» Lightwave Power, Inc. | Cambridge

» Localocracy | Cambridge

» MeYou Health | Boston

» Naughty Nutritionist | Boston

» PleaseBringIt | Amherst

» Quick Hit, Inc. | Foxboro

» SkillTesting.com | Cambridge

» Workpost, LLC | Derry, NH

» YouRenew.com | New Haven, CT

» Zeo Inc. | Newton

» Zodah | Cambridge

Five new startups are listed every Tuesday at Mass High Tech -- The Journal of New England Technology. Access Startup News for details. If your company was founded within the last three years, and would like to be considered for the Watch List, contact the Startup Watch editor.

Access previous Startup Watch lists:

• Startup Watch | June 2010
• Startup Watch | May 2010

[ NOTE: Facebook Fans of Beantown Web receive periodic value-added content. Become a fan today! ]

Web Technology Skills | Mid-Year Review 2010

Web technology hiring has expanded dramatically over the last six months. Two surveys point the way to continued improvement over the next three months.

CareerBuilder Job Forecast | Q3 2010

A survey of 2,500 hiring managers and human resource professionals reveals the following functional areas that employers are most likely to be adding staff:

• Customer Service
• Sales
• Information Technology

Despite relatively high unemployment, nearly half of human resource managers report a current shortage of skills within their organizations, especially in the following areas:

• Information Technology
• Customer Service
• Communications

The survey reports that employers are also looking for personnel to fill emerging positions that are relatively new to the workforce, areas such as the following:

• social media
• green energy
• cyber security
• global relations
• healthcare reform

Employers on Notice

Human resource managers are concerned that as the economy improves, key personnel are likely to pursue opportunities elsewhere. When asked what their employers could do to retain them as employees, 4,400 workers listed the following priorities in decreasing order:

• increase compensation
• improve employee recognition
• set realistic performance expectations and manageable workloads
• take the time to evaluate employee potential and discuss career paths
• invest in training

Additional detail is provided in a press release available from CareerBuilder. A Flash version of the six-page report is also available for review.

IT Hiring Index and Skills Report | Q3 2010

According to a quarterly survey by Robert Half Technology, information technology (IT) recruitment activity is expected to gain momentum in the third quarter with an anticipated net six percent increase in hiring.

More than one out of three technology executives said they are concerned about losing top IT performers to other job opportunities in the next year. A similar percentage also reported that it is challenging to find skilled IT professionals today.

Additional detail is provided in a press release available from Robert Half Technology.

Boston Market | July 2010

So, what technology skills are employers looking for? The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for July and appears in the right-hand column. The ranking is based on a keyword search of popular technologies listed in job descriptions at Boston.com, managed by Monster.com.

It's no surprise that database and programming skills top the list. A comparison of the current postings with a similar list from early January reveals that all of the Top 20 technologies have posted gains over the past six months. Here are the technologies with the highest percentage increase in postings over the first half of 2010:

#1 SQL | up 50%
#2 Oracle | up 73%
#9 Web Services | up 50%
#11 JPS | up 61%
#13 UI | up 51%
#15 ASP.NET | up 54%
#16 PHP | up 69%
#19 MySQL | up 63%

The Road Ahead

Step #1: Companies continue to value information technology workers. Compare your skills with the eight technologies listed above. Pick one and execute a plan to improve that skill over the next 30 days.

Step #2: If you are a Web Designer/Developer, consider adding User Interface (UI) to your skill set. Look through the UI job postings and identify the one skill that would most enhance your resume. (Chances are that skill is already listed in the Top 20.)

Step #3: Consider adding "social media" experience to your skill set. At #14 this keyword is more frequently mentioned than any skill in the Creative Suite, including the following:

• Photoshop | #18
• Flash | #21
• Illustrator | #30
• InDesign | #42
• Dreamweaver | #43
  

[ NOTE: Facebook Fans of Beantown Web have access to an expanded version of The Top 50 Web Technologies along with six-month comparisons for each skill. Become a fan today! ]

Startup Watch | June 2010

Startup companies create jobs. According to StartUpHire.com there are currently more than 900 job openings at startup companies in the Boston metro area.

Mass High Tech highlights startup companies each week in a series called "Five You Should Follow."

Startup Watch for June

Here are 25 startup companies to keep your eye on:

[NOTE: Hover over company name to view a tooltip summary of that company's value proposition.]

» Carbon Challenge, Inc. | Somerville

» Cervello, Inc. | Wellesley Hills

» Chargify, LLC | Needham

» Couchange.org | Cambridge

» crossWorld Education Company, Inc. | Boston

» Cykod.com | Boston

» EverTrue, LLC | Cambridge

» Fashion Playtes, Inc. | Salem

» Hello Vino, LLC | Tyngsboro

» iPowerApps, LLC | Nashua, NH

» LabLife | Cambridge

» mCaddie, Inc. | Portland, ME

» Performable | Amesbury

» RedPint | Boston

» RelayRides | Cambridge

» Skynja, LLC | Boston

» Socrato, Inc. | North Andover

» StarStreet Sports | Cambridge

» Sustainable Minds, LLC | Cambridge

» TaskRabbit, Inc. | Cambridge

» Tutor’s Office | Cambridge

» Ubiqi Health, Inc. | Somerville

» WherePhone, Inc. | Boston

» Zazu, Inc. | Boston

» Zulama, LLC | Somerville

Five new startups are listed every Tuesday at Mass High Tech -- The Journal of New England Technology. Access Startup News for details. If your company was founded within the last three years, and would like to be considered for the Watch List, contact the Startup Watch editor.

Access Previous Startup Watch Lists:

• Startup Watch | June 2010

[ NOTE: Facebook Fans of Beantown Web receive periodic value-added content. Become a fan today! ]