Monday, July 02, 2007

Boston Market -- 3rd Quarter, 2007


"Tight labor markets in many areas of the country and in specific occupations and industries like IT and healthcare are forcing companies to advertise more aggressively than last year in order to find the employees they need," according to a representative of The Conference Board.

"We do not expect economic growth to accelerate until the end of the year, but finding the right employee is already a challenge in many areas of the country."

Access the July Conference Board Help-Wanted OnLine Data Series™ press release (pdf) for details.

Top 30 Countdown

Each quarter Beantown Web conducts an extended analysis of the 30 most in-demand Web-related skills in the greater Boston area, based on keyword searches. This quarter is the first to utilize the new Boston.com/Monster website.

The Top 10 Web Technologies in Boston have been updated and appear in the right-hand column. Average Salaries in Boston have also been updated.

The Web Design skills most in-demand are as follows:
The Web Programming skills most in-demand are as follows:The Database skills most in-demand are as follows:The Second Ten

The second ten most in-demand skills are as follows:
  1. Photoshop [ 375 ]
  2. Java Server Pages (JSP) [ 356 ]
  3. ASP.NET [ 349 ]
  4. Flash [ 303 ]
  5. VB.NET [ 266 ]
  6. Ajax [ 262 ]
  7. Illustrator [ 218 ]
  8. MySQL [ 197 ]
  9. PHP [ 195 ]
  10. Acrobat [ 172 ]
The Third Ten

The third ten most in-demand skills are as follows:
  1. Dreamweaver [ 155 ]
  2. DHTML [ 155 ]
  3. Visual Studio [ 152 ]
  4. DB2 [ 142 ]
  5. Python [ 135 ]
  6. InDesign [ 110 ]
  7. Quark [ 103 ]
  8. XHTML [ 96 ]
  9. VBScript [ 88 ]
  10. ColdFusion [ 86 ]
The Others

The following keyword searches did not make this quarter's Top 30 Countdown:
Next Step -- Friday, August 3

The best training value in the greater Boston area this summer focuses on C# (pronounced C Sharp), one of the Top 10 Web Technologies. C# is the most popular language used in conjunction with ASP.NET, Microsoft's technology for creating dynamic Web applications. You can start learning about C# by accessing Getting Started with Visual C#.

Then, register for a FREE Day of C# Training on Friday, August 3!

More job descriptions mention C# (583) than mention Illustrator (218), Dreamweaver (155), InDesign (110) and Fireworks (27) combined! Can you afford to pass up this opportunity?
Posted by at

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.

 Digg It! Bookmark to del.cio.us
Posted by at

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Oscars of the Internet


The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet. The Webby Awards presents two honors in each of more than 100 categories -- The Webby Award and The People's Voice Award -- in each of its four entry types: Websites, Interactive Advertising, Online Film & Video and Mobile.

Beantown Web highlights this year's Webby Award winners in the Websites entry type. The 11th Annual Webby Awards received a record 8,000 entries from all 50 states and over 60 countries worldwide. In addition, more than 400,000 votes were cast by people around the world to identify the People's Voice Awards.

Organizers also announced recipients of this year's Webby Special Achievement awards, including the following:

Boston area readers should make special note of the Webby Award Winner in the Government category: MBTA.com -- The Official Website for Greater Boston's Public Transportation System.

Also, fans of LinkedIn will be pleased to know that this business-oriented site walked away with two awards -- Services and Social Networking.

The 2007 Webby Awards winners are as follows:
You can review 100s of additional Websites including The People's Voice Winners in each category and additional category nominees at the Webby Nominees Website.

 Digg It! Bookmark to del.cio.us
Posted by at

Sunday, June 03, 2007

Boston Market -- June


During the month of May the Boston Globe and Monster.com announced the launch of a co-branded website for Boston-area employers and job seekers. This new Boston.com/Monster website replaces the BostonWorks.com website that Beantown Web has been using for its monthly Boston Market analysis. On average there are two to three times more listings on the new joint venture website.

Job prospects for technology workers in the greater Boston area with in-demand skills remain bright. Two studies confirm these findings:
  • Hudson Employment Index -- the number of workers who said their company had plans to add headcount stands at nearly 30 percent, the highest recording since last November. In addition nearly three out of four Boston area workers said they were happy with their job, the highest reporting since last October.
  • The 2007 State New Economy Index -- this index measures the drivers of the information technology revolution that is transforming virtually all industries and contributing to increased productivity. This index places Massachusetts in the top spot among all 50 states.
New Economy Skills

So, what are the hot New Economy skills? Beantown Web's monthly analysis of salaries and job postings provides some insight.

The Average Salaries in Boston for common Web-related job titles has been updated for June. The salaries are posted in the right-hand column. Here is a snapshot of title and salary ranges:
  • "Designer" >> mid-$30s to the low $60s
  • "Developer" or "Programmer" >> mid-$50s to the low $70s
  • "Database">> low-$70s to the low $80s
Top 10 Web Technologies in Boston has also been updated for June using the new joint venture website. Here is a list of skills commonly associated with each technology category:
  • "Designers"
    • HTML (#4)
    • CSS (#9)
  • "Developer" or "Programmer"
    • Java (#3)
    • JavaScript (#6)
    • Perl (#8)
    • ASP.NET (#10)
  • "Database"
    • SQL (#1)
    • Oracle (#2)
    • XML (#6)
    • SQL Server (#8)
The Top 10 List can be found in the right-hand column. Structured Query Language (SQL) tops the list with a staggering 2,000 job openings! The static web page is dead, long live the dynamic data-driven Web universe!

Conclusion

The New Economy is clearly a programming / database-driven economy. Web Designers who develop skills in these areas not only increase their earning potential, they also expand their pool of potential job opportunities.

Action Plan

If you are new to programming and databases, consider signing up for Introduction to Programming, a FREE eight-lesson online course offered at the HP Learning Center. Classes begin Thursday, June 7.

Editor's Note: Next month's Boston Market -- Third Quarter will offer an expanded Top 30 list of Web technology skills in demand in the greater Boston area using the new Boston.com/Monster job search engine.

 Digg It! Bookmark to del.cio.us
Posted by at

Thursday, May 31, 2007

O'Reilly Ignites Boston


O'Reilly wants to Ignite Boston and you are invited to a special event.

O'Reilly Media is the publisher of technology books including such popular series as Head First, In a Nutshell and the upcoming Dynamic Learning self-paced training system for learning Adobe CS3.

Tim O'Reilly is the founder and CEO of O'Reilly Media and a Harvard graduate. He is credited with coining the phrase Web 2.0.

Ignite Boston takes place on Thursday, May 31 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm at Tommy Doyle's at Harvard Square in Cambridge. The event includes a keynote address and "guest speakers who’ll catch you up on the cool, new, innovative stuff going on in technology today."

RSVP

If you plan to attend, email IgniteBoston [at] oreilly [dot] com for the chance to win $300 worth of really cool technology books, compliments of O’Reilly Media. You must be present to walk away with the prize, so sign up and show up to win!

 Digg It! Bookmark to del.cio.us
Posted by at

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Google Developer Day


Google is going global on Thursday, May 31 to discuss its view of the future of web applications. The first ever Google Developer Day™ will feature live, free webcasts discussing Google's Web development tools.

Early birds can catch the London keynote address live at 7:00 am EDT. The Mountain View keynote address will be broadcast live at 1:00 pm EDT.

Building Blocks for Better Web Applications

Google will offer presentations on the following topics:
  • Google Maps
  • Google Calendar
  • Google Spreadsheet
  • Google Checkout
  • Ajax
  • XML
  • Mashups
  • Python
Presentations begin at 2:00 pm EDT. A complete schedule is available at Google Developer Day 2007 Website.

 Digg It! Bookmark to del.cio.us
Posted by at

Friday, May 25, 2007

Second Life (In the Year 2525)


In the Year 1969

Zager and Evans became a one-hit wonder when their hauntingly futuristic song In the Year 2525 orbited the Billboard charts for six weeks.
"In the year 2525,
If man is still alive,
If woman can survive,
They may find..."
In the Year 2007

A San Francisco-based company with its own vision for the future acquired a Waltham-based company called Windward Mark Interactive and is looking for talent to help bring its vision of the future into focus. The name of the company is Linden Lab and its vision of the future can be found in Second Life, a three dimensional online community.

In the Year 2011

. . . 80 percent of active Internet users (and Fortune 500 enterprises) will have a "Second Life"' in the virtual world, according to Gartner, Inc. " . . . don't ignore this trend. [It] will have a significant impact on your enterprise during the next five years." To learn more access a summary of Gartner's Five Laws for companies participating in the virtual world.

In the Year 2017

"Instead of Web sites like we have now, we'll have 3-D representations in the virtual world," according to a representative of Mozilla which oversees the development of the Firefox browser. "Business travel, telecommuting, and even the basic things people expect in day-to-day business will be affected." To see how the Web browser will evolve to accommodate 3D technologies championed by Linden Lab access an Information Week article.

Meet The Lindens

If you would like to be part of this future, Linden Lab would like to meet you. They are throwing a private party in Boston the evening of Wednesday, May 30. To find out how you can attend and impress the Lindens with your skills, register for the Boston Recruiting Party for your opportunity to begin a Second Life!

 Digg It! Bookmark to del.cio.us
Posted by at

Monday, May 21, 2007

Omnivore or Indifferent?

Imagine a world without the Internet or cell phones. It was not that long ago that this world existed. Yet, nearly half of adults in the United States have a somewhat distant or non-existent relationship with modern information technology. This technology includes Internet access and cell phone usage.

A survey of more than 4,000 adults conducted by the Pew Internet Project categorized adults into the following three groups:
  • elite technology users (31%)
  • moderate technology users (20%)
  • have little or no usage of the Internet or cell phones (49%)
The focus of the survey was on information technology, especially the Internet and cell phones, but also included other technologies such as digital cameras.

Omnivores

Elite technology users were categorized into four subgroups as follows:
  • Omnivores: voracious users of information gadgets and services
  • Connectors: use technology to connect to people and manage digital content
  • Lackluster Veterans: frequent Internet users, but not early adapters; less avid about cell phones
  • Productivity Enhancers: main focus is personal and professional communication
Moderate technology users were categorized into two subgroups as follows:
  • Mobile Centrics: heavy cell phone users; infrequent Internet users
  • Connected But Hassled: find connectivity intrusive and information something of a burden
Indifferents

Low level technology users were categorized into four subgroups as follows:
  • Inexperienced Experimenters: occasionally interactive; late Internet adopters
  • Light But Satisfied: technology does not play a central role in their daily lives
  • Indifferents: use cell phone and the Internet intermittently and find connectivity annoying
  • Off the Network: content with old media and have little use for cell phones, digital cameras and the Internet
The implications of this research are important for helping marketing and technology professionals understand who is most likely to be receptive to Web- and cell-based communications. To learn more about this study access a press release available from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

Which technology group do you belong to? To find out take a ten-question quiz.

Editor's Note: The results of my quiz reveal that I am a Connector. Here is my profile:

Connectors, which make up 7% of the population, have a median age of 38, with a majority (54%) in the 30-49 age range. Ethnically, it is mostly white (72%); 16% are Black and 12% are English-speaking Hispanics. The typical Connector has been online for 9 years, which suggests they were a second-wave of late 1990s adopters. Most are women (55%) and they rate above average in educational attainment and income.

 Digg It! Bookmark to del.cio.us
Posted by at

Friday, May 18, 2007

JavaFX Script & Silverlight


Two new kids have moved into the neighborhood and Web designers and developers should take notice. The kids names are JavaFX Script and Silverlight. JavaFX Script has siblings in the JavaFX family and Silverlight is related to the Expression family.

New Kids on the Block

JavaFX Script is a new scripting language based on Java which was created by Sun Microsystems. JavaFX Script enables content rich, highly interactive sites to be built by creative professionals on Java-based devices including computer, television and mobile.

Silverlight is a Microsoft product designed to compete with Adobe Flash. It was engineered using a subset of Microsoft's .NET technology. Silverlight provides support for such technologies as XHTML, JavaScript, Ajax, Apache, PHP, Visual Basic, C#, Python, Ruby and MP3.

Families

JavaFX is a Sun Microsytems family that currently includes the siblings JavaFX Script and JavaFX Mobile. New follow-on content authoring tools are expected to be added to the family in the near future.

Expression is a Microsoft family of tools developed for professional designers who build Web and Windows client applications and rich media content. Expression Studio includes the following family members:
Test Drive

JavaFX Script and Silverlight are currently in test release. Microsoft Expression is available for purchase and free trial versions of the entire suite or individual family members can be downloaded for 60 days.

Beantown Web will monitor the demand for Web professionals who have developed expertise in using these new tool sets as these technologies become mainstream.

Digg It! Bookmark to del.cio.us
Posted by at

Sunday, May 06, 2007

Boston Market -- May


Quality jobs remain plentiful as the U.S. economy continues its expansion. Here are three positive indicators from surveys released during the past week:
  • Deloitte's 2007 CEO Survey -- CEOs of the fastest growing technology companies report that finding, hiring and retaining qualified employees continues to be their biggest operational challenge.
  • Spherion IT Employment Report -- Three factors -- growing technology economy, increasing Web 2.0 activity, declining graduation rates of science and engineering students -- are converging to create an abundance of open IT jobs with few qualified candidates available to fill them.
  • Help-Wanted OnLine Data Series -- Massachusetts leads the country in job openings per capita with more than five vacancies for every 100 persons in the labor force.
This month's analysis of the job market for Web-related technology professionals focuses on scripting languages. Earlier this year Evans Data Corporation released its 2007 Scripting Languages – Developers Choice Report. More than 400 developers evaluated 12 scripting languages. The focus of the survey was to determine which provided the best security.

Two scripting languages provided superior security:
So, does best security equate to best job prospects? Here is a list of the 12 scripting languages along with the number of listings for that technology at BostonWorks.com:
  • JavaScript [ 228 ]
  • Perl [ 207 ]
  • ASP.NET [ 177 ]
  • Python [ 70 ]
  • PHP [ 65 ]
  • ColdFusion [ 40 ]
  • VB Script [ 31 ]
  • Ruby [ 25 ]
  • ActionScript [ 18 ]
  • Tcl [ 7 ]
  • Adobe Flex [ 4 ]
  • XAML [ 1 ]
If you are a Web technology professional and would like to expand your career prospects, consider formulating a training plan to learn one of the top three scripting languages:
All three of these languages are in the Top 10 Web Technologies list which has been updated for May and appears in the right-hand column along with links to jobs that list that technology skill in the job description.

Once again database and programming skills dominate the Top 10 Web Technologies list. Expertise with these technologies form the foundation for solid career prospects as website owners continue to move beyond static website offerings.

The remaining 17 Web-related skills are as follows:
  1. CSS [ 122 ]
  2. Photoshop [ 97 ]
  3. Flash [ 91 ]
  4. Ajax [ 86 ]
  5. Python [ 70 ]
  6. PHP [ 65 ]
  7. MySQL [ 64 ]
  8. DHTML [ 59 ]
  9. Visual Studio [ 47 ]
  10. Dreamweaver [ 45 ]
  11. ColdFusion [ 40 ]
  12. DB2 [ 40 ]
  13. VBScript [ 31 ]
  14. Ruby [ 25 ]
  15. XHTML [ 22 ]
  16. ActionScript [ 18 ]
  17. DOM [ 12 ]
Average Salaries in Boston and Browser Version Market Share have also been updated and appear in the right-hand column.

Digg It! Bookmark to del.cio.us
Posted by at

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Web 2.0 Expo: Best of Show


If you couldn't make it to the recently concluded, first annual Web 2.0 Expo on the Left Coast, Beantown Web provides you with links to everything you need to know.

Web 2.0 Expo is an annual gathering of technical, design, marketing, and business professionals who are building the next generation web.

The Expo featured 115 Web 2.0 companies competing for attention. Webware.com, a site where computer users can learn about new and useful Web applications, selected their Top Five Web 2.0 services from the conference as follows:

    • Tellme provides new ways for anyone to search for information they need from any phone by speaking or typing their query and then hearing or seeing the answer.
    • Octopz offers next-generation online collaboration software created specifically to meet the challenges of creative professionals, such as product designers, graphic artists, photographers and digital media producers.
    • Dapper is a service that allows users to build web applications and mashups using data from any website without any programming.
    • Coghead offers a way to create web-based business applications that can be used by anyone, anytime, anywhere.
    • Spock, currently in private beta, is building the broadest and deepest people specific search engine.

Webware.com offers a four-minute video that summarizes its selections.

Webware.com would like you to participate in The Webware 100 Awards -- the Web's first user-generated Web 2.0 awards. The Webware 100 will list the 10 best Web 2.0 sites in 10 categories. Feel free to nominate your favorite Web 2.0 site.

Nomination deadline is Monday, May 7. Beantown Web will highlight the winners which are scheduled to be announced on Monday, June 18.

 Digg It! Bookmark to del.cio.us
Posted by at

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Web 2.0: Most Likely to Succeed


<> YouTube <> Wikipedia <> Flickr <>

Two years ago you may not have heard these names. But now they are mainstream and prototypes for Web 2.0 sites to follow. All three of these services feature UGC -- user generated content.

The Next Big Thing

What are the next Web 2.0 sites that are about to explode? Hitwise offers its candidates for exponential growth over the coming months.

Hitwise is a Web service that offers competitive intelligence on how people interact on the Web. Based on an extensive filter of 25 million Internet users and some 860,000 Web sites, Hitwise has identified the following six Web 2.0 sites with the greatest potential to become the next Big Internet phenomenon:
Never heard of them? Here's what they do:

Yelp is the fun and easy way to find, review and talk about what's great -- and not so great -- in your area.

StumbleUpon helps you discover and share great websites.

Veoh is a virtual television network that organizes, showcases, and delivers clear, full-screen video programming to anyone with a broadband connection.

WeeWorld puts a friendly face on the Internet by giving you a graphic alter-ego that allows you to express yourself, communicate and have fun with old and new friends both online and on your mobile phone.

Imeem is an online community where artists, fans and friends can promote their content, share their tastes, and discover blogs, photos, music and video.

Piczo has created a space that gives teens around the world the freedom and tools to express themselves and connect with friends in a safer social networking environment.

Hitwise's prediction of explosive growth potential is the result of an extensive filtering of traffic patterns that show Web 2.0 usage compared with overall Internet traffic has expanded from 2% in its first year to more than 12% currently. Details about the Hitwise Web 2.0 projections are available in an Information Week article.

Implications for Web Developers

As UGC continues to expand, Web professionals should consider developing technical skills to offer to prospective clients who might want to add Web 2.0 features to their list of Web services. Here are three ideas to consider:
Both online courses are FREE, but neither are currently in session. The HP Learning Center will contact you when the next session is offered.
  • Register for a Ning account. Ning is an online service that allows you to create, customize, and share your own Social Network. You can make it public or private and use it for anything - and anyone - you'd like.
Ning is FREE and offers Developer Support.

NOTE: You are cordially invited to join the new Boston LinkedIn Network, powered by Ning.

Digg It! Bookmark to del.cio.us
Posted by at

Sunday, April 15, 2007

2007 Entry Level Job Outlook

Expect competition for that entry level job. Employers project an average of 73 applications for each available entry-level position.

These findings were revealed in an annual survey conducted by Monster.com. Results were captured from surveys of nearly 1,000 employers and more than 2,500 students. A summary of the results is available in a Monster press release.

Here are two positive findings that employers revealed in the survey:
  • 76 percent of employers plan to hire 2007 graduates in the spring or summer
  • 38 percent expect to recruit more entry-level candidates than in 2006
Here are two positive findings revealed by students about their confidence in finding work:
  • 89 percent expect to receive at least one job offer by graduation
  • 74 percent expect two or more offers
Employers and graduates both perceive the following as the most important factors in hiring recent college graduates:
  • relevant work experience
  • personal characteristics, such as interviewing skills
Recognizing that employers value relevant work experience, 78 percent of graduates plan to complete at least one internship experience prior to graduation.

Here is how employers and graduates use the Internet during the hiring process:
  • One-in-five employers will check candidates' personal online profiles
  • Three-in-five of last year's graduates maintained an online profile
Finally, here is the biggest mistake a prospective candidate can make during the job search process:
  • lack of professionalism, such as tardiness or not sending a thank-you note
One in three of last year's graduates said they did not send thank-you notes after interviews.

Summary:

If you are near the beginning of your career and exploring employment opportunities, here are three strategies that can help separate you from your competition:
  • Set a goal of making at least 73 contacts in your search for meaningful work
  • Maintain an up-to-date online profile that includes all relevant work-related experiences, especially internships, practicums, and other client-related work
  • Show up early and express written thanks to everyone who helps you along the way
Simply follow these three recommendations and multiple job offers are sure to follow.

 Digg It! Bookmark to del.cio.us
Posted by at

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Chowda Chat: Dan Keldsen

"Chowda Chat" is a periodic Beantown Web installment that features a conversation with an influential member of the Greater Boston technology community. The purpose of "Chowda Chat" is to provide Web technology professionals with information to help advance their careers. The format involves three questions and responses followed by one final thought.

Today's issue of "Chowda Chat" presents the thoughts and observations of Dan Keldsen, Analyst and Consultant at The Innovation Lab of Perot Systems and publisher of BizTechTalk.

1. Your blog, BizTechTalk, offers podcasting, one of many "Web 2.0" technologies that are increasingly being used to connect with an audience. How time consuming is podcasting and how can one get started?
"At it's heart, podcasting is just a slight spin on older technologies or media. As with any media production exercise, the key to producing content in a timely manner is in having a system or process in place to go from concept, through pre-production, production, release and marketing (and sales if you choose to monetize the content)."
"All of the podcasts that I have done so far (roughly 45 recorded, 30 or so released as of this interview) have been interviews with either one or two people, typically recorded over the phone or via Skype, so my examples will assume another person is involved in the conversation."
"Even with relatively minimal prep time to prepare a framework for discussion (I don't use set questions for each interview), you should expect easily 30 minutes as a minimum, and perhaps as many as several hours if you need to do any significant level of reading, summarizing and creation of your interview format for these interviews."
"Once the recording starts, we treat it as though we are live in front of audience, which helps to minimize the audio editing necessary on the back end. Depending on the effort you want to put into the final product -- some stammer, um and ah removal is typical -- add 100-200% more time to the editing process than whatever amount you have recorded. If you were not careful in applying some structure to the interview, editing the audio so that it makes a more coherent story can add a significant amount of time. Avoid that at all costs!"
2. The "Innovation Lab" of Perot Systems has assisted more than 20,000 professionals determine how to invest in strategic technology to create competitive advantage. What is the one non-technology skill that a technology professional should develop today to create a strategic career advantage?
"The ability to rapidly and thoroughly problem solve is at the heart of any job I can think of today, certainly in any operationally-focused technology position, but through more customer-facing and forward-facing new product development scenarios as well. If you can't solve problems on the fly, you are toast. If technology worked exactly as advertised, nothing would ever go wrong, but technology has glitches, and the swift survive on this one! Since I have a background as a musician, I tend think of life and work as one extended improvisation, where keeping one's cool while finding a solution is THE skill to have. Just don't let the thrill of solving problems instantly prevent you from keeping an eye on larger problems that may take more of an effort to solve."
3. The one-word advice offered to Benjamin Braddock in The Graduate was "plastics." Assuming that the two-word advice for today's recent graduates is "The Internet," what advice would you offer a young professional just getting started in a Web-related career?
"Great question - will have to throw that back on the queue in NetFlix! Stay hungry, and assume a love of lifelong learning, because the Internet has opened up opportunity across the globe at scales we wouldn't have imagined possible just 10 years ago. If you aren't learning from this massive experiment called the Internet, be prepared to be obsolete as those who ARE learning every day outrun you in the global (and local) playing field."
Final Thought: "Make sure you are personally using the tools of the Internet to keep yourself sharp, always be on the lookout for intelligent people to add to your network (LinkedIn primarily, from a professional standpoint), and keep up with the fast pace of change, not just in your current field, but in business, technology, and what is happening around the world. Eyes wide open, ready to spring into action, and you should be able to weather any change that comes at you. Chance favors the prepared mind!"

Thanks Dan for providing our readers with a perspective on podcasting and how Web technology professionals can stay sharp and prepared through networking and lifelong learning.
Posted by at

Monday, April 09, 2007

Fastest Growing Private Companies

The Boston Business Journal (BBJ) has identified the 60 fastest-growing private companies in Massachusetts.

Called the BBJ Pacesetters, these Mass Movers are more likely than average companies to be hiring and contracting quality talent to help them keep their expansion rocketing forward.

Web designers and developers should consider establishing a relationship with the following five staffing agencies who are among the fastest growing in the state:
The complete list of the fastest growing private companies in Massachusetts follows:BBJ Pacesetters companies will be honored on Friday, April 13. For details and registration information access the Boston Business Journal Events page.
Posted by at

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Boston Market -- 2nd Quarter, 2007

Job seekers with skills and experience that are valued in the marketplace are in the driver's seat of today's economy, according to a new study. Here is what staffing directors are saying in this latest research:
  • 73 percent report that competition for talent has increased since 2005
  • 79 percent expect it to further intensify in 2007
The report reflects responses from 628 staffing directors, 1,250 hiring managers and 3,725 job seekers across five global regions, and reveals that a tightening labor market has tilted the advantage toward job seekers.

Press releases for the report entitled "Slugging Through the War for Talent: Selection Forecast 2006-2007" are available for review at WebWire and Development Dimensions International (DDI). A more detailed Executive Summary (pdf) is also available for review.

Boston Market

While the report does not provide details about metropolitan regions in the United States or specific job categories that may be in greater demand than others, this quarterly review of the Boston Job Market provides such insights.

In the greater Boston area the demand for Web Developers with the right skills and experience far exceeds the demand for Web Designers as the following keyword search at BostonWorks.com indicates:
14:1 Ratio (Developer vs. Designer)

Currently there are more than 14 jobs that include the keywords "Web Developer" for every one job that includes the keywords "Web Designer."

A more detailed search on specific Web-related skills confirms this demand. Programming proficiency and database dexterity dominate the list of Top Ten Web-related skills most in demand in the greater Boston area:
  1. SQL [ 669 ]
  2. Oracle [ 610 ]
  3. HTML [ 430 ]
  4. SQL Server [ 385 ]
  5. XML [ 351 ]
  6. JavaScript [ 212 ]
  7. ASP.NET [ 184 ]
  8. JSP [ 120 ]
  9. Photoshop [ 114 ]
  10. CSS [ 109 ]
The second 10 of less-in-demand, Web-related skills are as follows:
  1. Flash [ 76 ]
  2. Ajax [ 69 ]
  3. MySQL [ 59 ]
  4. PHP [ 55 ]
  5. Dreamweaver [ 47 ]
  6. ColdFusion [ 47 ]
  7. Visual Studio [ 42 ]
  8. DHTML [ 44]
  9. VBScript [ 28 ]
  10. XHTML [ 28 ]
Web designers and developers who would like to advance their careers should consider implementing the following game plan over the next three months:
  1. review the Top Ten list
  2. identify one core skill that would be advantageous for you to improve on
  3. develop a plan to improve that skill (self -study, online course, etc.)
  4. demonstrate improvement in that skill by displaying a Web project
Editor's Note: In the Boston Market -- 1st Quarter, 2007 I stated that I would report on my progress toward improving my skills. I have identified the Web-related skills I will be focusing on and have outlined a list of self-study books I will be using to improve those skills. The Web Apprentices Training Center is available online and feedback is welcome. I will report on my continuing progress in early July, 2007.
Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)