Boston Market -- 2008, First Quarter

Massachusetts ranks 49th in the creation of jobs during the last six years. The only state creating fewer jobs is Michigan. Ouch!

The source for this statistic is a report issued late last year by MassINC. A summary of this report, as it relates to high technology jobs, is available from Dice -- The Career Hub for Tech Insiders. [ Readers in other metropolitan areas can access a Local Market Report specific to your city. ]

Dice Quarterly Market Report

According to Dice, the number of Boston area technology job listings dropped nine percent in the fourth quarter. Listings declined in December -- the first drop since June. Seasonal factors are partially to blame.

Now that we are entering a traditionally strong period for hiring, what can technology workers expect in 2008?

The Dice report provides insight into the current demand witnessed by Sapphire Technologies, an IT recruiting firm. Boston office Branch Manager, Terry O'Leary, sees a demand for the following technology professionals:

• project managers
• business analysts
• systems administrators
• software developers (J2EE and .NET)

This projection reflects the Top 10 ranking of technology skill sets requested by employers when posting jobs on Dice.com during the fourth quarter of last year.

Top 20 Web Technologies

The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston have been updated for January and are listed in the right-hand column. This list is derived from Web-related keywords placed in the search engine at Boston.com which uses Monster.com to manage its job postings.

Beantown Web's analysis (right-hand column) includes common Web design and development technologies such as HTML [ #4 ], JavaScript [ #7 ] and CSS [ #12 ].

Comparison

The Dice Top 10 IT Skills Sets list includes three Microsoft-centric Web-related technologies:

• .NET [ #4 ]
• SQL Server [ #7 ]
• C# [ #10 ]
  

The Beantown Web list also includes three Microsoft-centric Web-related technologies in the Top 10:

• SQL Server [ #5 ]
• C# [ #8 ]
• ASP.NET [ #10 ]

Implications

The Boston marketplace appears to offer greater opportunities to technology professionals equipped with Web-related skills that include programming and database expertise.

As Web 2.0 continues to filter into mainstream business, the demand for dynamic, data-driven Website building skills will likely continue. In particular, Microsoft's approach to Web-related interactivity is well-received by those organizations that have already standardized on Microsoft's productivity tools.

Learn more about these Microsoft tools by attending a Microsoft Launch Event in your city.

The Crunchies -- Winners

Boston came up short at The Crunchies. Last night's inaugural ceremonies were held in San Francisco and no Massachusetts-based company walked away with a Crunchie.

The award is designed to recognize and celebrate the most compelling startups, internet and technology innovations of the year. Web designers and developers can stimulate their innovation juices by reviewing the 20 best of the best . . .

2007 Winners

Best Overall:

• Facebook -- revolutionizing social networking

Best Technology Innovation / Achievement:

• Earthmine -- a spatially accurate, 3D inventory of our world

Best Clean Tech Startup:

• Tesla Motors -- an electric car with pizzazz

Best Video Startup:

• Hulu -- current primetime programming direct to your computer screen

Best User-generated Content Site:

• Digg -- users vote on the best online content

Best Mobile Startup:

• Twitter -- tell your friends what you are doing instantly

Best International Startup:

• Netvibes -- personalized Web portal

Best Consumer Startup:

• Meebo -- instant message anywhere, anytime from one website

Best Enterprise Startup:

• Zoho -- comprehensive suite of online business applications

Best Design:

• SmugMug -- priceless professional photos

Best New Gadget/ Device:

• Apple iPhone -- who wouldn't want one?

Best Business Model:

• Zazzle -- on-demand factory of consumer goods

Best Bootstrapped Startup:

• Techmeme -- digging up the news before it becomes news

Best Startup Founder:

• Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) -- Harvard's second most famous drop-out

Best Startup CEO:

• Toni Schneider (Automattic) -- open-source evangelist focused on simplifying the blogosphere

Best New Startup:

• iMedix -- a healthcare community of people helping people

Most Likely to Succeed:

• Automattic (WordPress) -- blog hosting, spam-fighting service

Best Use of Viral Marketing:

• StumbleUpon -- discover new websites by sharing your favorites with others

Best Time Sink Site:

• Kongregate -- XBox LIVE for casual games

Most Likely to Make the World a Better Place:

• DonorsChose -- connecting classrooms in need with interested donors

Additional details can be found at TechCrunch, one of four blog co-hosts of the event. Check out a video of the award proceedings.

Highlights of the evening include a live performance of Here Comes Another Bubble by The Richter Scales, a parody of Billy Joel's We Didn't Start The Fire.

Web Innovators Group | WebInno16

If you are interested in previewing the latest innovations on the Internet and mobile devices, check out the next gathering of the Web Innovators Group.

This 16th installment (WebInno16) will feature the following presentations:

Main Dishes

• Make Me Sustainable | providing individuals and businesses with the tools necessary to identify and accomplish environmentally responsible goals


• SpotScout | helping individuals and communities solve parking problems by sharing timely information on space availability ahead of destination arrival


• Urban Interactive | discovering the secrets of a city with an interactive sight-seeing adventure
  

Side Dishes

• My Happy Planet | learn a language -- make friends -- have fun


• Survol | quickly move content to your customers' mobile workers


• Glassbooth | creating innovative ways to access political information
  


• MoFuse | mobilize your website or blog by using our WYSIWYG editor


• Buildium | online property management software


• Socrato | test preparation getting smarter

Details

Tuesday, January 29, 2008, 6:30 pm

Royal Sonesta Cambridge

Registration is FREE and the networking could prove invaluable! Check out the Attendee List of pre-registrants.

MySQL Acquired

MySQL has agreed to be acquired by Sun Microsystems for $1 billion. A press release provides details. Check out Johnathon's Blog for further details from Sun's CEO.

MySQL is the "M" in LAMP [ Linux | Apache | MySQL | PHP ], an acronym used to represent a common, interrelated stack of open source technologies employed in Web development environments. For example, MySQL is the back-end enterprise-scale database used to power Google, Facebook and many other popular Web 2.0 applications.

The Big Three

According to Gartner, Inc. the Big Three in the world of relational databases are as follows:

• Oracle (Oracle)
  
• SQL Server (Microsoft)
• DB2 (IBM)

These three database systems account for the bulk of worldwide sales. MySQL has become popular as an open source (free) alternative.

Database Trends

In terms of job opportunities Indeed's Job Trends service reports that MySQL trails the Big Three in number of job opportunities:

However, when viewed on a relative scale, MySQL job opportunities have demonstrated a robust growth curve:

Implications

Sun now owns two of the Top 20 Web Technologies:

• Java [ #3 ]
  
• MySQL [ #16 ]
  

[ Note: See links to Boston job opportunities for these and other technologies in the right-hand column. ]

Look for Sun to aggressively market MySQL as a cost-effective enterprise database alternative to the Big Three. This acquisition will likely mean expanding opportunities for developers with MySQL knowledge and experience.

If you are new to MySQL, consider placing your name on the waiting list to be notified of the next session of PHP & MySQL: Building Web Applications at the HP Learning Center.

Beantown Web will continue to monitor MySQL job trends and report on changes over time as part of the Boston Market series of reports.

Microsoft Launch Event

Microsoft is launching three new products that directly impact the Web development community. These three products are as follows:

• Windows Server 2008
• Visual Studio 2008
  
• SQL Server 2008

December 2005

The last time Microsoft coordinated upgrades for Visual Studio and SQL Server (2005 versions) was December 2005. The Web server market share at the end of 2005 clearly favored open source solutions, namely Apache:

December 2007

Fast forward two years and the marketplace has changed considerably. The Web server market share at the end of 2007 reveals that Microsoft has clearly made its Web services initiative (aka .Net) a marketing priority:

Implications

It should be no surprise that .Net is one of The 8 Hottest Skills for '08. Windows Server 2008, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008 are three tool sets used in developing ASP.NET and Ajax applications.

As Microsoft gears up to promote its latest Web services offerings, it will likely continue to capture market share from its open source competitors, especially in mid- to large size companies. Microsoft may even overtake LAMP (Linux | Apache | MySQL | PHP) and become the preferred Web hosting environment by the end of 2008!

Heroes Happen Here

Microsoft is coordinating a nationwide tour called Heroes Happen Here to promote the 2008 upgrade to its popular Web development tools. The tour kicks off in Los Angeles at the end of February. Registration is now open for most dates extending through May and covering more than 60 cities.

The Boston date is Tuesday, March 18, 2008. The event will be held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

Register now! This FREE event will fill up fast.

2008 Job Forecast, Part 4

Beantown Web presents a series of Special Reports on the prospects for work for Web technology professionals in 2008.

• Part 1 focuses on big-picture hiring trends for 2008
• Part 2 focuses on non-entry level skills in demand in 2008
• Part 3 focuses on information technology skills in demand for 2008
• Part 4 focuses on non-technical skills in demand for 2008

Part 4

The non-technical skills that are in big demand, according to chief information officers (CIOs), recruiters and information technology (IT) staffing specialists include the following:

• project management
• financial analysis
• communications

"Companies love finding employees who can make sure that technology is being used to deliver business value," says Matt Colarusso, Woburn (MA) Branch Manager with Sapphire Technologies, the fourth largest IT staffing company in the United States.

"They are always looking for people who can communicate, who can bring together the technical side with the business side and the customer side, " stated Colarusso in a Network World article entitled IT Job Skills that Matter Now.

Assignment #1: Prepare a list of examples where you have applied project management, financial analysis, and/or communication skills to a Web technology project.

Strong IT Leaders

In addition, the three deliverables that IT leaders need to demonstrate in order to earn promotions in 2008 are as follows:

• run the IT department like a profit and loss center
• generate ideas for business growth
• solve business problems

Details are available in 2008: The Year Only the Strong IT Leaders Survive.

If you are looking to expand your technology career in 2008 and want to initiate a dialog with an information technology leader, either for informational purposes or during a formal interview process, then a must-read document is The State of the CIO '08 (pdf), available for free download from CIO.com.

Assignment #2: Prepare a list of examples where you have demonstrated profit/loss responsibility, business growth idea generation and/or business problem solving techniques as part of a Web technology project.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that technology is a tool kit that gets utilized to support the business enterprise. A technology professional who wants to thrive in an uncertain business climate must learn quickly to think like a business professional who happens to have technical skills.

Before initiating any networking opportunity in 2008 review your list of six non-technical examples from the above two assignments. By being prepared to discuss the non-technical value you can add to an enterprise, you can elevate yourself above your peers, even if you don't currently possess the The 8 Hottest Skills for 2008.

2008 Job Forecast, Part 3

Beantown Web presents a series of Special Reports on the prospects for work for Web technology professionals in 2008.

• Part 1 focuses on big-picture hiring trends for 2008
• Part 2 focuses on non-entry level skills in demand in 2008
• Part 3 focuses on information technology skills in demand for 2008
• Part 4 focuses on non-technical skills in demand for 2008

Part 3

"There is a distinct shortage of certain IT [skills], and that shortage seems to be growing," according to Neill Hopkins of the The Computing Technology Industry Association Inc. (CompTIA).

" . . . demand is red-hot right now . . . " for people with Web 2.0 skills according to Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director at Robert Half Technology.

The skills that make this in-demand list include the following:

• Ajax
• .NET
• XML
• PHP

These are just two comments from industry leaders in the field of recruiting technology professionals. The above four skills highlight the continuing trend away from static Web page development toward dynamic Web development that involves scripting and data access.

In addition to "programming/application development" seven other technology trends for 2008 are listed below:

1. Programming/application development
2. Project management
3. Help desk/technical support
4. Security
5. Data centers
6. Business knowledge
7. Networking
8. Telecommunications

Forecast 2008

For details access The 8 Hottest Skills for 2008 as presented by Computerworld. This article is one of 18 featured in Forecast 2008: IT Trends & Predictions for the New Year.

Training 2008

While it can be a challenge finding quality, low-cost training opportunities to learn Web 2.0 skills, the best option is the following:

• XML: Introduction

This FREE online course is available from the HP Learning Center and begins Thursday, January 10. Additional Web 2.0 courses that will begin later this year include the following:

• PHP & MySQL: Building Web Applications
• ASP.NET 2.0: Building Applications

2008 Job Forecast, Part 2

Beantown Web presents a series of Special Reports on the prospects for work for Web technology professionals in 2008.

• Part 1 focuses on big-picture hiring trends for 2008
• Part 2 focuses on non-entry level skills in demand in 2008
• Part 3 focuses on information technology skills in demand for 2008
• Part 4 focuses on non-technical skills in demand for 2008

Part 2

" . . . it will be a solid start to the year when it comes to hiring in the United States," according to the

Chairman & CEO of Manpower Inc.

Of the U.S. employers surveyed by Manpower, nearly twice as many expect to add to their payrolls (22%) as to reduce staff levels (12%) during the first quarter of 2008.

" . . . hiring plans are relatively stable from three months ago and just slightly softer compared to last year at this time," according to the President of Manpower North America. "You might say that employers are getting one less latte a week -- but they are still going to the coffee shop regularly."

Results are based on interviews with more than 14,000 public and private employers in 460 market areas across the U.S. Among survey participants, those in Northeast are least optimistic.

While the hiring trend in the Northeast has a downward bias, it remains positive.

If you have the IT Skill Sets that Manpower Professional is currently experiencing a demand for, feel free to contact them at one of their Massachusetts offices:

• Boston
• Southborough

Access a press release from Manpower for details of their survey summarizing projected hiring plans by U.S. employers in the first quarter of 2008.

Part 3 of this 2008 Job Forecast will focus on IT skills in demand in 2008.

Leadership Skills in Demand

“The shortage of skilled executives who are being groomed to succeed existing ones is real and it may threaten the ability of many firms to achieve their long-term strategic objectives,” according to a representative of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

According to an online survey of 526 executives, the five most significant future challenges facing companies regardless of size, location or industry were:

1. Succession Planning
2. Recruiting and Selecting Talented Employees
3. Engaging and Retaining Talented Employees
4. Providing Leaders with Skills to be Successful
5. Rising Health Care Costs

A press release is available for review from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Conclusion

If you are seeking a new opportunity in 2008, organizations will likely respond to your inquiry if you can demonstrate that you are a talented employee. While talent means different things to different people, consistent, above-average work results will help you stand out from your peers and potential competition.

In addition, demonstrating that you have leadership potential and can move up in the organization can open doors in organizations that are concerned about developing future leaders.

It is no coincidence that business leaders are gravitating toward business books that focus on developing talent and leadership. The current BusinessWeek Best Seller List is populated by books written by experts who provide answers to help solve the five challenges listed above.

Reading books that business executives read can help give you an edge in the next interview. If you are looking for guidance in developing your business skills, check out upcoming Beantown Web issues that will offer reviews of BusinessWeek Best Sellers, starting with Launching a Leadership Revolution.

2008 Job Forecast, Part 1

Beantown Web presents a series of Special Reports on the prospects for work for Web technology professionals in 2008.

• Part 1 focuses on big-picture hiring trends for 2008
• Part 2 focuses on non-entry level skills in demand in 2008
• Part 3 focuses on information technology skills in demand for 2008
• Part 4 focuses on non-technical skills in demand for 2008

Part 1

CareerBuilder.com surveyed more than 3,000 hiring managers and human resource professionals about their hiring plans for the first quarter of 2008.

On average, nearly one out of three employers (32 percent) plan to increase their number of full-time, permanent employees in 2008. Only eight percent plan to decrease staff levels in 2008.

Hiring By Industry

Some industries are expected to create jobs at a faster rate than other industries. In particular, above average job creation is expected in the following industries (percentage of employers expected to add full-time, permanent employees in 2008):

• Information Technology (45 percent)
• Professional and Business Services (45 percent)
• Transportation and Utilities (37 percent)
• Financial Services (34 percent)

Eight Major Trends

Here are eight trends you can use to your advantage when exploring work opportunities in 2008:

1. Bigger Paychecks
2. More Flexible Work Arrangements
3. Screening Candidates Via the Internet
4. Rehiring Retirees
5. Diversity Recruitment
6. Freelance or Contract Hiring
7. More Comprehensive Healthcare Benefits and Special Perks
8. Career Advancement

You can learn more about these trends by accessing a press release from CareerBuilder.com. Then, identify the three trends that you feel you can use to your personal advantage when exploring opportunities in the New Year and develop strategies to capitalize on these trends.

Conclusion:

Once again, the information technology sector is expected to lead the way in creating new jobs in 2008. Workers with the most in-demand technology skills are expected to have less trouble securing work in the New Year regardless of which way the economy turns.

Beantown Web will highlight the most in-demand technology skills for 2008 in future parts of this 2008 Job Forecast Special Report.

The Crunchies 2007

The 2007 Crunchies is the first annual competition and award ceremony to recognize and celebrate the most compelling start ups, Internet and technology innovations of the year.

Best of all, you get to choose who wins!

More than 82,000 nominations were placed for thousands of individual start ups. The top start ups in each of twenty categories have made it to the final vote.

Massachusetts Crunchies

Only two Massachusetts companies made the final cut -- only two!

Best clean start-up:

• A123Systems | Watertown

Most likely to make the world a better place:

• One Laptop Per Child | Cambridge

The Finalists

Here are 20 award categories with five nominees in each category:

• Best technology innovation / achievement
  
• Best bootstrapped start-up
  
• Best new gadget / device
  
• Best business model
  
• Best design
  
• Best enterprise start-up
  
• Best consumer start-up
  
• Best mobile start-up
• Best international start-up
  
• Best user-generated content site
  
• Best video site
  
• Best clean tech start-up
  
• Best use of viral marketing
  
• Best time sink site
  
• Most likely to make the world a better place
  
• Most likely to succeed
• Best start-up founder
  
• Best start-up CEO
  
• Best new start-up of 2007
• Best overall
  

The last day to vote is Thursday, January 10.

2008 Salary Guide

"Companies are investing in a range of technology initiatives, including Web 2.0 development . . .", according to Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology (RHT).

RHT publishes a Hiring Index and Skills Report, a quarterly technology analysis based on interviews with more than 1,400 CIOs randomly selected from U.S. companies with 100 or more employees.

Hiring Projections

Nationally, CIOs project a 10% positive differential in hiring during the first quarter:

• increase staff (13%)
• decrease staff (3%)
  

In the Boston metro area, CIOs predict a more moderate 4% positive differential in hiring during the first quarter:

• increase staff (7%)
• decrease staff (3%)

IT Skills in Demand

According to the report, the following Web development (Web 2.0) skills are in-demand by CIOs:

• database management (Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server) (59%)
• .NET development (27%)
  

Nearly 20 percent of IT department growth can be accounted for with these skill sets:

• Internet/intranet development (11%)
  
• Data/database management (8%)

Landing a Job

Katherine Spencer Lee offers the following four suggestions for those looking for a job in information technology:

• broaden your focus -- smaller companies offer greater hiring potential
• make finding a job a full-time job -- anything less and you are not maximizing your potential opportunities
• network, network, network -- it works
  
• raise your standards -- quality work gets noticed, mediocre work gets ignored
  

You can review the details of her advice in a recent Computerworld article. While the article is dated the advice is dead on.

2008 Salary Guide

RHT also publishes a 2008 Salary Guide. “There is strong demand for skilled developers with solid technical skills as well as the ability to solve business problems,” according to Lee in a press release announcing the Guide.

You can obtain a free copy of the Robert Half Technology 2008 Salary Guide by clicking the link below.

New England Economy: December

Two reports offer two different perspectives on the economy. Two recommendations remain crystal clear.

CEO Economic Outlook Survey

The CEO Economic Outlook Index is a quarterly report that indicates how CEOs believe the economy will perform in the six months ahead. The Index combines the responses of more than 100 CEOs in the following three areas:

• projected sales
• capital spending
• employment

The recently released fourth quarter survey results reveal the CEOs' belief in the underlying strength of the U.S. economy and the performance of their individual companies. In brief, CEOs expect the following over the next six months:

• increase in sales (70%)
• increase in employment (33%)
  

Hudson Employment Index

The Hudson Employment Index , however, paints a dramatically different picture. This Index measures the U.S. workforce's overall confidence in the employment market.

This national index just reached a record low.

The Boston Index mirrors the national sentiment as worker confidence reached new lows. Basically, one in five Beantown workers expect staff cuts at their companies in the coming months.

The good news is that information technology (IT) workers are more confident than average workers. IT workers expect fewer job cuts and greater hiring activity than the general economy.

Bottom Line

So, what do executives know that front line workers don't?

Even as the economy slows, executives have one secret weapon: they understand the value of networking.

According to ExecuNet's Executive Job Market Intelligence Report, higher level positions are filled primarily via networking.

In addition, executive recruiters also find qualified candidates via online research.

So, as we bring one year to a close and begin planning for a new one, consider developing a game plan to increase your professional network and improve your online presence. Nearly 75% of the opportunities you receive will likely come from one of these two sources.

Boston Market -- December

Two recent reports reveal a slowing economy in New England.

New England Economic Partnership

Employment in New England is forecast to grow at an annual average rate of less than one percent over the next few years.

"Robust national and global demand for technology-based products and services supplied by Massachusetts is expected to partly offset the housing slump’s drag on the state’s economy," according to a press release (doc) is available from the New England Economic Partnership. A summary is archived at The Boston Herald.

Help-Wanted OnLine Data Series

Job vacancies that are advertised online across the U.S. are up nearly 10% year over year. However, online advertising is flat to slightly negative year-over-year in the New England region. So, the job market is relatively sluggish compared to other parts of the country.

Nationally, there were 2.65 advertised vacancies online for every 100 persons in the labor force in November. However, Massachusetts remains one of the top five job markets (4.18 advertised vacancies online for every 100 persons in the labor force in November).

The top three occupations with a significant number of ads posted online include the following:

• healthcare practitioners
• technical workers
• management positions

Wages average above $44 an hour for management positions and about $30 an hour for healthcare practitioners and technicians, according to a press release issued by The Conference Board. A detailed (pdf) version is also available.

Web Technology Opportunities

Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston have been updated for December and appear in the right-hand column.

Average Salaries in Boston have also been updated for December.

Networking & Training Opportunities

Two Web-related opportunities recommended for December include the following:

• Flex Camp Boston (Friday, December 7)
• Boston .NET User Group Holiday Event (Wednesday, December 12)
  

Remaining seats are expected to fill up fast. If you register for the Boston .NET User Group Holiday Event you will receive a FREE copy of Visual Studio 2008!

Top Marketing Trends for 2008

More than 600 top-level marketing executives responded to a survey designed to identify the top marketing trends of 2008.

Marketing Trends -- 2008

The three main themes that marketing executives will focus on in 2008 are as follows:

1. marketing basics (60%)
   
2. search engine optimization (SEO) (42%)
   
3. personalization (36%)
   

Marketing basics included the following:

• customer satisfaction
  
• customer retention
  
• segmentation
  
• brand loyalty
  
• return on investment (ROI)

The high prevalence of SEO marketing techniques reveals how valuable the Web has become as a corporate marketing tool. In addition, Web developers who possess the programming and database skills to personalize the Web experience should continue to command a premium in the current marketplace.

Marketing Executives

The executives surveyed are members of The Marketing Executives Networking Group (MENG). A summary (pdf) of the findings is available from Anderson Analytics. eMarketer provides an additional summary of the survey results.

Marketing Basics

Whether we are looking for a job, marketing our professionals services, or merely representing the organization we currently work for, we could all benefit from thinking more like a marketing executive and getting back to basics.

While 70% or the executives in the survey group have graduate degrees -- the majority of which are from top-20 business schools -- a six-figure education is not required to learn marketing basics.

The survey identified the business books most recently read by U.S. marketing executives:

• Good to Great
  
• The World is Flat
  
• Blink
  
• Blue Ocean Strategy
  
• Long Tail
  
• Made to Stick
  
• Freakonomics
  
• Execution
  
• 4 Hour Work Week
  
• Age of Turbulence
  
• Who Moved My Cheese?
  
• Wikinomics
  
• Word of Mouth Marketing
  
• The Goal
  
• New Leaders 100 Day Action Plan

How many of these books are on your reading list? Add one or more to your Holiday stocking wish list and get back to basics in 2008.

Business Books

Beantown Web will provide key highlights from these and other business books in the New Year. In the meantime, start with The World is Flat, a must read for anyone who wants to survive, if not thrive, in today's global economy.

Chowda Chat: Margaret Meloni

"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 Margaret Meloni, MBA, an executive coaching consultant for information technology professionals. She has more than 20 years experience in the information technology field and is a Certified Project Management Professional. Margaret visits us from the Left Coast . Through her company, Meloni Coaching Solutions, Margaret helps Information Technology professionals 'Find the Joy in the Job'.

Information technology professionals are sometimes stereotyped as technically competent, but lacking in people skills. How might a lack of attention to the "soft skills" affect an individual's prospects for employment and advancement?

Let's map this out. When all other conditions are equal, most people will work with people they enjoy being around. We typically do not enjoy being around people who are unpleasant, difficult or treat us badly. (All examples of someone lacking "soft skills.") So, more opportunities come to those who are good at the technical aspect and the human aspect of their jobs. More opportunities generally lead to the better and more interesting assignments. Performing well on these assignments leads to advancement.

Advancement may equal a leadership position or it may equal a better raise, a bonus or a senior technical position. As you progress you will be expected to be able to clearly and confidently express your ideas, have productive conflict with others, form good relationships with your customers and contribute to your team's success. Those who cannot do this will be left behind.

For more on this topic, please check out Wanted: Workers who play well with others at CNN.com.

For someone who is transitioning into a technology job from a more "people focused" profession, how can someone who lacks technical experience play up their people skills during the interview process?

I think that in technology we should invite more people to cross over from other areas of expertise. If you are working on this transition consider approaching it from this angle:

You can speak the language of the customer, this means that you can take technical requirements and discuss them with my business partners. In turn you can help the technical team understand the business needs and how they relate to technology. You can act in a customer facing technical support role and be the liaison between the business team and the technical team.

The right company and hiring manager will see your value, the wrong company.... Well who cares about the wrong company, you do not want to work with them anyway.

In January you are conducting a four-week "Coachinar" entitled Your Professional Brand, Guard it with Your Life. Why should Web technology professionals care about personal branding?

Where does your reputation come from? It is word of mouth. Others define your reputation. But they do it based on your behaviors.

The smart professional gets to know themselves. They know their strengths and they use these strengths to carve out a brand or to differentiate themselves from the pack. Then the make sure that their actions map back to their character and their brand. Now when someone describes them to others, they are accurately broadcasting that person's brand.

Let's say I am hiring a Web designer. I interview four candidates. They all do well on the interview, they have the basic experience that I need. What will make one candidate stand out above the others? It's going to be something unique about them. It will be their differentiation. That's the brand factor. It's is taking your technical expertise and flavoring it with you.

Think about people you meet in networking situations or on the job. When someone stands out from all the others, it is because of their own personal and professional brand recognition.

Final Thought

We all spend a lot of time and energy working. Our behavior at work has tremendous impact on one another. So whenever possible, let’s make this a positive impact.

Margaret offers of FREE monthly eZine entitled The Positive Punch to help you take control of your reputation today. Sign up now.

Previous Guest Bloggers

Chowda Chat: Dan Keldsen
Chowda Chat: Dean Fossella

TechCrunch Boston

TechCrunch is coming to Boston!

Who is TechCrunch?

TechCrunch was started two years ago by Michael Arrington, a Silicon Valley startup veteran.

What does TechCrunch do?

TechCrunch is a weblog "dedicated to obsessively profiling and reviewing new Internet products and companies. In addition to covering new companies, we profile existing companies that are making an impact (commercial and/or cultural) on the new web space."

TechCrunch Boston Event

TechCrunch is hosting its first Boston event this Friday, November 16 at The Estate, adjacent to the Boston Common (map). Attendance is limited to the first 700 registrants and more than 600 have registered already, so don't delay. Registration involves a $10 cover charge.

Product and Partner Launch Sponsors include the following:

• BrightCove | Cambridge
• Moola | Toronto, CA
  
• Mzinga | Woburn
• OurStage | Chelmsford
• TripAdvisor | Needham
• ZoomInfo | Waltham

Additional sponsors are listed at the TechCrunch Boston information page.

Moola will tell you how many TechCrunch Boston tickets remain -- 97 at the time of this posting.

We Are All Self-Employed

Regardless of who signs the paycheck we are all self-employed.

Some of us have one employer and a paycheck that doesn't stretch to the end of the month.

Others have one employer and receive a paycheck that is part of a compensation package including benefits, bonus and stock options.

Still others have multiple employers (customers) who provide compensation based on the products and services we provide. We go by different names -- small business owners or consultants or freelancers.

Regardless of who signs the paycheck we all have customers!

Bottom Line

Each of us is the President of our own personal services corporation. As Presidents we have Top Line (sales) accountability, as well as, Bottom Line (profits) motivation.

Here are three services that can help us be better Presidents.

Eight Tips

CIO.com offers Eight Tips for IT Professionals Interested in Pursuing Careers as Independent IT Consultants. While the focus is on information technology professionals, the advice is practical for professionals in nearly every field of endeavor.

Of the Eight Tips I found the final one -- Brand Yourself -- to be particularly beneficial. Knowledge workers who have to sell their services and demonstrate how to add value can benefit from the six ideas offered to help you build your own brand.

Ten Steps

Startup Nation offers 10 Steps to Open for Business.

This website offers a detailed, multimedia, step-by-step, process to help you achieve startup success. Whether you are considering freelance or consulting opportunities or you are an employee in an organization looking to grow its current business, this practical website can help.

Just Start

Finally, Intuit, makers of the popular QuickBooks and Quicken accounting software, is in Boston this week to help us all be better Presidents.

The Boston Just Start event will take place at South Station from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on each of the following days:

• Tuesday, November 13
• Wednesday, November 14
  

The event will feature Rhonda Abrams, a syndicated columnist, best-selling author, and popular public speaker who advises small business owners. For details and registration information access the Just Start Meetup Group.

Check out Intuit's JumpUp website for additional information about getting your business up and running quickly and successfully.

Next Step

Presidents know they can't get the job done by themselves. They need a team of reliable specialists. Check out these resources and seek out one new member of your team this week.

Remember: Regardless of who signs the paycheck, we are all Presidents of our own personal services corporations.

Web Innovators Group | WebInno15

If you are interested in previewing the latest innovations on the Internet and mobile devices, check out the next gathering of the Web Innovators Group.

This 15th installment (WebInno15) will feature the following presentations:

Main Dishes

• FlipKey | expanding the vacation rental market through insight and community
  


• Lemonade | e-commerce for everyone
  


• iiProperty | online property management made easy

Side Dishes

• Carbon Rally | climate change community focused on fun, social, and competitive challenges
  


• Mix and Meet | a social network that promotes a simple, quick, and spontaneous way to meet new people and bring them together in-person
  


• Panospin | developer of interactive 360° virtual tours, or “panoramas,” designed to entice prospects and customers to visit your location
  


• 360Gadget | an application for personalizing Facebook pages
  


• Student Concourse | a web based student organizer that can be accessed from any computer
  


• Untravel Media | mobile storytelling that combines real world exploration with portable audio, video, and interactive content

Details

Tuesday, November 6, 2007, 6:30 pm

Royal Sonesta Cambridge

Registration is FREE and the networking could prove invaluable! Check out the Attendee List of more than 500 pre-registrants.

2007 WebAward Winners

The Web Marketing Association recently announced the winners of its eleventh annual WebAward Competition for Web site development. More than 2,400 sites from 40 countries were considered during this year's competition.

Entries were judged on the following criteria:

• design
• copy writing
• innovation
• content
• interactivity
• navigation
• use of technology

Web designers and developers can review these award-winning websites to spark inspiration and benchmark industry trends.

Best of Show

Disney took home the best of the best award for the following site: Disney.com / Disney XD

Best of Industry

Here are the Best of Industry winners in 96 categories:

• Advertising | Spot Runner Website
• Advocacy | Banner Moments
• Airline | AirTran Raceway
• Application Service Provider | iCIMS Web site
• Architecture | Built Form Web Site
• Arts | Artware Limited
• Associations | American Bar Association
• Auction | Leading B2B Online Auction Marketplace
• Automobile | Toyota PitPass
• B2B | UPS Whiteboard
• Bank | Bank of America No Fee Mortgage Plus
• Beverage | SoBe Beverages
• Biotechnology | Prolastin
• Blog | 2007 Offscreen Education Student Expedition Website
• Broadcasting | KCET Online
• Brokerage | XPRESSTRADE
• Catalog | Touchstone Catalog
• Computer: Hardware | StudioDell
• Computer: Retailer | Dell Virtual Office
• Computer: Software | Adobe
• Construction | MGA Roofing
• Consulting | Michaels & Associates
• Consumer Goods | Aquafresh White Trays Product Launch
• Credit Union | SAFE Credit Union
• Design | Disney.com / Disney XD
• Directory or Search Engine | Live Search Sport Maps
• Diversified Business | Eaton Corporation 2006 Annual Report
• Education | Virgin Mobile - Train on Your Terms
• Electronics | BlackBerry Corporate Site
• Email | VerticalResponse
• Employment | FedEx Air Ops Microsite
• Energy | Dell Earth
• Entertainment | Knocked Up Official Website
• Events | UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz
• E-Zine | Slate Magazine
• Faith-based | Wycliffe Bible Translators
• Family | SixFlags.com
• Fashion | Nautica Jeans Company
• Financial Services | John Hancock Funds Financial Professional Website
• Food Industry | Pop-Tarts "Great Fruit Escape"
• Game Site | BSA Cyber Tree House
• General Interest | ALPO Redesign
• Government | Do Something Amazing
• Health Care | LIVE Outside the Bottle
• Healthcare Provider | The Methodist Hospital System
• Home Building | The Home Depot Roofing, Siding, Windows
• Hotel and Lodging | Stonewall Resort
• Information Services | Yellowpages ReLaunch
• Institutional Services | Smith System
• Insurance | Progressive Corp.
• Interactive Services | Official Bigpond V8 Supercars Australia
• International Business | BizFilings
• Internet Service Provider | Yahoo! Be A Better Director
• Intranet | Avenue A | Razorfish Wiki
• Investment | 55 West Wacker- Cape Horn Group
• Investor Relations | Brown-Forman
• Legal | Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC
• Leisure | Arkansas Hot Deals & Packages
• Magazine | LIV- The Volvo Magazine
• Manufacturing | Eaton Corporation 2006 Annual Report
• Marketing | Lime Product Launch
• Media | USANetwork.com
• Medical Equipment | Cynosure Corporate Web Site
• Medical | CDC.gov
• Military | Do Something Amazing
• Movie | Disney*Pixar's 'Cars' :: The Official Movie Site
• Music | Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville.com
• Mutual Fund | John Hancock Funds Financial Professional Website
• News | Slate Magazine
• Newspaper | TheJewishDailyForward.Com
• Non-Profit | Singing Cowpoke
• Online Community | mycoke
• Other | HP/Disney Days to Dream
• Pharmaceuticals | Perrigo
• Photography | Planet Billard
• Political | Mitt Romney for President
• Portal | Freewebs
• Professional Services | LanguageScape.com
• Public Relations | Official Site of Dan Wheldon
• Publishing | Entrepreneur Media Inc.
• Radio | XMRadio.com
• Real Estate | Verandah Website
• Regional | digphilly.com Website
• Restaurant | Mr. Broadway Kosher Restaurant
• Retail | The Home Depot Home Services
• School | Bethany School
• Shopping | Gilchrist & Soames
• Small Business | dLife
• Sports | Golf Pride Website
• Technology | WIRED.com
• Telecommunication | Vonageland
• Toy & Hobby | BarbieGirls.com
• Transportation | Reach Higher
• Travel | Hungry Suitcase
• TV | USANetwork.com
• University | The Art Institute of Pittsburgh

Additional websites are available for review in each category by searching the WebAward site. A press release is also available for review.

Boston Market -- November

The employment picture in Boston is currently giving mixed signals.

On the One Hand

The Hudson Employment Index reveals that Bostonians are a little gloomier about job prospects than their counterparts in other metropolitan areas. Boston registered its lowest scores in the last 12 months.

The Monster Employment Index revealed that New England recorded larger than average gains in job postings in the last month compared with other regions of the country. However, its Index for Boston (pdf) is tracking the "slowest annual growth rate on record."

On the Other Hand

The same Hudson Employment Index revealed "a huge demand for skills, and some of it is going unfilled," according to a Hudson representative quoted in InformationWeek. Web development skills that are most in-demand include Ajax and Java programmers.

"Demand for IT workers in the U.S. remains healthy and will likely remain that way for the remainder of the year,” according to a spokesperson representing the Spherion IT Employment Report.

Small and medium-sized business (SMBs) are optimistic about the business outlook for the next 12 months and plan to invest in technology and staff. A Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) survey of more than 700 business owners with less than 1,000 employees reveals that technology investment is a vehicle for enhancing productivity.

What to Ask

So, what is a web technology professional to do? Focus on implementing technology solutions that help both you and the organization(s) you represent become more productive.

Ask yourself the following three questions:

Question #1

Can I demonstrate that the most important project I am currently working on is enhancing the productivity of my organization by increasing revenue or decreasing expenses?

Question #2

Do I have a plan for developing a technology skill that has value in today's marketplace (see the Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston in the right-hand column)?

Question #3

What networking activity can I undertake to enhance my contacts in the marketplace?

Where to Go

If you are looking for a way to enhance your technical skills and develop new contacts, consider attending Flex Camp Boston. The day-long series of seminars on Friday, December 7 is designed to introduce you to Adobe Flex 2, an entry into the emerging Rich Internet Application (RIA) marketplace.

Flex 2 is not yet a Top 20 skill. However, you can't go wrong when you get to learn an emerging technology and network with your peers for only $10! Register now while seats are still available.

What to Do

If you are looking to develop two Top 20 skills (PHP and SQL) that are in demand today, consider taking an online course entitled PHP & MySQL: Building Web Applications.

The course is FREE and made available compliments of Hewlett-Packard. The course runs from November 2 through December 7.