Dice Salary Survey | 2012

The average salary for technology professionals is $81,000.

One in three technology professionals receives a bonus.

These findings are highlighted in the annual Dice Salary Survey of more than 18,000 employed technology professionals. Dice is the leading career site for technology and engineering professionals.

Industry Matters

Here are the industries where you are most likely to receive a bonus:

• telecom
• hardware
• banking
• utilities/energy
• software

Technology Matters

Here are the technologies that command the highest salaries, all in excess of six figures:

• ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming)
• SOA (Service Oriented Architecture)
• ETL (Extract Transform and Load)
• Weblogic
• JDBC (Java Database Connectivity)
• UML (Unified Modeling Language)
• JBoss
• WebSphere

The Here and Now

OK. Now back to the real world.

Let's say you don't work in one of the industries that is most likely to offer a bonus and you don't possess skills in any of the acronyms listed above?

Boston Web Tech Job Market

The previous Beantown Web posting entitled Boston Web Tech Job Market | 2012 revealed the Top Ten most in-demand technology skills in the Boston area.

Here are The Second Ten:

11. Perl | 157 job postings
    
12. Ajax | 142 job postings
13. ASP.NET | 138 job postings
14. jQuery | 124 job postings
15. UI | 122 job postings
16. PHP | 114 job postings
17. Python | 113 job postings
18. SharePoint | 108 job postings
19. SaaS | 104 job postings
20. Photoshop | 102 job postings

The complete list of the Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston is presented in the right-hand column.

It is interesting to consider the year-over-year trends. Postings for 18 of the Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston are up from this time last year. The largest increases were posted by these seven (eight) technologies:

1. jQuery | 70%
2. SaaS | 35%
3. JavaScript | 25%
4. Perl | 24%
5. Social Media 23%
6. Java 22%
7. Python | 22%
8. HTML + CSS 22%

Bet The House

You can roll the "Dice" and select an obscure technology to master and earn a six-figure income.

Or, you can play the odds and select one technology that is both in high demand (Top 20) and fast growing (up 70% in one year).

And the award for the single best technology to master in 2012 goes to . . .

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web. ]

Boston Web Tech Job Market | Q1 2012

Technology hiring managers have established their staffing priorities for 2012. They are looking for innovative tech professionals who can demonstrate the following four abilities:

• design
• code
• build
• operate

According to data compiled by Dice from nearly 1,200 tech-focused hiring managers and recruiters, here are the top priority skill-sets that will be in demand:

1. Java developers
2. Software engineers
3. Mobile developers
4. .NET developers
5. Project managers
6. Web developers

Details can be found in The Dice Report for January, 2012.

Boston Web Tech Job Market

Beantown Web has been reporting on the job market for Web professionals in the Boston area since February, 2005. Here are The Top Ten most in-demand technology skills in the Boston area:

1. SQL | 768 job postings
2. Oracle | 629 job postings
3. Java | 489 job postings
4. JavaScript | 312 job postings
5. SQL Server | 312 job postings
6. XML | 266 job postings
7. C# | 258 job postings
8. "Web Services" | 195 job postings
9. HTML + CSS | 185 job postings
10. Social Media | 171 job postings

Clearly, there is no shortage of Web-related work for technically inclined professionals with a balance of knowledge and experience.

It is interesting to consider the year-over-year trends. Postings for all Top Ten skills are up from this time last year. The largest increases were posted by these four (five) technologies:

1. JavaScript | 25%
2. Social Media 23%
3. Java 22%
4. HTML + CSS 22%

The data shows that demand for front-end developers (HTML + CSS + JavaScript) has been on the rise over the past 12 months. This trend will likely continue into the first quarter of 2012.

In the next issue we will take a closer look at "The Second Ten" skills and dive deeper into the year-over-year Web technology trends shaping 2012.

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web. ]

Web Innovators Group | WebInno32

Eleven companies. Eleven hundred networking opportunities. All in one room. All FREE.

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

This 32nd installment will feature the following presentations:

Main Dishes

• BestVendor | Helps you discover work apps you'll love.


• Kibits Labs | Lets you instantly connect with the people who matter most, in the moments that matter.


• Tasted Menu | Offers diners an unmatched way to rank dishes, not restaurants.

Side Dishes

• AppBlade | It's like adding MacGyver to your development team.


• Hypr3D | Create 3D models from your images automatically.


• Daily Feats | Earn discounts for completing daily feats.


• MeetingKing | One tool to manage your meetings.


• PowerInbox | Rich apps inside your inbox.


• Take The Interview | An efficient video interviewing solution to screen candidates.


• Rejoiner | Capture pre-submit data from abandoned forms.


• Rocketmind | Develops innovative mobile games.
  

Event Details

Tuesday, November 29, 2011, 6:30 pm

Royal Sonesta Cambridge

Registration is FREE and the networking could prove invaluable! Check out the Attendee List of more than 900 pre-registrants to determine if this networking event is right for you.

Registrants are encouraged to join the Boston Web Innovators Group on LinkedIn and connect with more than 1,500 members. You can also let your LinkedIn network know you will be attending this event.

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web. ]

Boston Market | November 2011

Short term slow down or longer term trend?

Global Markets

Reuters is reporting that the chance of a U.S recession in 2012 now is better than 50/50.

As the European debt crisis expands and the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction struggles to find common ground, employers might become more cautious in their hiring.

Boston Job Market for November

The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated and appears in the right-hand column. Job postings have taken a turn in the southerly direction with only two technologies reporting an increase in postings since early October.

So, we might be witnessing an early indicator of a hiring slowdown, or perhaps, merely an early sign of a normal seasonal slowdown as we approach the year-end Holidays.

None-the-less, every technology listed features at least 100 job postings mentioning that technology. The most-frequently mentioned technology, SQL, features more than 800 job postings. So, opportunities abound for Web technology professionals with in-demand skills and experience.

Next Actions for November

Web technology professionals are encouraged to keep their skills fresh and maintain their professional connections. Two resources that Boston area Web technology professionals should consider monitoring to help expand professional connections include the following:

~ VentureFizz
~ Greenhorn Connect

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web. ]

Boston Market | October 2011

Hiring demand for Web developers remains strong according to a new report. The most commonly advertised job titles during the study period were the following:

• Java Developer
• Web Developer
• .Net Developer
• Sharepoint Developer
• Web Designer
• PHP Developer
• J2ee Developer

The report was issued by WANTED Analytics™. It also stated that the nationwide candidate pool consists of less than one potential candidate for each job listing.

Meaning: There are not enough Web Developers in the workforce to fill available job openings!

Source: WANTED Analytics™

The Dice Report for October is also reporting steady demand for developers, especially those with Microsoft .NET experience.

Boston Job Market for October

The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated and appears in the right-hand column. Each technology links to job postings at Boston.com that list that technology keyword in the job description.

The usual suspects appear in the Top Five:

1. SQL | 968 job listings
2. Oracle | 789 job listings
3. Java | 631 job listings
4. JavaScript | 393 job listings
5. SQL Server | 378 job listings

Take home message:

Database skills + programming skills = career security

Note: There is no such thing as job security.

Boston Training Opportunities

Here are two training opportunities in the Boston area to consider.

wakanday 2011 | Saturday, October 15

Wakanday is a one-day event designed to show how far JavaScript has come along as a programming language.

Pricing & Registration

RIA Unleashed Boston 2011 | Thursday & Friday, October 27 & 28

What will be covered? Flex, AIR, ColdFusion, Flash CS5, Flash Catalyst CS5, JavaScript (including jQuery), mobile development, HTML5.

Pricing & Registration (Enter "BeantownWeb" to receive a 10% discount.)

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web. ]

Startup Watch | June 2011

Startup companies create jobs. According to StartUpHire.com there are currently more than 800 job openings at startup companies in the Boston area.

FounderMatchUp Boston

If you are looking to make personal connections with entrepreneurs in the startup arena, check out FounderMatchUp -- Where Co-Founders Connect.

Opportunities exist in the areas of web design, web development, finance, marketing, sales, and more. To make a personal connection simply register for this FREE networking event and begin making connections.

Event Details:

Wednesday, September 21, 2011
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Microsoft NERD
Cambridge, MA

Startup Watch for June

In addition to this networking opportunity, check out Mass High Tech which highlights startup companies each week in a series called "Five You Should Follow."

Here are 16 startup companies to keep your eye on:

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

» Constellation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | Cambridge

» DailyFeats, Inc. | Cambridge

» Elerts Corp. | Braintree

» GrabCAD | GrabCAD

» LuckyLabs, Inc. | Cambridge

» Made in the Commonwealth LLC | Boston

» Objective Logistics LLC | New Bedford

» Orban Bioscience | Brookline

» Senexx, Inc. | Cambridge

» Smarterer, Inc. | Boston

» SmartRM, Inc. | Boston

» Strohl Medical Technologies, Inc. | Norwell

» Sun Catalytix Corp. | Cambridge

» TotalTab | Uxbridge

» VeloBit, Inc. | Boxborough

» Wing Power Energy, Inc. | Salem

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 | May 2011
• Startup Watch | April 2011
• Startup Watch | March 2011
• Startup Watch | February 2011
• Startup Watch | January 2011
• Startup Watch | December 2010
• Startup Watch | November 2010
• Startup Watch | October 2010
• Startup Watch | September 2010
• Startup Watch | August 2010
• Startup Watch | July 2010
• Startup Watch | June 2010
• Startup Watch | May 2010

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web.

Web Innovators Group | WebInno31

Nine companies. Nine hundred networking opportunities. All in one room. All FREE.

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

This 31st installment will feature the following presentations:

Main Dishes

• SnapApp | Get more leads, fuel Facebook likes, drive Twitter followers and acquire more customers.


• SocMetrics | Helps leading agencies and brands identify and engage topical influencers and turn them into advocates.


• Yesware | Makes products to help salespeople do their job better.

Side Dishes

• GoodTwo | Provides a free, unique fundraising tool.


• Cravelabs | Get your customers to drive word-of-mouth.


• synchtube | Synchronize various types of media across the web.


• Addie | A new approach to real-life sharing and cloud storage.


• Curisma | Explore community discovered, cool tech products.


• RepTivity | Real time leaderboard for your sales teams.

Event Details

Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 6:30 pm

Royal Sonesta Cambridge

Registration is FREE and the networking could prove invaluable! Check out the Attendee List of more than 900 pre-registrants to determine if this networking event is right for you.

Registrants are encouraged to join the Boston Web Innovators Group on LinkedIn and connect with nearly 1,500 members.

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web. ]

Boston Market | September 2011

As President Obama addresses the nation about job creation in America, workers with in-demand skills are fairing better than others.

Notably, residents of Massachusetts are experiencing a 7.6 percent unemployment rate, considerably better than the national average rate of 9.1 percent. And residents of Massachusetts with the right mix of technology skills and experience have more options than most.

Developers In Demand

WBUR, Boston's NPR news station, ran a Labor Day story entitled In Tough Labor Market, Software Developers Wanted. The story featured Dharmesh Shah, co-founder and CTO of Cambridge-based HubSpot. Not only is he having a challenge finding talent, he is willing to give you $10,000 just for helping him find the right developers to join his team.

Boston Job Market for September

So, what are the Web-related technology skills that are most in-demand in the Boston metro area? The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated and appears in the right-hand column. Each technology links to job postings at Boston.com that list that technology keyword in the job description.

The number of job postings for most technologies has increased since early June despite the uncertainty surrounding our elected leaders' inability to form a consensus around the best way to steer our economic ship.

Technology Training Opportunity

One challenge that faces many job seekers is "How can I learn the skills I need to qualify for one of these jobs?" Boston PHP has a solution. Boston PHP is the largest Web technology Meetup in New England with more than 2,000 members.

Boston PHP offers two virtual self-study groups targeting Web technology beginners.

~ PHP Percolate! for beginners who want to learn the basics of PHP and MySQL

~ jQuery jAM for beginners who want the learn the basics of JavaScript and jQuery

Why these technologies? Simply because employers are looking for workers who have these skills:

#4 JavaScript | 372 job postings
#12 PHP | 177 job postings
#14 MySQL | 165 job postings
#20 jQuery | 132 job postings

If you would like to participate in one of the Boston PHP self-study groups, simply become a member of Boston PHP and state your interest in joining either PHP Percolate! or jQuery jAM when you sign up. Membership is free.

Full Disclosure: PHP Percolate! and jQuery jAM are lead by the author of this blog article.

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web. ]

Startup Watch | May 2011

Today's new businesses are lean. Businesses less than a year old are hiring fewer employees than they have in years past.

"Not only are these businesses starting out smaller than their predecessors, they are staying smaller."

"We won’t fix our core unemployment problem in the United States until young businesses get back on track."

Details can be found in a new report from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation entitled Starting Smaller; Staying Smaller: America’s Slow Leak in Job Creation [ press release | 20-page report ]

Startup Watch for May

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

Here are 22 Massachusetts-based startup companies to keep your eye on:

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

» AcuityBio Corp. | Newton

» Aid Aide | Cambridge

» Alpinewerx, LLC | Cambridge

» Bioarray Therapeutics, Inc. | Boston

» Click Diagnostics, Inc. | Lexington

» CraveLabs | Tewksbury

» EmptyCabin | Watertown

» Enlight Biosciences LLC | Boston

» EveryFit, Inc. | Cambridge

» Fundraise.com, Inc. | Boston

» Junctions | Brookline

» Kaminario, Inc. | Newton

» Loxal Rewards | Cambridge

» Modo Labs, Inc. | Cambridge

» Noblegen Biosciences, Inc. | Boston

» NuOrtho Surgical, Inc. | Fall River

» RippleFunction | Boston

» Thermedical, Inc. | Somerville

» Transatomic Power Corp. | Cambridge

» Typesafe, Inc. | Cambridge

» UsTrendy, Inc. | Cambridge

» Zigswitch, Inc. | 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 | April 2011
• Startup Watch | March 2011
• Startup Watch | February 2011
• Startup Watch | January 2011
• Startup Watch | December 2010
• Startup Watch | November 2010
• Startup Watch | October 2010
• Startup Watch | September 2010
• Startup Watch | August 2010
• Startup Watch | July 2010
• Startup Watch | June 2010
• Startup Watch | May 2010

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and comment on this article at Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web.

Boston Market | June 2011

Web technology professionals should target advertising and marketing executives to enhance employment prospects. A net 19 percent of advertising and marketing executives plan to increase staffing levels in the third quarter. Here are the positions in top demand:

• Web designers/developers
• Mobile apps designers/developers
• Interactive marketing managers

Only legal professionals are in greater demand according to the Robert Half Professional Employment Report for the third quarter of 2011 . Complete details are available in an 11-page report.

Boston Market

The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated and appears in the right-hand column.Each technology links to job postings at Boston.com that list that technology keyword in the job description. The number of job postings has declined over the past 30 days and this may reflect a seasonal slowdown as the summer months begin.

None-the-less, jobs are plentiful. Even the technology in position #20 -- MySQL -- is mentioned in more than 100 job postings.

~ SQL Server is mentioned three times more frequently than MySQL.
~ SQL and Oracle are mentioned eight times more frequently than MySQL.

So, the ability to store and retrieve data is at the center of today's advertising- and marketing-driven, Web development landscape.

Next Action

If you are a Web technology professional and are interested in exploring opportunities in the marketplace, start with your LinkedIn list of connections. Search your connections for those that list "Marketing and Advertising" as their industry. Then, send each a message with an update on how you might be able to help them.

Advertising and marketing executives are looking for talented and experienced Web technology professionals. Let them know of your interest and availability. (If you also have a law degree, don't be shy in mentioning that skill as well!)

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web. ]

Web Innovators Group | WebInno30

Eleven companies. Eleven hundred networking opportunities. All in one room. All FREE.

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

This 30th installment will feature the following presentations:

Main Dishes

• Lockify | Take control of your private communications..


• Pintly | A new kind of beer website -- one that only recommends beer you're sure to love.


• Smarterer | Show what you know by taking tests and sharing your skills.

Side Dishes

• Apptegic | Do you know what your customers are doing?


• Fantourage | Get rewarded for fandom!


• GamesForLanguage | Learn languages the fun way!


• Goshido | Focus on doing the work that matters.


• The Happy Cloud | How longs are you willing to wait for your games?


• TourSphere | The mobile app generator for museums & cultural destinations.


• Zaarly | Helps you buy and sell with people around you.


• CLOVR Media | Card Linked Offers with Virtual Redemption.

A Startup's Guide to Navigating Agencies & Brands

A special optional breakout session will begin at 8:00 pm. The panelists will discuss how to overcome the challenges that small startup companies have in attracting the attention of digital agencies and large brands with significant ad spending power.

Moderator: Dave Balter | CEO of BzzAgent
Panelist: Edward Boches | Chief Innovation Officer of Mullen
Panelist: Jeff McMahon | CEO of Agency Oasis
Panelist: Jessica DeVlieger | V.P. of Strategic Accounts at Communispace

Event Details

Monday, June 13, 2011, 6:30 pm

Royal Sonesta Cambridge

Registration is FREE and the networking could prove invaluable! Check out the Attendee List of more than 1,000 pre-registrants to determine if this networking event is right for you.

Registrants are encouraged to join the Boston Web Innovators Group on LinkedIn and connect with nearly 1,400 members.

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web. ]

Seven Skills | Seven Cities

Seven Web technology skills offer the greatest potential to advance your career. Seven cities offer the best prospects for employing these skills.

Seven Skills

Here are the specific IT skills that staffing executives say are most in demand—and that are commanding the highest pay rates:

• Java
• C#
• PHP
• Ruby on Rails
• .NET
• SQL
• Oracle DBAs

For details access an article at CIO magazine entitled IT Pay Creeps Up After Two-Year Downward Spiral.

Seven Cities

Here are the seven cities with the best job prospects for technology workers:

1. Houston
2. Washington, DC
3. Columbus, OH
4. Detroit
5. Philadelphia
6. Edison, NJ
7. Boston

For details access an article at Forbes magazine entitled The Top 7 U.S. Cities To Find An IT Job Right Now.

One Action Plan

While it may not be realistic to uproot your family and move to another city, you can develop new skills that the marketplace wants and will compensate you for at above average wages.

Identify one of the top seven Web technology skills and develop a plan to get better at this skill. For example, 192 web-developers-in-training have committed to a 17-week self-study group to learn PHP. You can organize a self-study group and make a difference in your community.

There is no need for your career to be a crap shoot. Set a goal, develop a plan, get others involved.

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web. ]

Boston Market | May 2011

Two surveys provide insights into how workers find jobs and what employers are looking for in candidates.

Who You Know

How did you secure your most recent position?

1. "word-of-mouth" referrals | 28 percent
2. online job postings | 19 percent
3. recruitment/staffing firms | 16 percent
   
4. direct approaches from employers | 16 percent

More than 18,000 U.S. workers were included in these findings which were presented in the Kelly Global Workforce Index. This report is rich with information about the emerging effects of social media on job search and is worth a deeper look. [ Press Release | Complete Report ]

What You Know

What skills sets are employers looking for in new grads?

1. communications skills (written + verbal) | 69 percent
   
2. technical skills | 57 percent
   
3. project management skills | 44 percent

These findings included more than 2,800 hiring managers and human resource professionals and are reported in CareerBuilder’s Annual College Job Forecast.

Seven-Day Action Plan

Based on these findings, here are three questions to ask yourself about your goals for this week:

~ What networking event will I attend?
~ What article will I write or presentation will I make to my industry peers?
~ What project will I manage from start to finish?

Boston Market

Now for the technical skills. The list of Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for May and is presented in the right-hand column. Many of the technical skills posted increases over the past 30 days. Twelve of the 20 skills were mentioned more frequently in job descriptions posted at Boston.com than this time last month.

The double-digit movers on the plus side were as follows:

#08 "Web Services" | 267 job postings 10%

#12 JSP | 181 job postings 20%

#13 UI | 176 job postings 31%

#18 Photoshop | 148 job postings 16%

Bottom line: Interpersonal skills + technical skills = increased opportunity

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web. ]

Startup Watch | April 2011

Annualized economic expansion rates during the first quarter of 2011:

~ U.S. economy | 1.8 percent
~ Massachusetts economy | 4.2 percent

The dramatic difference can be explained largely by the booming technology sector in Massachusetts according to new report issued by MassBenchmarks (Bloomberg Businessweek, Reuters).

Refer a Rockstar

You don't have to be a technology rockstar to benefit financially from this tech expansion. You simply need to be acquainted with Steven Tyler's techie twin.

To enter the Refer a Rockstar Lottery simply select the amount, click and refer!

$1,500 | $2,500 | $10,000 | $12,000

Startup Watch

Most of us don't have the catalog of hit tunes to become a judge on America Idol. If you are currently struggling to land a record deal, perhaps joining a garage band is the next step.

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

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.]

» 28Wins | Cambridge

» Acceptional | Weston

» ByteLight | Boston

» Closed Loop Service | Tewksbury

» ExceLingo | Cambridge

» Family Health Portfolio, Inc. | Sherborn

» GamesForLanguage LLC | Watertown

» Getabl | Boston

» GoodTwo | Boston

» InCrowd LLC | Chestnut Hill

» KnowEssentials | Boston

» Luminaire Coffee | Somerville

» Modapt, Inc. | Wellesley

» MyTake LLC | Westborough

» Paperwork.Pro LLC | Cambridge

» PerkStreet Financial, Inc. | Boston

» PK Clean Technologies, Inc. | Cambridge

» SilverRail Technologies, Inc. | Woburn

» Swellr, Inc. | Woburn

» TrainingPal LLC | 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 | March 2011
• Startup Watch | February 2011
• Startup Watch | January 2011
• Startup Watch | December 2010
• Startup Watch | November 2010
• Startup Watch | October 2010
• Startup Watch | September 2010
• Startup Watch | August 2010
• Startup Watch | July 2010
• Startup Watch | June 2010
• Startup Watch | May 2010

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web.

Boston Market | April 2011

Companies are getting more aggressive at poaching talent from rival companies. This practice is more common in information technology (IT) than in other disciplines with 62% of hiring managers and recruiters agreeing that poaching in on the rise.

What industry sectors are ripe for poaching in New England?

• industrial
• medical
• educational

What traits are hiring managers looking for?

• multi-skilled
• experienced
• industry-specific

Details from two separate findings can be found at Dice.com: Dice Report and Local Markets.

There are no shortage of opportunities for Web professionals in the Boston area. Here are the current postings available at Dice.com:

• web development | 776 opportunities
• web design | 636 opportunities

Boston Market

Generic titles such as "web development" and "web design" can cover a wide area of technology skills. One job search strategy is to focus on an individual technology.

The Top 20 Web Technologies in Boston has been updated for April and appears in the right-hand column. The frantic pace of technology job postings has slowed over the past 30 days. None-the-less, every technology listed has seen a substantial increase in activity since the beginning of 2011.

Single-month movements do not signify a trend. However, it is worth noting that only three technologies experienced a net increase in job postings over the past 30 days. They are as follows:

• Social Media | 261 opportunities 13%
• PHP | 163 opportunities 07%
• e-commerce | 163 opportunities 07%

Best Training Opportunity

The Boston PHP Meetup is offering a virtually FREE training opportunity to learn PHP, a popular Web programming language. This virtual self-study group is designed for PHP beginners only. The total monetary investment is the purchase of a book. Each participant commits to the following:

• read one chapter of the book per week
• complete the exercises associated with that chapter

An online discussion area has been created to answer questions and resolve challenges along the way. Since this training opportunity is virtual, participants are welcome from anywhere on the planet! More than 100 Boston area developers-in-training have signed up so far.

For details access Self-Study Group for PHP Beginners Begins May 1. Then click the "Join us!" button and reply to the discussion to begin the training.

[ FULL DISCLOSURE: This self-study opportunity, called PHP Percolate!, is coordinated by yours truly, the creator of Beantown Web. ]

[ NOTE: Follow Beantown Web on Twitter @webapprentices and on Facebook by becoming a Fan of Beantown Web. ]

Startup Watch | March 2011

Bloomberg Businessweek reports:

"As the economy rebounds, tech companies are battling over engineers, designers, computer scientists, and executives who can stay ahead of rapid change in the industry."

"Several factors are driving the talent grab. The rapid growth of social media, mobile technology, and e-commerce has fueled a run on employees with expertise in those fields. The recent increase in the number of startups is also fueling hiring."

Details can be found at Techdom's Talent Poaching Epidemic.

This perspective confirms last year's Gartner report of the top three Strategic Technologies for 2011:

• Cloud
• Mobile
• Social

Enterprise Mobile Event

If you are looking for talent (or you are talent looking to be found), sign up now for a FREE networking event sponsored by Cisco. The Enterprise Mobile Event tour began in Austin, TX on April 4 and will visit the following cities:

• San Francisco | April 11
• Boston | April 11
• Seattle | April 18
• New York City | April 25

The Boston event will be held at the Liberty Hotel.

Once registered, let your network know about the Boston event on LinkedIn.

Startup Watch for March

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

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.]

» Asthma Signals, Inc. | Woburn

» City Penguin | Boston

» Defective Studios | Watertown

» EasyUnsubscriber.com | Boston

» essayCLOUD | Boston

» Forma Therapeutics, Inc. | Cambridge

» ImpulseSave | Cambridge

» Mobinett Interactive, Inc. | Medford

» Nimbus Discovery LLC | Cambridge

» Novogy, Inc. | Cambridge

» Oddfellow Studios, Inc. | Somerville

» PostPost | Waltham

» Privy | Boston

» Stonewedge Corp. | Andover

» Synapse Firing Squad LLC | Brighton

» Take the Interview | Boston

» The Tap Lab | Cambridge

» Triumphant Visions | Boston

» U for Life, Inc. | Needham

» Upward Mobility | Boston

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 | February 2011
• Startup Watch | January 2011
• Startup Watch | December 2010
• Startup Watch | November 2010
• Startup Watch | October 2010
• Startup Watch | September 2010
• Startup Watch | August 2010
• Startup Watch | July 2010
• Startup Watch | June 2010
• Startup Watch | May 2010

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Sources of Hire (SOH) Study | 2011

Picture yourself sitting in a conference room with three coworkers. Only one of you would NOT consider a new job opportunity if approached with one, according to a newly released study.

Source: Plateau Systems

Are we in the early stages of a battle for talent?

Details of this survey of more than 2,500 U.S. workers are available in a press release and executive summary from Plateau Systems, a leading provider of integrated talent management solutions.

Sources of Hire Study

Whether you are actively seeking a new opportunity or passively awaiting a tap on the shoulder, the 10th Annual Sources of Hire (SOH) Study offers effective strategies for locating the exit sign.

This survey represents 36 large companies. These enterprises filled nearly 70,000 jobs in 2010. Where did these workers come from?

More than 50 percent of all jobs were filled by internal movement. Get your foot in the door. Do a good job. Move up!

The remaining jobs were filled by external candidates. If you are on the outside looking in, what is the BEST strategy for securing a new job with a new employer?

Land a referral!

Referrals: The #1 Source of External Hires

Referrals (27.5%) are more effective than job boards (24.9%).

Referrals (27.5%) are 11 times more effective than temp/contract-to-hire arrangements (2.4%).

Referrals (27.5%) are 15 times more effective than career fairs (1.8%).

Every 10 referrals results in one new hire. Compare that return with the number of times you may have launched your resume into the black hole of a computerized job posting service and received no reply.

For additional information access a press release and a full report of the 10th Annual Source of Hire (SOH) Study.

Conclusion

How do you land referrals?

~ get out and meet people in your industry

~ exceed expectations whenever possible

~ expand your LinkedIn connections

A referral could make the difference between "I'll stick around" and "I'm outta here!"

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