Below are News Bytes articles from the past three months. All material is copyrighted by Momentum unless otherwise noted.

Added on: 2/19/2008
"As a premier recruitment firm in Indiana, it is our duty to always stay informed about the local IT market. From breaking news to trend analysis to predictions for the future market, we aim to help keep you informed."

2008 I.T. Job Outlook for Indianapolis

The job market continued to grow stronger through 2007, and the good news is that we do not yet see major weakening at this point. A number of excellent firms are continuing in growth mode, and there is a definite shortage of good talent. Despite "economic predictions" of downturn, we have not yet seen any significant slowdowns or hiring freezes. Yes, there are firms that may struggle based on a variety of financial causes (Finish Line, Conseco, SallieMae, and Irwin Financial), but the overall demand for top talent remains solid. At risk are firms that have a close relationship to the financial industry, and potentially those consulting firms that have a lot of staff in large financial companies. If the companies tighten up, cutting contractors will be an easy cost-savings option.

The key words here were "top talent" though - meaning solid education and experience, a good work record, desire to be better than the rest, and your head screwed on straight! We are often surprised and dismayed to find so many "mediocre" performers who just don't see the work world clearly. So, look in the mirror - are you the go-to person that everyone wants to work with? If so, you will always be in demand!

Hot Skills

Success in I.T. has always been a game of "supply and demand", having the right technical skills at the right time. Where do we see the strongest demand right now?

C# Developers: In addition to knowing the syntax of the language, having a solid grasp of the object oriented paradigm and the concepts that make up OOD/OOP are important. Mostly used in web-based applications, so good SQL skills and XML experience, along with ASP.net, is generally required.

Business Intelligence: Although still not prolific in its use, this is an area where demand for experienced talent will continue to grow. (Hence, a good place to make yourself valuable!) In 2007, BI projects were ranked high in national surveys of CIO's "Top Initiatives". There are a variety of tools in use - we see MS Analysis Services and MS Reporting Services growing in popularity. Cognos has stayed popular as well.

Data Warehousing: Closely aligned with Business Intelligence is the need to create Data Warehouses. Demand for DW Architects and experienced Business Analysts and Developers who understand the creation of OLAP Cubes will continue to grow. We see demand right now, as new projects are getting funded for the year.

VoIP / Cisco: Definitely a high priority on a number of CIO's plates. Surveys of CIO's have placed this issue high on their list the past two years. Companies look for Cisco certifications or training, Call Manager and Unity experience.

A Reader Asks:
"Hey Don, My annual raise is coming up. What can I expect as a 'standard salary increase' this year? I'm hoping for something decent."

Dear Hopeful,
Obviously, there are a lot of variables that go into an individual's raise; however, here is some info to help you. For the past couple of years, we have had companies report the same general numbers: corporations are allocating a raise 'pool' in a range of between 3 to 5.5% (the highest departmental was 6%). This means, the entire company's payroll will increase by that much, or departments will be given that much to distribute across its staff. Individual adjustments, of course, are based on individual contributions (or should be). In some firms, everyone gets the same percentage increase, with little differentiation - often a source of frustration for the top performers, a windfall for the less energetic! Another issue to understand is that junior I.T. folks increase in market value more quickly their first couple years than do senior people. It is more common to see "out of cycle" adjustments for them. Bottom line - expect somewhere between 3 - 5% on average! We will talk about preparing for performance reviews in an upcoming newsletter.

Upcoming
Look for our newsletters featuring information on local technology user groups, profiles of what is going on in the top places for I.T. professionals to work, best jobs, and tips on interview skills. We hope that you will share this with other professionals and job searchers.

Added on: 9/6/2007
A chapter of the International Institute of Business Analysis has been formed in Indianapolis. This professional association serves the field of business analysis, and holds monthly meetings in the Indianapolis area. Certification as a Certified Business Analysis Professional is available through this organization.

For more information, check the link for the local group: > http://central-indiana.theiiba.org/ or visit the national association’s site at: > http://www.theiiba.org/

Added on: 9/6/2007
Do you want to improve your skills, learn more about technology in Indianapolis, or find peers with whom you can network?
(If you didn't answer "Yes", perhaps you should rethink your answer.)

There are a number of organizations and user groups here that are devoted to professionals in the Information Technology industry. Check out the links listed below. And if you attend, let the organization know that you learned about them on the Momentum LLC website.

Added on: 9/6/2007
The Purdue School of Engineering and Technology at IUPUI has announced a brand new Masters degree for working professionals who wish to strengthen their credentials as technology managers. There is a specially designed M.S. program for I.T. professionals.
Until now, most professionals who wished to obtain advanced degrees were limited to generic MBA curriculums. The Master of Science in Technology degree is designed as a full time OR part time curriculum, focused on training experienced professionals for technical leadership and management roles.
For more information, go to this link:
http://www.engr.iupui.edu/gradprogs/tech.shtml

Added on: 9/6/2007
While Programming is a large part of Information Technology, it is not the only avenue available for people wanting to work in the IT field. What about the person who understands programming, but is considered a "people person" and isn't interested in a "heads-down coding" position?

With the rapid expansion of software product firms in central Indiana, career opportunities for these people are growing. Software product companies offer "non-programming" technical roles such as:

• Software product trainers. They are responsible for teaching clients how to best use the company's product. This position allows technically knowledgeable extroverts the chance to conduct classes, create courses and travel to client locations.
• Client support representatives.Firms with sophisticated software products need individuals with good communication skill and technical comprehension to interface with their clients, who often work within an IT department themselves. These positions involve more than simple help desk telephone work; some of the support roles require technical research, problem solving/troubleshooting abilities and even light coding.
• Implementation analysts go to the client company to install and configure the product after the sale. Good implementation analysts are able to program, troubleshoot network or database issues, coach the users and represent their company professionally.

Added on: 9/6/2007
In the cleanest terms, an interview can be defined as an intense information exchange. Candidates use the interview process to determine if both the job and the company are a good match. Companies use the interview process to determine two things: What does the candidate know how to do? and How does the candidate behave?

The interviewer will use information about a candidate's education, work experience and technical skills to determine what he/she knows how to do and if their skills match the requirements of an open position. Determining how a candidate behaves is a little trickier and is done by looking at a candidate's interpersonal skills and motivators. These help the company determine if a candidate will fit into the organization and culture of a company.

It is imperative that you prepare yourself for an interview by doing an inventory of your background and experience. Evaluate yourself honestly and be truly introspective. The interview is the time you must sell yourself to the interviewer. Remember to always keep in mind the job requirements and relate your answers back to that information.

Remember, an interview should be an even exchange of information. It is your responsibility, as the candidate, to get the information you need about the job and the company to ensure the best match not only for your career goals but also your personality. Research the company before the interview and be assertive in your follow-up.

Be aware that the work doesn't end after the interview. Take a minute to reflect back on the interview and jot down your impressions and any important information as soon as possible after the interview.

Added on: 9/6/2007
Good News! The average salary increase for IT professionals is higher than the national average. The national average for salary increases has consistently been running between 3% to 4%, while the average increase for IT personnel is reported to be 4% to 5% and even higher in consulting and outsourcing firms, where personnel are the firm's "capital equipment." People with specialty and high demand skills, such as web specialists and package experts (SAP, Oracle, etc.) will have more leverage when performance review time rolls around. Successful project managers should also see higher than average increases.

We continue to see companies search for ways to attract and retain technical staff, beyond base salaries. Larger bonuses and untraditional benefit packages are becoming more and more common. Remember to take these into consideration when considering a position where the base salary may be lower than you'd like.

Added on: 6/21/2001