What does Cloud Computing mean for IT Jobs?
Sep/100
Everyone who knows anything about Cloud Computing is fully aware of the many advantages for companies of going down this route. Results like cost-saving, increased capability, agility and flexibility.
However, what does Cloud Computing mean for IT jobs? As most of the work involved in Cloud Computing can be done by 1 person and the machine, is it likely to lead to a decrease in demand for certain IT skills. In short, the answer is “yes”. IT Administrators are likely to be less in demand as the services and servers move into the cloud.
A recent survey in the UK showed results where the majority felt that cloud computing would not be good for IT jobs. In fact, only 28% felt that it would be good. However, some 70% did agree that possessing Cloud skills would make them more employable with the downside being that it is not yet clear which specific skills will be useful for Cloud Computing. Others suggest that an increase in Cloud Computing will also lead to an increased demand for Application Support professionals.
Of course, all of the above is dependent on how many companies decide to go down the route of Cloud Computing. It would appear that they are not jumping into it as quickly as was initially thought with most being extremely cautious with their IT investments.
Summer Heating up on the IT side
Aug/100
I thought I would update our followers on whats hot and not so hot in the summer months on the IT front. There has been an increase in the amount of signed off jobs for July and companies seem to be getting more confident about hiring people. Technical tests are growing in demand and becoming a major priority especially for start ups. The main skills in demand are very much Java/J2EE/JEE skills, core Java is not so popular however mid level candidates with 2 – 5 years experience are (smokin’ hot!) very much in demand.
Senior positions such as IT Advisory, Audit, Governance, Risk and Release Management are becoming a necessary requirement for Professional Services and some of our FS clients.
We have seen a growth in Technical support with Languages and Network Engineer positions
Skills especially certified in Vmware, Citrix and Cisco with a noticeable decline in Field Service and 1st level Support vacancies’.
C++ continues to be a popular skill set at the moment, most notably in niche software development houses, the gaming sector, telecommunications and the contact centre space. Candidates with a strong mathematical background with the ability to absorb complicated algorithms are in demand. In the .Net space, the latest versions of C# (3.5 and 4.0) coupled with technologies such as LINQ and OO Programming are desirable across all markets.
Contract Developers are still in high demand with a special focus on Business Intelligence requirements noticed a slight decline in new jobs registered in July in line with seasonal trends.
Keen to hear your thoughts on the above;
Get your game face on!
Jun/100
The gaming industry is a rapidly growing industry that can provide lucrative opportunities. USA and Japan remains the hub for gaming development, but can Irish firms break into this market?
The barrier for entry to this lucrative multibillion dollar multi-platform gaming industry may be too big for Irish firms given the costly nature of the business. If Irish firms have any chance of future success in the industry, clever niches in areas like casual gaming and other supporting fields must be identified.
Being realistic it would cost millions to develop a game like Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty for the Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo platforms. However one can look at the Irish Software Company which was formed by a team of Trinity College Dublin graduates, who developed and sold on the off-the-shelf middleware that allowed developers to add online multi-player abilities to their games. Their software was a driving force behind the success of big titled games.
Opportunities in smaller animation based projects could provide a solution in breaking down the barriers to entry in the gaming business. Success in animation and mobile technology prove that there are opportunities in the gaming industry and create a high demands for skilled developers with C++ being one of the languages of choice.
With the development of 3D television, and Television becoming more internet-based and IT focused there will be more opportunities in software and middleware, as well as audio visual. The future for the Irish gaming industry looks positive.
http://gpwiki.org/index.php/DemonWare
The Data Explosion
Jun/100
Data Growth has continued to explode over the last year with a new report claiming a worldwide rise of 62%. With so much information streaming into and out of organizations from call centers, customer Internet forms, point-of-sale contact information, Web-based applications and other customer information systems, data quality and integrity play an important part in every company’s data warehousing efforts.
With an increased focus on Data, we are seeing a huge increase in demand for skilled Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence professionals. Common roles include Data Warehouse Support, Business Objects Consultants, Business Intelligence Developers and Data Warehouse consultants. Many companies are formalizing their Information and Data Management strategies and assessing current systems support of information needs. As a result, people with significant knowledge of Data Warehouse concepts are in high demand along with those who have experience of managing Data Intensive initiatives.
The security industry is also set for a busy time as a result of the spotlight on data and information. It is predicted that by 2020 the amount of files needing higher levels of security would be 50% of the total, up from an estimated 30% this year.
Those in the Cloud Computing business will be happy with these findings as this report also predicts that a third of all data will be residing in the cloud by 2020.
Java????
Jun/100
What is Java? To those outside the IT industry it probably brings to mind a brand of coffee or an exotic island somewhere.
To those of us within the IT world it’s a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun and released in 1995. It is one of the most influential languages of the 20th century and is widely used from application software to web applications.
To those of us who specialise in Recruitment it’s currently the hottest ticket in town!
We have been sourcing Java Developers in Ireland for the past number of years and apart from a few well known “famine patches” have found demand for these skills to be fairly consistent.
Right now, many companies are crying out for good Developers who have a few years commercial experience!!
It is easy to get the impression from the media that there are lots of IT professionals eagerly searching for non existent positions but there are definitely certain skills where the case is in reality the opposite!
So the moral of the story is that if you are currently working in Java and feel like making a move, be brave, the grass can actually be greener on the other side and you won’t know unless you take a look!
IT Contractors can help companies to meet targets, reduce costs and go greener!
Mar/100
Hiring IT Contractors from Specialist Agents is a cost-effective, hassle free way for companies to meet deadlines and complete projects with the right expertise on time and within budget.
Recent market trends and tougher economic times have resulted in headcount freezes and longer lead times to take on permanent staff. Many companies have reduced staff numbers but that doesn’t necessarily mean that business is not on, or coming in. If there is an increase in work and new projects starting up, or staff absent at a time when service levels need to remain at a high standard, the ideal solution to fill these areas is with a contractor.
In the past contractors were always in demand in the IT Sector and now we are seeing the trend move out to other sectors such as Finance, HR, Engineering and Pharmaceutical. More recently with the high rate of redundancies and downsizing a great number of candidates have set themselves up as independent contractors and are marketing themselves to specialists agents, and in some cases directly back to their previous employers.
Benefits include increased autonomy and flexibility with your schedule. You can make excellent money and good tax savings, and can go greener working from home and/or remotely for your client!
IT Still Strong Focus for IT Firms in 2010
Feb/100
Good news for IT professionals in today’s Business And Leadership news. IT is still very much an important part of Irish business with 47% of companies surveyed saying they will be maintaining their current level of IT staff over the next 12 months (survey by Irish Computer Society).
IT Budgets and spending, however, will be reduced in many companies with many planning to make reductions through contractor salaries.
Trends point to an increase in funding in 2010 to areas like Cloud Computing, Security and Social Networking. Bigger spend is also expected in data storage, network infrastructure and server hardware. Upskilling is also an area of interest.
Overall the IT sector remains positive with a high percentage of Senior IT Managers and Executives saying they are happy with their profession and that they would recommend a career in IT.