The (IT) job market is getting better . . .2011 is going to be a good year.

[Statistical]

So about 10 days ago I posted how the IT sector job listings on dice had picked up.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=439&topic_id=68189

Just thought I would followup. I finished up phone interviews with two different companies (one yesterday, one tonight). Both have setup on-site interviews and I feel very strongly about one of those. While I was in the phone interview my phone kept beeping because caller ID; a third company calling about my resume. She called three times and left a message, and an email.

I haven't seen this kind of activity in at least 5 years maybe 10. It is almost hard to believe. Now maybe it is just pure luck, or maybe it is this area, or maybe it is just this occupation (software development) but it feels like the market is turning.

One company (the one I feel strongest about) seemed almost urgent. The HR manager indicated the position has been open too long and they NEED to fill it. Progress on modernizing one of the ETL processes is on hold because their existing developers have too much work. The other company listed salary range is below what I am making so I told them and they are willing to negotiate if everything else works out.

If you are in the IT world and 2010 was a rough year all I can say is I *think* 2011 will be much better. Granted it is only a pair of interviews, not a job offer in hand but I have hope for the first time in a long time. Even if I don't land either job the pace is very encouraging, less than two weeks from initial posting to on-site.

[mzteris]

1. IT for healthcare is growing explosively -

especially if you're Epic certified. (pssst - if you are - pm me!!)

[dionysus]

9. what's Epic certified? I'm in IT in the midsize manufacturing database field.

[mzteris]

27. Here's a link

to Epic: http://www.epic.com/

I'm not with Epic - but they do the training and are pretty much the gold-standard in the healthcare IT field. Pay is amazing.

[Statistical]

18. Funny you posted that.

I have no experience with Epic but I did notice that phrase in a lot of positions so I did a little google research on it. I actually even got contacted by a recruiter with Epic systems, they are providing relocation assistance to WI. I am not interested in moving, and certainly not to somewhere as cold as WI. Still I agree electronic records for health care is going to be a huge growth engine going forward.

[greytdemocrat]

25. You bet.

HL7 stuff is a good thingy.

[musette_sf]

2. hmmm.... wonder why this is getting voted down?

K&R

[Statistical]

3. I don't know but I have noticed good news (by anyone) on anything related to the economy

tends to attracts some consistent stealth unrecs.

[MineralMan]

4. Good news. Thanks for the report.

[taught_me_patience]

5. Good news. Hopefully the market for MBAs picks up just as much

and soon!

[Matariki]

6. Yeah, agreed.

I'm having trouble keeping recruiters at bay. I kind of want a couple months off...

[dreamnightwind]

7. Thanks

I need all the encouragement I can get. Been too low to even look for a job for quite awhile now, after 20+ years as programmer.

[Statistical]

8. Now might be the time to take a fresh look.

One recruiter commented that many companies needed the work late last year but it wasn't in the budget. New year = new budget.

Not sure how true that is but it seems to fit.

[hootinholler]

10. Hang in there...

I passed a phone screen (third party tech screen) yesterday (DC area) and was submitted today. I also had a second phone screen yesterday by a team, but I'm not sure if I'll get a face to face from either. They are 2 positions and I wasn't getting nibbles before the holidays. Around here if you're willing to submit to the invasion of a polygraph there are lots of developer positions open.

-Hoot

[dreamnightwind]

12. Good luck

Polygraph? Never heard that one before, geez, what's this world coming to?

[Statistical]

13. I am thinking he means security clearance jobs.

TS/SCI is going to require a poly as part of the process.

Lots of clearance jobs in VA due to military and DC.

[hootinholler]

22. Exactly

Many positions were um, security enhanced for lack of a better term, during the * years.

-Hoot

[hootinholler]

23. Thanks and to you too!

The polygraphs are for high level security clearances which are required for a lot of jobs around DC.

-Hoot

[dreamnightwind]

29. OK

Thanks for the info. I'm not in that area or that kind of work so I probably won't have to worry about it. More lined up for C++ scientific or academic work, environmental data. The grant money for that kind of work became pretty scarce in hard times, plus I got fried from employer trying to do more work with less people. Time to get back in the job market though. Good luck in your search.

[Hello_Kitty]

11. I heard Macy's IT dept. in SF can't hire fast enough. eom

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ohheckyeah]

15. Were the companies waiting

until after the election?

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Statistical]

17. I am not sure if that is really good sarcasm or you are just a sad little person.

Your stereotypical portrayal would border on racism if it were applied to a race and not an occupation.

[jeff47]

19. Bitter, much? (nt)

[Cutatious]

21. Not all nerds don't know how to lay bricks or teach English

And some even don't mow their grass, they just clean it.

[ReverendDeuce]

20. I agree with you... let me share a brief story...

I took a job with a very well funded tech start-up in Silicon Valley right after the crash in 2008.

Why they wanted to move me from the midwest to San Francisco was beyond me. The founders of the company said it was impossible to find good people. I was surprised, to say the least, with all the layoffs in the area.

When I got there and I started to try and hire people to build my team (the IT Department), I discovered the agonizing truth of what the founders told me. While it is extremely easy to find resources (warm bodies), it was next to impossible to find talent (A-listers).

Ultimately, I returned to the midwest due to the declining health of a family member, but I remember how many complete imbeciles walked into my office. Resumes were plastered with buzzwords and certifications, but none of them could demonstrate any critical thinking skills.

[conspirator]

24. Based only on your case, no conclusions can be drawn about 2011

Software development itself is a huge universe, with different specialties and sub-specialties. There are occasional booms in niche areas, like the recent iphone development boom, but those niches vanish as quick as they appear. It's a matter of how long until India and China pick them up, then they are outsourced to sweatshops.

[Shagbark Hickory]

26. ............. if you're in India.

[Statistical]

28. Well this is 69846 jobs not in India.

http://www.dice.com/

The risk of outsourcing is always there it is for any industry. However sometimes in high skill jobs you get what you pay for. Some companies are realizing that even at $22K a year a programmer in India just might not be worth it, or maybe only worth it for simply, low value work.