Scott Miller, senior technical recruiter with Market Street Talent, delves into the current state of technology staffing in the Northeast.
Where is the most demand for technology positions?
We see the biggest areas of demand in the healthcare, manufacturing, technology, financial services, and real estate industries. The positions that are and will remain in high demand are Network Engineers, Help Desk, Software Engineers, .NET Developers and Web Developers.
What qualifications are employers looking for?
Qualifications obviously vary by position, but in general, a Network Engineer should have experience with hardware, software, and network accessories, the ability to design the deployment of network systems, and the ability to maintain the network to ensure its functionality and security.
.NET Developers should possess experience with ASP.NET MVC. It is important to note that MVC is rapidly taking over the .NET web development market. Additionally, a .NET Developer should have client-side web development technologies in their repertoire, knowledge of various databases, and it does not hurt to have a Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) or a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) certification.
As for a Web Developer, they should be able to wireframe/layout a website or web application, have strong experience writing in HTML and CSS from scratch, take a PSD and turn it into a working website, as well as add interactivity to a website with JavaScript (or jQuery). Furthermore, Web Developers need to write a basic application in an object-oriented programming language like Ruby, Python or PHP to have more of a competitive edge in the market.
What are the salary ranges for these positions?
Salaries will vary by location, industry, demographics, etc. Median salaries for Software Engineers start at $81K and proceed upwards to $125 plus. Network Engineers can typically expect median salary to start around $65K and top out at $110 to $120K annual.
What should candidates consider when considering a career move into IT?
In general, anyone who is looking to make a career move or enter the IT workspace should take into consideration a few factors. Evaluate a company’s products and services, and look at the success (or lack thereof) of what they are marketing. Consider if this role will open doors to new technology. Look for red flags, financial instability, workforce reduction, legacy technology in abundance rather than migrating to newer more robust systems, and review the pros and cons of the company’s culture.
What is the outlook for future growth?
2017 shows to be a promising year in IT salaries with technology specialties seeing moderate increases. For example, Networking/Telecommunications should be getting a 3.8% bump and the Database Administration receiving a 4.0% increase, as well, in salary growth. Other areas such as Software Development, Web Development, and Security should also see percentage increases in the year ahead.
