Mobile Development Skills Most in Demand

Mobile Development Skills Most in Demand   Source: www.cio.com Rich Hein The demand for programmers and developers with mobile skills continues to rise, but which ones should you consider adding to your toolbox? We look at which IT skills are most sought-after by employers. Mobile development is a hot IT topic, but which specific mobile skills are employers looking for most. We spoke with Dice president Shravan Goli and Mike Newman, president of On The GoWARE, to find out what IT skills businesses are clamoring for when it comes to mobile developers. This list represents the mobile development skills employers and hiring managers are searching for within Dice's resume database.   Key Survey Findings Demand for mobile developers, whether its mobile Web or mobile application development, is on the rise in a big way. According to recent research by IDC and Appcelerator, 63 percent of 6,046 Titanium developers surveyed said their skills have seen "increased" or "greatly increased" demand from enterprises in the past six months. Enterprise Demand is on the Rise. Demand is shifting from mainly B2C apps to B2B apps. Tablet Growth - Developers identified tablets as the next emerging app platform. Android seems to be the exception, however, where 12 percent more developers favor smartphones. Android Device Growth - Although the number of handsets is approaching 1 billion, this hasn't equated to the same amount of developer interest. Java Java skills top the list of in-demand mobile developer skills. It also tops many lists such as the Tiobe programming index, for example. Java is used mainly on the mobile application side to build native Android apps. "It's not a full version of Java but a subset that Google adopted. There are a couple different frameworks, but anyone who knows Java can easily adapt themselves to building applications for Android," says Dice.com president Shravan Goli. .NET Microsoft's mobile platform represents only a small percentage of the mobile development market so what is driving the demand for this skill? Back-end integration. "Integration is vital for mobile solutions," says Newman, and with countless back-end systems using Microsoft products and services it's no mystery as to why demand is high. Cloud adoption is another reason demand for this skill is high, says Goli. CSS Cascading style sheets (CSS) are used on most websites today and are responsible for how Web pages appear in your browser. When used in conjunction with JavaScript/jQuery and HTML5 CSS can help build impressive and eye-catching designs. They are all part of the mobile Web experience and an integral part of responsive design. JavaScript The mobile Web experience and responsive design are driving demand for JavaScript skills. JavaScript is more browser-level technology, so if you are building mobile Web experiences you can leverage JavaScript. That said, there are also cross-platform tools such as Titanium that use JavaScript to help developers build their code set once and run it on any platform. The problem with tools like this is that there are often limitations and lags between features updates. Quality Testing/Quality Assurance In a recent report from CapGemini, 29 percent of respondents say they lack the specialist expertise to effectively certify mobile applications making this skill one to consider adding to your toolbox. "This is mostly on the application testing side for mobile experiences," says Goli. Mobile has been in high gear for about the last three years and there aren't a wealth of people who know how to test for quality on mobile platforms, he says. As more businesses jump on the mobile bandwagon companies either have to groom these skills in house or look for people in a very competitive market. User Interface Whether it's UI research, design or UI developers, it's all about knowing how users think. Experts in this field understand and predict the behavior part of the equation and help shape how the experience needs to flow step by step. "The user interface is as important as the back-end code. If you've got a user interface that is not working, counter-intuitive or frustrating for people to use, it won't matter if the back-end code works or not. Both Google and Apple have user interface guidelines because they want consistency in the way their apps are used," says On The GoWARE's Newman. HTML5 The debate rages on over native apps vs. HTML5, but regardless demand for HTML5 skills is on the rise, making this another great skill to consider adding to your knowledge base. "This is the biggest part of the responsive design standpoint that people are leveraging today," says Dice's Goli. More businesses are leaning toward responsive design, which means demand will likely increase, he says. "Whether it's mobile or desktop Web you'd better know HTML5, because HTML5, CSS and JavaScript have really become the preferred ways of handling everything that used to be done in Flash," says On The GoWARE's Newman. Linux Linux is the OS many business systems run on and demand is high on the enterprise side. Linux is one of the fastest growing technologies in demand because it's open source. A lot of the new services and applications are built in Linux as a platform because it's cheaper to build and more open source services are built to power your enterprise applications or consumer applications, allowing you to leverage more free things. Objective-C "You better know Objective-C if you want to develop anything on the Apple side," says On The GoWARE's Newman. Demand for Objective-C skills, according to Dice data, is up 4 percent year over year. Some of that demand is likely the result of the release of Apple's iOS7. If you're considering going down this path, be aware that Objective-C isn't the easiest language to learn. "Objective-C is one of the stranger languages and there is a little bit more of a learning curve. That is why you don't see a lot of cross-over developers," says Newman.

(Courtesy: Rich Hein, CIO)

IT Hiring Expected to Outpace Every Other Industry

The Information Technology sector overall has added over 300,000 since 2010 and is showing no signs of slowing down.

 

According to CareerBuilder’s latest forecast, 36 percent of IT employers said they expect to add full-time, permanent headcount in the fourth quarter, outpacing the national average for companies hiring and surpassing even Manufacturing and Finance.

 

When it comes to which particular occupations are particularly “hot” right now, Sologig.com and Economic Modeling Specialists, Intl. (EMSI) compiled the following list of IT industry occupations with the greatest job increase between 2010 and 2013.

 

TH “Hot Jobs” for IT including salary information:

1. Software Developers, Applications
   • 11% increase in jobs since 2010
   • Median hourly wage: $43.34
2. Software Developers, Systems Software
   • 12% increase in jobs since 2010
   • Median hourly wage: $47.64
3. Computer Systems Analysts
   • 8% increase in jobs since 2010
   • Median hourly wage: $37.98
4. Computer User Support Specialists
   • 7% increase in jobs since 2010
   • Median hourly wage: $22.54
5. Network and Computer Systems Administrators
   • 9% increase in jobs since 2010
   • Median hourly wage: $35.14
6. Computer and Information Systems Managers
   • 7% increase in jobs since 2010
   • Median hourly wage: $58.11
7. Computer Programmers
   • 6% increase in jobs since 2010
   • Median hourly wage: $35.30
8. Web Developers
   • 11% increase in jobs since 2010
   • Median hourly wage: $27.84
9. Database Administrators
   • 11% increase in jobs since 2010
   • Median hourly wage: $37.39
10. Computer Network Support Specialists
    • 6% increase in jobs since 2010
    • Median hourly wage: $28,59

 

Source: CareerBuilder    October 7th, 2013

By Mary Lorenz in Forecasts, Information Technology, Talent Factor

Demand for Computer Programmers boosted by Obamacare

Computer Programmers

Under the Affordable Care Act, doctors and hospitals must use electronic medical records, but taking their old paper system into the digital age is a giant technological construction project. “You need an army of programmers to put these things together,” says Osborne, of Staffing Industry Analysts. Indeed, the number of medical records and health information technicians employed in the U.S. has grown 7% to more than 182,000 since 2009, before the ACA was enacted, according to BLS data. Employment in other occupations, meanwhile, decreased or stayed flat during the same period, Osborne says.

Computer-related jobs in health care have grown more than 30% in the past five years, although they still represent less than 1% of all health care jobs, Turner says.

Employers will also have to build new electronic systems to report the costs of their employees’ health coverage to the government, although they will have more time to do it, since the ACA 2014 deadline has been extended. The enormous task may be over the head of many companies’ in-house IT departments, so benefits and payroll firms are hiring their own engineers to create tools for their clients.

 

Source: MarketWatch  August 6, 2013           

10 careers boosted by Obamacare

Hiring is booming in these fields as a result of health reform

Ever Wonder What Hiring Managers Are Thinking?

Hiring managers are known for their poker faces and judgmental appraisal while you’re sweating bullets in the interview hot seat. Want a better idea of what interviewers are probably thinking but don’t say? Here are a few common areas of assessment that any job seeker can avoid if prepared for it.

“Are you always late like this?”
Showing up late to an interview is not a good way to start an interview. Typically it leaves hiring managers questioning if you are always late and sometimes questioning how much you actually want this position.

Solution: Plan for double the travel time you actually need. Showing up early is better than late.

“Do you usually dress like that?”
Interviewing in less than professional attire could give hiring authorities the impression you aren’t professional enough or taking this position seriously.

Solution: “Dress for the job you want.” Even if your daily attire may be more casual, it’s better to dress up rather than down for any interview.

“Are you going to jump ship?”
When there are positions on your resume that you have held for less than a year at a company the first thing most interviewers are going to ask themselves is if you are going to truly commit to this job long-term.

Solution: Be prepared to overcome these obstacles. No need to draw unnecessary attention to it but be prepared to quickly explain your career aspirations and be able to put “the hiring manager’s mind at ease.”

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/6-things-hiring-managers-think-145012868.html

Writing Thank You Letters after an Interview

Writing Thank You Letters after an Interview

 

One of the most crucial times in the interview process, is the time after the initial interview. It is the period when you can be forgotten or just blend in with the crowd. The "Thank you" letter is a very good tool to make sure that you are remembered in a positive light. They are not just a formality; they act as marketing tools that can have tremendous value in moving your candidacy forward and positioning you above the competition. Although much of what you include in your thank-you letter may have already been communicated during your interview, there is nothing more effective than the written word to etch those thoughts into your interviewer's mind.

 

Overcome Objections

During an interview if there were any objections raised as to your candidacy, use your thank-you letter to respond to and overcome those concerns. Demonstrate the concerns are not an obstacle but an opportunity, and you're fully prepared to meet the challenge.

Reiterate Your Expertise

If the company communicated its specific needs, issues or challenges, use your thank-you letter to demonstrate how you can meet those needs.

Highlight Your Core Professional Competencies and Successes
If the company communicated its ideal qualifications for a candidate, use your thank-you letter to outline how you meet or exceed each qualification.

Length

How long should your thank-you letter be?  You can take the risk of boring your potential employer to tears or just re-emphasizing your relevant experience directly related to the position. Of course, as with anything else in a job search, there is no definitive answer. We recommend the "short and sweet" versions and have seen that they pack more punch than something that is so long it makes its way to the trash instead of the inbox. Remind yourself that you already have the company's interest or you wouldn't have been interviewing. Use your thank-you letter as a tool to communicate your interest, not re-write your resume. 

Preparation

Make sure you have the correct spelling of the recipient’s name along with their company title.  If sending via email, be sure to verify their email address as well. It’s very important to spell check your letter before sending it out.  Failure to do so shows a lack of attention to detail. If you are working with a 3^rd party recruiter, have them proof your letter to get another opinion.  When you have double-checked the spelling and grammar and are satisfied with the letter mail it out as soon as possible. Don’t delay.

The Counter Offer: Opportunity or Risk?

The job search is a complex process in and of itself. Once you are almost done with this tough decision making process, another complicated factor may avail itself at the end which may need confronting. A counter offer is a delicate situation which must be handled with the utmost care. More often than not employers offer counter offers to employees who they deem valuable and therefore shower them with all the things that were lacking in the jobs in the first place. It may be a raise, higher bonus, change of title etc. The list is endless. However the underlying truth to counter offers is still the same, it is something that comes too little to late, and is all too often too good to be true.

People often search for a new job when they are motivated by some reason or another if there is something lacking in their current role. Whether it is money or recognition or a host of other issues, the fundamental point is the same, the need for change far outweighs the prospects of resorting to the status quo.

There may be risks associated with starting a new job but they are a lot less risky than accepting a counter offer. A company will offer a counter offer to patch up the immediate threat of being short staffed. Money, Title, Vacation, Promotions are all offered to offset your departure. However, what must be understood is that such things should not be provided when an employee threatens to leave. An employee's self worth should be dictated by their performance and not by what they can get elsewhere. Time and time again, employees fall prey to counter offers thinking it as a good thing. When they least suspect it, they are let go when their replacement, usually at a discount, has been procured. Once your loyalty is questioned, it is almost impossible to regain that trust. Also, by accepting a counter offer it shows that you are willing to break your commitment to your new employer after accepting their offer, and this will raise additional red flags.

The biggest assets of an employee outside of his/her ability to do the job, are in the areas of trust and loyalty. Counter offers violate these key components. A counter offer should be viewed for what it really is, a bandage for the time being until a permanent resolution can be achieved. Unfortunately, one's career advancements should not be subject to the temporary resolutions set forth by their employer. It should be based on a clear picture of what is expected, what will be received when those expectations are met, and valuing ones services by their merits and successes. This should not be raised by their unhappiness and desire to leave.