Times are tough and likely to get tougher, writes Karen Price,
CEO of e-skills UK. As the
global economic downturn takes effect, there are signs
the UK's IT industry - like many others -
is in for a bumpy ride. UK-based
technology companies have announced job cuts and our research
indicates a fall in advertised demand for IT professionals since
the spring, after several years of steady growth. This decline is
evident across most job roles and at most levels.
Is it time for IT professionals to start worrying about their
future?
Not necessarily. Technology
plays an important role in
helping companies survive downturns:
boosting productivity, enhancing
customer service and
driving efficiency. There also seems to be a general
recognition that technology innovation can and
must continue and improved use of technology will help to steer
the UK and other countries out of recession. Making all this happen
requires talented and experienced IT professionals.
There are no recession-proof guarantees for people concerned
about their jobs. A good place to start, whether you are looking
for career progression or job security, is in making sure you
have up-to-date skills and experience in areas valued by
employers.
So what are these skills? Perhaps surprisingly, according to
employers,
technical skills are only part of the story.
Employers are generally looking for
business-focused technology professionals. People who
understand the company and the client, can work with others,
communicate clearly, be
creative, solve
problems, make decisions and manage projects. In the often
unpredictable and rapidly changing environment of a downturn,
looking after customers and managing operational stability become
even more important. IT professionals who have the skills and
business acumen to help with this will have a head start.
That is not to say that technical skills don't matter. They do.
It's just that, by themselves, they are often not enough any more.
Employers want to know that you can use your technical knowledge to
solve their real business problems.
Our research shows a steady growth in demand for
test
analysts, web authors, editors and content administrators, senior
programmers, systems auditors, technical support managers and
systems administrators. Knowledge and skills in
new technologies such as
Web 2.0, which drives social media, should hold up well as
companies make increased use of internet-based technologies to
stay close to their customers.
Whatever your skills and competence, it is vital your employer
or potential employer understands clearly what you can actually do.
Know your worth: assess your skills against the industry standards
and frameworks so you understand where you fit in and what you have
to offer. Opt for accredited learning whenever you can, but
remember that all learning counts, including that acquired on the
job or through informal training.
IT is an industry of change. It always has been. That is what
makes it such a vibrant and exciting sector to work in and why many
of us chose it in the first place. To thrive in this environment,
particularly when times are volatile, it helps to be able to change
and grow along with it. Continuous skills development should be
second nature to us all. If it isn't already, now is a good time to
start.
Read more about IT and the recession:
Seven IT tips for surviving the recession >>
Recession hits IT as Yahoo cuts 1,500 jobs >>
IT sector sheds more jobs >>