2011 tech career choices

[mikeyd]

It is 2011 and I have 10 years of IT experience. However I have not learned any new job skills. I want to make more money and work on newer technologies. So my question to you the Tek Tips community is what is the most sought after job skills that employers are in need of for 2011?
I was thinking of taking Java courses this year to get certified in Sun Programming but really what good will that do me if there is already a large group of people that have those skills that are looking for work? I really want to take courses and become certified in something that I know employers are in need of.
thanks

 

[FredWagner]

1 - If you're currently working, might there be plans for new systems and applications where you are now? Have you let it be known that you're looking for something new?
2 - Try 'lurking' in various forums on this site, see if the kinds of issues people bring up are interesting to you - rather than try to scope out what skill will be in demand, see what new language or application or technique 'rings your bell' - pick an area you can become passionate about - you'll be much more hireable there than an area that is 'hot' in the trade press but really doesn't resonate with you.
3 - Don't be afraid to pick a 'niche' area that interests you - if you're one of a very few who are proficient in it, your opportunities will be few, but there will be little competition.

Fred Wagner

 

[mikeyd]

Fred,
thanks for your response.
Good advice, and I will definately follow it.
If there any hiring managers or IT directors I would love for you guys to chime in and what is the most needed skills or what languages they look for there progammers to have.

Thanks again guys.

 

[FredWagner]

Mikeyd - From what I see in the trades, writing Apps for iPhones and Droids should be a hot market, but I have no clue on inclination on how to get into it - you could do some research on Questions to ask yourself -
do you like really hard core coding ?
do you like working from a spec someone else wrote ?
Or would you prefer working with a customer to define a problem, invent a solution, and build it using fairly high level tools?
Have you ever written a program for someone to use to solve a particular problem?
Would you like to be the IT expert in a user department, solving problems and coordinating with an enterprise IT group?
Would you rather be part of the big IT group?
Have you ever considered being a one-man IT shop in a small organization ?
do you like working with SQL, does it come naturally to you ?
(for me, no, and it doesn't! I hugely enjoyed Revelation G2B and Pick-like app development, which were an entirely different mind-set than SQL)
You need to explore, and see what rings YOUR chimes - that's where you'll excel. What you do, and where you work, will change over time. Products you excel at will go out of fashion, and you'll have to 'go with the flow', unless you do mainframe COBOL.

Fred Wagner

 

[Welshbird]

I agree there. I'm not always a fan of Oprah, but she did once say 'To be successful you must do what you love' and I absolutely agree. what ever you do really needs to float your boat.

Fee

"The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea." Isak Dinesen

 

[TechMaven]

Old thread, but worth another response. What is hot today may be cold tomorrow. Look way ahead. Many (most?) good tech jobs have gone overseas. I don't see this trend halting or even slowing. Any experience you get will be obsolete in 5 years. You need to continually be looking ahead and reevaluating where you are and where you are going. Its very easy to get stuck in a job doing what you are good/experienced at and be bypassed by progress and new technology. Then it's difficult to move because all the new kids coming out of college already know the new technology and are cheaper to hire. Personally, I'd not recommend anyone going into IT today.