Tech Jobs: How to Get Hired in 2007

On the other hand, those workers who do packaged app support and app maintenance may have a cloudier future: these tasks are being outsourced.

These are some of the conclusions of a new report by Forrester research, “Trends 2007: Hot IT Skill Areas.” Based on a survey of 281 IT decision makers in Q4 2006, the report provides a detailed portrait of how tech job seekers can position themselves to land the best gigs.

The report also looked at areas that companies are prioritizing for in-house training dollars, including change management, vendor management and service management.

Additionally, Forrester identified a longstanding trend that’s growing ever more important: interpersonal skills. In short, get ready to smile and act like you get along with others. The majority of IT hiring managers are seeking applicants with strong communication skills.

“IT professionals may be limiting their career progression by [lacking] some of the softer skills,” says Forrester analyst Samuel Bright, the report’s author.

“As IT strives to become more aligned with the business, it’s not only about being able to talk to people, but also being able to talk to people within their frame of reference,” he tells Datamation. Tech staffers must be able to “translate technical jargon into language that business cares about.”

The following graph represents the priority that hiring managers place on key skill sets:

(Graphic by Forrester research)

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