Current Trends in Computer Job Market
Summary:
The computer career options have undergone some major dramatic changes in the past ten years. The author explains how one should be prepared to keep pace with the ever-growing field and meet the demands of the industry.
Body:
The computer career options have undergone some major dramatic changes in the past ten years. An extremely rapid growth was experienced prior to the dot com bust. Then it was followed by the leveling off period with respect to the computer jobs. There is a great demand for computer professionals even today. We can say that there is no field without the influence of information technology. Even, students who are graduating form the science and arts streams have to equip themselves with computer knowledge. For example, geological sciences make use of spatial technology for which computer skills and applications are very much needed. Like wise the global positioning system technology is used by law enforcement agencies. It can also be used to track movements of vehicles, locating earth's resources, movement of flight across the nation etc. The same way, computer technology has also got into the jobs of accountants. Computer jobs are mainly used for reducing time spent on operations and hence such computer skills are very high in demand.
Starting a career in computers can be difficult as many computer jobs call for experience. Hence when starting a career in computer jobs, less importance has to be given to the salary aspect. The more the hands on experience you gain the more the salary earned at a later stage. Sometimes such first time computer job can provide the individual with lot of exposure to the systems side, making him to work on different operating systems, different applications, etc. Qualifications and certifications can be very crucial in landing up on the computer jobs. Almost all the candidates, irrespective of their degrees go through a formal training in computers, making it very tough to have an edge over others. Certifications received from the developers of the computer applications will be considered as an edge over others when searching for a computer job.
While searching for computer jobs, it is good to study in a school or college, which offers job placement assistance. It does not stop with that. The student undergoing a computer course should excel in his studies to get noticed by their trainers, who might have known people in the computer industry and might recommend in getting the first computer job. Also the student should take initiative in asking for placement assistance by getting interviews in reputed companies for good computer jobs.
About the Author
Adam Boulton regularly contributes informative articles to web guides on career - http://www.positionadvice.info and http://www.careerservicesguide.info
Author: Adam Boulton
Tips on finding a Job!
Below are tips to help you with any job search.
Network:
Most people find jobs through word-of-mouth. Talk to the people you know,
including relatives, friends, professors, and former co-workers. Let them
know that you are looking for work; ask their advice; seek out introductions to
people in the field that interests you.
Customize: Create
a custom version of your resume for each job or industry that interests you.
Your resume is usually an employers first contact with you. Make sure it
highlights your skills that relate to the job that employer is seeking to fill.
Know yourself: Identify
your skills. Work on communicating them effectively. You need to be able to lay
out your skills, and explain how they relate to the job you're seeking.
Organize and prioritize:
Make a list to help keep track of your job search efforts. Preparing
a list also helps you to organize your priorities and keeps you focused on your
goal -- finding your perfect job.
Do your homework: Read
the newspaper and trade journals to remain current on developments in your field
of interest. Knowing the latest trends and mergers will help set you apart from
other candidates in an interview.
Practice, practice,
practice: Preparation is the key to a successful interview. Know your
skills and be ready to illustrate how they relate to the job in question.
Practice with a friend to get comfortable with your responses and to formulate
strong answers to questions you might not anticipate. Remember you are selling yourself
so practice being a great salesperson.
Follow up:
Follow up on all leads as soon as possible. If you don't, your competition may.
Try and fallow up at least once to twice a week. You want to stay fresh in their
mind and at the same time show how much you want the job. And, following an
interview, always send a thank-you note the same day.
Keep your head up:
Looking for a job can feel like a job in itself. Don't let it
get you down. With patience and hard work, you will find the right job.
Last but not least:
Dress the part! Always dress professional. Now, you
may not want to wear a 3 piece suit when applying for a position as a forklift operator
but at the same time never apply or ask for an application wearing shorts,
T-shirts, flip-flops...and so on. Be well groomed, wear nice clean cloths
and always remember that you only have one opportunity to make a first
impression.
