Advice for Career Changers

To a large extent, job availability depends on geography. For example, in Phoenix, SQL Server and ASP.NET skills are both particularly hot right now, Keffler said. So, too, is experience in either Oracle database programming or SAP ERP implementations. "We do have a lot of data centers here in Phoenix," she explained.

Financial systems analyst jobs, on the other hand, are especially plentiful in New York City, because of the size and scope of the financial services industry in that city.

Beyond programming expertise, however, those sorts of jobs tend to require accounting acumen, too, according to Rebia.

In fact, demand is generally strong throughout financial services for both developers and systems administrators, Ebner said. "Financial services firms want to differentiate themselves so as to improve profitability. And they're looking to technology to supply a lot of that differentiation," he explained.

But computing environments in financial services can be quite complex, to say the least. "A company might have 110 different applications running on a number of different operating systems — and a lot of these apps are likely to be custom-built," he elaborated.

Other hot verticals right now include product manufacturing, homeland security, and military defense, according to the career specialists.

Moreover, as more of the "best and brightest" exit their current positions for greener pastures over the year ahead, demand will skyrocket, too, for programmers with legacy systems skills who can do a good job of filling their predecessors' shoes.

Contract or Salaried?

The question of "contract vs. permanent" calls for another set of decisions. "There are two sides to that. Some people prefer permanent jobs. They like to contribute, but they tend to be more security-oriented. Many of these folks are older and more settled-down," Keffler said.

"In contrast, people who prefer contracting tend to like to work at the front of a project, and to see it through to the very end," according to the headhunter, who works out of SIS's office in Phoenix, AZ.

What should you do if you feel "stuck" in your current position? Education and training in new skills areas can help, and so can certification, according to the headhunters. "But it's experience that will really give you the biggest edge over the competition," Rebia recommended.

Education can be garnered in a variety of venues. But it you opt to go back to the college campus for another degree, you should strive for a school that's well known as an IT training ground. An Ivy League college is a safe choice, but the connotation can even be local. "In New York City, for example, Baruch is regarded as a very good IT school," according to Rebia.

But how can you gain that all important experience? "You might want to try volunteering for a project at work that involves using your new skills," Ebner recommended. "Or you might build a rudimentary application at home, just to do something hands-on."

Another possibility is to take a short-term job calling for use of your new skills — but, of course, that will probably mean saying goodbye to your current job.

Also, cautioned Keffler, in migrating to a new IT discipline, you might have to accept a lower title and salary than you're accustomed to, just until you come up to speed.

Professional networking through industry associations or online communities is rarely a bad idea, at any stage in the game. "This will let you see what's out there," according to Ebner.

Touching base with knowledgeable recruiters can also help to expand your pool of prospects. Recruiting firms vary, however, and it's important to find the right one for you. Spherion and SIS, for example, are national recruitment agencies, each with offices in multiple cities. Spherion has practices in a variety of IT and non-IT fields. Ebner works in Spherion's Professional Services Division in Scottsdale, AZ. "We have a big specialization in .NET," he told DevSource.

In comparison, SIS places people in IT jobs only, with a strong emphasis on contract employment. "We really prefer dealing with contract jobs.. But if a company we've worked with before asks for assistance in filling a permanent slot, we might help them out," Keffler said.

Some other headhunters are dedicated exclusively to IT jobs in specific verticals. eHire focuses solely on financial services.

Despite all those good jobs out there, some developers are unwilling to take a chance right now on the unknown, according to some recruiters. "The economy has been so bad, for such a long time, that a lot of them don't want to leave the security of their current positions," Rebia said.

But other recruiters contend that lots of developers are indeed taking advantage of new opportunities opening up to them. "Our research shows that the economy hasn't been better than this in quite some time," according to Spherion's Ebner. "Salary scales for technology jobs are back on the upswing, too. As a result, many developers are more than ready to take the next step in their careers."