The Online-Only Worker Bee
Technological advances connect the global workforce like never before. One of the growing dynamics of this new reality is the growth of the online-only freelancer. These are folks who are able to function independently as a contractor through online channels in support of clients around the world.
According to a recent article in the American Express OPEN Forum, this isn’t just a fad, but a burgeoning segment of the economy. One private organization taking advantage of this trend is Elance, an online hub which matches and facilitates project-based work between online freelancers and companies. At last count, more than 500,000 contractors were seeking work using Elance.
More than 150,000 projects were posted in the third quarter of this year, according to the firm’s latest Online Employment Report. Elance estimates the number of projects posted with them this year to exceed 600,000.
The author of this article is a hiring manager who has been bringing online freelancers onboard for the better part of a decade, but job seekers in the IT sector who haven’t considered this possibility might be more willing to do so after giving this a read and doing a little research. The world - and a host of possible clients - awaits.
Staffing Survey: Contentment in IT Workforce
The vast majority of employed IT professionals are happy to stay put, according to findings of a new survey, but beware the fallout of a booming economic future, oh ye too-smug employers. IT staffing firm, Modis, surveyed 500 IT pros and found nearly 90 percent are happy with their current jobs.
According to a recent piece in Network World, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed planned to remain with their current employers, and only a quarter would bolt their job if the right opportunity came along. Likely reasons? Individuals are being cautious in light of current economic conditions while employers are doing their best - i.e good salary, raises and other perks - and better to keep veteran IT talent in place to handle new world trends including cloud computing, security and mobility.
Watch out, though, if the economy strengthens in 2012 as more IT pros will be open to leave their stable job for seemingly brighter pastures elsewhere, according to officials with the global IT staffing agency that produced the findings. Survey respondents also gave advice for their IT brethren seeking employment: the most effective method continues to be the personal connection, reaching out to former colleagues, professional networks or social media tools.
Study: IT’s Future is in the Cloud
In related findings of the Modis survey reported elsewhere, cloud computing, security and mobility are the IT sectors with the most potential for growth in the coming years. In the CIO Asia piece on the Modis survey of 500 IT pros, cloud computing topped the list of issues related to respondents’ jobs at 29 percent, followed by security at 21 percent and mobile space with 18 percent. Modis executives indicated the technologies should be considered linked as more companies turn to cloud computing to deliver services over mobile devices, data security will take on greater significance.
Note: Read CompTIA Cloud Essentials Scheduled for December 2011 Availability to learn about the new cloud credential CompTIA and ITpreneurs announced this week
IT Outsourcing: Economic Slide Could Produce Upside for Providers
Despite a decline in the IT outsourcing market recently, a possible double dip economic downturn could spell good news for outsourcing providers in the near future. So says findings from the latest quarterly report by outsourcing firm Everest Group, as reported in CIO this week. For the first time in the past year, activity within the global outsourcing market, for both IT and business processes (BPO), dropped, according to the firm’s latest findings. Analysts, however, remain optimistic while keeping one eye on future quarterly findings.
IT service providers including HP and Dell opened 32 new outsourcing delivery centers this past quarter, nearly double the amount of sites opened in the previous quarter. In addition, a predicted second economic downturn - the so-called double dip - may lead more corporations to an increased reliance on IT outsourcing. Researchers say IT organizations will have no other choice to seek help outside their corporate walls as tough financial situations have forced many to cut staffing to the bone as it is.
Wanted: Workers to Fill 50,000 Healthcare IT Jobs
Two titanic organizations devoted to IT membership and human resources in the healthcare industry are joining forces to get the word out that there’s plenty of jobs to be had right now in healthcare IT. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (ASHHRA) plan to collaborate on efforts driving job seekers to fill an estimated shortage of 50,000 workers in health IT, according to an article in InformationWeek.
The organizations are seeking to promote the relatively new field of healthcare IT as a career path to fill a labor shortage to support implementation of electronic health records and health information exchange. With many IT professionals out of work from other industries, HIMSS and ASHHRA want to get the word out. Projects already in motion include a virtual career fair and joint education programs.
Learn more about the new healthcare IT credential from CompTIA.
Advice on IT Leadership
Dr. Larry Tieman, a 40-year veteran of the IT industry, offers his take to help those seeking employment in the industry and employers trying to hold on to whom they have. In a recent column in InformationWeek, Tieman, a former senior VP with FedEx, reminds his audience that he’s changed jobs multiple times over his career and not once was the actual job just as advertised. For those considering a new opportunity in the industry, Tieman recommends his four “C” framework.
- Company: Is this a place you would want to work?
- Career: Does the job support your career objectives?
- Chemistry/Culture: Is the environment conducive to your own success?
- Compensation: Is money the main reason for taking the job? It shouldn’t be.
As more IT organizations these days are being forced to analyze whether they can succeed with the staff and budget given them, more would be wise to team with their HR departments to develop a staff skills retrain and refresh plan.
