For Techies : Software Development, C# Among Top IT Skills in Demand, Online Job Board, Dice Says

The July 2010 Dice Report shows that software development skills in general and C# skills in particular are more in demand this year, making Dice's top 10 list of in-demand skills. In addition, Dice reports that there are more open full-time IT positions this year than last year at this time. But the numbers are still a far cry from the number of open positions in July 2008.

Software development skills in general and C# development skills in particular saw more demand from employers in the most recent month, according to the July 2010 Dice Report from the online technology employment service and marketplace. Also in demand are those who have active government security clearance.

“Virtualization and project manager fell off the list” of top 10 skills in demand, Tom Silver, senior vice president of North America for Dice, told Channel Insider. However, he cautioned that it’s not so significant that they fell off the list. “They are still difficult positions to fill,” and employers are still demanding those skills.

Overall, open positions were higher on July 1 this year than they were last year, but still lower than in 2008. Dice reported 66,672 total positions open as of July 1, 2010, compared with 48,993 on July 1, 2009, and 86,988 on July 1, 2008.

As for full-time positions, Dice reported 39,389 open as of July 1, 2010, compared with 28,713 a year ago and 61,550 two years ago.

Contract employment demand remained steadier, with 31,393 open positions on July 1, 2010, compared with 22,986 open positions a year ago and 34,743 open positions two years ago.

Silver said these positions generally pay about $10,000 more than other average IT salaries.

RE: I am a C# developer and get calls from recruiters often. I also have SharePoint and SQL Server experience. I have done some J2EE Spring and DB2 as well

Well, it looks like you’re set for the next 4 or 5 years ( until the next “big” thing comes along).

I’ve been in this business for close to 15 years and I do notice one thing — LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM, it isn’t a bad idea to hitch your expertise on the development tools and programming languages brought out by the big 3 — Microsoft, IBM or Oracle.

Having been in the business for over 30 years, I can say MOST development work get posted in order to clear the hurdles of H1B visas. Doesn't matter how good you are with C, you won't be qualified.

The Indian national on H1B willing to work for a straight $35/hr will no benefits will get that job.

I CAN tell you want is very very big...and the only real hiring I see right now, though it's light:

1. Network Infrastructure/VoIP (Yes, AGAIN)

2. VMWare/VDI/Storage and datacenter virtualization...yes, including the virtualization of the desktop.

Services, services, services. Most small to - mid - sized...even large companies don't have a competent IT staff. It a money pit to them and they never see what is promised, by time or outcome. It's systemic.

The culture of "Business IT grew up on the notion that everything was "special to us" and we "need specialized solutions". BS...it's extraordinarily rare to see a "special requirement" that's real. However, internal IT, having convince business management of this un-truth are then able to fund projects costing $10s/mils and delivering jack after 5 years...and audits show 1/3 of the money went to training and seminars...1/4 went to the vendor selection/RFP process and another 10-15% wen to HW/SW combos that could not do the job.

Most of the rest of the money was eaten up by Project Status meetings, report generation etc.

The whole time the company could have gone to someone who knew what they were doing at got something that actually works for 1/2 the money od the "system" that is still on the drawing board.

Nobody, but NOBODY is stupidier than a IT manager that thinks he has it figured out.

That's where the money is kid...

It is not a matter of being hitched so much as ROI. There are many interesting options as far as programming goes. Most companies are smart enough to realize it is not going to pay off in the long run to go down an obscure path. Developers have about a 2 year life cycle. When the "Rock Star [insert language of choice here] Developer" leaves, there better be a deep pool to pull from to support those applications.

On the other hand, most decent programmers see code as code and can ramp up on syntax.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.