ACM CareerNews for Tuesday, December 17, 2024
ACM CareerNews is intended as an objective career news digest for busy IT professionals. Views expressed are not necessarily those of ACM. To send comments, please write to [email protected]
Volume 20, Issue 24, December 17, 2024
10 Most In-Demand Enterprise IT Skills
CIO.com, December 10
A new report from Indeed analyzes the technology platforms most frequently listed in job ads on its site to uncover which tools, software, and programming languages are the most in-demand for job openings today. Indeed also examined resumes posted on its platform to see how many active candidates list these skills. While some in-demand skills have a larger talent pool to meet the demand, others have a much smaller talent pool to choose from, potentially increasing competition and compensation for that talent. Overall, there are at least 10 enterprise technology skills that are in high demand by employers right now.
Python ranks number one among the most in-demand enterprise IT skills. Python is a programming language used in several fields, including data analysis, web development, software programming, scientific computing, and for building AI and machine learning models. It is a versatile language used by a wide range of IT professionals such as software developers, web developers, data scientists, data analysts, machine learning engineers, cybersecurity analysts, and cloud engineers. Its widespread use in the enterprise makes it a frequent entry on any in-demand skill list. Over the past year, there were more than 130,000 job listings requesting Python-related skills.
Click Here to View Full Article
Job Hopping and Not Promotion Drives Career Growth
HR Dive, December 3
Over the past five years, more than one-half (58%) of U.S. workers have changed jobs rather than wait for a promotion as a way of boosting their career. Based on an analysis of 1,250 active LinkedIn profiles, only 17% of workers were promoted by their current company over the last five years. Those who changed employers switched companies an average of 2.7 times over the five-year time period. In contrast, workers who were promoted waited an average of two years and four months. All told, 65% of workers have switched jobs in the last 5 years, either internally or by changing companies.
There appear to be several factors responsible for the job hopping phenomenon. Recent economic problems, for example, are often cited as reasons for frequent job switching in the U.S. There have always been two paths to progress in a career: you either get promoted or start looking for a new job. However, the new survey data suggests that for workers in the United States, only one of those paths seems to remain open. Thus, if a promotion is out of your reach, switching jobs may be the best way to progress in your career.
Click Here to View Full Article
Tech Unemployment Dipped Slightly in November
Dice Insights, December 11
The tech unemployment rate dipped from 2.6 percent to 2.5 percent in November, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment within the tech industry declined by just 1,636 jobs last month. Throughout the broader economy, tech positions fell by only 6,000 at a time when there are nearly 6.5 million tech professionals employed within the U.S. That is good news for tech professionals who are concerned that economic headwinds are damaging the demand for tech talent. In general, the data continues to highlight the diversity of hiring activity across the tech workforce.
Across industry sectors, metro areas, and different company sizes, harnessing tech talent remains a top priority. However, there is one tech segment where hiring definitely is on the rise: artificial intelligence. Throughout the past 12 months, employers have posted some 331,000 active postings for AI jobs, representing a year-over-year increase of 71 percent. If you are interested in breaking into AI as a profession, take the time to become familiar with the associated programming languages and concepts. While you will not necessarily need to master them in order to land a great AI-centric job, it is always helpful to know the fundamentals. This is especially true when it comes to emerging skills such as prompt engineering.
Click Here to View Full Article
4 Highest-Paying Technology Jobs of 2024
CIO Dive, December 5
Job seekers in some categories of tech continue to benefit from a persisting talent crunch. While the average annual tech salary was $113,211 this year, the total can be much higher for certain in-demand job roles. For example, cloud computing and IT architecture tech professionals continue to command the highest salaries in the IT department, just behind tech executives. Project management also ranked highly in the survey, as did job functions related to risk management and compliance.
At the top of the high-paying jobs list is IT architecture and design. Tech professionals with IT architecture and design skills bring in average annual salaries of $156,147 in North America. While the position fell behind cloud computing last year, it nabbed the top spot in 2024. Organizations that prioritized AI implementation this year still found it necessary to have foundational skills. Leaders are not expected to drastically divert from the plan next year. Next on the list is cloud computing. IT professionals in cloud computing job functions are earning average annual salaries of around $142,902 in North America. The role topped the list among rank-and-file roles last year, yet fell to second in 2024. Despite the dip in positions, cloud skills are still in high demand. Within the tech industry, cloud infrastructure represented one of the primary fields driving new hiring in October.
Click Here to View Full Article
AI Is Supposed to Make Applying to Jobs Easier But It Might Be Creating Another Problem
NBC News, November 17
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the job application process, simplifying some aspects and complicating others. As the use of AI in hiring and applying increases, many job seekers are going to extra lengths to stand out. Some are using AI at every stage of the application process, from crafting a new resume to practicing interview questions. The ability to submit thousands of applications almost instantly, however, is raising questions about applicant credibility and the integrity of the application process. According to recruiters, it remains to be seen if AI can be a helpful tool that enhances applications in a competitive job market.
As the usability and popularity of artificial intelligence grows, more platforms have found success in catering to job applicants. For example, there are now AI services that help collect applicant information and submit automated job applications through sites like LinkedIn and Indeed. Using the tools, job seekers can save hundreds of hours and apply to up to thousands of jobs a day. That is just the start. There are also AI services that offer tools like a cover letter and resume builder, an auto-apply feature, an interview practice generator and a specialized interview buddy. Yet, even with advances in technology, there is always the risk of hallucination and error with AI tools. In a worst-case scenario, AI tools might even make up career experiences and then apply for you.
Click Here to View Full Article
Are Public Speaking Skills a Cheat Code For IT Career Success?
ZDNet, December 10
At a time when recruiters can be inundated with thousands of applications for a single open tech position, public speaking skills can help job applicants stand out from the crowd. According to a new report, two-thirds of all IT professionals (67%) believe public speaking skills are important for a successful career in IT, with senior tech leaders significantly more likely to hold this belief. Generally speaking, soft skills such as public speaking, team collaboration, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence can be just as important as knowing how to write code when it comes to landing a new tech job.
Public speaking is unofficially a prerequisite for holding a senior tech leadership role, yet many IT professionals are not confident in their abilities. In fact, a recent IT report reveals a significant public speaking skills gap between IT staff and management. Only 41 percent of IT professionals holding staff titles are very or extremely confident in their public speaking and presentation abilities, compared to 70 percent of senior IT leaders holding a director title or higher.
Click Here to View Full Article
Looking For a New Job? Watch Out For These Red Flags
Fast Company, October 27
If you have been struggling to find a role that seems like the right fit and next step in your career, the good news is that you can often uncover potential red flags before you even get to the interview stage. For example, sometimes the salary range is too broad or a job posting is vague about in-office expectations. In some cases, you may even notice that a job description has been lifted from another listing or does not accurately reflect the scope of the role. Job seekers should be able to spot these potential warning signs when navigating the job search.
Sometimes, the things you find frustrating while interviewing with a potential employer, like poor communication or a drawn-out process, can be a sign of broader cultural issues or indicate that the company is not clear on what the role should entail. The best interview processes are well-structured and transparent about whom you are meeting with, when, and what to expect regarding the next steps. It is also important to make sure your potential boss can clearly define the role, and that it does not sound like multiple jobs in one. Especially in industries like tech, which has seen waves of layoffs in recent years, a lack of transparency and clarity can be concerning. If you have noticed a company has particularly high turnover, it could mean there is a morale issue or that the business is not on steady ground.
Click Here to View Full Article
AI in the Workplace Is Forcing Younger Tech Workers to Rethink Their Career Paths
Computerworld, December 11
Entry-level workers increasingly fear job loss or significant changes to their careers due to automation made possible by AI. Nearly one in four early career employees (24%) believe their job could be replaced by automation, according to new survey results from Deloitte. Early-career workers are more likely than their senior colleagues to voice concerns about the impact of AI on learning opportunities, workload, and job security. Overall, nearly four in 10 Americans believe that generative AI could diminish the number of available jobs.
The Deloitte results highlight growing anxiety among younger workers about AI replacing jobs. The results also suggest possible actions they can take to improve their own job security. The Deloitte survey found that 34 percent are pursuing a professional qualification or certification courses, 32 percent are starting their own businesses or becoming self-employed, and 28 percent are even adding part-time contractor or gig work to supplement their income. The tech market is already showing signs of a decline in entry-level roles, as organizations increasingly require more years of experience, even for junior positions. In fields such as cybersecurity, where AI is rapidly advancing, entry-level analyst roles often demand at least four years of experience, according to Deloitte.
Click Here to View Full Article
Finding Roles In a Team With Generative AI
Blog@CACM, December 3
After nearly two decades in which internet search was the dominant paradigm, generative AI is opening up new ways of approaching problems. For example, instead of using search terms and keywords to understand how various IT roles within an organization fit together, you can now use generative AI to create a much more nuanced view of the organization. In turn, that should make it easier for workers to find and understand new roles and opportunities.
An organization often chooses people to fill roles to take responsibility for some aspect of solutions. Generative AI can help work out the aspects that need to be part of a solution. So many activities have many aspects or need different kinds of contributions. The goal is to consider these parts as important, but different, points of view. This can remind us of the bigger picture and important alternatives as we flesh out a solution. We can guide generative AI as a structuring tool to take different aspects into account just by telling it to do so. Making a company, for example, requires many different things to be considered, such as the product that it will sell, a channel for how to go to market, how its products will be created, and a way to deliver the product. Consideration also has to be made for the culture of the company, and what type of personnel it is looking to attract. In short, it takes a lot to get organized to bring different parts together as a functioning company. So one solution might be to ask AI for help doing this.
Click Here to View Full Article
Considering Conference Contributions
Communications of the ACM, November 22
Researchers in academia and industry are often asked to serve on Program Committees of conferences in their respective fields of expertise. But how many Program Committees (PCs) is too many? On one hand, serving on PCs signals one is a trusted, responsible and respected member of the tech community. Beyond that, it can have a substantive and far-reaching impact on professional careers, especially through building connections and gaining broader exposure. On the other hand, serving on too many PCs might spread yourself too thin or unnecessarily complicate your career trajectory.
Choosing how many PCs to serve on each year can be a very personal decision. Generally speaking it might be possible to say yes to 4 to 6 PCs in a year, for systems or security conferences, and 5 to 8 for AI/ML conferences. The AI/ML conferences tend to have much fewer number of submissions assigned to each reviewer. A good balance is needed in choosing the number of PCs to which one commits. It is important to say no to some requests to serve on PCs so that you can really do justice to the ones to which you do commit. Reviewing is time-consuming, if you want to do it well, and that limits how many PCs you can choose.
Click Here to View Full Article
Copyright 2024, ACM, Inc.