How to survive the jobs slowdown

IT professionals with the 'right' skills may have had it good of late, but the tide's beginning to turn.

Reduced recruitment activity in the UK during the past month or so, and similar reports from the US, don't bode well. "It's too early to talk of a recession, but a slowdown is realistic," says Josh Sparks.

Sparks is the former global head of ebusiness at recruiter Robert Walters' technology division, and is now IT director for the company's Sydney operation.

Most of this slowdown will be caused by a clampdown on new projects. "There'll be a bigger focus on making the most out of existing investments," Sparks warns. "It makes sense for companies with slightly tighter budgets to integrate their existing systems, rather than implement totally new ones.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the boom in big, new websites and customer relationship management projects slowed down. Until companies have exploited value from what's out there now, there's no point in investing in new technology," he adds.

No one is safe
Even Java specialists - previously the hotshots of the industry - are starting to lose their previously high levels of employability.

"If you have front-end Java development skills, you're not in the same sort of demand you were three or four months ago. The market's been flooded with C++ developers who've upgraded their skills. If you really want to go where the money and demand is, you need to be looking at server-side work," he says.

Sparks also warns that, despite the hype, significant demand for mobile communication specialists, including Wap, has failed to materialise.

"Wap has been a joke. Until a killer application is developed, there won't be real demand. It didn't take off in the way it was anticipated," he says.

"There's talk that voice recognition will be the next conduit to the web, so that's an interesting thing to keep your eye on. But would I be spending a lot of money to re-educate myself in that area? No, I don't think so," he adds.

And while the contract market remains, for the moment at least, very product-specific, a flexible skillset will hold the key to success in the permanent employment market.

"If you have a range of skillsets and a structured design and development background such as experience of a commercial environment - and can offer flexibility - you'll be much more useful to a company," Sparks says.

If you're working with a technology that's on its way out, increasing your skills is probably the biggest challenge facing you. But Sparks offers some useful advice to getting a foot in the right technology door, without even having to ask your employer for training.

"It's quite common for IT professionals to lean on colleagues working on more leading-edge technology to give you some exposure," he says. That's all you need to get that all-important first step on the experience ladder.

Commercial exposure
And you don't necessarily even have to back up the experience with becoming certified. "It's nice to have, but there's nothing better than commercial exposure," Sparks says. In new and emerging technology areas, he said he'd hesitate to recommend any specific certification routes anyway.

"Take the web - there are plenty of options, but there's not one that obviously stands out. At the end of the day, there's nothing more reassuring than a top-tier, high-profile job on your CV. A prospective employer wouldn't even ask about certification at that point," Sparks says.

If you prefer a more direct tack, approach your employer with suggestions about how new technology could be applied in the business context.

"That way you're not just asking, you're offering something too," Sparks says. But he believes that better employers take a philosophical view about investing in employee training and recognise that they often gain in the long run.

"It sounds glib, but word gets around quickly," Sparks explains. "Employees think highly of employers who invest in training, which ultimately makes it easier to recruit."

For those just starting out, getting that all-important commercial experience may demand a more creative approach.

"Be prepared to offer your services free of charge. It's a bitter pill to swallow, but generally very effective," Sparks says. Besides, most companies will offer to pay you anyway, although you probably won't earn as much as you would have liked.

Be prepared to shine
Alternatively, apply for a job that's more junior than the one you may be qualified for. "If you shine, you'll be moved up the career ladder very quickly. Investment banks, in particular, often use the support environment as a recruitment starting point," says Sparks.

The jobs market may not be as buoyant as it was a few months ago, but to stay ahead of the game it's simply a question of being a little flexible - be it about your employer, your salary, or your job.

"Because markets have been so booming, we're not accustomed to being flexible," Sparks says. "It's been such a gravy train over the past few years, it's not like you have to pull pints, it's just about adjusting expectations."

Tips for keeping ahead of the game

• If you have front-end Java skills, consider upgrading them so you can handle server-side work
• Lean on colleagues working on more leading-edge technology to give you some exposure to it
• Suggest to your boss how a new technology could be applied to business, then ask for training
• Apply for a job that's more junior than the one you may be qualified for - if you shine you'll be promoted
• Pick a company with a good training programme
• Target companies that are struggling to recruit.

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