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10 Recession-Proof IT Careers
Eric Dahl / Inside Tech
Companies are cutting back spending, shrinking staff sizes, and making tough layoffs at a rate that most of us have never seen before. But there’s still some job growth out there. Shrinking budgets have forced IT shops to invest in money-saving technologies like VoIP and unified communications, and those investments are creating job opportunities for IT workers who are serious about picking up a new skill set.
We scoured the latest job trend data from sources like Monster, Foote Partners, and SimplyHired to find 10 of the hottest careers in IT. And from entry-level positions in VoIP and Mac support, to top-level roles architecting systems, applications, and enterprises, there are recession-proof jobs at all levels. We’ll show you which jobs and skills can give you a leg up in this tight market, starting with number 10…
#10 Database Administrator
DBAs in general continue to have strong career prospects, as more and more of the information businesses use comes to reside in databases. SimplyHired’s latest employment trend graph shows demand for DBAs actually picking up over the last year. And the latest Foote Partners study cites database skills as one of three skill categories that continue to grow in value despite overall pay declines in IT.
“Database management,” “Oracle Developer Suite,” and “Microsoft SQL Server” all appear on Foote’s list of fastest rising IT skills for the past three months.
Salary: $79,000*
Education: As with most mid-to-high-level IT jobs, a BS in an IT related field (Computer Science, Information Technology, Math, etc.) is strongly preferred.
Experience: Most employers will want to see at least a couple years of experience with the database you’ll be using. Many DBAs gain that experience in sysadmin jobs, which often incorporate enough database work to begin building the skills required for a DBA position.
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* salary data culled from multiple sources.
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11 days ago
56 comments
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dpadilla
13 days ago
14 comments
Please...
For those of you considering entering the IT field - DON'T.
If you started or have < 2 yrs...think about getting into some other field THAT CANT BE OUTSOURCED TO INDIA or CHINA
If you have more years in IT...get into management, Consulting or out of the fIT ield entirely.
If you are over 40...darn...you waited too long...Start another field in parallel: Teaching, Real Estate, (Part Time Loan Officer), MLM, sales, anything, something as long as it's not IT Technical...because as GOD is my witness....YOU IAmerican T people WILL be replaced by Communist Chinese or Russian Loving Indians for less than 1/2 your salary...either onsite or remotely (thanks to technology).
Remember Americans...there is NOT A SINGLE THING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT..because you are averse to Unions (meaning you have been brainwashed/couldn't stoop to being unionized) & Politicians listen to Corporations and thier lobbyist and NOT YOU....
This argument has been going on for YEARS !! So get real...have or get a back up plan.
TheDevil
2 months ago
6 comments
I totally agree with eljefe, and is the primary reason I left Corporate for College once again. By the time I have to pay back my student loans I will be dead! ;-)
eljefe
2 months ago
4 comments
First off, the title is something of an oxymoron: there are no recession-proof jobs. The I.T. field has become the "sweat shop" of the computing industry, casting out anyone nearing 40 in search of younger, degree wielding, inexperienced workers. That combination allows companies to pluck the best and brightest 20+ yr olds, and work them like dogs for half of what an experienced worker would expect. Consider this as well: With age generally comes greater health risk. My suggestion is form your own consulting groups, and move on: That's what I did (25+ yrs in I.T.). Why bemoan the near-empty feed bag and stale feed, when there's pastures of fresh green grass out there? (Horrors! ...You have to go get it!!). Hope that helps someone
Gusmackey
2 months ago
10 comments
AS I read all of this I agree with the article about SAP in general. I to have experience with SAP, but that is not the end all. Networking, networking, networking. Sine I used to teach at a Microsoft Academy, have worked for the Mom and Pop shop on up to Corporate (Caterpillar). You have to be willing to expand into other areas and step out of the box to get jobs. Some people believe the hype of all the Certs and think that will carry them. Nope! sorry Dorothy, that does not work!
cmartin9
3 months ago
1448 comments
I don't think there is such a thing as a recession proof job right now!
moin78633
4 months ago
6 comments
hello,
i am a newly CCIE(Written) CERTIFIED with a BACHELORS degree in "Electronics & Communication Engineering".
I would like to build my career in the field of NETWORKING , what should be my next step.
Are there any opening ...................please let me know at : mmoin_2007@yahoo.com
tonyklotz
4 months ago
2 comments
Think about it - why would they ever say they have enough workers available for all the jobs posted? It's corporate hype, bait and switch, that has been going on for as long as I have been in IT (20 years). The salaries posted are fictions. The IT industry encourages young people to enter IT to keep the ranks of job seekers up which suppresses salaries both on and off shore. When given an excuse they shed older workers and hire younger workers with newer skills to keep the game going. It is just the nature of the beast.
rahul_baadshah
4 months ago
2 comments
I want to move up in this feild doing my bca suggest me wt do after it... rahulbharti89@gmail.com
pawanhiworld
4 months ago
4 comments
i wanna know more about this.... I am a fresh engineering graduate... How to move up....
plz help me..... my mail id pawanhiworld@gmail.com
Darltk
5 months ago
14 comments
Recommendation: If you are unemployed get a certification or go back to school. This is what I did when I was laid off. I had time on my hand so I figured why not. It was tough but I got through it. The economy has to and will get better. Here are some I recommend.
1. Security (CISSP) $85,000
2. Cisco (CCNA, CCNP,CCIE) - Not a lot of CCIE's around.
3. Project Management (PMP) - Requires 1,500 hours doing projects $80,000 - 100,000
4. Microsoft (MSCD) - Average $75,000 - over $100,000
5. JAVA (SCJP)
6. DBA (SQL, Oracle)
7. Checkpoint (CCSE)
8. Linux (RHCE) - Not a lot of specialty people in this field - Average $80,000
9. Project Management (CAPM) - Average $75,000
10. Security (CISA) - $100,000
11. Business Analyst
12. Wireless Technology Cert.
Darltk
5 months ago
14 comments
Recession Proof? Nothing is guaranteed. I have over 25 years of IT experience and an MS in MIS and I still don't take anything for granted. I work for Government and there are issues in that these days. In this day and time if an employer wants to get rid of you they will. I guess the main point of the article was to say that there are some jobs that offer you more protection than others. Being in PC or mainframe support vs. Network Support is a little different.
Rayden, there may be some truth to the over 40 issue but I keep reinventing myself. I am going back to get am MA in Education. I currently teach at a few colleges also. It helps to be well rounded in a few areas.
Anyone interesting in starting a consulting business please let me know! I do have a business called Teknetsolutions (www.Teknetsolutionsllc.com) but I have not done a whole lot with it these days.
pacr01
5 months ago
2 comments
Did any of you get work yet who say this article is wrong? Inside Tech do you have any response to the comments below?
rayden61
5 months ago
8 comments
I've got over 20 years experience in IT covering a host of areas. Database, Network and Systems Administration. Application Support and Development, Programming, Data Center Manager (mainframe environment), and a host of desktop applications. Don't have a degree or any type of certifications. If I take this article to heart that's all I need to do and I'll be the next "wunder kid" on the block. But at 46 I not only have to compete with the new kids on the block, there is also the perception most employers that you're "wortless" after 40 even though we are the ones who've been through the ropes are are prepared to go the extra mile.
Maybe someone should do an article on "Life after 40 in IT". Hey and if anyone wants to get together for us "older" folk to form our own outsource company hit me up. We can always set up a "shell" office in one of those far off places. The net does'nt discriminate distance last time I checked.
mrpumpkinguy
5 months ago
36 comments
Ok, I read all ten, and they are mostly worthless. I think the author doesn't know the subject too well, but was given the assignement anyway and simply skimmed some related material. Apparently most of this comes from the Foote Partners resource, whatever that is. Most of these ten "careers" are so general as to be non-existent as described.
Case in point: SAP Consultant. SAP is an application? Wow. SAP is a global company offering a huge suite of expensive enterprise applications and support modules, covering everything from ERP and SCM to CRM. Not a single one of their products is called "SAP". I have been involved with large SAP projects for several years now, beginning with the launch of Netweaver when much of the product stack was still called mySAP (anybody remember that infamous "refrigerator" diagram?). I have never met anyone that specializes in "SAP", and that includes some of SAP's own Platinum consultants.
The treatment of "Systems Architects and IT Managers" is particularly lame, and not worth the keystrokes to critique it.
Lastly, I don't have an IT degree, as is highly recommended in classic cut-n-paste style for each of these hot "careers", and I have done just fine without it, thanks.