Stories about: IT Skills Hub

With a surging growth level, OpenSource is an increasing part of computer networks, but specific training for the sector hasn’t yet caught up. Tim Mendham reports.

Storage technology may not be the most exciting aspect of IT — and it certainly doesn’t feature in IT Skills Hub’s list of expanding job opportunities — it is essential. So you would expect there to be some training avenues. But, again, there is little to report.

If there was ever a time to consider IT training, then now’s that moment.

When it comes to making choices about furthering professional qualifications and training there are certainly no shortage of academic options. For the last 30 years, an MBA degree has been seen as the benchmark that the business community sets for managers to progress to senior executive level. Yet with the rise and rise of the information technology industry, most tertiary institutions offering an information sciences or computing degree are adding a Masters option — often in the form of a Masters in Business Technology or a Masters in Information Technology Management — while almost every tertiary institution in Australia offers an MBA. The question for many about to take the plunge back into academia is which one will hold more sway when times get tough, and which will bring in more bacon when the sun shines.

While it bypasses today's question about scarce skills, the IT Skills Hub's push to boost interest in ICT careers is focused on the next generation of IT professionals.

In the current political climate, it's not surprising to find security a hot topic in the IT community. If the plethora of viruses and their variations were not enough, then the threat of industrial sabotage, hacking and even cyberterrorism are guaranteed to put the fear of god into even the most naive IT manager, not to mention their bosses.

While postgraduate studies hold the promise of career consolidation, the first choice is which path do you want to follow: technology or business - perhaps with the title chief technical officer (CTO) or equivalent or do you want to be a CIO (chief information officer)? How do you choose?

In these tough times it is reasonably difficult for IT professionals to convince their boss that a pay rise is warranted. But if you can prove yourself as an asset to the company, you are on the road to wealth.

In this slowing economy and gloomy job climate, Computerworld set out to discover if the IT skills shortage is myth or reality, the results may surprise you. Lauren Thomsen-Moore reports.

With the IT industry undergoing serious staff cuts as a result of the economic downturn, companies can use morale-boosting approaches to enhance staff loyalty.