Since we opened in 2000, a lot has changed. The IT industry is constantly evolving and new trends and developments seem to pop up everyday. We have the privilege of being directly involved with the moving landscape and it’s always exciting to see the changes from our vantage point.

Right now we’re in the midst of one of those moments in the IT industry where things are changing. As new methods of communication and development continue to evolve, we thought we’d outline a few of the directions we see the IT industry going.

Mobile Device Development

Cell phones, smart phones, PDA’s. These things are no longer a luxury, they’re critical mass. That’s opened up a whole new world to developers who now have a platform to create their own programs and applications. The key was monetizing the trend, something Apple has done quite effectively. Even though they take a portion, developers finally have the opportunity to put their craft to work and get paid for it.

Open Source Development

The open source movement is alive and well for business and developer’s alike. Companies are more often likely to reach for a free, open source solution, rather than an off-the-shelf piece of software with a price tag.

Mashups

Now more than ever developers and IT professionals are finding ways to piggy back off each other. It’s creating some astounding developments and Mashups seem to be one of those. Taking code written by another and integrating it into your program is one area of growth we don’t see slowing down anytime soon.

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Cloud Computing appears to be the next big thing in IT. Until recently I had never heard the term and had no idea what it meant. While attending a SalesForce.com seminar I was introduced to and provided a 1000 mile view of what Cloud Computing was. Needless to say this brief introduction left me with more questions than answers about what Cloud Computing was.

What is Cloud Computing?

I have heard it described as “Liquid Paper” in that it covers up mistakes related to your IT infrastructure. I have also heard it described as a way to deliver services rather than applications that is completely independent of platforms or physical hardware.

In one word I would describe Cloud Computing as outsourcing. By engaging a Cloud Computing Vendor you are in essence pushing some of your responsibilities off to another company and accessing data, applications etc. through the web.

In my early research I thought Cloud Computing was only for and provided by companies that offer SaaS (Software as a Service) like Salesforce.com. I quickly learned that there is a big push for complete virtualization and companies like Amazon EC2 are offering IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) as well.

What are the benefits of Cloud Computing?

One of the greatest advantages I see with Cloud Computing is the reduced strain on a company to deliver its employees the software/hardware they need to be successful. Your Cloud Vendor is responsible for delivering the applications and infrastructure you need to be successful. This allows users of Cloud Computing to focus more heavily on their core business. Allowing them to dedicate more time to what they do best.

Cloud Computing also centralizes data. How many of us have lost important documents as the result of some type of hardware failure? Storing data in a central location and connecting to the Cloud to retrieve it as needed places less emphasis on the peripheral portions of a company’s infrastructure (desktops, laptops and PDA’s) and gives users a place to go to get everything they need no matter where they are.

What dangers are associated with Cloud Computing?

A major concern for all potential users of Cloud Computing would be the loss of control of your applications and infrastructure. In some instances your Cloud may be present in many different regions or countries. How will you know if your Cloud Vendor will honor your local privacy requirements?

Another major concern is data recovery. By consolidating data into one area companies expose themselves to significant data loss if something goes wrong with their Cloud. Does your Cloud Vendor have a comprehensive data recovery plan? Do they back up your data? Where is that data housed and how quickly can it be accessed in the event that something goes wrong?

Finally, long-term viability should be a major concern for anyone considering the use of Cloud Computing. As Cloud Computing becomes mainstream there will be numerous vendors vying for market share. Some will flourish and others will fail. What happens to you if the company you have partnered with fails? How will you retrieve your data? If you can retrieve it, where will you put it? During the transition period how will your employees operate?

Useful resources

If you are interested in more information about Cloud Computing please look at the links below. I have found them very helpful in my search for a better understanding of Cloud Computing:

http://webtrends.about.com/od/enterprise20/a/cloud-computing.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PNuQHUiV3Q

http://blogs.msdn.com/vasudevk/archive/2009/02/14/advantages-of-cloud-computing.aspx

http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/07/02/Gartner_Seven_cloudcomputing_security_risks_1.html

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As technology continues to evolve, job seekers need to find ways to adapt. Those who figure out how to utilize new programs and capitalize on trends will certainly have a leg up in the job market. Here’s a great post courtesy of David Talamelli, a Principal Recruiter at Oracle…

With the increased use of technology to search, identify and connect with candidates, I do believe technology will continue to shape and redefine the recruitment function. I think there are 5 trends that will we will see develop in the greater Recruitment Industry.

1) Web 2.0 technologies will continue to gain acceptance and usage in the Recruitment Industry as a viable means of sourcing and connecting with candidates. I believe many Recruiters are on the periphery of many of the Web 2.0 technologies with LinkedIn now being the common online social tool used by Recruiters. The uptake of Web 2.0 Technologies in the Recruitment Industry will expand into deeper and more meaningful conversations as we utilize the technology available (blogs, facebook, twitter, branding).

2) Candidates increasingly will gather information from multiple sources about a potential employer. It used to be a Job Description and information from a potential hiring manager/company was all a candidate had access to, to get information about a company or role. Now candidates can access an online community that openly shares information and experiences with each other about potential hiring companies/managers. Decisions about joining your organisation can be influenced by people and groups out of your network or association that you have no control over.
3) Recruitment will be a much more transparent function than it has been in the past. Recruitment is still about connecting with candidates and hiring managers. In today’s world however both candidates and clients alike have access to much more information about each other than ever before. We need to change our mindset to one where we share information about our processes and company (yes – the good, bad and ugly) rather than holding onto this information.

4) Our role as Recruiters is becoming a progressively more proactive service to our clients it will not only incorporate searching for and identifying talented individuals for our organisation but it also will include connecting with and engaging individuals/groups on employment branding. We will still be measured by hard targets such as number of placements, time to hire, candidate/interview/offer percentages, etc… however there will be more focus on soft targets or targets harder to measure such as employment branding, indirect hires, etc….

5) The ongoing shift from Job Boards to online networks will continue. Job Boards continue to play a part in the recruitment function however I think the trend of utilising other means of search will continue and there will be less reliance on Job Boards as a means of attracting candidates.

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Regardless of where you stand politically, it was obvious technology played a huge role in determining the outcome of last year’s presidential election. President Barack Obama changed the landscape of technology in politics and rode the web 2.0 wave all the way to the White House. It’s also become clear that the technology-heavy election strategy is something the Obama administration plans to continue while serving in the White House.

Weekly YouTube webcasts and social network announcements are just a few of the holdovers from the campaign and now the administration has made two important appointments that could mean a lot to the technology industry.

First, Vivek Kundra has been named Federal CIO. Kundra’s resume includes time spent as CTO for Washington D.C. and before that he served as Virginia’s assistant secretary of commerce and technology. In his new role, Kundra will oversee IT specific issues including oversight of planning and spending along with information sharing, security and privacy. Read more about the appointment here.

Even further evidence of the new administrations commitment to technology is the announcement that Macon Phillips was named “White House new-media director.” Phillips will be responsible for extending Obama’s message and engaging the public using new media tools. That’s certainly something new and it will be interesting to see how that effort transpires.

For a president who owes much of his campaign success to technology let’s hope he continues to embrace it throughout his administration and leverages technology as an important industry that can lead us out of our current economic struggles. Time will tell.

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The environmental movement is another reason to keep jobs on U.S. soil too. Solving these issues is going to take the collective effort of a variety of industries right here at home. So regardless of where you stand on the debate, if you’re in the IT industry, at least be positive about the opportunities. Don’t believe us? Just take a look at these recent articles centered on the IT green movement. Read them here and here.

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Economic news isn’t all bad these days, especially as it relates to the IT industry. AT&T’s “repatriation” (a fancy way of saying they’re bringing 5,000 jobs back to the U.S.) has just passed the 3,000 mark. The jobs are coming back to the U.S. after AT&T decided to close down an Indian call center that handles tech support for the company’s broadband service. The best news is that so far these jobs have gone almost exclusively to the IT industry Why? Because as AT&T notes, demand for high-speed Internet services continues to grow.

This is great news for the IT industry but let’s hope other companies fall in line with this trend. India is still an attractive option to a lot of companies with its relatively cheap labor force, but as we look for ways to boost our economy, all evidence points to technology as an industry that can instantly pay dividends and put people back to work right here at home.

To continue this discussion and leave a comment, visit the INT forum.