App dev skills hot, youth not

Application developers and project managers top the list of sought-out IT pros, according to an Atlantic Associates’ survey, which also noted that, when it comes to managing techies, folks are not fully psyched to wrangle work out of so-called “millennials,” the generation currently entering the workforce, those aged 18 to 31.

The survey, which polled more than 100 Massachusetts executives, noted an expected pay hike for both certified and non-certified IT pros, with those bearing credentials having a two-in-three shot at grabbing more pay in the coming year and 45 percent of non-certs taking home more.

The upbeat outlook on pay echoes the findings of the 2007 InfoWorld Compensation Survey, providing further creedence that IT skills remain valuable despite increased reliance on outsourcing and offshoring.

[ For a granular look at compensation trends, see: 2007 InfoWorld Compensation Survey: Personal gains and personnel woes and 2007 InfoWorld Compensation Survey: By the numbers ]

Nearly one in three of the executives surveyed expressed a serious need for application developers, while more than a quarter lacked the project management personnel required to get out in front of mounting tech requirements.

But for those young among you looking to capitalize on the IT job market, take heed: Management may fear the overhead in bringing you on board, as executives were three times as likely to label “millennials” difficult to manage than they were to cite Generation Xers as a headache.

Often perceived as a generation in need of coddling, responsive only to pats on the back, rec time, and “employee of the day” accolades, those entering the workforce face an uphill battle proving their chops in IT. More than one in two executives cited those between 18 and 31 as the most difficult employees to manage.

Manageability aside, computing education has been taking flak as of late when it comes to preparing students for careers in IT. And much is being made of the sense that there is a shortage of qualified candidates to fill open IT positions. Some, however, contend that the IT talent “shortage” is in fact a failure of management. Debate aside, managers remain ultimately in control of hiring, and so the fact that 22 percent of managers surveyed by Atlantic Associates list the talent gap as their primary staffing challenge for 2008 make a packed résumé a serious advantage-maker for those resolved to make more dough this year. More to the point, two in three executives said finding qualified candidates is harder today than a year ago.

[ For tips on capitalizing on the IT job market, see Take home more tech pay in 2008 ]

Yet underqualified candidates took the No. 2 spot of staffing challenges among polled executives. No. 1 was retaining existing staff, as many managers are dealing with the fallout of a thawed IT job market. In fact, 32 percent of respondents noted an increase in voluntary turnover in the past 12 months, while 11 percent saw a decrease in churn.

Additional resources:

• Take home more tech pay in 2008

• IT’s seven deadly career sins