This list is pretty much self-explanatory, but actually makes a lot of sense. It is really great to know that these type of lists are put together so if you are emerging in this field, you know what to shoot for. The list probably changes a small amount per year, and I feel as if Security will be #1 next year, and probably many many years to come. Global Knowledge put this list together, and here is my short summary on each of the top 10 skills.
-1 Project Management
Project managers are definitely in the need this year, with the country finally coming out of a crazy depression it is time to get the ball rolling again. Sadly, companies wont be throwing thousands of dollars at hopeful ideas that might end up making a few bucks in the end. Companies are looking for something that will be sure shot profitable, will get them money in the end, no matter what. We can’t be looking at wing-and-a-prayer startups like Google (ha), no company will shoot at something like. Companies are looking for rock solid. So find yourself an idea, and start managing it, and make 120% sure that it will kick the living crap out of your competitor. Then, you will, technically speaking, be the #1 Tech Project Manager. Get that doe.
-2 Information Security
Security is #2 on this list. Weird. If it were up to me I would say that this should be on the top of the list because security goes well and beyond just the computers and the information on them. Of course clients will be putting their credit card in as well, so that might be a little more low-end but it still needs to be secure. In the case of a very large company they need as much security as possible, to keep people out, and of course to get out if they ever did so incline. Securty is tough, and it always will be.
-3 Network administration
Most companies already have their networks setup, luckily, that’s sometimes the hardest part. But the part that can become even more cumbersome to work on is the administration of said network. You need to manage what users can do what on their computers, or are you going to allow everybody do the same things? If I were a Enterprise Admin, I’d let everyone have full power until they slowly shut down their lives and abused their privledges. Like a meret system that I just invented.
-4 Virtualization
Cloud Computing here, not Virtually Accessing your PC! Cloud Computing is definitely much better for most companies than just leaving their data in one place at a time. It is more efficient, right? Exactly. So that is why companies are looking for these types of goons! Virtualizing the workplace is a big step, even for older companies. Just make sure that you have any knowledge with this, hopefully you know what it is by the time you finished reading this post!
-5 Business analyst
I am sorry, but I never have needed to deal with a business analyst before, so I am going to be honest: I don’t truly know what they do. (Read the original article)
-6 Business Process improvement
With project management and business analysis skills appearing in this skills list, it’s no surprise that business process improvement skill is also here. Business process improvement and business analysis go hand-in-hand. Business analysts identify areas for improvements to business processes, while business process improvement or management pros use BPM techniques and technologies to help companies optimize their business processes.
A recent BPM survey by IT researchers, the Aberdeen Group says the top reasons business are driving BPM activity are the need to reduce operating costs and to improve cash flow. However, the top barrier to adoption was the lack of knowledge about BPM. According to Gartner, among the competencies required for successful BPM initiatives include process skills, tools and process assets, and transformation skills.
To learn more about BPM, go to the Web site of the Business Process Management Initiative (BPMI.org), which promotes the standardization of common business processes; and the BPMinstitute.org, which describes itself as a peer-to-peer exchange for business process management professionals.
-7 Web Development
Money should be spent in web development. Period. A company is almost nothing without a nice, decently flowing website that get’s the point across and allows customers to see what exactly this person tends to deal with in a day-by-day situation. Like this site for example, it was setup 100% by me. That doesn’t mean that I would want to do this type of work for all the time, but if someone wants to pay the right price then it could be done. Business need a good website, that’s pretty much the main point I wanted to make. Think of that as a summary sentence.
-8 Database management.
Databases are the hearts of key business systems that drive payroll, manufacturing, sales, transaction processing, and more. Programmers must be able to build programs that quickly and efficiently interface with the database management system (DBMS), while database administrators “must be able to bring the full power of database features to bear on business problems”, writes Oracle- and IBM-certified DBA Howard Fosdick in his whitepaper Database Skills Availability: Critical to Your Selection of Database. “DBA expertise can be the Achilles’ heel of database projects – many IT projects have failed due to the inability to secure DBA talent or successfully address DBA issues,” he adds.
-9 Windows Administration
As previously mentioned, Microsoft shops are expected in 2010 to upgrade to Windows Server 2008 R2 and the Windows 7 client, and perhaps install Exchange Server 2010 and SharePoint 2010 as well. Windows administration skills is going to be key for many enterprises implementing and maintaining existing and upgraded systems.
-10 Desktop Administration
Desktop administrator is essentially what I do. So I guess I am on the lower end of the food chain, but I am on the chain none-the-less. If you ever need any help with you desktop computer, or perhaps your company is looking for a guy like myself, give me a call. Let’s work something out. I can be there for you whenever you need me.
