Good Help is Hard to Find

Is Good Help Hard to Find?

Most people know that lots of technical jobs are going overseas. This leaves many people out of work and angry and makes the news regularly. At the same time, according to a recent article in Crain's (paid access only)* many companies can't fill all their technical positions and wages are rising for in demand skills. Indeed the article confirms what I've been hearing at many clients—they want to hire but can't. So, what's the story?

There are two lessons here, one for business people and one for IT staff. For business people, these issues should remind you that ALL TECHIES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL. If you don't know the difference between the guy who fixes yoiur desktop PC and the guy who designed your entire order system, it's time to start figuring it out.

Indeed, what's gone overseas are projects and work where any individual has only a minimal impact. These projects can occupy dozens of programmers for months if not years. What's stayed are projects where deadlines shift, requirements change, and technologies are the latest and greatest. You want to tell your Sarbox auditor that you can't fix a problem for at least six months? You need local talent and you need it now.

As for technical people, you need to know you need to have multiple skills to get employed. Where for years certain people made a living by knowing one big thing, now businesses need people who know many things.

Of course, companies often shoot themselves in the collective foot when hiring technical people but that's a story for another time.

*If you want the article, e-mail me.

November 28, 2008 | Email Us

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