Four Job Trends IT Workers Need to Know About Right Now

Technology is constantly evolving. The most innovative ideas and products of today may be seen as obsolete in as little as just a few months. As new technologies come and go, so do the qualifications and skills candidates need to possess in order to thrive in such a fast-paced field. In a March 2017 article published by Business News Daily, Randstad Technologies Vice President of Recruiting Dino Grigorakakis outlined how understanding the latest tech trends is vital for you to land an IT job.

"For IT candidates to stand out in a sea of emails and resumes, they should be aware of the latest technology trends. Based on our experience with midmarket and large enterprises, the line between cybersecurity specialists and IT specialists is beginning to blur. The most attractive IT professionals are those who have at least some expertise in cybersecurity (and)...mobile development skills."
- Dino Grigorakakis, vice president of recruiting at Randstad Technologies

There are many ways you can update or refresh your IT skills, from online courses to obtaining additional certifications, but how do you know which areas will be most beneficial for your career? Our staffing experts recently compiled a list of the top technology trends for 2017. Here are four topics that IT job seekers must know about.

Cybersecurity concerns
From government facilities to banks and retail, cybersecurity is becoming a major area of focus for IT specialists. Organizations are now looking for levels of security to be added into programs and systems from the start, rather than trying to add it in later. Demand will be high for professionals with this skill set; in fact, security engineer is listed as one of Randstad Technologies' hot jobs for 2017.

Mobility on the rise
How long have you gone since checking your cellphone? According to a 60 Minutes report, the average person checks their phone every 15 minutes or less. For this reason, businesses are constantly looking for the most updated and sophisticated mobile technology. There will be big opportunities in the next year for candidates with mobile developing or Internet of Things experience.

Automation nation
It seems organizations in all fields are being tasked to do more with less. One of the ways companies are doing this is by automating certain tasks. But think twice before you assume this means fewer jobs due to computers and robots. While lower-level tasks might be automated, real workers will be required to develop these artificial intelligence systems, as well as review higher-level analysis and make high-level IT decisions.

Freelance or temporary work
According to a 2016 study by MBO Partners, there were nearly 40 million independent workers in the United States - with computer and IT among the top fields for freelancers. Due to the growth of project-based work for technology employees, the demand for temporary talent is expected to continue to rise. In fact, Randstad predicts contract labor will make up as much as 50 percent of the workforce by 2019. Candidates who accept temporary employment may have better chances of landing a job, albeit short term, while gaining experience and learning additional skills that will benefit them for the future.

Check out the full list of trends that will impact the IT workforce in 2017.

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Opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of WITI.