Technical Skills Refresh? It's Never Too Late! Are You on the Cutting Edge?

Author: Erin K. Henry

October 2008

I’ve recently been speaking with several Information Technology candidates who are being displaced in the Dayton area.  Much to the candidates chagrin, they are finding it tough to identify a new place to ‘hang their hat’ due to a lack of broad technical skills to compete in the marketplace.  Some skills that are in demand today in the Dayton market include:  SQL Server and Oracle Database Development and Administration; Object Oriented Development in .NET (C#, ASP.NET, VB.NET), Java (J2EE); XML/XSLT/HTML/SGML; and Security experience and certifications like the CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) and the GIAC (Global Information Assurance Certification).  Furthermore,  the need for Technical Intelligence in the Dayton community continues to grow to support not only Wright-Patterson Air Force Base efforts but also Research and Development efforts in the private/public space.  This Intelligence includes: MASINT (Measurement and Signature Intelligence); SIGINT (Signals Intelligence); IMINT (Imagery Intelligence); COMINT (Communications Intelligence); HUMINT (Human Intelligence); and ELINT (Electronic Intelligence).  

We all know that technology changes at a fast pace; the question is, are we professionally keeping up with the changes?  I’ve always told candidates that ‘job security’ lies within oneself and the skills, experiences, education, and certifications that we invest into ourselves.  How long has it been since you’ve asked yourself either; do I have the necessary skills to remain ‘marketable’ to a potential employer or am I keeping up with cutting edge technology for future technology changes within my current organization?  If you answer “no” to one or both questions, then the next question to ask yourself is: what steps should I take?  My answer is-be proactive with your career!  Don’t wait until you get the ‘pink slip’ from your current employer; make it a point to refresh and invest yourself!  

There are several ways to go about doing this to include; taking a class or becoming involved and attending professional development groups.  (Networking is a great way to meet colleagues with whom you can learn from and one way to do this is thru local user groups).  And if you’ve waited until your employer has decided the skills you have today do not support the business needs, know that there are several resources available to displaced workers to include training dollars available from Federal, State and local authorities thru programs like WIA (Workforce Investment Act).  You can find out more about programs like this thru the Job Center.  Furthermore, there are several places to obtain training, certifications and professional development like Sinclair’s Learning Center or thru the GDITA.    

It’s never too late to refresh your Information Technology skills.  Take advantage of the resources that are available in our great community and be proactive about controlling your own professional destiny!  That is where you will find “job security”!

About the Author:
Erin K. Henry, Sr. Recruiting Manager of Surrex Solutions Corporation has worked in the IT staffing industry for 8 years.  Prior to that, she worked 12 years as a Human Resources professional mostly for local IT companies.  She also works part-time for Sinclair Community College as a Management Instructor and serves on many workforce development committees throughout the Dayton area.  She is passionate about technology, people, and her community.