Darn!!! Another IT Recession!

Employment in the information industry declined by 13,000 in July and by 44,000
over the past 12 months. Telecommunications lost 5,000 jobs in July.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/08/06/Bureau-of-Labor-Statistics-reports-big-drop-in-tech-jobs_1.html

Well, this is always sucky news, but it may give a reason to some of you wondering why it is so hard to come by a job right now. We just have to ride out the recession. [/quote]

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Comments

jryantech

I've been looking threw jobs and if I was out of college with my degree I could pick up a job so easy... Entry level of course 25k-35k a year...

I want to do .NET and all those jobs require 100 years experience...

GT-Rob

meh, what field isn't in a decline these days in the US.

nel

GT-Rob wrote:

meh, what field isn't in a decline these days in the US.

I think its most places these days - or so it seems...ive really struggled trying to land a junior network role, they seem so scarce these days

darkerosxx

Computer systems design and related services added 7,000 jobs in July.

TravR1

Work hard, keep studying and learning, you'll be fine. Every company is always going to need IT guys. Imagine the business/sales guys in the server room trying to fix the mail server when it craps out Monday morning

MCPWannabe

TravR1 wrote:

Work hard, keep studying and learning, you'll be fine. Every company is always going to need IT guys. Imagine the business/sales guys in the server room trying to fix the mail server when it craps out Monday morning

That would be a nice site to see.

Aldur

It does seem like every field is in a decline. I suppose that those of use who have jobs should be thankful, even if those jobs are low paying and are stressful.

Mrock4

I believe if you do your best to always move forward, and learn something new every day, you'll never have that hard of a time getting a job in this field. Sure, some jobs may get cut, but at the end of the day, businesses are going to need at the very minimum that go-to guy...so why not be him?

I tell myself daily that if I don't study and pass the next test, learn the new technology, then I'll be stuck working mcdonalds for my life. That's plenty of motivation for me.

Ahriakin

While there may be a relative drop in overall numbers as has been said you have to work to make sure you are at the top of the pile regardless, companies may cut back but they still need someone when the crap hits the fan.
The market doesn't absolutely decide your job prospects but your skills do.

Kasor

What area and specific field are you looking at the IT field?

stlsmoore

Yea I lost my job unexpectedly but my phone has been ringing off the hook thanks a lot to the certifications I gained and the knowledge I learned from the forums alone.

dynamik

Anyone else notice that when there's one of these doom-and-gloom articles, a couple weeks later, something like a "Most Popular Jobs in 2008" list comes out, and 7 of the 10 are in IT. It's like this is just a cycle to draw attention. I really don't take either seriously any more.

famosbrown

jryantech wrote:

I've been looking threw jobs and if I was out of college with my degree I could pick up a job so easy... Entry level of course 25k-35k a year...

I want to do .NET and all those jobs require 100 years experience...

I know a few .NET programmers who came right out of college making over 60K. Don't worry TOO much about what the posting states about required experience. Still apply and let them make the decision. They may not bring you in as a Senior, but you may get your foot in the door with a pretty good salary. The competition in that field isn't too bad I'm told, so just stay positive. Try to pick up an internship too. Progammers/Developers heavily outnumber the Infrastructure guys in I.T. departments.

snadam

dynamik wrote:

Anyone else notice that when there's one of these doom-and-gloom articles, a couple weeks later, something like a "Most Popular Jobs in 2008" list comes out, and 7 of the 10 are in IT. It's like this is just a cycle to draw attention. I really don't take either seriously any more.

+1 you can skew statistics to look any way you want them to...I take these with grains of salt.

darkerosxx

snadam wrote:

dynamik wrote:

Anyone else notice that when there's one of these doom-and-gloom articles, a couple weeks later, something like a "Most Popular Jobs in 2008" list comes out, and 7 of the 10 are in IT. It's like this is just a cycle to draw attention. I really don't take either seriously any more.

+1 you can skew statistics to look any way you want them to...I take these with grains of salt.

That's why I quoted that line from the information they quoted from. They "forgot" to mention that computer systems design jobs went up by 7,000.

snadam

darkerosxx wrote:

That's why I quoted that line from the information they quoted from. They "forgot" to mention that computer systems design jobs went up by 7,000.

yep, I was strengthening your point.

doom and gloom usually 'sells' more.

darkerosxx

And I yours! lol

Kaminsky

Even in the UK the IT market is taking a nose dive (our building industry is completely knackered) and contractors are especially hard hit where companies are trying to ride out this looming recession. I am glad I came out of the contracting market two years ago and now in a permanent job that is relatively safe. (although you never know) The company I am in has also made a decision to remove as many contractors (we had hundreds at one point last year) as possible for the forseable future all because of the looming recession.... Got to keep those shareholders happy and in the bubbly !

There are always jobs out there for those that keep plugging away ... always ! With times like this though, there are many more applicants for each position and with that raises the bar of the knowledge and experience required to obtain the job. You can be perfect for the job but lose out to someone overqualified for the job but needs to get something coming in.

Trick is just to take it on the chin and keep plugging away.

I would advise anyone to try and get into a permanent role right now though and the larger the company the better.

sliptmickey

Contractors have definately taken a hit. I was supposed to start work on 25 August for a subcontractor so I drove down to Tampa about 5 days prior to get familiar with the area and get settled into a place. About 300 miles out (I had left from Chicago 900 miles ago) I get a call from the CEO of the company (a small one of about 30 people) that the prime contractor cancelled the subcontract because they wanted to fill the position with an employee they would hire. Luckily a deal was struck and I was hired for the position since I was already here and ready to work. Had to go through the HR process and should start work on Monday...barring any other bad news. Took a hit on pay too. Am not too happy about it, but it sure as hell beats unemployment.

HeroPsycho

The "nose dive" of IT is simply looking for ways to cut costs to ride out the storm. I'm still getting numerous projects to deploy VMware for server consolidation and hardware refresh.

Why buy 100 new servers when 10-20 would do just fine with VMware?

Pash

Kaminsky wrote:

Got to keep those shareholders happy and in the bubbly !

The old saying, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer is always true.

Company directors, shareholders or business owners will always make cuts elsewhere before taking one themselves, plain and simple greed.

But I dont care, im winning the £92 million jackpot on the euromillions lottery tonight so I wont ever have to work again!

(yes I see the irony in my words)

sliptmickey

Best of luck to ya. Share the wealth if you do.

vsmith3rd

Just hang out until the bazillions of boomers start to retire or die off or whatever. They'll be loads of jobs for everyone. Hell, you could have two then.