As the market continues to pick itself up from the rubbles of the dot-com bubble burst of the early 2000, some major shifts are transpiring in the IT employment market.
The continued steady growth in business has led many companies to embark on significant IT transformation initiatives. As a result, recruiters in the IT space are noting some never-before-seen and previously dormant IT positions suddenly being in demand.
The definition of IT professionals has also changed, shedding their tech geek hats from the 90s and putting on a suit and tie tailored for the 21st century.
“When we’re dealing with companies, they are looking for people with more than just IT skills,” said Paul Swinwood, president of the Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) based in Ottawa.
IT professionals today must be able to possess or acquire knowledge of other domains or business units in order to keep themselves relevant in the marketplace, said Swinwood.
“If a pipeline company (for instance) is hiring an IT person, they want them to know hydraulics and process control. It’s the domain knowledge where we’re seeing a proliferation of titles,” he said.
Here’s a peek at some of today’s new and emerging roles.
Business systems analyst
Job description: Yet another re-emerging position, the BSA acts as the mediator between business and IT. Think of it as a dual role with the ability to transform from a tech geek to a business advocate.
Demand rationale: As the trend towards system upgrades continue to transpire in the enterprise, companies are looking for people to help bridge the gap between business and IT.
Hard skills/soft skills: The specific pre-requisites for a business analyst is often tailored to a specific company’s needs, said Lavoy. Some of the common requirements, however, include a strong IT and business background, at least two years’ experience in a similar role and strong interpersonal skills.
Salary range: $45,000-95,000
IT finance chief
icon.
More Roles ?
