Scan the job postings: IT network job descriptions increasingly cite wireless skills among the requirements. There also has been an influx of training courses in wireless and certification programs aimed at wireless administration and security. These are adding luster — and pay increases — to a range of wireless network positions.
The demand for wireless skills is rising as companies in an improving economy look to expand and catch up on postponed IT projects, according to a recent study by Robert Half Technology, a division of the global staffing and placement firm. “Businesses are saying [now] ‘we have the money to invest in these new technologies,’” says Jeff Markham, branch manager for the division’s San Francisco office.
“Every job [request] we take from a company has some kind of revenue or profit justification,” he says. “They say they’re using IT as a strategic asset, or to increase revenues and profits, or to reduce costs. The [job] growth is gradual, but it’s super steady.” This trend is especially clear in wireless-related jobs.
Robert Half Technology’s recent report on the third-quarter IT hiring expectations of enterprise CIOs found that management skills in wireless networks were in demand by 57 per cent of the respondents. Markham says it’s becoming common to see wireless experience added to the requirements for such familiar jobs as network security analyst and network architect.
Wireless skill sets are becoming more precise and differentiated. Foote Partners about nine months ago began tracking the broad category of wireless network management. It covers everything from satellite GPS to wireless IP telephony, to 802.11 wireless LANs, says