As anyone who has worked in any organization can attest, things can invariably get complicated, especially when extreme demands are placed on diverse personalities.  In other words, working in groups can be difficult.

A whole cottage industry of psychologists – organizational consultants, if you will – have sprung up to examine these relationships, identify trends, and make recommendations to make things run smoother.  There’s just one problem: even these “experts” fall victim to the urge to stereotype.

Take this article, for example, that generalizes IT managers as “aloof” and plagued by an “us-versus-them” mentality.  Those of us who have worked with – and worked in – well-functioning IT organizations will tell you that, believe it or not, that is not always the case.  And painting all IT managers, or the function as a whole, with such a broad brush, isn’t entirely constructive.

Do some IT managers need to work on interpersonal skills?  Sure.  But so do managers of all stripes.

There is a silver lining here, though, and it rests with IT job applicants.  As any CIO hiring manager of professional staffing executive will tell you, an IT job applicant who is personable and equipped with strong communication skills, will go places.  It is, in fact, perhaps the most in-demand “soft” skill for an IT job applicant, and one that can make the difference in that upcoming high-stakes interview.

Some of the biggest victims of The Great Recession are workers who have been unemployed for six months to a year, particularly those in the IT sector.  That’s because with technology changing so rapidly, these individuals can see the world pass them by during these periods of unemployment.

And while the IT hiring sector is nonetheless outperforming the economy as a whole, it is a still a pressing problem for those who are unemployed.  Fortunately, job-hunters – be it those currently unemployed or those unsatisfied with their current position – have many tools at their disposal to help them land their next job.

Probably the most obvious initial strategy is to harness social media, particularly LinkedIn and even Facebook, to put out feelers.  Never underestimate the power of the personal connection.  That said, job-seekers will always be limited to a degree in terms of directly contacting the decision-makers at hiring businesses.

Which is why it’s absolutely critical to partner with your local professional staffing firm.  These individuals have a direct line into the needs of clients, both from a technical and interpersonal perspective.  Building a deep relationship with such a firm is probably the best way to get your foot in the door with hiring companies.

If you are looking for a professional staffing agency to hire a manager for your company, there are certain qualities you want to look for when they send you over their top picks.

The manager should have some managerial experience to be able to lead your employees and manage effectively but beyond that they need to be a match for your company. You need to find a person who will be able to work with people of different personality types and withholds a strong work ethic, is honest and a responsible worker.

Different managerial jobs require different traits. If you are looking to hire a manager for a children’s toy store, you want to be sure this person has patience. For some other jobs it may be necessary to have a sense of humor and other positions may be quite stressful and those managers must able to roll with the punches. And, still others will require a more scientific or analytical mind. The professional staffing agency will definitely have some very well qualified candidates for the position but having to narrow it down may come down to the interview rather than what is on their resume.

IT workers, by definition, exist to support the business.  Their job is to “keep the lights on” through always-on network accessibility while also building the applications that help drive profitability.

And as IT has assumed a more substantial role in corporate boardrooms it has also developed a strange and potentially damaging complex.  We call it “the inability to say ‘no.’”

Let us try to explain.

As any IT worker will tell you – particularly those in the project management office – business sponsors demand applications be built better, faster, and cheaper.  Yet sometimes that simply isn’t feasible.  Nonetheless, unwilling to disappoint the business – or afraid for their jobs – IT workers will inevitably make promises they can’t keep.  As a result, a project comes in over-budget or lacking key functionalities, and IT gets the blame.

Which is where the ability to say “no” to an unrealistic or cost-prohibitive project can be an asset.  Not only does it show that IT is a responsible steward of the businesses finances, it also shows a deep understanding of what is feasible and affordable.

So when IT HR heads and professional staffing firms talk of the need for IT workers with “business-facing skills,” this is what they mean: the ability to intelligently articulate the value of an IT project in a way that is informed and honest.

Director of Cloud Transformation.  Data Scientist.  Augmented Reality Specialist.

No, these aren’t the titles of characters in a new science fiction movie; they’re next-generation IT job titles - except they are jobs that are in-demand now, in 2012.  In other words, if recent articles are to be believed, the future has already arrived.

By “the future,” we mean the commoditization and proliferation of technologies like cloud computing, social media, and data analytics, all of which are quickly conspiring to change the face of IT.

But don’t be fooled: these technologies will not replace typical IT roles like information security, project management, network administration, and even the Help Desk.  Rather, IT applicants can expect a scenario where these two worlds – old and new – merge.

Take cloud computing, for example.  The technology is mature and the cost-savings are evident.   But at the end of the day, implementing a cloud solution is no different than any other type of IT project.  To put it another way, the principles of IT project management – budgeting, value demonstration, training – still apply.  They’re timeless, and an experienced project manager will always be in demand.

So what does this mean for the IT job applicant?  Well, before you take a crash source in cloud computing, take a step back and assess your current skill set and where you want to be in five, ten, 20 years.  Understand what your current strengths are and how they can be leveraged to support new and emerging technologies.

And most importantly, work with an IT professional staffing firm to understand the types of businesses who are hiring, the kinds of skills they’re looking for, and formulate a development plan to get there.

As the Presidential campaign unfolds, both candidates understandably talk about the importance of US manufacturing.  After all, over two decades of outsourcing and globalization has seen America turn into, to a great degree, a more service-oriented economy.

The bad news about this trend is that in many industries – think, say, heavy manufacturing – it is very difficult to bring those jobs back home.  The good news, however, is that in other industries – think IT support, software development, and call centers – it is perfectly possible, if not likely, that those jobs can return home.  That’s the gist of this fascinating article in Infoboom examining the push-and-pull dynamics of IT outsourcing.

There are dozens of reasons why bringing IT jobs back to the states makes economic sense, but for today’s purposes, we’d like to briefly look at three.  First, as standards of living have improved in countries like India, the cost-benefit of outsourcing has diminished.  Second, some companies are reporting that the outsourced work is of low-quality, requiring fixes that negate any cost savings.  And lastly, companies are still struggling with the challenge of securing corporate data across geographically dispersed networks.

And there’s an additional trend here that is good news for IT workers here in the States.  The emerging importance of skills like business intelligence and data analytics, in many ways, simply can’t be outsourced.  Talk to your IT professional staffing agent to see how you ramp up on these types of skills and become, in essence, “un-outsourceable.”

It may sound strange and a bit nostalgic, but 2008 – specifically, the period before the financial and housing market meltdowns – was for all intents and purposes, the good old days of the American economy.

Ever since then, the economy has been trying to crawl back to 2008-levels, whether in terms of economic growth, employment levels, and housing sales.

Well, some good news is finally available, and it comes from the sole economic bright spot across the past four years, the IT sector.  According to a recent survey of IT executives, the average IT worker now makes $78,299 – more or less the same as in January 2008.

A deeper dive shows that certain IT positions fare better than others: network services supervisors saw a near-seven percent jump, to an approximate average salary of $57,000, while programmers and analysts averaged out at close to $80,000.

Of course, these trends vary by region, so it is important to partner with an IT professional services firm in your area to get the most accurate salary data available.

Are you looking for a new job? Are you ready for an interview? If not then this short post will give you simple but effective tips that will certainly add plus points on your side. There is nothing more exciting than to have a new job especially if this is the kind of job you dream for so long. To make the positive side turns toward your direction, here are some of the tips that will certainly make your interview a great one.

Tip #1: Wear your best corporate clothes

Never go wearing your old denim jacket or worst your leather one. It is important that you present yourself as professional as possible. Try to wear something simple but with a hint of professionalism. For men, make sure to wear your best coat and tie attire. For women, go for those soft slacks or skirt. Never wear those bold and vibrant colors. Just go for those simple and neutral shades.

Tip #2: Bring necessary credentials

When I say bring necessary credentials, I don’t mean your whole trunk of report cards and medals. Just bring the necessary ones like those certificates from seminars that have connections with the position you are applying.

Tip #3: Be courteous

It is important that listen well with every question and answer them courteously. Try to avoid those unnecessary phrases that will only make your interview a lot more confusing. Answer the questions promptly and directly but with respect.

Tip #4: Relax and take a deep breath

Never make those butterflies in your stomach rule! Make sure to take a deep breath, relax and enjoy your interview.

Consider these simple but effective tips and you will certainly get a chance to have that position you’ve been dreaming for so long. Just enjoy your interview, learn from your mistakes and grab the opportunity waving in front of you.