SMCI – Best blogs of January

Our Best Blogs of January posts includes stories on the cybersecurity skills shortage, job expected to be hot for 2019 and ways to remove clutter from a hiring process. That’s a lot of great stuff to read when you’re snowed in!

Cybersecurity skills desperately needed

A recent survey of IT professional by Enterprise Strategy Group revealed cybersecurity skills are the top skill set where organizations have a major shortage. This is the fourth straight year cybersecurity has topped this survey, which should come as no surprise to anyone in the tech industry.

A number of steps could be taken to address this industry-wide shortfall. First and foremost, federal leadership could raise awareness, support education initiatives and establish objectives. Second, federal and other government programs to address the cybersecurity skills deficit could partner with private industry to develop targeted efforts. Third, the technology industry should also develop its own initiatives to bolster the cybersecurity skills pipeline.

Read the whole story here.

(Possible) Hot jobs for 2019

While it’s difficult to project anything with absolute certainty, there are indicators pointing to some jobs being more in-demand than others in 2019.

Big data jobs were hot in 2018, and that looks to continue this year. Skills and certifications for Big Data have become increasingly popular in the labor market value over the past two years, as they relate to almost every tech position.

Positions related to artificial intelligence (AI) are also expected to be in-demand as the technology gains wider acceptance. In fact, many are predicting that basic AI skills will become essential for anyone working in the tech industry.

Of course, blockchain is a word that has been on everyone’s lips over the past couple years, and while we’ve yet to see the technology see widespread adoption – its significance will continue to grow in 2019. The finance, healthcare and not-for-profit industries are all expected to step up their demand for people with blockchain skills.

As noted previously, people with cybersecurity skills are in high demand, both right now and for the foreseeable future. Experts are saying that cryptography is a particularly valuable skill set, one that is both in-demand and somewhat unique.

Read the whole story here.

Eliminating clutter from the hiring process

As a result of poor organization, lengthy periods between interviews and other factors in a hiring process, employers may be losing top talent to competitors that have more a streamlined process.

Fortunately, there are a number of ways that employers can streamline a hiring process.

An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) can get rid of clutter by managing behind-the-scenes issues, from posting job descriptions to contacting prospective applicants in internal databases. Some programs can search through application materials for particular keywords or qualifications, get rid of nonqualified applicants by using various filters, and even manage sets of role-specific interview questions.

Creating a prioritized set of qualifications or abilities early on in the process can also help locate good-fit applicants a great deal faster. Job descriptions that are too general and ambitious, with a long, demanding list of requirements, are time-intensive because they pressure hiring managers into making many tradeoffs.

Read the whole story here.