MISSO IT Hiring Trends & Interview Tips 2008 by James Del Monte CPC, CERS JDA Professional Services, Inc.

“... Almost 100% of a managers success comes from hiring and retaining good people. Good people don’t make the difference - they are the difference“ - James Del Monte

Agenda Overview of JDA Current Trends Future Trends Taking Personal Inventory Packaging Your Skills Selling Yourself 101 The Hard Questions Questions

What JDA Does... JDA Professional Services, Inc. is a Houston-based IT staffing firm specializing in the recruitment of strategic-technical to executive-level professionals. We provide staffing solutions through full-time, contract, and project-based placements. Since 1981, we have been helping companies build great IT departments while helping IT professionals find the right career opportunities. Full-Time Staffing Contract / Temporary Staffing Special Projects Staffing JDA

Law of Supply and Demand The demand for skilled professionals peaked 4Q99 and has decreased, bottoming out 3Q03. The current cycle indicates that once again there are more positions than skilled professionals, and this is projected to continue past Labor Surplus vs. Skill Shortage Q01 4Q04 Demand Bottomed 4Q99 Demand Peaked Demand Bottomed Supply Demand Q03

Employer’s MarketJob Seeker’s Market Combination Market The job market has shifted from an Employer’s Market to a Job Seeker’s Market - to a Combination Market. Candidate Position Candidate Market Shift

Job Creation 1 million new IT positions from 2004 – 2014 that’s a 30% increase (BLS) Labor Surplus vs. Skill Shortage

Employment Index

Unemployment Virtually “Zero” Among IT Professionals Occupation2Q2008 Unemployment rate Computer hardware engineers1.7 Computer and information systems managers2.1 Computer programmers3.3 Computer scientists and systems analysts1.0 Computer software engineers1.9 Computer support specialists3.7 Database administrators1.6 Network and computer systems administrators2.8 Network systems and data communications analysts2.5 Source: unpublished tabulations of Current Population Survey data furnished by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Education Pays Doctoral degree Professional degree Master’s degree Bachelor’s degree Associate degree Some college, no degree High-school graduate Less than a high-school diploma Unemployment rate in 2007 (Percent) Median weekly earnings in 2007 (Dollars) 1.4% $1,497 1,427 1, Source:

Less than 9 th grade High-school Some College, no degree Associate degree College Bachelor’s degree or more 9 th to12th non-grad Graduate incl. GED Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Professional Degree Doctoral Degree Lifetime Mean Earnings 1,184,4971,241,2681,563,8351,789,1021,853,7742,614,7703,098,4084,777,5153,670,380 Add’l Lifetime Earnings over prior education 56,771322,567225,26764,672760,996483,6381,679,107(1,107,135) Source: Annual Demographic Survey 2000Values calculated consider typical work starting age for each education level achieved through age 65.

Will come from companies with less than 100 employees In Houston there are less than 4,000 companies with over 100 employees These companies need the same services as large companies - just not all the time 80% of Job Growth

2008 Houston IT Hiring

Education = life long process The person who learns today, but stops learning tomorrow is uneducated the day after Learn to learn – who are the best teachers of you and your friends – take their courses. Excited about learning – love to learn

Education and $$ What is the purpose of Education / Training? A Students – name schools - hired by major corporations at top salaries B Students – regional or local schools hired by small to mid size companies C Students – 3 rd tier or local schools hired by ? 80% of college graduates are in professions other than what they were trained in 10 years after graduation

Top-Paid Majors for Bachelor’s Degree Curriculum Average Salary Offer Chemical Engineering $63,616 Computer Engineering $59,962 Computer Science $59,873 Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering $58,252 Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering $57,999 *Source: Spring 2008 Salary Survey, National Association of Colleges and Employers.

4 Generations > 46 Depression WWII Baby Boomers Generation X Generation Y or millennial

Generation Perception Strengths Connected Networking with others Multi-tasking Team players – collective action Structured workers Complex problem solving Traditional values Desire to succeed Tech savvy Heroic spirit Tenacious Weaknesses Catered to Work habits Attention span Immediate gratification Need for feedback 80% turn over first year Grade inflation / abilities No independent responsibility Unrealistic expectation Lack of patience Inexperience in life skills

Gen Y 74% of employers say Gen Y workers expect to be paid more 61% say Gen Y workers expect to have flexible schedules 56% say Gen Y workers expect to be promoted within the year 50% say Gen Y workers expect to have more vacation or personal time 37% say Gen Y workers expect to have access to state-of-the-art technology Bingham consulting professionals 2008

Selling Yourself “It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have one and not be prepared.” – Whitney Young JR

Interviewing Tips & Techniques Ask not what your company can do for you but what you can do for your company Goals  Yours - Theirs Know Yourself  Why You Prepare  Research Seek to Understand Me vs. You Questions Hard Questions  Money Closing  Asking for it

True or False The person with the best skills gets the job? The best interviewer gets the job? The person that’s the best fit gets the job? Most interviewers are not professional interviewers and are uncomfortable? Good preparation is key to a successful interview? It is better to have experience than to know someone?

What Makes a Successful Employee Showing up Being ready to work Doing what it takes Ability to learn and take on more Plays well with others Attitude - positive optimistic A faithful employee is as refreshing as a cool day in the hot summertime. Proverbs 26 13

Attitude Success is creating a state of mind that allows you to achieve whatever it is you want. When a man is gloomy, everything seems to go wrong; when he is cheerful, everything seems right! Proverbs 15:15

Skills CIO’s Look For Personal Inventory Business/Functional Project Management Communication - written and oral Presentation Problem Solving Critical Thinking Leadership Organization Skills Time Management Attention to Detail Learning Ability Flexibility

Strengths & Weaknesses List your top three Give an example of each Why would this matter to me

Types of Interviews Biographical – resume verification. Functional – what do you do? Accomplishment – what have you done? Behavioral – tell me about a time?

Tell me about yourself? Product Definition 30 second introduction  2 line summary of experience  2 lines of career highlights  2 lines of what you want to do next

The Money Question $$ The market sets the price $$ Ask and you shall receive

Besides money what is important to you? First review and history for increases Promotions and career path First assignment Training and certifications Bonuses and incentives Benefit package – cost and coverage Flexibility Location Telecommuting Access to management Total Package

Compensation Package Components Base salary Signing bonus Group bonus Project bonus Hot skill bonus Clothing bonus Travel bonus Early reviews Expense account Company car Stock or stock options Retirement plans 401k Titles Office space Parking – bus passes van pools Flexible scheduling Telecommuting Equipment Training/tuition Out of town trips Extra/early vacation Family days Day care

Asking for the job –closing the deal Summary statement What is the next step Will you be making me an offer I am interested in working for you Is there any reason why you won’t be making me an offer Moving the Interview Forward

Who’s Hiring Interns & Entry Level Big Oil & Gas Mercer Hewitt Getronics Convergys HP BMC Engineering & Construction Out Source Companies

#1 Suggestion by Executives Learn the Business Your biggest asset? = ability to make money – this will take constant training and upgrading – invest both time and money in oneself. You have to INVEST in your biggest asset! Think ROI.

Advice from CIO’s Develop your personal network Specific technology can be learned as needed In the fast changing technology, knowledge, ability, skills and habits are all combined to make a career Make sure that all strategic plans are tied to a technology plan Have personal integrity, be humble, be frank and honest Get technical, stay intellectual and put in more than you take out while you are in a career building mode. Look for mentors to help you improve. Be aggressive in ways to help the business (don’t just wait for someone to give you work). Half of everything you know today will be obsolete in three years. Maintain a healthy balance between self, family and work. Laugh a lot and eat your vegetables.

701 North Post Oak Road Suite 610 Houston, Texas Phone: Contract and Full-time Staffing Information Technology Staffing Specialists Consulting and Special Projects