Networkers can't wait to work it out

Training to pick up a better paid and more rewarding job is top of better job. the list of New Year's resolutions among the majority of network professionals, according to a recent independent NSM Research survey commissioned by Network News.

Our exclusive poll revealed that 1999 will be a volatile time for network specialists, with over 55 per cent of respondents beginning to look for a new job during the course of the year. However, over a quarter of those surveyed were too impatient to wait for a full year, but would be diving in to the job pool within the next three months.

It was discovered that, when previously entering the job market, over three-quarters of the survey respondents had found work within six months.

However, more than10 per cent had spent over a year searching for the right technical position. Although the majority of respondents will be looking for a job in 1999, it was widely acknowledged that only those with training in the right skills would quickly find suitable employment.

Two-thirds of network professionals questioned in our poll placed Windows NT top of the pile of skills that are most in demand. Trailing behind in second place, all with around 40 per cent, were support for Wans, internet working and TCP/IP.

As a reflection of these findings 28 per cent had undertaken NT skills courses during the last 12 months. Among those whose job title is network manager this figure increased to 35 per cent. It appears that the much-hyped NT skills shortage could be levelling off or even ending. Rather than increasing, the number of network specialists planning to take NT courses in 1999 is set to decline - albeit by only a small percentage.

These statistics were endorsed by Peter Feller, senior partner at Review Computer Recruitment. "There are more and more people coming out with NT networking skills. Now there is no serious skill shortage in the market," he said.

The most important factor for the industry in selecting a new job was money. Around two-thirds of the study base placed salary in the top three of their selection criteria. Only half of those polled placed the technical nature of the potential job as a top three motivator. But, while 24 per cent cited the technical nature of the project as their single most important motive, only 17 per cent looked first at the cold hard cash.