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Network talent needed

Some ways IT leaders can mitigate the skills gap
IT Leadership Alert By Amy Schurr , Network World , 08/05/2008
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Amy Schurr dispenses advice on managing human and capital assets for maximum ROI.

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A new Whitepaper from IDC sponsored by the Cisco Learning Institute shows a shortage of network professionals could be here as early as 2011.

According to the report, “Networking Skills in North America: Trends, Gaps and Strategies,” about 600,000 IT pros worked on networks in 2007. That will grow about 30% to about 780,000 workers by 2011. But there are more jobs than skilled workers to fill them. About 10% of open networking positions remain unfilled for more than six months.

“This Whitepaper confirms what many managers of the workforce are already keenly aware of: There is an acute and growing need for more IT professionals,” said Cushing Anderson, IDC analyst. “With more and more businesses moving critical operational functions over to the network, the IT department is assuming a much more strategic role in the organization and needs its infrastructure to be designed, implemented and maintained by highly skilled, highly trained individuals.”

The changing nature of the network and its greater importance in the enterprise lead to increased demand for skills such as security, telephony, wireless, messaging and videoconferencing. Cisco reports that IT leaders can mitigate the skills gap in a few ways:

* Share job roles and tasks between multiple workers. Decentralized job roles help reduce the impact of unfilled positions.

* Make up for lack of experience by seeking certification in a relevant technology. Nearly three-fourths of those polled believe certifications improve the credibility and reflect the capability of a candidate. As you likely know, Cisco offers an extensive certification program.

* Accelerate outsourcing.

Amy Schurr is the former managing features editor of Network World.

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Meanwhile, more professsional network Analyzer & Monitor are neededBy D.t-Franklynine on August 6, 2008, 1:26 amThe talent is important, and the Tools are also very important.A good network analyzer/monitor will save us much time, and very easy-to-use.Just like Colasoft Capsa:...

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Did someone say Bull@#$%By Anonymous on August 11, 2008, 10:32 amThe last option " Accelerate outsourcing." That is really what its all about right. There are thousands of IT pros out looking for work, but the so called jobs that...

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Outsource!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope they outsource your job Amy...By Anonymous on August 16, 2008, 3:18 amOutsource!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope they outsource your job Amy. Demand will drive up wages, which in turn will make the IT field look good for future college students....

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