Dear Career Coach
From where I sit, reports of an uptick in tech hiring have been grossly exaggerated. Despite eight years' experience, I've had nary a nibble. Got tips?
DECIDEDLY DESPERATE
DEAR DESPERATE:
Don't give up hope. A recent poll by IT consulting firm Robert Half Technology found that 11 percent of CIOs plan to add full-time IT staff in the second quarter, the largest hiring increase forecast since the third quarter of 2002. When asked which technical skills are in short supply, 79 percent said Windows admins, while 21 percent cited networking as the specialty most in demand.
Still, some experienced IT people, especially those with A+ and MCSE certifications, are taking a cue from plumbers and electricians and making house calls. Geeks On Call (www.geeksoncall.com), for example, offers franchise opportunities in what IDC cites as a $300 billion SOHO support market.
The initial investment is steep--$50,000 and up--but Entrepreneur magazine ranks Geeks On Call one of the 100 fastest-growing franchise opportunities in the United States.
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