IT Job Market

[CheeseQuavers 0]

Just a forward;

I am not looking for employment for DH, we are only gauging other's experiences finding roles with skill-sets similar to his!

Ok, so DH and I are planning on going the Direct Consular Filing route in quite a few year's time. I am the USA citizen (and wifey), DH is the UK citizen, we currently live in the UK with myself being here since July 2006 with Spouse Visa and got my ILR in 2008, now working towards citizenship.

Basically DH is a programmer/sysadmin type. He never went to University but does have his GCSE's (with really good scores) A+,N+,(almost has his CCNA), Linux/Linux+ etc. He works predominantly in PHP (zend framework)/MySQL, Perl, Jquery, Javascript, Xhtml/Css, Apache, Linux/Unix, Cisco, networking, back-end development etc.

He's been in IT practically since he was out of diapers. His first job was 4 years as a Field Engineer (pc/network technician). He then moved into a programming position that lasted three years (actually he was basically Head of IT for this company; Systems Administration, server maintenance, developing new software applications, controlling purchasing within the company, debugging and rewriting all of the other software written by the other IT guy etc). He left this role in December 09 (we are currently embroiled in a constructive dismissal suit against his boss) and was picked up in January for a PHP-development role. He is quite happy with his current job; his boss provides his employees everything from Plasma tv's to a foozball (table football) table and basket ball court!

We do know that our first location in the USA will very likely be in the midwest.

Can anyone give me some insight on the current job market for someone like DH in the midwest?

Kindest regards!!

CJ & DJ

[Nina~ 431]

Moving to a metropolitan city would probably better his chances of finding a job. IMO, a lot of programming/IT jobs are being outsourced. Howeverer there are still some IT/Programming jobs here. A college degree will help him in getting a job here.

[CheeseQuavers 0]

Moving to a metropolitan city would probably better his chances of finding a job. IMO, a lot of programming/IT jobs are being outsourced. Howeverer there are still some IT/Programming jobs here. A college degree will help him in getting a job here.

I am currently in University studying for an undergrad degree. We cannot afford to have both of us going to school and cannot find any decent Undergrad programs online. DH also says he is too old, too experienced etc to do an undergraduate degree in computer science or similar.

Will not having a degree significantly lower his chances of getting a job?

The education systems between the USA and UK are so very different. The UK wants less people applying for higher education and going straight into jobs from GCSE/A-Levels (think of A-Levels as the general required classes during the first year or two of college in the USA.)

DH needs to work full time, otherwise we'll lose our home, there is no other option bar getting a degree completely online.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

It market is tough, especially if you don;t have a degree. Too much has gone off shore , you may be looking at a year or more before you land something that is not even up to what you are currently doing.

[Nina~ 431]

I am currently in University studying for an undergrad degree. We cannot afford to have both of us going to school and cannot find any decent Undergrad programs online. DH also says he is too old, too experienced etc to do an undergraduate degree in computer science or similar.

Will not having a degree significantly lower his chances of getting a job?

The education systems between the USA and UK are so very different. The UK wants less people applying for higher education and going straight into jobs from GCSE/A-Levels (think of A-Levels as the general required classes during the first year or two of college in the USA.)

DH needs to work full time, otherwise we'll lose our home, there is no other option bar getting a degree completely online.

Remember, there are other people applying for the same job that your husband will be applying for. Having all that experience is a plus, however IMO a degree is important. Maybe your husband can do a part-time (evening classes) program and having a "degree in prgoress" on his resume might help his chances of landing a job. I am sure that your husband can qualify for financial aid once he gets his GC.

[CheeseQuavers 0]

Remember, there are other people applying for the same job that your husband will be applying for. Having all that experience is a plus, however IMO a degree is important. Maybe your husband can do a part-time (evening classes) program and having a "degree in prgoress" on his resume might help his chances of landing a job. I am sure that your husband can qualify for financial aid once he gets his GC.

Thank you, Nina! All I have to do now is convince the OH that this is what he needs to do!! lol

That brings me to ponder about my English Degree and whether it will be worth anything in the USA? I am worried that I will get in all of this debt for nothing!

Edited July 30, 2010 by casandra

[obnancy 5]

HI Casandra,

Many employers here do not care what your degree is in, as long as it is from an accredited college/university and was a four year course. I have friends who work in insurance and are getting degrees in unrelated fields that are easier just so they can get promoted at work. Some companies have a policy not to promote above a certain level without a degree. It's a silly system.

My brother-in-law works in IT and had to do the on-line undergraduate course in order to get promoted. Now he is going for his Masters on-line as well because that will put him in the next pay bracket. They want experience AND a degree. This is more with the larger companies. Smaller businesses run by entrepreneurs value experince over education. He may want to start researching companies over here that want to do business with the UK and need their systems inegrated. With a work permit in hand and his UK experience and connections he would be more qualified than most Americans.

[^_^ 5,021]

IDK about the midwest but there is a ton of work in the NYC metro area assuming you're energetic and have not let your skillset degrade.

[Darnell 8,478]

If you aren't moving this month, I'd say not to make any time to worry about this -

as in 3 years time, when you ARE moving, the job market for IT will have changed dramatically, as compared to today.

CERTS and EXPERIENCE trump many things when finding a job here - he's already got that, thankfully.

If this really is of any concern, though - for now - or

if you'd like to start capturing data and datapoints on cities/markets/types of jobs

then study dice.com , once a month, for about 2 years .

You'll start to get the gist of the trends, over time, which IMO, is fricking useful.

[CheeseQuavers 0]

If you aren't moving this month, I'd say not to make any time to worry about this -

as in 3 years time, when you ARE moving, the job market for IT will have changed dramatically, as compared to today.

CERTS and EXPERIENCE trump many things when finding a job here - he's already got that, thankfully.

If this really is of any concern, though - for now - or

if you'd like to start capturing data and datapoints on cities/markets/types of jobs

then study dice.com , once a month, for about 2 years .

You'll start to get the gist of the trends, over time, which IMO, is fricking useful.

Wow. I've been through that site and I can totally see the potential. Thank you

[Mononoke28 135]

Yes, dice.com is one of the best sites for IT employment, that's how I found my job even though it's not IT related but in a similar industry. Don't get discouraged about him not having a degree, I worked in telecommunications for 10 years and now work in a different industry and many of the IT people I've worked with didn't have a degree when they started. If you notice, a lot of the job postings will say something like "4 year BS required or related work experience." That's not to say that a degree is not needed, it will help him greatly if he gets one but it's in many cases it's not necessary.

Diana

[Doris_G 4]

If you aren't moving this month, I'd say not to make any time to worry about this -

as in 3 years time, when you ARE moving, the job market for IT will have changed dramatically, as compared to today.

CERTS and EXPERIENCE trump many things when finding a job here - he's already got that, thankfully.

If this really is of any concern, though - for now - or

if you'd like to start capturing data and datapoints on cities/markets/types of jobs

then study dice.com , once a month, for about 2 years .

You'll start to get the gist of the trends, over time, which IMO, is fricking useful.

This is excellent advice.

I work in IT, and having just recently gone through a job search, have a few thoughts to add:

Having some sort of online presence is very useful. This could be in the form of a portfolio-type website that showcases your husband's projects and experience. It allows for a more detailed view of his work than a resume. Every job I've gone up for has requested this.

Along those same lines, your husband will want to make sure the rest of his online activity is sparkling clean. I'm talking about Facebook, messageboard postings that link to his name, that sort of thing. I don't know if this is specifically a U.S. thing, but he WILL be subject to a least a cursory search of his internet presence, and in some cases, a deeper review that will dig up all sorts of stuff.

He's probably aware of all that, but just wanted to point it out just in case.

For certain types of work and employers in IT, a degree isn't an issue. In others, he may need the degree eventually to get promoted, but he might get lucky and get in with a company who will pay for his education. If he can get a job at a local uni, they often offer free/much reduced tuition as a benefit.

If he decides to get an online degree from a U.S. school, please make sure it is a LEGIT university with name-brand recognition. There is a whole industry out there of pseudo-colleges offering worthless degrees.

Hope this helps.

[Doris_G 4]

Oh yeah, one other thing: LinkedIn. This is a biggie, at least in my sector of IT. This would be a good time for him to build up his profile there. I was surprised by how useful it turned out to be for my search.

[Gemmie 142]

My husband has worked in IT (independent contractor that went bust) and has struggled to find a job there ever since, and he left in 2008. That being said, he hasn't put 100% effort into solely IT jobs as he just needed to get any employment he could find. He's found that a degree is basically essential for the jobs he's looked at. He has an Associates, not a Bachelor, which has really hurt his chances, and because of his lack of experience, he hasn't been successful. Most entry-level jobs are asking for a BA and 1-3 years experience.

Your husband sounds as though he has loads of experience, more than usually required, but missing the degree. IMO, he might be able to find something that will take his experience above the lack of degree.

[Doris_G 4]

It's tough out there for sure, Gemmie. I know a lot of us job-seekers in IT, no matter what our experience or education level, are having to find creative ways to cobble together a living.

I sent out probably 50 applications to a range of jobs posted online, from store clerk to high-level IT stuff, including jobs that appeared to be a perfect fit. The response? Dead silence.

The way I finally found a gig was to seek out an employer I found interesting, and basically woo them into creating a position. A lot of it was lucky timing, and it came after a ton of dead-end leads, when I was at my wits end (and seriously out of money).

Hope your husband can keep his chin up, remain optimistic, and ride out this temporary tough patch. Better days ahead!