August 2012
As we transition into the latter part of 2012, one thing is certain: cloud computing is here and it’s here to stay. And for good reason. Cloud computing, even in its early adoption phase, has already begun to change the way enterprise businesses extract value from IT. Because of this, more companies in search of increased flexibility and agility are transitioning their software and applications to the cloud.
So far, the result has been more jobs—particularly those focused around cloud computing skills. In a Microsoft-sponsored white paper, IDC estimated that in 2011, IT cloud services helped organizations worldwide generate 1.5 million new jobs. And in the next four years, it’s forecasted that the number of new jobs will surpass 8.8 million. [1]
IT recruiters are acting now to meet the increasing demand for cloud computing skills. According to research from WANTED Analytics, more than 12,000 cloud computing jobs were advertised online during April 2012, representing a 50 percent increase year-over-year. Furthermore, recruitment for cloud positions is up 275 percent from April 2010.
If your enterprise plans to join this trend and increase its cloud deployment, it may be time to start ramping up your cloud computing skills base.
What are cloud skills?
The first step is to understand what cloud computing skills are and how they differ from the traditional IT skills you’re accustomed to hiring. Truth is, they may not be particularly different; ideally, though, IT pros are spinning their experience to fit the cloud. While many of the skills remain the same, it’s the cloud-related nuances that make some candidates more aligned than others. Ultimately, recruiters should demand seasoned IT professionals who understand the cloud landscape.
According to Angelina Calderon, technical recruiter at The Sourcery, a San Francisco-based recruiting services company, the skills in highest demand fall into four categories:
These skills should come as no surprise, as they’re not, as some may have expected, all new. The cloud is not a reinvention of the wheel; it’s an innovation that was built upon preexisting functions. We’ve always needed a place to store and access data. Now that enterprises are increasingly doing this from a virtual environment rather than a physical one, IT professionals must learn to adapt their current skills to fit new models. And recruiters should be on the lookout for skills that match.
How does your recruiting stack up?
As recruiters scramble to fill cloud-specific positions—most notably software, systems and data engineers—how can you ensure that you’re targeting the strongest candidates? “Experience is number one,” says Calderon, “but certifications, classes and attending conferences are great ways [for candidates] to fill in gaps and supplement a thinner background.” For example, certifications for Apache Hadoop, Hive and HBase are sure bets to target in your recruiting. Java certifications across various technology platforms can also identify the right candidates.
When it comes to experience, Calderon suggests at least three years working in cloud environments, which likely means candidates have worked with some early cloud adopters. This provides good exposure to troubleshooting and implementing a cloud environment from the ground up.
As a final note, Calderon points out that when it comes to cloud hiring, it’s a candidate’s market. “Demand is going up for cloud positions, so companies are competing for highly qualified candidates to meet that demand.” So do your research to ensure that your employment offers are meeting current industry standards.
As long as migrations to the cloud continue and organizations find value in private, public and hybrid cloud environments, recruitment for such positions will remain on the up-and-up, and competitive organizations should keep pace.
Learn more:
[1] IDC White Paper sponsored by Microsoft, Cloud Computing's Role in Job Creation, Doc #233532, March 2012
So far, the result has been more jobs—particularly those focused around cloud computing skills. In a Microsoft-sponsored white paper, IDC estimated that in 2011, IT cloud services helped organizations worldwide generate 1.5 million new jobs. And in the next four years, it’s forecasted that the number of new jobs will surpass 8.8 million. [1]
IT recruiters are acting now to meet the increasing demand for cloud computing skills. According to research from WANTED Analytics, more than 12,000 cloud computing jobs were advertised online during April 2012, representing a 50 percent increase year-over-year. Furthermore, recruitment for cloud positions is up 275 percent from April 2010.
If your enterprise plans to join this trend and increase its cloud deployment, it may be time to start ramping up your cloud computing skills base.
What are cloud skills?
The first step is to understand what cloud computing skills are and how they differ from the traditional IT skills you’re accustomed to hiring. Truth is, they may not be particularly different; ideally, though, IT pros are spinning their experience to fit the cloud. While many of the skills remain the same, it’s the cloud-related nuances that make some candidates more aligned than others. Ultimately, recruiters should demand seasoned IT professionals who understand the cloud landscape.
According to Angelina Calderon, technical recruiter at The Sourcery, a San Francisco-based recruiting services company, the skills in highest demand fall into four categories:
- Programming languages—specifically Java, Ruby, SQL, Python, C++ and Perl. The need for engineers who can develop software applications will never go away—and writing and developing applications for the cloud is in high demand.
- Databases—including both NoSQL and relational database management system (RDBMS) models. Calderon looks for candidates with experience managing Apache Hadoop ecosystems, including those with an understanding of related Hive (data warehousing infrastructure) and HBase (non-relational open source database written in Java). Calderon also values experience with open-source map/reduce tools like MongoDB.
- Web services—these refer to technology that is delivered to a consumer or business over the Internet. Because there is no physical or proprietary ownership, web services provide a scalable, cost-effective computing platform for the cloud. According to Calderon, the ability to conquer web services—such as deploying and managing apps to public cloud platforms—demonstrates in-demand expertise.
- Operating systems—notably Linux and UNIX. Enterprises need IT professionals who can build out infrastructure and provision virtual hardware. Calderon notes that Linux is especially useful because of its support of open source code, allowing you to program in various environments. Additionally, web services companies typically support Linux systems, so this experience fits naturally in the cloud.
These skills should come as no surprise, as they’re not, as some may have expected, all new. The cloud is not a reinvention of the wheel; it’s an innovation that was built upon preexisting functions. We’ve always needed a place to store and access data. Now that enterprises are increasingly doing this from a virtual environment rather than a physical one, IT professionals must learn to adapt their current skills to fit new models. And recruiters should be on the lookout for skills that match.
How does your recruiting stack up?
As recruiters scramble to fill cloud-specific positions—most notably software, systems and data engineers—how can you ensure that you’re targeting the strongest candidates? “Experience is number one,” says Calderon, “but certifications, classes and attending conferences are great ways [for candidates] to fill in gaps and supplement a thinner background.” For example, certifications for Apache Hadoop, Hive and HBase are sure bets to target in your recruiting. Java certifications across various technology platforms can also identify the right candidates.
When it comes to experience, Calderon suggests at least three years working in cloud environments, which likely means candidates have worked with some early cloud adopters. This provides good exposure to troubleshooting and implementing a cloud environment from the ground up.
As a final note, Calderon points out that when it comes to cloud hiring, it’s a candidate’s market. “Demand is going up for cloud positions, so companies are competing for highly qualified candidates to meet that demand.” So do your research to ensure that your employment offers are meeting current industry standards.
As long as migrations to the cloud continue and organizations find value in private, public and hybrid cloud environments, recruitment for such positions will remain on the up-and-up, and competitive organizations should keep pace.
Learn more:
[1] IDC White Paper sponsored by Microsoft, Cloud Computing's Role in Job Creation, Doc #233532, March 2012
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