The_AT 9_MC Hottest_JJT IT_NN1 Skills_NN2 for_IF 2009_MC By_II almost_RR any_DD measure_NN1 ,_, the_AT U.S._NP1 economy_NN1 is_VBZ in_II its_APPGE worst_JJT state_NN1 since_CS the_AT Great_JJ Depression_NN1 ._. 
Consumer_NN1 spending_NN1 is_VBZ down_RP ,_, credit_NN1 markets_NN2 remain_VV0 weak_JJ ,_, and_CC more_DAR than_CSN 10_MC million_NNO Americans_NN2 are_VBR out_II21 of_II22 work_NN1 ._. 
Yet_RR despite_II the_AT grim_JJ financial_JJ picture_NN1 ,_, demand_VV0 for_IF certain_JJ types_NN2 of_IO IT_NN1 skills_NN2 ,_, such_II21 as_II22 SAP_NN1 ,_, ._. 
Net_NN1 and_CC help_VV0 desk/support_NN1 ,_, remains_VVZ strong_JJ ._. 
And_CC while_CS some_DD employers_NN2 will_VM continue_VVI to_TO look_VVI outside_II their_APPGE companies_NN2 to_TO find_VVI workers_NN2 with_IW expertise_NN1 in_II these_DD2 and_CC other_JJ disciplines_NN2 ,_, some_DD CIOs_NN2 are_VBR building_VVG some_DD of_IO this_DD1 know-how_NN1 internally_RR as_CSA hiring_VVG freezes_NN2 become_VV0 more_RGR common_JJ ._. 
Here_RL 's_VBZ a_AT1 look_NN1 at_II the_AT hottest_JJT skills_NN2 ,_, as_CSA cited_VVN by_II respondents_NN2 to_II Computerworld_NP1 's_GE annual_JJ Forecast_NN1 survey._NNU 1_MC1 ._. 
Programming/Application_NN1 Development_NN1 Ask_VV0 any_DD recruiter_NN1 what_DDQ the_AT single_JJ most_RGT sought-after_JJ IT_NN1 skill_NN1 is_VBZ at_II the_AT moment_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT universal_JJ response_NN1 is_VBZ a_AT1 three-letter_JJ word_NN1 :_: SAP_VV0 ._. 
SAP_VV0 experts_NN2 ,_, particularly_RR those_DD2 who_PNQS are_VBR experienced_VVN with_IW a_AT1 specific_JJ module_NN1 in_II a_AT1 certain_JJ industry_NN1 ,_, are_VBR commanding_JJ $35_NNU to_II $40_NNU per_II hour_NNT1 more_RRR on_II average_JJ than_CSN other_JJ types_NN2 of_IO senior_JJ technicians_NN2 ,_, says_VVZ Culbert_NP1 ._. 
Demand_VV0 for_IF SAP_NN1 skills_NN2 has_VHZ remained_VVN red_JJ hot_JJ because_CS a_AT1 growing_JJ number_NN1 of_IO companies_NN2 are_VBR working_VVG toward_II establishing_VVG global_JJ instances_NN2 of_IO the_AT ERP_NN1 system_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB not_XX far_RR behind_RL is_VBZ demand_NN1 for_IF IT_NN1 professionals_NN2 with_IW Net_JJ experience_NN1 ._. 
Some_DD companies_NN2 that_CST relied_VVD on_II offshore_JJ labor_NN1 to_TO deliver_VVI ._. 
Net_NN1 and_CC C#_FO capabilities_NN2 just_RR a_AT1 few_DA2 years_NNT2 ago_RA found_VVD that_DD1 route_NN1 to_TO be_VBI nonproductive_JJ ._. 
Now_RT they_PPHS2 're_VBR looking_VVG to_TO fill_VVI those_DD2 jobs_NN2 in-house_JJ ._. 
Rich_JJ Schappert_NN1 ,_, senior_JJ director_NN1 of_IO IT_NN1 at_II Casey_NP1 's_GE General_JJ Stores_NN2 Inc._JJ in_II Ankeny_NP1 ,_, Iowa_NP1 ,_, says_VVZ he_PPHS1 has_VHZ been_VBN filling_VVG the_AT retailer_NN1 's_GE demand_NN1 for_IF ._. 
Net_NN1 and_CC SQL_NN1 Server_NN1 programmers_NN2 for_IF the_AT past_JJ five_MC years_NNT2 by_II recruiting_NN1 and_CC training_VVG local_JJ college_NN1 students_NN2 ._. 
The_AT company_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ operates_VVZ 1,500-plus_FO stores_NN2 across_II the_AT Midwest_NP1 ,_, has_VHZ been_VBN moving_VVG its_APPGE Cobol-based_JJ financial_JJ applications_NN2 into_II the_AT ._. 
Net_JJ environment_NN1 to_TO reduce_VVI its_APPGE mainframe_NN1 costs._NNU 2_MC ._. 
Help_VV0 Desk/Technical_FU Support_NN1 Help_NN1 desk_NN1 and_CC technical_JJ support_NN1 skills_NN2 remain_VV0 in_II strong_JJ demand_NN1 ,_, particularly_RR for_IF people_NN who_PNQS offer_VV0 a_AT1 blend_NN1 of_IO deep_JJ technical_JJ expertise_NN1 and_CC solid_JJ customer-service_NN1 abilities._NNU 3_MC ._. 
Project_NN1 Management_NN1 Even_CS21 though_CS22 many_DA2 companies_NN2 are_VBR cutting_VVG back_RP on_II IT_NN1 projects_NN2 ,_, there_EX 's_VBZ still_RR robust_JJ demand_NN1 for_IF project_NN1 managers_NN2 with_IW solid_JJ track_NN1 records_NN2 ._. 
Project_NN1 management_NN1 is_VBZ one_MC1 of_IO the_AT areas_NN2 "_" that_CST endure_VV0 all_DB economies_NN2 and_CC climates_NN2 ,_, where_CS companies_NN2 are_VBR constantly_RR looking_VVG for_IF people_NN who_PNQS understand_VV0 the_AT project_NN1 and_CC the_AT systems_NN2 development_NN1 life_NN1 cycles_NN2 and_CC make_VV0 sure_JJ the_AT project_NN1 goals_NN2 are_VBR closely_RR aligned_VVN with_IW the_AT business_NN1 objectives_NN2 ._. 
Employers_NN2 also_RR need_VV0 people_NN with_IW project_NN1 management_NN1 certificates_NN2 ,_, even_RR at_II the_AT vice_JJ president_NN1 level_NN1 ,_, according_II21 to_II22 some_DD headhunters_NN2 ._. 
As_II21 of_II22 late_JJ July_NPM1 ,_, The_AT Computing_NN1 Technology_NN1 Industry_NN1 Association_NN1 had_VHD awarded_VVN 20_MC percent_NNU more_DAR Project+_FO certifications_NN2 than_CSN in_II the_AT previous_JJ year._NNU 4_MC ._. 
Networking_VVG The_AT ongoing_JJ convergence_NN1 of_IO voice_NN1 ,_, e-mail_NN1 ,_, video_NN1 ,_, instant_JJ messaging_NN1 and_CC other_JJ communications_NN2 systems_NN2 will_VM continue_VVI to_TO create_VVI demand_NN1 for_IF networking_VVG specialists_NN2 with_IW implementation_NN1 experience_NN1 ._. 
For_REX21 example_REX22 ,_, Scholastic_JJ Inc._JJ in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 posted_VVD a_AT1 job_NN1 opening_VVG in_II November_NPM1 for_IF a_AT1 network_NN1 convergence_NN1 manager_NN1 to_TO help_VVI it_PPH1 create_VVI a_AT1 virtual_JJ call_NN1 center_NN1 using_VVG voice_NN1 over_II IP_NP1 ._. 
Those_DD2 types_NN2 of_IO projects_NN2 often_RR require_VV0 new_JJ skills_NN2 as_RR21 well_RR22 ._. 
In_II 2008_MC ,_, for_REX21 example_REX22 ,_, CRST_NP1 International_JJ Inc._JJ moved_VVN from_II a_AT1 frame-relay_JJ network_NN1 to_II AT_II &T's;_NULL Multiprotocol_NP1 Label_VV0 Switching_JJ network_NN1 and_CC installed_VVD Cisco_NP1 's_GE VoIP_NN1 system_NN1 ._. 
As_II part_NN1 of_IO that_DD1 project_NN1 ,_, the_AT Cedar_NN1 Rapids_NP1 ,_, Iowa-based_JJ transportation_NN1 company_NN1 trained_VVN some_DD of_IO its_APPGE IT_NN1 staffers_NN2 to_TO become_VVI Cisco_NP1 Certified_JJ Voice_NN1 Professionals_NN2 ._. 
Network_NN1 convergence_NN1 projects_NN2 will_VM also_RR heighten_VVI demand_NN1 for_IF workers_NN2 with_IW network_NN1 security_NN1 and_CC data_NN privacy_NN1 acumen._NNU 5_MC ._. 
Business_NN1 Intelligence_NN1 Now_RT more_DAR than_CSN ever_RR ,_, corporate_JJ executives_NN2 want_VV0 to_TO be_VBI able_JK to_TO analyze_VVI customer_NN1 and_CC sales_NN data_NN in_BCL21 order_BCL22 to_TO make_VVI informed_JJ decisions_NN2 about_II business_NN1 strategies_NN2 ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ driving_JJ demand_NN1 for_IF business_NN1 intelligence_NN1 specialists_NN2 across_II the_AT board_NN1 ,_, including_II people_NN with_IW data_NN mining_VVG ,_, data_NN warehousing_NN1 and_CC data_NN management_NN1 skills_NN2 ._. 
At_II Aspen_NP1 Skiing_NN1 Co._NN1 ,_, which_DDQ operates_VVZ four_MC ski_NN1 resorts_VVZ in_II western_JJ Colorado_NP1 ,_, company_NN1 officials_NN2 will_VM be_VBI making_VVG year-over-year_JJ comparisons_NN2 on_II customer_NN1 spending_NN1 ,_, including_II analyses_NN2 of_IO spending_VVG habits_NN2 during_II the_AT previous_JJ recession_NN1 ._. 
Meanwhile_RR ,_, there_EX 's_VBZ steady_JJ demand_NN1 for_IF IT_NN1 professionals_NN2 with_IW experience_NN1 using_VVG vendor-specific_JJ BI_JJ tools_NN2 from_II companies_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 Business_NN1 Objects_NN2 and_CC Cognos_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB the_AT toughest_JJT people_NN to_TO find_VVI in_II this_DD1 area_NN1 are_VBR those_DD2 who_PNQS can_VM help_VVI business_NN1 managers_NN2 understand_VV0 the_AT type_NN1 of_IO data_NN they_PPHS2 're_VBR trying_VVG to_TO analyze_VVI and_CC how_RRQ to_TO interpret_VVI the_AT results._NNU 6_MC ._. 
Security_NN1 When_CS it_PPH1 comes_VVZ to_TO demand_VVI for_IF certain_JJ types_NN2 of_IO security_NN1 professionals_NN2 ,_, those_DD2 with_IW SAP_NN1 security_NN1 experience_NN1 are_VBR probably_RR the_AT hottest_JJT of_IO the_AT hot_JJ right_NN1 now_RT ._. 
But_CCB interest_NN1 in_II security_NN1 professionals_NN2 remains_VVZ strong_JJ across_II the_AT board_NN1 ._. 
Companies_NN2 ca_VM n't_XX ignore_VVI security_NN1 requirements_NN2 ,_, even_RR in_II tough_JJ economic_JJ times_NNT2 ._. 
There_EX 's_VBZ also_RR strong_JJ interest_NN1 in_II people_NN with_IW network_NN1 and_CC wireless_NN1 security_NN1 skills_NN2 ,_, as_II31 well_II32 as_II33 those_DD2 with_IW Certified_JJ Information_NN1 Systems_NN2 Security_NN1 Professional_JJ accreditation._NNU 7_MC ._. 
Web_NN1 2.0_MC While_CS many_DA2 companies_NN2 are_VBR just_RR starting_VVG to_TO noodle_VVI with_IW corporate_JJ implementations_NN2 of_IO social_JJ networking_NN1 applications_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 MySpace_NP1 and_CC Facebook_NP1 ,_, more_RRR and_CC more_DAR companies_NN2 are_VBR trying_VVG to_TO reach_VVI their_APPGE customers_NN2 via_II the_AT Web_NN1 ._. 
Demand_VV0 for_IF Web_NN1 2.0_MC skills_NN2 is_VBZ also_RR driven_VVN by_II the_AT continuing_JJ expansion_NN1 of_IO business-to-business_JJ connections_NN2 ._. 
For_REX21 instance_REX22 ,_, Children_NN2 's_GE Hospital_NN1 and_CC Health_NN1 System_NN1 in_II Milwaukee_NP1 recently_RR created_VVN a_AT1 portal_NN1 for_IF roughly_RR half_DB of_IO its_APPGE physicians_NN2 who_PNQS work_VV0 remotely_RR ._. 
The_AT system_NN1 provides_VVZ them_PPHO2 with_IW access_NN1 to_II summary_NN1 medical_JJ data_NN on_II patients._NNU 8_MC ._. 
Data_NN Center_NN1 Most_DAT of_IO the_AT glass-house_NN1 buzz_FU is_VBZ about_II server_NN1 and_CC storage_NN1 virtualization_NN1 projects_VVZ that_CST help_VV0 organizations_NN2 lower_VVI their_APPGE energy_NN1 costs_NN2 and_CC shrink_VV0 their_APPGE data_NN center_NN1 footprints_NN2 ._. 
But_CCB few_DA2 companies_NN2 are_VBR recruiting_VVG specifically_RR for_IF data_NN center_NN1 skills_NN2 ._. 
Instead_RR ,_, they_PPHS2 're_VBR retraining_VVG existing_JJ staff_NN in_II VMware_NP1 and_CC other_JJ virtualization_NN1 technologies_NN2 ._. 
For_REX21 instance_REX22 ,_, Aspen_NP1 Skiing_NN1 is_VBZ considering_II virtualizing_VVG up_RG21 to_RG22 40%_NNU of_IO its_APPGE servers_NN2 in_II 2009_MC ,_, says_VVZ Major_NP1 ._. 
To_TO achieve_VVI that_DD1 ,_, Aspen_NP1 Skiing_NN1 plans_VVZ to_TO rely_VVI on_II VMware_NP1 and_CC EMC_NN1 to_TO provide_VVI staff_NN with_IW the_AT necessary_JJ training._NNU 9_MC ._. 
Telecommunications_NN2 VoIP_VV0 and_CC projects_NN2 involving_VVG unified_JJ communications_NN2 continue_VV0 to_TO drive_VVI demand_NN1 for_IF blended_JJ telecommunications_NN2 and_CC networking_VVG skills_NN2 ,_, particularly_RR among_II small_JJ to_TO midsize_VVI businesses_NN2 that_CST are_VBR just_RR beginning_VVG to_TO deploy_VVI these_DD2 systems_NN2 ._. 
Interest_NN1 in_II Wi-Fi_NP1 ,_, WiMax_NP1 ,_, Bluetooth_NP1 and_CC related_JJ skills_NN2 is_VBZ also_RR growing_JJ ,_, particularly_RR as_CSA cities_NN2 look_VV0 to_II WiMax_NP1 as_II a_AT1 feature_NN1 to_TO attract_VVI businesses_NN2 ._. 
