While many sectors of the economy are struggling, some are experiencing periods of growth. For example, a recent report indicated that commercial farmers are now making more money than at any time since the 1970s. However, since this career path often costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to enter, individuals looking for a stable 21st century career may want to search for viable alternatives.
One of the best options for those who want to retool their resume may be to fill it with applicable IT certifications. According to a monthly index of IT jobs by TechServe Alliance – a collaboration of IT service firms – the number of jobs in this field increased by more than 7,000 during the month of October. The organization now indicates that there are more than 4 million jobs in the IT sector as a whole, which is up more than 2 percent from the previous year's figures.
"While there is still considerable weakness in [the] overall job market with 9 percent unemployment, there is actually a shortage of qualified professionals in high-demand IT skill sets," Mark Roberts, CEO of TechServe Alliance, said in a press release. "We remain bullish on the prospect for continued growth in IT employment as we enter 2012."
To increase the likelihood that they can compete for the best IT jobs currently on the market, interested individuals may want to begin their preparations for advanced certifications before the new year. By working with an online learning provider, those looking for Oracle SQL certification or Cisco ASA training may be able to bolster their resumes in time to apply for these positions.