jsync | Java Staffing Specialist

"Suggestions to Make Your Java Career Recession-Proof"

03/12/2008

by Dave Fecak

****As a quick aside – I can’t say that I have seen any signs of a recession yet in the local Java economy (knock knock – that was me, knocking on wood), other than perhaps being asked about the job market by candidates a few times a day. I’m certainly not the first to write about a recession-proof career and I won’t be the last, but I hope this provides some specifics on your career as a Java professional***

Unless you’ve been living in an ill-equipped cave, by now you have surely heard all of the panic about a possible recession, job cuts, $10 per gallon gas, and economic doom and gloom. Some of you worked through the dot-com era and have seen this type of event before. Whether you believe the hype or not, it’s best to be prepared for the storm just in case.

Here are some ideas to keep in mind over the coming days and weeks to prepare for what may come.

OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE! It would seem obvious that OSS could be a major factor in any possible economic downturn. Think about it. Companies are now enslaved by technology, so it’s not like banks and e-commerce sites are just going to shut down their systems to save money. If companies want to cut costs in their IT budgets, one way to do that would be a transition to OSS alternatives. Another is layoffs, but let’s stay positive for now. Anyone who has seen licensing and support contracts from most of the major vendors knows that the costs are significant. Look for many development teams to start investigating a transition to OSS products.

Now let’s identify the opportunities OSS can create specifically for you.

First, are you in a position where you can suggest a move to OSS to save the company money? (HINT: Companies REALLY LIKE people that help to save them money) That sounds better than volunteering to work for free or take a layoff, doesn’t it? Come up with a plan to migrate to some free or even less expensive products and management will certainly take note and be more interested in keeping you around longer.

Second, if companies decide to move to OSS, they are going to need people who have skills with those products. Maybe they will use some outside help for the transition, which creates opportunities for OSS consultants. The employees that already know those products will certainly be more valuable, and less likely to get a pink slip.

Carve yourself a niche (or a canoe!) – If hiring does slow down, the most skilled Java talent will still have a job or be able to quickly find a new job. Period. For those that may be below that top 10% of talent, I’d suggest finding and honing some skills that are more specialized and could be in demand. Learn a product/framework/tool inside and out, so if all else fails you can at least market yourself as an expert with something. Create a brand for yourself, and take your brand to market.

Diversify – After the dot com bubble burst, I seemed to notice the first group of people looking for jobs were project managers. PM roles were given to tech leads and architects, which worked for some shops and not for others. I also felt the demand for DBA’s and Sys Admins slipped, perhaps not as sharply as PM demand. Companies chose to save money by placing multiple hats on their development staff. Do other developers in your group have a broader background, such as DBA or SA ability? Roll your own SQL! Model a database! You might want to consider picking up some of those skills.

Stay visible – The months before a possible economic downturn is not the time to be hiding. Work hard, get things accomplished, and (most importantly) make sure people know that you are taking care of business. Don’t break your arm patting yourself on the back, but be sure that what you are doing is being noticed. If your current role is not something that challenges you daily, offer to take on more responsibility or get involved with a critical or high profile project. When management has to decide who stays and who leaves, it doesn’t come down to who gets things done, it comes down to who they know is getting things done.

And lastly, since sometimes these things happen without warning, keep your resume updated and keep my number on your speed dial. Hopefully this storm will pass.

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