Database management is a career that will continue to be in demand, even in a tight employment market. This is the advice of Katherine Spencer Lee, the executive director at Robert Half Technology, who wrote in ComputerWorld about the abundant opportunities for employees with database management skills. A knowledge of Oracle database and Microsoft SQL Server are especially desired by employers, she says. Job-seekers who have already developed their technical abilities should move on to their soft skills, Ms Lee advises. "Well-developed soft skills such as problem-solving, business acumen and interpersonal communication can set you apart from other candidates," she writes. Most employers prefer to hire candidates with a bachelor's degree for IT management positions, though many prefer and MBA with technology as a core component. The business skills tend to be seen as just as important as the computer skills for these positions, as information systems are becoming increasingly important to firms' business decisions. Salaries for IT managers vary considerably depending on specialty and level of responsibility, but the Department of Labor's most recent data states that the median yearly earnings for these types of positions are $101,580.  |