It's no secret to most technology professionals that the IT job market has outperformed other fields in the past few years, with unemployment rates much lower than the national average.
Yet IT hiring trends are subject to ups and downs, as is the case in any other field. So landing a new job is never a sure thing, with timing, geographic location and professional connections still influencing how smoothly and quickly the process proceeds.
Moreover, companies aren't necessarily quick to expand their staffs, even in growth areas like IT. Several labor market analysts reported that IT hiring fell in September, while others have predicted only limited growth in the fourth quarter. According to staffing firm Robert Half Technology, only 9% of the 1,400 U.S. CIOs surveyed for its IT Hiring Index and Skills Report expect to expand their IT departments, while 6% anticipate cutbacks.
Still, there are jobs to be had. Here are four IT professionals who recently landed new gigs and have tips on how to make it happen.