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Friday, September 5, 2008
People Problems
Not enough information architects out there to fill the job
By Christopher Calnan
MHT Editor Doug Banks on NECN: Decoding the Gen Y workforce
The demand for information architects continues to make the role the toughest technology talent area for hiring companies to fill, in part because the slow economy has fueled greater competition for talent as businesses work to maintain revenue-generating websites.
For example, last September, it took web developer Eva Kaniasty just two weeks to land an information architect position. Now at Newton-based SimpleTuition Inc., Kaniasty completed a master’s degree in the discipline last spring before starting her search.
Since then, she has seen no drop in demand for IAs while the economy slows because businesses recognize that a more usable website can translate into more revenue.
“It’s not just about making a website that’s technically good,” Kaniasty said, “but about a place where people can complete transactions — IAs can have an impact on that.”
Information architects organize a website’s content based on what a company wants to accomplish and what it wants users to do when visiting the site. In addition to a strong understanding of the business, they need to be both creative and technical enough to pull together a website’s features and functions so they’re easily understood by first-time users.
Locally, information architects are earning annual salaries of $95,000 to $125,000, said Jack Fellers, regional manager of Robert Half Technology, a consulting and staffing firm and subsidiary of Robert Half International in Menlo Park, Calif.
Salaries for information architects and lead software developers, increased 7.5 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively, this year compared with last year, he said.
“These folks, application developers and architects, continue to develop efficiencies where they’re improving the bottom line,” Fellers said.
During the last five academic years, all graduates of a human factors in information design program at Bentley College (Kaniasty’s program) have landed jobs, program director William Gribbons said. Last school year, the program produced 24 graduates, he said.
Gribbons said demand for IAs from financial services IT departments has dropped off slightly while health-care businesses have shown growth.
TreeTop Technologies Inc., a Newton-based recruiting firm, is also seeing a strong demand for business analysts who can set up and implement Oracle Corp. modules for manufacturing and financial services companies, said Doug Fowler, the firm’s director of recruiting.
Such positions pay $90,000 to $120,000 a year, he said.
In general, tech companies are looking for fewer workers and being more selective in their choices compared with last year, Fowler said. The volume of vacant tech positions in the Boston area has decreased about 10 percent from last year versus a 30 percent drop nationally, he said.
“With a down economy, there is a competitive workplace, and anything that distinguishes your product is really valued,” echoed Bentley’s Gribbons.
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