Features

(Still) in the Money By Bob Violino The recent economic downswing doesn't mean your salary won't go up. In fact, even with the boom days behind us for now, generous raises, bonuses and other perks for IT managers and staff are still the norm. Find out what else our recent survey revealed, and if a healthy raise could be in your future.

The Best Cities to Work In By Bob Violino Money matters, but you also need to look at the big picture when considering IT jobs in major cities. We help you weigh critical factors such as cost of living and quality of life.

Online Only: Polaroid's John Puckett in the Spotlight By Lorna Garey and Jim Hutchinson Recently we asked the successful VP of business development at Polaroid how his business strategies have helped guide his career. Over the years, he says, his philosophies have enabled him to look at everything with the same filter. So, no matter what industry you're in, read how this approach could influence your own decisions.

Star Search By Barbara DePompa Reimers This year, there's 44 percent less demand for IT professionals than last year, and online search tools are making it simpler for employers to be more selective. Still, you can do plenty to make yourself the IT star every company wants to hire.

Online-Only Sidebar: From Russia, With Talent

Online-Only Career Extra: First & Worst Jobs We've gathered up some stories by IT folks about past jobs that, although memorable, were not pleasant. "After two months of 70-hour weeks as a programmer, the company president called me out into the parking lot to tell me he felt I wasn't giving my all...because I wasn't working Sundays." Can you relate? Read lots more horror stories!

Keep Talent From Taking Flight By Barbara DePompa Reimers Software developer BroadJump serves its employees catered lunches once a week and offers them free broadband service at home. We offer examples of how you can keep your employees happy.

Certification Equation By Michael J. Senno For better or worse, certification has become a powerful force in the IT job market. Now virtually everyone -- from managers who do the hiring to technical workers seeking employment and promotions -- is forced to take sides on whether certifications are useful.

In Training By Mary E. Thyfault IT workers whose skills are outdated and newcomers who want to break into the IT field are finding plenty of training options in today's tighter IT job market. These choices give them a competitive edge.

Workshops

The Fine Art of Negotiation By Maria Schafer The IT job market has gotten tight, but thatęs no reason to accept a disappointing compensation offer. To negotiate effectively, you need to know what to ask for and how to justify your request. Getting the salary you want takes skill and patience. We offer tips on how to obtain a salary that's both fair to you and your prospective employer.

Making Your Internship Program Pay Off By Elizabeth D. Liddy and Patricia Thomas With a little planning, internships can be made to pay off for the interns and the organizations that sponsor them, both financially and in a larger sense. But getting value from an intern requires a clear set of objectives upon hire, guidance from key people in your organization, and ongoing communication and evaluation.

Get Thee to a University By Raymond von Dran, Robert Heckman, Milton Mueller and Bruce Kingma Valued IT employees combine solid technical, management and communications skills. If you're lacking in any of these areas -- even if you're a seasoned IT professional -- consider heading back to school. We offer tips for enrolling in an IT grad program that will give you what you need.

Online Only: Interactive Buyer's Guide to Graduate IT Programs Use our guide to compare 43 educational institutions by programs and courses offered, number of credits required to graduate, tuition cost and more.

How to be a Legal Eagle By Cheryl Saban Nothing is simple anymore, including workplace relations. We suggest 10 ways to avoid the legal pitfalls of employment that can result in expensive and disruptive litigation.

Online-Only Sidebar: Letter to Hiring Supervisors

Online Only: Interactive Careers Toolkit

Online-Only Salary Survey Charts IT managers and staffers surveyed say their base salaries rose between 10 percent and 13 percent over last year's earnings. The charts also include data on the best cities to work in, based on salary and cost of living.

IT Job Descriptions Our comprehensive list of IT jobs describes positions in virtually every type of IT field you can think of, from network engineering to customer relationship managment. If you're looking to start your career or even change it, this list will inform you of the responsibilites and requirements your potential job may have.

Career Facts Go West young IT worker! Oregon is projected to triple its core IT workforce from 1996 to 2006; Colorado is projected to double the size of its IT workforce in that time period. For additional job-related information, check out our index of career facts.

Readers' First/Worst Jobs We asked Network Computing readers to share stories of their first and/or worst jobs. What a can of worms we opened. Enjoy some of the more memorable tales now, and stop by from time to time for updates.

IT Salary Survey Results How do your benefits, salary and job satisfaction compare to Network Computing's National Salary Survey results? Find out how your peers answered questions about compensation, job responsibilities, technology expertise and company stability issues.

Find Your Dream Job TechCareers is where the pros go to upload resumes, connect with like-minded IT professionals and, ultimately, take the next step on their career paths.

Contest: Tell Us About Your First or Worst Job Have you ever worked for the prince of darkness himself? Was your first job, shall we say, less than satisfactory? Read about our editors' first and worst jobs. Then tell us about your own. If we publish your story, we'll send you a very stylish Network Computing t-shirt!

Columns

Putting the "I" in IT By Raymond von Dran If you want a career in IT, says von Dran, make sure you remember what it's really all about. Here's a hint: It's not the technology.

The Making of a Technology CEO By John Davies "All you CIOs out there thinking about becoming CEOs, go for it! Your qualifications are just as relevant -- if not more so -- than those of people who've come from the ranks of engineering, sales and marketing."

Above the Net: The Secret of My Success By Doug Barney "Past jobs didn't teach me much about technology, but they did impart one critical lesson: I learned I didn't want to do any of them for the rest of my life. They made me work much harder on what I really wanted to do, which was to write."

IT's a Girl Thing By Donna Woodka Getting girls interested in math and science may be the only way to solve the IT workforce crisis. But many young women are haunted by images of a career in technology. Nerds eating Twinkies may be a cliche, but image is everything to young girls. Learn how to pique girls' interest in IT from our tips.

Full Nelson: Hire Learning By Fritz Nelson When it comes to education, everyone seems to take an interest -- maybe they have kids in school or they're affected by a labor shortage. Many even harbor a desire to teach as a way to give back. Here are a few suggestions on how IT professionals can get involved with schools' IT curriculums without giving up high-paying jobs.

Behind the Scenes: Climbing the Corporate Ladder By Amy Lipton Our first-ever Careers special has something for everyone, "whether you've reached the pinnacle of your career or you're still trying to get a solid footing on the bottom rung of the corporate ladder."