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| Explore trends of Japanese IT industry |
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President & CEO
Mr. Makoto Takatsu
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Tell us about the current situation of IT itself and employment situation within that field.
Ever since the development and fast increase of computer companies through out the 80’s,
the attraction of Information Technology caught many people’s eyes. 90’s were both
the peak and growth of software and hardware. IT has been the catalyst and motive
power of social active networks and development of many industries. However, in 2000,
after IT reached certain plateau, they began to lose its power of shaping developing
industries of next era and lost some sense of leaderships. Especially through end of 2000
to early 2001, IT industries were damaged severely due to the break down of dot com bubble
and terror that happened on 9-11. Now, because of the situation that is happening with Iraq,
Companies are trying to grasp how they should handle the current situation. Therefore,
there has been a decrease in demand of job-offerings. It is a rough time for people who
are seeking of jobs. Because companies are extra sensitive about starting new businesses,
some employers are hired to fill up the opening positions and there has been a decrease of
employing contract workers.
What type of occupation and talents are demanded?
As technology advances, the progress of OS, computer settings and networking systems has
become simplified. Therefore, there has been a decrease of demanding for mainstay level
of network engineers. On one hand, there are demands in senior network engineering expertise
regarding security and inflation concerns. There is no doubt that there are still demands of
highly skilled workers with potential, knowledge, and experiences. Today, it is very hard for
early college graduates to convince the employer by just appealing them that they have a degree
and studied some particular field. For them to get a job, they have to appeal one step further
to convince the employer that they have the practical ability that can be shared. Few Examples
are “ I am good at these types of programming and I have developed such programs” or “ I have
contributed in such and such at the programming forum”
Furthermore, as IT becomes the foundation of many industries, and as it expands. IT plus having
proficiency within another field may increase the chances of employment. For example, it may
be a good idea to appeal proficiency in fields such as finance, electric engineering and medical
applications combined with IT. I believe that combination of IT, knowledge, experience, and
profession in particular field may excel them towards another era of IT.
Tell us how to find employment; skills and degrees needed for IT.
There are various types of requirements and degrees needed for different types of jobs offered
in IT industry. It is hard to say it in a single word but to put it in computer dialect;
there are high demands for skills in Java, C, C++, and Visual Basic. Also there are increases
in demand of XML. In database and platform, oracle and SQC are primary focus. Regarding
the OS, there are demands not only Windows but for Linux also.
As technical skills are based on one side, communication skills are also important. Through
the process of globalization in recent years especially in Asia, there has been such cases of
hiring technical professionals to handle the developmental works with low wages. Therefore
we see increase in demand in types of occupation such as sales engineering, technical supports.
In these fields, communication skills are highly demanded, not only the deskwork.
Is having the certificate such as MCP, MCSE, CCNA, increase the chances of employment?
Of course it is a plus, but there are so many people with those degrees today and it does not
guarantee for position for employment as it used to.
How do you think about the direction of IT and where it is headed?
For the future, I am expecting IT to be involved in Biology, medical fields, nano technology,
new-entertainment and other possible fields through cooperating with new technologies and products.
I believe there is going to be a new IT industrial movement that is capable of guiding us towards
the next age with new possibilities. Today we are standing at the unstable condition. The industries
are extra careful about each footsteps that they make. However, we may see new movement of IT if
our market starts to head towards the bright side. IT is much needed in any industries because
IT provides the foundation for them.
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Provided by ProX J/article : Michiko Yoshifuji
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