A presentation to Technology staff in the Queensland Treasury and Trade I conducted discussing the opportunity within the Queensland market place. This presentation was aimed to highlight the options available to those staff within the Queensland Government whose roles will potentially change with the implementation of the new QLD Government ICT Strategy. Discussion topics included how to upskill and change your mindset, embracing the SME market and new technologies, as well as roles that are either in decline or are changing and how to ensure your skills stay relevant in the evolving market

1. www.d-r.com.au
The Changing Technology
Job Market
Aaron Thomas
Business Manager – Technology
@aaronsthomas

2. • Business Manager of Davidson Technology
• 10+ Years in the Technology Industry
• Engage with leaders across the industry around
Technology Sourcing Strategies
• Believes technology can have one of the greatest
impacts in improving the world we live in.
About Me…

3. About Davidson Technology
• One of Queensland’s Largest Privately owned
Specialist Recruitment Companies
• One of the largest and most experienced
Technology Recruitment Businesses in
Queensland
• Works with some of Queensland’s Leading
Organisations.
• Provides permanent & contract staffing solutions

4. Agenda
• Changing Role and Expectations of Technology
• Employment Trends in the Australian Technology
workforce
• Implications for Careers in Technology
• Shifting your employment brand and identity

5. Changing Role and Increased
Importance of IT

6. Changing Role and Increased
Importance of IT
• Aspirations and expectations for IT have never been higher.
• Every industry has been disrupted by globalisation and
technology.
• Executives continue to set exacting demands for IT support
for business processes, but also expect IT:
• To create new platforms to support innovation and growth;
• Help guide strategy with data and advanced analytics;
• Be on top of new roles for mobile devices;
• Support the role of social media in their organisations;
Source: McKinsey: “A Rising Role for IT: McKinsey Global Survey Results” – December, 2011

7. Changing Role and Increased
Importance of IT
Today
Drives optimization and cost reduction
Tomorrow
Create a superior user experience and
customer satisfaction

8. The Big Four Shifts in IT
Social
By 2015, Facebook will have more users then the
entire population of China
Cloud
A new server is added to the cloud for every 600
Smart Phones or 120 tablets
Big Data
According to Gartner Big Data will drive $232
Billion in Spending through 2016
Mobile
There are 1.5 Billion Smart Phones used in the
world

9. Implications for Careers in
Technology

10. What the data tells us...
• Quarter 1, 2013 saw mixed fortunes the Australian ICT
workforce downsized again after doing so in Q4, 2012
• Confidence of business leaders and intention to hire ICT
worker remains positive.
• Industry Analysts expects that the majority of cuts are now
behind us.
• The deterioration of demand for ICT professionals slowed in
Q1 2013
Source: Longhaus SkillsMatch ICT Labour Market Analysis – May, 2013

11. It’s not all doom and gloom
• Local Government continues to steadily hire
• State Government projects are starting to move
• Major Oil & Gas Projects in Queensland are
moving along
• The Tech Sector is seeing some great success
(and sometimes hidden) stories

12. • Outsourcing – To Providers Locally & Abroad
• Real focus on building Digital Strategy
• Shift in Mindset around what Career Stability
looks like
• IT moving from out of the back room
What we are seeing...

13. • Companies who innovate driving growth
• Contracting being utilised more then ever
• Market = Good News Stories vs. Bad News
Stories = Industry in holding pattern.
• Signs are positive into 2014. Technology to drive
the next boom. Herald in the DigitalSocial Age
What else we are seeing...

14. Where are the skills shortage?
SENIOR ROLES
ENTRY LEVEL ROLES
MID LEVEL ROLES

15. • Programmers –
• Web Front-End Open Source
• Java JEE
• iOS Android
• Project Management….not yet but soon
• Business Architecture
• Anything supporting ‘Cloud’….
• NetworkVoice & Security Engineering
• DBA
Skills that will be in Demand

16. Skills that will be in Decline
• Programmers – Back End Legacy
• Service Desk
• Infrastructure Management
• Test Management
• Quality Assurance
• Application Management
• Back Room Roles

17. Impacts of the cloud
A shift to the cloud does not and hasn’t
necessarily meant off-shoring or loss of
jobs.
It is creating new opportunities.
But it does mean a shift in thinking and
skills is required.

18. Management vs.
Technical
Technical vs.
Business Centric

19. Fewer Roles Will Need a Technical
Background
Source: 2010 The Corporate Executive Board Company - The IT Talent Implications of the Future of Corporate IT

20. What does that mean for your
career?

21. Shifting your employment
brand and identity

22. Moving from Public to Private Sector
• Preparing for the Private Sector
• Best Ways to break in?
• Who is hiring?
• SME or Corporate?
• Dealing with Bias….Remove the ‘Government
Worker’ tag.

23. Shifting your employment brand and
identity
• Identify as a Technology Professional
• Don’t get stuck in a recessive mindset
• Be prepared to change
• Learners are Earners – and learning can be free
• Be flexible. Trade on the knowledge you can
transfer.

24. Shifting your employment brand and
identity
• Embrace Social Platforms
• Join or Contribute to your ‘Community’
• Use your interests to drive change.
• Utilise your networks both Online & Offline
• Do not underestimate the potential of SME’s

25. And one more thing…..

26. Don’t wait for it to come to you.

27. Next Steps?
Questions?
Thank You!
Connect with me via Twitter @aaronsthomas