By Anne Fisher, contributor
FORTUNE -- Dear Annie: Since being pink-slipped from my job as a construction manager almost three years ago, I've been making ends meet with a string of low-skilled jobs that don't really use my abilities and aren't leading anywhere. I keep hearing that there are a lot of opportunities in high tech, and I'd love to go after a job in that field, but I have almost no formal tech training (although I enjoy fooling around with computers and have taught myself a couple of programming languages in my spare time). I did take a few computer science courses in college, but I never graduated.
So, I have two questions: Would I have to go back and finish college to get into IT? And, even if I somehow managed to do that, what are my chances of getting hired with no work experience as a techie? — Dead End Dan
Dear Dan: It's certainly true that job opportunities are plentiful in high tech. Most in demand right now are people skilled in health care IT, security (both network and mobile), systems integration, and mobile app development. Then there's the cloud. Help-wanted ads for cloud computing are up 61% over last year at this time, according to a new study by workforce-research firm Wanted Technologies.
Altogether, says Todd Thibodeaux, head of computer industry trade group CompTIA, about half a million IT jobs in the U.S. are going begging. One reason employers can't find enough skilled hires, even with unemployment so high: a wide range of federal and state-funded grant programs are available to pay for tech training, yet most people who are eligible to apply (like you, perhaps) are unaware that the programs exist.
"It's a huge problem," says Thibodeaux. "Government agencies that administer these grants, at both the federal and state levels, need to do a much better job of getting the word out."
In the meantime, anyone interested in looking into a training for a new career can find all the relevant information on a special Department of Labor web site. More
Many employers struggle to keep up with the flood of job applications coming their way and often leave their candidates dangling. Here's how to handle it. By Anne Fisher
Jan 19, 2012 1:30 PM ET
If you already have a job — plus a college degree and some work experience — your chances of getting hired elsewhere are better than they've been in years. Here's where to start looking.
By Anne Fisher, contributor
FORTUNE -- Dear Annie: A friend sent me your recent column about eight signs it's time to quit, and all eight of them apply to me. I would like nothing better than to leave MORE
Jan 13, 2012 11:40 AM ET
Plenty of people believe that doing several things at once makes them more productive. In fact, the opposite is true. By Anne Fisher
Jan 6, 2012 11:11 AM ET
Forget the falling-backwards "trust" exercises and other hackneyed stuff, says one CEO. Give people time to enjoy the locale, and keep the agenda down-to-earth.
By Anne Fisher, contributor
FORTUNE -- Dear Annie: I guess it is true that no good deed goes unpunished, because our office holiday party -- which took me six weeks to organize -- was such a hit that now my boss has put me in charge of a three-day MORE
Dec 21, 2011 12:39 PM ET
Probably, but it's vitally important to learn how to manage your boss all year round so your next evaluation will be better. Here's how.
By Anne Fisher, contributor
FORTUNE -- Dear Annie: It's annual performance-evaluation time again, and my coworkers and I are, as usual, taking a grin-and-bear-it approach. We've gotten used to just getting it over with, as my out-of-touch boss does his best to come up with the pros and cons MORE
Dec 15, 2011 11:18 AM ET
True, older job seekers face a few extra obstacles. But you may be able to overcome them by turning your age to your advantage. Here's how.
By Anne Fisher, contributor
FORTUNE -- Dear Annie: I read your recent column on bridging the generation gap in the workplace between young bosses and older employees. It struck a nerve with me, because, frankly, I'd be delighted to work for a young boss if I MORE
Dec 9, 2011 10:41 AM ET
Despite tight budgets, salary freezes, and nagging economic uncertainty, you could still get a decent raise next year. Here's how. By Anne Fisher
Dec 1, 2011 11:53 AM ET
Daunting as a job search is, it's sometimes a smarter choice than staying put. Here's how to tell when enough is enough. By Anne Fisher
Nov 23, 2011 9:26 AM ET
Tired of a long daily commute? Consider these strategies for launching a job hunt close to home. By Anne Fisher
Nov 17, 2011 10:26 AM ETAnne Fisher has been writing "Ask Annie," a column on careers, for Fortune since 1996, helping readers navigate booms, recessions, changing industries, and changing ideas about what's appropriate in the workplace (and beyond). Anne is the author of two books, Wall Street Women (Knopf, 1990) and If My Career's on the Fast Track, Where Do I Get a Road Map? (William Morrow, 2001). She also writes the "Executive Inbox" column on New York City entrepreneurs for Crain's New York Business.
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