Being mindful of these symptoms and signs can help you better identify, manage, and prevent employee burnout.

So what can burnout look like?

• Physical illness: If your employees are regularly missing work or calling in sick, they may be experiencing physical side effects of emotional and mental burnout. Their job performance may also be suffering and they may seem willing to engage with coworkers, managers, or their work.
• Irritability: Irritability is a side effect of burnout also. If your employee seems to be surly and snapping at teammates, it might be because of workplace burnout.
• Lack of concentration, energy, and productivity: Employees who are unengaged during meetings, turning in shoddy work, making mistakes, and experiencing a significant dip in productivity are typical and noticeable signs of burnout.

Burnout is not only unhealthy for an employee, it can be unhealthy for your business. Burned out employees are more likely to quit and also less productive during their work day. Finding ways to reduce stress and increase employee satisfaction is key to a more successful business. By offering reasonable paid time off benefits, good healthcare options, a fair work-life balance, and even perks like a zen room or on-site yoga classes are ways to help invest in your employees and prevent burnout. Many people can bounce back from burnout after some mental and physical rest, but the longer the effects go on, the more negative the situation can become.

If high stress has caused your staff to shrink or you’re looking for employees to invest in, we can help. Our expertise allows us to find the talent that best aligns with your mission. Call us today.

The post Stressed & Pressed, How to Know When your Employee is Reaching Burnout appeared first on Open Systems Inc..

The Top Tech Skills

When looking at the most desired tech skills by recruiters and employers, there are a few trends that stand out. The first is the importance of new tech in the marketplace. Practice areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data are really starting to take hold. At the same time, while new tech areas are emerging, more established practice areas such as Cloud and Security are continuing to grow and evolve.

It’s all about the data: Big Data Experience

Data is king in 2018. Companies have always had to deal with vast amounts of data but until recently were unable to easily put their data to work for them. Now, with Business Intelligence (BI) and Business Analytics (BA), organizations are harnessing their data and using the information to make predictions about the future and enhance their bottom lines.

Hiring managers are looking for professionals who have experience with both BI and BA as well as experience with data mining, modeling, and visual analytics.

Security: the vital and essential business requirement

Security is at the forefront of the minds of business leaders in 2018. No company is safe from a cyber-attack whether you are a corporate giant or a small business. Because of this, employers are looking for professionals with strong security backgrounds. Sought after skill sets include offensive and defensive security, vulnerability assessment, and incident response. Tech professionals can enhance their security bona fides through certifications such as the CISSP (Certified Information Security Systems Professional) and the CISM (Certified Information Security Manager).

Artificial Intelligence (AI): Taking the Impossible and Making It Possible

AI is becoming an essential part of emerging technology. Once a purely theoretical idea, AI is now becoming a vital business tool. Businesses are using AI and AI driven tools to improve many business functions. These functional areas include human resources and business strategy (BI and BA). Professionals should be familiar with data analytics, coding, and machine learning.

Everything is in the Cloud

Everywhere you go today, everyone talks about the Cloud. As more companies move to a cloud-first strategy, changes in cloud platforms are occurring rapidly. Most of these changes are to support AI and machine learning. Hiring managers are looking for professionals with cloud skills such as applications design, devops, and security architecture.

Moving Forward

2018 will be a year of significant advancements in the tech industry. Professionals who keep an eye on current trends can better position themselves for the market and their future. If a tech professional is uncertain how these current market trends affect them, they should reach out to a professional recruiter. At Open Systems, we leverage our up-to-date industry knowledge to help our candidates plan for the future. Contact us today to start your career moving forward.

The post Top Tech Skills That Employers are Hiring for Now! appeared first on Open Systems Inc..

The Top 5 Programming Languages

1. Java

Over two decades old, Java is still a dominant language. Java is the underlying platform for all Android apps, accounting for much of its modern popularity. Java is reportedly used by 90% of the Fortune 500. However, it appears Java may be experiencing a decline in demand in 2018 as the number of job postings for Java has decreased from 2017.

2. Python

The popularity of Python has been growing rapidly over the last five years. It’s most significant portion of growth comes from an increase in the number of Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects that include data mining and other scientific computing applications that utilize Python.

3. JavaScript

One of the older languages, JavaScript is still a favorite. Currently, over 80% of developers use JavaScript. Furthermore, 95% of websites utilize it as well. Due to its popularity in website development, this language is critical for web developers.

4. C++

C++ is a general-purpose language used by many large companies, especially with enterprise software. A highly versatile language, C++ powers both Google Chrome and Microsoft Windows as well as the backend of Amazon.com.

5. C#

C# is designed to run on the Microsoft. NET platform so, it is behind many web-based enterprise software platforms. It’s also widely used by game developers and has applications in mobile environments as well.

Programming Languages of Honorable Mention

While not in the top five, languages such as Swift, R, and PHP are also highly relevant and have their place in the programming language ecosystem.

Swift

Swift was developed by Apple in 2014 to run on their iOS-based devices. It is open source, user-friendly, and easy to learn. Considering the worldwide popularity of Apple products, it can be a valuable skill if you’re looking to expand your horizons.

R

An open source programming language, R is primarily used in data science and machine learning. R is widely used, including by companies like Facebook, Google, Trulia, and the National Weather Service.

PHP

The oldest language on the list, PHP is still widely used in server-side scripting for websites. It also forms the basis of many custom created languages such as ‘Hack’ from Facebook.

Planning Ahead

When considering expanding your programming skill set, it’s important to know which languages are used in your practice area. Additionally, it is helpful to know which languages are most in demand. When in doubt, it’s best to consult a professional recruiter who can provide you with advice and guidance on where to focus your efforts.

The post 5 Programming Languages to Make You a Better Web Developer appeared first on Open Systems Inc..

Soft Skills for 2018

Recruiters will be looking for candidates who excel in communication and cross-team functionality. While these soft skills aren’t an area where certifications can demonstrate expertise (with the possible exception of the Program Management Professional (PMP) certification), candidates can provide relevant examples of these soft skills when interviewing.

Communication

The skills to interface and interact with others will always be necessary, no matter the industry. Those candidates who can effectively and efficiently communicate ideas and processes will stand out. Not only must a candidate express ideas well, but they must also listen.

Cross-Team Functionality

In today’s tech industry, much work is done across an entire organization. Now more than ever, tech professionals are engaging with divisions outside the IT department. Tech professionals who have some basic familiarity with other business disciplines like HR, marketing, finance, and operations are highly valued.

Technical Skills for 2018

For 2018 and beyond, employers are looking for high tech skills that range from AI, Cloud, and SaaS to unique programming languages. These skills can be demonstrated with certifications but, in many cases, hands-on experience is also required.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is all the rage in 2018. Experience with data analytics, machine learning, coding, mobile app development, and innovation are critical. For example, in Silicon Valley, currently, there is an intense “arms battle” for top “engineering talent with a focus on AI and machine learning.”

Cyber Security

Following another year of high profile breaches, security will stay front and center for 2018. Candidates that are well versed in information security principles and protocols are in high demand. Knowledge of network security, firewalls, and penetration testing are key. In this area, certifications such as the CISSP and CISM are useful. Also, the area of offensive security is becoming a more significant part of the practice. As such, one of the most sought-after certifications is the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP). The expected employer search rate for OSCP professionals in 2018 is expected at 34%.

Cloud Computing and SaaS

Cloud computing and software as a service (SaaS) will continue their growth into 2018. Jeremy Williams from Vyudu, of the Forbes Technology Council, states that “virtualization skills in Amazon AWS, Microsoft Hyper-V, and VMware for private cloud hosting will, without a doubt, help you stand out from the crowd. Experience with DevOps, containers, the entire cloud stack, and IPv6 will also benefit your chances for a top job tremendously.”

Programming Knowledge

Popular programming languages are influenced by the latest trending frameworks and platforms. For example, Spark is an open source cluster computing platform that is used by industry leaders such as Netflix and eBay. Languages such as Java, Scala, Python, and R are used on the Spark platform. R is an open source programming language that supports statistical work and is used extensively in the areas of data mining.

Coding and Engineering Experience

Experience with engineering principles and hands-on experience with coding is crucial going into 2018. According to Chalmers Brown, from Due, of the Forbes Technology Council “an engineering mind and coding skills are now essential for the high-tech industry. Everything is about new ways to build and use products and services that are more intuitive.”

Mobile Application Development

The demand for mobile application development in 2018 will continue to rise. Scott Stiner, of UM Technologies, states that “successful developers should be fluent in multiple programming languages including Java, HTML5, Objective-C, C++, C#, Python, and Swift. Also, app developers with UX and UI design skills can offer much more value for project management.”

Moving Forward

As job seekers find themselves preparing for 2018 and possible job searches in the new year, it’s best to consult a professional recruiter. Furthermore, a professional recruiter can use their expertise and connections to help guide a potential candidate and provide advice on how to best present the top skills a candidate possesses.

The post Here Are The Top Skills Companies Are Looking For in 2018 appeared first on Open Systems Inc..