|
December
2004
IT Spending Projections Dip Slightly
in November
IT Job Market Continues to Show
Strength
>
FRAMINGHAM, MA December 1, 2004 -- In
the November CIO Magazine Tech Pollú IT
spending projections dipped slightly as
CIOs are predicting spending growth of
8.4% over the next 12 months, compared
to last month's 8.7%. The top spending
priorities of CIOs in the poll indicate
that Security Software, Storage Systems
and Data Networking continue to be key
spending areas. The poll also determined
that the IT labor market continues to
improve with the number of respondents
reporting IT help as plentiful falling
to the smallest number (18.3%) in three
years. In this month's special question,
CIOs also report that they consider 2004
to be an average year (48.9 %) over a
good year (38.4%).
"As the overall economic and tech
spending forecasts brighten, a sole dark
cloud looms on the horizon," says Gary
Beach, Group Publisher of CIO magazine.
"CIO's, particularly those at the very
largest firms, are reporting it is getting
harder and harder to find and keep IT
talent. This could delay the purchase
and implementation of new systems and
software."
Read
the rest of this story.
Industry
News
Finally,
Oracle Nails PeopleSoft
>From Business Week (Topic: Oracle and
PeopleSoft), Dec. 13: In June, 2003, when
former PeopleSoft CEO Craig Conway first
heard rival Oracle wanted to take over
his company, he was in a sedan making
the 45-minute trip from Amsterdam to Rotterdam.
The cell phone of another exec in the
car rang. Conway heard him ask three or
four times, "Are you sure?" Bloomberg
TV was reporting that Oracle wanted to
acquire PeopleSoft. Conway figured it
was just hedge-fund rumor, that "someone
would make money for two hours." Read
the rest of this story.
Veredus
Consultant Party: Wed. Dec. 1, 2004
>
Thank you to all who attended the Consultant
Party at the Florida Aquarium! A good
time was had by all! Click
here to read who won company awards and
to read our latest 'job' listing!
Career
Tip
Making
Small Talk at Parties
According to "small talk" expert and author
Don Gabor (How to Start a Conversation
and Make Friends; Simon Schuster/Fireside
2001) -- anyone can feel more comfortable
mingling if they avoid these common goofs:
1. Not preparing several topics that you're
willing to bring up and talk about at
the party.
2. Displaying closed body language that
says, "I'm not interested in talking to
you."
3. Remaining in one place (like a potted
plant!) and waiting for others to approach
you.
4. Not introducing yourself or remembering
the person's name.
5. Not adding on "free information" when
asked a yes/no or short-answer question.
6. Asking several "closed-ended" questions
instead of a few "open-ended" questions.
7. Trying too hard to impress others by
talking too much.
8. Discussing taboo topics such as sex,
politics, religion, illnesses, or personal
problems.
9. Arguing over minor details -- even
if you are certain you're right.
10. Abruptly ending the conversation after
a negative comment or a moment of silence.
|
