Java programmers high on the agenda
Investment banks continue to hunt for experienced Java programmers with business specific knowledge and are offering an average of 500 a day, say recruiters.
"Java is in quite high demand and limited supply at the moment," says Lisa Jobson, recruitment director at Harvey Nash, adding that close on Java's heels is demand for Excel, Access and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) skill sets.
Java, developed originally by Sun Microsystems for web programming and now used predominantly to develop large web-based applications, has been in vogue for a couple of years because it works on both Microsoft and Microsystems platforms, say consultants.
"Java (is popular) because it uses Microsoft and Microsoft.NET platforms," says a rival consultant, adding that while client requirements are for Java programmers with business specific knowledge, there are not enough of them.
"Clients are having to compromise and opt for programmers without specific business knowledge because there are not enough of them," she adds.
Jobson, however, says that candidates are becoming more aware of the importance of having a balance of skills from the technical to business knowledge.
"In the past, from a development perspective, techies would just do what they were asked to do," she told us. Nowadays she says the trick is to add to your skills while doing contract work: "That way, you take your skills with you."
