IT staffing companies are quickly working to meet the demands of companies that want to work with the best and brightest who specialize in the latest in-demand IT skills. Among programming and security, here’s a look at some of the top skills IT staffing companies seek:

1. IT Project Management

With skills that are continuously in demand, IT project managers understand the “big picture” of the IT world and its business practices. IT project management is a particularly sought after skill as companies begin to upgrade their IT structures.

IT staffing companies are looking for project managers who can handle a large number of assignments such as web initiatives, mobile applications, treasure-management product rollout and networking. Those with IT project management skills will secure nearly half of the new IT jobs, as they are the individuals who understand how technology fits into business strategies.

2. Vendor Management

Several virtualization vendors are now making is possible for companies to make the shift from multiple servers to a virtual environment; thus, increasing efficiency along with accessibility of IT applications and resources. As more organizations make the shift to cloud computing, they need IT professionals with vendor management skills to manage, consolidate and monitor outside contracts.

The virtualization of applications is particularly popular, and IT staffing companies will see an increase in the need to securely connect such applications through browsers. IT jobs specializing in vendor management will require professionals to have experience in design and systems analysis, as well as the ability to understand and adapt vendor software to the needs of a company in order to help it grow.

3. Business Intelligence

As companies gather, process and maintain large amounts of data, they will begin to offer more IT jobs to those who have a keen understanding of the business portion of an operation and the requirements of users. This type of IT project management will require professionals to create tools and codes that they can share via easy-to-use portals, thus enhancing a company’s profitability.

This means IT staffing companies will need to come up with ways to make the data collected usable. Some companies hope to make the conversion of business intelligence systems and reporting tools into an enterprise standard that provides real-time information, which will make those with business intelligence in even greater demand.

4. Cloud Computing

One of the latest trends to come out of the IT world, cloud computing provides businesses with an alternative to maintaining and hosting their own applications and servers on a digital network. IT staffing companies must meet the demand for experts in SaaS (software as a service), web and platform services, as well as utility computing, because this allows businesses to pay only for the resources used.

5. Application Development

With the advances in cell phone technologies and computer tablets, companies are offering more IT jobs to those with application development skills in order to meet the demand for new projects, innovations and systems. In some instances, the demand for application development specialists surpasses that of IT project managers, as some organizations will look to IT staffing companies to produce individuals with the capabilities to act as both project managers and business analysts.

The most in-demand skills within application development IT jobs include open-source programming expertise, as this will help reduce the amount of money spent on consultants, vendors and contractors who create custom third-party applications. In turn, application developers will help companies provide better support and conduct business exchanges faster by using existing resources.

While several innovations in the computer industry proved to be a fad, the demand for IT project management and professionals who specialize in specific IT facets will continue to grow. As companies seek new ways to grow their business, they will find that the way to do this is to keep up with the latest technological innovations.

[ photo by: futureshape ]

According to The Standish Group, 42 percent of IT projects face delays, go over budget or don’t provide all of the required features and functions. And more than 20 percent fail altogether. To avoid becoming one of these statistics, consider the following IT project management tips to help ensure a successful outcome:

1. Assemble a winning team.

Once your project is green-lighted, choose team members whose skills are directly applicable for the task at hand. Strive to bring together a diverse team whose individual abilities combine to provide everything you need to complete the project. If the appropriate skills aren’t available in-house, it may be worthwhile to contract with an IT outsourcing firm that can fill in the gaps with an IT consultant, rather than hiring someone for a specific project.

2. Prioritize.

Regardless of the length of your project’s timeline, successful IT project management requires comprehensive planning. Map out the essential deliverables, and prioritize them to keep your team focused on specific goals. Pinpoint your project’s short-term needs as well as long-term goals.

3. Communicate.

Throughout the duration of your project, keep lines of communication open between team members and stakeholders. Share information among team members at regular weekly meetings, where problems and potential solutions can be discussed.

4. Monitor.

One of the most important aspects of IT project management is keeping your finger on the pulse of the work being done. Set a system in place for monitoring daily progress, and keep track of any discrepancies between what was planned and what actually takes place.

5. Get help when you need it.

Technology professionals often end up having to juggle tedious maintenance or recurring tasks with larger projects. In order to get your project completed on deadline, however, you’ll need to ensure your team members have enough time to work on it. An IT consultant can help you automate tasks or provide IT outsourcing services to free up your employees so they can devote more attention to your project.

[ photo by: michaelcardus ]