In some cases, the only way to get training is on the job, which means getting in on the ground floor not an easy task in the current climate. On the software side, XML is in particularly high demand for building e-commerce and other Internet data infrastructures. That's not to say there aren't jobs out there for Web programmers, Oracle developers and system architects, but the competition is a heck of a lot tougher. The differentiating factor is whether a candidate has softer skills like strong communication abilities. It's whether you can demonstrate from your previous jobs and references that you know how to function effectively as a team player.
Experience is the biggest draw, though.
Companies are getting more and more selective, and students and new grads have been the hardest hit. Some 2,300 applicants showed up to check out 41 exhibitors, including JDS Uniphase, Siemens Canada and NAV Canada. A similar fair in January drew 95 exhibitors and 4,700 applicants. Fortunately for analog designers, the situation is still quite steady, and the drop we see nowadays isn't really hitting us that much. It's a different story altogether for former dot-commers.