Macs skills, IT jobs

Mac-related skills are in demand for aspiring techies hoping to become IT pros, following the increase in Mac mindshare that originally spiked from the UNIX-based Mac OS X release in 2001. Added compatibility fueled by the internet, as well as more familiar architectures -- including Apple's recent transition to Intel processors -- have proven to be leading factors in the growth of Mac awareness, as well as the rising number of Mac systems used in business, according to Monster.com. The iPod "halo effect" has also made Macs a more common desire for employees, resulting in a heightened awareness throughout IT departments for more skills and equipment to deal with Mac systems and software.

System administrators, network engineers, database engineers, programmers, and support professionals are all occupations in need of more Mac-experienced workers, according to the report. Dealing with Mac systems is now a necessity, requiring full 'integration' for Mac users, not just support. Analysts predict that Macs will become more and more popular as a result of Apple's Boot Camp software, along with solutions such as Parallels which allow Mac users run Windows inside Mac OS X.

by MacNN Staff