Chicago Tribune (01/30/12) Kristyn Schiavone

The number of computer science and engineering graduates has fallen from a high of 24,000 in 2001 to about 15,000 this year. Michael Dsupin, chief executive of the information technology staffing firm Talener, says there is a shortage of skilled IT professionals, particularly for the Web and mobile development. Dsupin says candidates should be passionate about technology, and given that hands-on experience is important for moving up the ranks, even those without degrees can enter the field at an intern or administrative level.

Continuing education also is important, but rapid changes mean team members can be more helpful than formal education programs in learning new programs. Recruiters say communication ability is a crucial quality for candidates to possess, as IT jobs require frequent client interaction.