Anyone who looked for a new position in 2009 faced some pretty stiff competition. Although the situation isn’t expected to improve dramatically for job seekers in 2010, some early signs point to slightly better prospects. A net 3 percent of CIOs surveyed for the most recent Robert Half Technology IT Hiring Index and Skills Report anticipate adding IT staff in the first quarter of 2010. That’s the strongest forecast since the first quarter of 2009. Technology professionals with experience in high-demand areas will have the best chance of landing one of these new jobs.

If you’re planning to look for a new position in 2010, here are some of the hot jobs and growing industries offering the best prospects:

Hot IT Jobs

Last year, IT professionals with experience and skills in networking and security were in demand, and this should remain the case through 2010. Developers and support personnel will also prove valuable to employers in the coming year. Following are some specific positions CIOs will likely be looking to fill:

Network administrator: Networks have become more complex, and the requirements placed on them have increased — but it’s more crucial than ever that they function at a high level, at all times. CIOs interviewed for the Hiring Index said that it’s most challenging to find IT professionals with networking skills, such as cloud computing, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Software as a Service (SaaS).

Information systems security manager: New threats are constantly emerging, putting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of a company’s information at risk. Organizations of all sizes and in all industries need IT professionals who can protect them from internal and external breaches.

For the rest of the article from our sister site, Datamation, click here.