We have all seen a lot in the past 6 months, and the next 6 months are going to be no different. That being said the demand for qualified and experienced SharePoint professionals is going to remain above average.
Now, I do not believe from an Enterprise view that companies will add new projects, or pull projects that were previously pulled out of budgets in the next three to six months, but the demand is continuing to show pent-up demand that could push it’s way out into the marketplace.
Many stories over the past months have been of canceled projects, but with optimism growing, I believe these next few months will allow companies/professionals a great opportunity to put themselves in a great position for the next few years. Again this is more a forward-thinking proposition, but between the demand and the next version of SharePoint over the horizon in the next year, there is plenty of chances to grow in the field and solidify a position of power.
One of my surprises is that the consulting rates have not really lowered as much as I thought they would. I can see pressure being placed on rates in the next 3 – 6 months if unemployment continues to rise. The next big business push once employment rates stabilize is the lowering of these rates because of the fact that there will be a glut of resources, not SharePoint resources mind you, but a .NET developer is no different than a SharePoint developer in the mind of recruiters.
Right now the types of organizations that are seeing the biggest shortfall in activity are the vendors that specialize in development in the Enterprise space. A company’s focus on this space finds them at the mercy of the budget cuts that have taken place, but the end some companies fiscal year in June could start the rise of contract engagements.
That being stated, keeping a eye towards the future, while learning and being involved in great projects will continue to drive the growth of the platform. One of the best ways to do this is attending SharePoint events, learn as much as you can and meet as many great people as you can. You never know when either will become a valuable asset.