The IT industry has been a high demand sector with respect to job growth for well over a decade now. Since the beginning of the high-tech boom in the late nineties, almost anyone with a background and education in information technology was guaranteed not only a job, but a well-paying one at that.  However, the growth and expansion of the IT industry is much like a plant growing in all different directions.

Recruiting and hiring in the IT industry is in a constant state of flux as well. Thus, it's extremely important for employers in the IT sector to protect themselves from a legal standpoint. Unfortunately, recruiting in the IT industry isn't as simple as a handshake and a hire. Instead, things like employment contracts and consulting contracts must be acquired and ready for use when the time comes. That way, when you're  recruiting for one of the five hottest jobs in IT, you'll be primed and ready for anything that comes your way. 

The following is a list of the top five jobs in IT, as well as some essential knowledge on successfully filling them: 

Systems Administrator: The systems administrator's job is to essentially ensure that the hardware and software being used by a business is running smoothly. When anything goes wrong, the systems administrator is the go to person for fixing it.

Since there is a managerial component to the job, three to five years of work experience is usually required.  Educational requirements depend on the company and range from small IT technical certifications to and IT-related bachelor's degree. 

Administration is the main focus of this job. Keep administration in mind if and when negotiating an employment or consulting contract for a Systems Administrator. (http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9032818)

Enterprise Architect: An Enterprise Architect essentially takes the System Administrator's job to the next level. However, instead of administrating the system already in place, the Enterprise Architect designs the system so that it adheres to the company's business goals.

Because this job utilizes such a strategic nature, the education requirements range from a BS to MS to MBA to PhD, and are usually dependent on the company.

Due to the educational background required for this job, someone who already has the education and skill set maintains a an advantage when negotiating a consulting or employment contract with any given company. (http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=ConWebDoc.3333)  

Windows Administrator: The Windows Administrator is a position that entails ensuring that all aspects of the network are running smoothly. Thus, security, user access, network troubleshooting, and managing all Windows operating systems is a daily requirement. 

The minimum required education level is a two-year degree in computer science, as well as a basic knowledge of the Windows server for this job. 

As always, the more knowledge and experience the candidate has, the more power he or she will maintain when negotiating consulting contracts and employment contracts.( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_administrator) 

Program Manager: The program manager's job is to ensure that an entire group of related projects is meeting the broader goals of the company. Like the Enterprise Architect position, strategic stills are necessary. 

Because the Program Manager position is so involved, a degree in computer science along with an MBA is usually required to fill it.

When negotiating for this position, make sure that your consulting contracts and you employment contracts adhere to the most recent trends in the IT industry. (http://www.essortment.com/career/careerstechnolo_sgjd.htm)  

Human Resource IT Specialist: Due to the importance and changing nature of IT jobs, it's important to have someone familiar with IT handling the human resources for IT. The Human Resource IT Specialist deals with all aspects of human resource when it comes to IT.

Vital to this job is some sort of background in IT.  Even though it is more of a HR specific position, someone without an IT background may have trouble meeting the needs and concerns of IT employees, and of the organization itself. A combination of HR and IT would be ideal from an educational standpoint. Knowing how to write code is not necessary, but having enough IT knowledge to recognize whether a particular individual would be beneficial from an IT standpoint to the company is vital. 

Employment contracts and consulting contracts are essential for the Human Resource IT specialist. They must have knowledge of these contracts, and be able to negotiate on behalf of the company. ( http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos021.htm)