Career Watch.

This article presents issues related to the information technology (IT) profession in the U.S. as of July 2004. Base and premium pay is trending downward for IT workers whose jobs are most susceptible to offshore outsourcing. Pay for both noncertified application programming and enterprise application development skills declined 2% in the first quarter and between 19% and 20% over the past two years. Meanwhile, certified application development skills have not fared much better. They have lost nearly 15% of their value over the same two-year period. The reason for leaving a previous job is the information that executive job seekers most frequently fabricate. Other areas where white-collar job hunters are most likely to stretch the truth are their accomplishments and their job responsibilities. Sometimes, candidates are uncomfortable about having been laid off or let go from a previous job. But rather than alter the reasons for leaving, it is always best to be straightforward about the situation. The reality is that downsizing and restructuring have lost much of their stigma and are becoming more generally accepted by employers. Nonetheless, potential employers remain diligent about performing background checks on managerial and executive job candidates. Education and employment verification and criminal/arrest history are the top three types of checks that companies request.