From thousands of employees to just under 40, companies both large and small are vying to be Canada's top information technology leaders. And they're also competing for the best and brightest grads, which is good news for those looking to make fast headway in an industry that is once again booming.

With over 19,000 Canadian employees, IBM Canada services 170 countries worldwide, allowing new hires not only an opportunity to work for the world, a mantra on the company's website, but to work for what Branham Group's industry annual survey of 300 public and private IT companies in Canada calls the country's top multinational IT company.

From an IT perspective I think we're seen as one of the best innovators in the world, says Sarah Weiss, manager of campus programs for IBM Canada. For new graduates, they're working for a company that makes innovative solutions while leveraging technology to make the world a better place. She says the company also engages its employees, not limiting them to one career. When you come to IBM you're not limited to one brand or project for five years at length. You can have multiple jobs within your career at IBM and multiple careers within IBM, explains Weiss of the many opportunities available at the technology giant that include mentoring, job shadowing and flexible work schedules. We typically rotate jobs anywhere from 18-to-24 months. In our many programs you can become involved to make your career more exciting and viable.

Because of extensive training and development Weiss says new grads learn to challenge themselves creatively, a desirable advantage in a field that sees today's latest iPod replaced with a newer and better model in a matter of months. There are a lot of options not just classroom and e-learning but, also experiential learning, says Weiss.

Working at a smaller company reaps as many benefits. If it's a small company where you work on a whole project, it's a completely different thing. You get to become the architect, designing and planning everything, says Leo Kaliazine, a software developer at Allegro Mobile Solutions, based in Mississauga, ON. An emerging leader in the communications industry, Allegro is ranked first in Profit 100's fastest-growing Canadian companies of 2009.

However innovative and exciting, industry reports indicate a vital component - fresh graduates - are missing from the market. That's because enrollment in computer science and related fields has declined in the past number of years. According to the Computer Research Association, enrollment for computer science programs across North America dipped 10 per cent from 2004 to 2005. Yet the recession has not hampered the demand to fill jobs in an industry short on new talent.

There has been a decline over the past nine months but at the end of June, we saw a slight improvement in business, says Arelene Breitkreuz, managing director of SI Systems Ltd. in Edmonton. Ranked number 40 out of 250 best IT companies in Canada according to Branham, SI Systems matches IT professionals to companies across the country. Although the company only recruits professionals with more than two years experience, Breitkreuz says that grads entering the industry will continue to prosper into 2010 and beyond.

Obviously projects need to continue and we really believe we've been through the worst of it Breitkreuz says of the economic downturn. There is turnaround because IT is in a sense more generic, she maintains, adding all industries strive to stay current with today's technology. With the economic slowdown, what we see is delays in projects, but eventually every industry including oil and gas need to continue with their IT projects".

There are ups and downs in any field, admits Kaliazine, who graduated with a degree in computer science from the University of Toronto. I find that in my field people find jobs. What's occurring now is that companies are downsizing in the US, but I know lots of people in the same field as myself and none have lost their jobs. There are lots of opportunities, even in the market now. Breitkreuz agrees: You're applying that knowledge to a specific application, so it's a matter of technology versus the industry.

Kaliazine, meanwhile, doesn't see himself deviating from what he loves to do. Working for Canada's fastest growing company is just the icing on the cake, he says, at least for now. I do see myself in the field five years from now, says Kaliazine. I enjoy it and it's what I want to do.

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