As Web 2.0 infiltrates all aspects of CRM, how is it impacting a CRM professional’s job hunt, and how are employers attracting candidates who are Web 2.0 adept? Which technology skills are most important in today’s CRM industry? How can a professional working in sales, service or marketing get to the next level with their careers? What emerging skills are important on the technical side of CRM?

Looking for answers to questions like these and information about CRM career trends, SearchCRM.com turned to Jeff Tanner and Bruce Culbert. Jeff is the Associate Dean of Research at Baylor University and also runs a CRM consulting practice. Bruce is the CEO of myCRM Career, a site dedicated to helping CRM professionals connect and advance their careers. He’s also the CEO of iSymmetry, a recruiting, staffing, consulting and outsourcing firm. The two joined us to speak about their experience in the industry and share insight into trends in CRM staffing and careers.

In this 11-minute podcast, listeners will learn:

• What technology training is most important for someone looking to get started in the CRM field (0:57)

• What technology training is most important for someone looking to get to the next level with their career (0:57)
  

• How to avoid getting pigeonholed into one technology as a job candidate (8:50)

• The importance of Web 2.0 skills when looking for a CRM-related job today (hint: they’re more than “nice to have”) (9:36)

This podcast is the first in a four-part series on CRM career trends. Keep an eye out for the other podcasts, coming soon to this page:

CRM training and CRM education for today’s careers (coming Sept. 9)

CRM certification issues and CRM consulting outlook (coming Sept. 16)

How are CRM strategy trends influencing today’s CRM careers? (coming Sept. 23)

Rob Bois, analyst with Boston-based AMR discusses SAP’s latest release, the outlook for CRM suites and spending in the year ahead.

He’s joined by Elana Anderson, independent analyst with NxtERA Marketing, who shares her thoughts on marketing technology in 2008, including behavioral targeting, getting past the hype of Web 2.0, mobile marketing and the role of the CMO.

John Ragsdale, research vice president with the Service and Support Professionals Association, also joins the conversation. John gives his predictions for Web self-service and its effects on customer service, leveraging user communities, wikis and the job outlook for customer service.

Program guide:

• (00:01) Rob Bois
• (20:14) Elana Anderson
• (32:29) John Ragsdale

Abbo also shares his thoughts on the emergence of hosted call centers and where innovation will come from in the CRM market.

Nelson has served as NetSuite’s CEO since 2002, previously holding posts at Network Associates, myCIO and Oracle.

Paul is a veteran of the CRM industry, president of the 56 Group LLC, a CRM consultancy based in Manassas, Va. and the author of CRM at the Speed of Light, now in its third edition.

His blog, PGreenblog, was named 2005′s Best CRM Blog by SearchCRM.com’s readers.

Wilson, whose background includes stints at PeopleSoft, Epiphany and a number of start-ups, shared his experiences in the CRM market over the past 12 years and what to expect in the future, both from Microsoft and the market, including on-demand CRM. Wilson also discusses what he sees as “the next killer app in CRM.”