As the holidays draw near, video games are climbing the ranks in high-selling items. One of the most popular gifts for tweens and teens, video games have carved an industry that is constantly growing and expanding. But if you want to jump on that money train, you'll have to make sure you have the education in video game programming that will you land you the job.

Even if video games aren't your focus, getting a first or even secondary degree in the technical field might make you more competitive in this tough economy. There are even several certifications that don't require the commitment of a full degree that can make you more marketable.

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While the economy seems to be slowly recovering, many companies are still fighting layoffs and have been forced to cut holiday bonus spending.

With so many belts tightening, a lot of IT professionals who would have retired at the end of this year have decided to stay in the workforce and rebuild lost savings. But mature tech pros need to make sure they stay relevant in the ever changing IT environment. Don't get left behind if you choose to delay your IT retirement.

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IBM and professors from Columbia University in New York City have joined forces to get more people trained for some of the higher-level green tech jobs that have started opening up.

Columbia is already a very environmentally-focused school, offering 23 environmental studies-related degrees. But according to an article posted on SolveClimate.com, by partnering with IBM through the Smarter Students for a Smarter Planet initiative, the university will gain access to things like:

"...software that relates to energy management, as well as courseware, cloud computing capabilities, smart systems, analytics, technology roadmaps, and the like."

All of these things are going to be integrated into Columbia's first-year design course, which is mandatory for all engineering students. The tools will also be used to help train students in other areas, such as project management, systems integration and data analysis, with the goal of turning out more well-rounded engineering graduates.

For more information, here is the video of IBM's and Columbia's green jobs announcement.

_{Image Copyright: Ervin Bacik}

In 2010, new college graduates will still face a competitive job market – but there's a light at the end of the tunnel, as far as starting salaries go.

A recent CareerBuilder survey of 2,778 U.S. hiring managers and HR professionals found that 44 percent of employers plan to hire recent college grads in 2010, which is not much better than the 43 percent who said the same in 2009, and actually much lower than 79 percent in 2007.

However, 21 percent of employers who confirmed they would hire recent grads this year also said they will hire more than they did last year, and 16 percent also said they will offer those new grads higher starting salaries than they did in 2009 – which is great news, compared to the 11 percent of employers who said the same thing last year.

Note that although experience (whether through internships, part-time jobs or volunteer work) is an important factor for employers trying to decide which new grads to hire, survey respondents also said they want someone who will fit in with the company culture, has good ideas and asks excellent questions, has a solid educational background, and prepares well for the interview.

So... remember these tips for getting your foot if you're just starting out in your tech career, or making a career switch:

• Thoroughly research the company that's posting the job so you have an idea of what it's like to work there (our Tech Company Profiles page is an excellent place to start if you're applying for a job with a major technology firm).
• Arm yourself with questions to ask during the interview, and practice answering some of the interview questions you could be asked.
• Be prepared to share some ideas about how you could contribute to the company.
• Stay positive during all steps in the hiring process, including your resume and cover letter submission, your follow-up after sending in your resume, the writing of your post-interview thank-you letter, and your salary negotiation.

Also, be sure to check out our Entry Level and New Grad Resources Center for lists of career services, resume and cover letter samples, interview tips and other things that can help you land your first job in your chosen tech field.

_{Image Copyright: Mary Gober}