WRAL Tech Wire

 Inside Triangle videogame industry: What developers need to hear in tough times

A record crowd turns out for the fifth annual East Coast Game Conference in Raleigh, but attendees hear the truth about surviving in the rough-and-tumble industry. WRALTechWire Insider Joe Procopio gets the real story beyond the hype of the Triangle's videogame industry hub.

Attendees search for jobs, insight at ECGC

Why older entrepreneurs are crucial, even in Silicon Valley

Opinion: It wasn't long ago that age was equated with knowledge. The apprentice learned from the master and the disciple from the guru. Older workers earned higher salaries because of their experience. Even today, we feel more comfortable with doctors, airline pilots, and Presidents who have grey hair. Yet older workers in many industries can't even get interviews. Whether it is in computer programming or entrepreneurship, older workers have many advantages - they still are the experts.

Experience matters

 Panic at Big Blue? CEO reprimands workers, reassigns a top exec

By delivering what the Wall Street Journal describes as a "reprimand" to the entire company through an internal video and in reassigning top hardware executive Rod Adkins - who had been a contender for the CEO job - IBM CEO Ginny Rometty shows that Big Blue is in trouble. Can she right the ship?

Virginia Rometty

 GSK's CEO: More changes coming; 50 brands to be sold?

Andrew Witty says Glaxo will sell off two popular nutritional drinks and reorganize how 50 major products are managed in order to drive more efficiency as the company continues to revamp its structure.

 GSK CEO: More changes, reorganization coming; 50 brands to be sold?

Drug giant GlaxoSmithKline will create a "distinct team" to oversee 50 "established products" and formally decides to sell off two nutritional drinks under CEO Andrew Witty's strategy that is revamping the company.

Andrew Witty

 Looking for a job? 87% of startups in survey say they are hiring

A new survey from Silicon Valley Bank finds that virtually all startups - especially in hardware, software and cleantech - are hiring. Most firms also say they are having trouble finding qualified workers. Note: STEM skills are often required.

Startups step up hiring

 NC Biotech Center teams with Raleigh startup to promote life science jobs

Life science companies looking to hire in North Carolina and individuals seeking employment have a new resource to use: the N.C. Life Sciences Talent Community.

NC Talent Community website

 More than 30 firms looking to hire at Triangle Job Fair

From "A" to "V," a host of technology and other firms are looking to hire at the Triangle Job Fair on Wednesday. A wide variety of skill sets are needed.

 East Coast Game Conference focusing on careers, Triangle job market

For the first time, the fifth annual East Coast Game Conference is unveiling a career track for participants to provide insights on what they need to know to break into this fast-growing industry.

 The tech industry's darkest secret: It's all about age

Opinion: The harsh reality is that if you are middle-aged, write computer code for a living, and earn a six-figure salary, you're headed for the unemployment lines. Your market value declines as you age and it becomes harder and harder to get a job.

Aging an enemy for tech workers so keep skills current

 Layoffs coming? IBM plans $1B in 'workforce rebalancing'

After an earnings report that missed analysts' expectations for the first time since 2005, IBM's CFO says the tech giant anticipates in $1 billion in costs for "workforce rebalancing." Most of that expense will come over the next two months. The cost-cutting could mean big layoffs, but affected workers are likely to get chances to apply for other positions.

IBM's growth roadmap

 Google plans $600M expansion to double NC investment

The search engine giant also embraces an evolving plan from Duke Energy that would provide more renewable energy offerings. Greenpeace embraces the idea. No word yet on how many new jobs would be created in Lenoir, which Google chose for a data center in 2007.

Google's Android mascot inside Lenior center

 Google making big NC expansion news - but don't expect many jobs

The search engine giant is scheduled to announce a major investment in its huge $600 million Lenoir, N.C. data center. But don't expect Google to hire very many people.

Google's data center in Lenoir.

 Lenovo tells Hong Kong Stock Exchange it could be making an acquisition

Following media reports that Lenovo is in negotiations to buy at least a portion of IBM's server business, the world's No. 2 PC maker tells the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that a "potential acquisition" of some kind could be in the works.

 Sale of server business to Lenovo would fit IBM pattern

Big Blue Chief Financial Officer Mark Loughridge wouldn't discuss a report that IBM is negotiating to sell its x86 server business to Lenovo. But the tech giant has made clear it's intentions of continuing a strategy to dump hardware in favor of software and services. Analysts see IBM selling at least parts of the group.

IBM leads in server sales, says IDC

 Hundreds of job seekers pack 'Big Top' as 13 firms pitch: 'Why you would want to work for us'

"Tech Jobs Under the Big Top" brings out the kind of job seekers you wouldn't normally find at a typically dreadful job fair: Super bright, A-level talent, incredibly ambitious free-thinkers with new ideas, and people who already had jobs but are looking for something more. And 13 Triangle companies make their best pitches in trying to recruit them.

It's a party, a circus - a jobs fair where bosses pitch for new hires

 The big show: Tech Jobs Under Big Top packs food, fun - and recruiting

Slide show: WRALTechWire Insider Joe Procopio takes a camera to Thursday night's "Tech Jobs Under the Big Top" to offer our readers an inside view of the event where companies make pitches to hire new workers.

Acrobats, dancing and more under the Big Top

 Report: IBM could sell a server business unit to Lenovo for up to $6B

Lenovo and IBM won't comment about the report, but Computer Reseller News, a widely ready PC and tech industry publication, says IBM is in active negotiations to sell its x86 brand of servers to Lenovo in a deal that could cost up to $6 billion. IBM maintains an x86 facility at its RTP campus.

 'Big Top' tech job fair planned for April 18

 'Cloud' computing growth means more expansion for startup 6fusion

6fusion, the "cloud" computing technology startup based at N.C. State's Centennial Campus, is expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific as demand for cloud-related services continues to grow.

6fusion's "WAC" process