High standards forcing IT staff to retrain

Mixed messages: 65 per cent of job seekers felt employers were not clear about the skills they required for an IT role

Industry players feel they are being forced to retrain to keep up with high standards brought about by the recession, according to recruitment web site CWJobs.

A UK and Ireland survey conducted by the recruitment specialist revealed that with so many candidates available for businesses to choose from, 62 per cent of IT specialists currently in full-time work felt they were required to retrain to keep up with the new high standards.

In terms of current IT skills sets, less than a quarter of those surveyed felt their skills were a good match to the current demand. But just 15 per cent of graduates felt their skill set was a poor match to the IT employment landscape.

Richard Nott, web site director at CWJobs, said: “Looking forward, as more professionals are focusing on their key skill areas, there will be a shift in focus to communicating these correctly.

“IT professionals need to take control of their careers and understand the importance of developing and showcasing their skills correctly. This, in turn, will allow them to have a competitive advantage against their peers and increase their opportunity to negotiate with prospective employers.”

However, the survey also revealed a gap between the job seeker and the skills required for an IT role. Sixty-five per cent of job seekers felt employers were not clear about the skills they required when recruiting for IT positions.

Furthermore, almost 60 per cent of IT professionals highlighted a lack of guidance specifically related to their skills sets when scouting for a new job.

Nott added: “The results of our survey launch the start of a new campaign where CWJobs hopes to highlight the gap between the skills people possess, and those required for new IT roles.”