Hays IT survey puts management skills under the microscope

Released on: January 20, 2009, 2:17 am

Press Release Author: Hays Recruitment

Industry: Human Resources

Press Release Summary: Hays IT has conducted a new survey that reveals many Heads of IT are concerned that their IT departments don't have the right people and technical skills to cope in todays business landscape

Press Release Body: Hays IT has revealed that more than one in four Heads of IT and Chief Information Officers (CIOs) are concerned that their IT departments do not have the right blend of people and technical skills needed to cope with today's changing business landscape. The information was revealed in a new survey of senior technology professionals conducted by Hays IT.

Leadership and technical knowledge are the most important skills sought by hiring managers, which re-affirms the requirement for individuals who can inspire, influence and motivate. The need for senior and middle IT management to influence decision making and communicate their knowledge to non-technical stakeholders has never been greater, especially in the current climate where cost control and productivity gains are so important.

Over half of survey respondents (54%) cited the ability to simplify IT jargon as the most important skill they are looking for in their senior managers, followed by the ability to apply IT strategy to the benefit of the business, which 40% of survey respondents cited as a key skill. The majority of respondents (59%) agreed that IT has a very significant role to play in business strategy with 44% believing it to be important commerically.

James Lloyd-Townshend, Managing Director of Hays IT, noted: "People tend to automoatically associate strong technical skills with IT professionals. But as our survey shows, people and comminication skills are equally, if not more, important than industry knowledge, particularly at the senior end of IT jobs market."

The abiding message from employers is that IT professionals whose interpersonal skills are not up to scratch cannot simply rest on their 'technical' laurels and expect that this alone will be enough to be offered the IT job for which they have been interviewed.

About Hays IT
Hays IT is part of Hays plc, the global specialist recruitment group. It is the market leader in the UK and Australia and one of the market leaders in Continental Europe. As of 30th June 2008, the group employed 8,872 staff operating from 393 offices in 27 countries across 17 specialisms from engineering jobs and PA jobs through to nursing jobs. For the year ending 30th June, 2008 the Group had revenues of £2.5 billion, net fees of £786.8 million and operating profit before exceptional items of £253.8 million. The Group placed around 80,000 candidates into permanent jobs and around 300,000 people into temporary assignments. The temporary placement business represented 49% of net fees and the permanent placement business represented 51% of net fees.

Web Site: http://www.hays.com/

Contact Details: PR Contact:
Sarah Swailes
PR Executive
Hays Plc.
Charter House
13 - 15 Carteret Street
London
SW1H 9DJ
020 7222 6543
www.hays.com