 |
|
| CURRENT SECTION :: News | UK's most visited IT Contractor Site - 250k unique visitors March 2008 |
|
 |
Falling just a little short of interpersonal skills will lose an IT manager their job offer if they compete against a technically inferior but more persuasive candidate. Knowing how to influence and get key messages across, ideally in non-IT speak, almost always makes up for a technology manager’s comparative lack of IT skills. Conversely, if a candidate is technically superior yet falls shy of the required ‘people skills’ they will hardly ever outshine a business-savvy, albeit less technical, rival. In fact, only 6 per cent of the 120 IT directors surveyed by Hays said a technically-strong manager could get by in the workplace with weaker interpersonal skills. In line with the agent’s main finding, the hottest skills – the most difficult to source – were communicating IT to a non-IT audience and applying IT for business benefit. And even though 27% of directors doubted their team’s IT skill sets, a manager with IT prowess was also less desired than one with business acumen and “strategic focus.” “You need a proven track record and be up to date with the direction of technology,” said James Lloyds Townshend, managing director of Hays, reflecting on the findings. “But you need to think strategically, give clear direction and engage with people.” IT managers looking for an immediate start might also consider being flexible about their pay for better conditions, given salary was the biggest hurdle at offer stage. But managers will have to fight for the chance: in line with the reported slowdown in IT recruitment , Hays said 41% of the directors had no plans to hire in the near future. About a quarter were currently recruiting, another quarter intended to recruit within the next six months and just 8% said they plan to recruit within the next year. Sep 2, 2008 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
|
|
  |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All content © Contractor UK Limited | http://www.contractoruk.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1[Register for News Letter] | [Privacy Statement] | [Terms of Use] | [Top of Page] |