UK 'will not meet European broadband target'

The UK has

a poor chance of meeting the long-term broadband targets established by the European Union, IT jobseekers have been told.

Richard Patterson, director at Broadband Expert, said the country's current average broadband speed is little more than 6Mbps but noted that individuals and businesses in rural areas will often experience service far below this level.

'The government has put aside just £300 million which in my opinion is too little to subsidise a nationwide fibre optic broadband network - which is what we'll need to give the whole nation superfast broadband,' he commented.

Mr Patterson claimed that a 'substantial government subsidy' will be needed if all areas of the UK are to receive the 30Mps speed laid out in the European plans.

He also suggested that most Britons do not believe the UK will have Europe's best broadband network by 2015, despite communications minister Ed Vaizey recently stating this was the government's aim.

Research published by Speedtest.net this month found that the UK has the 31st fastest internet download speed and the 56th quickest upload speed in the world. South Korea was found to be top in both areas.
 

CVs 'should be honest and accurate'

IT jobseek

ers and other candidates should ensure their CVs are honest and accurate rather than uniquely laid out, it has been advised.

Peter Panayotou, senior consultant at The Write Stuff, pointed out that it can be difficult for applicants to make their resume stand out from other candidates' in terms of presenting it in a way no-one has before.

'What employers tend to look for in a CV more than anything is not something that stands out in the way that it's laid out, although it is important that it's neat,' he commented.

Mr Panayotou went on to say that it is more important for a CV to provide a potential employer with honest information that supports a candidate's application.

In addition, he claimed that a good resume will contain enough relevant details to allow interviewers to build an accurate picture of what they are like.

Earlier this month, an article on Contractor UK stressed the need for CVs to be brief, yet packed with details that sell the skills of the applicant.
 

Enjoyment 'more important than cash for job satisfaction'

People can experience greater job satisfaction if they base their career path on enjoyment rather than money, it has been claimed, which may interest those seeking new IT roles.

Peter Panayotou, senior consultant at jobseeking advice consultancy The Write Stuff, said that earning a high salary will only keep people in a role for a short amount of time, as other factors are more important for a worthwhile career.

'Ultimately you've got to do something you enjoy because you'll never do good at something, you'll never excel at something you don't enjoy,' he continued.

Mr Panayotou added that people tend to be more satisfied with their jobs, and happier in their life in general, if they are in a role that they are good at and enjoy.

Recent research by Magnet Trade found that just one in seven people are currently in a job that they aspired towards as a child, while 60 per cent said they are unhappy with their role.
 

Education 'is vital for IT security'

Companies need to ensure their workers are clued up about computer security to reduce the risk of viruses, it has been suggested.

Research recently published by Panda Security revealed that cybercriminals created 20 million new forms of virus between January and October 2010, the same amount as was generated in the whole of the previous year.

Commenting on the findings, Sophos senior technology consultant Graham Cluley said that his company is currently identifying around one new security threat each second, which equates to 60,000 pieces of malware a day.

The expert added that firms should be aware that protecting their computer systems 'goes beyond' just purchasing the appropriate software and includes factors such as training.

'You need the tools, but you also need to train your staff and educate them as to how to use computers safely. Normally it's the human that makes the mistake rather than the computer,' he explained.

Mr Cluley also predicted that the threat of viruses is set to increase in the future, as criminals are becoming more aware of the profit-making potential of computer attacks.
 

UK firms 'increasing demand for migrant staff'

The demand for migrant workers in the UK has increased in line with improvements in the overall labour market, new research has shown.

According to the Labour Market Outlook report, published by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and professional services provider KPMG, 22 per cent of private sector employers plan to recruit migrants in the last quarter of the year.

The research showed that demand for migrant workers is especially high in the IT sector, as well as in finance, accounting and engineering.

Gerwyn Davies, the author of the report and public policy adviser at the CIPD, commented: 'The announcement reflects the fact that there needs to be a phased, long-term reduction to immigration alongside an investment in the skills that employers are telling us are lacking in the UK jobs market, in order to boost home-grown talent.'

He added that the intention to take on migrant workers could reflect the difficulties that UK employers have in taking on skilled staff in the short term.

Earlier this week, the Home Office announced that the number of non-European Union residents that can enter the UK to work will be limited to 21,700 a year.
 

Public sector 'should celebrate temporary workers'

The UK's public sector needs to recognise the contribution that is made by the country's temporary workforce, it has been suggested.

Commenting on a recent speech by cabinet secretary Francis Maude, the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) highlighted the advantages of flexibility and cost savings that the use of temporary workers can bring.

Tom Hadley, director of policy and professional services at the REC, commented: 'Whilst we welcome announcements to ease the burdens surrounding the procurement process, it is worrying that temporary workers are again seen as an easy target and that slashing agency budgets is seen as an end in itself.'

In his speech, Mr Maude explained that the government will streamline its procurement process and noted that its spend on agency workers will fall by 30 per cent.

Mr Hadley called on the government to recognise that temporary workers are often highly trained professionals who possess specialist skills and make a vital contribution to the delivery of services.

Earlier this month, the REC found that 28 per cent of private sector employers plan to take on more temporary staff in the next 12 months.
 

People 'to have multiple careers'

People are now likely to embark on 'two or three' different careers during their working lives, an expert has claimed, which may interest those considering moving to an IT job.

A study published recently by Kelly Services found that 64 per cent of people believe they will have to change career over the course of their working life, with employees in 'generation X', or those born between 1961 to 1981, being most likely to consider this.

Commenting on the findings, Employers Forum on Age campaign director Rachel Krys said: 'The reality is we're all going to have to work for longer and we're probably going to need to have two or three 'careers', as it were, in our lifetime.'

He added that an increasing number of workers will reach their 50s then decide to retrain for another role, rather than prepare from retirement in earnest, and stay in employment for another 20 years.

Recent research carried out by LV= suggested that around 2.7 million of the country's over-50s think they will have to continue working past the state retirement age to make ends meet.
 

Awareness of cyber attacks 'needed among firms'

Businesses have to do more protect their systems from cyber attacks, an expert has claimed, which may create more IT security consultant jobs.

Martyn Ruks, technical director, MWR InfoSecurity, said that many companies seem to lack awareness of the monetary and reputational damage that can be caused by IT security breaches.

'A lot of organisations don't understand what impact an electronic attack on their assets are likely to have, whether that is a disruption to revenue streams [or] their sites not being available through fraud or compliance issues,' he commented.

Mr Ruks called on businesses to recognise that cyber attacks are becoming more commonplace and to implement measures to reduce the chances of them being successfully targeted.

In addition, he claimed that the only way to truly strengthen the defences against IT security breaches is for firms, the government and users to place this at the top of the agendas.

Recently, Sebastian Zabala, Panda Security's country manager for the UK and Sweden, said that educating staff and deploying IT security applications are essential in protecting against cyber attacks.
 

Business world 'will change due to cloud computing'

Cloud computing has the potential to bring about significant change for the business world, it has been claimed.

According to IT industry analyst Gartner, the core principles behind the technology are starting to become more widely understood by the wider public.

Stephen Prentice, vice president and fellow at Gartner, commented: 'Cloud computing heralds an evolution of business - no less influential than the era of e-business - in positive and negative ways.'

He explained that the convergence of virtualisation, service orientation and the internet that has come with cloud computing has given businesses a greater degree of choice in how the access IT applications.

In addition, Mr Prentice said the technology has reduced the role of the traditional software and hardware licensing models, which has freed users from the potential 'constraints' they can bring.

Earlier this week, communications minister Ed Vaizey told the third annual UK-China Internet Forum that the UK economy could benefit from wider adoption of cloud computing technologies and principles.
 

CIPD launches Agency Workers Regulations guide

New guidance on how employers can prepare for the implementation of the Agency Workers Regulations 2010 has been published by an industry body.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) pointed out that many companies are already reviewing their recruitment plans in light of the legislation, which comes into force on October 11th 2011 and offers agency workers the basic employment terms granted to permanent staff after 12 weeks.

CIPD public policy adviser Mike Emmott said: 'It is important that employers should make their own assessment of how the regulations will affect them, based on an understanding of what they say.'

He added that firms should not plan to use fewer agency workers because of the regulations, as they will not create an 'unmanageable obstacle' to the effective deployment of temporary labour.

Last month, the Recruitment & Employment Confederation raised concerns about the implementation of the forthcoming Agency Workers Regulations at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.
 

Govt announces migrant worker changes

The coalition government has unveiled new plans to strictly control the number of people who can come from outside of Europe to work in the UK.

Under measures announced by the Home Office, an annual limit of 21,700 will be placed on the number of non-European Union residents that can work in the UK.

The department revealed that 20,700 of these workers will be able to enter the UK through the skilled labour channel of the Points Based System.

In addition, the remaining 1,000 migrants can gain access under the new 'exceptional talent' route that is designed for people such as entrepreneurs and investors.

The Home Office also announced that the minimum salary for workers entering the country through the Intra-Company Transfers route will be lifted to £40,000.

Home secretary Theresa May commented: 'Today's announcement has set out a clear, rational approach to which workers we will allow into the UK job market.'

Earlier this month, the Recruitment & Employment Confederation called on the government to ensure the UK's Intra-Company Transfers system is not open to abuse.
 

Temp working 'to rival permanent employment'

People could start to view agency working as a more viable alternative to permanent employment because of forthcoming legislation, an expert has claimed.

Adrian Marlowe, chairman of the Association of Recruitment Consultants (ARC), said that the implementation of the Agency Workers Regulations in October next year will improve conditions for temporary staff.

The new laws will level the playing field between permanent staff and temporary workers by giving temps the same basic employment rights and conditions after they have been with a firm for 12 weeks.

Mr Marlowe commented: 'It must make it more attractive for people to look at agency work as an alternative to permanent employment.'

He added that many people currently working as temps realise it has some advantages over permanent employment, such as variety, flexibility, developing different skills set and gaining a wealth of experience.

This week, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development launched guidance on how firms can cope with the roll-out of the Agency 

Cloud computing 'could help UK economy'

Greater adoption of cloud computing in the UK could help to boost the country's economic prospects, the government has claimed, which may create new IT jobs.

Speaking at the third annual UK-China Internet Forum, communications minister Ed Vaizey highlighted the potential that the emerging technology has for both businesses and the public.

'Access to the networked resources provided by 'clouds' enables companies to enter markets without having to meet the capital costs of building their own computer infrastructure,' he explained.

Mr Vaizey claimed that this can open up opportunities for businesses as consumers increasingly adopt portable devices that have limited storage capacity, because firms can devise applications to boost the functionality of these technologies.

However, he claimed that the government, companies and consumers will have to work together to protect privacy and data security when cloud computing becomes more commonplace.

In September, research published by Gartner predicted that 10.2 per cent of spending on external IT services this year will involve cloud computing.
 

Outfit 'an important interview consideration'

IT jobseekers and other candidates should never underestimate the impact their choice of outfit can make in an interview, it has been asserted.

Writing on joe.ie, recruitment expert Eoghan McDermott pointed out that meeting a prospective employer in old or scruffy clothing can cause interviewers to reject an applicant immediately.

'You literally only get one opportunity to make a first impression, so you'd better be dressed and groomed to the nth degree when you go to the job interview,' he advised.

Mr McDermott recommended that candidates take the time to coordinate their outfit so it does not distract interviewers and stressed the importance of avoiding accessories such as loud ties.

In addition, the expert advised applicants to seek advice on their clothes from another person, preferably from a specialist such as a tailor.

Last month, recruitment expert Sara Eide told mynorthwest.com that dressing in a formal manner can show an interviewer that the candidate is serious about winning the job.
 

Software engineers 'at risk of insomnia'

Software engineers could be at a greater risk of suffering from sleep-related problems such as insomnia, new research has suggested.

Research performed by the University of Mysore in India examined the relationship between the amount of sleep a person gets and their quality of life by questioning 91 people in software engineer jobs.

The study, which is published in the Applied Research in Quality of Life journal, discovered that 59 per cent of software engineers suffer from some form of insomnia, well above the average of 23 per cent of the general population.

In addition, the research discovered that those with the condition reported having lower quality of life and more problems with their physical and mental health.

'Lifestyle management programmes which include sleep hygiene and care should be incorporated as a policy matter in the IT industry,' the research's author commented.

According to NHS Choices, doing exercise 30 minutes before bed and creating a bedtime routine can help people to overcome insomnia.
 

Unemployment 'not likely to increase in next year'

Unemployment in the UK is unlikely to worsen over the next 12 months, an expert has claimed, which may be good news for IT jobseekers.

Last week, figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the number of unemployed people in the UK fell by 9,000 during the three months to September.

Commenting on the report, Work Wise UK chief executive Phil Flaxton said he does not expect the trend to reverse and Britain to be hit with drastically increasing unemployment.

'I think, if anything, unemployment levels are likely to stabilise or potentially go down, because there is still a skills shortage in the UK,' he continued.

Mr Flaxton added that he cannot see how the government could offer further incentives to companies to take on more workers, given the current fragile state of the economy and the public sector finances.

The ONS report showed that the UK's unemployment rate for the three months to September stood at 7.7 per cent and amounted to 2.45 million people.
 

Contractor CVs 'need to be full of details'

People seeking IT contractor work need to ensure they include plenty of relevant details in their CVs, it has been suggested.

According to an article on Contractor UK, the average resume needs to be kept brief - ideally to within two pages - if it is to be read and remembered by recruiters.

The piece also recommended that IT contractors tailor their CVs to meet the specific needs of each role, adding that the most important details should be included on the front page.

Recruitment agent Norman von Krause told the news provider: 'I like to be provided with as much detail as possible, without going mad - particularly when people have had a lot of jobs.'

It also advised applicants to take care when drafting their front page summary, as this can lead to their resume being immediately discarded if it does not match up exactly to the requirements of the role.

Last week, business coach and author Richard Maun told the Guardian that it is essential for applicants to make a good impression immediately when interviewing for a position.
 

UK economy 'needs universal broadband'

Universal broadband access would benefit the UK economy and bolster IT job creation, an expert has claimed.

Rowland O'Connor, editor of Broadband-Help.com, said that it is 'unquestionably vital' for broadband access projects to continue, as they are key to the long-term success of the British economy.

'For UK [public limited companies] to compete in the international digital services arena, universal broadband access is an absolute must in the UK,' he commented.

Mr O'Connor added that the rollout of universal broadband access will increase the amount of digital media consumed in the UK, in turn boosting profitability and leading to the creation of new IT jobs.

However, the expert pointed out that the current constraints on government finances make it understandable why digital infrastructure projects are being postponed in the UK.

Earlier this year, culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said that the funding issues mean the government will look to establish a universal broadband service level of 2Mbps by 2015, rather than 2012 as previously planned.
 

Datacentres 'to become increasingly efficient'

New research has claimed that datacentres are set to incorporate increasingly efficient designs, which may interest those seeking new IT jobs.

A new report by IT industry analyst Gartner predicted that the next generation of datacentres will offer 300 per cent more capacity for growth while using just 60 per cent of the space needed by existing facilities.

The study also claimed that new datacentres will be more efficient when it comes to power utilisation, capital expenditure and space allocation.

Dave Cappuccio, chief of infrastructure research at Gartner, commented: 'There is a real and growing desire to increase productivity in datacentres.'

He added that more companies are becoming aware of the inefficiencies found in current facilities, such as the fact that the average x86 server is running at 12 per cent utilisation and racks only hold 50 to 60 per cent of their capacity.

This week, a study by market researcher International Data Corporation showed that the worldwide datacentre infrastructure market experienced a 'significant rebound' in the second quarter of the year.
 

UK skills shortage 'to last some time'

The UK is likely to suffer from a skills shortage for the foreseeable future, it has been claimed, which may help those seeking a new IT job.

Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, said that a number of factors have left the country without enough skilled employees to meet demand and suggested that there is no easy solution to this problem.

'Despite what is going on in the economy, there is still definitely a skills shortage in the UK. It depends on what an individual wants to do, but I don't see that situation changing in the foreseeable future,' he commented.

Mr Flaxton added that more people are coming out of university holding degrees in generic subjects such as history, rather than having a more specific qualification in areas such as science or technology.

In addition, the expert claimed that many young people are not interested in taking up an apprenticeship, as they do not want to spend six or seven years in training.

Earlier this week, business secretary Vince Cable and skills minister John Hayes launched the government's new skills strategy, which aims to improve engagement in learning and the performance of the economy.
 

Scotland's labour market continues to improve

The labour market in Scotland is showing strong signs of improvement, the government has suggested, which may be good news for those seeking new IT jobs.

Official employment figures for the country show that total employment rose by 21,000 in the July-September quarter, which is the second largest increase since the three months to February 2007.

The report also revealed that the Scottish employment rate increased by 0.5 percentage points during the three-month period, compared to the 0.3 percentage point rise for the whole UK.

Enterprise minister Jim Mather commented: 'Scotland's unemployment rate remains below the EU average and that of the United States, as well as other parts of the UK such as London, Yorkshire and the Humber, the West Midlands and the north-east.'

However, he asserted that unemployment in the country is still too high and called for further efforts to get more people into work.

Earlier this year, international technology company Hewlett-Packard created more than 700 new IT jobs in Scotland when it announced plans to open a service hub at its base in Renfrewshire.
 

Govt 'has to fight long-term unemployment'

The government should do more to tackle the UK's long-term unemployment problem, IT jobseekers have heard.

Earlier this week, figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that 245,370 people in the UK have been on jobseeker's allowance for more than 12 months.

Analysing the figures, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) claimed that the rise in long-term unemployment has been caused by the job losses seen during the recession combined with a lack of new opportunities being created.

The organisation also warned that the problem could grow worse if the government's recently-announced spending cuts cause even more people to lose their jobs.

Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, commented: 'The number of people who have been out of work for a year or longer has more than doubled since January 2008. Unemployed people are the victims here.'

The ONS figures also showed that the UK's current unemployment rate is 7.7 per cent, meaning that 2.45 million people are without a job.
 

Employment outlook 'improving for IT graduates'

The employment prospects for graduates with IT-related degrees are continuing to strengthen in the UK, it has been claimed.

Earlier this week, FDM Group - one of the country's largest IT graduate employers - announced that it will aim to take on 1,000 new employees throughout 2011.

Dan Hawes, co-founder of Graduate Recruitment Bureau, highlighted the many employment opportunities that exist for people holding a degree in IT or a related subject.

Mr Hawes said that graduates can find IT jobs with many types of organisation, adding that these are 'not just with the Microsofts of the world - there are thousands of consultancies that feed into, for example, the financial services industry'.

He also claimed that the employment plans by FDM Group may indicate that prospects for those seeking IT positions in the coming months are likely to improve.

In addition, Mr Hawes called on more employers to follow the company's example and extend the number of opportunities they offer to graduates.
 

UK unemployment shows slight decrease

There was a slight fall in the number of people unemployed in the UK during the three months to September, official figures have revealed.

A new report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the UK's unemployment level fell by 9,000 in the three-month period, which may be good news for those seeking IT jobs.

This means that total unemployment stood at 2.45 million people, almost the same as the figure from the previous month.

According to the report, the overall unemployment rate remains at 7.7 per cent.

The ONS also noted that the UK's employment rate stood at 70.8 per cent, or 29.19 million people over the quarter, while its inactivity rate was 23.2 per cent, or 9.27 million people.

Earlier this month, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and professional services provider KPMG claimed that job creation by private businesses is likely to offset the losses in the public sector in the last quarter of 2010.
 

Firms 'turning to temporary staff'

More companies are planning to increase their use of agency staff, the Recruitment & Employment Confederation has claimed.

The group's latest Jobs Outlook report showed that 22 per cent of firms plan to grow their temporary workforce in the next quarter, while 28 per cent will employ more agency workers in the coming year.

However, only 12 per cent of respondents said they intend to recruit more permanent employees in the next three months.

Roger Tweedy, director of research at the REC, said: 'The upward trend in both short and long-term use of temporary staff confirms that employers view flexible resourcing options as the best way of gearing themselves up for economic growth.'

He added that the impact of the government's Comprehensive Spending Review is expected to come next year, which may explain why firms are planning to use more temporary staff rather than grow their permanent workforces.

According to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, the number of unemployed people in the UK stood at 2.45 million in the three months to September.