GCS Recruitment

IT employers more confident about recruiting contractors

2011-04-06T16:54:00.000+01:00

IT employers are becoming more confident about employing contractors, according to industry experts.

The increase in confidence is likely to create an increase demand for IT staff or those looking for a new career in the industry.

James Smith, director of Networkers International, said that employers appreciate the flexibility of contract workers.

'There is still a strong demand in both permanent and contract recruitment, but clients are more confident about taking on contractors for specific projects due to the flexibility they get with it,' he told Recruiter.co.uk.

He said that while the recovery is still slow, contract IT staff allow employers to get projects underway without having to commit fully to a new member of staff.

A recent KPMG study revealed that the number of contract positions has increased at the sharpest rate since July 2007.

Bernard Brown, partner and head of Business Services at KPMG, said that the results of the study overall reveal that the job market remains volatile.

Permanent and temporary vacancies increase in March

2011-04-06T16:52:00.000+01:00

The number of permanent and temporary staff securing jobs increased at a slower rate in March.

Research from KPMG revealed that the number of appointment slowed down following a peak in February and despite an increase in demand for staff.

Permanent staff vacancies rose at their fastest rate in March since April 2010, while the number of temporary roles on offer experienced their sharpest rise since July 2007.

Kevin Green, chief executive of the Recruitment & Employment Confederation, said the findings show there is much to be positive about with respect to the growing UK job market.

'People changing jobs are clearly looking for higher pay to compensate for inflation … Whilst it's important to reward quality candidates appropriately it's important that this trend doesn't limit opportunities for job creation or hinder business growth in the future,' he added.

Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, seemed to agree, adding that parents need to be flexible and should consider the needs of their employer during the recovery.

IT pros get 5% salary increase

2011-04-06T16:51:00.000+01:00

Salaries paid to IT professionals have increased by five per cent since 2010, according to new research.

A study by CV Screen found that the average wage for those in IT has risen in the last year, as demand within the industry increased.

The company gathered the information through a study of 50 IT roles and 7,000 advertised IT positions within the UK and found that the average salary is now £38,946.

CV Screen's Matthew Iveson said that the increase is down the recovery of the economy and jobs market, which has allowed for an increase in IT department budgets.

'Rather than cutting back on staff, we are now seeing employers looking to grow the size of their workforce and are having to offer more competitive salaries to secure the best talent,' he explained.

The research follows a similar study from Hays which predicted that IT employers would have to increase salaries and benefits if they wanted to encourage new workers in the face of rising competition.

A bad job is worse for mental health than unemployment

2011-04-05T16:31:00.000+01:00

New research has revealed that staying in a bad job can be more detrimental to health than being unemployed.

The Australian National University (ANU) released the findings following a study of employment in several different countries, Digitaljournal.com reported.

Over 7,000 people were surveyed and the findings revealed that while those in employment had an average happiness and wellbeing score of 75.1 out of 100, and, while unemployed people's score dropped by one point, those in bad jobs saw a drop of 5.6 points below average.

'There could be a greater focus on ensuring a more positive psychosocial environment at work ... Workplace policy and job design needs to be recognised as a potentially important determinant of population health,' said study developer Dr Peter Butterworth, from the Centre for Mental Health Research at ANU.

However, IT staff could soon be on the receiving end of improvements to benefits and salary as increasing demand and shortfall of skilled workers drives up competition, Hays revealed.

Microsoft offers 32 apprenticeships

2011-04-05T16:30:00.000+01:00

Microsoft has announced it is offering apprenticeships to 32 jobseekers through the Reading Job Fair.

The big technology name said that it has put the scheme together specifically for school leavers and the unemployed to get more people with no previous experience working with IT.

Stephen Uden, head of skills and economic affairs at the Microsoft Thames Valley Park campus, told Getbracknell.co.uk that the apprenticeship organised by Microsoft with affiliated small local businesses is an excellent opportunity to get into a growing job market.

'The IT industry is one of the sectors in the UK economy which is still growing and we work with thousands of small companies in the Thames Valley who are looking to take people on but struggle to find the right people,' he added.

Following the apprenticeship, individuals will receive a Microsoft and a City and Guilds qualification to help them continue with their IT career.

Spencer Mehlman, managing director of Notgoingtouni.co.uk, agreed that employers place a high value on workplace experience when looking for new staff.

IT staff likely to benefit from increasing demand

2011-04-05T16:28:00.000+01:00

IT staff who are currently out of work are likely to benefit from increasing demand.

According to research from Hays, 15 per cent of IT staff are currently unhappy with their benefits package, with another 61 per cent conceding that their manager could be more generous.

Hays has warned IT employers that the increasing demand for IT staff, as well as a shortage in skilled workers, means they will need to improve their benefits and consider pay reviews in order to hold on to existing talent and encourage new workers in the face of stiff competition.

'Employers have very high expectations of candidates, and look for those that meet all their criteria. But as more IT professionals switch to better paid and more flexible contract roles, they may struggle to find people to fill permanent positions,' said Andy Bristow, manager of information technology at the firm.

However, a survey by Robert Walters suggested that IT staff remain cautious about moving jobs despite the increasing demand, Computerweekly.com reported.

Job applicants cannot rely on qualifications

2011-04-04T16:38:00.000+01:00

Recruiters are looking for candidates who offer more than just academic qualifications, according to an expert.

In an interview with the Guardian, Margaret Dane, chief executive of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service, said that in the current job market it is essential to have a number of skills to bring to the table.

'It is essential for careers advisers to get university managers and funders to ensure student employability is right up there on their agenda, especially in the light of increased tuition fees that has raised student and parent expectations,' she explained.

Ms Dane told the newspaper that although academic learning is often critical, it is not enough for students to rely on anymore.

She said that students must start to live their CV before they need to start writing it.

Dan Hawes, co-founder of the Graduate Recruitment Bureau, said that anything that sets jobseekers apart, be that an internship or a year out, is beneficial in the job search.

London Olympics offers IT contractor opportunities

2011-04-04T16:37:00.000+01:00

The London 2012 Olympics will create a boost for the IT job contractor market, according to an industry expert.

James Toovey, founder and director of Langley James, said that the use of IT contractors and trainees for the Olympics and Paralympic Games will benefit all involved.

'I strongly believe that people should go for voluntary work experience and companies like the Olympics should allow people to come and shadow experienced people to gain commercial experience and also to help with tight deadlines,' he explained.

The use of IT trainees, even those without any specific prior training, will allow IT staff to get jobs done quicker, which is essential on such a tight schedule, because it allows the companies to take on two people for the cost of one.

People who want to volunteer to help out at the London 2012 Olympics need to register online or visit a volunteer centre.

Jobseekers enlist professional CV help

2011-04-04T16:35:00.000+01:00

Many jobseekers are enlisting the help of professionals in order to give themselves an edge over other candidates, according to The Write Stuff.

Peter Panayotou, senior consultant at the CV advice firm, said that professional assistance is often the first thing people seek out when trying to stand out from the crowd in the competitive job market.

'[It is] certainly something that I've been aware of since we had this downturn. A lot of people are coming to me that would normally have attempted to do their CV themselves but have decided that, in order to get the edge, they need to do everything they possibly can,' he explained.

A report by independent think-tank NEF (New Economics Foundation), confirmed that the job market is likely to get tougher.

It found that the public sector cuts could create a shortfall of 520,000 jobs, because it has not created a clear enough strategy for growth in key sectors of the economy.

Global IT spend to hit $3.6tn in 2011

2011-04-01T16:54:00.001+01:00

Global spending on IT is set to rise by 5.6 per cent this year, a new study has predicted.

Research company Gartner has forecast that business and consumer spending on IT will reach $3.6 trillion (£2.2 trillion) in 2011.

The prediction comes in at this figure despite the political unrest in the Middle East, said Richard Gordon, research vice president for the organisation, and he admitted that no one can yet calculate the full effect of the Japan crisis on global IT markets.

'We are looking at two potential effects on IT markets as a result of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan: consequences of disruptions in the global electronics supply chain and impacts on IT demand,' he expanded.

Mr Gordon added that a lot of the growth has been down to the increasing use of media tablets, including the iPad.

Charlie Abrahams, vice president of Europe, the Middle East and Africa at MarkMonitor, said that online piracy is expected to grow alongside the rise of legitimate content.

Mental health has a stigma to employers

2011-04-01T16:54:00.000+01:00

A lack of understanding about mental health problems is creating a stigma with some employers, according to a psychologist.

Nick Adams explained that many jobseekers will not disclose the fact they have suffered from mental health problems or depression in the past, as they feel it does not impact on their work but may be detrimental to their job chances.

'The truth is that many people in employment may have mental health problems that their employers are unaware of. Some people can channel their thoughts in work and even become more productive as work gives them good feelings,' Mr Adams said.

However, he added that unfortunately there is still a stigma attached to mental health issues, so jobseekers who tell recruiters they have suffered from the problem may be at a disadvantage.

Emma Mamo, policy and campaigns manager at Mind, said that long term unemployment can cause depression in some cases, especially among men who closely associate working with their personal identity.

Jobseekers need to "demonstrate commercial acumen"

2011-04-01T16:53:00.000+01:00

Candidates battling it out for a job in the private sector need to 'demonstrate commercial acumen', according to Hays.

Mark Staniland, managing director of career transition services at the company, said that former public sector workers may find the transition into the private jobs market difficult.

He warned that applicants were at risk of 'talking a completely different language' to private sector recruiters.

'There are more similarities between the two sectors than people think, but jobseekers need to be able to work hard to show how this is the case and if they are to find work in a more commercial environment, they are going to need support from their current employer,' Mr Staniland explained.

New research from the New Economics Foundation (NEF) found that job losses in the public sector are unlikely to be fully compensated for by increased demand in the private sector so jobseekers could find themselves in an increasingly competitive market.

Mr Staniland said that employers had a responsibility to offer support to workers moving between the two sectors.

IT staff are in demand

2011-03-31T16:30:00.000+01:00

More IT staff are being recruited by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a new study has revealed.

SMEs are increasing their IT funding and hiring plans with the result that they have reached their highest level for 18 months, the research from Spiceworks found.

Around 3,000 SMEs were surveyed in January and February and from the findings it is clear that confidence is returning to the IT sector.

Of the businesses surveyed, eight per cent have increased the money they are allocating to IT in 2011 compared to 2010 and just under a third are planning to take on more IT staff.

'All signs point to a good year for the IT industry as SMEs around the world significantly boost investments in technology products and services as well as staffing,' said Jay Hallberg, co-founder and vice president of marketing for Spiceworks.

A recent study by Computer Weekly in conjunction with Salary Services Limited and JobsAdWatch.co.uk agreed with the findings, revealing that their has been a 25 per cent increase in demand for IT staff.

Transform a CV from public to private sector

2011-03-31T16:29:00.000+01:00

Many former public sector workers will need to change their CVs in order to appeal to private sector recruiters.

However, in some cases it can feel difficult to mould the skills gained in local government into something that will transfer into the wider job market.

Jobseekers need to create a CV that is tailored to each different role they apply for and search their career history to find skills or experiences that fit.

A CV is the single most important document for job hunters as it is the sole opportunity people have to stand out and secure an interview so relevant skills and talents need to be emphasised while less pertinent achievements can be removed.

'Your CV is like a sales brochure, with you as the product to be bought or sold. This is regardless of what you do, what sector you work in, or your seniority within your company,' explained Terry Morgan from CVChecker.com to Jobsite.co.uk.

The layout of the document needs to be clear and easy to read, as recruiters will skim-read and may miss valuable information if it is not instantly apparent.

Jobseekers feel discriminated against

2011-03-30T16:21:00.000+01:00

Unconscious discrimination has caused people to lose out on jobs or promotions, according to a new study.

Research from the Employers Forum on Age found that over a third of people felt they had been discriminated against when trying to find a job or applying for a more senior position within the same company.

Around 16 per cent felt that they had been overlooked due to favouritism in the workplace and a similar number felt their age went against them.

'There seems to be a very high instance of people being selected for a new job or promotion if their 'face fits', which unfortunately means some people feel that talent isn't enough to overcome prejudices,' said Denise Keating, chief executive of the company.

She explained that most people naturally feel an unconscious bias towards those most similar to them, but it is important that managers and hirers do not allow this affiliation to lead to favouritism or discrimination.

Rachel Krys, director of Inclusive Employers, said it was beneficial for employers to have a mix of ages at a company, as youth brings fresh ideas while more mature workers have a calming influence.

Lack of interview preparation creates 'climate of stress'

2011-03-30T16:19:00.000+01:00

Recruiters and applicants alike are guilty of failing to adequately prepare for a job interview.

According to a new poll from Monster.co.uk, lack of preparation from both parties is creating a pervasive culture of fear and stress surrounding interviews.

A third of recruiters admit they have forgotten an interviewee's name and 19 per cent have failed to remember an interview at all, while a quarter of candidates think that researching the job is the least important preparation they do.

Worryingly, as many as one in seven people admit to being reduced to tears when facing a recruiter.

'It is apparent that both candidates and interviewers are not putting in the necessary groundwork to ensure a smooth, productive interview process. It's no wonder that candidates are so stressed out if nearly a third of employers can't even be bothered to remember a candidate's name before an interview,' said Isabelle Ratinaud, spokesperson for Monster UK & Ireland.

To make the best impression at an interview, candidates need to arrive on time, looking professional and be prepared for any line of questioning.

Jobseekers need to review methods

2011-03-29T16:40:00.000+01:00

Jobseekers who are not having any success in their hunt for the perfect role need to change the way they look.

In an interview with Katherine Yung at the Detroit Free Press, Jean Baur, a career coach in New Jersey, said that jobseekers need to know when to change tack.

She said that if people are not having any luck finding a job, it makes little sense to keep using the same method.

Changing a CV to make it more role specific, sending targeted emails and making a list of dream companies to work for and trying to network with them are all good ways to improve the chances of getting hired.

'You have to search smart. You can't keep going in the same rut,' she told the source.

Her opinion is supported by other experts who have suggested that a common mistake is to send a generic CV to every job application.

A CV altered to the role that's being applied for will give interviewers more of an insight into how candidates will fit into the job as well as showing passion and interest in the position.

Preparation is key for telephone interviews

2011-03-29T16:38:00.000+01:00

A telephone interview is becoming an increasingly common interim stage for job applicants.

However, just because it is the precursor to a face-to-face interview does not mean applicants should take it any less seriously.

It is vital to do research before a telephone interview to ensure that candidates sound polished and professional and are not caught off guard by any questions about the role or the company.

Before the allotted interview time, applicants are advised to have a copy of their CV, their application and the job description if front of them so that it can be used to help answer questions.

Getting a 'cheat sheet' or key cards with important phases or specific achievements may also be helpful.

After the interview it is important to thank the interviewer for their time and it is becoming increasingly common practice to send a follow up email reinforcing this without appearing pushy.

Hirers need to be aware of diversity benefits

2011-03-28T16:58:00.000+01:00

Businesses and hiring managers need to have greater awareness about the benefits of diversity on the workforce, according to Women in Technology.

Maggie Berry, managing director of the company, said that the majority of women in boardrooms do not want to see that introduction of quotas but would prefer women to get promoted through the recognition of merit and ability.

She suggested that the way to do this was to ensure everyone across management and hiring from chief executive middle management needs to understand the benefits of diversity.

'Progress is a slow process, but we are moving forward. With more awareness about the benefits of diverse teams, changes to legislation and more flexible working, hopefully we'll continue to see improvements when it comes to women in IT,' Ms Berry added.

Her comments come as a study by InterExec revealed that 89 per cent of senior head-hunters believe that the push to double the number of women on boards by 2015 will result in the positive discrimination of optimal candidates.

Demand for IT staff hits three-year high

2011-03-28T16:57:00.000+01:00

Demand for IT staff has exceeded supply for the first time since 2008.

According to e-skills UK's latest jobs report, in the third quarter of 2010 vacancies in the IT industry rose to 101,000, while skilled IT professionals seeking work fell to 100,000.

It also found that training among IT staff is at an 'all-time low', with only 20 per cent of staff receiving training in the last 13 weeks compared to the average of 26 per cent

'While this is good news for IT professionals seeking employment in the sector, the drop in the number of ready candidates with the required set of skills may start to become a problem for recruiters,' said Karen Price, chief executive of e-Skills UK.

She revealed that demand for IT staff was highest in finance, retail and media sectors and among software suppliers.

The average unemployment rate in the IT industry is 3.1 per cent, a great deal lower than the UK unemployment figure of eight per cent.

Recruiters and jobseekers should use social media

2011-03-28T16:56:00.000+01:00

Recruiters should start engaging job candidates in a 'two-way dialogue' using social media, according to Beyond Interactive.

James Swift, director and founder of the company, said that many companies are not maximising the potential of social media platforms, and as such, are missing out on opportunities.

'A lot of companies seem to think that just being on Twitter and posting jobs is a social media strategy, as opposed to actually getting involved in two-way dialogue and speaking to candidates, being transparent and letting them know what it is like to work at the company,' he said.

Too many firms are treating social media as a box to tick rather than using as a recruiting tool, Mr Swift added.

His comments come in response to research from Robert Half which revealed that 52 per cent of chief financial officers said their company does not use social media in the recruitment process.

Similarly, it found that 49 per cent of employees do not use social media as part of their job search.

Census challenged IT pros

2011-03-25T16:46:00.000Z

IT professionals have tested their skills to bring the 2011 Census up to date.

The new Census, which everyone across the UK will need to fill in on, before or after March 27th, is the first that allows users to fill it in online.

In an interview with Computerworld.co.uk, Ian Cope, Census operations director, said that the challenge to the IT professionals behind the database was ensuring it had the capability to manage and process the data of every UK citizen.

'If the website proves to be popular, it will let people who have already started [filling in surveys] to finish them, and new people would be told to come back later when there is sufficient capacity. We are not expecting to need to do that – we designed it, but we don't know that it is going to be necessary,' he told the source.

Mr Cope explained that the database could handle significantly more than the 25 per cent of the 26 million households in the UK expected to use the online form.

The Office for National Statistics revealed that field staff will be deployed to help people who are unable or unwilling to fill the Census out themselves.

Switched-on jobseekers use networking tech

2011-03-25T16:44:00.000Z

'Switched-on' jobseekers are using social media as a tool to discover vacancies before they are advertised, according to Beyond Interactive.

James Swift, director and founder of the firm, said that employers and job candidates are taking advantage of the services offered by sites like Twitter to speed up the advertising and filling of vacancies.

'If you've got a job that you want advertised on job boards or in the press, you have to wait – you have to get it copywritten and stuff – whereas you can actually post it onto Twitter straight away,' he said.

Mr Swift added that the practise is most commonly seen in the IT sector but that other companies are quickly catching on.

Reed.co.uk is capitalising on the trend and has launched a job share feature to promote vacancies through Twitter and LinkedIn, but jobseekers can find jobs in this way on their own.

'The candidates that are following that company [on Twitter] will find out about the role a lot quicker,' he explained.

Social media can ruin job chances

2011-03-25T16:43:00.000Z

Jobseekers need to be careful about what they publish on social media websites.

Social media has never been more popular – in fact, a recent survey by Experian Hitwise revealed that the use of networking sites is now the single biggest activity online.

In January for the first time, social media overtook the previous frontrunner of entertainment and it employers are increasingly seeking out job applicants online before an interview.

According to figures from Microsoft, 70 per cent of HR professionals have rejected candidates because of information published online, while fewer than 15 per cent of consumers believed that their social profile could impact their job search.

It is wisest for jobseekers to ensure that nothing on their public profile would have a negative impact, however, if people are keen to post things, such as drunken photographs, the user should at least make them private.

Successful job applicants can not relax once securing a role either as social media sites can, and have been, cited as the reason for being fired.

Work experience 'opens people's minds'

2011-03-24T17:05:00.000Z

Work experience placements give young people the opportunity to discover which career path they want to follow, according to Notgoingtouni.co.uk.

Spencer Mehlman, the website's managing director, described the government's creation of 100,000 new work placements as a 'positive move', as they will allow people to open their mind to the different options available to them.

The chancellor announced the new placements, and the creation of 80,000 new apprenticeships, in his Budget statement yesterday.

'A great number of [young people] aren't very sure of their career path or their chosen career, and a lot of that is down to them never having really been in the workplace or having got a feel for what it's like working in some of the areas they are quite interested in,' he explained.

He told young people and jobseekers that taking on a work placement will very quickly reveal to them whether they are cut out for a desk job, such as IT, or if they'd be better outdoors.