IT skills shortage

Matthew-1985 · 17 Nov 2006 at 13:45

Kami said:
There's an even larger experience shortage, I'll probably have to hire a new ICT technician next year and I'm absolutely dreading it. I would like someone without experience, give them a start on the ladder but the last time I helped out at an interview everyone that came was either carrying qualifications that meant nothing to me or was obscenely over qualified.

What sort of qualifications would you look for?

Psyk · 17 Nov 2006 at 13:53

Another thing to bear in mind is that most degree courses that have any hardware and networking moduals are almost 3 years behind the times!

That's why it's not feasible to teach too many specific technologies. To be of any use university courses have to teach the theory that will allow them to quickly understand new technologies. The basic theory changes little over time, but the details change rapidly.

My course doesn't seem to dwell much on the specifics of a given piece of hardware/software/protocol so I guess it's good in that respect.

Efour · 17 Nov 2006 at 14:02

darkblade said:
To be honest, with that attitude I would give up now. I'm not being funny - it's just that: 1) Why bother being bored on what you believe is crap pay, 2) potential employers will spot your attitude a mile off!

??? Thats not my attitude at all, I think you completly got the wrong end of the stick? Why be bored on crap pay, that covers 75% of jobs in England.

What attitude??? That im interested in working in IT even though i am aware the junior roles are so poorly payed. Hope they do

kitten_caboodle · 17 Nov 2006 at 14:02

Skyline said:
In the IT industry experience is everything... I have known university grads that know less about PC's/Networking/Hardware than everyone on these forums. Just because they have a piece of paper saying they have qualified means squat!

I got the job i am in on my knowledge and experience. I have A level equivelent qualifications in various subjects but no formal qualifications in IT/Computing. I would employ someone in the same manner if you can do the job and have good knowledge and enthusiasm then you will do well.

Another thing to bear in mind is that most degree courses that have any hardware and networking moduals are almost 3 years behind the times!

Absolutely spot on. I've been out of IT for about a year and have recently decided to see what's around and have been offered interviews for every job I've applied for. Like you I've got A-Levels, and just an HNC in IT. However I have got 6 years of experience in a specific area - and it seems that that counts for more. However I have friends with degrees that are finding it hard to get a job inthe sector at all - and are stuck working in crappy low paid jobs until they can find something :/

Problem is so many people took on graduates and found out that they might be able to do the most complex things, but a lot of them can't do the basics, or they have crap customer service (which believe it or not mandatory in IT). People who specialise will always do better - as long as they stay ahead of the game.

#Chri5# · 17 Nov 2006 at 14:24

We got the local college to send us some CVs recently as we are looking to recruit somebody.

Some of the job will be a bit dull like handling goods-in, serial numbering them, testing etc but there's also the chance to get into some much more juicy stuff like RIS/GP. What comes up for customer's changes almost every week, so plenty of new things to learn and get involved with. We're happy to take on somebody who has an interest and hobby-ist type skills as means we can brainwash them into our way of thinking

We picked out a couple of CVs and arranged interviews. First lad was at 3pm.
Three PM comes and goes. I gave up waiting at 3.30 and went out. He rang at 4pm to say he couldn't get to us, didn't have any credit on his phone to ring to tell us and had just got home. :rolleyes:

He'll be lucky to get a job at KFC with attitude and efforts like that.

Miguél · 17 Nov 2006 at 14:28

I'm half-way through my third year of my IT Degree. I currently work part-time (IT Support Officer) for a government body and hoping that will stand me in good stead to get a decent paid job along with my degree + work placement year.

I should come out of University with a 2:1 and 18 months work experience. Hopefully the government body I work for now will offer me the job full time. 18,500 rising to 22,000

, not bad for a plain old 'ICT Support Officer'.

kitten_caboodle · 17 Nov 2006 at 14:33

Miguél said:
I'm half-way through my third year of my IT Degree. I currently work part-time (IT Support Officer) for a government body and hoping that will stand me in good stead to get a decent paid job along with my degree + work placement year.

I should come out of University with a 2:1 and 18 months work experience. Hopefully the government body I work for now will offer me the job full time. 18,500 rising to 22,000 , not bad for a plain old 'ICT Support Officer'.

I'd think you'd be fine - you've got the essential experience, plus governmental organisations seem to be pay more than private companies for similar roles.

Skiddley · 17 Nov 2006 at 14:37

Lots of crud out there and not enough quality, that's the problem I've found whilst recruiting.

leaskovski · 17 Nov 2006 at 15:08

So glad i got my job whilst i was at uni and then they offered it to me when i finished. I didn't have to bother applying because we all know what state that is.

It makes me laugh, IT departments are near crisis, yet the HR departments still haven't got a flipping clue! :rolleyes:

pinkegobox · 17 Nov 2006 at 15:36

i graduated this year, with only a third (for various reasons) and without a year in industry. I worked pretty much full time in my first two years as a team leader at a cinema, and 3 months as a systems tester for a telecommunications company last summer. I'm really struggling to find any work in the industry, notably it support etc. and i'm finding that companies aren't even getting back to me to let me know why... it's really frustrating. and now means i've been out of work 6 months,and have to go find a misc. job in the local B&Q or something... so that i've not been out of work too long. and that involves lying to them about how long i want to be there, as they're after 16yr olds who are going to stay there two years through college.

grr....

*and breathe*

Glaucus · 17 Nov 2006 at 15:37

What a load of BS. there's about 50 applicants to every job and most have some sort of experience. It's nearly imposable to get an IT job unless you have a good grade and have experience as well.

locutus12 · 17 Nov 2006 at 15:53

nless steps are taken now, there will not be enough qualified graduates to meet the demands of UK industry

perhaps then they should stop requiring useless crappy expensive bits of paper for every bloody job and actually base the applications on whether or not the person applying can actually do the damned thing regardless of degree status.

idiotic stupid moronic people.

kitten_caboodle · 17 Nov 2006 at 15:53

AcidHell2 said:
What a load of BS. there's about 50 applicants to every job and most have some sort of experience. It's nearly imposable to get an IT job unless you have a good grade and have experience as well.

As I said before, that's not true. There's a good few of us here that have been taken on, so in my experience, experience > qualifications by a long shot. Of course, both is preferable but if what you say was true then plenty of people who post here wouldn't be working in IT.

Glaucus · 17 Nov 2006 at 15:55

kitten_caboodle said:
As I said before, that's not true. There's a good few of us here that have been taken on, so in my experience, experience > qualifications by a long shot. Of course, both is preferable but if what you say was true then plenty of people who post here wouldn't be working in IT.

and there is, Yes some people will get taken on and some will give up..

But there isn't a crisis

kitten_caboodle · 17 Nov 2006 at 16:04

AcidHell2 said:
But there isn't a crisis

No there isn't

Eriedor · 17 Nov 2006 at 16:07

If you have developer skills and want want money dont become a developer, become a tester. Many testers are manual testers that have picked up a few skills in loadrunner and QTP over time but they dont have developer mentality. I was a test automator over the summer, had skills far more advanced than majority of the other testers and earning more money than both my parents ;p. 3rd year CS & Cybernetics student.

Gilly · 17 Nov 2006 at 16:13

There's a shortage of Uni-given IT skills.

But given that the majority of them are inconsequential for a job in IT its no big deal really. People have started realising that only for specific jobs like developing, programming, design, etc. do degrees have any bearing at all. For any kind of support, project, service or management role a degree merely shows aptitude and ability to learn. You can show that in other ways too though.

scorza · 17 Nov 2006 at 16:15

BCS must be short of money imo - just trying to get a few more IT grads so there's more people to pay their subs. Agree there's no skills shortage - just companies unwilling to train people, even if its just on-the-job training.

Firespark · 17 Nov 2006 at 16:23

Been in the Industry as long time mysef and managed to kill my career by bad choices and redundencys so hanging in mainly now.

One thing that does convern me is the whole offshore outsourcing trend. I acutally see the whole cost and business reason justification ok but my concern is it removes a lot over lower paid positions that provide an entry to the business and allows empyers to pick the bright sparks for greater things. This also applies to the outsourced model with staff in the UK if a major utlility outosources its IT tio 6 or so IT comapnies then there no space for lateral mvement and role change within the project. You have to go to anothr contract and usually phsycal location. All stifles chances.

Heliospherez · 17 Nov 2006 at 16:38

My company is currently outsourcing all the developing work to India.....and really doesn't give a monkeys how many IT graduates there are in the UK - the last IT Desktop positions they advertised for (2 jobs on offer) - they had 165 applicants in Interview for.

Most of the applicants for these 2 positions had degrees, MCSEs and sheets and sheets of Quals and were willing to take the low paid desktop Tech job because it was the only job they could get here in N. Ireland and they were paid about £16,000 a year.

To quote my Director "If one of my Software Engineers or Technicians leaves...... there will be another 100 or so to take his place...all keen and enthusiastic.....they're ten a penny and jst as well qualified as the guy I couldn't depend on"

Thats the way its been in our place for the last 7 years or so...and I doubt that will change much in the next 5 or 10 years.