Lewis Hamilton in a Model T Ford? There's something wrong with the picture. But many companies think nothing of asking their IT staff to work with outdated technology, and it's not winning them any trophies, says Ambit Recruitment MD Karin Doyle.
IT professionals are very goal oriented, and don't take kindly to being relegated to the back row by their company's slow technology development policies, says Doyle.
“In fact, when talking to many of our candidates and job seekers, they cite one of the primary reasons for leaving their current employment as a need to work with a company that stays abreast of technology. That should concern an industry in which, during the past eight years, the market norm for staff staying with a company has shrunk from seven to eight years, to on average only four.”
Doyle's company, which was recently applauded at the annual CareerJunction awards ceremony as the recruitment consultancy most recommended by CareerSeekers for providing outstanding service, is, she says, committed to retaining and growing South Africa's IT and online skills in a sustainable, meaningful way. Ambit specialises in senior to executive placements in the IT and online sectors.
“But our efforts can be hampered if the industry doesn't recognise the need to maintain and exceed the highest levels of technology. We can't afford to go on losing our best brains to our competitors and the rest of the world, regardless of the current state of the world economy,” she says.
“As a recruitment company that focuses on the IT market, we feel that the environment into which we introduce our candidates should be the best it can be. Technological development must be seen as a vital part of employers' retention strategy over and above salary, perks, performance bonuses and staff privileges.
“Companies must understand that IT professionals are very aware that if they don't stay ahead of the game, they become unemployable. They spend a great deal of time developing their own skills in their own time and cannot be expected to demonstrate loyalty if they feel their employers are causing them to lose ground in their careers,” says Doyle.
Visit http://www.ambitrecruitment.co.za for more information.
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