TORONTO, July 20 /CNW/ - Technology professionals looking to get a foot
in the door with a new employer may want to try project work. Eight out of 10
(82 per cent) chief information officers (CIOs) interviewed recently said it's
beneficial to bring in prospective employees on a contract basis before hiring
them for full-time roles.
The survey was developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of
information technology professionals on a project and full-time basis, and
conducted by an independent research firm. It was based on telephone
interviews with more than 270 CIOs from companies across Canada.
CIOs were asked, "In the current environment, how valuable is it to have
a prospective employee work on a project or contract basis as a means of
evaluation for full-time employment within your IT department?" Their
responses:Very valuable............................... 36%
Somewhat valuable........................... 46%
Not at all valuable......................... 16%
Don't know/no answer........................ 2%
------
100%"In today's economy, avoiding costly hiring mistakes is even more
critical as companies are working with leaner teams and tighter budgets," said
Sandra Lavoy, a vice president with Robert Half Technology. "Auditioning for
the job allows both the employer and the potential hire to assess the role on
a project basis before a full-time offer is made."
Working on contract and project roles also allows IT professionals to
avoid resume gaps, which can hinder a job search. In a separate survey
developed by Robert Half Technology, 33 per cent of CIOs said IT workers could
be unemployed as much as six months before it would adversely affect their
careers. "With more professionals looking for work, engaging in consulting
opportunities allows applicants to keep their resumes up-to-date and their
skills sharp," said Lavoy.
Robert Half Technology offers the following tips to help IT professionals
land project positions:- Adjust your resume for project work. At the top of your resume,
highlight your areas of IT expertise, current skills and quantifiable
results with past employers. After that, provide an abbreviated work
history of relevant jobs and contract positions. Limit your resume to
no more than two pages.
- Work with a specialized staffing firm. These firms have extensive
connections with reputable companies in their local markets and
access to unadvertised consulting positions. They can showcase your
best skills to help you land suitable projects.
- Emphasize short-term results in the interview. Employers want to see
that you can ramp up quickly and contribute immediately. During the
interview, highlight how your specific skills and experience make you
qualified to address the company's similar challenges.
- Keep active. Use time between assignments to brush up on your
technical skills by taking a course, working toward a professional
certification or doing volunteer work in your area of IT expertise.
Use business and social networking sites, and attend in-person
networking events to uncover new consulting opportunities.
About the Survey
----------------
The Canadian survey was developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading
provider of IT professionals on a project and full-time basis, and conducted
by an independent research firm. The survey is based on more than 270
telephone interviews with CIOs from a random sample of Canadian companies.
About Robert Half Technology
----------------------------With more than 100 locations worldwide, Robert Half Technology is a
leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web
development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and
technical support. Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at
www.rht.com.
For further information: Kristie Perrotte, (416) 350-2330,
kristie.perrotte@rhi.com
