IET qualification could aid ICT recruitment

The 2010 Skills Survey found that 45 per cent of companies are not planning on recruiting staff over the next 12 months.

While this is an improvement from 69 per cent in 2009, the research also reveals that of the companies not looking to recruit, 43 per cent cited a lack of suitably qualified candidates as the key reason for this − a significant fall compared with 2009 when financial constraints were identified as the main reason.

The IET’s 2010 Skills Survey also reveals that 51 per cent of the companies looking to recruit in the next 12 months will be looking for experienced personnel.

Hugo Donaldson at the IET said: ‘The 2010 skills survey really shows evidence of recovery in the engineering and technology industries, with many more companies looking to recruit in the next 12 months.

‘However, properly qualified and skilled people are needed to fill these roles, and this is where professional qualifications can help employers by demonstrating who does have the right skills. At the IET we are supporting employers by launching a professional qualification in ICTTech.’

New course

The ICTTech (ICT Technician) professional qualification is said to be designed to help recognise expertise of ICT professionals in areas including ICT hardware, software or system installation, operation, maintenance, incident/change/problem management, administration, security, fault diagnosis and fixing.

The ICTTech professional registration category is an internationally recognised qualification awarded by the Engineering Council to information and communications technology technicians.

More information can be found at the following web address: http://www.theiet.org/careers/profreg/icttech/.