Bosses size up candidates on work experience

This industry relies on talent who can keep pace with constantly evolving platforms and programming languages

Bosses size up candidates on work experience

In the 21st century, the half life of skills is estimated to be around five years, according to John Seely Brown, co-author of the book “The New Culture of Learning”.

The IT industry, for one, relies on talent who can keep pace with constantly evolving platforms and programming languages.

When it comes to evaluating job candidates therefore, hiring managers in the IT sector in Canada put a premium on applicants’ recent work experience, a new survey from staffing firm Robert Half Technology revealed.

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IT workers who are fresh out of school need some degree of professional experience first before attempting to break into the field, respondents said. On the other hand, professionals who can demonstrate success on a recent project gain an upper hand over candidates who don’t have the same experience.

Hard skills vs soft skills?
Almost two in three hiring managers (62%) on average value technical skills over non-technical abilities, and only 30% call for a balance between technical and non-technical competencies.

The importance hiring managers give to technical experience is meant to ensure IT job candidates are updated on the latest developments in their field.

But while hard skills are certainly attractive, hiring managers should still opt for well-rounded talent.

“A resume often gives only a partial picture of a candidate’s full capabilities,” said Deborah Bottineau, district director for Robert Half Technology. “While some technical expertise should remain a focus, IT hiring managers can’t underestimate the value skills like adaptability, communication and problem-solving, bring to their teams.”

“Applicants with limited job history, like recent grads or those new to the tech industry,” Bottineau said, “should look to highlight successes in other areas, including internships, side projects and continuing education programs, in order to stand out.”

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