Survey punctures geek myth

By Adam Gifford

A survey of New Zealand and Australian IT professionals by recruiting firm IT@Manpower has punctured the myths that the profession is populated by socially inept geeks.

The average New Zealand IT professional is a family man in his 30s. Some 15 per cent were over 30 and 23 per cent under 25.

The male bias in the industry was clear - only 28 per cent of IT professionals were women.

Manpower New Zealand general manager Lincoln Crawley says the picture of IT people being workaholics also proved wrong.

"We were surprised to discover that a little under half worked only 30 hours or so a week and another 35 per cent worked 41 to 50 hours a week," Mr Crawley says.

More than half the sample preferred contract work because of greater earnings, more flexibility, more opportunity to increase their skills and to keep up with industry tends and the absence of office politics.

Other reasons given for contract work included being better treated by employers, being able to spend more time with family and friends and greater opportunities for travel.

There was also a perception that contract work was more challenging and there was less change of slipping into a comfort zone.

The reasons 31 per cent of candidates gave for preferring permanent work
included job security and stability, a clearer career path, greater resources within an organisation and training opportunities.

Asked about their choice of spare-time activity, 12.3 per cent admitted reading books, only slightly below the proportion who watched television. Some 11.7 per cent took a busman's holiday, working on computerrelated activities in their spare time, and 15.6 per cent played sport.

Mr Crawley says IT@Manpower conducted the survey to get a "reality check" on changes in the industry.

"Our consultants were saying things were changing in terms of the sorts of hours people worked from where they were a few years ago. It was time to see what the profile was."

The survey will be repeated and extended regularly.

Mr Crawley says the survey allows Manpower to adjust the reward and loyalty programmes it offers contractors, making them more attuned to market needs.

It also affects the sort of advice it gives employers about incentives they need to offer potential staff.

He says the preference for contracting confirms the value of the Manpower approach to giving candidates extra training, an important consideration in the industry.

"People want to make sure they are still marketable and, with the rate of change of technology, that is becoming more difficult.

"Also, as younger people see the potential earnings, they want to upskill to increase their earning power."

Those increased pay rates across the industry in recent years mean many IT professionals feel they can have more time to themselves, or decide they want more out of life.

Mr Crawley says candidates should be seen more as the customer, rather than a product to be slotted into jobs.

He says Manpower has widened the places it looks for job candidates. Rather than relying on only newspaper advertising and web sites, it is encouraging its consultants to join sporting and other clubs and make it known they are in the market.

"Golf is a great way to network," he says.