Specialists are back in demand

Time to dust off the CV again. Recruiters are detecting a cautious recovery in the market for IT and other skills.

The third-quarter market update from recruitment firm Robert Walters reported demand for a number of skill sets.

Companies who laid off secretarial and business support staff are now noting the inconvenient effects and are scrambling to fill positions.
There are jobs for junior and mid-level sales and marketing staff and high-calibre accountants who can steer firms through tough times.

Traditional banking and finance staff aren't wanted, but people who understand risk are in demand as banks review and build their risk teams.

In information technology, large corporates that imposed recruitment freezes are now committing to business projects that will have a strategic impact within the next 18 months. That's led to project work, including contract project managers and business analysts, although permanent jobs are still limited.

New Zealand managing director Richard Manthel says it's confidence-driven.

"We have no doubt there is more confidence in the market. Companies are looking to spend again and putting IT projects back on the timetable. We have seen more activity towards completing projects or starting new projects," Manthel says. "Requests for contractors have increased substantially over the past five or six weeks.

Some traditional clients who have been on a headcount freeze or stalled everything are hiring again.

He's expecting the pick-up to be gradual over the next six months, if there are no further shocks to the world economy.

"This past year a lot of candidates stayed in their existing jobs because of insecurity. They will now go to new opportunities, and that will open up the positions they have left, because companies are operating at core levels.

Manthel says such churn has a cost for firms, so employee retention strategies are back on the agenda.

He says the market is likely to be candidate-rich for a short period, so if people have had their eye on particular staff, now is the time to hire.

"Companies who test the water through delaying recruitment processes or failing to offer competitive rates stand to miss out on top candidates who will quickly turn their attention elsewhere in this time of renewed confidence.

"Similarly, organisations need to ensure that they are offering their top performers adequate learning and development opportunities or they risk high employee attrition rates in the ensuing six months."

The state sector has also been extremely quiet, as the Government looks to save money wherever it can. Manthel says every hire will be looked at closely.

Where the Government is likely to create jobs is the work required to make the Auckland Super City come together.

"That will create work in building or merging IT systems, which will be done on a project basis. Longer term we might see a reduction in total council staff, but not for a long time.

"The same can be said about district health boards." The survey found a shortage of experienced developers coming forward as candidates, with Microsoft BizTalk particularly sought after.

Demand is also emerging for skills in Microsoft Dynamics, the ERP software used to run back end systems.

"As organisations continue to push their online presence, we are experiencing more need for candidates with a strong focus on web technologies at varied levels. We are also continuing to see an increase in demand for project managers and business analysts who are focused on the overall business rather than just technical projects.

"The shortage in the telecommunications space for engineers, specifically optimisation, network designers and network performance engineers continues with many resources having to be drawn from overseas," the report says.

Robert Walters IT specialist Gregor Bell says Microsoft Dynamics looks to be a big winner from the slowdown, with some competitors dropping off the radar.

He says demand for SAP specialists has largely dried up from integrators, although some firms with systems installed will look for in-house specialists. Salaries and contract rates have been static for the past year, but could rise as demand picks up.

Companies are also keen to find people with the right skill sets. Bell says while some candidates were willing to take lower-paid jobs which were less demanding on their skills and experience, employers fear such employees would move on quickly once the market picks up.

The report also warns that Robert Walters' UK offices are noticing an increase in recruitment, particularly in the banking and financial services industry, so New Zealand candidates may be dusting of plans for their OE, which will reduce the talent available in the domestic market and open up some positions.

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