IT Solutions Blog

According to CV-Library, the average time-to-hire (advert to offer) an IT professional is around 41 days. In comparison, 27.5 days is the median across all industries, according to Glassdoor. The larger the company, the quicker the recruitment process, and if you use a recruitment agency like Crimson, you are more likely to reduce your time-to-hire and the average cost-to-hire.

CV-Library research also indicates that over 80 percent of recruitment professionals do not recommend application forms; instead, CV’s and quick apply buttons are favoured. Advertising in the right place and the strength of your advert will help you attract more candidates. Advertisements that fail to pinpoint salaries and convey the company culture will not attract as much attention.

Similarly, a lengthy hiring process will also deter candidates. CV-Library state that over 49 percent of candidates believe there should be no more than two stages in the hiring process. A recent poll by Crimson’s Senior Appointments Practice revealed that over 90 percent of applicants for a senior IT role would not expect any more than two to three interviews. CV-Library also found that 71 percent of candidates will turn down a job offer if they have a bad interview experience.

Introducing video screening into the hiring process can drastically improve the candidate's experience and reduce the time-to-hire. Crimson recommends using video after you have shortlisted candidates via their CV and before their face-to-face interview.

Over the years, the Employee Value Proposition or (EVP) has evolved and grown in importance. An organisation's EVP comprises several factors: compensation, benefits, career opportunities, the working environment, and culture. COVID-19 has enabled many companies to pilot working from home and introduce flexible working. Crimson's report on the pandemic's impact revealed that over 70 percent of IT leaders said their team is now more likely to work from home and they’re more likely to hire remote workers.

According to the Office for National Statistics, 1.8 million UK women (and 0.2 million men) are not in paid employment because they are looking after a relative. Family is just one of the many reasons why we take a career break. Research by Aviva suggests that 29 percent of employees expect to leave work to care for children, grandchildren, or loved ones. One in six of us take a career break due to stress. What about those that want to travel the world or explore a new passion? It’s not surprising that more organisations are introducing sabbaticals as an employee benefit, but the stigma around career breaks hasn’t diminished entirely. According to research by PricewaterhouseCoopers three in five women return to a lower-paid job or take a position with less seniority after taking a career break. 

There was a 44 percent increase in Cyber Security firms between 2017 and 2019, a 37 percent increase in Cyber Security workers and a 46 percent rise in associated revenue. Historically Cyber Security has only accounted for approximately 5 percent of the IT budget; however, the Cyber Security: Building Business Resilience report claims that spending on Cyber Security will double to £136bn this year.

This month Crimson's Senior Appointments team approached our network of C-level technologists to get the low down on their attitude towards professional development.

Qualifications are the most popular form of learning

Perhaps it's the sense of achievement or the certification that we can add to our CV, but qualifications were by far, the most popular option for developing our functional skills.

Every month our Senior Appointments team will be interviewing a technology leader from Crimson's network of talented senior IT executives. Find out what drives these individuals as we delve into their career, their most exciting projects, and their tech predictions for 2021 and beyond. Be inspired by their stories and connect with your IT peers. 

The CIO Survey is a global technology trend report published annually by Harvey Nash and KPMG. Featuring the opinions of over 4,200 technology leaders and now in its 22nd year, it is one of the largest technology reports that exists today. 

Data gathered in this year's edition reflects on the effects of the pandemic, offering a unique insight into the minds of our technology peers; how they're navigating the new normal and their plans for 2021.

COVID-19 increased our IT budgets by approximately 5%

During the first few months of the pandemic, IT departments had to act fast, setting employees up to work from home securely and meeting customer demands with digital adaptations. For most organisations, IT spend is now at an all-time high, 29 percent of survey participants believe that the pandemic has permanently increased investment in business managed IT. This surge in investment has left many companies questioning their IT spend and how they can balance, the balance sheet.

Two strategic drivers remain the same when considering IT investment: operational efficiency and customer engagement. But the lens in which decisions are being made has shifted. Short-term decision making remains the order of the day, though leaders say they may be more confident about longer and mid-term planning as we move into the new year. Flexibility remains key as we continue to venture into the unknown.

Out are long-term, riskier investments (such as ERP), in are quick innovations on technologies such as Microsoft's Power Platform, empowering creative 'citizen developers' within the organisation. Today's decisions centre around how technology can manage cashflow, drive innovation speed to market, and realise value sooner.

Each sector has its challenges and opportunities

Every month our Senior Appointments team will be interviewing a technology leader from Crimson's network of talented senior IT executives. Find out what drives these individuals as we delve into their career, their most exciting projects, and their tech predictions for 2021 and beyond. Be inspired by their stories and connect with your IT peers.