Executives
who run scared from new technology pay a hefty price for their technophobe
tendencies – around £55,000 over their working life.
New
research from the City & Guilds qualifications body claims career progress
can be dashed and pay rises slashed if professionals fail to master office
technology.
IT
skills, the findings reveal, are fast becoming a prerequisite for the modern
workplace, with half of recruitment consultants questioned claiming that
employers are more likely to demand candidates with IT qualifications.
Marketing
professionals are set to lose out the most if they fail to update their
computing skills, with nearly two thirds (65 per cent) of recruiters stating
that bosses within this sector prefer applicants with IT training.
Business
services workers are also affected by this new demand, as more than a third (36
per cent) of those questioned claim that employers in this field also favour IT
qualified candidates.
Paul
McCloskey of City & Guilds said: "We’ve been aware for some time that the
need for IT knowledge is infiltrating the modern workplace and the research
demonstrates that this demand is prevalent throughout different industry
sectors.
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"Employers
are increasingly recognising that sound IT skills are a good investment,
therefore, it’s vital that people make sure they update their technical skills.
Not only will this benefit their chances of employment, but it will also lead
to a healthier pay packet."
