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The ICT Sector: Non-Traditional Entry Routes for IT Workers

Posted: 6 Nov 2019

The ICT Sector: Non-Traditional Entry Routes for IT Workers

In Ireland, as elsewhere, the skills gap is creating opportunities for workers to enter the ICT sector through non-traditional routes.

The European Commission estimates that there could be a shortage of 756,000 professionals in the European ICT sector by 2020 as the explosion of mobile technologies, big data, the cloud and social media continue to radically transform the working environment.

The World Economic Forum estimates that 133 million new roles generated as a result of the new division of labour between humans, machines and algorithms may emerge globally by 2022.

Globally, competition for talent is creating opportunities for workers to enter the ICT sector through non-traditional routes and, in some instances, programmes are being developed collaboratively between industry and educational institutions.

Already, we are seeing a trend to hire from non-traditional routes where candidates have relevant skills, particularly for developer roles. While some jobs require a degree in computer science or a related field, often candidates with up to date experience are also of interest to employers.

The skills gap is also changing approaches to education. IBM’s David Leasor made an interesting observation on this in a recent interview with The EvoLLLution, where he noted, “There’s a real surge in the number of modern middle-class jobs in tech that do not require a traditional bachelor’s degree. They’re not blue collar. They’re not white collar. We call them New Collar. These are roles that prioritize capabilities over a traditional degree. They’re in leading technology industry fields like cloud computing and cyber security, digital design and cognitive business. What matters most for these roles is finding people who have the right mix of skills to deliver these capabilities for our clients.”

Leasor went on to explain that as an alternative to pursuing a four-year degree, New Collar candidates are building their skills through community colleges, coding camps or modern career education programs like IBM’s P-TECH model.

In Ireland, a P-TECH pilot programme was launched last November to boost students’ opportunities in the digital economy. This 6-year education model seeks to integrate third-level modules and workplace experiences alongside second-level schooling with the aim of enabling students to earn a third-level qualification, and skills required to enter the workforce.The first schools to participate are Larkin Community College, Marino College and St Joseph’s CBS, Dublin. The National College of Ireland is the initial third-level education partner while IBM, Cisco, Virgin Media, Irish Water and Irish Life are the first industry partners.

Elsewhere, LinkedIn is renewing its ‘ReturnIn’ programme, piloted last year, which provides customised support for people returning to employment after taking time out of the workforce to look after children or act as a carer.

Generally, we find that employers are increasingly willing to consider candidates with non-relevant degrees for certain roles. Entry level data analysts for example with non-relevant degrees may be considered if they have relevant skills acquired through previous work or volunteer experience. Candidates who have completed relevant online courses and/or self-directed learning programmes, should mention this on their CV. New skills can be acquired or updated once you have a positive attitude.

So, if you have relevant experience and are interested in moving into the IT sector, Eolas Recruitment would like to hear from you. Our specialist recruiters can advise you on the skills most in demand and help you to find relevant opportunities. We’ll also help you to tailor your CV to optimise your chances of landing your ideal role. Check out our online reviews and contact us for more information.

 

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I had an amazing experience with Eolas Recruitment. Alan Kane and Peter Kirby were a pleasure to work with. They made each step of the recruiting process positive and FAST! I was very impressed with their approach. Alan and Peter were incredibly responsive and gave me great tips to make sure I felt prepared and confident going into my interviews. I'm super excited for my new role and all thanks to Eolas Recruitment for helping me get here with their support and guidance.
Lavanya Gowda
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I want to extend my thanks to Alan and Eolas Recruitment for their support and expertise. Alan reached out to me about a potential job I would be interested in, he guided me through the entire process and ensured I was prepared. The level of professionalism and dedication were evident throughout. I am immensely grateful for their help in securing this opportunity. Highly recommend!
Monica Timmins
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I had a great experience with Eolas Recruitment, especially with my recruiter, Caoimhe Cronin. She was super helpful and professional throughout the whole process. She checked in regularly to see how I was doing and offered any assistance I needed. She also gave me some great tips on how to prepare for interviews. I appreciate her positive attitude and support. Even after I got the job, she was still available to answer any questions. I would definitely recommend Eolas Recruitment to anyone looking for a new job in IT.
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I had an absolutely wonderful experience with Eolas, and I am immensely grateful for the outstanding support and assistance provided by Sean Prendergast. From the moment I engaged with Eolas, Sean has been an incredible resource and advocate, ensuring that my journey with the company was nothing short of exceptional.Throughout the entire recruitment process, Sean's professionalism shone through. His expertise and guidance were invaluable in helping me navigate every step, from the initial interview to securing the position. His attention to detail and commitment to understanding my career aspirations made me feel truly heard and valued as a candidate.I highly recommend Eolas to anyone seeking professional recruitment services. Their commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and genuine care for candidates make them a standout choice in the industry. My experience with Eolas was truly outstanding, and I am confident they will continue to assist many individuals in their pursuit of fulfilling careers.A heartfelt thank you to Jim Ryan, the Managing Director of Eolas, for his exceptional leadership and support.
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Nicola was very helpful and professional throughout the recruitment process. She answered the many questions I had in a clear and concise manner. Overall great communication throughout.
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Nicola did an awesome job, always keeping me posted about the status of my job application and interviews. She provided great materials to help prepare and was very transparent in setting expectations and negotiating on my behalf. I highly recommend.
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Very Professional, friendly and helpful with queries. Helped me through the whole process with regular updates and communication.
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My dealings with Nicola as a senior recruiter was one of the best experiences I’ve had in my years of engaging with recruitment agencies. Nicola’s professionalism, courtesy and friendly manner was refreshing. I highly recommend Nicola as a recruitment partner. David
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I dealt with Nicola Byrne whom I found to be excellent, particularly in keeping me up to date and staying in contact. I would recommend Nicola and Eolas to anyone seeking a new role.
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I had a great experience with Eolas. They contacted me for a role that suited my needs exactly. The interview process happened very smoothy thanks to the way they communicated and organised the interviews.
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Paul
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I had the pleasure and good fortune of working with Eolas and Peter Kirby in particular. I was matched to a role that is the perfect fit for me. Peter Kirby and Caoimhe Cronin made the recruitment process seamless. Fast, efficient, helpful, courteous and friendly. I have no hesitation in giving Eolas my highest recommendation, definitely deserving of a 5 star!
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Great experience when joining new my contract role. Got all my questions answered very quickly through Caoimhe. She was very responsive and professional throughout my process from scheduling interview till my first day. Very well detailed information was provided to me for my first day, so thank you!
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00:54 20 Mar 23
My experience with Eolas recruitment was fantastic, Sean Prendergast was a pleasure to deal with, he kept me informed throughout the whole process and I would recommend Sean and the Eolas team to anyone looking for a new job position
Valerie Flynn
Valerie Flynn
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Recruitment process was smooth. Alan was in touch with me via email even when I was out of Ireland. I was given sufficient time for interview preparation and they also gave me enough time to rest after coming back to Ireland and did not rush me to join work immediately. The onboarding process went smooth as well. Alan was very helpful throughout. Thanks Eolas for your service and helping me get a contract job.
Deepika Phadtare
Deepika Phadtare
09:31 08 Feb 23
I would highly recommend Eolas Recruitment. It was Very quick response to my application and they kept me up to date with every stage of the process. I am just about to start a great new role thanks to their fantastic services. I wanted to thank STEPHEN DALY and CAOIMHE CRONIN for all the support and encouragement. 😇
Sasikala R
Sasikala R
19:57 06 Feb 23
Great working with this agency, I landed a great opportunity with them, they do everything with people looking to change like me, Special thanks to Luke P for going beyond to help in any he could.
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Ciaran Collins
19:47 02 Feb 23
My fresh experience with eolas recruitment was excellent and amazing, Peter Kirby and Caoimhe Cronin was really supportive and professional, guided me through the entire interview process and supported me every moment before and after the interview. I am very grateful to eolas as my recruiting agency. Thank you for the great service you offered.Lijumol Shaji
lijumol Shaji
lijumol Shaji
09:46 28 Jan 23
It was a wonderful experience throughout the recruitment process. Luke Prendergast dealt and assisted me with every step in a very professional manner.
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Khushpinder Singh
12:24 17 Jan 23
I'm currently contracting through Eolas and I couldn't recommend them enough. Everything from interviews through to supporting on boarding has been very efficient. I've dealt primarily with Stephen Daly for recruitment, he's a gentleman, very competent and always available for questions. Also Berilyn Teeling my accounts contact is very friendly and professional.One stand out feature is the communication between agents in Eolas. When you take the time to reply with feedback to one of the Eolas agents about a proposed role that isn't for you, you'll be contacted about a position that suits you if one arises!
Christopher Casey
Christopher Casey
11:44 17 Jan 23
It was an amazing experience with Eolas recruitment team.Caoimhe Cronin was very helpful all the way through the recruitment process. I would say it was one of the best HR experiences I have with Caoimhe.Thank you for all your help and support.
aitham vinay
aitham vinay
15:14 09 Jan 23
Excellent experience going through the recruitment process with Eolas Recruitment as a job seeker. Alan was superb in keeping me up to date and preparing me for the various interview rounds. I can highly recommend.
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Thomas O'Brien
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My experience with Eolas was great. It was a pleasure dealing with Alan Kane. He was extremely professional and helpful throughout the process.He kept me up to date with my progress after the interview. I would higly recommend Alan and Eolas team.
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Komal Joshi
14:10 03 Jan 23
Alan and Peter were great at onboarding me through the process. They helped to give me whatever resources and understanding I needed in order to settle my nerves at every step of the way and I couldn't be more grateful for their help! Highly recommend.
Tadhg Deeney
Tadhg Deeney
14:50 24 Dec 22
I was with Caroline on securing a position with a tech company.The job specification on the position was clear. I was also able to get a salary range the position offered and not "competitive salary" answer.The company I applied for was a bit slow at getting back. Eolas followed up with what the delay was and kept me up to date with what was happening.Got interviews: YesGot Job Specs: YesGot Salary Range: YesGot Position: YesThomas
Tom Walsh
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16:22 08 Dec 22
I had a great experience working with Peter Kirby and Caoimhe Cronin at Eolas. They are very professional and very communicative. I received supports and adviceseach step through the whole process. I would highly recommend Eolas. Thanks a million!
Wei Duan
Wei Duan
18:50 22 Nov 22
From the initial discussion about my role through, the vetting, onboarding and right through to the invoicing and payment process the experience with Eolas has been first rate. Luke helped me highlight the items on the CV that the client was looking for and Stephen gave me solid advice about how to invoice in Euros from a UK company. Stephen advised me to open a euro account. Advice which I initially ignored...at my cost...the Royal Bank of Scotland creamed 4.6% of my first invoice! Next time I will listen to the voice of experience.
Tony Hasler
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I had an incredible experience with Eolas and Peter Kirby. I was prepped for my interview and received regular updates throughout the process. By far, the best experience I’ve had with a recruiter and would thoroughly recommend.
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I would highly recommend Eolas recruitment. Have been placed in a couple of roles during my career and have always found the team to be very competent, honest and efficient.
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