The Demise of the Traditional IT Recruitment Model - "From Evolution to Revolution"
Press Release (4th July, 2005)

There can be no denying that over the last few years the IT industry went through some underlying changes.

Corporate end-users are no longer embarking on large scale projects in the hope of achieving the competitive advantage without first assessing, and re-assessing Return on Investment (ROI) which has become the main preoccupation of most IT executives. With CFOs having regained tight control over IT departments, technology has ceased to be perceived as being any different from other departments. ROI is the latest catch cry.

Moreover, with the IT sector clearly heading towards a full recovery and a looming skills shortage ahead, IT managers are being faced with another challenge i.e. how to secure the top IT talent within the department’s budget.

Over the last 18 months, the industry has been re-evaluating its approach towards IT staffing solutions, and expects more value from its IT investment dollar.

According to Joseph Vella, CEO JAV IT Group, what we are currently witnessing is the beginning of the end of the traditional IT recruitment model as clients expects more value adds from providers of IT human resource solutions.

“Over the last two years we have noticed a dramatic shift in our corporate clients’ attitude towards IT recruitment. The management is no longer satisfied with the current model. They are simply sick and tired of being over charged by IT recruiters that are not prepared to acknowledge the new realties. They [IT management] are now seeking flexibility and a genuine partnership as well as a reduction in their recruitment costs” Vella says.

“The current model is not meeting the needs and expectations of IT executives that are under constant pressure to reach set targets and reduce operating expenditure costs”. Vella adds.

He points out that two or three years ago, at the height of the IT downturn, IT executives could choose and pick amongst the vast pool of candidates but as a new skill shortage is imminent that’s all about to change whilst the pressure for cost savings and efficiency will remain.

Vella believes that what corporate clients are now demanding is simply ‘more bang for their buck’.

Vella is surprised that the vast majority IT recruiters haven’t pick up on the new trend.

“I am honestly astounded by the fact that our competitors have failed to notice that the face of IT recruitment is changing and there is no going back to the old and inefficient model”.

Clients are not prepared to tolerate mediocrity, poor and limited service and an entrenched lack of any flexibility that plagues the IT recruitment industry.

The emergence of the new trend in staffing solutions was a clear signal to us that if we want to stay at the forefront of the industry we need to revamp our core business and start specializing in niche applications.

Last year we have introduced the concept of ‘all your resource and staffing needs under one roof’ – a one-shop stop over for IT departments.

Vella points out an obvious but potentially painful truth when he says that “IT does not stop just because it is 5 pm on Friday and that is the reason for introducing innovations such us 24 x 7 Support, which allows our clients to access highly skilled IT & T professionals at short notice, seven days a week, day or night. The 24 x 7 support is automatically provided with our recruitment services”.

Another service that is unique on the Australian IT recruitment landscape is our “Resource on Demand” model.

“Quite simply a client can access our staff to, or supplement of their existing IT staff resources, to ensure a smooth running of the IT infrastructure without the need to directly hire contractors”.

“Our technical staffs are able to support both hardware and software networks, desktop operating systems, CISCO infrastructure and all MS and Novell products. By its very definition our staff will stay as long as they are needed, be it one day or a week to provide service deliverables.”

To reinforce its competitive advantage the JAV IT Group has also recently introduced IT Media Operations and Logistic service (handling, storage and transporting of sensitive and highly confidential IT Media and Documentation). As part of its “Resource on Demand” facility, our Group currently handles in excess of 10 million media activities per annum.

Vella also adds that his company has recently noticed an enormous upsurge in data management requirements and again by adopting a proactive approach have set up Data Centre Management Service to provide companies with an end-to-end service to look after the clients’ critical Data Centre Operations.

The final nail in traditional IT recruitment model’s coffin is the JAV IT Group’s ability to provide national and international IT outsourcing facility that provides a comprehensive Service Deliverable.

JAV IT Group’s traditional recruitment industry model has now evolved to encompass an end-to-end Technical Support and IT Operations Service Delivery model based on a 24/7 operational environment.

For Vella the future clearly belongs to companies that provide an all-encompassing service as traditional IT recruiters are no longer able to meet the challenges and expectations of corporate end-users.

As traditional recruitment agencies become slowly extinct those who wish to survive will need to adopt a similar operational model and accept the new realities of moving into niche service deliverables or become Dinosaurs.

It’s quite evident that by using a company that provides an all-encompassing service will in turn relate to cost savings and improve the bottom profit line.

A time-pressed IT Manager or CIO has only to pick up the phone and dial one dedicated number to address all of his company’s IT Service Deliverables needs.

Joseph Vella is an industry veteran having spent the last 24 years in the IT recruitment sector. As the CEO of the JAV IT Group he leads a staff of over 700, spread out in all capital cities and in geographically diverse locations such as Alice Springs, Kalgoorlie and Townsville.

For additional information:
JAV IT Group Media Contact
Business Development and Marketing Manager
(03) 9621 3344
marketing@jav.com.au