RECRUITMENT
Singapore - Recruitment drive for HR professionals is starting to get into top gear within the Information Technology and Telecommunications (IT&T) sector in Singapore this year.
According to recruitment firm Robert Walters' first quarter market update, hiring activities for HR professionals picked up towards the end of 2009 and is continuing into 2010. It said there is a growing trend for HR professionals to perform dual-roles - HR business partner and HR specialist - in matrix IT organisations to keep costs down. This has led to HR professionals in IT&T being highly sought-after by other industries due to "their sharp business acumen and ability to manage changes" in a fast-paced "volatile" environment.
Joanne Chua, manager for Robert Walters' human resource division, says HR professionals in this sector can expect to receive an average salary increment between 3% and 5% this year. "If you are a high potential or star performer, you may get more than 5%."
The survey said good talent retention and attractive compensation strategies would be critical to retain top HR talent within the IT&T sector. Chua says organisations still have a tendency of reacting only when employees are on the verge of leaving. These reactive measures will be useless in retaining good HR professionals in this sector because they will come at a premium price, says Chua. "Beyond cash, they will look at benefits such as flexibility to work from home which is quite common in this industry, share options, annual leave."
Besides recruiting HR professionals, there is a high demand for sales, IT and finance professionals who can support strategic business planning, as well as, business analysts within the sector. Small and medium sized software firms in Singapore are, however, optimistic about the economy recovery in 2010. The survey said these companies plan to hire more IT talent at senior and strategic, as well as, technical architect and engineering levels to boost their presence in the Asia Pacific region.
Hiring contract employees for the finance and IT functions has also increased in the beginning of 2010 as companies aim to keep costs down and regain business stability. The survey added that there has been an increasing demand for contractors in other specialist business functions such as recruitment, tax, business support and marketing. There is still, however, a shortage of candidates with strong tax experience, said the survey, particularly those who are proficient in transfer pricing.
________________________________________________________
More quality Lighthouse titles
Get your marketing department up to speed with Asia's most read marketing site
marketing-interactive.com
Want to get on the right side of the procurement department?
Direct them to
Procurement Asia 
