Hays Finance Technology - January 2010
Hotspots
Java, C++ and C# skills will be in most demand over the coming three months. Employers will also seek Business Analysts and Project Managers with domain experience across development, infrastructure and business.
Since many businesses are unable to find suitable vendor-based products, they are looking to build in-house systems for trading applications, e-commerce applications and risk management applications. Such big projects create a need for Project Managers to manage the projects and Analysts to scope out the projects.
To tackle these areas of demand, employers are often looking overseas. We use our international office network to source appropriate skills. This is more often the case at the strategic operational management level, with candidates predominately coming from APAC, UK and India. Employers are offering attractive packages, including relocation, to secure such candidates.
The coming quarter
Hiring intentions are very positive for the quarter ahead. Many employers have aggressive recruitment plans in place for both permanent and fixed-term contracts.
Executive recruitment
Executive vacancy activity is taking place across the senior management level (VP and above) in the development, infrastructure and business space. Movement has certainly risen at this level due to increased optimism in the market and the fact that banks are building their resource pools exponentially.
Employer trends
Employers are now often releasing multiple roles at one time. For example, they may release 60 roles for one project. Such large-scale recruitment drives are occurring across all markets.
Employers have shortened the length of the recruitment process in order to act quickly and secure the best staff. This means strong pre-screen and short-listing is essential by recruiters so that employers can move quickly.
Employers are also offering very attractive packages and benefits in order to attract international candidates to Singapore.
While activity in the temporary market is not huge, employers are using six to 12 month temporary assignments as a way to achieve quick sign-off.
