Mismatch between IT jobs, candidates

INFORMATION Technology (IT) does not take a day to learn and master.
It is a life time profession which requires continuous learning and updating of one’s qualifications to meet the demands of the changing technologies.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professionals are required to have qualifications in Information Technology (IT), Computer Science, Information Systems or any related qualifications with specialization in order to perform ICT tasks effectively and efficiently.
The enthusiasm an ICT professional has for the job will be different from that of a novice.
The experience acquired is very important, the professional qualification and other qualifications in the professional are of a great deal.
It is interesting to note that many people get appointed into IT management positions because of their technical ability and not of their demonstrated business acumen and leadership.
Most of the positions for IT are mismatched with the requirements and roles.
It is typical of managers to put technical professional certifications as requirements as opposed to business oriented qualifications.
That presents a challenge if the IT Department has to mature to a stage where it is not seen as a cost center but as a key strategic business partner that will drive digital transformation (Masialeti Masialeti, USA).
Information Technology is a very wide scope comprising of various specializations.
One cannot master the whole broad of IT.
The qualifications range from Doctorate of Philosophy, Master of Science or Arts or Engineering in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems, Telecoms and electronics inclusive.
Diplomas, certificates and many other related qualifications gives a candidate required understanding of the profession.
With the changing environment a minimum of a degree is preferred.
Candidates of ICT sometimes are required to possess some professional certifications other than the academic qualifications.
The column has discussed before the subject comparing academic qualification versus professional certifications.
It is important to have a balance possessing them.
Candidates with such qualifications will have a very good understanding of the principles and applications of ICT in any specialized domain such as infrastructure, networking, architecture, security, database, artificial intelligence, software development, web development, servers, programming, business information systems, hardware, research and development, and many others.
It has been noted with great concern that some mismatches found between job requirements (positions) and candidate job qualifications are usually posted as adverts in the media from reputable companies.
This is a sign of lack of understanding of what most institutions are offering and what is required for the position (title). –  Chama.
There are adverts in the media where an organization is looking for a System Administrator but will include certifications as required which do not even fall in that domain.
The job description will be biased to mostly technical issues such as networking, servers or hardware but in the job advert, you find that the candidate must have ITIL, COBIT, CISSP, CCNN, Oracle, SAP certification, programming C#, PHP and many others.
Another institution might be looking for a Database Administrator but you find that it’s a must that they want a candidate with hardware, networking, cisco certification and many other unnecessary requirements.
Certain job adverts looking for an IT or Desktop Technician will require a candidate to possess all kinds of certifications.
This scares away young graduates because these certifications are not easily acquired, some are very expensive.
Some certifications require that the candidates have already been practicing or is already in the industry.
This may sound like an exaggeration but young professionals find it hard to cross from one bracket or domain to the other because it is not possible to meet all such uncoordinated requirements.
When such adverts appear in the media, question maybe asked if such companies or recruitment agencies do really know what they are looking for in candidates.
Do they really easily find such candidates matching 100 per cent?
It is very possible that such organizations will employee wrong candidates with wrong qualifications which will not match to the required domain or job functions.
Even if IT is wide, some companies have ended up employing wrong candidates.
Sometimes, employers have the perception that any IT professional can perform any IT related task.
IT professionals are considered, “magicians” in this regard.
With disappointment, when a candidate fails to fulfill all the exaggerated requirements or expectation, the candidate is considered incompetent.
It is important that qualifications and other requirements match with the position and job function in order to realize value and allow the candidate perform within the areas of expertise. Why should it be a must that an ERP, SAP, Business Systems Administrator job description contains networking, COBIT, CISA a requirement?
Requirements may vary depending on the business of the company but what must be put on record is to have clear and not exaggerated requirements.
The subject was not intended to present how it must be done but to emphasize that the position, job description must be aligned or balanced with the realities of both academic and professional qualifications.
They should give room for young graduates or professionals to define their career with potential to grow.
There are few exceptions of non “IT qualified” individuals heading IT, mainly it is the business side of IT.
In conclusion, it will be paramount that any employer or recruitment agent engages experts like ICT society of Zambia to design requirements.
It would also bring sanity if institutions like ICT Society take interest in such adverts and provide guidance to the recruiters.
IT is a broad profession with specialties which need to be adhered to so that the profession can support different environments in a more efficient and effective approach.
This profession does not exist by magic or gymnastics but by well applied principles, processes and specialized requirements.
The author is an ICT expert/consultant. For comments, suggestion, questions email kingstonmwila@gmail.com, WhatsApp +260977689574 +260955689574, Like the Facebook page www.facebook.com/ictmatterswithkingstonalimwila.