IT pros feel their lack of "soft skills" is holding them back

IT professionals believe they will struggle to reach board level because they lack "softer skills", according to new research.

Some 76 per cent of IT workers feel that their lack of skills in people management and business acumen is preventing them and their peers from taking board-level roles, according to IT recruitment web site CWJobs.

Some 93 per cent think that they would be more valuable to businesses if they possessed better soft skills and a further 86 per cent feel their employment prospects would be improved if they demonstrated such skills when job hunting.

People management, followed by business and financial awareness, are the skills that they feel they are lacking the most.

"This research also found that 84 per cent of IT pros don't think employers give them enough training in soft skills, which is something senior managers and HR departments need to address," commented Richard Nott, web site director at CWJobs.

CWJobs conducted research among over 1,000 jobseekers exploring requisite skills in the IT sector.