Deloitte prompted to raise graduate intake

Challenging IT recruitment market refocuses strategy of consultancy

Consultancy Deloitte has increased its graduate intake in response to a more challenging IT recruitment market.

The company has taken on more graduates than in previous years to fill the demand for skilled IT staff for pure technology projects, and for more general consultancy jobs requiring some IT expertise.

‘Our recruitment of IT professionals is quite a challenge,’ said Neville Howard, Deloitte technology practice partner.

‘This is because we don’t just want strong technologists, we want technologists with strong consulting skills, and ultimately, people with the potential to develop in line with our career model.’

Howard says this career model requires relationship building and business development skills alongside a firm grounding in common IT skills, as opposed to specialist areas of expertise.

‘We want a good technologist who can operate as a consultant, interact with customers and communicate well, and then grow the business development skills that our business depends on. They can specialise at more senior levels,’ he said.

Last year, demand for IT skills from all the consultancies was high, and Howard says Deloitte found it easy to recruit. But this year has been more difficult.

‘Now the market is more challenging. It is harder to find those people and I think there are more organisations out there competing for them, including the other consultancies, City institutions or those who want to remain independent contractors,’ he said.

‘That’s why taking on graduates is our preferred route.’