Freelancers miss out on company training
Recruitment consultants, Elan, claims that in the current "employers market", contract workers are being given a raw deal when it comes to training.
According to Elan's annual research 'Employment Trends Report' only 20 per cent of businesses currently offer formal training to IT contractors, whilst 80 per cent offer courses to permanent workers.
It claimed that non-permanent staff are turning their backs on formal qualifications in favour of on-the-job training in order to make themselves more attractive to prospective employers.
The research also found that 88 per cent of freelancers rate practical experience as more important or as important as formal training compared to last year, when less than half (49 per cent) saw the benefit of on-the-job training over qualifications.
It appears that the economic slowdown has helped prompt the shift in attitude. The fact that contractors can be paid as they develop their skills is a major factor in favouring work-based training. Respondents also feel that training at work fosters more practical skills and is easier to learn than through formal accreditation methods.
Kate McClorey, Elan's UK sales director, said: "Contractors need to get the balance right between practical experience and formal training, particularly when there are fewer opportunities. Employers demand evidence that candidates can put their knowledge into practice, and the value of experience should not be underestimated. Yet qualifications do demonstrate an application of mind and a thirst for knowledge. The successful candidates are often the ones who can display a healthy mix of both.
"Our research shows that just 40 per cent of companies don't offer contractors any form of training, and an increasing number of jobseekers are updating skills out of their own pocket. Whilst there may be a surplus of candidates just now, contractors who are experts in certain areas are still in healthy demand, and we would urge all candidates to take every possible effort to update their skills."
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