- Spreadsheets.
- Internet searches.
- Software installation.
- Desktop graphics.
- Database management.
Sound
like the tasks of an Information Technology specialist? Wrong…add
the words "typing and filing" and you’ve described the job
of many of today’s administrative support personnel.
"It’s tough to tell the difference between a
support person who uses technology and a technology person who provides
support," says Tom Esposito, Directory of Temporary Staffing at
Dunhill Staffing Systems, Inc. "That’s how much technology has
transformed the administrative support arena."
Along with the explosion of computer-related jobs,
there has been an equally dramatic increase in the number of temporary
workers, which today stands at about 2.6 million people, or 2 percent of
the U.S. workforce. Of these, about 14 percent fit into the
"technical worker" category, reports the National Association
of Temporary and Staffing Services.
Esposito cites four key reasons for the rapid growth
of temporary high-tech employment:
1) Human resources demands to fill 700,000
high-tech jobs that have been created in less than a decade against the
backdrop of already historically high employment rates.
2) Market demands of a vibrant economy, such
as rapid innovation, fast time to market, short product life cycles,
etc.
3) Competitive demands that emphasize working
smarter and more efficiently, seeking greater workforce flexibility and
controlling costs in an environment that is increasingly project driven.
4) Information exchange demands which have
created office networks and automated business operations which have
spawned more technical positions and departments.
"Add to these the creation of new industries,
such as the Internet, and one-time challenges such as preparation for
Y2K, and you have a high level of demand for temporary workers who are
technically competent," said Esposito. The shortage of high-tech
workers has even caught the attention of the Clinton administration,
which has developed a series of grants and other initiatives to fill the
gap.
But most companies, especially ones that fill half or
more of their technical support positions with temporary workers, need
staffing solutions now. That’s why they use companies like Dunhill
Staffing Systems to recruit, qualify, test, hire, develop and retain
support employees with high-tech skills.
"In a time when demand for workers outstrips
supply, recruiting is the key to filling positions quickly with skilled
and motivated people who will be productive immediately," said
Esposito. "That’s true whether you need a support person who
effectively uses technology or a technology person who provides
outstanding support."
