News: Customer Service/Care
Customer service training valuable for IT staff
29 November 2007
Customer service training is becoming increasingly important in the IT sector, according to an industry expert.
Chris Short of IT recruitment firm Concept IT believes that employers are looking for field engineers and software developers who are skilled at dealing with customers, particularly outside Greater London.
He told Computer Weekly: "The escalating demand for field service and installation engineers with an awareness of customer service techniques reflects a continued focus by the IT sector on adding customer value, a competitive edge and identifying new business opportunities through field service operations.
"This trend offers a significant career opportunity for many engineers who would like to secure a better-paid position in 2008."
An engineer in this field who has received customer service training can expect to earn, on average, 20 per cent more than those without advanced customer service skills.
As well as this, those individuals with skills in Java, net and C# have a big advantage, because only a small number of undergraduates come out of university with these abilities.
The prime minister, Gordon Brown, recently stressed that more focus should be given in schools on science and innovation, which will help to bolster the British IT industry in the future.
