Banks Hiring Gamers to attract Gen Y customers

Banks are hiring non-traditional roles such as gamers to work on in house projects rather than use outside agencies. Peter Bateson, associate director IT of Robert Walters, told CareerOne that banks are developing games to attract new, younger
customers to new products and using contract in house talent rather than outside creative agencies.

Speaking to CareerOne.com.au at the launch of the Robert Walters Thirteenth Global Salary Survey, Mr Bateson said contract gamers
were earning about $1,000 a day.

IT is tipped to the hottest sector for hiring in 2012 influenced by three main drivers: projects put on hold during economic uncertainty now coming online; the continued need for staff at the National Broadband Network and the continuing strength of mining and resources.
In addition to these drivers IT recruitment is also expected to be influenced by a strong demand for social media talent particularly candidates with online production, design and development experience. Business analysts with a proven track record in resources or finance are also hot.

Brad Shotland, director at Robert Walters in Sydney across marketing, sales, procurement and supply chain, has also seen a demand for
digital talent by non-digital media companies including the use of content managers to create and maintain company websites.

While contracting rates for such roles were good, overall the salary survey predicts employers will try to contain salaries in 2012.
Outside of mining and resources and areas of skill shortage, Robert Walters expects salary levels in 2012 to mirror those of 2011.
Salaries could even drop slightly post mid-year.

In 2009 rates were cut and in 2010 many candidates decided to stay with their employer due to the economy so at the beginning of
2011 candidates started looking for new roles, says Mr Bateson. However, the 2011 employment market proved unpredictable with the market moving from optimism to caution and salaries moved accordingly. Mr Bateson says as an example Australia saw a slow down in hiring in October and November due to the global economic uncertainty usually a busy time; followed by a busy hiring time in December.

In the IT sector, Mr Bateson expects rates will increase modestly – “maybe two to three percent” but increases might not have surfaced for those that usually carry out performance and salary reviews in May-June.There might not have been enough time for the market to have shown its true colours by then as there is still a lot of uncertainty,Mr Bateson says.

Rates for roles in most demand would fair better this year. As well as specialist roles such as game developers there was also strong
demand for candidates working on developing mobile apps for e business particularly online retail. Organisations are bringing these roles in house instead of using outside agencies. They are thinking this is going to be a core part of our business and we need to develop the skills within the organisation, Mr Bateson explains.

Mr Shotland told CareerOne there other roles in demand include quality procurement candidates and marketers with digital media experience.

The Robert Walters salary research was carried out in 23 countries. Highlights of the Australian results include:
Salaries increases in the resources sector including for internal recruiters in WA.
Skills shortages exist for mid-level internal recruiters in Brisbane.
Overall, little movement expected between 2011 and 2012 salaries.
The 2011 shortages of IT candidates were expected to continue through 2012.
Banks are expected to contain hiring focusing more on replacing roles than increasing headcount.
Project communications professionals are in demand in mining, engineering and construction companies focusing on         infrastructure projects.
Contracting and temping is expected to increase significantly to cover areas of skill shortage.