The BCS Young Professionals Group is running two events
to help its members develop the communication skills they need to
be successful in a modern business/IT environment.
The first event will be held at the group's annual general meeting
in London this Saturday (5 March). Another meeting, on 14 April, is
dedicated to honing negotiating skills to boost career
development.
Chris Moxon of the BCS Young Professionals Group, who is organising
the April event, said, "It is widely accepted that technical skills
are no longer enough to sustain a challenging role in the
continually diversifying IT industry.
"Even if you are not looking for a role change, there is still
competition from your colleagues, from other teams in your
organisation, or from third parties.
"Being able to successfully negotiate with co-workers and
management is an important skill that is often overlooked by many
IT recruiters.
"For sales and marketing professionals, negotiation skills are
perhaps their most important asset. Yet for many IT professionals
the power of persuasion can also be a powerful tool. These skills
can be required on an everyday basis; working with clients to
secure contracts, handling support issues or liaising with
suppliers for service delivery."
Moxon added that the April Young Professionals Group event was just
one of a series of events aimed to build up the "soft" skills which
are now in greater demand from employers.
BCS YPG events
5 March: Annual general meeting
11am, BCS, 5 Southampton Street, London
14 April: The power of persuasion: negotiation for
business success
6.30pm-8.30pm, BCS, 5 Southampton Street, London
www.ypg.bcs.org/events/skillcentre
