If you think technical skills and certifications are all that CIOs want from new hires, think again. Of course technical experience matters, but employers are much more interested in well-rounded job seekers, according to an article in InformationWeek. In fact, technical skill wasn't even a top-10 valuable attribute among entry-level and mid-level applicants in a survey conducted by the Society for Information Management.

What are employers really wishing for this holiday season? Ethics and morals top the list--which makes one think the current environment of financial turmoil, whistle blowing and security breaches may be influencing the wish list. Attributes such as critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and team-building, oral and written communications, and user relationship management follow close behind.

Technical operations are being conducted through contracts and outsourcing, more and more everyday, which requires IT professionals to be increasingly dynamic. According to InformationWeek, CIOs tend to look for a skill set that breaks down to, roughly, one-third technology, one-third business and one-third leadership. No matter how specific the requirements are on a job board, when it comes time to interview, employers are looking for more personal and subjective qualities.  

For more:
- read the InformationWeek article

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