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Information Technology (IT) employers value business skills and experience far more highly than qualifications, a survey suggests.

The survey of 100 UK firms by IT staffing and services company FDM has found that many human resources managers prioritise previous job experience when recruiting IT staff.

Increasingly, employers don't see the need for specific IT degree qualifications. Only 12 per cent said they would actively look to fill an IT vacancy with an IT graduate.

Rod Flavell, FDM chief executive, said: "Antiquated syllabuses and ten year-old case studies simply don't cut it - especially in a fast moving sector like IT.

"It's time for the education sector to blow the dust off its courses and bring them up-to-speed with the needs of modern business."

Rick Firth, managing director of business and IT technology services organisation Parity emphasised that "employers do not want to employ technology obsessed geeks any more".

It seems that whatever your degree, what IT employers really value are more general interpersonal and communication skills.