MENLO PARK, Calif., Feb. 6, 2007 -- For information technology (IT) departments already stretched thin, two months may be too long to wait for reinforcements. But according to a recent survey of chief information officers (CIOs), that's how much time it can take to hire a new IT employee. CIOs polled said it takes an average of 56 days to fill a staff-level position and 87 days to bring a new manager on board.

The national poll includes responses from more than 1,400 CIOs from a stratified random sample of U.S. companies with 100 or more employees. It was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by Robert Half Technology, a leading provider of information technology professionals on a project and full-time basis.

CIOs were asked, "How long does it take, on average, to fill a full-time staff-level position within your IT department?" The mean response was 56 days.

Executives also were asked, "How long does it take, on average, to fill a full-time manager-level position within your IT department?" The mean response was 87 days.

"Hiring managers often are caught in a catch-22: short-staffed but unable to dedicate the necessary time to recruit and evaluate candidates due to extra duties they've had to assume," said Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology. "Employers must balance the need to expedite the hiring process with the equally pressing need to ensure a new employee is right for the job."

Lee cautioned that while hiring carefully is crucial, taking too long to make a decision has its own pitfalls. "Today's top professionals -- even those currently employed -- often receive multiple offers to consider, and organizations that don't act quickly risk losing these candidates to other opportunities. Overburdening staff for extended periods of time also can lead to burnout and increased turnover."

With more than 100 locations in North America, Europe and Asia, Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of technology professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. Robert Half Technology offers online job search services at http://www.rht.com.

SOURCE Robert Half Technology