An impressive list of qualifications is no longer enough to secure a position in the IT jobs market.

Competition continues to increase with more similarly qualified people bidding for the same jobs.

Instead of adding to their list of academic achievements, IT specialists are now being encouraged to examine their people skills and consider how they deal with individuals, react to situations and handle their own emotions.

Through boosting their Emotional Intelligence they can gain a distinct advantage in the jobs marketplace.

In brief, Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a series of key personal and social abilities that enable a person to achieve outstanding success in both their personal and business life.

These essential skills help separate an ordinary employee from a star performer.

And the good news is that, with the right help, anyone can improve their EI skills level.

EI is no longer viewed as new-age hype with little relevance to the business world. More and more top managers rate strong EI as one of the most influential business tools of the new economy.

North-East based Creating Careers has developed a cutting-edge New Generation IT skills programme, a work-based learning course tailored specifically for IT professionals, around EI.

Chief executive Neil Moult believes the programme will help both job seekers and established IT staff to boost their performance in the workplace.

"The programme is presented in a series of easy-to-use, jargon-free modules packed with practical techniques on how to develop and improve your EI," said Mr Moult.

The programme leads to a fully accredited and validated Diploma in Emotional Intelligence and allows individuals to develop the essential skills they will need to become more successful in the 21st Century.

Daniel Goleman was the person who really brought EI to the forefront of modern business practices. He went on to produce the first in-depth look at Emotional Intelligence, and has since become a world leader in the use of EI analysis.

Goleman is chief executive officer of US-based Emotional Intelligence Services, and author of the 1996 global bestseller, Emotional Intelligence (Bantam Books), which has sold five million copies in 30 languages.

He recognised that IQ by itself was a poor indicator of a person's ability to perform tasks. His studies indicate that IQ accounts for 20 per cent of a person's success, while 80 per cent can be attributed to their EI skills.

Research published by Goleman shows that the top ten per cent of technology-related employees with good EI skills outperform those with average skills by 320 per cent.

"The results can really make a difference to the way a person works, and that in turn can make a real difference in their performance. This has nothing to do with academic intelligence - it is about knowing yourself and how you interact with others. Getting that right among employees creates a whole new attitude and culture that reaps rewards for managers and staff," said Mr Moult,

Research carried out by London- based organisation The Talent Foundation - A Shortcut to Motivated and Adaptive Workplaces, published in May 2000 - revealed that employees trained in EI techniques benefit significantly, not only in willingness to learn, but also in increased confidence in what and how to learn.

Providing El training can make a real difference and Mr Moult believes it leads to a more productive and satisfied workforce.

"Top performing employees drive better business results and developing new employees or an existing team can imbue them with shared values, behaviours and emotions. This investment leads to increased trust, teamwork, motivation and innovation.

"Creating a sense of shared success is essential if a company is going through a period of stressful change. EI programmes can help re-energise a team, encouraging collaboration and a passion to improve and achieve."

For further information on Emotional Intelligence, or the New Generation IT Skills programme, contact Creating Careers on 0870 870 6323 or e-mail: info@creating-careers.com