It’s a fact: technology, automation and artificial intelligence could impact over 40% of employee positions across industries.
This state of affairs is sobering and is already a key concern for workers and recruiters. This is especially true in the IT industry, where technological change is happening at such a rapid pace that it creates a whole new set of requirements. While a large proportion of employees must constantly refresh their skills to remain relevant, An IT staff augmentation company is forced to find new ways to attract and retain top talent in new areas of expertise.
Great Demand and Limited Supply
Automation, artificial intelligence, big data, analytics and other cutting-edge solutions are revolutionizing the workplace. These advancements can give businesses a significant competitive advantage, but only if they are implemented well. To ensure this, companies need competent technical staff. In other words, IT team augmentation has become essential to secure the future of many businesses.
Given the rapid pace of innovation, there are simply not enough skilled workers. Demand is growing much faster than supply. The workforce shortage is particularly acute for high-level professionals, whose knowledge is needed to lead projects and mentor less experienced staff. What makes matters worse is that many seasoned tech workers have cutting edge expertise, making it difficult for recruiters to find the right candidate for a high-level position.
Intense Competition
With the IT workforce shortage, competition among staff augmentation companies is fierce, and many companies resort to aggressive strategies to steal employees from their competitors. Some of the more ruthless recruiting tactics include installing billboards in front of a rival’s offices and recruitment carried out directly in the parking lot of a competitor. Recruiting the best candidates is a real test of strength.
These bold strategies demonstrate how essential technology experts are to businesses. After all, without skilled IT professionals, web developers, software developers, data analysts, and a dedicated development team, businesses risk missing out on the digital shift altogether.
The resulting question is: What are the best ways to attract and retain workers in IT?
Seduce Workers
In light of the current IT workforce shortage, candidates have the luxury of being able to shop around for the best job offer possible. Salary is always a big factor, but smart IT staff augmentation companies have discovered that they can attract future employees with benefits that go beyond financial compensation. Not only does this tactic save companies, it is very convincing for applicants.
We’ve all heard of the incredible – and sometimes unusual – perks offered by tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and Uber. These include workplace fitness centres, nap rooms and field offices, as well as the possibility of taking your pet to work or taking long holidays. In a controversial decision, Facebook even offered financial assistance for egg freezing of its employees.
While no one expects SMEs to keep pace with industry leaders, they need to increase their incentives if they are to attract skilled IT workers. Today, companies often offer flexible hours, telecommuting opportunities and in-house training.
They also provide clear work goals and regular feedback so their employees feel valued and have a clear idea of where their careers are heading. Free dinners, fitness centre memberships, and transit passes are also popular perks.
Work in Partnership with Recruitment Companies
Recruiting and retaining qualified IT professionals is such a challenge that many companies turn to recruiting firms for help. Some decide to work with general employment agencies while others prefer to use IT recruitment specialists. Each option has its advantages.
Large agencies are a good choice if your business needs to fill many positions in various internal sections. They often help recruit new graduates looking for entry-level positions. To help a general recruiting agency identify the right candidates, a company should provide them with a clear description of available positions (including technical skills required) as well as an overview of the corporate culture. With this information in hand, a general recruiter should be able to put you in touch with knowledgeable novices who sympathize with your team.
IT staff augmentation company is a better choice if you have high-level or very specialized positions to fill. With their deep understanding of the field, technology recruiters will match you with candidates who meet your current needs and whose skills will prove useful in the long term. It’s an added service that will pay off in the long run.
Conclusion
Finally, if IT is not the core business of your business, partnering with an IT consulting firm is a great investment. IT consultants will take a personalized approach, including helping you determine which technologies are most compatible with your short- and long-term goals, and then putting together a technical team to carry out that plan. Getting the advice of seasoned IT experts can be very reassuring for internal dedicated development teams and senior leaders responsible for corporate technology budgets and strategies.