This post is sponsored by Technically Compatible.
Times have changed. We humans have never been more connected, and yet, never been more closed off. The dawn of technology has opened endless avenues to reach candidates and for a time made all our lives easier. Now, however, the information age has turned into the information overload age and it means that in order to reach and keep the best candidates new strategies must be applied to stay ahead of the rest.
A Computer Science degree is just not going to give you a good developer
And who better to discuss tried and tested, successful methods with than our peers, expert advisors and colleagues. The tech sector especially can be particularly troublesome. Not just because there is a skills shortage but because of the massive boom it has enjoyed, the recruitment challenges have subsequently been heightened as well.
The problem with CVs
Tech CVs are renowned for their embellishment (57%) and lack of clarity when it comes to experience (55%) so how can you be sure that what you see is what you get?
This is only one of the many issues the tech industry is currently experiencing. The massive increase in demand for tech skills has pushed IT staff into the passive candidate bracket (only 15% are actively looking for jobs) and is making recruitment that much harder.
Businesses need to be going to educators and saying what skills they need
A pipeline issue?
The pipeline is also contributing to the skills shortage and there are questions around whether those leaving university are fit for the workplace. So, what’s the answer? Is more training needed? Are code academies better places to start or do they bring their own problems? Is diversity really an issue? How do we fix the pipeline problem and where the h*** is all the top tech talent hiding?
We always ask, “what if we train people and they leave?” What we should be asking is, what if we train people and they stay.
The event
Technically Compatible hosted an event to bring together experts from a cross section of the industry to spark discussions and share best strategies to source, hire and retain top tech talent.
Highlights from the series can be found here.
The focus is on the UK and primarily the North East of England where Technically Compatible are based but the issues, challenges and strategies are the same everywhere and can be applied anywhere on the globe, which is handy!
Schools are not willing to release teachers from the classroom to get them properly supported and trained in the curriculum or by industry experts
The idea is to generate debate around the industry’s most pressing challenges and highlight the opportunities we can take advantage of now, to create effective solutions for the future of tech recruitment.
A Snapshot of Questions
What strategies should you be implementing to source, attract and keep top tech talent?
- Is one more important than the other?
What about data protection when it comes to sourcing people?
What are the best ways to attract a more diverse, better workforce?
- Are we doing enough in the region to attract women and minority groups to empower our workforce? Not just from our region but also from outside it.
- Do people just use “diversity” as a buzzword but not actually believe it?
Are universities the right way forward for training entry-level candidates?
- Are unis too restricted in their curriculum to change with this fast-moving industry?
Does the industry need some sort of formal certification?
Join in the debate with Technically Compatible here, or watch at your own leisure. The series has been broken down into sections for more manageable webinar-like chunks. Sourcing, Training, Legislation or Diversity – take your pick or watch them all.
Let’s keep the chat going.
About the author: Technically Compatible is an online IT skills testing tool designed to streamline the recruitment of IT, web and software professionals. The platform, which significantly reduces screening time and promotes faster, better hiring decisions, is used by companies all over the world to hire top tech talent.
