How to Hire Tech Talent

This blog offers insights and key steps for businesses wanting to know how to attract tech talent.

Surging demand for tech skills throughout the workforce has made hiring tech talent a challenge for employers. As more businesses recognise the need for this talent, the difficulty of attracting skilled candidates increases – as do their expectations of a potential employer.

Here, we offer some insights into the current tech talent shortage as well as tips for recruiting in the tech industry.

1. Focus on Candidate Experience

The impact of “The Great Resignation” has put candidates firmly in the driver’s seat. Passive candidates are being constantly head-hunted, and many consider the average tenure of a software engineer, for example, to be less than two years.

To come out on top, employers are being encouraged to think like a candidate and build the business’ sourcing strategy around their needs. This includes implementing ideas such as including technologists and engineers in the selection panel, conducting fast and efficient interviews and undertaking virtual onboarding.

Also be prepared for the fact that candidates are now interviewing you as much (if not more) as you are interviewing them. That means you need to take a good look at your employee value proposition (EVP) and make sure you are communicating your company’s culture, purpose and unique selling proposition.

As a specialist Tech recruiter, we know what your competitors are offering, and are more than happy to answer questions you might have about market trends in APAC, Europe or North America.

2. Upskill and Promote From Within

A hugely overlooked resource in the race to recruit is the people who are already within your organisation. Making an external hire is always tempting but in the midst of a tech talent shortage, it might not be practical.

Choosing to upskill and promote from within your own organisation comes with several advantages. Firstly, the employee is already involved in your operations and possesses a level of organisational knowledge that outside hires do not. This eliminates the risk of hiring someone that does not mesh with your culture and also saves time by not having to familiarise them with your operations and procedures.

Moreover, recent insights by PWC reveal a strong desire by workers to reskill or retrain. 77% of respondents say they are ready to reskill and 80% are confident they can adapt to new technologies in the workplace. This is particularly encouraging for an industry like tech, where lifelong learning and competency with new technologies are essential parts of the job.

Do not neglect to look internally for employees with talent and ambition. For many companies wondering how to attract tech talent, the best person for the job might be right under their nose.

3. Bring in the Experts

Working with a tech recruitment agency has a number of advantages for both employers and jobseekers. For Hiring Managers, the administrative burden that comes part and parcel with any recruitment process is drastically reduced. Your recruitment partner can take on many of the initial tasks such as writing the job description, distributing it through their networks, headhunting prime candidates and creating an initial shortlist for your review.

Not only is the process more streamlined, you’ll also have access to an established talent pool from your recruiter’s database. Experienced recruiters will have access to skilled professionals who they can tap on the shoulder when the right role crops up. These elusive passive candidates won’t be actively searching for a new job so would be unlikely to see or apply for a traditional job posting.

Ultimately, working with a specialist Tech recruiter saves you a whole lot of time, money and headache when it comes to your recruitment strategy.

And when the time comes, you’ll have access to industry and market knowledge that can help you put together a salary package that will appeal to your preferred candidate.

Summary

The current tech talent shortage shows no signs of abating and as it continues, employers need to adapt to ensure hiring success. In 2021, the UK saw a 50% rise in tech vacancies compared to 2020, while in Australia, 65,000 new tech jobs were created during the pandemic alone.

As a specialist tech recruitment agency, Hawksworth is a leading choice for businesses looking to hire tech talent. With offices in Brisbane, Sydney and throughout the UK, our knowledge of APAC, European and North American markets give our clients the best chance at securing top candidates who will make a huge difference in their organisation. Visit our website for more about us, and make sure to follow us on LinkedIn for Tech news and insights.