In today's talent market, tech companies can agree that it is hard to nail down quality talent to supplement their workforce. The biggest reason for this is, of course, that the demand is higher than the supply. That isn’t something that is easily changed but there are things you can consistently do to attract and hire more of those tech geniuses.
There is a myth that this problem only affects startups. However, even established companies struggle with implementing a strong recruitment structure.
What causes this?
1) A career page that doesn’t reflect the company's culture
The company’s career page is very important to trigger potential employees. As such, it is vital to communicate the company's culture clearly on this page. An ideal career page should reflect the company's values. This will enable it to attract employees aligned to its vision.
2) Unappealing and unclear job descriptions
An ideal description should seek to inform and intrigue potential candidates. However, some tech companies get caught up in descriptions that are too long or too vague and scare away potential candidates instead of attracting them.
3) No focus on building a talent pool of your own
Some companies rely completely on referrals from colleagues or external recruitment agencies and don’t build a talent pool or network of potential new employees for themselves. This can be done in several ways which are mostly divided between inbound and outbound recruitment.
4) The company does not organize tech events
Tech events are essential for exposure. Existing company talent can get to learn and exchange ideas with other professionals. But also, these events create the perfect platform for companies to meet potential talent and sell their proposition as an employer.
5) A bad candidate experience
It’s very important with these highly sought-after professionals that you offer them a great candidate journey, from the first point of contact up to the moment the candidate signs. This process needs to be very smooth, simple and very efficient. This involves several steps in the application process and it involves several internal departments.
6) People involved in hiring the talent aren't working as a team
Internal company miscommunications do not create a favorable environment for hiring the right talent. It is essential for every department involved in hiring to have a consensus on what abilities the company is scouting and how they want the candidate experience to be. Without consensus, the chance that you will lose qualified people during the process is extremely high.
7) Good people get rejected for the wrong reasons
Tech companies that set out to look for the perfect candidate end up missing out on top talent who just need a bit of training and alignment to the company's culture. As such, it is vital to have an open mind while recruiting so as not to miss out on potentially excellent talent.
8) The company is traditional and not adapting to modern ways of working
The tech space is the most versatile niche in the economy today. Recruitment strategies are always evolving but of course so are company cultures. It’s vital for a tech company to adapt accordingly. When a company is too traditional in its culture that can cause a loss of interested techies.
Looking into the future, the tech talent gap is set to get tighter when companies don’t invest in training their technical staff. They definitely should make this a priority, as well as implementing a strong recruitment strategy.
