Despite never-before-seen turbulence throughout the COVID-19 pandemic that saw millions of people struggle to find work, tech talent experienced just the opposite. In fact, US IT job growth is on pace for a record year. While this is welcome news for candidates, it’s putting tech companies in a precarious situation. With so much demand, they have to fight harder than ever to attract candidates and retain them as employees. So, what can they do? Here are five ideas.
How to Attract and Retain Top Tech Talent in 2022
1. Prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are a must-have for any company. In fact, 86% of job seekers say workplace diversity is essential when looking for a job. Prioritizing DEI is a proven effective retention tactic as well. When employees trust that their employers will treat them fairly, they’re 5.4X more likely to want to stay longer at their current company. To that end, tech companies courting top talent in 2022 must foster a workplace that’s equal and gives everyone a say and a chance to succeed.
2. Focus on Culture By Hiring the Right People
Creating a workplace that promotes high levels of employee retention relies on many things, including some transition to a remote or hybrid workplace and offering benefits people want. But it also has a lot to do with hiring the right people; people who fit with the existing culture, share the same values and work toward the same goals if new hires walk into a workplace with a disjointed culture where no one’s satisfied, long-term retention will be tough.
3. Personalize Your Pitches
The demand for tech talent means that the average candidate will likely be interviewing with many competing companies. And not just ones in the same area. With remote working becoming the norm, they can interview with companies across the country. As a result, they’re sitting through a lot of pitches, many of which sound the same and tout the same product, benefits, and so on. Companies can stand out by personalizing their pitches and showing candidates exactly how they can thrive and grow at the company.
4. Highlight Growth Opportunities
No one wants to do the same thing forever. People in tech are no different; they want to learn, grow, take on more responsibilities, and try new things. The tech companies that’ll have the most success attracting and retaining the best and brightest will highlight these opportunities during the hiring process and clarify that this is just the beginning. Building and maintaining the best workplace in tech is more than thinking just about the here and now. It’s equally important to talk about the big picture and show candidates that they’re more than just a number.
5. Adopt Modern Hiring Tools
Tech talent is understandably tech-savvy, which means they may notice little things that less technical candidates wouldn’t—for example, the HR technology powering the hiring process. While it may seem like a small, even irrelevant part of the hiring process, any perceived deficiencies from a technical perspective may lead them to question the greater technical organization and what’s in store for it. Why would a tech expert want to work for a company that can’t even get video interviews right?
Winning the Tech Talent War Now and in the Future
It’s never been harder to attract, hire, and retain tech talent. However, the reality is that the competition is fierce, and companies across the country are courting the same people. While this presents a challenge, any company can take steps to differentiate itself and shine just a little brighter than the rest.