May 25, 2021 | IT
IT recruitment trends change from year to year. But never before have we experienced a year anything like 2020! So, what does that mean for 2021? As the ‘new normal’ continues to dominate our lives, what changes can you expect to see when it comes to IT recruitment?
Recruitment has seen lots of ups and downs over the last 12 months. But with recent reports showing that job vacancies are now above pre-pandemic levels, there’s lots of opportunities out there again. Great news for the UK jobs market, but it does mean that the war for talent is officially on again. The skills shortage hasn’t gone away and there’s only so much a salary can do.
With the rapid move to working from home and utilising more technology, the IT recruitment landscape has had to evolve very quickly. But what does the next 12 months look like? What trends are we likely to see?
Our consultants share their insight into the top 5 IT recruitment trends for 2021 and beyond.
Deliver a great candidate experience
When it comes to IT recruitment, the candidate is very much in control again. Strong candidates are likely to be in the process for multiple job roles and this is where you need to stand out to help you secure the very best talent.
Partnering with a trusted agency is the best first step. In times of a skills shortage, you need to an agency who will be an extension of your employer value proposition. Someone who reflects your values and creates a positive first impression of your company. It’s important that you trust your chosen IT recruitment company. You need them to spark interest and intrigue with their candidates. In an age where an acceptance isn’t just about a good salary, the candidate experience can and will make all the difference.
But it’s not just during the IT recruitment process that the candidate experience matters. Recruiting not only to skills, but to values too is highly beneficial to your company. You want your employees to be happy at work. You want employees who will stay with you for the long-term. And these are candidates that reflect your values. Studies show that greater employee satisfaction correlates directly to greater productivity and greater loyalty.
The remote revolution in IT recruitment
It’s no longer about the office location. The slide in the office, the table tennis table. This all now seems a little 2019. When we look back at the end of 2021 the traditional working environment may no longer be in existence for most. Some companies were already embracing flexible working before the first lockdown. But other had to quickly adapt!
Now, flexible working has become an expectation across many industries. Candidates are looking for a better work life balance, or to be able to optimise their time. This can be a huge benefit to you in the current climate. No longer does location dictate your candidate pool. You can reach further than before and focus on the best available talent, not just locally, but nationally too.
Soft skills
Whilst technical skills will always come first in IT recruitment, it is becoming increasingly important to also recruit with soft skills in mind too. Lots of IT jobs, whilst highly technical, heavily rely on soft skills such as communication and emotional intelligence. With the increase in remote working driving a new distance between employees, your new hires need to be able to still work collaboratively. In a recent study by LinkedIn looking at the most in-demand hard and soft skills creativity and persuasion came out on top.
How we can help
If you would like advice on your IT recruitment for 2021 and beyond, we can help. Our expert team have been recruiting for over 20 years and we love to share our experience. So whether its advice on salaries, benefits or utilising technology to recruit, get in touch.
May 25, 2021 | IT
IT contractors could be just what you need right now. As business needs change and fluctuations are more difficult to forecast than previous years, it can be hard to get your headcount right. With the changes we have all seen over the last 12 months, many companies are looking to introduce new technology to support the new way of working. If you, like many others, have additional projects on your to do list this year, an IT contractor is the perfect solution. These projects may also be combined with an increased output and you need more hands-on deck to keep your customers happy. There may be a new piece of work that has come as a surprise and you need more help last minute.
For all these reasons and more – experience the benefits of hiring an IT contractor.
IT contractors are perfect for project work
We understand that IT projects aren’t undertaken on a whim and very often have both time and cost restraints. Getting it right first time and within budget is vital to your business. We know that you could re-assign someone within your existing team to carry out your new project. And this does work for some companies. However, entrusting something so important to someone who may not necessarily have all of the skills or specific experience comes with risks. We also know that you could hire someone permanent, but this may not be sustainable once the project is completed. This is where IT contractors are the perfect solution!
Hiring IT contractors to gain access to new skills
An IT contractor will have amassed a huge array of skills and experience from previous contracts. And you can tap in to all these skills. Hiring an IT contractor means that they can bring experience from previous jobs that may be of real value to you. Maybe they’ve worked on a project that’s of particular interest. Or, they could have even worked for a competitor! The advantage to you is not just access to the skillset either. With a wealth of experience in similar projects, your IT contractor will be able to start the project quickly without too much set up time.
We have been recruiting IT Contractors and permanent IT staff for over 19 years. We have access to an extensive network of experienced contractors. Let us know all about the project and we will find you an expert IT contractor who has the experience of undertaking that specific project.
Save LOTS of time!
Working with an IT contractor when it comes to project work is a real time saver. And it’s not only by saving you from having to trawl through the 100’s of applications you could receive if you advertised a vacancy. It’s reference checking, eligibility to work, payroll and everything else in-between! These are all things that we will complete for you when you hire an IT contractor.
The main benefits of hiring IT contractors
Whilst there are many benefits to hiring an IT contractor, we want to highlight the main ones –
- IT contractors can work out more cost effective than a permanent employee.
- Only pay for the work completed
- No additional cost of holiday pay, sick pay, pension or NI
- You don’t even need to supply them with a desk or a laptop
- IT contractors are available immediately, so no waiting for notice periods or risking counter-offers
- You agree project deliverables and deadlines prior to commencing the work
- You do not have to supervise an IT contractor – saving you time!
- Complete peace of mind when it comes to costs. Everything is agreed up front, so there’s no hidden surprises.
Why use Langley James?
At Langley James, we have the skills, experience, and market knowledge to help you and your company recruit the most qualified IT contract specialists. Our established IT Contract division can source candidates skilled in all mainstream and niche technologies in any area of the UK. And no need to worry about IR35 either. We will be with you every step of the way to make it as simple as possible.
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