Digital technology is changing the way we think about, hiring and retaining IT talent and it is more complicated than ever. With skills gaps common and professionals willing to walk away when a role no longer works for them, IT leaders must take a holistic view of their total workforce to make sure they have the right talent, in the right place, at the right time.
From permanent direct hires and fixed-term contractors, to outsourcing partners and temporary workers, every staffing solution must be given due consideration in today’s increasingly tough market.
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IT hiring: managing the workforce to close the skills gap.
This shift, to include a post-pandemic landscape is altering our approach to working and hiring. A thorough understanding of what you can offer – and what you actually need – is critical when it comes to planning the future of staffing for your organization.
finding the right solutions to your workforce challenges
When dealing with talent scarcity and pressing skills gaps, it’s crucial to plan out whether buying, renting or building talent is your best approach. Before making any staffing decisions, ask yourself:
- Is this a short or long-term need?
- Are you addressing a skill or knowledge gap?
- Is this a strategic or tactical need?
- Is this a one-off project, something that will require ongoing work, or will it be integrated into other projects?
If you’re looking to plug a skill or knowledge gap long term, a permanent hire could be the best route. If you’re not sure your requirements will last into the future, an alternative staffing solution might just meet the mark.
different staffing solutions to consider
hire a contractor
Contractors are great for filling a short-to-medium term skills gap. They can hit the ground running, bring their expertise to the table, and you don’t have to worry about any long-term commitments. You must however keep in mind that contractor rates are much higher than an equivalent perm salary; that’s because contractors don’t have the security or benefits that come with a permanent position. Finding the right contractor when you need them can also be tricky if you’re trying to do it yourself. That’s where a specialist like Randstad comes in.
embrace managed services
If you want to outsource the entire recruitment process for peace of mind, a managed service solution might be for you. Hiring, training, and meeting KPIs will be overseen by a team of professionals, and because the best people for your project will already be in hand, you don’t need to worry about skills gaps. The other plus is that should your hiring needs change throughout the year, a reputable managed service solution can be as flexible as you need it to be.
develop and upskill your staff
One solution often overlooked by organizations is making the most of the talent that’s already in house. Developing and upskilling your existing employees can be an incredibly powerful – and cost-effective – approach to meeting your staffing needs. But you’ll also need to match external market salaries if you plan to take this route – otherwise, what’s stopping your newly trained employees from switching to a better paying competitor?
focus on staff retention
Retaining IT talent is particularly tricky right now, because there’s so much competition, and so many skills gaps in the market. If staff retention is proving a problem, you need to look at why. What’s drawing professionals away from your company, and toward a competitor? Today’s workers are looking for training, upskilling and reskilling opportunities, as well as a good work/life balance, and support around workplace well-being.
Randstad solutions: how we can help
Outsourcing your staffing challenges to an expert is undoubtedly the savviest move for IT leaders in today’s difficult jobs market. Permanent hires are hard to pin down if you don’t know what they’re looking for, or how to speed up the onboarding process. Finding contractors who can commit and hit the ground running is challenging when demand is at a record high, and managing a whole team of project professionals can bog you down and distract you from your day job.
But we take all of that in our stride.
Our teams are here to make your life easier. Hiring is tough, but as leaders in technology staffing, we have a range of solutions to meet your needs. Because the staffing challenges the market is facing aren’t simply HR issues; there’s a whole lot more at play.
To help fill your IT skills gap, our team of staffing experts offer training and upskilling through our partnership with Udemy, the world’s largest online learning platform. There’s also our Talent Development Program, with a database of over six million STEM candidates, and our Veteran Center of Excellence.
We also offer a managed service solution, flexible delivery model, and bulk hiring solution – sourcing the professionals to suit whichever solution you settle on.
Get in touch to find out more.