By: Richard Gately – Recruiter Manager – Alexander Technology Group
Boston has emerged as one of the country’s hottest spots for
up and coming tech companies. The start-up scene, with its innovative ideas and
unique energy, is attracting top talent from all over the country. Expansion is
happening. Budget dollars are being dedicated to recruiting in an industry that
is arguably the most competitive in recent times. If you’re passionate about
tech, it’s an exciting time to see these companies taking the leap in
innovation.
up and coming tech companies. The start-up scene, with its innovative ideas and
unique energy, is attracting top talent from all over the country. Expansion is
happening. Budget dollars are being dedicated to recruiting in an industry that
is arguably the most competitive in recent times. If you’re passionate about
tech, it’s an exciting time to see these companies taking the leap in
innovation.
With new attraction comes new traffic. Like a new roller
coaster at an amusement park, the Boston tech hub is drawing people in droves—and
the line to get in is brutally long. IT pros are coming here in hopes of being
part of something never done before. The spotlight on the local IT market
brings an ever higher demand for talent; exciting from a recruiting standpoint
for sure, but it comes with difficulties as well. While the local market is saturated with
great talent we can’t forget how tight this space truly is.
coaster at an amusement park, the Boston tech hub is drawing people in droves—and
the line to get in is brutally long. IT pros are coming here in hopes of being
part of something never done before. The spotlight on the local IT market
brings an ever higher demand for talent; exciting from a recruiting standpoint
for sure, but it comes with difficulties as well. While the local market is saturated with
great talent we can’t forget how tight this space truly is.
IT pros are getting
pickier than ever
pickier than ever
Technical variety is slowly fizzling as the “bait” companies
are using to bring in new talent. Tech companies are changing their recruiting
focus to showcase work environment versus the work itself. As a recruiter, I have
more and more candidates telling me they want unlimited PTO, flex hours, remote
capability, top-line benefits, and a “cool office” to work in.
are using to bring in new talent. Tech companies are changing their recruiting
focus to showcase work environment versus the work itself. As a recruiter, I have
more and more candidates telling me they want unlimited PTO, flex hours, remote
capability, top-line benefits, and a “cool office” to work in.
And that’s only the tip of the iceberg in the “tech environment”
branding that’s taking place. It’s common to see catering, beer on tap, and
even expansive desk spaces with a treadmills. Don’t believe me? Google
Hubspot’s beer garden and their dog-friendly offices.
branding that’s taking place. It’s common to see catering, beer on tap, and
even expansive desk spaces with a treadmills. Don’t believe me? Google
Hubspot’s beer garden and their dog-friendly offices.
What has all of this done? It’s made candidates a lot
pickier in their job searches and it’s starting to diminish the exploratory
conversations that employers used to rely on with potential employees. Companies
are scrambling to get people in the door, and offers are being made left and
right to the people who actually show up. Candidates are playing the field and
most end up with multiple offers on the table. Even worse, companies are
sucking their employees back in with counter-offers of special benefits and
perks that this generation of tech pros has come to expect.
pickier in their job searches and it’s starting to diminish the exploratory
conversations that employers used to rely on with potential employees. Companies
are scrambling to get people in the door, and offers are being made left and
right to the people who actually show up. Candidates are playing the field and
most end up with multiple offers on the table. Even worse, companies are
sucking their employees back in with counter-offers of special benefits and
perks that this generation of tech pros has come to expect.
Technology itself is
partly to blame
partly to blame
On top of being pickier, the convenience of using technology
in job searches has made us all too impatient. Information moves lightning fast
and it’s getting faster. You can find the answer to just about any question
within a few seconds, not just from a computer, but from your phone. There’s an
application for just about everything—even day-to-day errands get done quicker
and more efficiently. It’s a beautiful
thing, but we expect the same for everything else and it’s now part of the job
search process.
in job searches has made us all too impatient. Information moves lightning fast
and it’s getting faster. You can find the answer to just about any question
within a few seconds, not just from a computer, but from your phone. There’s an
application for just about everything—even day-to-day errands get done quicker
and more efficiently. It’s a beautiful
thing, but we expect the same for everything else and it’s now part of the job
search process.
In an ideal world, you could scroll through jobs on your phone,
apply, send your resume, and have a handsome job offer in your inbox by the end
of the day. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way.
apply, send your resume, and have a handsome job offer in your inbox by the end
of the day. Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way.
The thirst for convenience is rushing us and shaping the
market to be extremely chaotic. Candidates expect the interview process to be
fast, and it’s caused recruiting companies to spam people with messages in an
effort to be the first to grab a candidate’s attention. It’s created an
abundance of negative experiences with staffing agencies that have unprofessionally
marketed candidates too soon, without accurate information, or even worse,
without permission.
market to be extremely chaotic. Candidates expect the interview process to be
fast, and it’s caused recruiting companies to spam people with messages in an
effort to be the first to grab a candidate’s attention. It’s created an
abundance of negative experiences with staffing agencies that have unprofessionally
marketed candidates too soon, without accurate information, or even worse,
without permission.
My advice to tech job seekers? Take a deep breath and be open
to all types of opportunities. Are you really searching for a new job because
you want beer on tap or a whiskey room? Are you really eager to jump ship just
to get food catering on the job? Nine
out of 10 times the real reason people start looking for new opportunities has
to do with personal career goals and a desire to be inspired and
challenged. Have as many professional
conversations as you can; you never know where you might “click” with a manager
or team.
to all types of opportunities. Are you really searching for a new job because
you want beer on tap or a whiskey room? Are you really eager to jump ship just
to get food catering on the job? Nine
out of 10 times the real reason people start looking for new opportunities has
to do with personal career goals and a desire to be inspired and
challenged. Have as many professional
conversations as you can; you never know where you might “click” with a manager
or team.
Finally, slow down a little bit. Meet a local recruiter who
knows the market pulse and take time to invest in a professional relationship with
someone will have your back as you look for your next challenge. Taking the
easy route and agreeing to have some person you don’t know blast your resume
off may be convenient, but usually doesn’t end with positive results. Technology
helps, but establishing a long-term rapport with an IT staffing pro is what
will make the magic happen.
knows the market pulse and take time to invest in a professional relationship with
someone will have your back as you look for your next challenge. Taking the
easy route and agreeing to have some person you don’t know blast your resume
off may be convenient, but usually doesn’t end with positive results. Technology
helps, but establishing a long-term rapport with an IT staffing pro is what
will make the magic happen.
The good news here is that all these changes are part of
positive growth in the Boston IT market and if you take the time to educate
yourself on local staffing trends and stay open to a variety of opportunities, you’ll
find the right place for your next move.
positive growth in the Boston IT market and if you take the time to educate
yourself on local staffing trends and stay open to a variety of opportunities, you’ll
find the right place for your next move.
