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28/06/2016

Searching for I.T. Talent: Proven Advice from CIOs and leaders

Talent is now recognized globally as the single major issue standing in the way of technology companies achieving their objectives. The shift to digital and technology-led economy is creating a talent void which is putting many companies' survival at risk. In a research report published in June, Harvard Business Review and Red Hat pair up to review some of the best practices CIOs can share in the war for talent across the globe.

The nature of skills that organisations need are changing at a dramatic pace. With cloud computing and mobile-first services, skills that were important a few years ago are becoming fast irrelevant. At the same time, the higher-level skills now in demand are scarce. In 2015 big data and analytics top the list of hard-to-fill positions in a global survey of 4,000 IT leaders by Harvey Nash, a global recruitment company headquartered in London. 

The competition for talent will not be waged on an even playing ground. The talent crisis challenges the traditional approach to human resources and management calling for more flexibility in hiring employees and pushing back on conventional wisdom. To intensify their efforts in hiring talented people, CIOs and hiring managers need to work together to develop new practices in identifying talent and skills in a ever more liquid society. So how can companies and CIOs create a progressive approach to talent management? Here are some proven tips from the experts:

• Ensure team members feel they are part of a mission and their work serves a great purpose for the company
• Invest in coaching, mentoring and training
• Hire less for skills and more for emotional maturity and the ability to learn and change
• Use social media and speaking events to find and engage top talent
• Use open source as a magnet for talent by allowing your team to become part of the community
• Create collaborative projects with education institutions
• Aim for diversity across the IT team

CIOs must be creative in recognizing that the skills they need today are likely to not the skills they will need tomorrow. Today, more than ever, organisations are competing and counting on the quality of their IT. Building a strong and diversified team with adaptable digital skills will help companies be better placed in the digital future.

For more practical examples on gaining and retaining tech talent, read the full report.