In the event that our preferred programmer provides us with a two-week notice, it is imperative that a plan for seeking a suitable replacement is established. We need to take into account whether an internal search is feasible or whether an external applicant would be necessary. Regardless of the route we take, outlining a definitive plan is crucial in securing an apt individual to fulfill the role.
Retaining the dedication of your most skilled software developers may prove to be challenging, particularly with the recent April 2023 Bureau of Labor Statistics report indicating a decrease in the unemployment rate, now standing at 3.6%.
A competitive labor market has emerged due to the current historically low unemployment rate, providing developers with greater flexibility to explore alternative employment options with other businesses. It’s plausible that the programmer in question was lured away by a competitor that proposed better terms and conditions.
As adept HR professionals, we continually strive to recruit proficient programmers. Based on an examination of LinkedIn’s internal data, it has been discovered that Embedded Software Engineers located in Africa receive the largest quantity of InMails per specialist. Furthermore, the Information Technology industry, specifically the Software sector, experiences the highest staff turnover rate of all sectors.
Having a plan in place is crucial to safeguarding your business against the potential harm of a talent war. To begin with, it is essential to contemplate lowering your prices in order to gain an edge over your competitors. Another alternative is to partner with a remote recruitment agency to establish a pool of skilled software engineers. These steps will guarantee that your business is adequately equipped to handle any potential talent wars.
The Significance of Formulating a Strategy for Cultivating New Talent
I’ll review the list of obstacles you are encountering again:
- national low unemployment rate
- highest rate of return on investment in any industry
- employment opportunities that are sharply contested
If that wasn’t daunting enough, two more obstacles impede your talent acquisition efforts.
- Employing developers is among the most challenging responsibilities of HR. As per CareerCast, this is the most demanding position to fill in the United States.
- It is also one of the lengthiest positions to fill. Based on data from Glassdoor, an average developer is hired in six weeks.
It’s worrisome that even a relatively brief absence, such as six weeks, could disrupt a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME). This disruption could take various forms, such as intensifying the workload of other developers, resulting in more pressure and stress, or decreasing productivity due to the absence of the individual in question.
Nevertheless, there are additional reasons to actively look for top-notch developers:
- If your business is rapidly expanding, you might be negotiating to undertake substantial new projects or acquire new corporate clients.
- If you value having a comprehensive understanding of your company’s values and want to limit the number of new contacts you have to make, you may want to contemplate hiring someone internally.
Building a talent pipeline is as critical as creating hot leads; prospective customers who may not be prepared to buy from you now but could be in the near future. It’s vital to actively foster a pool of potential new hires to guarantee future success.
Factors Required to Create a Source of Future Employees
Another similarity between generating leads and creating a talent pipeline is that both require consistent effort over time.
It demands foresight and the adoption of long-term strategies such as:
- Spotting Prospective Employees
- Selecting the Appropriate Candidates for the Role
- Maintaining Regular Contact with Them
- Providing Them with Promotional Materials that Reflect Your “Brand”
- Connecting with Them Personally and Sustaining Their Interest
Naturally, it’s also feasible to be very subtle, as in:
- Evaluating a candidate’s competencies and character to determine if they would be a good fit for your company.
- Confirming Their Interest in Joining Your Company before Providing a Formal Offer.
- Assessing the Probability of Their Availability when You Require Them.
Looking for qualified candidates is the most time-intensive aspect of any hiring process. Human Resources (HR) recruiters need to consistently handle various approaches to identify the most appropriate candidate, including:
- Recommendation by Word-of-mouth
- Browsing Through Digital Portfolios
- Utilizing a System to Monitor Prospective Employees
- Web Directories and Professional/Social Networking Sites
- Meeting Potential Employees at Social Gatherings
- Exploring Code-Hosting Platforms such as GitHub
Given the level of effort and commitment required to excel in this field, it is evident that hiring managers highly regard the development and management of a robust pool of potential new recruits. This is accomplished by working in collaboration with other experts to ensure that all recruitment initiatives are well-planned and impactful.
Disadvantages of Utilising a Specialist Recruiter for a Small or Medium-Sized Enterprise
In larger Human Resources departments, it is customary to have a small unit tasked with actively identifying and evaluating potential job applicants. Depending on the size of your company, the specifics of this role may vary.
Even if you don’t hire a developer frequently, it’s still essential to stay in touch with skilled candidates.
While it is clear that this is a challenging and demanding position, hiring an additional employee to perform this role would cost a considerable sum of $80,000 per year. Additionally, if you only need to recruit a handful of new team members each year, it may not be financially viable to incur this expenditure.
Implementing a dedicated candidate sourcing strategy, such as an applicant tracking system, may be a viable alternative for your business. Such a system offers a consistent and cost-efficient solution, irrespective of whether you hire any candidates in a specific month. For instance, Skeeled, an applicant tracking system, offers a flat rate of £400 per month. This could be a more efficient approach than your current recruitment practices.
It might be advantageous to view this concept as a collaborative effort, targeting various corporate executives simultaneously. Keeping in touch with potential candidates is a smart approach to be ready to act when an ideal candidate emerges. However, the current practice seems somewhat disordered.
Since managers in small enterprises often have to handle multiple responsibilities, it’s understandable if non-core activities are postponed. It can be challenging to complete every task to the best of your ability when handling additional duties. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand your limitations and manage your workload accordingly.
Hence, working together with a remote employment agency is the best option you can choose.
Constructing a Talent Pool for Remote Work: How Works Can Assist
Maintaining communication with a high-quality talent pool is a top priority for Works, a leading remote recruitment agency.
Globally, we’re receiving applications from exceptionally experienced and skilled developers who are eager to join our team. Our talent pool comprises top-tier individuals who possess exceptional coding capabilities, communication skills, and are an ideal match for our corporate culture.
We heavily invest in sourcing and training these experts to ensure that they’re prepared to come to the rescue of our clients when required.
We will not stop until we place the perfect candidate in every available position. This is why we foster long-term relationships with all our clients.
At Works, we acknowledge that our clients need personalised services that cater to their specific requirements. This is why we don’t charge a finder’s fee, ensuring that no expenses are incurred until the candidate you hire begins working for your company. This model is especially advantageous for small businesses that have sporadic recruitment needs.
So, what can Works offer in aiding you to build a talent pool of potential employees?
We would be thrilled to have you aboard our team. To begin, share your recruitment needs with us, and we’ll handle the rest. Once you’re ready to hire, our team will generate customised prospect lists for your role. We eagerly anticipate your response.
We offer these services at no cost or obligation to you. Payment is only due to us if you decide to hire one of the prospects we’ve identified and interviewed.
In essence, you can engage Works services without any charges. Can you think of a more equitable deal or better allocation of your resources?
It’s crucial to take pre-emptive action to avoid any disruptions to your organisation’s operations. By reaching out to us now, we can begin constructing a talent pipeline customised to your unique requirements. This guarantees that you’re always well-prepared for any future vacancies, eliminating the need for a last-minute scramble to fill new developer positions.
