How to attract and retain top IT talent for your business

In an era of rapid digital advancement, the need for top IT talent is greater than ever. Businesses wanting to streamline and optimise their day-to-day operations are increasingly looking to technology to provide automated, digital solutions. However, many companies are finding it difficult to attract and retain highly skilled IT professionals due to various recruitment challenges, such as a shortage of available IT talent and high turnover rates. 

Despite these hiring difficulties, there are various strategies companies can put into action to ensure that they are able to hire exceptional IT professionals with the skillset to drive success. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the importance of retaining excellent IT professionals and explore 5 top strategies for attracting and retaining IT talent.  

The importance of retaining IT talent

Given the demand for high-quality IT professionals is high, it is vital that companies implement strategies for retaining top talent. A survey conducted by ZipRecruiter found that 79% of tech workers who had recently been made redundant managed to secure another job within three months, a statistic that highlights just how sharp the demand for tech workers has become. This skills gap is showing no signs of closing any time soon, and there is predicted to be a global shortfall of 85.2 million IT professionals by 2030. 

There are many reasons why tech companies are struggling to hire and keep hold of IT experts, including poor remuneration packages, a lack of career development opportunities, and inadequate feedback or recognition. Adapting your recruitment strategies to meet the evolving needs and expectations of IT candidates can be difficult, and that’s why it’s essential to have a firm understanding of the IT trends that are currently shaping the sector, the most significant of which include the normalisation of remote working, a greater emphasis on diversity and inclusion, and the automation of repetitive tasks through AI. 

With tech job postings up by 25% as of October 2022, it is apparent that talent attraction and retention difficulties are likely to persist. Considering how tight the IT labour market currently is, companies need to develop innovative recruitment methods for differentiating themselves from their competitors in order to attract top industry talent. 

5 strategies for attracting and retaining IT talent

While there are challenges in IT and digital recruitment, there are numerous strategies you can implement to attract and retain the professionals you need to guarantee success. Below, we cover 5 top IT recruitment strategies that’ll help to future-proof your business against hiring challenges and set you apart from rival employers. 

• Offer a competitive remuneration package 

With research showing that 39% of ICT professionals would consider leaving a role due to a lack of adequate compensation in line with inflation, it is clear that offering competitive remuneration packages is key when it comes to retaining top IT talent. In fact, according to the Gartner Global Labor Market Survey, compensation is the number one driver for IT talent attraction and retention, a finding that highlights the importance of ensuring that the compensation packages you offer are as appealing as possible. 

There are various ways to adapt and refine your compensation and benefits packages to better suit the current expectations of ICT professionals, such as offering benefits like additional annual leave and insurance options and providing an incentive structure for bonuses. Before deciding on the details of your compensation packages, it is best practice to conduct market research to determine what your competitors offer and what your future employees might want. Here are a few suggestions you can include in your compensation package:

• Additional annual leave
• Health insurance
• Incentive structure for bonuses
• Employee support services such as childcare and counselling 
• Stock and profit-sharing plans

• Provide career development opportunities 

As well as competitive compensation, IT candidates look for career growth and advancement opportunities when searching for new tech jobs. Upskilling and reskilling tech staff is a good way to retain top IT talent, demonstrating that you care about their professional development. According to a LinkedIn survey, 94% of employees would remain at a company for longer if their employers invested in their development, particularly for top IT experts. 

You should have a comprehensive training and development program to show candidates that you are committed to their career advancements. This will enhance their career growth opportunities and help them stay up-to-date with the latest technological trends, thereby securing better outcomes for your company. By scheduling regular online courses, workshops, and conferences into your employees’ schedules, you’ll be giving them adequate time to enrich and expand their skills. 

• Foster a positive work culture

For many candidates, a company’s workplace culture is just as important as the details of the IT jobs they’re applying for. Having a work culture built on core values such as communication and collaboration will make your firm all the more attractive to IT professionals and help you retain the best and brightest employees. Data found by Workhuman revealed that employees who rate their organisation’s culture highly will be less likely to leave their position. 

So, what does a positive work culture look like? While there is no fixed answer to this question, you can take several steps to create a work culture where employees feel supported. You could implement initiatives such as:

• Employee recognition schemes
• Flexible working hours
• Regular team-building activities like hackathons and escape room challenges. 
• Mental health days 

You can expect better employee engagement and talent retention rates with a company culture that promotes togetherness and teamwork. 

• Embrace remote work options

The Covid-19 pandemic reshaped many aspects of our personal and professional lives, and the normalisation of remote working has been one of its most enduring legacies. Many IT professionals prefer the flexibility that remote and hybrid working offers, and as the popularity of remote working isn’t going away any time soon, it is vital that Hiring Managers facilitate home working options for attracting and retaining IT talent. 

Embracing remote work options will help you reach a wider pool of available candidates, with research showing that working from home is becoming increasingly popular among IT professionals. According to Forbes, the top industry for remote workers is computer and IT, so having an open and transparent work-from-home policy is a must when it comes to recruiting tech professionals.

There are numerous ways to facilitate and champion remote work options, including providing the right tools and technology, establishing communication channels, and setting up regular meetings to keep remote employees informed on the latest business developments. As part of your ambition for a positive work culture, you should also strive to make them feel just as included as office-based employees by offering virtual team-building events.

• Strong employer branding

In a sector where a large number of companies are competing for the same candidates, having a strong employer brand and unique identity can be pivotal. Since 69% of active job seekers are more likely to apply for companies that actively manage their employer branding, it is clear why you should endeavour to boost your brand identity. You can do this in various ways, including creating a compelling website, showcasing positive employee reviews, and maintaining your social media presence. 

A top tip for strengthening your employer branding is establishing what makes your business distinctive. For instance, if you are proud of your office culture, be sure to utilise social media to flaunt it to potential future employees. A notable example of a tech company using social media to showcase its office culture is Microsoft’s Microsoft Life Instagram account, a page that shares inspirational stories from employees throughout the organisation. Whether your business is an up-and-coming tech start-up or a multinational firm, bolstering your employer branding is a guaranteed way of attracting and retaining IT talent.   

Final thoughts 

As the digital landscape continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the need for top IT talent remains paramount for businesses aiming to thrive in this technology-driven era. To navigate this landscape successfully, companies must prioritise retaining IT talent by offering competitive remuneration packages, providing robust career development opportunities, fostering a positive work culture, embracing remote work options, and building a strong employer brand.

In a competitive IT job market, organisations that invest in their IT workforce, recognise their contributions, and create an environment where professionals can thrive will stand out and secure the top industry talent needed to drive innovation and success in the digital age.

Our passion for IT and digital recruitment

At Sellick Partnership, we are passionate about providing specialist IT and digital recruitment services for candidates and clients alike. Whether you are an IT professional looking for the latest tech jobs or a company looking for fresh IT talent, our excellent Consultants are on hand to assist you with your career goals and recruitment aspirations. We invite you to get in touch today, and one of our top-quality recruiters will contact you to discuss your needs.