7 IT hiring trends for 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally impacted the way organizations conduct daily business, including how they recruit and retain IT talent. Robert Half Technology surveyed more than 2,800 senior managers in the US to gauge the hiring trends for 2021 and here’s a look at seven key trends for the year ahead.

1. Increased competition for certain roles

Companies need to create new applications and software services, manage IT infrastructure and microservices architecture, and support the shift to going fully remote. COVID-19 has shifted the demand for certain roles, with an increased need for developers, help desk and cybersecurity professionals.

2. Interviews and onboarding go remote

These processes moved online as well. Thanks to videoconferencing services, remote interviews are proving to be an adequate substitute, though there’s a need in creative approach towards remote onboarding so that employees feel like they’re a part of the company.

3. Remote jobs on the rise

42% of companies now advertise fully remote jobs and this has helped open up talented candidates, enabling companies to ignore geographical limitations. However, the number of resumes has also increased, and now recruiters are finding themselves swamped with candidates to sift through.

Miraworks helps IT architects and engineers work remotely as a team or individually by having a self-subscription or taking on several projects as a freelancer.

4. Shortening the hiring process

Companies accelerate the hiring processes, shifting to remote interviews. This allows companies to not only get talent in the door faster but also to decrease the odds that candidates get swooped up by the competition.

5. A focus on retention and alleviating burnout

In the year ahead, leadership will need to focus on ensuring employees feel supported. According to Robert Half, workers are suffering morale (47%), heavier workloads, and increased burnout (47%). It’s more important than ever to make it clear to your employees that you value their work.

6. Soft skills still in demand

In the landscape of work changes, skills such as “adaptability to change” and communication are now more important than ever, as well as attention to detail, business acumen, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. These skills exactly help you land a new job, as technical skills are easier to teach on the fly.

7. The silver linings of change

More frequent communication from leadership, more innovation, and improved collaboration were said to roll in. Thus the pandemic helped businesses embrace change and modernize hiring strategies.