Recruiting IT professionals in a competitive market? Here's how

Looking for IT professionals? You're not the only one. And you can tell, because the labour market for IT talent is cut-throat. Organisations are offering ever higher salaries, for example. But is that really the best way to recruit IT professionals? We'll give you some smart tips and tricks to boost your IT recruitment.

The IT labour market today

You probably already know this, but competition between employers in IT is cut-throat. With sky-high demand for IT talent and low supply, that won't ease off any time soon. On top of that, employers are often looking for IT professionals with specific specialisations, and there simply aren't many of them. IT professionals have high expectations and a strong negotiating position. So a good salary alone won't get you there. Fortunately, many employers have more to offer, such as big technological challenges, a pleasant work culture, plenty of flexibility and work with impact. Unfortunately, sharing their employer brand with the rest of the world in the right way still often seems to be a challenge.

Your employer brand as a talent magnet

That last point may well be the most important step you can take towards a successful recruitment process in the IT world. Precisely because IT professionals can choose from so many employers, it's important that you stand out as an organisation. With employer branding, you appeal to your target group a little more step by step. Both consciously and subconsciously, you make your intended candidates familiar with and interested in your company. With slick online ads (on exactly the right channels) that link to tailor-made landing pages, for example. You only know what you want to communicate once you've worked out your employer brand. So talk to your current employees, look at how the competition does it and try to put into words as clearly as possible what makes your organisation such a special place to work.

Employer branding in the IT sector

This applies to every organisation, but there are extra tips for employers focused entirely on the IT world. Share the challenging projects IT professionals get to work on with you, for example. What impact does the team make inside and outside the organisation? Which systems do you work with? Don't be afraid to use some jargon; if all is well, your ideal target group will understand what you're talking about. Is your workplace just as modern and impressive? Make sure you share photos. And don't forget to share photos of colleagues in your employer branding campaign. That gives your campaign a face and makes it more personal. Also think about your work culture. Is there a lot of laughter? Do you often work at the office or more remotely? Is it OK to make mistakes? Do IT professionals get a lot of responsibility? Can they take steps in their careers?

Which benefits do IT professionals want?

Not quite sure yet which terms of employment to choose (besides a competitive salary)? IT professionals love flexibility, so make sure working from home or hybrid working is an option. The freedom to plan your own hours also appeals to many IT professionals. They also often have big ambitions. So make sure your new colleagues can map out a growth path together with you, and that you offer a range of courses and training. Attention to personal wellbeing and work-life balance should also be high on your list of priorities for this target group.

Where do you find IT talent these days?

Lots of IT professionals are on LinkedIn. But there are many more options. Think of GitHub or Reddit, for example. By getting inside the head of an IT professional and sharing those thoughts creatively in the right place, you can really appeal to your intended target group. Don't underestimate the value of networking and referrals either. Birds of a feather flock together, as they say: IT professionals often move in a circle of other IT professionals. Want to go even bigger? Then think of meet-ups, hackathons and tech events you can attend or organise yourself. Are you (also) looking for junior IT professionals you can still ‘mould’? Then consider a partnership with an educational institution.

When do you bring in an IT recruitment agency?

Recruiting IT professionals can be a real challenge, especially in the current market. That's why more and more organisations in this industry are bringing in an IT recruitment agency. They then get help coming up with an employer brand, a suitable recruitment strategy is designed for them, and all the marketing and recruitment work is taken off their hands. That leaves them more time for what they're good at: making an impact in IT.