Hiring Challenges in Hanoi

Hiring Challenges in Hanoi

Dear Sloan,

As part of my role in HR, I’ve recently been tasked with finding an experienced DevOps Engineer to join the small, fully remote development team within my organization. I don’t have a lot of familiarity with the software development industry in general, so wanted to send along a quick question.

Why has this proven so incredibly difficult?! 

Thank you,

Challenged in Hanoi

Dear Challenged,

If it’s any consolation, you’re not alone in your struggle to find a qualified software developer.

The industry, like so many others, has been profoundly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic downturn. And while the resulting changes are slowly becoming the “new normal,” the software development industry is facing new challenges. 

Hiring Challenges in 2023

According to a recent Reveal survey, recruiting developers with the right skills remains the top challenge for 2023.

Out of 2,228 software developers and IT professionals, more than a third of respondents (37.5%) indicated that they will continue to have trouble finding skilled developers in 2023. Unfortunately for you, DevOps Engineer was the most difficult position to fill, with Data Analytics Developer, and IT Security Engineer following close behind.   

“The industry continues to face a struggle in filling skilled software development positions as we race to digitize the business world. Organizations are turning to new solutions like low code/no code tools that require little to no up-front hand-coding to address insufficient skills, solve problems and save money,” Casey McGuigan, Product Manager at Reveal, says. 

The tech talent shortage shows no signs of letting up, as evidenced by the US Labor Department’s estimates that the global shortage of software engineers may reach 85.2 million by 2030.  The talent shortage has many implications for the tech industry, including difficulty competing and innovating, higher costs, and lost revenue.

Not exactly what you were hoping to hear, I’m sure.  

“You’re hired.” Now What?! 

I wish I could tell you that it’d be smooth sailing once you find the right fit (as I’m sure you will…eventually).

The survey also outlined additional pain points in the industry, with communication and collaboration difficulties within remote and hybrid teams surfacing as a theme. Now that many organizations have moved to remote/hybrid teams and downsized their physical presence (only 18.6% of software developers and IT professionals reported working fully on-site) difficulties communicating and collaborating with team members in the new digital environment have appeared.  

While more than half of respondents (57.9%) said they have more time to complete work projects due to reduced commuting time, four in ten (42%) have trouble keeping track of projects and a third (31.9%) said they are less productive in the hybrid environment.

A third of software developers (31.5%) incorporated new software for remote/hybrid workers in 2022 as they struggled to identify the best ways to ensure optimal productivity. More than half (54.4%) want to use one tool where everyone can collaborate and resolve issues. Another 47.5% would like to automate workflows and processes and 43.7% prefer to eliminate manual file sharing.

“The remote/hybrid workplace has resulted in a myriad of issues as software developers installed new online collaboration tools and sought ways to improve productivity,” explains McGuigan. “This is where all-in-one digital workplace tools benefit organizations by eliminating time consuming app switching, incorporating project and task management, content management, collaboration, data analytics, and data catalog capabilities, allowing teams to manage workloads more intelligently, stay on top of deadlines, and make smarter business decisions that are backed up by hard facts.”

Adapting to the “New Normal”

Considering the demand, it’s safe to say that top-tier software developers command top-tier salaries, which can be a hiring obstacle in itself. One practice that many companies are adopting is the hiring of less experienced development teams who can learn and grow from their experience from within your organization.  

If you take this approach, keep the above pain points in mind, and have a strategy to address them. While there may be some initial growing pains as they onboard and acclimate, less experienced developers come with benefits beyond ease of finding and affordability, one of which is the willingness to adopt new technologies and applications. 

“Adopting new technologies/applications can add great revenue opportunities for companies,” says McGuigan. “At the bare minimum, such technologies and applications lower costs and save money.”

In the end, it’s not all doom and gloom, more likely an opportunity (and perhaps a need) to change your approach. Some companies are switching things up by changing their target candidates, eliminating the 4-year degree requirement, and focusing on upskilling their employees. 

In these trying times, take solace in the fact that your candidate is likely just a phone call away. The “new normal” just might require more creative solutions! 

Has anyone found techniques that help them adapt to the current software development environment, specifically as it relates to hiring? Share in the comments below!

Best,

Sloan

~ Making Cyber a Safer Space