If you’re an employer in the tech industry, you understand the challenges of keeping your employees happy, engaged, and highly productive. Since there are so many options open to top tech talents, having an advantage over other employers might be the difference between success and failure when it comes to attracting and retaining talent. Here are nine strategies you can use to help set your organization apart from the competition and keep your current employees invested in your company’s mission—and their careers with you.
1) Compensation
It is no secret that many of the best tech talents are in hot demand. The competition for their attention is fierce and it’s not likely to get any easier anytime soon. It may seem like a daunting task, but attracting these hard-to-find professionals can be done with a little effort. Making your company an attractive place to work starts by understanding what motivates them and providing them with the tools they need for success. One way you can do this is by communicating transparently about compensation so you’re prepared when the time comes to negotiate. In addition, give employees control over how they spend their time at work which will help them feel more engaged.
2) Advancement Opportunities
Advancement opportunities are a hot topic in the tech space, with many professionals gravitating towards companies that offer them the chance to advance their careers. Companies that don’t offer advancement opportunities may find themselves with a high turnover rate, even if they’re prestigious or well-paying.
Provide opportunities for growth. Employees want professional growth and development, which can come in many forms: formal training programs, mentorship programs, flexible work schedules, cross-functional exposure, and so on. Offer these as part of your benefits package so you don’t have to worry about employees looking elsewhere for career advancement opportunities.
Offer flexible hours.
3) Development, Mentorship, & Leadership Opportunities
A great way to attract tech talents is by offering development opportunities. This can include giving them the chance to work on their own projects, or giving them a small task that they can complete as part of your team. If you are already doing this, make sure you update your job postings with this information so that potential hires know what they might be able to do while working at your company.
You should also provide mentorship opportunities for new hires who want guidance from someone who has more experience in the field. And finally, you should always make leadership opportunities available for those in your organization who show promise of being future leaders. Leadership roles are one of the best ways to keep employees happy and engaged.
4) Purpose and Values Aligned with Company Culture
Your company culture is the key to attracting and retaining great talent. It’s a vision of what employees should feel, think, do, and expect when they come into your workplace. You should believe that your people are your most valuable resource. You should want everyone in the organization from managers to senior leaders to HR professionals, etc., to work together as a team focused on developing your customers by providing the best service possible.
The goal is to develop happy, engaged employees who take pride in their work. These types of employees will be more inclined to stay with your company for a long period of time and put forth their best efforts. They will also be able to speak highly about your company because they’re proud to work there. They’ll also bring new talent with them because word-of-mouth is important too!
5) Work-Life Balance
Because of the high demand for tech talent, employers may be tempted to offer work-life balance as an enticing employee benefit. But remember, this comes with a cost. Offering unlimited vacation time, for example, will mean that you’ll have to hire new people or train current employees on how to handle the workload when someone needs time off. Or you’ll need to convince your current staff not to take advantage of the policy.
Either way, it’s just easier (and more cost-effective) in the long run if you require your team members to keep their vacations within a reasonable number per year – but allow them flexibility in scheduling them as needed. For millennials especially, research shows this kind of open-ended approach to leave time is much more appealing than rigid policies.
6) Employee Appreciation Activities
At the end of each week, employees are asked to list three things they did that week that made them happy. These activities could be anything from getting a new app published, providing support, solving a difficult problem, or something else. At the end of each month, employees are given the opportunity to adopt an activity for one of their teammates. The employee adopting the activity will provide either monetary or non-monetary recognition for their teammate’s contribution. In addition, at the beginning of each day on Monday morning, employees are asked to list five things they are looking forward to. The first three must include something related to work and the last two can be related to anything (personal life, friends).
7) Work Environment & Culture
Providing a healthy work environment is crucial for keeping employees happy. One way to do this is by maintaining a comfortable temperature in your office. Make sure your office isn’t too hot or too cold, and make sure the air quality is decent. In addition, a strong culture will help promote an inclusive environment that is welcoming to all. This means offering flexible work hours, allowing for remote work, and providing benefits for families.
A culture that encourages creativity can also lead to more innovative ideas as well as encourage employees to collaborate with one another. Finally, it is important for employers to offer competitive salaries in order to attract the best talent possible. These are just a few ways companies can foster an environment where talented individuals want to stay on board long-term!
8) Flexibility in Working Hours
In order to attract and retain the best tech talent, companies need to be flexible with their employees. One way is by giving them the option of working from home or remotely in order to eliminate commutes, reduce stress, and increase productivity. This can be a great way for professionals who want more flexibility in their work schedule or those who live far away from their offices. It also benefits employers because they are able to hire people from different areas without having them commute long distances. Remote work will likely become even more popular in the future as it offers many benefits both to employees and employers.
9) Job Security
One of the best ways to attract and retain tech talent is by creating a culture that ensures job security. One way of doing this is by having an internal promotion system. This allows employees who are more than qualified for new positions but may not be in the right place at the right time, to still be considered for promotions within your company.
Conclusion
Technology talent can be hard to find, but they’re an important part of any business that seeks to innovate and grow. We’ve outlined nine ways to attract and retain tech talent in your company—from high-tech perks to competitive benefits packages, your company will have the tools you need to make sure you have the right people at the right time. Hope you loved our strategies to attract and retain tech talent!