IT Recruitment Blog

In my previous blog post ‘How to build a relationship with an IT recruitment agency’, I discussed the important role that IT recruitment agencies should play in your career progression strategy. But it's not always easy to get recruiters to buy into what you’re offering.

In the hyper competitive IT jobs market, a driven specialist IT recruitment consultant with a strong network could be the difference between you landing your dream job and being unemployed for months before being forced to accept an unsuitable opportunity. Therefore, it is critical that you know how to behave to get the most from this important relationship.

Opinions about CIOs’ agendas for 2019 vary.

Gartner, who surveyed more than 3000 CIOs in 89 countries (across all major industries), has suggested that most technology leaders have overseen successful digital transformations within their organisations. Digital transformation has been high on CIO agendas for several years. Now Gartner has stated that CIOs' primary objective for 2019 is to drive scale via digital channels to enhance CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT.

After the Brexit referendum outcome was announced in 2016, Crimson initially saw a slight softening in number of IT recruitment requirements from some of its clients. This was likely due to a ‘fear of the unknown’. However, the IT jobs market didn’t dwell on this for long, and good levels of activity continued throughout 2018. Come Friday 29 March 2019, the day scheduled for Britain to leave the EU, the market for tech talent may look and feel very different.

As an IT recruitment agency, Crimson is concerned that that the current skills shortage may be exacerbated by Brexit, as a substantial portion of the UK’s tech talent originates from the EU. The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) has estimated that 6% of digital technology workers are EU nationals, and that 20% of tech workers in London originate from the EU. Should a large portion of these people decide they don’t want to live and work in post-Brexit Britain, a very substantial void could be created in the IT jobs market place, particularly in the capital.

Despite the impending introduction of IR35 looming large over private sector contractors, GDPR threatening to hit the least scrupulous and proactive organisations over their management and use of contact data, and digital disruption continually accelerating, 2018 was an active year in the IT jobs marketplace.

However, will 2019 be as healthy?

As an IT recruiter that specialises in the FinTech and banking sectors, I love to follow the innovations and developments at the start-up end of the market.

Six months ago, I met the founders of personal finance management tool ApTap at Crimson’s GinTech IT networking event (click here to view future events), and I was really struck by their offering. ApTap auto-syncs securely with users’ bank and email accounts and enables them to visualize, signup to, cancel, and share any service or subscription, with just a tap.

If you’re a CIO or technology leader operating in the current IT jobs market, research shows that retaining the rare, skilled, and talented people within your IT team is one of your biggest priorities.

Competition is fierce, with Brexit likely to worsen the IT skills shortage in the UK, so organisations are developing a range of interesting new approaches to help them retain the best people and create a stable working environment. In this article, the consultants from Crimson’s IT recruitment agency have shared some of the best ideas they’ve seen in the marketplace.

The IT jobs market is currently extremely active, which is giving a lot of technology professionals the opportunity to progress their career quickly by switching roles frequently.

However, the consultants in Crimson’s IT recruitment agency know only too well the impact that leaving an employer on bad terms can have on a candidate’s future career prospects. So, we’ve put together some tips on how  take advantage of professional opportunities, whilst retaining your good reputation, and without leaving your previous employer in the lurch.

Never forget, the way that you leave an organisation can enhance your personal brand. Here’s some rules on to how quit your IT job with dignity.

Recently, Oleg Vishnepolsky, Global CTO at DailyMail Online and Metro.co.uk, posted on LinkedIn some thoughts about the shared traits that make certain individuals masters in their chosen profession.

Oleg wrote: “You are a master if; 1) others seek your help and you know how to provide help effectively, 2) you never stop improving your knowledge, skills, and understanding, 3) you are driven by love of what you do, and 4) though you are talented, you continue to work hard.”

Over recent years, a lot of attention has been given to the tech-sector’s skills shortage, with many CIOs reporting that they can’t find / afford the skills they require in the IT jobs market. However, the UK government’s apprenticeship levy could be on the cusp of transforming the price and ease of access to skilled staff for IT teams.

What is the apprenticeship levy?

If you’re an experienced Chief Information Officer (CIO) or you’ve recently risen into a digital leadership role, you may be considering whether to do some academic studying to bring your skillset in-line with the latest digital technologies, transformation strategies, and leadership techniques.