What do candidates in IT want?

 

Today, with the labor shortage crisis affecting a multitude of fields, including the IT sector, employee recruitment and retention have become major challenges for many Quebec companies.

 

Indeed, according to the NOVIPRO and Léger 2022 IT Portrait of Canadian medium and large-sized companies, 43% of respondents believe that it is difficult to attract qualified resources and 39% have difficulty retaining key employees.

 

It is therefore essential for employers like you to understand the expectations and motivations of your candidates to attract and retain the best talent. What motivates candidates to choose your company over your competitors? What are the advantages that attract them? What are the key elements that make your employees happier at work?

 

According to our recruiters, who are in daily contact with IT candidates and listen to their needs, here are the elements that attract them the most :

 

✅ Flexibility, work from home and work-life balance

The needs of professionals have changed, especially since the pandemic affected their priorities. Flexibility of work hours and location has become a crucial element when a candidate is looking for a job, particularly in the IT field.

According to a Léger survey conducted for the Regroupement des Jeunes Chambres de Commerce du Québec (RJCCQ), 9 out of 10 young respondents want to continue teleworking after the pandemic.

Young professionals are placing more and more importance on work-life balance. Indeed, according to the Concilivi survey of Quebec workers, conducted by Léger, work-life balance is the second most chosen criterion, just after salary, by workers when choosing a job.

 

✅ Training and career development

Training is one of the crucial criteria for attracting and retaining your IT employees. According to 2022 research by the Regroupement des Jeunes Chambres de Commerce du Québec (RJCCQ), 89% of professionals aged 16 to 35 want access to ongoing training at work.

Companies who continually provide ongoing training to employees are more likely to attract candidates who wish to develop and acquire new skills. It also allows retaining employees who want to grow in the company.

IT professionals are also attracted to companies in which they can evolve and climb the career ladder. The possibilities of evolution and professional advancement are important factors in their choice.

 

✅ Team Synergy

Well-being at work is important! Candidates are looking for a healthy workplace environment with a good atmosphere and a harmonious team in which they can easily integrate. It is therefore important for you, the employers, to maintain and promote a positive atmosphere in your teams to attract candidates and retain your employees.

 

✅ Organizational culture

Candidates are looking for a company whose culture matches their values. From recruitment, the company culture can be a determining factor. Therefore, the recruiter must be authentic as well as make sure the candidate feels welcomed. The recruitment process should be clear, short, and simple.

The management style also has an impact on their decisions. Candidates want to work for a company that adopts a management style based on collaboration, recognition, and active listening.

Leveraging social media is an effective way to promote your employer brand. Social networks are excellent tools to attract talent and get candidates to work in your company.

 

✅ Salary

While it is true that salary is not the only motivation for IT candidates, it is still an essential factor in their choice. Salary is important to attract and retain IT professionals. It should reflect the skills, experience, qualifications, and responsibilities required for the position.

Compensation must be aligned with the current market. It is also important to offer attractive salary increases to retain your employees and motivate them.

 

✅ Employee benefits

In addition to salary, benefits can be an effective way to attract talent, motivate your employees, and improve your company’s retention rate.

You need to go beyond health/dental insurance and retirement savings plan. You have to stand out with other attractive benefits: telemedicine, vacation weeks, time off between Christmas and New Year’s Day, family leave, paid time off on their birthday and/or work anniversary, summer hours, cell phone reimbursement, office equipment lump sum, team building activities, happy hour, allowances for physical activities, etc.

The possibilities are wide, be creative. Ask your employees for their ideas and what benefits they would like. All means are good to find the rare pearl! You can also make a difference by offering your employees the Tedy platform, a Montreal-based startup that is reinventing employee benefits for your business.

This will also have a positive impact on work mobilization, decrease absenteeism and reduced stress of your employees.

 

All these factors are important because they contribute to the well-being and happiness of your current and future employees. Having happy employees shows, exudes happiness and helps attract and retain top talent. According to a 2021 Workplace Happiness Study, the well-being of your employees contributes to overall happiness: the happier your employees are, the more likely they are to be resilient, motivated and creative, and thus they will stay longer in your company.

 

Today’s candidates know what they are worth, and what they want. Companies must listen to them, adapt to their needs and work harder on their recruitment strategy. If you want to stand out and attract the best talent, you must highlight the advantages of integrating your company, but also put them into action afterwards to retain and keep them.

 

You need support to accelerate your IT recruitment? Do not hesitate to contact our Team of headhunters specialized in IT, who will be happy to help you find the best talent!

 

💻 https://delan.qc.ca/en/contact/ 📞 514-744-3000 📲 info@delan.ca