Money talks, it appears, in the world of IT talent attraction and retention. In a market increasingly characterised by competition of top performing talent – for employers, preferably on a permanent basis – the need for clear alignment between IT employers’ recruitment and retention practices and the job motivations of employees they seek, is essential.
Chandler Macleod Technology completed our research of 308 IT professionals and 43 organisations employing IT professionals in December 2010, and discovered differing views on the topics of:
- Salary and remuneration
- The relative importance of a range of financial and non-financial aspects of an employment offer
- The attractiveness of consulting vs permanent employment (and why)
This document outlines both our findings and our advice to IT professionals, in order to mitigate the risks associated with perception disconnects for each of these issues. We conclude that unless alignment can be achieved, the gaps between employer and employee perceptions and motivations will hinder IT talent sourcing and retention,and the attractiveness of employer offerings to IT professionals.
- Be prepared to hunt around for the right role, and negotiate your package - don’t necessarily accept your first offer
- Form an alliance with consulting firms to keep informed on market movements and which organisations will best suit your needs –expert advice will ensure you avoid being paid under market value.
- Tailor your offering (contract vs. permanent) to potential employers based on the industries need