A new report from SolarWinds suggests that IT professionals are feeling more confident during the pandemic. Thus, according to the survey, tech experts admit to having been more proactive in bringing new ideas to the table and taking on a bigger role.
Also, experts believe this newfound confidence is the result of IT pros being used to sudden shifts and unexpected situations – a quality that has helped them ride the Covid-19 wave as opposed to being swept by it.
IT has been
pivotal to business resilience during this unprecedented crisis, elevating tech
experts within their organisations and putting them closer to the
decision-making process.
IT professionals: Bye to VS Codespaces and Flash Player
Microsoft has decided to end Visual Studio Codespaces (formerly known as Visual Studio Online). The cloud-based development environment will then be merged with GitHub’s version of the same product.
Microsoft’s move comes after some developers expressed confusion between the two nearly-identical products. Unfortunately for developers, there is currently no way to migrate existing projects from one platform to the other.
The company has also warned businesses to get ready for the end of Adobe Flash Player support. Microsoft and Adobe first announced the phase-out of the popular internet media player in 2017. From January 21, Flash will be disabled in both IE 11 and Microsft Edge browsers.
IT professionals are feeling more confident so that the government-funded think tank Tech Nation reports a 36% increase in tech vacancies between June and August.
The sector is
experiencing a fast recovery compared to other industries, with 90,000 new jobs
being advertised every week across the UK.
The most sought-after skills identified in the report include:
Tiobe Software’s latest Programming Community
index points at a revival of C++.
The
35-year-old language is the fastest growing language in terms of popularity,
while C tops the list of most used languages.
Experts at the company believe the new C++20 standard is responsible for the recent uptick, moreover, the standard includes a new modules feature which replaces the infamous include mechanism function.
Other languages gaining popularity are R and C#, whereas Java has experienced a drop compared to last year.
The pentester is a role related to the field of cybersecurity security. Its name comes from “penetration test.” The main role of a pentester is to ensure the security of information networks and applications (back end of a site, applications, etc.) and protect systems against cyber attacks.
What is the role of the Pentester?
Check website reliability
As the name suggests, the pentester performs tests with controlled intrusions into the company’s computer systems to find possible vulnerabilities.
Fix issues
After the testing stage, the pentester has to find and implement solutions to resolve the flaws identified. They will then have to reinforce and optimize the security of the applications.
Provide advice and guidance
The pentester also plays an advisory role. They must anticipate threats, put in place best practices and recommend more effective protection tools.
Required skills
Programming mastery
The pentester should be proficient and familiar with programming and web programming languages, cryptography, coding systems, and network security auditing (Python, C / C ++, Java, PHP, etc.)
An educational vocation
The pentester must be able to effectively convey encountered flaws to site and application developers. They must therefore be educators with the ability to communicate well with the developers and technical teams, to know how to clearly communicate problems to help manage them as well and quickly as possible.
Rapid action
When an intrusion occurs or a security problem is identified in a computer system, it must be resolved quickly. A poorly protected system can be devastating for the business. The pentester must therefore demonstrate reactivity and proactivity.
Within the industry
A pentester can progress to a managerial position or any other senior position in the field of cybersecurity. Their job is critical in an IT world where cyber attacks are growing more and more recurrent.
Salary
The average daily rate of a pentester fluctuates between €300 and €600.
Training
To be a pentester, you usually need to have an undergraduate or graduate degree in an IT-related discipline and demonstrate at least a base level of cyber security knowledge and experience.
Making it through uncertain and changing times requires companies to be nimble, act fast and keep a big-picture mentality. At the organisational level, that means implementing smarter resource management and allocation; cutting down fat and focusing on the most future-proof lines of business. Discover these business skills that become priority amidst pandemic.
Although it might seem counterintuitive to a business world that has grown accustomed to laying off personnel whenever there is a crisis. Doubling down on human capital is key to the success of this strategy.
According to Degreed, in the December-March period, the number of clients who searched for business-related trainings to upskill their workforce increased. On the other hand, queries for IT-specific trainings took a considerable dive.
The change of focus makes sense. As higher-level business and management skills can help a great deal in navigating change and identifying new opportunities. For IT professionals and technical profiles, making a lateral career move to become more business-savvy can prove very beneficial.
The most coveted business skills
Based on Degreed’s data, these are the business-related skills for which demand has increased the most since the start of the pandemic, from least to most:
Leadership
This one is a no-brainer. Now more than ever, senior IT experts must know how to effectively take the lead to ensure the proper innovations are implemented across the board. Team management, setting goals and tracking progress, spearheading interdepartmental cooperation. These skills often make the difference between an IT expert and an IT leader.
Compliance
What used to be something for lawyers to worry about is becoming part of everyone’s work life. Especially in areas like IT or marketing, where data privacy regulations keep getting stricter; there is a clear advantage to having specialists who know how to avoid legal minefields in their day-to-day.
In data science and analytics, for example, countless hours of legal review can be saved if those building the models know exactly what they can and cannot do.
One of the most prevalent and accessible data visualisation tools out there. Microsoft Power BI is a business intelligence platform that caters to business users. As an IT professional, knowing your way around MS Power BI will make you a great asset in today’s enterprise. There is always going to be someone in need of an expert to help them set up the environment, train end-users and troubleshoot.
Coaching
Helping others succeed should be every coach’s main goal. This is achieved through motivational support, understanding and the potentiation of individual and collective strengths. Being able to help in that regard makes for a great addition to the team.
In IT, the emergence of new standards of working and team organisation; like Agile or Scrum; is making the figure of the coach an even more important one.
Six Sigma
Devised by Motorola engineer Bill Smith in 1986, Six Sigma is a set of tools for process improvement. Its focus: to streamline business processes while minimising the probability of errors. Six Sigma is now standard for many companies, so it can be worth picking it up.
Change Management
As this whole crisis is demonstrating, managing change is no easy task. One of today’s most repeated business terms, change management refers to the series of processes involved in helping an organisation or industry transition to a new reality. Change management takes into account all stakeholders involved in and necessary for this transition; employing a mix of communication; training and restructuring to effect change.
Design Thinking
Based on how designers are taught to approach problems, design thinking is a way of looking at the world as much as it is a method for developing better and more efficient solutions. The strategy parts from putting oneself in the shoes of the end-user, designing the product for what it needs to be in addition to what we want to be. Clearly, a useful methodology when designing apps and platforms.
Looking for your next star hire or the next step in your career? Club Freelance is here to help you.
Given how competitive today’s IT jobs market is, most of us can use a few pointers on how to find a job in IT.
But, first of all, let’s get something out of the way: the question of whether it is best to look for a job when employed than when unemployed.
There are many reasons why someone would think looking for a job while unemployed is harder. Hiring companies might be suspicious of your trajectory when you have been out of the game for a while. They could think you lack certain skills or drive; that there’s something missing from your profile that led to you being unemployed.
On the other hand, looking for a new job when you already have one shows ambition, nonconformity. It is proof that the IT talent market values you and gives you more leverage when negotiating your contract conditions.
Well – yes and no.
There are many good reasons for an IT professional to be out of work. You might be waiting for the perfect project, planning a change in direction. Or perhaps you simply wanted to take some time off after a few intense projects in a row. That’s especially true for freelancers, who often experience employment gaps in between projects.
These four simple steps can be of help to find a job in IT, whether you are employed or unemployed.
Develop a solid portfolio to find a job in IT while being unemployed
Chances are you already have a great deal of experience under your wing. You’ve worked for interesting companies, played a key role in noteworthy projects, helped bring to light successful products.
Beyond including all that experience in your CV, putting together a short portfolio can help potential employers get a better picture of your skills and strengths. It doesn’t need to be a portfolio as polished as. Let’s say, that of a designer or a graphic artist – a simple explanation of every one of your best projects will suffice. If you’re after a programming job, put together some of your best code.
Gather your references
Nothing validates your capabilities better than satisfied former employers. Instead of waiting for the hiring company to ask for your professional references, present them upfront. By doing so, you will be showing proactiveness, confidence in your professional profile. It will also help you stand out among other candidates.
A good letter of recommendation by an ex-colleague who is in a good position and/or company at the moment can be very helpful as well.
Keep on learning
This is something you should do even if you are not looking for a job at the moment. Since technology is continuously evolving, your success as an IT pro depends in great part on your ability to keep up with the most in-demand skills – both technical and other, softer skills.
Take advantage of the many free online IT courses out there. Develop new skills, challenge yourself. It will show employers you’re not just standing there, idle, that you are ambitious and in constant motion.
Find a job in IT by attending industry events
It’s true: the pandemic has put on halt most in-person industry events. However, and just like the rest of the business world, these get-togethers are adapting to the new reality.
Webinars, online Q&As… These events offer a great opportunity for you to gain visibility within the community, to talk or chat to potential employers and let them know you are looking to find a job in IT. It’s always easier to get your foot in the door through an in-person (or online) introduction.
If the crisis found you in the middle of a
job hunt, you might now be wondering if you’ll be able to find a job at all in
the current climate. Or perhaps your projects were put on hold and you need new
ones ASAP.
No need to worry.
With the surge in remote work and internet
traffic, businesses need IT professionals now more than ever. Cloud computing
services like Microsoft Teams and Azure are skyrocketing. So is
videoconferencing. But that’s not all.
Many businesses weren’t ready for this sudden digital transformation and need all the help they can get. Additionally, the rise in digital operations has accentuated the cybersecurity skills shortage.
Find out what industries are booming and how you can seize the moment in this article.
News from the frontlines…
With every day that goes by, we hear of
another tech initiative being launched to halt the spread of COVID-19. These
are certainly inspiring new developments, and we thought they deserve a space
in our weekly MCC update.
Stay
tuned every week to learn how vital the IT world is becoming in this global
fight ?
In the
meantime, you can get acquainted with all ongoing efforts with this
great article.
This week’s highlight?
Quantum computing leader D-Wave Systems is giving free cloud access to their quantum computers to anyone working on responses to the pandemic.
The power of comedy
As psychologists often remind us, seeking
solace in humour is a very healthy response to difficult situations — You
surely have noticed an increase in the number of memes you are receiving as of
late.
So…
here’s another weekly section! This week…
A software engineer at Dell has created a great (and fun) comic on why we shouldn’t be afraid of AI.
Plus, seriously — be careful with videoconference filters. These guys’ boss spent a whole meeting being a potato:
Yes, the world has stopped. We are living through scary and uncertain times. Millions of people find themselves stuck at home for the foreseeable future. While businesses across the globe scramble to move their operations online and stay afloat. In this climate of uncertainty, economists and global institutions are telling us to brace for the worst crisis since 2008; some say even worse. Workers are losing their jobs, and whole activity sectors are freezing new hires.
If you were in the middle of a job hunt when all this started, nobody would blame you for becoming discouraged by the current situation. Or perhaps your current IT projects have been put on hold and you are fear you might not be able to find new ones anytime soon.
Well, we have a message for you — don’t surrender. There is still plenty you can do.
Thriving amid adversity
At the same time that industries like commercial aviation are going through the darkest days of their history, other businesses are thriving. From entertainment platforms and social networks to online retail and videoconferencing services, some companies are simply very well-positioned to take advantage of our society’s sudden change of habits. Even too well-positioned in some cases.
Enterprise cloud companies are experiencing lag and connectivity issues, while streaming services have had to downgrade their video quality to cope with the traffic increase. Meantime retailers are hiring in mass to meet the demand for online shopping and home deliveries. You can focus your job search on those sectors that are thriving in the middle of this chaos. There are plenty.
You can also join the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19 by collaborating with the many technological initiatives now underway — from 3D-printed ventilators to AI and data modelling.
A global thirst for ITspecialists
The coronavirus outbreak has prompted a lot of companies to undergo light-speed digital transformation. Classes are going online, telemedicine is now a real thing, and you can visit museum exhibits through your laptop.
All of these organisations need skilled IT talent like yours. A recent study by London’s Imperial College suggests that, only in the UK alone, 48% of companies will prioritize technology hiring in the coming months.
Additionally, the soaring numbers of employees working remotely is accentuating an already existing problem: the cybersecurity skills shortage. If you have security experience or are thinking of obtaining some, now it’s the time.
The world has stopped: Gain new skills, take a closer look at your career
When was the last time you had so much time? Only the hours saved by not having to commute should be enough for you to benefit from the current situation.
Tons of free learning resources are available online these days, from coding bootcamps to university classes in all sorts of topics. Some eLearning portals like MasterClass have even started offering free courses for those at home because of to the pandemic. You can also develop your skills with a certain technology by using free official resources like openSAP or Microsoft Learn.
On the other hand, it’s not always that we get the chance to stop for a moment and re-evaluate our career’s direction while the world has stopped. Are you happy with what you currently do, or perhaps is it time to embrace other passions? Is there something you could do or improve on to advance your career?
If you wonder how to get a job in IT consulting, here are the top 5 most sought-after soft skills in IT that you should cultivate to thrive in consulting.
Soft skills are becoming more and more decisive in the IT world. Which traditionally valued technical or hard skills above all others. That made sense when IT departments were siloed from other areas of activity and seldom involved in everyday business decisions. But today, technology permeates all layers of our society and is integral to the success of most companies. As a result, IT consultants now more than ever need to possess a series of complementary traits. To stand out among their peers, work more effectively with others and secure the best contracts.
The first of the most sought-after soft skills in IT is the entrepreneurial spirit. One of the key qualities for consultants in any field is their entrepreneurial drive. Consultants need to be proactive in their efforts to find new projects and clients to work with. They should be able to identify and outline a career path, to find a niche suitable to their capabilities and where they can shine. New business development know-how is also important. To become an IT consultants you must stay on the lookout for contract opportunities and foster professional relationships that will lead to them.
At the same time, this very same proactiveness is one of the main reasons employers hire IT consultants in the first place. They want an expert that can operate autonomously and bring in a new perspective to a particular problem . Which brings us to the next point.
Creativity
Also referred to as problem-solving, the ability to approach scenarios with an open mind is very advantageous in fields like IT. In which the best path forward is not always obvious. Lateral thinking is one of the principles upon which innovation is built.
Making the most of the resources available to you is critical when time is of the essence and the map uncharted. If you like riddles and logic puzzles, you are on the right track.
Jumping from one project to the other requires flexibility. The to become an excellent IT consultants you need to be capable of succeeding across different teams and industries. Adapt to different company cultures and ways of working. As well as to the various IT infrastructures and development environments of the modern enterprise.
Furthermore, technology and businesses are constantly evolving. And consultants must update their skillset and knowledge accordingly if they want to stay relevant.
Interpersonal skills
Adaptability is closely tied to the ability to work collaboratively. IT consultants not only need to interact effectively with other engineers and managers; they also must engage with other stakeholders – like decision-makers and end users — who might not be proficient in certain technologies or jargon. A good IT consultant can communicate problems, solutions and needs in a clear and plain manner that everyone will understand.
On the other hand, possessing good interpersonal skills helps IT consultants better integrate into company teams. When you are brought into a pre-existing project, it is very important to be able to connect with other employees to both have a better experience and make sure all those involved are aware of the added value you are delivering.
From a business development perspective, social skills can greatly help in your networking efforts to find contracts.
Curiosity
The last of the soft skills most sought after by companies to hire an IT consultant is curiosity. Just as importantly, a good consultant should keep a hungry mind. The curiosity to learn new things, whether they are related to your area of expertise or to a specific business domain, is the engine that propels professional and personal development forward. Ask questions – to yourself and to others. Scratch the surface and always try to go the extra mile.
The staffing as a whole is undergoing a profound and rapid transformation brought about by technological disruption, a generational shift in the workforce and new economic trends. A €416-billion industry by 2018 global estimates, the sector is expected to grow by 3% in 20201 and will only increase in importance as the needs and challenges of a fast-evolving job market make it an essential part of the talent acquisition process. But what about the IT staffing sector in particular? One could say IT staffing enjoys all the benefits of the industry’s current situation while avoiding most of its downsides.
The irruption
of technology
From job boards and professional networking platforms like Indeed and LinkedIn, to new corporate administrative tools such as vendor management systems (VMS), technology is shaking up the industry from head to tail. While some see this as a threat to the traditional staffing business model, 87% of recruitment professionals believe agencies should embrace digital transformation to remain competitive. Simultaneously, 55% of staffing firms expect their technology investments to increase in 2020.
There are many ways in which technology can help recruiters do a better job. For instance, artificial intelligence and networking platforms facilitate and accelerate the sourcing of candidates, which represents a major advantage in a field of work in which winning the race against the clock is a key factor of success.
IT staffing: Demand outweighs supply
Skill obsolescence is a well-known side effect of progress. However, with new technologies emerging at a growing pace and changing the way businesses operate, the skill gap is rapidly widening. Not surprisingly, 77% of staffing professionals cite skills shortage as their top challenge. That is especially true for IT staffing.
In 2018, in fact, 49% of S&P 100 job postings were for only 39 roles. Most of these were vacancies for IT-related positions like software developers and computer systems engineers. As a critical function to businesses in the age of digital transformation, IT is one of the most understaffed and contested labour sectors.
Moreover, the constant evolution of technology and its business applications ads a layer of complexity to the generalised and persistent shortage of skills experienced by the staffing industry. The newer the technology, the fewer qualified professionals available. The demand for expertise in fields like data science and cloud architecture, for instance, is impossible to meet.
As a result, many companies look to IT staffing agencies for help in identifying and securing tech talent. Another solution to the skills shortage is leaning on the burgeoning freelance community to supplement internal capabilities.
The importance of soft skills
As it happens with more and more jobs, the IT sector is
increasingly in need of professionals that can complement their technical
knowledge with abilities like adaptability and interpersonal communication.
Commonly referred to as soft skills, these capabilities have become crucial in
a time of rapid and sudden business transformation. This is particularly true
of IT professionals, who were traditionally judged by their technical skills
and now need to demonstrate greater social and change-management competences.
Knowing what each side needs
The talent supply gap and the importance of freelancers offer, of
course, a great opportunity for IT staffing companies. However, IT recruitment
is a crowded space, with many companies and agencies often competing for the
same candidates and positions. Thus, it becomes essential for agencies to have
a deep understanding of the needs of both candidates to differentiate
themselves from competitors and be able to deliver solutions quickly.
AI for recruitment. AI penetrates all areas and promises tremendous gains in efficiency, speed and performance. There has been a lot of media buzz lately around its recruitment applications. What long-term impact will AI have on the staffing industry? Used well, these new technological tools will allow recruiters to focus on their added value and; paradoxically; make the recruitment of the future more human.
AI promises in automation
For the past twenty
years, we have witnessed an ever more extensive and efficient automation of the
recruitment processes. These developments are built upon extremely complex
analytical models. Defining and anticipating the skills that the company needs,
identifying the most suitable talent and ranking candidates based on precise
job criteria are processes that require taking into account many variables.
Moreover, through its ability to consider contextual elements as rich as they are varied, artificial intelligence promises to make this level of automation a reality. In a field like IT recruitment, where time is of the essence, being able to quickly match candidate profile with company requirements is a decisive advantage.
Artificial intelligence in IT recruitment
In the recruitment of IT freelancers, for example, AI makes it possible to process very quickly huge volumes of data linked to the profiles of candidates. Previous gigs, areas of expertise and preferred sectors, years of experience… But also exogenous data such as the candidate’s place of residence and travel times. AI also makes it possible to analyze the quality and interest of the positions offered. Helping identify the types of projects that are most promising in terms of career development.
Furthermore, considering elements linked to quality of life or to the characteristics of the offer maximises the chances of success of an investment; by making it possible to identify profiles with high potential and that are likely to be interested in the mission.
AI for IT recruitment: Towards an uberisation of recruitment?
AI’s capabilities are making great strides in matching supply and demand. Hence the emergence of fully automated solutions, of players who “platformise” recruitment. Which bring about a vision of recruitment as an almost exact science.
This vision would like technology to replace human appreciation entirely; thus putting an end to the recruitment profession and replacing it with ever more sophisticated and intelligent algorithms.
But this vision is implausible. Recruiting is not just a science, it is also an art.
IT recruitment: the human touch
In recruitment more than in any other field, the human being occupies by definition a central role. Soft skills, matching the values and culture of the company, and compatibility with other team members… They are all key factors for a successful placement. As much as the level of education, years of experience, references or results obtained in a technical test. And yet, these are all parameters that an artificial intelligence can never assess as well as a human.
Even more so when we talk about recruiting for high-level positions. It is hard to imagine choosing a CIO or an Innovation Director via a fully automated process. Neither the candidate nor the company would subscribe to it.
From artificial
intelligence to augmented intelligence
It is really a
question of going beyond the dialectic “all digital vs. all human”.
Recruitment professions must integrate AI and make the most of it as a tool for
human decision-making. And thus allow the business to refocus on its true added
value.
AI involves a real qualitative leap, reducing the risk of error and saving unprecedented amounts of time. AI will certainly replace humans on certain tasks, but mainly in repetitive and boring tasks. It increases the performance of the recruiter by allowing faster and more targeted searches. And thus optimizes time and communication with the candidate. Far from dehumanizing the relationship, AI, on the contrary, allows us to focus even more on humans.
Artificial intelligence for recruiter: the next level
This is good news for recruiters. These new tools will allow the profession to gain new levels of recognition, with richer and more interesting daily tasks. Also, it will give us the ability to understand the needs of the company in terms of skills. To create a stronger connection with the candidates. As well as to understand the aspirations and constraints of each party involved.
It is also and above all good news for candidates. Because recruiters will be able to devote more time to them and offer them a better experience. Firms will be able to enrich their service offer with more support. Especially in the key stages of onboarding and taking of office of the selected candidate.
It is, therefore, the human-machine association, the combination of artificial intelligence and emotional intelligence. That will revolutionise recruitment and put people back at the heart of the processes. We may no longer be talking about Artificial Intelligence, but augmented Intelligence.
At Club Freelance, we have a priority: to constantly improve our services and processes to keep bringing more and more value to the community of IT decision-makers and consultants that we support on a daily basis. This commitment requires today more than ever greater investment in digital, something which is deeply ingrained in our vision and approach to the digital IT sourcing and placement of consultants.
Digital IT sourcing: Our business maintains and will always maintain a human-to-human approach
Our goal is not to
“platformise” our activity. We believe that a successful recruitment strategy
does not rest solely on a good match between the needs of the company and the
skills of the candidate, but also on thoughtful interactions, strong attention
to soft skills and a well-designed onboarding process.
And that is whether we
are talking about recruiting for a permanent or for a freelance position.
Our real added value,
therefore, lies in the expertise of our teams. It is what allows us to build
relationships of trust with both clients and candidates and to nurture those
relationships through long-term support and guidance.
Human expertise can
be enhanced and further developed with the help of technology and digital tools
That is why Club Freelance
has been based since its inception on a hybrid model. We combine the very best
that humans and digital tools have to offer to deliver high-quality, efficient
sourcing solutions that can keep up with the complex and evolving needs of
today’s businesses.
Digital allows us to
target with ever greater precision the profiles sought, to gain in efficiency
and speed in all our processes, to better communicate with all parties involved,
and even to improve our own knowledge of the market. All to the benefit of our clients
and candidates.
In short, digital
tools offers us the opportunity to provide a richer and more personalized
service. It is with this objective in mind that we designed our web interface.
What does our site offer?
A wide array of
useful resources – for you, not just for SEO
Support and guidance
are at the heart of our value proposition, both for our candidate consultants and
our recruiting clients. We are committed to providing you with the best
resources, information and practical advice that our expertise and our own
resources can produce.
Our goal: to increase the
value we bring to the table with a unique take on content that is both relevant
and useful to you and your goals.
Accordingly, our new site puts much of its focus on content. Mission Control Center (MCC) is a one-stop-shop for IT career and talent acquisition advice, tech news, and in-depth analysis of industry trends – a guide for professional and business success.
And we do not intend to stop there. Stay tuned — New content types and formats are just around the corner.
Website features and digital IT sourcing
Last but not least, our
web interface comes with a host of new features to make life easier for our
clients and candidates:
For our community of IT consultants in search of their next gig:
A personalised dashboard with integrated application management capabilities, allowing for the monitoring of the application process in real-time, the online management of invoicing and all other paperwork. Oh, and it also features useful statistics and a personalized calendar.
For our community of IT decision-makers and recruiters
Our community of IT decision-makers and recruiters looking for top talent will have to wait just a little bit longer. This will be the next step in our digital development and the enrichment of our service. We cannot tell you more for the moment, but rest assured – It is coming really soon, and will be packed with tons of features dedicated to businesses.
We hope you enjoy our
new. Please do not hesitate to send us your feedback by responding to this blog
article or reaching out to a member of our team. Thank you for your continued
trust, and we look forward to presenting you with the next news.
Thomas Delfort, CEO of
Club Freelance, and the whole team.