RALEIGH – When talking competition for tech talent in the Triangle, IBM’s Rich Ingle can sum it up in one word: Fierce.
“What used to be a few tech companies, now everyone is a tech company,” said Ingle, IBM’s global leader of sales execution and transaction, who was among those employers at NC TECH’s Triangle Job Fair this Wednesday.
“We have people dropping resumes off that did internships at Advanced Auto. So the competition now for the talent that we’re looking for, is fierce. They can literally go work almost anywhere.”
Indeed, insiders say it’s an emerging trend to see non-tech companies seeking out tech talent, fueling the competition.
IBM’s Rich Ingle and James Skeen talk to a perspective employee at at NC TECH’s biannual Triangle Job Fair this Wednesday.
That was on full view when around 30 companies turned out to the bi-annual job fair – with companies like The Clorox Company setting up stand just a few steps away from IBM in the McKimmon Conference and Training Center in Raleigh.
Software developer demand drives high-tech job opening surge in NC
“Half of the top hirers of tech talent are not tech companies,” said NC TECH CEO Brooks Raiford. “Belk department store has hundreds of tech workers. People wouldn’t necessarily think of that. Lowe’s Home Improvement is often in the top-ten list of hirers of tech talent. So don’t overlook bran names that you wouldn’t think of.”
Job-seekers market
Around 450 job seekers showed up, hoping to land one of the 2,000 jobs collectively on offer – from entry level to senior roles in software development and engineering, data analytics, and more.
Brooks Raiford, CEO of NC TECH, talks jobs
And by all accounts, it’s a job-seekers market at the moment.
According to NC Tech’s most recent monthly jobs snapshot, IT job listings are on the rise, topping 23,000 in three of the last four months, compared to the average of 21,000 in the eight months prior.
“[These] are record months for job openings,” said Raiford. “That means demand is at a peak, which is good for candidates.”
But if you’re an employer, it means you have to bring your “A game” to attract the top talent.
“It’s not just about, ‘Hey, we’re IBM. Just come work for us forever’,” said Ingle, who is looking for “full-stack” engineers that have specialized knowledge in all stages of software development, and DevsOps engineers (a clipped compound for “development” and “operations”).
“It’s about how do you build a career for someone and make it exciting for them to join us, relative to all the other things that are in the hopper.”
Meanwhile, he doesn’t see the competition easing up anytime it soon. “I think it will get worse, honestly. Let’s say Apple or Amazon shows up. You’re going to have such a tremendous demand on these skills that it will be a fundamental shortage.”
Sweeteners for talent
With demand for talent spiking, recruiters are getting proactive.
“Most candidates these days are kind of passive,” said April Collazo, director of Human Resources for Digital Turbine, mobile app advertising business, who was recruiting at the job fair for the first time.
“You have to reach out and try to encourage them to take a look at your job.”
At present, her company has 13 open positions. “Some of those harder-to-fill positions have been open for four months or longer. Most of our positions are filled within two months.”
Among her company’s sweeteners: unlimited vacation, extra training, conference travel and, yes, free snacks.
“We have the whole gamut of snacks and drinks,” she said, smiling. “We also have Beer Fridays. We work with smart, creative folks, and we have a good time.”
Job seekers feel the love
Matthew Smith, 25, from Fayetteville, was among those lining up to meet potential employers. He’s currently on active duty in the military, but is transitioning out through the Microsoft Imagine Academy, which trains soldiers with no experience to become junior software developers.
Chris Haddock shops for a job at the NC TECH job fair.
“It’s definitely a good time to be looking,” he said.
“Nearly everyone here is pro military. Even just coming from a junior level, they’re open to helping us. I’ve been getting good responses.”
Chris Haddock was a little more cautious.
“I want to go into networking,” said the 50-year-old who currently works as a cyber instructor in Fort Bragg. “I’m seeing where the pull is, and I might have to rethink my strategy on my next stop of my career. As long as I still have a job, I’m positive.”
Ultimately, he said he’s not too picky. “As long as the medical is there for my family and I’m doing what I want, I’m happy.”
