There Have Been Significant Changes in the Global Tech Industry
Since the Covid-19 pandemic started, there have been significant changes in the global tech industry. Some would say that the pandemic has led to an incredible shift in tech recruitment. It’s going to take years until some of these changes can be reversed but some of them will remain forever. First of all, there has indeed been a growing demand for tech workers across the globe. However, there are still some tech fields that have not been in high demand. Workers in these fields have to reskill with solid online job training courses if they want to remain in the market.
1. Tech Firms Are Thriving on Diversity
Before the coronavirus pandemic, the tech industry in Silicon Valley was one of the most diverse in the world. Post-Covid, it is expected to become even more diverse. The big guns in the tech industry—Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and Google—have indicated their desire to make their talent pool more diverse. Thanks to the more fluid approach to remote work, reaching their diversity quota will be easier than ever. Now, it doesn’t matter if a candidate is staying in Silicon Valley or not. If they are qualified for the job, they can be employed from anywhere they are based even if it’s outside the United States.
2. Unexpected Job Loss in Silicon Valley
There has indeed been an increase in the demand for tech workers. As stated above, however, not every tech worker in the United States was able to keep their jobs. Some departments have had better luck than others. About 69,000 tech workers from startups were laid off. The majority of these workers are from Silicon Valley tech firms. Since the pandemic started, Silicon Valley has been slowly losing its networking strength. Before now, getting a tech job within the Valley was easy. All an individual needed was a few strategic introductions here and there. Now, things have changed. Thanks to the availability of remote opportunities, these workers can seek employment outside Silicon Valley.
3. More People Are Picking up Tech Skills
According to Udemy, more and more people are picking up tech skills daily. They recognize that technology is the key to the future of everything. So, picking up a tech skill is now a matter of future survival. If you want to stay relevant in the ever-changing workspace, you should pick up one or two tech skills. Computersciencehero noted that some of the most popular tech skills among online learners are cloud computing, machine learning, coding, and programming. With the right online bootcamp, you can pick up these skills from anywhere in the world.
4. Tech Workers Are Fleeing the Valley
Long before the coronavirus pandemic started, many tech workers in the Valley were contemplating leaving to more affordable cities. While some gathered the courage to leave, others stayed behind because they weren’t ready to let go of their high-paying jobs. Now that remote work has become an option, most of these workers have decided to take advantage of this opportunity. Tech companies in the Valley have agreed to let their remote workers relocate to more affordable states. However, they may need to accept salary cuts depending on where they choose to go. These companies have already set up virtual offices, infrastructure, and everything they need for a remote working environment. Those interested in long-term remote positions are free to apply.
5. The Recruitment Process Will Change Forever
Since the beginning of the pandemic, many tech workers have reportedly secured employment without taking onsite interviews. The HR department sets up online interviews through video conferencing platforms. A typical example is Zoom. With a computer-enabled device and Internet connection, the HR staff can recruit talent from anywhere in the world.
Conclusion
The tech industry may not have taken a strong economic downturn like many other industries in the Covid-19 era. However, it has changed many things in the industry and many of these changes will last indefinitely. The biggest change Covid-19 has brought to the tech industry is the popularization of remote work. While remote work in the tech industry has always been an option, it has never been this widespread. Even after the pandemic, it will continue to trend.
