Priorities for teamwork have changed over the course of the pandemic, with communication channels and support networks opening up vital conversations between different departments. As understanding and empathy grew across many industries, leadership roles began the push for prioritising employee wellbeing within workforces, meaning the future of technology teams is set to change.
Alongside team structures, the pandemic concreted a huge shift in our digital landscape - with thousands of businesses launching websites and adopting SaaS strategies. Continuous improvement, high investment, and our dynamic market forces technology companies to streamline business processes to gain a competitive advantage, and we’re facing an environment where in-house IT departments can expect to work with outsourced maintenance and cyber-security experts.
British sit-coms like the IT Crowd have long since portrayed IT teams to be socially awkward and self-dependent. Now, the nation’s “introverts” are expected to work in tangent as the technology industry booms to an all-time high, growing ten times in size over the last ten years.
By honing their people skills, investing in communication channels, and looking to key market leaders demonstrating the way.
The “Additional” Characteristics for Tech Workers
If you work in the tech industry, you’ll know all the basic personal requirements: unending patience, the ability to explain complicated things in an easy way, and of course - a keen, intelligent mind. However, our changing industry comes with new expectations.
Recruiters are now on the hunt for friendly team members over self-motivated individuals. Job testing now includes team-strategising alongside the ability to perform in your specific field. Being able to communicate clearly has become almost as important as qualifications and talent - and being proficient in Team Collaboration Software like Microsoft Teams is now a demand from many firms.
Top tech hires are expected to:
Have curious and quick minds
Work with speed and agility
Demonstrate integrity and commitment
Show a passion for their area of work
Be dedicated to continuous learning
Align goals with company culture
Add value as a member of the team with integral people skills
Work with “high competence and low arrogance”
See the bigger picture
Maintain excellent emotional discipline
(Source: Forbes)
Technology Advancement Driving Career Change
With new expectations being placed on Software Engineers and Developers across all fields, there’s true potential for a real shift in talent. Due to COVID-19, many skilled tech workers discovered new priorities of their own, and many workers now prefer flexible freelance job roles - opening up positions with global companies, and leaving many entrant positions up for grabs.
As technology continues to improve, businesses are competing for skilled and specialised staff, especially those in cloud computing, backend development, and data scientists able to work with smart AI.
Shifts in popular programming languages (such as from Java to C++) show that continuous improvement is a key characteristic for any jobseeker or anyone on the hunt for promotion. If you’ve been looking to advance your career or start in a new field, it’d be smart to take control of your own education - participating in free training courses like the Cloud-Native Computing Foundation’s classes provided by Linux.
Role Models in the Tech Industry
For anyone looking to undergo a career change, or learn new skills that can be applied across adapting technology roles - following role models on platforms like LinkedIn will give you key insider insight for what to look out for.
Manu is a great example of an ambitious, communicative entrepreneur who regularly gives Ted talks. He’s in his early 20s and has already been named in over 50 national and international media awards. His inspiring content strategy will help you learn about being a present, active member of any team.
Marie is famous for her podcast, which often explores work-life balance and how you can live your best life. Her insight into the industry, as well as experience from being a freelancer and small business owner will help you get in the right mindset for a progressive career, no matter how the technology industry changes in the future. Tim O’Reilly - CEO O'Reilly Media
As a Huxley article professed, Tim “builds bridges from tech to communication, [and] he captures early innovations right in the beginning and helps to propel them into the world.” His knack to predict trends will help you anticipate the next step for your career, and choose a path that works for you. You can also learn a lot about communication methods from him, as well as build your confidence to go after what you want.
Adapting to New Demands in 2022 and Beyond
Preparing yourself for the future comes down to both collecting the information required, and then applying it. Observing successful teams, taking notes, and then reflecting on your current skills and qualifications will help you anticipate a shifting job market and make the most of your career.
Current trends suggest these are the most in-demand roles across the U.K if you’ve been looking for a change:
SEO/SEM Marketers
IT Support Professionals
Data Scientists
IoT Engineers
Blockchain Engineers
Business Intelligence (BI) Analyst
Cyber Security Analyst
Cloud Engineer
App Developer
Machine Learning Engineer
(Source: Techno Engineer)
At Forward Role, we’ve seen a vast expansion in our technology team! We’re always looking for candidates wanting to be connected to dynamic job roles, so if you’ve been searching for new and exciting employment opportunities, we’d love to help. Or, if you’re looking to grow your technology function, get in touch with us.
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