Passive Candidates: The biggest recruiting trend of 2023

Passive Candidates: The biggest recruiting trend of 2023

by | Nov 3, 2022 | Software Development, Workspace

Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

It’s no secret that the software industry is already very competitive in getting the best talent out there, which means employers have to work hard to attract the best and brightest. There’s no shortage of strategies to catch the attention of those developers and engineers looking for a new opportunity (from recruiting HR firms that specialize in the tech industry, to software events and meetups), but in 2023, the challenge of bringing the people you need for your company will probably be bigger than ever.

Passive-Candidates-The-biggest-recruiting-trend-of-2023-icono

But why is that? Well, for starters, the current tech job market is kind of a mess. The industry is plagued by some unprecedented instability thanks to several factors, ranging from the disruptions caused by the still ongoing pandemic to the geopolitical situation of many important regions of the world to bets in big technological projects, like cryptocurrencies and the Metaverse, not panning out as planned. The result is that the tech industry, as a whole, is currently going through a downturn that is causing layoffs, hiring freezes, and diminished budgets that create a climate of uncertainty among tech developers, and these challenges don’t seem to be going away soon. 

So, thanks to uncharacteristically tough times in the tech industry, and the current state of its job market, finding qualified talent can become harder than ever before. These conditions have marked the rise of a unique trend in talent recruitment that will pose a challenge for any tech organization down the line:  the passive candidate, or the people not looking for a new job but who would be willing to move elsewhere if it looks like the right opportunity.

The importance of this segment for the tech industry cannot be overstated. While many recruiters focus their efforts on active candidates, meaning those who are actively searching for new employment through the usual channels, passive candidates can often be a hidden talent pool encompassing over 79% of working professionals. And reaching them is no easy task, especially for medium-sized organizations that might have a harder time competing recruiting-wise. Sure, online tools such as LinkedIn and Google to search for qualified individuals who may not be actively seeking new opportunities can be a good start. Personal connections and networking can also be used to reach out to potential passive candidates, but it’s important to understand that the current job landscape means that it’s very unlikely for a candidate to consider leaving a position.

Today, the search for stability trumps any other consideration for a software developer. 2023 is not going to be about career growth, the opportunity to work in new and exciting tech, or whatever benefits and perks a company can offer, but rather keeping a job at all. From the passive candidate’s perspective, is easy to sum it up as “the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t”, and situations like Meta rescinding job offers, Twitter laying off 75% of its workforce after Musk’s buyout, the continued collapse of many cryptocurrency ventures, Oracle cutting jobs in their cloud division, and more, make it easy to see why changing jobs is not an attractive option right now. But what alternatives are there to successfully reach a pool of talent that could make a difference for any project?

The run for passive candidates

Passive Candidates The biggest recruiting trend of 2023 2

To reach these potential candidates, you need to think outside the box and use creative recruiting methods. The key is getting your message in front of as many qualified individuals as possible, including attending industry events, searching online for candidate profiles, or even reaching out to personal contacts. The challenge, however, is that you are not the only one running this race, so ensuring that your company is at the top of mind for the best and brightest in the software industry sometimes needs creativity to reach the people you want:

“Census data shows, for example, that the majority of people who took a new job last year weren’t searching for one: Somebody came and got them”, said the analysis by the Harvard Business Review. “Companies seek to fill their recruiting funnel with as many candidates as possible, especially ‘passive candidates’ who aren’t looking to move. Often employers advertise jobs that don’t exist, hoping to find people who might be useful later on or in a different context.”

After all, there’s a reason why the saying “the best software developers are already employed” is so popular. Those whose talents are critical to an organization are likely to already be comfortable in their positions, especially when the industry is not as stable as it used to be. Usually, these people tend to be open to opportunities, but that might not seem like the case anymore, especially if you are a start-up or a medium-sized company. So how can you find these hidden gems? The answer is simple: you need to go where they are.

And we don’t mean spending time on popular coding forums and websites, participating in online chatrooms, or attending industry events. It takes effort to find passive candidates, but this is true only if you look at your local prospects, which are often the hardest to convince, and the unstable tech market of 2023 will mean that the resources you can commit to this task might be too much. However, building a dream team of top-notch software developers is not out of reach for those medium-sized organizations that might not be interested in passive candidate competence, with a solution virtually next door.

Top talent in Nearshore

Passive Candidates The biggest recruiting trend of 2023 3

If passive candidates are proving elusive and hard to reach, what could be an alternative to it? Well, if you’re looking for top-notch development talent with a very specific set of skills and experiences, you might want to consider partnering with a Nearshore organization like Scio, that not only aims for the best software development in Mexico, but can help you close the gaps between the people you need, and the limited pool of talent you want. Here are a few reasons why:

  • You’ll have access to a larger pool of potential candidates. When you partner with a Nearshore software company, you’re not just limited to the talent in your immediate vicinity; you can tap into a much larger pool of qualified candidates, making it more likely that you’ll find the perfect fit for your needs.
  • You’ll save time and money on recruiting. If you try to recruit development talent on your own, you’ll likely have to invest a lot of time and money into the process and doubly so for passive candidates. When you partner with a Nearshore software company, they can handle the recruiting for you, making the process much more efficient and cost-effective.
  • You can take advantage of flexible staffing options. Nearshore software companies typically offer more flexible staffing options than their offshore counterparts, meaning that you can scale up or down as needed, without being locked into a long-term contract.

Overall, partnering with a Nearshore software company is an ideal way to find top-notch development talent. With access to a larger pool of candidates, lower recruiting costs, and flexible staffing options, it’s easy to see why more and more businesses are making the switch, so it may not make sense to spend valuable time and resources pursuing passive candidates who probably wouldn’t want to leave a job they’re content with. The top-notch talent that the rest of the industry is fighting to get is just there, your company might only need the right partner to enhance your team in just the right way.

The Key Takeaways

  • 2023 is going to be a tough year for the tech industry, and recruitment will become more and more competitive.
  • One of the biggest trends for 2023 is the rise of the “passive candidate”, who is not actively seeking a new job, but seems to be open to opportunities.
  • However, the unique situation of 2023 means that these candidates will be harder to reach and convince, as stability is a #1 concern, and changing jobs goes against that.
  • So, for a medium-sized company or a start-up, finding the right talent locally might be a big challenge to overcome.
  • This is why Nearshore talent recruitment can be such a good solution, offering a pool of talent that can go toe to toe with your local candidates, but with the cost-effectiveness and flexibility you want.

Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies for pioneering tech companies. We have been building and mentoring teams of engineers since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – We have teams available to help you achieve your business goals. Get in contact today!

Social anxiety and the workplace: How to achieve a better environment when returning to the office?

Social anxiety and the workplace: How to achieve a better environment when returning to the office?

by | Aug 15, 2022 | Nearshore, Workspace

Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

They may have been happy to put the office behind them when the pandemic first struck, but software developers with social anxiety are now bracing for the return to the office. And so far, the results have been mixed; not even corporations like Apple have managed to get it right, in most cases deciding to implement policies that date back to pre-pandemic times, which are difficult to sell in the modern Tech industry we currently find ourselves in. 

DevOpinions Is the Python language here to stay

The main issue is that, for many, the thought of having to collaborate in person with colleagues is daunting; while the pandemic forced a lot of them to confront their fears and learn how to manage them, they’re still not sure if they’re ready to return to an office environment thanks to a widespread issue that’s becoming more and more of a challenge for the modern developer: social anxiety, a barrier to success in any field, but it’s particularly challenging in software development, where collaboration is essential. 

However, by understanding the challenges workers with this condition face, employers can create more supportive environments that help everyone thrive, because right now, for many software developers, the thought of returning to the office after months of working from home is less than thrilling, and the fear of being around other people, having to collaborate on projects face-to-face, and the unique pressure of meeting deadlines at the office can all contribute to a sense of anxiety. 

So, while it’s true that working in software development can be a solo endeavor at times, the best developers are aware that collaboration is key to creating a successful product, which is especially true when returning to the office (even just for a couple of days of the week) after working remotely, a challenge that most workplaces will need to consider moving forward. 

As this BBC article puts it: “Anxiety has rocketed among young people during the pandemic, and although there’s little data on exactly how many people are dealing with it, it’s estimated that 12.1% of US adults experience social anxiety at some point in their lives”, so, with many questions still up in the air (if the pandemic will have a definitive end, if the job market will change, if the Great Resignation will have lasting effects on the industry), it’s important to think what this means in terms of the workplace.

The meaning of interaction

Keeping Your Compliance: The other meaning for “KYC”

As Luis Aburto, CEO and Co-Founder of Scio has talked before about the importance of feeling part of a larger whole: “Although right now full remote work is the preferred model for many people in the tech industry, I believe that things are going to shift soon, as more of us start feeling the weight of the isolation that it builds up. After all, work can be more than just the means to make a living, it can also allow you to be part of something together, a community. The real challenge of transitioning to an effective hybrid model will be to promote and maintain this feeling of community and belonging.”

For software development teams that are Nearshore or just distributed, it can be difficult to create a welcoming environment for everyone, which is especially true for people with social anxiety, However, there are a few simple things that can help to make everyone feel more welcome and included, like providing opportunities for small-group or one-on-one interactions, even through remote means. 

Alternatively, it’s helpful to create an open and inclusive atmosphere by discouraging social hierarchy and encouraging collaboration, being understanding, and accommodating of people who may need extra time to warm up or may prefer to communicate electronically; one of the challenges of software development is that it is often a very collaborative process, which can be difficult for people who may have trouble opening up and communicating with others. Asking them direct questions about their ideas or thoughts can help to draw them out, and it is also important to give them time to process what is being said. It is possible to work successfully with someone socially anxious, although it requires both parties to be willing to adjust their communication style.

“The idea of having to interact with colleagues on a daily basis, attend meetings, and take breaks in common areas can be overwhelming, but there are some silver linings to returning to the office for those with social anxiety. For one, it can provide an opportunity to reset social boundaries and gradually ease back into more intense interactions”, says Human Capital Manager at Scio, Helen Matamoros.

“Additionally, returning to the office can also give people with social anxiety a chance to practice their “social skills” in a safe and controlled environment. Of course, everyone’s experience with social anxiety is different, and not everyone will feel comfortable returning to the office right away. But for some, it may be a necessary step in getting back to a sense of normalcy.”

After all, working with others helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page, and it also allows for a different perspective to be brought to the table. However, simply standing side by side is often not enough. To have a meaningful interaction, it is important to create a culture where interactions are meaningful and welcoming, fostering connections that help people feel at ease and eager to participate, so here are a few things you can do to make sure the office is as inclusive as possible:

  • Make sure they can look up someone’s name. This may seem like a small thing, but for someone with social anxiety, it can make a big difference. Back in the day, you could have name tags to make it easier to start up a conversation, but in a hybrid office with distributed collaborators, having a directory or something similar to look up teammates, leads, the management or any other person they might need is invaluable.
  • Encourage collaboration. Many people with social anxiety feel more comfortable working in small groups or pairs, and by encouraging flexible collaboration, you can help create an environment where everyone feels included. This may mean having regular check-ins or setting up specific times for team members to share their thoughts and ideas or providing opportunities for people to work on projects alone or in small groups. For people with social anxiety, it can take some time to warm up, but once they do, they can be great collaborators.

  • Define objectives clearly. Make sure everyone has a clear understanding of the project and their role in it. This will help to reduce any feelings of anxiousness about not being able to contribute, especially for new collaborators not accustomed yet to the rhythm of the office, as well as ensuring they have clear guidance when working remotely.

“When you have a connection with someone, it becomes easier to work together towards a common goal”, in the words of Luis Aburto, is the principle at work in Scio.

The advantage of Nearshore

Nearshore and FinTech: Easier than you may think

Focusing on Nearshore software development is also a way to create a more supportive environment. By collaborating with other developers from around the world, software developers can work on projects at their own pace and in their own space, without the pressure of having to be in an office. In addition, nearshore software development companies often have a better understanding of the needs of workers with social anxiety and can provide support and coaching to help them succeed. As a result, workers with social anxiety can find nearshore software development to be a more supportive and confidence-building environment.

Software development is an increasingly important field and one that is constantly evolving. The traditional 9-to-5 office model is increasingly becoming a thing of the past, with attitudes and challenges in the way of hybrid or remote workplace solutions, and those companies who are willing to offer different options to their employees, as well as accommodating conditions like social anxiety right now is becoming more and more common, could allow developers to collaborate with others more easily. As the workplace changes, it’s important for both software developers and organizations to adapt, and flexible work options and open-mindedness will allow them to do just that.

The Key Takeaways

  • Social anxiety is no joke, and our quickly changing landscape, in terms of economic stability, technological leaps, and pandemic flows and ebbs, will only make this condition more and more common.
  • There are ways for software development organizations to accommodate and anticipate this condition among workers; being flexible and open-minded are some of the most effective.
  • Options like distributed workplaces, or Nearshore development collaboration, are great for flexibility and communication, which can help deal with the increasing social anxiety that will be the norm for the time being.

Scio is a Nearshore software development company based in Mexico where we believe that everyone deserves everyone should have the opportunity to work in an environment where they feel like a part of something. A place to excel and unlock their full potential which is the best approach to create a better world. We have been collaborating with US-based clients since 2003, solving challenging programming puzzles, and in the process showcasing the skills of Latin American Engineers. Want to be part of Scio? Get in contact today!