Attracting and retaining talent has always been challenge in the tech industry, but the pandemic led to an unprecedented acceleration of tech adoption and digital transformation that makes it more critical than ever. Remote and hybrid work environments are now common and nearly every organization is a tech company with many turning to the Cloud to facilitate change and take advantage of opportunities. High demand for Cloud skills coupled with the rapid development of Cloud technologies requiring new skills has created a talent gap that is one of the most pressing challenges to Cloud adoption. A PwC survey of CEOs found that 77% were worried about the availability of key skills.
Bridging the talent gap requires strategies that consider multiple dimensions including attracting new staff, retaining existing staff, optimally leveraging the people you have and training new skills as effectively and efficiently as possible. Here are 5 big picture strategies to help you attract, retain and effectively leverage Cloud talent.
1. Invest in your current team
Microsoft’s Work Trend Index finds 43% of employees are somewhat or extremely likely to consider changing jobs in the coming year. In an environment where it is easier change jobs and employees have many options, a key pillar of any talent strategy is to retain your current team. Prioritize creating an environment where people have opportunities to learn new skills, take on new challenges and grow professionally. The same qualities that help retain staff are also attractive to potential hires.
2. Training and upskilling
Commit to training and upskilling your team to attract and retain staff. Robust training keeps your teams current on new developments, builds their professional expertise and leverages their knowledge of your legacy systems. When it comes to the Cloud, your organization’s skill needs are unique and context specific. Your staff already has the insight to better understand how to leverage new technology for your business objectives which gives them a leg up over potential new hires in quickly delivering value.
3. Establish Centers of Excellence.
A Cloud Center of Excellence brings together the people in your organization who are furthest ahead in their Cloud journey so they can share knowledge, learn from each other and lead the way for others in their upskilling journeys. An effective Cloud Center of Excellence expedites learning through shared knowledge and resources and by developing methods to disseminate new Cloud skills throughout your organization.
4. Learn while doing.
Classroom or individual online training are not enough for your staff to gain skills and fully apply them to your organization. Learning while doing helps staff understand and apply new skills to their work which provides them deeper, long-lasting learning while providing the organization a quicker return on training and technology investments. Applied learning approaches like paired programming, dojo or job rotations can effectively upskill staff while putting their new skills to work right away.
5. Leverage Consulting Partners.
External partners can bring broad Cloud expertise and specific industry knowledge to work side-by-side with you to help you cut through the growing Cloud options and determine what works best for your unique context. Partners can embed with your teams to collaborate on identifying the Cloud tools and technologies that best fit your context and create a well-defined roadmap to achieve your business objectives. A strong consulting partner can reduce your overall costs, build up your internal Cloud expertise and help you quickly realize value from your technology investments.
Download the 5 Strategies to Bridge the Talent Gap infographic for a visual overview of these strategies.
