Well-educated, technology-savvy and success-oriented digital natives are in demand on the job market. In this blog you will learn what makes a job attractive for digital natives.
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In recent years, numerous efforts have been made, not only in Switzerland, to counter the lack of young talent in the IT sector: universities and colleges have developed new courses of study in computer science and IT, companies offer training opportunities or paid internships for career changers, and many large companies have outsourced business activities in the IT sector to geographically nearby locations.
Nevertheless, most HR specialists, recruiters and market observers agree that the so-called "talent gap" in the ICT industry is unlikely to be bridged any time soon. According to a report by the Swiss ICT and Internet industry association (SWICO), all segments of the ICT industry in Switzerland are struggling to recruit specialists.
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These five requirements should be met by your IT infrastructure in 2021
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According to studies, the change in the labor market caused by digitalization and globalization has a direct impact on the innovation potential and competitiveness of companies. Digital natives currently make up the majority of applicants in the ICT industry and a significant proportion of employees already on the job market. According to Gabler Wirtschaftslexikon, the term digital native refers to a person "who has grown up with information technologies and the Internet since childhood and is unfamiliar with a world without digital media."
Generation Y, which includes everyone born between about 1980 and 2000, is the first generation of digital natives. "They have already fundamentally turned the job market upside down with desires such as home office and flexible working hours, as well as with their self-evidence in the use of social media. Rigid working hours are unattractive to them," writes international management consulting firm Mercer in a blog post. In this age group, the desire for self-determined work is great.
"Gen Y wants to think for themselves, act independently, be mobile and work flexible hours," concludes recruitment specialist HR Monkeys. Representatives of Generation Y often question hierarchies and thought patterns. They expect superiors with good leadership qualities and continuous feedback on their work.
An open and transparent communication culture plays an important role in recruiting and managing the first generation of digital natives. A productive working atmosphere as well as a corporate culture that matches their own personality are also central to making Generation Y feel comfortable at their workplace. Digital natives prefer employers who promote community and teamwork.
Digital natives benefit from investments in customized IT infrastructure, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and other technologies that enable them to perform repetitive tasks more efficiently. They find it easier to delegate work to technology than their older colleagues. This allows them to focus on strategic activities and the core business.
The option to work remotely can be a major advantage when recruiting new employees. In surveys conducted years before the outbreak of the pandemic, many digital natives said that flexible working hours and the option to work remotely were aspects that should not be neglected when choosing an employer. Self-determination is an important asset, especially in Western culture.
For many employees, it is motivating to be allowed to work in an environment of their own choosing - and in some cases with working and break times of their own choosing. The group and open-plan offices that have become standard today, with constant contact with colleagues, are not the right environment for all employees. Being able to choose a place of work that suits you can be perceived as a sign of the employer's appreciation and be conducive to motivation.
Flexibility in working hours and location requires a flexible and stable IT infrastructure. It must be possible to access applications at any time, from anywhere in the world and with multiple end devices. The cloud is accessible around the clock, which enables flexible working hours and minimizes downtime.
When deploying the IT environment, factors such as the size of the company, the way it operates, its mission, its industry, and the size of its existing and planned portfolio must be taken into account. Xelon understands the IT environment requirements of today's workforce and is happy to help IT service providers build the right infrastructure.