Career Motivations for Today’s Tech Pros
Signature Recruiting understands that every client has a unique, and often twisting, career to and through the technology sector.
Despite the differences, we also know these highly-skilled professionals share several motivations for remaining in the technology industry.
Companies we work with also recognize that by understanding the four following career motivations, they can attract and retain top tech talent.
1) Financial Gain
It’s true. Money matters.
Especially in Vancouver, where the median salary for an IT professional in 2015 was $85,000, there is a high likelihood for reliable and above-average income for jobs in the tech sector.
Earning a compensation package with a competitive salary, regular bonus, stock options and generous benefits can be the main reason that many professionals to remain in the tech field.
2) Enjoyment
The seeds for a career in technology often were planted at an early age: tinkering with computers, playing video games, and attending coding boot camps in childhood led to hackathons, building apps, and earning computer science degrees in adulthood.
The pure fun experienced as a child morphed into job satisfaction for the adult, fueling motivation over time.
It is important to recognize that technology professionals views their careers as independent from a position or employer at any given time. Their personal identities seamlessly blends with their careers.
3) Learning
A desire for constant learning is in the DNA for tech professionals, and that’s a significant motivation for working in this dynamic field.
Investing time and resources in formal education and on-going professional development indicates that technology professionals value staying current and knowledgeable about their disciplines.
Learning the latest programming methodologies, project management models, and industry issues sharpens existing skills and cultivates new ones. Not only does the value of the employee raise, but the employer also remains competitive and on the leading edge of their market with the highly-skilled staff.
When regularly provided professional development opportunities, from formal certification programs to casual IT Meetups, technology workers are more satisfied with and committed to their employers.
And professional development is not strictly limited to tech issues. Learning and practicing non-tech skills, such as team management, business analysis, and financial modeling, also suit seasoned tech professionals ready for their next challenge.
4) Problem Solving
Squashing bugs. Putting out fires.
Whatever it is called, solving problems is at the core of why so many smart and committed professionals work in the technology sector. Opportunities to tackle a complex challenge and fix an “impossible” problem with critical thinking skills are intrinsically satisfying to the tech professional.
Combined with communicating how projects support the overall business strategy and avoiding micro-management of the tech professional, employers can reap even more benefits from these employees focused on creating solutions.
Are you motivated by money or learning, or both?
Let us know what keeps you engaged in your technology career.
