In the end, COVID-19 demonstrated a point many technologists have been striving to make for years; that their jobs can be done remotely. Shelter-in-place orders essentially forced companies to embrace remote work, allowing those in the newly work-from-roles to showcase how much they can accomplish when outside of the office.
The transition to a remote-centric approach also left many technology professionals wondering about their career options. It was common to reflect on whether landing your dream tech role may be easier now that companies understand the value a remote workforce provides.
If you are trying to determine if your chances of landing your dream job may have gone up, here’s what you need to know.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Skills-Oriented Hiring
Many companies now understand that an employee’s location may have little impact on their ability to excel in a position. As a result, they are increasingly open to the idea of hiring new team members who may not live anywhere near their offices.
This change in perspective has led to the rise of skills-oriented hiring. Employers are putting an increasing amount of emphasis on a candidate’s capabilities and are broadening their horizons by considering professionals from all across the country, or potentially the world.
In some ways, this could make your dream job easier to find. You aren’t bound by location, creating an opportunity to seek out vacancies far beyond the borders of your city.
However, this also creates a drawback. Since companies are willing to ignore where candidates live, they are able to tap more talent. Competition for highly desirable roles may be fierce, mainly because job seekers like yourself are searching for positions in cities other than their own.
The Shifting Must-Have Soft Skills
While soft skills are almost universally a hiring consideration, the ones you need today may not be the same one you’ve honed throughout your career. For example, when you’re working remotely, written communication skills are essential, largely because you won’t spend as much time interacting with colleagues in person. While it’s true that written communication skills were always important, companies may be less willing to overlook even the smallest shortcomings in this area today.
Additionally, remote work inherently requires some traits that may not be as critical if you’re reporting to a formal workplace each day. For instance, self-reliance and self-motivation are crucial as you’ll be spending most of your time working independently and without someone looking over your shoulder. Some technologists thrive thanks to the increased level of autonomy, though others may not.
Candidates need to reflect on their soft skills and see if they genuinely have what it takes to excel while working remotely. This is especially true if they are exploring positions that may always be work-from-home. If the paradigm isn’t a great fit, then your dream job can quickly become a nightmare even if you land your ideal role.
Ultimately, securing your dream job will always come with certain challenges. However, by understanding the current landscape, and your own skillset and preferences, you may be able to find the right opportunity for you with greater ease. If you’d like to learn more, the staff at The Squires Group can help. Contact us today.
