Realistic Expectations for Hiring Developers: Avoid the Impossible Demands

In the rapidly evolving world of technology, recruitment has become a crucial part of any organization. However, hiring developers has its unique challenges, mainly because the field of technology is relatively new. To make a successful recruitment, a comprehensive understanding of the roles and functions of technology is required, including the technicalities of each role and the quality required by each seniority. Unfortunately, this knowledge is often missing, and recruiters end up with impossible demands for the technical talent they seek.

The lack of understanding of technology roles and functions makes it challenging for HR managers to recruit the right people for the job. Many organizations do not have a clear understanding of what their technology department needs, leading to the creation of unrealistic job descriptions. For example, some job postings require candidates to have more than seven years of experience in Angular, a JavaScript framework that was only released in 2016. Similarly, job descriptions may require more than ten years of experience in React Native, a JavaScript library for building mobile apps that was introduced in 2015. Such job requirements are not only impossible to meet, but they also create an unnecessary obstacle to hiring competent developers.

Another unrealistic expectation is to require a developer to know every technology or language in existence. Many recruiters believe that a developer should have an in-depth understanding of every programming language and technology, including the ones that have recently been introduced. Such a requirement is unrealistic because technology is constantly evolving, and new languages and tools are continually being developed. Moreover, the job of a developer is not to know every language but rather to understand how to build solutions to specific problems. It is more important to have a good foundation and understanding of the system than to know a particular language.

To overcome these challenges, recruiters need to have a global understanding of the roles and functions within the technology industry. A recruiter must work with the technology department to understand the specific needs of the organization. This understanding will enable the recruiter to create a job description that is specific to the organization's needs and reflects the reality of the available talent pool. Additionally, companies like Utopicode can provide the necessary assistance to technical recruiters by matching them with developers who fit the specific needs of their organization.

It is important to note that technology is relatively new, and there is a learning curve and adaptation period for technical talent. A developer who has a strong understanding of the system can quickly adapt to new languages and technologies. Companies that focus more on the ability of a developer to learn and adapt rather than the years of experience will benefit from a more diverse talent pool. Additionally, having a developer who is adaptable will result in more creative solutions, better problem-solving skills, and a more flexible team.

In conclusion, hiring developers in the tech industry requires recruiters to have a comprehensive understanding of the roles and functions within the industry. The technicalities of each role and the quality required by each seniority must also be understood. Unrealistic expectations, such as requiring years of experience in languages or technologies that have only been around for a short time, are counterproductive and discourage competent developers from applying. Understanding that technologies are relatively new, and there is a learning curve and adaptation period, is essential to finding the right developer for the job. Ultimately, companies that focus on a developer's resourcefulness, and ability to learn and adapt, rather than years of experience, will create a more diverse and flexible team.