{"id":4024,"date":"2022-01-26T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-26T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/?p=4024"},"modified":"2022-06-14T08:38:24","modified_gmt":"2022-06-14T15:38:24","slug":"how-to-find-great-engineering-talent-in-a-remote-global-age","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/blog\/engineering-management\/how-to-find-great-engineering-talent-in-a-remote-global-age\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Find Great Engineering Talent in a Remote, Global Age"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>We\u2019ve entered a new playing field with totally different rules when it comes to finding engineering talent. Why? Well, as you\u2019ve almost certainly noticed, the world of work\u2014and, of course, hiring\u2014has lost one formerly-crucial component: location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While some might be nostalgic for the camaraderie of the traditional office and seeing fellow developers and managers day in and day out, remote is now the <em>preferred<\/em> style of work for engineers. <strong>A recent CoderPad <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.codingame.com\/work\/codingame-coderpad-tech-hiring-survey-2022\/?utm_source=coderpad&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=survey-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>survey<\/strong><\/a><strong> found that 70% of developers want to work remotely in 2022.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The current job market also heavily favors candidates. With countless opportunities at qualified developers\u2019 fingertips, even the best companies struggle to hire and retain employees as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/larryenglish\/2021\/06\/01\/the-tech-talent-war-has-no-end-in-sight-heres-what-you-need-to-know\/?sh=488039da5f2d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tech talent war<\/a> rages on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To keep up, you need to adapt your engineering hiring strategy to the remote era. Here\u2019s how you can do it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<aside class=\"\n    cta-banner\n     cta-banner--bg-green      cta-banner--has-media \"\ndata-block-name=\"cta-banner\">\n    <div class=\"inner\">\n        <div class=\"content\">\n                            <h2 class=\"headline\">Ready to start interviewing?<\/h2>\n            \n                            <div class=\"cta-buttons\">\n                                    <a href=\"\/sales\/\" class=\"button  js-cta--get-a-demo\"  data-ga-category=\"CTA\" data-ga-label=\"Ready to start interviewing?|Get a demo\">Get a demo<\/a>\n                                <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"media\">\n                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"238\" height=\"146\" src=\"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/illustration-of-two-people-chatting-in-app-windows.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" \/>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"align-on-your-long-term-remote-work-policies\">Align on your long-term remote work policies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s still a great deal of uncertainty over the pandemic\u2019s impact on office-work timelines and a potential \u201creturn to normal.\u201d Nevertheless, companies need to have a clear sense of their direction in the long-term\u2014not just for their own benefit, but also so that candidates know what to expect. This should be communicated upfront during the interview process to help identify good matches early on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The options on remote work models include <strong>remote-first <\/strong>and <strong>hybrid-remote<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Under a <a href=\"https:\/\/about.gitlab.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/18\/the-case-for-all-remote-companies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">remote-first<\/a> model, a company has no dedicated headquarters and employees can be based anywhere in the world. Remote is the default. In a hybrid-remote setting, a subset of the company works face-to-face while others work remotely. Hybrid-remote may also include scheduled in-person meetings, but these often occur sporadically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your org hasn\u2019t fully decided which option is best, consider the pros and cons of each. When it comes to remote-first, plus points include:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The opportunity to empower employees to balance their work lives with their personal lives, no matter their situation.<\/li><li>Increases in <a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2014\/01\/to-raise-productivity-let-more-employees-work-from-home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">productivity and overall worker satisfaction<\/a>.<\/li><li>The ability to hire globally, full stop.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In the hybrid-remote model, a few benefits are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A chance to make connections and get to know <a href=\"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/blog\/engineering-management\/engineering-leadership-positions\/\">eng leaders<\/a>, in turn helping with career growth for ICs.<\/li><li>Maintaining some of the flexibility of remote work without totally giving up office interactions.<\/li><li>Opportunities for <a href=\"https:\/\/about.gitlab.com\/company\/culture\/all-remote\/hybrid-remote\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">in-person collaboration<\/a>, especially during sprints or product development phases.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, neither option is without its faults. With a remote-first model, separating work from personal life and fostering team culture can be tricky. And when evaluating a hybrid-remote system, there is the downside of paying for rental space for an office that may remain largely vacant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While you <em>could <\/em>eventually return to 100% in-office, serious opportunity costs are involved The industry (at least on the side of IC engineers) has reached a consensus: flexibility is imperative. As such, a considerable portion of qualified candidates might not even consider your company if in-person work is non-negotiable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make the right call for your company, be sure to evaluate your priorities and org goals ahead of time. Considerations about your timeline for hiring, which <a href=\"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/blog\/engineering-management\/6-ways-to-manage-your-software-engineering-team-more-effectively\/\">values<\/a> define your org, and how you plan to source talent will all be crucial in making the final decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"develop-a-remote-global-engineering-talent-strategy\">Develop a remote, global engineering talent strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Next comes the question of where, exactly, to focus your talent acquisition efforts. While you technically have a blank map to choose from, there\u2019s only so much time to pre-screen candidates and identify the best fits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, you need to dive deep and identify local markets that best fit your team\u2019s needs. When deciding where to focus your recruiting efforts, you should think about factors like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Time zone overlap.<\/li><li>Country skill profile.<\/li><li>Compensation rates.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Take Coinbase, for example. They <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.coinbase.com\/how-coinbase-is-building-our-global-engineering-team-bcb72c83a34d\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">identified three regions<\/a> of work \u2014 Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and Asia-Pacific (APAC) \u2014&nbsp;to ensure team members can stay in sync and work at similar times. This also gives Engineering Managers more autonomy. Even though team members may be spread out across countries, they still share a workflow within their region and ultimately achieve better alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, identify cities with up-and-coming tech scenes and the infrastructure to back it up within these regions. Let\u2019s say you\u2019re looking to build up a team in LATAM or EMEA. Mexico City, for example, has more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oysterhr.com\/library\/top-cities-for-tech-talent?&amp;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">170,000 tech workers<\/a> and remains a powerhouse within the North American economy. In EMEA, you could look to Barcelona, which consistently ranks in the top 5 startup hubs of Europe and has a high supply of experienced UX\/UI and CRM\/ERM professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wherever your company directs its recruiting efforts, it\u2019s vital to plan ahead and ensure that your infrastructure and the needs of new remote hires line up. Things can get disorganized quickly, so it\u2019s also critical to ensure <a href=\"https:\/\/review.firstround.com\/how-to-size-and-assess-teams-from-an-eng-lead-at-stripe-uber-and-digg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">headcount and EM-IC ratios<\/a> remain up to company standards.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, your global hiring strategy needs to account for both infrastructure and HR support. Does your organization need to support a Bring-Your-Own-Device policy, and, if not, how will you reclaim equipment when an employee leaves? Luckily, you\u2019re not on your own to navigate the waters of global hiring. There are many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.investopedia.com\/best-peo-services-5088881\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">services<\/a> you can integrate to make onboarding easier while assembling global engineering teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"build-your-brand-in-target-talent-markets\">Build your brand in target talent markets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Brand recognition as an eng org has also taken on a new identity in the world of remote work. Without the location barrier between companies and prospective employees, the tactics you use to build relationships with talent can take on new forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we covered in a <a href=\"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/blog\/engineering-management\/4-tips-to-building-an-engineering-team-in-2022\/\">recent blog post<\/a>, there are many ways to help build your brand and engage with talent that can lead your org to innovate Your overall strategy should include things like&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Regularly publishing blog posts on industry trends and content relevant to your company\u2019s product and market<\/li><li>Connecting on social media and sharing insights<\/li><li>Participating in or holding your own tech conferences to establish authority.&nbsp;<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And though it\u2019s always important to maintain a good reputation, cutting-edge orgs of today are also thinking long and hard about <em>where<\/em> to deploy their content.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re making a hiring push in China, it\u2019s worth considering WeChat to distribute content. Targeting devs in Latin America? Reach out to community leaders and software developers who can help distribute published content and product demos to make your eng brand resonate locally.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to building trust and, in turn, helping your brand reach new heights, taking the time to make your content as relevant as possible goes a long way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"double-down-on-a-structured-referral-program\">Double down on a structured referral program<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Often, talented devs know other talented devs. Sounds simple enough, right?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In tech, referral programs\u2014or programs that reward employees who recommend new hires that eventually land the job\u2014are not only ubiquitous but paramount to building future-oriented teams. Every company employs different referral structures, but they usually include a cash bonus or other prizes, with opportunities for payouts if a recommended hire stays on the team long-term.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although setting up referral programs might seem like a sizable investment initially, it proves time and again to pay off. These days, referrals stand head-and-shoulders above other talent discovery channels, accounting for <a href=\"https:\/\/devskiller.com\/30-industry-insights-hiring-developers\/#:~:text=Referrals%20from%20friends%2C%20family%20and,for%20software%20engineers%20(26.8%25).\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">27% of all hires<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Referrals not only help companies find qualified engineers in the first place, but they also offer a way to combat the long-running problem of <a href=\"https:\/\/devskiller.com\/developer-referral-program\/#Why_do_referral_programs_work_so_well\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">high employee turnover rates<\/a> across the industry.&nbsp; Polling shows that 45% of employees hired through referrals stay at companies for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apollotechnical.com\/employee-referral-statistics\/#:~:text=Employee%20referrals%20increase%20the%20likelihood,for%20more%20than%20four%20years.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">longer than four years<\/a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So how can you make sure your org\u2019s referral program makes the biggest impact possible?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start by identifying top performers within teams from across the company with the help of Engineering Managers and other leaders. Then, loop in your Technical Recruiting team and sync with high-performing ICs to get introductions. And even if a direct connection isn\u2019t possible right away, you can fall back on sharing your org\u2019s content to break the ice or inviting them to attend a company-hosted tech panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite industry upheaval, with the right strategy and an understanding of&nbsp; developers&#8217; priorities, there\u2019s never been a better opportunity to find talent from around the world to help your org achieve sustainable growth long into the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The current job market heavily favors candidates. With countless opportunities at qualified developers\u2019 fingertips, you need to adapt your engineering hiring strategy to the remote era.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4028,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"persona":[],"blog-programming-language":[],"keyword-cluster":[],"class_list":["post-4024","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-engineering-management"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4024","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4024"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4024\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7892,"href":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4024\/revisions\/7892"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4028"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4024"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4024"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4024"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=4024"},{"taxonomy":"blog-programming-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog-programming-language?post=4024"},{"taxonomy":"keyword-cluster","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coderpad.io\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/keyword-cluster?post=4024"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}