How to Harness the Tech Talent Surplus for Competitive Advantage in Building Your Business
In 2022 and 2023, the technology sector witnessed massive job slashes across many enterprise and mid-size firms. These cuts created an unprecedented pool of skilled professionals seeking new opportunities. As a business owner and entrepreneur, it is imperative to recognize how this inflection point in the technology world presents a tremendous opportunity to capitalize on the abundance of available talent.
This article will briefly discuss the reasoning behind the job cuts and will explore in depth some ways to leverage this growing talent pool, providing your business with a competitive edge in an ever-changing global landscape.
If you are a technology professional that was laid off due to cutbacks, and you are now providing professional services independently to other individuals or businesses, please reach out to me as I would like to hear your story, and write it in the next article release. Thank you!
The reasons for the substantial layoffs in the technology sector in 2022 and 2023 are multifaceted and complex. Some of the primary factors that have contributed to these layoffs include the following:
Drained Stock Values and High Inflation: In 2022, many technology companies faced reduced stock values, smaller growth, and high inflation, which put significant pressure on executives to reduce expenses and protect profit margins.
Pandemic Aftermath: During 2020 and 2021, the work-from-home trend driven by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a spike in sales and product demand for tech companies. In response, many tech firms rapidly hired talent to meet the increased demand. However, when the pandemic eased and inflation spiked, accompanied by hikes in interest rates, these companies faced a new challenge. The cooling economy and potential recession left them with bloated payrolls, prompting some companies to reduce their workforce.
Overzealous Hiring Practices: As the pandemic's effects eased, online commerce returned to prior trends, and some tech companies faced lower-than-expected revenue due to macroeconomic downturns, increased competition, and other factors. Consequently, executives cited overzealous hiring practices as one of the reasons for the decision to lay off workers.
Reorganization and Strategic Positioning: Some tech companies, such as IBM and Microsoft, made decisions to lay off workers as part of broader reorganization efforts or strategic positioning for the future. These layoffs were not necessarily based on the companies' performance in 2022 or 2023 but were instead aimed at optimizing resources and preparing for potential economic challenges .
Industry Contagion: In the case of companies like Coinbase, industry-specific events, such as the collapse of a competitor (FTX), created shockwaves that impacted the broader industry. This led to the decision to make significant cuts to the workforce as a protective measure.
Growth Expectations: Some tech companies, like Google, experienced periods of dramatic growth in the past two years and hired for a different economic reality. However, as growth expectations were not fully realized, these companies had to reduce their headcount to match the current economic climate .
Now that we understand what led to these tech slashes, let's chat about ways to leverage this growing talent pool.
Capitalizing on the Tech Talent Pool
A) Starting a Business with Top Talent
Now is an opportune time to launch a tech venture by partnering with top-tier talent. With experienced professionals available, entrepreneurs can assemble a strong team to develop innovative products and services, giving them a competitive edge in the market.
Example: Entrepreneurs launching a new fintech startup could take advantage of the talent pool resulting from layoffs in the tech sector. They could recruit experienced software engineers, data analysts, and product managers who were previously employed by leading tech companies to build a strong founding team. This top-tier talent would contribute to the development of innovative fintech solutions, giving the startup a competitive advantage.
B) Upskilling Existing Workforce
Business owners can leverage this talent pool to upskill their current workforce through workshops, seminars, webinars, or booking a consultation and coaching session with an experienced technology professional. This will not only enhance employee skills but also increase overall productivity and business performance.
Example: A manufacturing company looking to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies could leverage the talent pool to upskill its workforce. By organizing training sessions led by tech professionals who have experience in automation and IoT, the company's employees would gain valuable skills in these areas, enhancing the company's overall productivity and digital transformation efforts.
(C) Freelance and Consulting Opportunities
Many skilled professionals have transitioned to freelance or consulting roles following job cuts. Businesses can capitalize on this by collaborating with these individuals on short-term projects, bringing valuable expertise without committing to long-term employment.
Example: A healthcare organization seeking to improve its cybersecurity posture could collaborate with skilled IT security consultants who transitioned to freelance roles after job cuts. These consultants could conduct a thorough security assessment, recommend improvements, and implement solutions to safeguard patient data, all on a project basis without long-term employment commitments.
(D) Diversifying Product Offerings
Leveraging the wide range of skills available in the talent pool allows businesses to diversify their product offerings, meeting the ever-evolving demands of the market. This diversification can lead to increased revenue streams and opportunities for growth.