Struggling to Attract Tech Talent? Insights for Hiring Managers

Hiring in Northern Ireland’s tech sector has never been more challenging. If you’re a hiring manager or site lead struggling to secure top engineering talent, you’re not alone. Every day, we hear from companies who are facing the same obstacles, longer hiring cycles, intense competition, and candidates who are harder than ever to attract and retain. The landscape has shifted dramatically. What worked five years ago simply doesn’t cut it anymore. The demand for skilled engineers continues to outpace supply, and companies are being forced to rethink their hiring strategies to stay competitive.

The Challenges You’re Facing Right Now

• Speed vs. Quality: Move too slow, and the best candidates will have multiple offers before you’ve even finished the first round of interviews. Move too fast, and you risk making a poor hire, someone who doesn’t quite fit the culture, lacks the depth of experience needed or isn’t fully committed. Finding the right balance is critical, yet easier said than done.

• Skill Match: The demand for software engineers with expertise in modern JavaScript frameworks like React and Node.js continues to rise. PHP developers with solid experience? Even harder to find. The perfect candidate is the one with the right skill set, experience, and cultural fit. This can feel like a needle in a haystack and when you do find them, chances are they already have multiple opportunities lined up.

• Retention Risks & Counter-Offers: Let’s say you finally land your ideal hire. They’re excited about the role, they’ve accepted the offer, and everything seems set, then out of nowhere, their current employer swoops in with a counteroffer. Maybe it’s more money, maybe it’s a remote work arrangement, or maybe it’s just the comfort of the familiar. Suddenly, you’re back to square one, frustrated and wondering what you could have done differently.

• Candidate Expectations vs. Budget Reality: Salaries have surged. Benefits expectations have increased. Flexibility once a perk, is now a deal-breaker for many candidates. Yet, many companies are still operating with budgets and salary bands that were set pre-pandemic. Bridging this gap is becoming one of the biggest hiring challenges today, and the companies that fail to adapt are struggling to attract and retain top talent.

So, What Does This Mean for Employers?

The reality is that hiring in today’s market isn’t just about filling vacancies, it’s about staying ahead of the competition and building teams that will drive your business forward. The companies that are winning the talent war aren’t necessarily the ones offering the highest salaries (though that certainly helps) they’re the ones adapting to what candidates truly want.

• Transparency & Flexibility Matter More Than Ever: Candidates expect clarity around salary, benefits, and career progression. They want to know where they stand in the hiring process and how they’ll fit into the bigger picture.

• A Smooth, Streamlined Hiring Process is a Must: Dragging candidates through a lengthy, multi-stage interview process will cost you great hires. The longer it takes, the more opportunities they’ll explore elsewhere. Efficiency and decisiveness win.

• Salary Benchmarking Isn’t Optional: If you don’t have a clear understanding of market rates, you’re already behind. Knowing what’s competitive, and being prepared to offer it, makes the difference between hiring success and failure.

• Your Employer Brand Can Make or Break Your Hiring Success: What are candidates saying about your company? Do they see you as a place where they can grow, innovate, and thrive? A strong employer brand isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a powerful tool in attracting top talent.

Finding Solutions in a Competitive Job Market

If you find yourself facing these challenges, we invite you to reach out. Whether it’s refining your interview process, adjusting salary benchmarks, or enhancing your employer brand, we’re here to offer practical advice that can help you stay competitive. With extensive industry knowledge and a strong network throughout Belfast and Northern Ireland, we’re dedicated to helping you navigate today’s complex hiring landscape.

Together, we can ensure your hiring process supports your goals. For more information or to schedule a meeting, feel free to contact our team or reach out to Luke Graham, IT Recruitment Specialist, at 028 90490859 or via email at l.graham@mcsgroup.jobs.