The Future of Work: Is Your Company Ready For It?

The last few months have seen some of the most drastic changes to the way we work in decades. Lockdowns went into effect across the world. Social distancing measures became the norm. And companies have overhauled operations while navigating one of the most economically delicate times since the 2007 global economic crisis. All while wondering what the future of work will look like.

For many businesses, survival has become a matter of adaptability. Those who respond to the changes of an increasingly volatile world are the ones that remain in the game. Those lacking the flexibility to adapt to the whims of the market and to geopolitical events are left behind.   

A Changing Business World

In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, the businesses that have proven most resilient are those that embracing remote work. Adopting a remote system has enabled thousands of enterprises worldwide to continue their operations in the midst of a lockdown. At the same time, remote work has enabled millions of employees to continue earning a living during the pandemic.

Remote is the New Normal

The remote work trend is not likely to lose steam anytime soon. The set of events set in motion by the pandemic has cemented it as the future of work. In the years to come, employees will likely to demand the option to work remotely as a basic requirement. Moving to a remote system is not a temporary fix; it is an investment into the future of your company, and one that could prove crucial to its longetivity. 

Hiring Remote Talent

Attracting the best talent will always be challenging, no matter your industry. One thing to keep in mind is that the education paradigm is also undergoing drastic changes. The best talent is not necessarily the one with a four-year degree under their belt anymore. Short, intense programs (bootcamps) are extremely effective at producing top-notch professionals ready to join the ranks of any company.

In the tech world, these programs are known as coding bootcamps. Coding bootcamps are becoming increasingly popular as people grow hesitant to spend four years in the classroom. Not to mention the tens of thousands of dollars. These courses allow students to acquire skills needed to join the workforce in months and at a fraction of the cost of university education.

When looking to recruit top tech remote talent, you can do no better than turning to a coding bootcamp. Schools like Springboard, Hack Reactor and Galvanize produce industry-ready professionals every month looking to land their first job. Having just finished a bootcamp, their skills are at the cutting edge. 

Retaining Your Best Employees

Recruiting the best talent is only half the challenge; the other half is to keep them. With competition growing fiercer in every area of economic activity, retaining your best employees is a challenge. Chances are that they will always have tempting offers from other firms. 

Money is not even the deciding factor anymore. For the younger generations joining the workforce, factors like the size of a paycheck are becoming less important. Having the right work-life balance, a healthy corporate culture, and having the option to work remotely are influencing the decision to work for a particular company. 

Of course, you still have to offer a competitive salary, but you also need to offer plenty of perks. On top of the usual ones like parental leave, paid leave or 401(k), the future of work includes gym memberships and massage and therapy sessions.

But perhaps the best way to ensure that talent stays in your company is making sure they have plenty of ways to grow as professionals. Having a competitive employee training system can make all the difference. If you take the time (and money) to train your employees, they are much more likely to stay with you; they’d know that you value them and are willing to invest in their professional development.

Focus on Data

In today’s world, data is king. Having access to the right data and to the experts that can properly analyze it can propel your bottom line to new heights. Indeed, data science has become an indispensable tool for big and medium corporations to grow. Data scientists—the professionals in charge of collecting, analyzing and deriving actionable insights from data—are highly coveted and compensated generously.

According to ZipRecruiter, data scientists make, on average, nearly $109,000. Entry-level positions earn over $95,195, while more experienced data scientists can expect salaries of up to $185,500.

Up Your Marketing Game

In the digital age, marketing is as crucial as it ever was. But the game has changed significantly. Today’s marketers don’t focus on TV, radio or print as much. Instead, they must ensure that they have cutting edge skills for social media advertising, video creation and SEO. You may be tempted to do your Facebook advertising yourself or assign it to an employee. But unless either of your is a specialist, you would be doing yourself a disservice. Hiring a professional digital marketer can profoundly impact your sales. By creating relevant, quality content and promoting it in just the right way and in the right platforms, these professionals can elevate your game.

Digital marketers are well-paid and have excellent job prospects. If you are interested in how to learn digital marketing, pay a visit to the Career Karma website, where you’ll find great content on starting a tech career.

The world is changing drastically, and the future of work is shifting fast and in unprecedented ways. Only those that can adapt will survive and lead the pack. To help your company survive (and thrive), make sure to invest in setting up a system that enables your employees to work remotely. And take advantage of data science and of digital marketing can help your company come out stronger once the pandemic subsides.