Positive job news - RTO? Nah, we're good’, - Rock star? Not.

Author

Candle Team
June 25, 2024

📰 In this issue

🔹 Insider: Exclusive for our community

🔹 Opportunity: Job security be a rock astar

🔹 Trends: Dell RTO - Half the Squad Says 'Nah, We're Good’

🔹 Tools: Create an epic brand for yourself - for free

🔹 Sparks: Totally useless, Telegram and a cup of energy

🗃Insider

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🚀 Opportunity

The New Rock Stars (With Better Job Security)

Things remain fairly unchanged in the jobs market. You hear the same fodder, not enough talent for enterprise while layoffs abound. So what’s the best spot to be in right now, other than the soothsayers who bought Nvidia on their IPO at twelve bucks?

The fact is companies are scrambling for tech talent left and right. They need smart people for everything from fighting off hackers to building the next big AI app. But here's the million-dollar question: where is enterprise really struggling to find people?

Skillsoft just dropped their latest C-Suite Perspective Report, and it's got some juicy insights. They surveyed over 200 C-level execs, and as we’ve mentioned in previous newsletters, cybersecurity is the toughest area to hire for. AI and machine learning are close behind, followed by data analytics and cloud computing.

Now, let's put this in perspective. The tech unemployment rate is sitting at a crazy low 2.5% - that's way below the general unemployment rate of 4%. It's a job seeker's market out there!

Want to know where the hottest demand is? Check out these job posting increases from last month:

  • Data scientists: up 24%

  • Database admins: up 18%

  • Software devs: up 17%

  • Web devs: up 15%

  • Network architects: up 12%

  • Tech support specialists: up 10%

With all this demand and hiring headaches, Skillsoft's pushing hard for upskilling. Their take? Investing in your skills builds on what you already know and gets everyone ready for the next big tech wave.

🔥 Why You Should Care - If you reskillor upskill you’re in the driver’s seat
 
🔑 Key Point - Fact -companies are scrambling for tech talent left and right.

📎 Related Resource

Dell's Office Comeback: Half the Squad Says 'Nah, we're good’

As you may have read or heard Dell is getting serious blowback to its new rto policy, with about half of its workforce opting to remain fully remote despite potential career implications. This situation reflects a broader trend in the tech industry as companies grapple with changing work preferences post-pandemic.

Early 2024, Dell introduced a policy categorizing most employees as either remote or hybrid. Hybrid workers are required to be in the office for at least 39 days per quarter, or about three days a week. Remote workers on the other hand could stay home full-time but they’re not going anywhere with promotions.

The next thing Dell does is devise a color-coded system to monitor office attendance and tying career advancement to in-office presence. Again, about half of Dell's employees chose the full-time remote option for a lot of reasons including personal, financial, and logistical factors, like no office anywhere close to their homes, making commutes to the nearest facility impractical.

And how about if your team is in 5 other states or 3 different countries? Many emphasize the importance of work-life balance and the financial benefits of working from home, such as reduced commuting costs and daily expenses.

The threat to limit promotions in a lot of cases was like, so‽, they haven’t been there for years, no matter what the work arrangements. This perception has led to frustration, with some staff seeking employment elsewhere, particularly at companies without strict return-to-office mandates.

Dell's situation is not unique in the tech industry. Many major companies are struggling to balance employee preferences for remote work with their desire to return to pre-pandemic office norms. This tension highlights the ongoing shift in workplace dynamics and the challenges companies face in adapting to evolving employee expectations regarding flexibility and work-life balance.

This is going to be a balancing act for Dell and other tech companies. Do you want to attract and retain talent while maintaining productivity and company culture? Right now supply and demand is in employees favor. Talent reigns supreme right now, that’s why a lot of people told Dell to pound sand.

🔥 Why You Should Care - Sometimes it’s just common sense
 
🔑 Key Point - Right now supply and demand is in employees favor.

 📎 Related Resource

🚀 Tools

Legendary Hustle: How to be a shooting star in your field

We’ve talked about this but we’re going to amp it up a little bit. This is about a personal brand on steroids. Instead of just building a brand, create a legend that’s a mind blower, be a rockstar.

Personal brands, good and in some cases bad - take your pick, like, Zuck, Elon, Beyoncé, Trump or maybe Lin-Manuel Miranda are people that you know what they represent, immediately. They obviously don’t need any branding help but most of us do. Here are some thoughts on how to up your brand to “we want this guy” status.

Obsess Over Excellence: Spend as much time as it takes to portray yourself as the best. It's not just about standing out - it’s about going the extra mile - innovating and creating new paths. Challenge yourself daily to exceed industry standards.

Align Passion with Purpose: Don't just follow your passion; align it with your talents and a higher purpose. Ask yourself: How can I serve others through my work?

Spot Trends Early: You absolutely need to stay on top of emerging patterns and technologies. Be an early adopter and thought leader. Think Satoshi Nakamoto (whomever the hell that is) and bitcoin, Brian Chesky on AIrbnb or Travis Kalanick with Uber. Innovation, thinking outside the box.

Master Guerrilla Marketing Use of novel or unconventional methods to boost interest in your brand. More often than not you can get away with low or no-cost and involve the widespread use of more personal interactions or through viral social media messaging. So think about a lean, mean marketing plan that's 99% free.

Cultivate Your X-Factor Your personality, energy, and vitality are your secret sauce. Prioritize self-care and personal development to show up as your best self every day.

🔥 Why You Should Care - Competition is fierce, have the upper hand
 
🔑 Key Point -Stay on top of emerging patterns and technologies

 📎 Related Resource

🚀 Sparks

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