The IT sector is one of the most prosperous at the moment, constantly developing not only in our country but also internationally. In this context, EXE Software compares the profile of someone who is well suited for IT work today to how they looked a decade ago.

The first change is in terms of work methodology. In the past, Waterfall was quite popular, but Agile has become a better alternative for most companies. This influences all teams and how candidates are selected. Since this newer methodology involves constant communication and feedback, it is far more important that applicants are open to interacting with their co-workers and even clients. Ten years ago, hard skills and technical competencies were essential, whereas today, soft skills have become equally important.

When IT first became a valuable industry in Romania, candidates were familiar with more than one technology. However, in recent years, the field has developed rapidly and programmers should focus almost exclusively on one specialty, be it a framework or a programming language. Taking into consideration that we find ourselves in a transitional phase, there are still many challenges IT companies face when it comes to using new technologies. For instance, although necessary, re-writing an old software application using a new language can be difficult. There is a continual need for Web Development teams (especially for .Net framework) and Business Intelligence.

As far as candidates’ behavior is concerned, in the past, they used to be more active and apply to jobs themselves. Today, headhunting is human resources’ primary means of recruiting. Recruiters approach passive candidates whose profiles match what the company needs to discuss opportunities and offers. Given the size of the domain, candidates are more and more aware of their capabilities, which leads to higher expectations, so companies must meet their demands, provide attractive offers, and adapt their environment to potential employees’ preferences.