Explore the world of data center jobs through the eyes of Bo Scott, an accomplished IT recruiter at Blue Signal. Bo specializes in sourcing talent for the data center and mission critical facility industry, making him the ideal guide to explore the pressing talent shortages for data center developers. Keep reading to gain insights that could lead to a fulfilling career path.
Why Can’t We Hire?
Recruiting for data center jobs in the data facility ecosystem is a fun and exciting undertaking for our team at Blue Signal. The developers and vendors that support the insane growth in demand for high power computing and storage solutions are filled with talented, dynamic, forward-thinking visionaries that possess an awareness of the incredible potential for themselves and their companies moving into the Artificial Intelligence-driven future of business and productivity. They see it, we see it, but what about those sitting on the outside?
Wrap your mind around this insight: data analysis by the Uptime Institute brings to light that more than half of data center operators are presently contending with difficulties in attracting top-notch talent. Alongside this, a substantial 42% are wrestling with the task of retaining their workforce in the midst of a talent war.
The average professional driving West on I-10 in Phoenix has no idea what is happening inside the massive buildings they see in Buckeye, Laveen, and Goodyear. They may wonder, in all genuineness, how the internet works or how their 5G smartphone can quickly and seamlessly stream a podcast while they commute to work on a Monday morning. They may imagine that the cloud is some nebulous thing that exists somewhere inside the headquarters of companies like Google or Amazon. Would these talented accountants, finance professionals, construction workers, marketers, analysts, engineers, etc. be suited for a career within such a high growth industry? Absolutely. Are they presently aware of the potential for data center jobs? In our experience, not quite.
This post attempts to appeal to both sides of the hiring equation for data center developers/ vendors and the potential wave of talent that can and probably should consider making an industry change.
The Outsider Appeal: Revitalizing Data Center Teams
We hear it all the time; busy hiring managers at high growth companies decrying the fact that several seats remain unfilled within their team or group. The solution? Let’s hire someone with 5+ years of data center industry experience that will be able to hit the ground running, they say. While that is certainly possible and incumbent upon third party recruiting firms and internal talent acquisition teams to meet the brief, it would behoove hiring managers, especially those overseeing more agnostic business functions like accounting, to consider investing the time and effort to onboard and train outsiders that are genuinely excited to break into the industry and grow. In my experience, outsiders possess a hunger to learn and an eagerness to advance that is fueled by the novel prospect of an industry change.
In response to the shortage of skilled talent, the data center industry is launching more training programs to broaden the pool of qualified professionals, according to insights from JLL’s Global Data Center Outlook.
While this approach to hiring will certainly lead to more work for the hiring managers and their teams in the first sixty days on the job, the unfilled seat(s) will likely cause more problems for understaffed teams due to overwork, burnout, feelings of underappreciation, and many more issues that lead talented professionals to open themselves up to discussing other opportunities with recruiters. In the profound awareness that I sound like Captain Obvious here, I shamelessly make my appeal. It might be time for you to consider industry outsiders for your team.
Data Center Jobs: Your Gateway to a World of Opportunities!
If you are an accomplished or aspiring professional considering potential industries of interest, your options are abundant. The impact of Artificial Intelligence is evident in high-tech industries, especially in data center jobs. The digital infrastructure, which is crucial to our interconnected existence, supports all of these sectors. Most data center developers are working on 20-30 year backlogs for new builds, and the demand is only increasing as computer and storage requirements skyrocket. The future of the industry is bright, and your skills would greatly benefit the fantastic companies in this space.
Conclusion
So, when considering your next career move, why not inquire more seriously about the amazing things that are happening inside of those massive buildings next to the highway or that historic skyscraper downtown that has been retrofitted to house racks of servers keeping your data safe and secure? There are incredible opportunities for career growth within the data center industry and I for one am thrilled to be playing a part in helping my clients and candidates think outside the box and grow.
About Bo Scott
Meet Bo Scott, a true advocate for growth in the world of data center jobs and technology. Bo excels at matching the right people with the right opportunities. He primarily specializes in business/data analytics recruiting, IT recruiting, engineering recruiting, and more. Whether you're a job seeker or a company seeking to hire, Bo's expertise paves your way to success. Connect with Bo today and discover the difference his relatable approach can make to your journey.
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