- Germans perceive good working conditions in the IT industry
- 24.2 per cent see a good balance between work and family
- eco Association gives seven tips for strong employer brands
57.9 and 54.9 per cent of Germans respectively state that jobs in the IT industry are future-proof and well-paid. The opinion research institute Civey surveyed 2,513 people over the age of 18 about the statements related to professions in the IT industry. 37.5 per cent believe that working hours are very flexible. 24.2 per cent see a good work-life balance. However, only 15.4 per cent see a high demand for female professionals.
“Most people have realised that jobs in the IT industry offer attractive working conditions,” states Lucia Falkenberg, Spokesperson for the New Work Competence Group and CPO at eco –  Association of the Internet Industry. “Unfortunately, many companies do not communicate this authentically and clearly enough. Young IT talents expect economic security today and in the future, as well as flexibility in managing their own working hours – this is where the Internet industry can score. The industry is also paving the way for rethinking work and promoting freedom, meaning and diversity in the job,” Falkenberg continues. She advises companies to strengthen their employer brand in this direction and gives seven tips:
- Create a corporate culture based on trust. Leaders in the digital world – digital leaders – rely on trust, transparency and participation. They act as moderators and coaches for digital, locally distributed value networks. This sense of responsibility ensures that people enjoy working for their company, especially when they find a deeper meaning in it. The idea of “purpose” and the question “What am I working for and what am I contributing to?” are brought to the forefront.
- Offer the opportunity to work flexibly in terms of location and working hours. More and more employees are opting for mobile working models, working from abroad or within the framework of the four-day week. The trend is towards work-life blending, i.e. blending work and private life to a greater extent.
- Bring your female specialists and managers in the forefront to actively recruit female professionals. A corporate culture characterised by diversity and measures that promote work-life balance will help you find female professionals. Further tips are provided in a white paper by the eco initiative Ladies in Tech (LiT).
- Embrace diversity. Your corporate culture should promote diversity and differences within the workforce – not only in terms of gender, but also in age, origin, religion and sexual orientation. Recruit beyond your own boundaries and consider lateral entrants, for example, or professionals in other cities or abroad – the job market in 2023 is the whole world.
- Communicate authentically. Only those who communicate genuinely can inspire others. Convey only values that you really stand for. Make your employer branding authentic and avoid meaningless phrases. Instead, provide applicants with a clear and genuine image of what your company stands for.
- Offer modern, open workspaces. Those who prefer working in the office rather than at home should have the opportunity to do so – with shared desk offices, meeting rooms and areas for focused solitary work. Spaces for personal conversations and networking are also important to strengthen team cohesion and identification with the employer.
- Qualify your employees on an ongoing basis. Investing in staff training pays off and makes employees fit for the future. Internal know-how can be passed on through mentoring programmes or in-house training. Complement this with external expertise in the form of training and education.
