In an earlier blog post we started examining some emerging trends in tech recruitment. Here are some additional changes coming down the tracks.
Robotics, Virtual and Augmented Reality along with 3D Printing are on the rise. Machine Learning, natural language processing and pattern recognition are very popular as more and more of these technologies are being incorporated into software applications. Just the enormous investment in research for these technologies is a very good indicator that we will soon see brand-new platforms with an extra layer of value to them. Prisma became a hot app during 2016 fueled by automatically transforming photos into AI created works of art, influenced by artists like Van Gogh and Picasso. Though only an app, many consider it the future of image creation and gives us a glimpse of how AI will impact multimedia in the future.
On the VR side and Augmented Reality side, we’re going to see an upswing in demand for app developers with competence in 3D engines like Unity. In terms of 3D printing, we can expect to see a major upsurge in demand for technicians who can work with the likes of Solidworks, Maya, Rhino or ZBrush. Machine learning companies are going to demand candidates with strong fundamentals in programming, probability & statistics, data modeling and system design.
Lastly, we’ll take a brief look at Blockchain – the world’s leading software platform for digital assets, and what many call the foundation of digital currency. Bitcoin rapidly comes to mind. While Fintech disrupts Banks, Bitcoin disrupts Fintech and its implications for financial companies and financial services is certainly there. Large consulting firms like EY, PWC and Accenture are already building out expertise and capabilities in this area. PWC has noted that “…blockchain technology may result in a radically different competitive future in the [financial services] industry, where current profit pools are disrupted and redistributed toward the owners of new, highly efficient blockchain platforms.”
On the jobs front, Deloitte has set up its Blockchain lab in Dublin, and many companies are crying out for developers with experience of Solidity, an OOP language for writing smart contracts. Others are hiring strong engineers coming from backgrounds of Python, Go or C++ and cross training them.
The common theme across all of the above is that smart companies know they are only as good as their workers, and in order to maintain competitiveness they are and will continue to compete aggressively for niche talent. Expect to see salaries continue to rise in programming-related roles, particularly for candidates that have the capacity to discern the difference between a fad and a trend.
