The IT job market today is exceptionally competitive. On one hand, there are thousands of students and graduates from computer science programs, and on the other hand, companies are increasingly determined to fight for experienced and specialized candidates. The best specialists are not actively looking for a job. They already have good conditions, exciting projects, and do not feel the need for a change. Therefore, IT recruitment increasingly means the need to reach out to passive candidates – those who need to be convinced that it’s worth reading the job ad at all.

Employment type and work mode

The type of contract and work mode are among the first factors candidates pay attention to. In 2024, over 62% of job ads included an employment contract, and B2B was featured in more than 58% of listings, according to inhire.io data. This means that more and more companies are offering candidates a choice, providing various cooperation models. B2B is dominant among mid and senior specialists, while junior roles tend to feature employment contracts more often. Additionally, for juniors, it is common to find contracts for specific tasks (around 18%).

Remote and hybrid work still dominate the IT sector, with job ads for fully on-site positions making up only 10.43% of the market. Interestingly, 57% of job ads offered hybrid work, which is becoming the golden mean between flexibility and team contact. Candidates have clear preferences: 67% prefer the hybrid model, and 30% prefer fully remote work. Employers who clearly define work rules – how many days in the office, working hours, and whether there is flexibility – gain trust and attention.

IT experience and tough times for juniors

Entering the IT job market is becoming more difficult, especially for those with little experience. According to No Fluff Jobs, in 2024, over 55% of job ads were aimed at seniors, while offers for juniors accounted for just 6%, a 2% decrease from the previous year.

Interestingly, it’s the mid-level specialists who have lost the most – their share in the market dropped to 38.4%, a 10% decrease from 2023. This means that even those with a few years of experience may struggle to find a new position – especially if they are expecting higher rates or more advanced projects.

Salaries and benefits

In the IT industry, money still matters – but it’s not the only factor. Transparency in salary ranges and the actual value of benefits are also crucial.

According to the inhire.io report, the median gross salary for employment contracts (UoP) in 2024 was PLN 16,935, and for B2B it was PLN 21,182 net. Seniors could expect an average of PLN 24,118 (B2B) and PLN 20,652 (UoP), while juniors earned PLN 9,846 and PLN 8,516, respectively.

However, candidates are increasingly expecting more than just an attractive salary. Benefits are gaining importance, especially those that directly contribute to work comfort and development.

Most common benefits in IT job ads:

• Private medical care
• Sports card
• Training budget
• Work in a small team
• Life insurance

Most desired benefits by candidates:

• 4-day work week
• Flexible working hours
• Additional vacation days
• Private healthcare
• Professional training and courses

It’s important to clearly describe what “flexibility” or “work-life balance” actually means. The more specific the messaging, the greater the trust of the candidate.

Technologies and requirements for IT specialists

In 2024, the largest percentage of job ads targeted specialists working with JavaScript (11.24%), Java (10.49%), and the broad field of Data (9.01%) – including analytics, Big Data, and data science. The most sought-after roles were backend developers, system administrators, DevOps engineers, system architects, and security specialists.

Job ads should specify technical requirements as precisely as possible. Instead of a long list of “nice to have” skills, focus on a few key technologies that the candidate will actually work with. Soft skills are also becoming more important – 69% of managers admit that they are now more crucial than ever. Therefore, it’s worth signaling that skills such as teamwork, communication, or independence are valued – especially if the team works in agile or distributed environments.

Who are companies looking to hire?

The most sought-after specialists in 2024 were backend developers, IT administrators, project managers, and DevOps engineers. As for technologies, JavaScript (11.24%), Java (10.49%), and Data (analytics, Big Data, data science) (9.01%) dominate.

Most popular programming languages:

• SQL
• Python
• Java

There is also an increasing number of job ads in the field of artificial intelligence – in Q4 2024, 1,496 AI-related job ads were published, marking a 63% increase compared to the beginning of the year.

It’s important for job ads to include specific technical requirements – instead of a long list of “nice to haves,” focus on real technologies and tools that the candidate will actually use.

Soft skills also matter – 69% of managers agree that they are more important now than a few years ago. Teamwork, communication, and responsibility – it’s worth showing that such traits are appreciated in your company. Want to know which soft skills are gaining importance? Read our article here.

What should a successful job ad include to attract top tech talent?

A modern IT job ad should be clear, specific, and aligned with market realities. Clearly defined employment type, salary, requirements, and technology description are an absolute minimum. Candidates want to know what the job will look like, who they’ll be working with, and what they can gain. A well-written job ad not only increases the number of valuable applications – it’s also the first step in building your company’s image as a professional and modern employer. In today’s IT market, your employer brand increasingly determines the success of recruitment.

Also, read our article on feedback in recruitment: The Importance of Feedback in the Recruitment Process

Looking to hire top talent? Get in touch with us to recruit the best tech specialists for your team!

Sources:

1. No Fluff Jobs, IT Job Market in Poland 2024
2. Inhire.io, IT Market Snapshot Q4 2024
3. Bulldogjob, IT Community Research Report 2024
4. SOLID.Jobs, European Transparent IT Job Market Report 2024

The post The reality of IT job ads – what really attracts IT specialists? appeared first on ITSELECTA.

Since 2014, the Polish city has been the first European centre for outsourcing services.

by Alessandro Lombardi

Walking through the streets of central Kraków, the medieval atmosphere makes it seem like a step back in time; but travel a few kilometers towards the suburbs, and you’ll have the sensation of being physically transported to the future with the geometric shapes of the massive, fifteen-storey glass buildings that house corporate headquarters.

These are the so-called Business Parks, an English term that means built-up areas where Polish employees work alongside foreigners from all over the world: Italy, Spain, Ukraine, France, the United States, the UK, Finland… I, too, came to Poland following in their footsteps.

Poland, especially Krakow, is progressively welcoming foreigners. It has adopted a policy of encouraging people to visit not only in regards of business activities, but also in terms of tourism. During the era of the communist regime it was very complex for a non-Polish citizen to enter the country – let alone start up a business – but a few decades later the situation has completely turned upside down.

Over 15 million passengers travelled through Polish airports in 2013, though this number is estimated to increase to over 41 million visitors by 2020.

A quarter of these travellers are foreign – a strong sign of the interest the country attracts outside of its national confines. Mission accomplished by the Polish government.

Why is Poland the destination for investors all around the world?

Perhaps it is the allure of the landscape, history and culture: Poland is increasingly becoming the destination for foreign investors and employees of international organizations that have moved to the country. Recently, many young people from all over Europe have chosen to spend their year abroad in Poland. Many are even looking for a chance to enter the labor market without having to go through the classic unpaid internships that are often offered in their own countries.

Poland presents itself to a potential investor as “an oasis full of water to a thirsty person in the desert.” Among the most important reasons to the country’s recent success is its increasingly stable position in European economics. Companies relocating to Poland have the possibility to benefit from EU economic funds: about 105 million Euros have been allocated to encourage growth in the coming years. Moreover, we can’t forget about the “special economic zones” that let investors benefit from tax reductions. Depending on the area, tax reductions can be based on the investment value, the size of the company and the number of new jobs created. Tax reduction can amount to 30-55%. The minimum investment required to obtain some of these subsidies is around ten thousand euros.

In terms of human resources, Poland offers a vast range of selection and recruitment of qualified personnel, especially when it comes to knowledge of foreign languages. For this reason, big international groups like Shell, IMB or Motorola have chosen this nation to set up their own business centres dedicated to outsourcing services such as HR, cash collection or customer service.

Another decisive element are the great air link services, consisting of 11 international airports, and the presence of low-cost flight operators, which cover around 45% of air traffic.

Invest in Polish resources

The Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) can be defined as outsourcing of management and control processes that, for these functions, rely on a highly qualified partner to fire up internal resources and dedicate them to activities that are more orientated towards the company’s core business. Since 2014, Krakow has been the first European centre for outsourcing and shared services.

So, if you happen to have a technical problem with your newly-purchased television and you have to phone an assistance line, the person on the line could be located in Poland, despite speaking your language.

Don’t be surprised if you are sitting next to a manager equipped with a laptop and a Blackberry on your trip to Krakow.

This is why ITSELECTA decided to set up the office in Krakow, where we have been established for 6 years now. We have a wide knowledge of the IT environment not only in Krakow but also in other cities in Poland, like Warsaw and Katowice, as well as in Ukraine. We source different markets to find the most suitable programmer or developer for your company’s needs.

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