The ultimate digital nomads
Software is a massive global industry, and the companies operating in this space conduct worldwide searches to find top talent. Unlike many sectors, tech people do not need to be in a fixed location to work. They are the ultimate digital nomad.
We have heard of a Canadian software engineer who moved to the UK as his wife got a peachy job at a top university. Rather than causing any ruckus with his employer in Vancouver, he just carried on working as if nothing had changed. He did not tell the firm that their customary 8 am start meant he was starting at 3 pm. His UK friends soon learned not to expect him to turn up anywhere for a social event before 10 pm on working days. When asked why he chose to work the odd hours, he cited excellent pay and conditions, attractive pension, ability to work from home, uncapped holiday, and a slew of other benefits.
Money makes the world go around, or does it?
While that is quite an extreme case of working across time zones, it does demonstrate that great software engineers are amongst the most sought-after people in the world, and employers compete to offer the best employment contracts to attract the cream.
In the hit West End musical Cabaret, the MC sings the oft-quoted "Money Makes the World Go ''Round", and while this is true to a certain extent, for many people, it is only one of the reasons that they choose one job over another. Many people care about shared visions and value having colleagues who are ''on the same page''. We spend so much of our waking hours at work many people want more than just the daily grind from their employment.
Flexibility is critical for many
For many people, flexibility is critical, and software companies often create employment packages that fit around their employees' schedules (unless you are that Canadian who has rather reverse-engineered the situation to suit his own circumstances).
Businesses in competitive markets lose out on talent if they do not offer flexible working conditions. A third of UK workers claimed they would turn down a job opportunity that did not allow a degree of flexible work and a quarter claim to have already done so. Top talent does not want to work 9-5, five days a week. Many employees say controlling their hours and where they work from is essential. Despite a legal right to flexible working and proof that working from home worked for vast swathes of the population during COVID-19 lockdowns, there has been a political backlash against working from home in some sectors.
Playing your cards right
Fortunately, the online gambling sector recognises the benefit of having a motivated and happy workforce. Because gambling can have negative connotations for some people, the industry has gone out of its way to create attractive employment packages to attract the top software people. After all, this is an industry that is driven by technology, and it cannot afford to get things wrong.
From top-end security to dazzling and attractive gameplay, online casinos must be as shiny and alluring as their land-based counterparts. Like the famous pleasure palaces of Monte Carlo or Las Vegas, online casinos need to exude a certain ''je ne sais quoi''. As online casinos fuel the growth in iGaming, they continue to develop and must attract the very best people to work in them so customers want to play at them. New online casinos are opening all the time, and businesses like Casino.org check out all the software and games on offer to ensure they are up to scratch. The casino platforms know they are under the watchful eye of expert reviewers and cannot afford any slip-ups.
Bonus deals
If you are considering a career with a software company, remember they are not only recruiting engineers and techy people. As with any business, software companies need people with all kinds of skills. Software companies need managers, project managers, technical leads, sales and marketing, chief executives, and financial people. Games companies also offer attractive roles for creative people like animators, storytellers, musicians, designers, and artists. While much marketing creative work is contracted to outside specialist agencies, creative product work tends to happen at in-house studios.
People filling all these roles can expect the same perks and benefits as those fulfilling the IT roles. Companies that know how to attract global talent tend to roll out similar packages to all staff members. These might include 4-day working weeks or compacted hours to guarantee more downtime, profit share bonuses, and gym memberships.
A healthy approach to work
Many companies try to establish a healthy work-life balance for their employees. Development programs are also popular. These can be for both in-work and personal development, and employers offer mentorships, counseling, and general wellness perks.
In the UK, as the NHS has faced critical underfunding, many software companies have ramped up private health insurance as a way to attract and keep employees. While this can appear to be a relatively expensive part of a package, it is not only offered out of altruism. If employees become sick and wait for medical treatment, their productivity falls. By offering schemes that let employees access fast medical treatment, the businesses are ensuring that their own lifelines are healthy. A sick workforce is not good for the bottom line. Recruitment is a costly business, and companies not only want to attract people to their businesses but also encourage them to stay.
Getting together
While flexibility is vital, many software employees work remotely and can quickly become isolated. Good companies implement systems to ensure colleagues are in touch with each other and feel part of the business. Fully paid conferences, get-togethers, and seasonal gatherings help build a sense of cohesion and prevent staff churn.
While the Christmas party or bonus will probably not attract someone to a company, the lack of one might make people look for other jobs.
