9 Common Challenges in IT Recruitment

IT recruitment refers to the process of hiring skilled technology professionals to support businesses’ IT infrastructure, security, and innovation. As technology grows more sophisticated, enterprises face both incredible opportunities and increased dangers — like the critical vulnerabilities recently discovered in outdated AWS architecture. Whether your organization seeks to boost profitability with automation tools or strengthen cybersecurity defenses against supply chain threats, IT professionals are the driving force for reaching your objectives. However, in today's rapidly evolving tech landscape, finding and securing top talent is harder than ever. Understanding and overcoming common challenges in IT recruitment is getting more important all the time.

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CHALLENGES IN IT RECRUITMENT?

Hiring managers often struggle to find, persuade, and keep top talent in tech. Some IT recruitment challenges are unique and others are part of a broader shift in worker sentiment.

1. IT Experts Are in Demand

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for information security professionals is projected to grow by 33% over the next eight years, much faster than other industries. Just in California, there were over 80,000 job openings in cybersecurity in 2023. These statistics mean that skilled IT workers are hard to find and even harder to persuade to sign up for full-time positions.

2. Enterprises Face High Competition for Cybersecurity Hires

In the United States, there are more than 450,000 unfilled positions in cybersecurity. In other words, finding qualified candidates is only the first step. You also have to find a way to convince them to choose your organization instead of competitors. Infosec professionals hold most of the cards, meaning negotiations are usually in their favor.

This situation isn’t going away anytime soon. As IoT equipment, automation platforms, and online sales become increasingly important, the need for IT keeps rising. Virtually every industry relies on trustworthy infosec, from manufacturing to healthcare.

3. Local Talent Isn’t Enough

Businesses in Washington, Minnesota, New Jersey, Michigan, and other states face unprecedented challenges for IT recruitment. This problem can feel like juggling while walking a tightrope: Not only does your business need to locate the right tech professionals at the right time, but also be in the right place. In this type of environment, you can’t afford to miss a single opportunity.

4. Finding the Right Specialists Is Getting Harder

The market for IT specialists is particularly tight, especially in cybersecurity and AI-related fields. Desktop support techs, database architects, network and system administrators, IT project managers, and infosec analysts are a few examples. The market for Chief Information Security Officers is so large that many organizations are turning to virtual CISO services.

5. Conventional Job Requirements Are Outdated in the IT Landscape

Many hiring managers feel in over their heads when it comes to IT positions. This is natural, considering that even business executives may not know exactly what solutions the organization needs to address IT problems or compliance challenges. Put simply, it almost takes an IT professional to know what type of cybersecurity specialist your business needs.

6. Hiring Costs Are Rising

When you combine a small talent pool with an urgent need for workers and high competition, the outcome is inevitable: higher recruitment costs. Of course, IT professionals are one of the best investments you can make — the average cost of a data breach is over $6 million in finance and nearly $10 million for healthcare businesses — but rising salaries mean you need to choose your team carefully.

7. Specialists Prefer Freelancing to RTO Mandates

This trend isn’t limited to cybersecurity or IT departments, but it does affect your organization’s IT operations significantly. Persuading top talent to commute to the office five days a week or come in on weekends is increasingly difficult.

In fact, getting specialists to agree to any kind of exclusive contract is challenging. Many prefer the flexibility and freedom of a freelance or consulting role, but this quickly becomes expensive for organizations.

8. Skill Gaps Are More Difficult To Overcome With In-House Training

In the past, it was possible to fill high-level IT positions by hiring less-experienced technicians, investing in training, and promoting in-house personnel to more demanding roles. However, the speed of technology growth now makes this practically impossible.

Also, the current market means that tempting offers from competitors can cause you to lose valuable personnel with little warning. Long-term in-house training programs are no longer feasible for critical positions.

9. Technology, Cybersecurity, and Organizational Objectives Can Shift Rapidly

Last but not least, long-term IT employment for a large team may not even be in your organization’s best interests. Considering how quickly technology platforms, cyber threats, customer expectations, industry regulations, and market conditions can shift, today’s enterprises need to be increasingly agile. You don’t just need an IT team that can scale; you also want one that can change directions as needed.

WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS TO IT RECRUITMENT CHALLENGES?

To overcome modern challenges to IT recruitment, your organization needs a forward-facing approach. Traditional hiring practices don’t work for today’s IT environment.

Entrust IT Recruitment to Infosec Experts 

Instead of trying to manage the IT hiring process in-house or with general employment services, choose a professional IT recruitment firm. At TSP, we’re experts in information security and IT services. We actively seek out trustworthy IT talent, creating an extensive database that helps your organization find the right fit for generalized IT and specialist roles.

Rethink Rigid Job Requirements

Use Flexible, Scalable Hiring Solutions

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CHALLENGES IN IT RECRUITMENT

At TSP, we’re more than an IT staffing firm — we’re a trusted hiring partner. We don’t just fill roles; we ensure that every IT professional we place is a perfect fit for your business, culture, and technology stack. We have decades of experience and a vast array of IT talent in every corner of the United States. Contact us to see our IT Workforce Solutions today.