Hiring Solutions To Consider For Immersive Technology Projects In Germany
It’s well known that Germany’s immersive technology industry is thriving. The immersive tech space is rapidly advancing and, with the country’s straightforward approach to working visas, it’s easy to see why. Commercial spaces and working conditions are so much more affordable in the German capital that it’s fast becoming the number one tech hub.
Immersive technology experts are drawn to Germany, but as a result of its booming success, businesses are struggling against a competitive market and a potential skills shortage.
Sound familiar? We’ve put together our three considerations for anyone seeking sustainable hiring solutions in this space:
Determine the balance between contractors and permanent staff
Agile resource planning is critical to success in this fast-moving industry. Hiring contractors is becoming more popular in immersive tech, but striking a balance between in-house and external resource is key.
Finding quality permanent staff is tough. Plus, operating purely from this model puts you at risk of going stale. So consider the balance of in-house vs outsourced when planning your resources.
According to a recent study, 42% of organisations used contractors for special projects while 24% revealed they employed contractors on an ongoing basis. A core in-house team grounds your company with a solid culture and processes, while contractors bring fresh ideas and skills to the table that keep you ahead of the technological curve.
What’s more, having a balance of permanent and contracted staff will allow you to scale up or down to suit project demands, without putting the stability of your operations on the line.
Blend your infrastructure with a multitude of talents
Before you make any decisions, assess your infrastructure. You need to know who contractors or employees will be reporting to before you place them, and ensure you have people who can scope and lead key projects, as well as deliver them.
Those experienced in immersive tech will have a better idea of the timescale and resources needed for each role. Ensure those onboarding and supporting new hires have a clear understanding of each employee’s responsibility so that they can report on performance.
This ties in with the balance between contractors and permanent staff. A practical immersive tech employer will often use permanent roles to act as handlers for the specialist contractors building the product. Positions that include the overseeing of a product’s life cycle (product managers) are suited towards your permanent employees, whereas software architects are for those who are dedicated to one discipline, regardless of business aims.
Build a dynamic that all candidates will flourish in
The immersive tech scene faces a unique problem: not enough candidates are trained at the level necessary to support the needs of the industry. This has led employers to look overseas in order to sustain rapid growth, meaning they are having to become translators of talent.
If you are employing for a niche role, you simply can’t limit yourself to your immediate surroundings. Businesses that have a need for an Unreal Engine developer, for instance, may well struggle to access a wide talent pool in Munich. Instead they’ll have to attract a candidate that’s currently working somewhere nationally or even internationally to work for their firm.
Again, consider your infrastructure so that you can either accommodate a worker who isn’t fluent in your language or will be operating as an external freelancer. Who will they report to? Can they work remotely? How will they impact the team?
If you want to understand how industry leaders develop immersive tech teams, please Contact our team today. Formulate is the leading, global provider of immersive technology professionals in Germany.