Tech companies are all focussed on the same talent pools and while salaries in Europe are getting closer to the silicon valley way of remuneration a lot of the searches for senior talent is outsourced to executive search firms. The recruitment firms that are winning the bids for best tech job searches are mostly firms who are proud of their enormous network but is the size of the network still the most important factor for success in helping grow tech companies and scale-ups and what can we learn from the animal world?
Coined by Robert Metcalfe, the inventor of Ethernet, Metcalfe's Law is often used to describe how tech companies have come to dominate the current business landscape. The law states that the value of a network grows by the square of the size of the network. So, for example, if a network has 1000 machines, its value would be 1,000,000.&nbsp;
It's a neat concept, but does it actually work in practice? Unfortunately, the simple answer is no, not most of the time. And in 2022, it's time to radically rethink how we approach networks.&nbsp;
The crux of the issue here is around the word "value" and how value works in reality across different types of networks. When Metcalfe originally put forward his law, he was focused on phones and fax machines - tangible tech with wires. Tightly designed hardware and software (nodes) fulfil a specific purpose. The value of these nodes lies in the functionality they offer, and this functionality is fixed and unchanging. Each node has inherent value, so scaling these nodes up adds more value.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Although "value" is a relatively vague concept in itself, it becomes even trickier when considering networks of people. Although Metcalfe later expanded his theory to include people, the connections between users, and how people collaborate and influence each other, this is where the law starts to fall down. Why? Because networks of people work very differently.&nbsp;
When considering social networks, it becomes clear how additional users can negatively affect value - extra noise or "low quality" content can drown out the intended communication.&nbsp;
So what does this mean for how we approach networks of people going forward? Well, Metcalfe's Law might not provide all the answers, but the animal kingdom might. By studying the mathematics of animal populations like Meerkats, we can gain a unique insight into how the life cycles of networks work.&nbsp;
Population size, density, availability of resources, and overall fitness are critical factors in the health of Meerkat populations. So, for example, Metcalfe's Law would suggest that having more meerkats in a group would increase value (enable the population to thrive) exponentially. However, this is only true up to a certain point in reality. Small meerkat populations are vulnerable to predators, but too crowded groups deplete the natural environment and eventually cause population decline. In other words, meerkat populations are at their most healthy (or provide the most value) when they exist in the "Goldilocks zone" - the point where population and value are high but population-depleting factors are low.&nbsp;
<h1 dir="ltr">The Future of Headhunting for Scale-Ups</h1>
So, how does all this talk of meerkats relate to scale-ups? First, companies entering a rapid growth period need to attract high-quality talent to accelerate their success. And they pull that talent from the available networks of people. The value of these networks lies in high-performing individuals and their participation in the network.&nbsp;
Today, much of recruitment is still done manually, and as a result, it's subject to individual biases and human error. Try to not only focus on the size of your network or the network of your preferred executive search firm but look for smart and powerful links inside networks and between different networks. This work is difficult to leave up to human beings alone and there is a better way - recruitment in combination with machine learning (recurrent neural networks). Successful long-term talent strategies require a more scientific approach to headhunting, act as a meerkat - An intelligent, social animal that looks beyond the obvious (candidates) and is focused on working in teams.

Tech Talent: Where Meerkats Meet Machine Learning

Tech

Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted the global labour market, disrupting industries and accelerating us towards a future that seemed far more distant before 2020.&nbsp;
Now some two years on from the start of the pandemic, many people are struggling to make sense of a rapidly changing job market. Workers want to know where they stand today, what the future holds, whether they need to learn new skills, and where they can go to find the best opportunities. And businesses want to know where they can discover high-value employees for emerging job roles.&nbsp;
For workers and businesses alike, navigating this minefield is challenging. However, it can also be highly rewarding if you get to grips with the evolving labour landscape and know where to strike next.&nbsp;
<h1 dir="ltr">How COVID-19 Transformed the Labour Market</h1>
During the pandemic, companies were forced to adapt to a world where social distancing and lockdowns were the new norms. This meant a much greater reliance on technology. As a result, technology adoption massively accelerated during this time, with companies increasingly investing in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, automation, and big data solutions.&nbsp;
While technological integration undoubtedly offers many benefits to businesses, it also comes with a cost for workers. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, a whopping 43% of companies surveyed said they plan to reduce their workforce due to technology integration. Or in other words, technology is replacing many of the mundane and repetitive tasks that humans previously did. The reality is that some jobs are becoming redundant, and this trend will continue as we move through the 2020s. As a result, the World Economic Forum estimates that we could see some 85 million jobs displaced by 2025.&nbsp;
But this isn't the whole story.&nbsp;
<h1 dir="ltr">A Brighter Future</h1>
Talk of machines taking our jobs sparks anxiety in the minds of many, and with good reason - job security is a top concern for most people. However, now's not the time for alarmism. Why? Because transformation also creates new jobs.&nbsp;
With more machines injected into the mix, new professions are emerging, and some tech roles are more in demand than ever before. For example, with remote work becoming increasingly popular, investment in cloud systems, e-commerce platforms, artificial intelligence, big data and IT security are skyrocketing. Considering all of this, we could see an estimated 97 million new roles emerge - far greater than the number of jobs that will fade into obscurity.&nbsp;
<h1 dir="ltr">Looking to the Future</h1>
With the labour market rapidly shifting, almost half of all employees will have to retain and learn new skills to stay competitive. In many cases, this will be straightforward. For example, a software engineer could develop into a cloud systems specialist, a researcher into a data analyst and an IT worker into a product developer. And most people will see this as a good thing - learning new skills is fun and opens many doors.&nbsp;
However, this won't be an easy transition for everyone. For example, retraining employees takes considerable time, and time is in short supply for many tech companies and scale-ups.&nbsp;
So, how do these companies find the highly-skilled employees that will help them thrive? By looking beyond their borders. Companies can find excellent candidates for tech roles, even senior tech positions, by hunting for talent in other countries. Many people are willing to relocate, but this isn't always necessary in a post-pandemic world. Working from home is now easier than ever and entirely feasible even for executive positions. If you're a tech company in need of the brightest tech minds, don't be afraid to look for talent in Eastern Europe, Africa, South America and Asia! Taking your recruitment to other regions could be the key to strengthening your workforce and securing a brighter future.&nbsp;

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