The advent of the COVID-19 changed our world forever. Remote working shunned for years in the South African workplace is the norm. In a recent survey held by McKinsey, 52% of respondents opted for a blended approach, while 11% for remote working and 33% opting to return to the office. Most of the respondents who prefered some form of remote work indicating that they would seek alternative employment if their current employee is unable to meet their requirement for remote work.

Hybrid and remote work strategies will forever transform the face of work, but more so for IT professionals. Remote working presents permanently employed IT Professionals with the opportunity to take on more freelance work, a trend that is starting and one that will continue to grow. This trend bodes well for both individuals and the industry, as more capacity is made available and provides professionals with an opportunity to build their experience.

Having more than one IT job is going to become the norm, and organisations will have to think about how they will accommodate this trend or face the fact that they will not be able to attract the talent they need.

Remote working extends the organisation virtually and removes the barriers of location, allowing organisations to attract skills from all over the world without the cost of relocation. Organisations that have built a brand in the IT Profession will have the best chance of attracting the best skills worldwide; often at a price point, local companies cannot meet.