Austin tech firms head to California to recruit talent (Howe: renters, good credit)

[austin-steve]

From Austin Business Journal:

Saying they can't find enough workers here, more than 30 Austin-area technology CEOs will head to California next month to recruit employees.

Full article here.

We're seeing a lot of inbound tech workers again. Not like the late 1990s or anything yet, but a definate slow trickle has started.

[Tycho Brahe]

As someone that cannot find a tech job in Austin, I find the article almost humorous.

I have a stellar resume, but once companies see my out-of-state address, my resume gets trashed immediately. I keep track of hits on various websites I own, and there is virtually no traffic from Austin. Few companies took the time to even search for my name. I had more unique visitors on my blog from Prague in the past month than I did from Austin.

Ironically, I have several open invitations from California companies that sought me out for a position. They all say "a plane ticket is ready whenever you want it". I do have a few first round interviews with Austin companies and one request to fly me in, but I have been so soured by the experience that I am ready to give up and go to California.

[eepstein]

Yes, the "flood of jobs" is something the city of Austin marketing campaign loves to tout. However, what they don't mention is that most of the jobs coming to Austin are minimum wage jobs (much like the entire state). As far as tech jobs, or white collar jobs, there are no more here than any other place. So heading to California would be a fabulous idea sir.

Originally Posted by Tycho Brahe

As someone that cannot find a tech job in Austin, I find the article almost humorous.

I have a stellar resume, but once companies see my out-of-state address, my resume gets trashed immediately. I keep track of hits on various websites I own, and there is virtually no traffic from Austin. Few companies took the time to even search for my name. I had more unique visitors on my blog from Prague in the past month than I did from Austin.

Ironically, I have several open invitations from California companies that sought me out for a position. They all say "a plane ticket is ready whenever you want it". I do have a few first round interviews with Austin companies and one request to fly me in, but I have been so soured by the experience that I am ready to give up and go to California.

[hoffdano]

And yet - an article in the Statesman two days earlier says Evernote, a rising software company based in Mountain View, CA (smack in the middle of Silicon Valley), is hiring 500 people, perhaps half in their new Austin office. I use their software on my smartphone. It is good stuff.

Evernote software company plans new studio, aggressive hiring in Austin

[austin-steve]

However, what they don't mention is that most of the jobs coming to Austin are minimum wage jobs (much like the entire state)

Well, maybe it's because of the class of homes I manage, but half the renters we lease to now are coming from out of state, and they are making mid/upper salaries ($75K-$120K+) and have good credit scores. They typical exhibit the behavior of the 1990s transplant. They want to rent for a year or two to settle and learn Austin, then buy later. Gone is the "have to buy now" ferver of the 2000s.

Steve

[Dr.Mom]

It's diappointing that they are not putting more efforts into recruiting home grown talent. Is there a cache in the industry to have recruited employees from CA? Personally, I'd like to see the Austin Technology Council partner with local high schools and/or ACC to develop the skills that they are looking for.

As an example, we have a very good local technical high school, but it is underenrolled for certain specialties and the big push here is for all kids to attend college. The small local HVAC company I use could never find enough techs, so they partnered with the tech hs and the community college to offer school credits for time worked. They also started their own apprenticeship program for people who wanted to learn HVAC skills. If one little company in the suburbs can do this, I don't understand why a multi-company council in a metro area cannot do something similar.

[XLadylawX]

These days, tech jobs are so specific as to the desired skill sets that it is hard to find that perfect candidate. Also, I think hiring managers have gotten picky because there is a plethora of talent out there to choose from. Why hire an Engineer from Austin who has 6 of 10 desired skills when you can get a 9 or 10 of 10 engineer from California? It goes both ways of course.

[hoffdano]

Dr. Mom - your point is good one - but it is most relevant to building the pipeline of talent for ten years from now.

These companies are looking for very strong skills. Smaller startup style companies have no time for unproven or novice people. They want people who can get the job done now.

I'm not convinced though that the people they want aren't nearby. Maybe they just aren't getting the word out that these positions exist.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by Dr.Mom

It's diappointing that they are not putting more efforts into recruiting home grown talent. Is there a cache in the industry to have recruited employees from CA?

I think there may be a shortage of the specialties being sought, as mentioned already. And I do think the recruiting pool is much richer there and a lot of that talent has California Fatigue with regard to the differential between amount earned, cost of living and work grind.

So, if you're a talented CS gal in San Jose, you could move to Austin and get out of the grind and raise your disposable income by even more that the salary increase.

Just my guess.

Steve

[mrsengle]

People keep saying that the tech shortage is an Austin problem, but I think it's everywhere: Engineers wanted: The war for tech talent - Mar. 7, 2011