James M. Connolly, Contributing Editor and WriterFebruary 19, 20257 Min ReadInk Drop via Alamy StockSo, you told a friend that you need to hire more IT folks. The friend replied, "Hah, good luck!"Circumstances dealt IT leaders a challenging hand over the past few years, from the great resignation to executive demands for digital transformation, and onward to corporate fascination with artificial intelligence, hiring and keeping IT talent requires new strategies.There was no single cause of today's hiring challenges, and there's no single, easy answer short of hitting the lottery and retiring. However, contributors to InformationWeek have shared their experiences and advice to IT leaders on ways to staff up and skill up, all while staying under budget and keeping IT operational lights on.In this guide to todays IT hiring and talent challenges, we have compiled a collection of advice and news articles focused on finding, hiring and retaining IT talent. We hope it helps you succeed this year.A World of ChangeHelp Wanted: IT Hiring Trends in 2025ITs role is becoming more strategic. Increasingly, it is expected to drive business value as organizations focus on digital transformation.IT Security Hiring Must Adapt to Skills ShortagesDiverse recruitment strategies, expanded training, and incentivized development programs can all help organizations narrow the skills gap in an era of rapidly evolving threat landscapes.Top IT Skills and Certifications in 2025In 2025 top IT certifications in cloud security and data will offer high salaries as businesses prioritize multi-cloud and AI.How To Be Competitive in a Tight IT Employment MarketA slumping economy, emerging technologies, and over-hiring has led to a tight IT jobs market. Yet positions are still abundant for individuals possessing the right skills and attitude.The Soft Side of IT: How Non-Technical Skills Shape Career SuccessHeres why soft skills matter in IT careers and how to effectively highlight them on a resume. Show that you are a good human.Salary Report: IT in Choppy Economic Seas and Roaring Winds of ChangeLast year brought a sustained adrenaline rush for IT. Everything changed. Some of it with a whimper and some of it with a bang. Through it all IT pros held steady, but is it enough to sail safely through the end of 2024?Quick Study: The Future of Work Is HereThe workplace of the future isn't off in the future. It's been here for a few years -- even pre-pandemic.10 Unexpected, Under the Radar Predictions for 2025From looming energy shortages and forced AI confessions to the rising ranks of AI-faked employees and a glimmer of a new cyber-iron curtain, heres whats happening that may require you to change your companys course.Finding TalentAI Speeds IT Team HiringCan AI help your organization find top IT job candidates quickly and easily? A growing number of hiring experts are convinced it can.Skills-Based Hiring in IT: How to Do it RightBy focusing directly on skills instead of more subjective criteria, IT leaders can build highly capable teams. Here's what you need to know to get started.The Evolution of IT Job Interviews: Preparing for Skills-Based HiringThe traditional tech job interview process is undergoing a significant shift as companies increasingly focus on skills-based hiring and move away from the traditional emphasis of academic degrees.IT Careers: Does Skills-Based Hiring Really Work?More organizations are moving toward skills-based hiring and getting mixed results. Heres how to avoid some of the pitfalls.Jumping the IT Talent Gap: Cyber, Cloud, and Software DevsBusinesses must first determine where their IT skill sets need bolstering and then develop an upskilling strategy or focus on strategic new hires.Top Career Paths for New IT CandidatesMore organizations are moving from roles-based staffing to skills-based staffing. In IT, flexibility is key.Why IT Leaders Should Hire Veterans for Cybersecurity RolesMaintaining cybersecurity requires the effort of a team. Veterans are uniquely skilled to operate in this role and bring strengths that meet key industry needs.How to Find a Qualified IT Intern Among CandidatesIT organizations offering intern programs often find themselves swamped with applicants. Here's how to find the most knowledgeable and prepared candidates.The Search for Solid Hires Between AI Screening and GenAI ResumesDo AI-generated job applications gum up the recruitment process for hiring managers by filling inboxes with dubiously written CVs?3 Things You Should Look for When Hiring New GraduatesEach year, entry-level applicants in IT look a little different. Heres what you need to be looking for as the class of 2023 infiltrates the workforce.Why a College Degree is No Longer Necessary for IT SuccessWho needs student debt? A growing number of employers are hiring IT pros with little or no college experience.Recruiting TalentIn Global Contest for Tech Talent, US Skills Draw Top PayAfter several years of economic uncertainty and layoffs, US talent is once again attracting good pay in the global competition for tech skills. But gender disparity continues in many job categories.Hiring Hi-Tech Talent by Kickin It Old SchoolUsing elements of a traditional approach to recruiting IT professionals can attract and grow the modern workforce, but it's the soft skills shown during an interview that make a big difference.The Impact of AISkills on Hiring and Career AdvancementDemand is high for professionals with knowledge of AI, but do such talents really get implemented on the job?How to Channel a Worlds Fair Culture to Engage IT TalentEven the most well-funded and innovative companies will fail if they lack one thing: A diverse, united team. A CEO shares his experience and advice.Bridging IT Skills Gap in the Age of Digital TransformationInnovations in automation, cloud computing, big data analytics, and AI have not only changed the way businesses operate but have intensified the demand for specialized skills.5 Traits To Look for When Hiring Business and IT InnovatorsHiring resilient and forward-thinking employees is the cornerstone to innovation. If youre looking to hire a trailblazer, here are five traits to seek, as well as questions to ask.CIOs Can Build a Resilient IT Workforce with AI and Unconventional TalentAs the IT talent crunch continues, chief information officers can embrace new strategies to combine traditional IT staff with nontraditional workers and AI to augment the workforce.Pursuing Nontraditional IT Candidates: Methods to Expand Talent PipelinesEmployers winning in this labor market know how to look at adjacent skills and invest in upskilling their internal candidates while creating alternative candidate pools.Hiring with AI: Get It Right from the StartAs organizations increasingly adopt artificial intelligence in hiring, its essential that they understand how to use the technology to reduce bias rather than exacerbate it.Secrets to Hiring Top Tech TalentTo hire best-in-class IT talent, your company must have interesting technical problems to solve.Keeping TalentMeaningful Ways to Reward Your IT Team and Its AchievementsA job well done deserves a significant reward. Here's how to show appreciation to a diligent staff without busting your budget.Recognize the Contributions of Average IT PerformersEvery IT departmenthas its marginal performers. How do you get the most out of them?How to Manage a Rapidly Growing IT TeamMaintaining IT staff performance and efficiency during rapid growth requires careful planning and structure. Here's how to expand your team without missing a beat.Do Women IT Leaders Face a Glass Cliff?Are organizations more likely to promote women to top IT management posts during hopeless crisis situations? Apparently, yes.Skills Gap in Cloud Tools: Why It Exists and Ways to AddressAs enterprises shift to modernize applications, a companys most important asset is talent performance to back it up.Addressing the Skills Gap to Keep Up with the Evolution of the CloudAs cloud adoption increases, companies must focus on upskilling employees through continuous learning to maximize cloud and AI potential.The AI Skills Gap and How to Address ItWorkers are struggling to integrate AI into their skill sets. Where are we falling short in helping them leverage AI to their own benefit and the benefit of their employers?About the AuthorJames M. ConnollyContributing Editor and WriterJim Connolly is a versatile and experienced freelance technology journalist who has reported on IT trends for more than three decades. He was previouslyeditorial director of InformationWeek and Network Computing, where heoversaw the day-to-day planning and editing on the sites. He has written about enterprise computing, data analytics, the PC revolution, the evolution of the Internet, networking, IT management, and the ongoing shift to cloud-based services and mobility. He has covered breaking industry news and has led teams focused on product reviews and technology trends. He has concentrated on serving the information needs of IT decision-makers in large organizations and has worked with those managers to help them learn from their peers and share their experiences in implementing leading-edge technologies through such publications as Computerworld. Jim also has helped to launch a technology-focused startup, as one of the founding editors at TechTarget, and has served as editor of an established news organization focused on technology startups at MassHighTech.See more from James M. ConnollyNever Miss a Beat: Get a snapshot of the issues affecting the IT industry straight to your inbox.SIGN-UPYou May Also LikeWebinarsMore WebinarsReportsMore Reports