The economic recession that came with the coronavirus global pandemic has affected many businesses, mainly in the hospitality and service industry. Is there a risk for software engineering jobs? Tech leaders predict that the IT sector will most likely not be affected, and some sectors are expected to see significant growth.
If you are just starting your tech career and entering the job market in the midst of the global pandemic, you are probably wondering whether remote working will continue to be the new norm for software engineers, even after people start returning to offices. Be prepared to be asked how you will maintain productivity and collaborate effectively with other team members while working from home during a job interview.
When it comes to job outlook, it is still strong, especially in specific niches. IT companies are still hiring, and there is a high demand, especially for security software engineers, as there is a rise in security attacks since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
The numbers are unbelievable and scary. According to Microsoft reports COVID-19 themed attacks have surged worldwide. These types of attacks allow cybercriminals to get access to a system through the use of phishing or social engineering attacks. In addition, Zohar Pinhasi, a Counter Cyber Terrorism Expert, Ransomware Recovery Expert, and founder of the cybersecurity firm MonsterCloud, reports that ransomware attacks have increased by 800% during the pandemic.
But you might need to bring your negotiation skills when looking for a job in the current market. Many companies are aware that more engineers are looking for jobs, and fewer companies are hiring so they can get better talent for a lower cost.
Virtual recruiting and onboarding will probably remain even after the end of the pandemic, and physical interviews will be saved only for the candidates most likely to be hired. The majority of the interviews will most likely continue to be via video conferencing. This should not be a problem for software engineers as they are used to taking assessment tests online as a part of the application process.
Are software engineer jobs safe from the recession? It most likely will vary depending on the specific industry. Even though all jobs are more or less negatively impacted by the pandemic, software engineers are generally in a much better position than other professionals as they are less affected by the economic recession.
In general, software development jobs will remain safe because they can be done from anywhere, and a lot of them have been location independent even before the pandemic. But when it comes to software engineers working in industries affected by the social distancing rules – like hotels or restaurants – might be facing less job security.
IT jobs for companies providing services and products that are always in demand and necessary will remain stable. Government jobs and software consulting services are two other sectors that are expected to provide stability.
Overall, software engineers will continue to be in demand because more and more companies rely on technology to keep their remote teams connected. And even though people will probably return to the offices at some point, remote work will continue to increase its popularity.
With high-speed internet, video conferencing tools, online task, and project boards, it is easy to see how software developers will be able to continue their work from wherever they are. This can benefit the companies which will be able to save money on relocation costs, office space, and in addition, will have access to a larger talent pool.
So if you are currently entering the job market as a software engineer, be prepared for your interview to answer not only tech questions but also to be able to explain how you will keep being productive and work effectively remotely and without being able to communicate with other team members in the office.
