Job hunting is not an experience unique to young people or recent graduates, but for more established professionals, it can bring additional challenges.
Globally, there have been thousands upon thousands of layoffs in the technology sector, impacting people across the board from entry-level positions to firmly established professionals. As a result, those who have lost their positions or who have had their role reduced have returned to the job market, hopeful that they will regain employment.
For more senior professionals in particular, the recent landscape has thrown up some challenges, as experienced former employees may find themselves in what could be regarded as unknown territory.
“As a team we have met several very experienced candidates with long tenures mostly from Big Tech and banking sectors, who are finding themselves on the job market for the first time in years,” said David Shanahan, director at Irish recruitment agency IT Search, which is a member of the Vertical Markets Group.
He explained that an issue that continuously crops up is the misguided perception that a well-established professional is ‘too senior’ for a role. For example, an employer may query how long the professional is willing to stay in the new position, especially if it is considered a ‘drop down’ from their previous role.
“Also, in start-ups and scale-ups where everyone needs to be hands-on and many processes are evolving with the business, there is a concern as to how a candidate may integrate without the structure and level of support within a multinational,” he said.
But challenge often brings opportunity and for Shanahan, now is the time for recently unemployed senior professionals interested in diversifying to consider pivoting into new areas. The artificial intelligence (AI) space is a great example, as more and more organisations look to develop their AI know-how.
“Many people our IT Search team are speaking with are keen to pivot into the AI space,” said Shanahan, who further explained that AI is no longer being driven by technology, rather it is being deployed by organisations as a tool to solve specific industry problems.
“AI companies don’t just need data scientists, they need people who can translate business needs into practical use cases. That’s where candidates can leverage their industry knowledge and reframe their experience to position themselves as the bridge between AI and industry.
“With some targeted upskilling, someone from the banking sector might pivot into regtech or AI compliance for example.”
Should you compromise?
It is worth noting however, that a career pivot brings significant change for the professional, who may find themselves in a position where they have to reassess their goals, or at the very least compromise in terms of perks such as title, salary and benefits.
Shanahan likened compromise to the ‘two steps forward, one step backwards’ approach, which is still very much an example of movement in the right direction. He said, often professionals come to a point where chasing that bigger salary or earning a new title isn’t their main source of motivation anymore.
“Instead, they may want to work on something that genuinely interests them, whether that’s an opportunity to move into AI, work on something that they feel is socially worthwhile and impactful, or simply a role with better work-life balance.”
To source that employment opportunity, in an increasingly competitive landscape, he is of the opinion that professionals need to “nail down” their unique selling point and ask themselves what aspects of their own experiences are of value to a modern-day organisation. Once that is done, candidates should perfect their work-based social media accounts to reflect all that they represent.
“Many senior candidates have a wealth of experience and are rightly proud of some of their achievements,” he said. “However, our advice is to treat your CV as a tool to unlock an interview, rather than your memoirs.
“Make it appropriate for the audience and highlight the achievements that correlate directly to what the employer needs. It’s also vital to be specific, so detail what you personally delivered, rather than the team or department.”
Weather the storm
While Ireland has certainly fielded its fair share of hits from the global technology layoffs, particularly in the region of Big Tech brands, Shanahan would urge senior professionals to stay resilient in a dramatically evolving landscape, as he predicts 2026 will bring stability and opportunities for growth.
He explained that as industries that demand skills in AI, cybersecurity and cloud computing continue to grow, short-term contracts will largely fill the gaps, empowering professionals and allowing companies to advance with the times.
“Ireland’s tech market is still strong despite the uncertainty,” he said. “Although it can be difficult to keep the faith and motivation going, there are still interesting and rewarding senior positions to be had.
“The contract market is busy and is a quick way to gain a lot of experience, so it is worth considering. Also, don’t be afraid to leverage your personal network, most senior opportunities still come through who you know.”
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