Companies in the Dallas Region are in immediate need of software developers for projects they’re rolling out, said members of the Dallas Regional Chamber who convened to discuss industry needs in the software development and technology industry.
Nearly two dozen professionals from a variety of industries –- from airlines to financial services to health care technology –- gathered at the roundtable discussion organized by the Chamber, last week.
While representatives from larger companies said they still expect job candidates to hold four-year degrees, smaller firms indicated they wouldn’t turn away individuals who hold relevant two-year degrees or developer certifications in areas such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Salesforce, or even strong object-oriented programming skills.
“We’re looking for highly analytical, outside-of-the-box thinkers.”
ASHLEY WEBB
“We’re looking for highly analytical, outside-of-the-box thinkers,” said Ashley Webb of Omnitracs, a Dallas-based end-to-end fleet management service provider. “Definitely people who are team players. Someone with a get-the-job-done mentality.”
Both large and small firm representatives agreed that their ideal job candidates would have strong problem-solving skills, a willingness to learn new aptitudes to meet company objectives, and individuals who will readily work within a team.
Brian Clark, Datamob
The ability to learn on the job is extremely important for hires made by his company, said Brian Clark co-founder of DataMob, a business that provides IT sourcing, consulting and auditing services for Fortune 1000 organizations in the global enterprise market.
“Listening is huge,” said Clark. “We look for people, who, in the interview process, listen and who pay attention. They need to learn and grow, accepting new ideas and concepts … to be effective for our clients.”
They also agreed that a proposed 2017 Texas Education Association list of software certifications is dated and in need of additional in-demand certifications. Some educators who attended the discussion said they have a strong need for industry-experienced developers who could teach in-demand skills on their campuses.
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The event, sponsored by Bank of America, was held to allow companies in the Dallas Region to communicate their most in-demand software development/project management skills and to help local educators better prepare students to meet those needs.
To see a video of the complete discussion, visit the Chamber’s page here.
A version of this story was originally published on the Dallas Regional Chamber website.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos via video courtesy of Dallas County Community College District.
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