Connect with us

Politics

Soft Skills in Tech: Seeking Teachability in New Hires

Published

on

4 Ways Leaders Can Better Support Women in Tech


It’s no simple task hiring talent — tech talent even more so. According to a Gartner survey, it’s one of the main reasons why so many companies struggle to adopt emerging technologies and maintain a competitive edge; they simply can’t find quality talent.

This labor shortage is at least partly due to the talent market, which has gotten tighter in recent years. But the barrier to finding talent also has something to do with technology itself.

Getting Ahead of the Curve

The rapid pace of digital change means that what an employee learns today may be outdated tomorrow, or the tech may be updated to a new version or language, making teachability a skill to prize above all.

Take a student who is currently studying code. That individual may be learning a version of a language that will be outdated by the time they graduate from the course. Education teams should be updating course content strategically; knowing that new versions of languages have bugs that have not yet been discovered, they should work to ensure that the version is applicable to learning the latest iteration.

Even then, however, it can still be challenging to find talent. New digital options emerge almost daily. The onus is often on employees to find creative and strategic ways to apply technologies that enable companies to continue doing what they do well.

Working in a State of Constant Learning

While companies will obviously want to hire based on whatever skills are necessary for the role, soft skills in tech are just as important. To continue to thrive in the technology field, candidates must demonstrate an ability to think critically.

They must exhibit the ability and desire to seek solutions to problems they can’t yet anticipate and search for opportunities in which they can continually sharpen their skills. In other words, teachability is a critical skill for new tech hires.

The Ability to Be Taught

Teachability is essentially a quick learning ability that allows talent to remain agile and flexible in an ever-changing business landscape. Teachability helps talent stay ahead of the curve and continually innovate, which naturally gives their employers a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

It also contributes to a new hire’s ability to apply constructive criticism, acknowledge their own mistakes, ask clarifying questions, and seek guidance when necessary. Without soft skills in tech, stagnation will set in quickly — even for an otherwise promising new hire, making the interview process all that more crucial.

Identifying Teachability in Candidates

Deciding how to assess soft skills in an interview is often easier said than done, as soft skills in tech — or any other industry, for that matter — aren’t usually as measurable or quantifiable as other skills.

Consider teachability, problem-solving, or quick learning ability; they don’t usually provide the same direct cause-and-effect outcomes as coding, programming, or regression analysis. As a result, companies must rely on a combination of tactics to determine the ideal recruit for a given role.

Making Sure to Assess Properly

Pre-employment assessments can definitely help by offering companies insights into whether candidates have the soft skills, temperament, and personality traits needed to succeed and contribute to the team.

Assessments also have a way of eliminating some of the trial and error –– as well as inherent biases –– that can occur during the interview process. With a bit of exploration, you can learn more about the potential hire and determine whether they have the desire to learn and grow as a professional.

Uncovering Evidence of Quick Learning Ability

As with almost anything in the screening and interview process, pre-employment assessments can tell you a lot about talent, but not everything. It’s also essential to ask for anecdotal evidence of how the candidate has used a soft skill like teachability in a previous position.

Companies are looking for specifics, so it’s vital to be specific with interview questions about learning new skills. The goal here is to leave little room for waffling.

Gauging a Canditdate’s True Interest

Beyond work examples, companies can also inquire about what news candidates keep up with or what soft skills they’ve recently added to their arsenal. These, too, can greatly assist in gauging talent’s desire to learn.

If a candidate isn’t interested in what’s going on in the field, then that person may not be as teachable as what their resume or answers to other interview questions may suggest.

Supporting Teachability in Technology

Offering professional development opportunities is the most obvious and effective way to cultivate teachability, but not all companies meet the standards that today’s fast-moving world requires.

Talent Transformation Global Impact Report revealed only 45% of employees are “completely or very satisfied” with the available L&D programs in their field — meanwhile, 80% of companies believe their programs to be at least moderately successful. The solution is to allocate more time and money and encourage talent to take advantage of learning and development.

Incentivizing Those Who Excel

Additionally, leadership should take a critical view of the company’s promotion and development process to reward and recognize employees who go above and beyond when growing their skills.

After all, growing competence within a professional field should be acknowledged and recognized appropriately to retain quality talent, especially when that same report found that 44% of companies say employee turnover has hindered their ability to achieve goals.

Making the Right Choice in Talent and Talent Development

When hiring new talent in the tech field, you need recruits with a growth mindset. They also need a teachable attitude to continue learning along with quickly advancing technology. Finding teachable talent is only the first part of the greater hiring equation.

The rest often requires companies to think differently about where they source talent and commit to professional development for talent on-the-job, which is beneficial for employee and company growth. Hiring for teachability and cultivating it can bring your company into the modern age, support the adoption of new tech, and (most importantly) help sharpen your competitive edge.

Crystal Crump

Managing Director of Company Relations at LaunchCode

Crystal Crump is the Managing Director of Company Relations at LaunchCode. She helps individuals gain access to tech careers by partnering with business leaders to achieve recruitment and workforce development initiatives.

Politics

Fintech Kennek raises $12.5M seed round to digitize lending

Published

on

Google eyed for $2 billion Anthropic deal after major Amazon play


London-based fintech startup Kennek has raised $12.5 million in seed funding to expand its lending operating system.

According to an Oct. 10 tech.eu report, the round was led by HV Capital and included participation from Dutch Founders Fund, AlbionVC, FFVC, Plug & Play Ventures, and Syndicate One. Kennek offers software-as-a-service tools to help non-bank lenders streamline their operations using open banking, open finance, and payments.

The platform aims to automate time-consuming manual tasks and consolidate fragmented data to simplify lending. Xavier De Pauw, founder of Kennek said:

“Until kennek, lenders had to devote countless hours to menial operational tasks and deal with jumbled and hard-coded data – which makes every other part of lending a headache. As former lenders ourselves, we lived and breathed these frustrations, and built kennek to make them a thing of the past.”

The company said the latest funding round was oversubscribed and closed quickly despite the challenging fundraising environment. The new capital will be used to expand Kennek’s engineering team and strengthen its market position in the UK while exploring expansion into other European markets. Barbod Namini, Partner at lead investor HV Capital, commented on the investment:

“Kennek has developed an ambitious and genuinely unique proposition which we think can be the foundation of the entire alternative lending space. […] It is a complicated market and a solution that brings together all information and stakeholders onto a single platform is highly compelling for both lenders & the ecosystem as a whole.”

The fintech lending space has grown rapidly in recent years, but many lenders still rely on legacy systems and manual processes that limit efficiency and scalability. Kennek aims to leverage open banking and data integration to provide lenders with a more streamlined, automated lending experience.

The seed funding will allow the London-based startup to continue developing its platform and expanding its team to meet demand from non-bank lenders looking to digitize operations. Kennek’s focus on the UK and Europe also comes amid rising adoption of open banking and open finance in the regions.

Featured Image Credit: Photo from Kennek.io; Thank you!

Radek Zielinski

Radek Zielinski is an experienced technology and financial journalist with a passion for cybersecurity and futurology.

Continue Reading

Politics

Fortune 500’s race for generative AI breakthroughs

Published

on

Deanna Ritchie


As excitement around generative AI grows, Fortune 500 companies, including Goldman Sachs, are carefully examining the possible applications of this technology. A recent survey of U.S. executives indicated that 60% believe generative AI will substantially impact their businesses in the long term. However, they anticipate a one to two-year timeframe before implementing their initial solutions. This optimism stems from the potential of generative AI to revolutionize various aspects of businesses, from enhancing customer experiences to optimizing internal processes. In the short term, companies will likely focus on pilot projects and experimentation, gradually integrating generative AI into their operations as they witness its positive influence on efficiency and profitability.

Goldman Sachs’ Cautious Approach to Implementing Generative AI

In a recent interview, Goldman Sachs CIO Marco Argenti revealed that the firm has not yet implemented any generative AI use cases. Instead, the company focuses on experimentation and setting high standards before adopting the technology. Argenti recognized the desire for outcomes in areas like developer and operational efficiency but emphasized ensuring precision before putting experimental AI use cases into production.

According to Argenti, striking the right balance between driving innovation and maintaining accuracy is crucial for successfully integrating generative AI within the firm. Goldman Sachs intends to continue exploring this emerging technology’s potential benefits and applications while diligently assessing risks to ensure it meets the company’s stringent quality standards.

One possible application for Goldman Sachs is in software development, where the company has observed a 20-40% productivity increase during its trials. The goal is for 1,000 developers to utilize generative AI tools by year’s end. However, Argenti emphasized that a well-defined expectation of return on investment is necessary before fully integrating generative AI into production.

To achieve this, the company plans to implement a systematic and strategic approach to adopting generative AI, ensuring that it complements and enhances the skills of its developers. Additionally, Goldman Sachs intends to evaluate the long-term impact of generative AI on their software development processes and the overall quality of the applications being developed.

Goldman Sachs’ approach to AI implementation goes beyond merely executing models. The firm has created a platform encompassing technical, legal, and compliance assessments to filter out improper content and keep track of all interactions. This comprehensive system ensures seamless integration of artificial intelligence in operations while adhering to regulatory standards and maintaining client confidentiality. Moreover, the platform continuously improves and adapts its algorithms, allowing Goldman Sachs to stay at the forefront of technology and offer its clients the most efficient and secure services.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Google DeepMind; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

Continue Reading

Politics

UK seizes web3 opportunity simplifying crypto regulations

Published

on

Deanna Ritchie


As Web3 companies increasingly consider leaving the United States due to regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom must simplify its cryptocurrency regulations to attract these businesses. The conservative think tank Policy Exchange recently released a report detailing ten suggestions for improving Web3 regulation in the country. Among the recommendations are reducing liability for token holders in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and encouraging the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to adopt alternative Know Your Customer (KYC) methodologies, such as digital identities and blockchain analytics tools. These suggestions aim to position the UK as a hub for Web3 innovation and attract blockchain-based businesses looking for a more conducive regulatory environment.

Streamlining Cryptocurrency Regulations for Innovation

To make it easier for emerging Web3 companies to navigate existing legal frameworks and contribute to the UK’s digital economy growth, the government must streamline cryptocurrency regulations and adopt forward-looking approaches. By making the regulatory landscape clear and straightforward, the UK can create an environment that fosters innovation, growth, and competitiveness in the global fintech industry.

The Policy Exchange report also recommends not weakening self-hosted wallets or treating proof-of-stake (PoS) services as financial services. This approach aims to protect the fundamental principles of decentralization and user autonomy while strongly emphasizing security and regulatory compliance. By doing so, the UK can nurture an environment that encourages innovation and the continued growth of blockchain technology.

Despite recent strict measures by UK authorities, such as His Majesty’s Treasury and the FCA, toward the digital assets sector, the proposed changes in the Policy Exchange report strive to make the UK a more attractive location for Web3 enterprises. By adopting these suggestions, the UK can demonstrate its commitment to fostering innovation in the rapidly evolving blockchain and cryptocurrency industries while ensuring a robust and transparent regulatory environment.

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding cryptocurrency regulations in various countries has prompted Web3 companies to explore alternative jurisdictions with more precise legal frameworks. As the United States grapples with regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom can position itself as a hub for Web3 innovation by simplifying and streamlining its cryptocurrency regulations.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Jonathan Borba; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2021 Seminole Press.