Polish IT sector is growing very dynamically, and Polish programmers, especially Java Developers, are among the best and most desirable specialists in the world. It is not surprising that many international players have turned their attention to Polish IT outsourcing companies and their employees, thus deciding to hire IT competence or nearshoring. These, at the same time, are constantly expanding their portfolio of clients and projects, attracting more and more new employees. This situation is exceptionally comfortable for IT specialists who are open for opportunities and self-development oriented. However, as around every unique situation, there are many “pros” and “cons” from those who are interested the most. So why is it worth cooperating with IT outsourcing companies?
OUTSOURCING – HOW DOES IT WORK?
From the business point of view, IT outside-resource-using is a number of benefits. The two most frequently mentioned are cost reduction and quality. In general, outsourcing generates lower costs than building and maintaining your own team, including the managers, and the infrastructure necessary for its proper performance. Cooperation in this model may also mean an additional benefit for business, which is long-term partnership and the synergy effect created by combining business knowledge and experience with technological competence and skills. Outsourcing companies as IT service providers take care of their highest quality, and thus the highest level of provided solutions.
Looking at the cooperation with an outsourcing company from an employee’s perspective one cannot fail to notice its advantages. IT specialists – both programmers and administrators, project managers, analysts, QA or testers – by deciding to hire in companies providing IT services, together with good earnings, guarantee themselves a few other significant benefits.
ONE EMPLOYER – MANY INDUSTRIES AND PROJECTS
An IT specialist in outsourcing company acts as a consultant, and his services can be leased by a company from any industry whose business line provides for development of the existing or implementation of a new IT solution. Being delegated to a project doesn’t mean that you have to be permanently involved in it. Completion of work for one client opens up the possibility of the project for another brand and work on another solution. Thus, opportunities for cooperation with companies from different industries, as well as for constant broadening of knowledge about the projects and the specificity of companies in different market segments appear. On the one hand – constant changes and development, on the other hand – guarantee of stable employment.
FASTER DEVELOPMENT, HIGHER SALARY
Companies offering IT services take care of their highest quality. That’ s why most of them provide their employees with access to the latest knowledge, organize trainings and technology workshops. By building the value of an employee, they strengthen the value of their own business and brand. This is a typical win-win situation. The development of an employee is also affected by customers and their projects.
Participation in various projects is an opportunity to work with different people, in different organizational structures and cultures, techniques and management styles. All this makes work in outsourcing even more valuable. Expanding the knowledge, technical and soft skills is embedded in IT consultant’s daily life. This is required by the specifics of his work, technological progress and the increasing innovativeness of companies. The development is also demanded by IT specialists themselves to be the best and to be able to complete the most interesting projects. Specialists armed this way gain more and more value on the labor market, and knowledge and skills development is also beneficial for their own, original ideas.
Specialists and managers – “contractors” – earn about 30% more than those who hold the same positions on a full-time basis. Average net hourly rates, depending on the programming language and experience, reach even 180PLN/h. However, the wage argument is not the only one that strongly speaks for this form of cooperation.
FLEXIBLE FORMS OF EMPLOYMENT
If we decide to work for an outsourcing company, we will probably be able to choose the legal form of employment, we will have no problem with flexible working hours or working in a remote model. Everything depends on individual arrangements with the employer. The knowledge of the most popular or unique technologies, experience, portfolio of realized projects or knowledge of foreign languages are essential in negotiations of employment terms.
FOR WHOM WORKING IN OUTSOURCING?
Outsourcing work is not for everyone. It should be chosen by people who are open to change and result-oriented. It’ s work where the main measure of success is the satisfaction of the end customer. It is important to remember that both clients and projects can be different, have different technological advancement, different delivery times and different structure. The role of a consultant therefore requires initiative, commitment and flexibility. The readiness to cooperate, communication skills, willingness to know and understand the client’s business, management style and methods, and the ability to adapt to changing environment are also very important.
Despite a number of benefits from employment in an outsourcing company, some doubts are still arising on IT professionals’ side. The most common concerns relate to the type of projects, end customer’s attitude towards consultants, continuity of employment or non-wage benefits. Their occurrence is natural, regardless of the industry, position or type of work performed and concerns not only outsourcing. However, let’s try to dispel doubts related to IT outsourcing.
Read: The whole truth about being part of an outsourcing company.