No matter where you’re located, one of the biggest challenges in technology is finding and retaining good talent.
Recruiting isn’t a one-time event. There always seems to be an open position. Whether it’s for growth or the inevitable turnover, as CTO, I’m constantly on the hunt for the best technologists for Clarus. There are some great IT jobs in CT, and I want to find the best candidates to fill them.
Connecticut can be a challenging location for a technology company. Situated between two large cities, Connecticut doesn’t have the same cachet as Silicon Valley, NYC or Boston.
However, the Hartford area is perfect for someone who wants to be close to everything cities have to offer – including a little room to spread out. Connecticut also boasts a tremendous public school system, proximity to beaches, winter sports, and natural beauty. Our family loves it here.
To illustrate Hartford’s technology prowess, Infosys, a global leader in consulting, technology and next-generation services, recently announced that it will open its next Technology and Innovation Hub in Hartford.
It will hire 1,000 American workers in the state by 2022. The Connecticut Technology and Innovation Hub will have a special focus on insurance, healthcare and manufacturing. Things are starting to heat up!
To help grow the nascent tech community, we hosted the state’s first HackerX Networking event on April 5. It attracted more than 100 IT professionals from Connecticut, New York City, and Western Massachusetts.
How HackerX Encourages IT Growth in Communities
For those of you unfamiliar, HackerX resembles a “speed-dating” event that facilitates five-minute introductions between hiring companies and attendees. Attending companies had an opportunity to network and interview with some of the best and brightest candidates in the technology space.
Even for those not looking for new IT jobs in CT, it was still a great place for local technologists to come network and talk about what they’re working on.
In fact, HackerX is the largest invite-only networking and recruiting event for developers. It allows participants to meet with some of the best software engineers in the world. In addition, they learn about the interesting technologies they are working on, as well as some of the challenges they are facing.
I found it to be not only a great recruiting opportunity, but also a way to help make Clarus a household name in Connecticut’s technology scene.
Meeting with representatives of the 15 companies that attended afforded our participants a unique opportunity to gain insight into some of the recent technologies being used. Also, it was a chance to forge new relationships.
We were able to show off the local talent, and show off Clarus Commerce as a Connecticut tech leader. As I walked around at the end of the event, many people commented on how they enjoyed meeting other local coders. They found the Clarus cafe to be the perfect venue for these types of events.
Why the Future is Bright for IT Jobs in CT
Jon Otero, who does Business Development for HackerX, worked with us to organize and run the event. He had this to say after attending.
“Despite being optimistic for HackerX-Connecticut, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. It was going to be our first event in the Hartford area.”
“I could not have been more pleasantly surprised by the turnout. We see Connecticut as a promising and growing tech hub in this country. I appreciate Clarus Commerce for hosting the event in their stunning facility. We will definitely be back.”
The event was awesome and we had a great turnout! We wanted to bring technology into the Hartford area. This is one of several events we hope to host this year. Our open office layout and configuration lends itself to hosting an event like this. (The complimentary beer, wine, and snacks didn’t hurt, either!)
If you’re an IT professional looking for a new opportunity, or know any great candidates looking for IT jobs in CT, check out our job openings here.
Derek Sasaki
Derek, EVP, IT Operations, drives our engineering, development and support teams as well as ensures our infrastructure and compliance efforts remain cutting edge. When he's not building Clarus into the tech hot spot of Hartford, he can usually be found spending time with his family and their flock of chickens, taking care of his 250-year-old home or in his photo studio.