Work is changing so fast in digital, media and tech, it’s understandable if you’re feeling a bit of vertigo. No matter the role or industry niche, the way we work is subject to a new development at a pace that could be described as frenetic. Fear not, however, because Savvy Recruitment is here to provide clarity and distil the most important trends into actionable wisdom. 

Here’s what every employer should have on their radar. Grab a cuppa, settle down into your favourite office chair and discover what’s shaping the way we work right now. 

AI Is Just Another Employee

AI tools have become part of everyday workflows in marketing, media production, data analysis and even creative brainstorming.

In practice, the smartest businesses aren’t using AI to cut headcount. Instead, they’re hiring people who know how to leverage it. New roles are emerging – AI content specialists, data ethicists, prompt engineers – while traditional roles are evolving to include skill requirements related to AI.

KPMG research has found that, while AI will shift some tasks from humans to technology, overall employment levels are expected to remain stable as new roles and demands emerge alongside automation. So, far from a Terminator type of situation or a complete collapse of the job market, we are experiencing an evolution of how work is done.

As anyone who uses AI daily knows, humans are still very much part of the equation – for problem solving, strategy, managing client relationships, and plenty of creative work that AI can’t come up with on its own.

When hiring for AI-connected roles, look for candidates with adaptability, curiosity, and digital problem-solving skills, not just technical certificates.

Skills & Attitude > Perfect CVs

It’s time to stop fixating on finding candidates with linear career paths and flawless CVs. Smart employers know that portfolios, real-world skills, freelance experience, and side projects, are better indicators of a candidate’s chops. Qualifications from fancy schools and brand-name employers on their CV? Not so much.

More hiring managers are recruiting for potential and attitude and then investing in upskilling, rather than chasing the perfect candidates (who don’t exist).

How to future-proof your team: Hire for capability, teach the rest. Your next standout performer might not look perfect on paper. As a digital, tech and media recruitment agency with decades of experience in spotting those sleeper candidates, we can help! (Don’t be afraid to ask us.)

Sustainability Is a Hiring Issue Now

As we’ve touched on recently, sustainability in the media and tech industries is just as important for attracting talent as it is for saving the environment. Digital and creative departments are expected to play their part, too.

Candidates want to work for companies that genuinely care about the environmental impact of their digital footprint, content production, and marketing campaigns. Plus, client briefs increasingly include ESG priorities – so your teams will need the knowledge and mindset to meet them.

How to win in this area: Talk openly about your sustainability goals in your recruitment marketing, and hire people who can help you reach them.

Wellbeing Is the Key to Employee Retention

Speaking of sustainability – it applies to everyday work, too. Hustle culture is fast becoming a relic, as more people realise that burning out on the job isn’t great for a long-term career.

Candidates care deeply about mental health, workload expectations and work-life balance. And they’re asking direct questions about these things in interviews, so if you’re a hiring manager, you’d best be prepared to have sensible answers!

From our vantage point in digital, media and Tech recruitment, we see more forward-thinking companies building wellbeing into their EVP (Employee Value Proposition), making it a core part of their culture.

Retention tip: Go beyond the wellbeing initiatives. Yoga mornings are nice, but so is actively protecting your team’s time and energy. Your top performers will stay longer.

DE&I Expectations Are Built into Talent Decisions

The wonderful talent that connects with media recruitment agencies in London wants to work in teams that reflect their communities. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is a key consideration in decisions to accept to a job offer.

We can confirm that candidates (especially younger ones) expect to see DE&I baked into your employer brand, your leadership, your campaigns, and your culture.

Companies that can demonstrate authentic representation are winning the race for talent and avoiding the reputational risk of ‘diversity washing’.

To walk the DE&I talk, it takes a bit more than drafting policies. Building an inclusive hiring process is a good start. Luckily, we’ve got advice on that here.

The Last Word

As an employer trying to hire the best tech or media talent in London, these trends should be on your radar. Consider these trends bargaining chips you can use when wooing talent. Just quietly: they’re also secret strategies for making the world a better place.

Work with London’s Digital, Media & Tech Hiring Experts

As one of London’s top digital, media and tech recruitment agencies, Savvy Recruitment knows exactly how to help you find the talent that’ll deliver and have fun while doing it.

When you need help to build a new tech squad, refreshing your marketing team, or finally trying to hire someone who actually gets AI (and can explain it without jargon), we’ve got you covered. Give us a call or drop us a message today!