Panelists will share insights and data that highlight the urgency of solving the tech skills gap, and the risks involved in not getting it right. Specifically, panelists will discuss hiring norms and expectations around credentials and experience that have tended to serve as barriers to finding and retaining strong and diverse tech talent. They will explain that, in light of new and promising on-ramps into entry-level tech jobs, those barriers are not only harmful, but unnecessary, and that offering smarter entry-points into the tech workforce for more people can benefit both individuals and organizations alike.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the challenges facing HR, IT and cybersecurity managers, in light of heightened and widespread cybersecurity risks and increasingly complex IT landscapes. Panelists will cite SHRM CompTIA insights to back up their assertions.
• Hear about the appetite for 1) closer collaboration between HR and IT team leads in defining and changing the requisites for entry-level IT and cybersecurity roles, and 2) a shift away from a mindset of "buying tech talent" in favor of one that prioritizes an investment in the evolving competencies and skillsets of team members. Panelists will share findings and anecdotes from a recent CompTIA/SHRM focus group to validate this message.
• Gain insight into some of the most promising tactics and strategies employers are using globally -- including apprenticeship and ongoing training -- to ensure new tech workers possess the most up-to-date and relevant skills that today's employers don't just want, but need.