Are Pods the Future of Emerging Tech Talent?

For many years, the tech industry has used the recruit, train, deploy (RTD) model to close skills gaps and drive diversity and inclusion (D&I), but it faces challenges when trying to scale teams rapidly. 

It is, of course, possible to achieve both increased D&I and long-term retention via RTD. At Technology Academy, we deliver this for our partners across the UK.  

However, the internal resources needed to ensure success increase exponentially when scaling rapidly, putting a massive slow down on team growth and the integration of diverse talent. 

This is where the idea of pods came from—an innovative new strategy that allows teams to embed diverse talent at much greater scale. It’s a concept that creates a more efficient and practical framework for onboarding and embedding emerging talent in large numbers while reducing the strain on line managers.

Understanding Pods in Recruitment 

To appreciate the potential of pods, you must first understand what sets them apart from more traditional RTD hiring. Conventional RTD typically involves selecting individual candidates or small groups and integrating them into existing teams. 

In contrast, the pod model organises junior hires into groups (most commonly of 5-10), each led by an experienced technologist acting as specialist mentor and guide. This structure not only accelerates the integration of new talent but ensures these recruits are supported by dedicated leadership from the onset. 

Traditional RTD Hiring vs. Pods 

Traditional RTD Hiring: Focuses on individual candidates or small groups, often integrated piecemeal into teams. This means managers are tasked with juggling onboarding, training, and their regular responsibilities, which can dilute their focus and reduce productivity. 

Pods: Involves hiring larger groups of junior technologists who are led by a senior technologist.  This pod leader provides tailored mentorship and manages the pod's integration and development, freeing up other team leaders to concentrate on their primary deliverables.  The leader also works directly with line managers to ensure the culture and working practices of the organisation are understood and the pod can be embedded into the wider team with minimal disruption.

The Advantages of Pods 

Pods offer a range of benefits that address some of the critical challenges associated with traditional hiring, particularly in the context of diversity.

Scaling Talent Acquisition Quickly 

One of the most significant advantages of the pod model is its ability to scale talent acquisition efficiently. The model not only speeds up the recruitment process itself, but also ensures that new hires have immediate access to guidance and support. This can significantly reduce the time it takes for them to fold naturally into the existing team and become fully productive employees. 

For example, consider a new office or project launch which needs to be scaled up quickly. Traditional hiring would involve a resource heavy process of individual interviews, onboarding, tech assessments and training sessions, potentially taking months of valuable time from various senior team members. In contrast, recruiting a pod lets tech functions bring in a ready-made team, equipped to hit the ground running, all trained by a single specialist leader, integrating them seamlessly into the company’s workflow without missing a beat. 

Transforming Team Culture and Composition 

Traditional methods of integrating new hires often result in minor incremental changes that have a minimal impact on overall team dynamics. This is, of course, extremely valuable, but is a very long process to drive change. In contrast, the pod approach allows companies to introduce a larger group simultaneously, injecting diversity, fresh perspectives and energy into existing teams. 

This approach can be particularly beneficial for companies aiming to enhance their D&I initiatives.  By bringing in a diverse pod, businesses can make a more immediate and visible impact on their workforce's composition. This not only helps meet D&I goals, it also fosters a more inclusive environment where diverse emerging talent feels more welcome.

Accelerating the Path to Productivity 

A common challenge with onboarding emerging tech talent is the time it takes for them to become productive. Extensive training is often required, particularly in tech roles where systems and processes are unique to your business and function. This can strain internal resources and damage productivity. Pods mitigate this issue by providing a dedicated leader who delivers tailored learning and development opportunities. 

 This leader focuses exclusively on the pod members, translating project requirements into manageable tasks and providing continuous feedback and support. As a result, new hires can rapidly acquire the skills and knowledge they need to contribute effectively and accelerate their journey from novice to valuable team member. This approach not only boosts the productivity of the new hires but also alleviates the burden on existing managers. 

Freeing Up Internal Leaders to Focus on Core Deliverables 

In traditional RTD, the responsibility of onboarding and training new hires often falls on internal leaders and managers. While this approach is manageable for small numbers, it becomes inefficient when multiple hires are onboarded simultaneously. 

Pods offer a solution by designating a single pod leader to manage the integration and development of new hires, making it their sole focus for the duration of the process. This approach not only streamlines the onboarding process but also frees up 5-10 individual managers if you’re in the process of hiring emerging talents into multiple teams simultaneously. 

This separation of duties allows internal leaders to concentrate on core deliverables without the added pressure of onboarding and mentoring new team members. The pod leader acts as a natural bridge between the theoretical and the practical, translating strategic goals into actionable tasks and ensuring the team’s productivity and cohesion are maintained without overwhelming existing staff. 

Pods: A Futureproof Strategy for Embedding Emerging Talent 

The pod model represents a practical and efficient alternative to traditional RTD hiring practices in the tech sector, addressing many challenges associated with integrating emerging talent.  

While the success of this approach depends on the specific needs and context of each business and traditonal RTD hiring remains valuable for many use cases, pods after a compelling solution for businesses looking to scale teams quickly.

At Technology Academy, this innovative approach has delivered exceptional results for our clients, allowing us to continue in our mission to connect graduates with leading companies and foster a more inclusive and dynamic technology landscape.

As the tech industry continues to evolve, adopting innovative models like pods could be crucial in staying ahead of the curve and effectively harnessing the potential of the next generation of tech talent.