Inc.
5 Types of Tech Hires You Will Need to Make in 2017
By: John Brandon
For any company that has started growing, there's a good chance you already have a core staff. You've hired a marketing manager and a few people to handle the accounting. You have a sales manager and a customer service lead. Those positions are obviously critical to any company. Yet we're living in a world dominated by technology and gadgets. These roles are becoming less optional and almost as critical as those recent marketing and accounting hires.
1. Data Scientist
There's too much data floating around these days. In 2017, if you are not thinking about hiring a data scientist, it could be a sign of a deeper problem (like not being data-driven with your decisions and the company vision). The person in this role can help you analyze trends in your industry, look at social media activity, and deal with most financial issues.
2. Social Media Manager
Social media is not something any company can ignore--it is the new marketing. Having someone check Twitter once a week and post a few photos on Facebook won't cut it in 2017. You'll need a manager who can keep tabs on trends, schedule posts, and do the hard work of analyzing social media activity. This person should also have a team who helps keep the social flow going.
3. A.I. Expert
A.I. is a top trend of 2017, and it's a new focus for major companies like Microsoft and Google. That means it should also be a major focus for your company. A.I. pops up in almost every industry. It can help explain shopping trends in the retail market or analyze the sales process and customer interactions. Someone with actual A.I. programming experience and knowledge can help you see the benefits of A.I.
4. Chatbot Developer
In addition to an A.I. expert, you might consider hiring a chatbot developer. A chatbot mimics human behavior and can run on Facebook Messenger or one of the other messaging apps. It can run automatically when people visit your website or as a standalone app. The point is to answer questions from customers, provide a service, or handle tech support issues.
5. App Developer
It's amazing how many companies have not experimented with app development, either because they don't see the benefit or because there are already too many apps. (This year, Apple is expected to hit $1 trillion in app sales since the original iPhone launched.) Yet even a basic app that helps people understand your service or contact your staff, or provides automated guidance for your industry will make sense, especially given how many people use their phones all day.
