There aren’t 20 thousand VPs and SVPs in the tech arena.
Citi wants 24x7 coverage on all things tech but does not want to staff for it, so they run lean already.
The true problem that they will run into is that:
a.) The tech sector has a very hard time filling roles. There’s a huge drop tech grads. The newer generations don’t want to bust their @ss to continually learning tech as it evolves and changes. Don’t get me wrong there are tech grads but no where near as many as there was 5 years ago. Microsoft\Google\Amazon who were swamped with tons of applicants, no longer are at all.
b.) The newer graduates don’t subscribe, nor should they, to the old way of thinking, the glorification of “to prove you’re a heavy hitter, you have to put in 60 hours per week”. Um….noper, not so much. If you’re going to work someone the equivalent hours of 2 jobs, then you need to pay them the equivalent of 2 salaries and the newer generations like me are not willing to do that.
c.) The newer generations have no inclination to stay somewhere forever. We like to move around. NOT move around in the company but move around to different companies and different states. So thinking “Ok, we hired Frank who has his tech degree and we’ve got him locked in for many years to come.” Um…not so much. Frank doesn’t mind being challenged but after a year, two at the most, Frank is hitting the road to go to somewhere else.
d.) The old thinking or hiring the one stop shop tech guy does not exist. MD and HR can’t seem to understand this. You’re not going to hire someone who’s an expert with extensive working knowledge of all things Windows, Unix, ansible, VMware architecture, coding in 4 languages, Azure, Intune, AWS etc….
Yes, 10 years ago it was easier to find some people who were technically deep in several different areas but that was then. Now, in all areas, complexity has compounded and you are not going to find “that tech guy” who’s an deep level expert in all areas.
Here’s the funny part, Citi has hired people who’ve talked a good game but in the end, did not meet anywhere the tech game that they sold in the interviews. It’s not that these people exist and you’re just not offering enough money to attract them, no, they just don’t exist. Those people in the past, 10+ years ago, who took pride in being “that tech guy” , got tired of the constant tech ramp up in all areas and no longer do that anymore. They picked AN area of expertise (single) and get paid doing that.