The research answers the following question: what actions do organizations undertake to attract and retain young IT professionals and how do they correspond with expectations of young IT specialists? In order to get information about life values of young professionals, their expectations and apprehensions, in this research qualitative methodology and semi-structured interview method were used.

All the respondents were conditionally divided in accordance to the companies they are employed with into international companies, big Latvian companies and modern IT companies. The research showed that different types of companies use different strategies to attract, retain and motivate young IT specialists. International companies try to satisfy the needs of young professionals for self-expression, freedom and self-realization. Big Latvian companies try to create environment where employees feel their dependence from the organization and are afraid to lose their jobs. Modern IT companies shape attachment to the company and create desire to make this company more competitive.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/bm.2018.37