29 January 2010
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How can i recruit the best IT Staff? – A Guide for the Employer
Recruiting IT Staff is my area of expertise so this guide is written for someone who wants to hire an IT employee be it a Java Developer, Sharepoint Consultant, Systems Administrator or German Speaking IT Support staff.
If you want to recruit the most important thing is being ready to recruit, i don’t mean timescale wise or budgets (although having a clear idea on those does help) i am talking about having prepared to enter a process. Whether or not you hire the best “IT Employee” on the market is heavily influenced your willingness to take ownership of the process.
You could choose to use free Job boards, an IT recruitment agency or just referrals to find that perfect fit for your IT Sales team but the most important aspect in any recruitment campaign is committing to a planned recruitment strategy that has a range of methods and policies mapped out, this will enhance the effectiveness of each recruitment campaign.
Here are some points to think about when putting together a recruitment strategy:
• What makes you so good? – You must understand what your company looks like from the outside? Do you offer the chance to work with desirable technology (Ruby on Rails, Silverlight, .net, iphone development) or are you in a buzzword industry (Cloud Computing, mobile computing or SaaS are the buzzwords for 2010). Can you offer a salary at market rate or better? If not what else do you offer, benefits, pension, bonus or perhaps training?
• Recruitment consultants – Technology, Role or Industry specific Recruiters are not the same as walking into a generalist agency. A good IT Recruitment consultant will understand what you are looking for perhaps even be able to clarify the role for you. They should be capable and allowed to challenge your job spec. Do you need experience of Pair Programming really? Do they have to come from a Web Hosting or Design Agency or Banking or Consulting background? If so explain why, it could be turned into a selling point for your company. Work closely with a Recruiter you trust and who is flexible enough to work with you and your company’s needs not against you.
• Advertising – BE CAREFUL! You could throw your whole year’s recruitment budget at advertising and still be no better off so be careful not to fall for viewing figures, hit rates or reader numbers. Choose wisely and if you are looking for a Linux Systems Administrator then don’t advertise in Computer Weekly straight away if you can advertise in something like Linux User and Developer.
• Networking and Referrals – “Money talks” and “You can’t buy Friendship” seem to clash but actually they can work nicely together in this situation. Ask around your network; Friends, Family, Clients, Suppliers, Linkedin contacts and Twitter “Followers”. People like to help people! However there may be some who would put that little bit of extra effort in if you were to offer a referral fee!
Whatever you decide make sure you plan properly and are able to deliver the time and resources needed to carry out that plan. If you don’t have the time then work with someone who understands business well. Give working with us a try or for more than just recruitment advice try a Business Consultant.
Grant Bodie is the Director of Mount Recruitment Ltd and IT Recruitment Consultancy with a range of recruitment packages individually priced.
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