Hiring is not getting easier for IT. The talent pool is shrinking and the technology is moving very quickly. You used to be able to look at skillsets and if they matched, you had your guy (or gal), but that’s not how things work now — at least that’s not how they should work. It’s more important that your candidate be able to learn quickly, communicate well and fit in with your organization so they can anticipate problems and get at things before they slow everyone down. This isn’t an easy thing to track, but it’s how you can ensure success.

Independent Contractor vs. Full Time

Tenures for IT staff at big tech companies have shortened dramatically. Your hiring strategy should be prepared for this reality. The big advantage of an independent contractor or a temp-to-perm position is you and the candidate get to try things out before committing. But this can also limit your ability to attract the top talent. Would they be willing to leave a permanent position for something less stable? It’s important to consider what created this staffing need. Are you replacing a position or do you need new hands to help with a project? If there’s a long-term need then you should strongly consider hiring for a permanent position.

The Ideal Candidate vs. The Adaptable One

It’s hard to tell from an interview how flexible and curious a candidate is, but it’s these two qualities that mean the most — not the skillset. As talent becomes scarce and technology rolls forward, your chance at finding the ideal candidate on paper dwindles. Unfortunately this means more work for your hiring managers, but a trusted recruiter can help at least thin the pool and ensure you’re searching for the right talent and have the price in realistic range.

It holds true with all candidates, but maybe surprisingly just as much with IT, the culture has to be right. You have to find someone who will flourish in your environment. Someone who has more than just the know-how to keep your office thrumming 24-7 but also the strong desire to. Someone who can get along with the people using your systems so those frustration flare-ups from outmoded tech are mitigated.

About NextGen

NextGen is the brainchild of longtime telecom professionals with nearly 50 years of experience and millions of dollars in Telecom Recruiting Services. We focus on establishing long term relationships with our clients and candidates so we can recruit the best and the brightest in the telecom industry. This ‘quality over quantity’ approach is at the heart of everything we do and has resulted in successful job placements at Fortune 1000 firms worldwide.