To say there’s a strong demand for IT talent is an understatement. As one of Kansas City’s top IT staffing firms, Morgan Hunter knows that companies across different sectors are investing more in technology initiatives and, as a result, the battle for IT talent is only going to get more intense in the years to come. And in fact, according to one recent survey, three quarters of CIOs plan to either fill vacant IT positions or expand their existing IT staff.
So what can you do to recruit the best – and beat out your competition in the process? Here are 5 tips:
Tip #1: Ask employees to be brand advocates.
Your existing IT staff likely has a strong network of qualified connections in similar tech fields. So tap them and ask for referrals. And don’t expect them to give up the goods for free. Offer them a lucrative reward – like a generous referral bonus – for every qualified IT professional they refer that you wind up hiring.
Tip #2: Recruit from the competition.
With social media sites like LinkedIn, it’s easier than ever to find out where the industry’s top talent works. Another strategy that can be used to gain talent from the competition is to identify the corporate IP address of a competitor’s website and direct any of those competitor’s employees who visit your site to the Career section of your website.
Tip #3: Offer great rewards.
When you find a stellar candidate, seal the deal by offering more than a competitive salary. Ask them what would make them want to work for you – and then deliver, whether it’s a signing bonus or a subscription to a beer-of-the-month club. Also don’t forget to sell all the perks your organization has to offer its employees, so they know what to expect once they’re on board.
Tip #4: Interview from anywhere.
Don’t require candidates to come into your office. Instead, tap into the power of technology – like Skype – to interview them anytime, anywhere. This opens up a whole new pool of candidates – those from outside your area – and offers a cost-effective avenue for interviewing them.
Tip #5: Try out talent before hiring.
One of the biggest problems when hiring IT talent is a slow hiring process. So rather than putting your candidates through the wringer with multiple rounds of interviews, bring in your top picks to work at your company on a project for a temporary period. That way you can test out their skills and see whether their personality is a fit for your culture.
Need More Help Recruiting IT Talent?
Give Morgan Hunter a call. As one of Kansas City’s top IT staffing firms, we specialize in recruiting technology professionals, ranging from Chief Information Officers to Desktop Support. All candidates are rigorously screened by our consultants to ensure their technical compatibility, and to identify the personality traits that will allow them to blend smoothly into your organization.