Hiring for information technology jobs can be different from other industries. Due to the high degree of skill and technical knowledge required, it is often a challenge to get the right people for each role. But that doesn’t mean that you should put off the effort – in fact, the opposite is true. When it comes to information and communications technology, hiring should be a priority.
9 Tips to Make Hiring a Priority
It can be a struggle to make time available for the full hiring process. Here are 9 tips to make it simpler and ensure that both candidates and companies can get the best results possible.
1. Schedule a time for hiring activities.
Set a weekly goal with a specific number of hours allocated to hiring and recruiting. Blocking your calendar and making this a concrete, long-term part of your weekly schedule will make a substantial and positive impact on both the quality and quantity of your leads. Also consider giving your recruiters access to your calendar during this block of time for better synchronization and efficiency.
2. Hiring can be a group effort.
Nothing great is done alone. Make sure you work together with the other managers to decrease your workload and free up time to think and evaluate choices more thoroughly. You have a great set of managers to rely on – so when time is tight and you need to hire more people, turn the process into a group effort where each manager handles a unique part of the hiring and interviewing process.
3. Ensure you have a dedicated hiring lead.
An excellent method to always move your recruitment forward is to have a dedicated internal team member, experienced recruiter, or recruitment firm handling jobs and hiring. Set up weekly touch points with this lead and your recruitment partners, and emphasize regular communication – one of the most important aspects of a successful hiring program.
4. Be proactive.
Being proactive is especially important if you need people with skills that are tough to find. This is a common issue in information technologies, and there are pockets within the IT/ICT industries where there is very little supply to fill the demand. In these cases, you should be regularly and proactively reaching out to your internal and external recruitment partners to talk about your needs and timelines – before they become unsurmountable obstacles.
5. Use an internal referral program.
You can save time by putting together an employee referral program, which can greatly assist you in finding qualified candidates to work in your company. Internally post the positions you need filled for all to see, and allow some time for recommendations to roll in. It is difficult to go wrong with referrals from your successful employees.
6. Make recruitment more fun.
Recruiting and hiring shouldn’t be a chore. Break up big tasks into smaller projects across multiple days, and change your perspective so that you are always contributing a little bit to your recruitment needs. When you stop thinking of hiring as an arduous process and start to think of it as a way of life, you’ll be able to find talent wherever you encounter it – whether you’re working with external recruitment partners, at a networking event, or even out and about in your regular life.
7. Leverage the right hiring tools.
Staying on top of the hiring process requires you use the proper tools, and this is especially true if your company gets a lot of applications. Being organized from the start saves you time, and missteps along the way can cause qualified applications and leads to vanish. Utilize the right software to get you where you want to be.
8. Stay in touch with the candidates.
This is a simple principle that many overlook but it can contribute to your reputation in a big way. Ensure that every applicant gets a response, regardless of whether they get the job or not, because not responding will negatively affect the public’s opinion of your company. Consistent follow-ups with your candidates and staying in regular contact throughout the process will help provide a pool of talent for the next position that needs to be filled, and having this list can save you a lot of wasted time.
9. Reap the value of good recruitment partners.
A great recruitment partner will understand your business, your needs, and your culture. Having the right partners will make this easier for you and will save you time, letting you focus on what you do best while still getting the results you need!