Tag Archives: hiring managers

IT Staffing: Unemployed…Now What?

You lost your job due to a recent layoff– and you are not alone.  Plenty of IT job seekers are unemployed IT consultants at one point or another.  They know what they should be doing, they hear it every day, and it becomes frustrating.  Rather than simply blasting resumes to technical recruiters and going on countless IT job interviews, supplement your daily routine with activities you did not have the chance to enjoy until now!

Unpaid Experience: Volunteering and Internships

Volunteering is a sacrifice of your time to help others.  While volunteering may not lead to a career opportunity, you will still be helping those who may be less fortunate than you.  Hiring managers and IT staffing firms would rather see prospective candidates make use of their free time by volunteering, rather than waiting for IT jobs to land at their feet.  This selfless act shows a passion to work and dedication without a paycheck.  Use internship and volunteering opportunities to keep your skills sharp, network with managers, and potentially be hired full time!

Discover a New Hobby

Have you ever wanted to run a marathon or learn to crotchet?  Maybe you wanted to travel across Europe or visit college friends, but never had the time.  Well, the time is now!  Depending on your budget and goals, you can turn this unfortunate event into an opportunity to achieve your dreams.  You’ll also provide an excellent topic to discuss with IT recruiters.  With the proper planning, you will not regret your choice or wonder if you should have done things differently.

Further Your Education

Make yourself more valuable to hiring managers and technical recruiting companies by enhancing your skill set.  You will be more marketable by IT recruiting companies with new experience and the latest technical skills.  If a certain area of technology interests you, test it out.  You might get to enter competitive, emerging fields.

Being unemployed is less than ideal, but having a plan can ease the transition from jobless to a new career.

Should IT Recruiters Respond to Emails on Vacation?

You have planned a week long getaway from the IT recruiting office in another country, far away from hiring managers, ongoing IT job interviews, and IT consultants.  You set up your auto response and request all urgent matters be sent to a fellow technical recruiter.  Before you press save, be mindful of these vacation email response tips.

Spam

Providing an automatic response confirms your email address to potential spammers.  Stop before you give out your account managers’ or technical recruiters’ email addresses in your vacation auto-reply.  You may be unwittingly exposing them to spam.  Instead, try to customize your message for those on your contact list, and then have a template for others.  Also, you may want to set up the response so it only reaches contacts once.  Then they are not repeatedly spammed with your out of office message.

Location

For security purposes, do not provide the location of your vacation or the itinerary unless it’s a trusted family member or friend.  Letting others know your house will be vacant during your absence creates a threat of vandalism and theft.  Also, others outside IT staffing firms simply do not need to know your business.

Warn Ahead of Time

The IT staffing world will go on without you while you are on your holiday, so think twice before you check your email.  Warn others at technical recruiting firms ahead of time for projects that will need your approval, consent, or opinion.  By repeatedly checking and responding to emails while you are away, you’re letting work consume your life and disrupt your time to relax.  By providing a heads up, there will be no excuse, guilt, or blame for when you return.

IT Recruiters Should Borrow and Share Ideas

IT recruiting firms have been encouraged to be creative, unique, and think outside the box.  What happens when technical recruiting agencies run out of ideas?  How can they take a thought from someone else  and make it one of their own?  Here are some tips for technical recruiters and hiring managers to gain inspiration from others, while improving their own work ethic.

Build On an Idea

There is always room for improvement at IT staffing firms, which is why IT recruiters should take the opportunity to build upon others’ accomplishments.  If certain IT headhunters have a technique, ask for suggestions and helpful tips to improve output.  A technical recruiter may be able to add to the process or make changes that are even more beneficial.  Avoid over complicating procedures.  Just tweak the areas of weakness one step at a time.

Apply to Different Situations

Borrow ideas and apply them to personal circumstances.  If an idea is working for filling IT jobs or sifting through resumes, try implementing the plan with other tasks.  Trial and error is an excellent way to see if different processes work in multiple situations.  Do not be afraid to make mistakes and be open to suggestions.  The best way to learn from change is taking the risk with a test run and handling the consequences.

Give Credit

If a recruiter comes across a great idea, give props to the owner.  The more someone is praised for their thoughts, the more likely they will be to contribute in the future.  Stealing ideas and claiming ownership will cause others to be defensive and unwilling to share.  Be open and communicate with feedback and reviews.  Output will improve oneself, as well as helping IT recruiting companies to thrive from internal suggestions and accomplishments!

IT Recruiting: Skype Interviews for Hiring Managers

Last week, the IT recruiters of AVID Technical Resources provided prospective candidates with helpful information regarding Skype interviews.  This week, the spotlight is on the hiring managers.  If IT staffing companies are looking for innovative ways to interview and screen candidates, the Skype interview may be the right choice!

Saves Money

The Skype interview is perfect for saving companies money, while also expanding their candidate search.  The webcam-based interview allows hiring managers to interview candidates who are from outside the area without the burden of travel and lodging accommodations.  The cost of the equipment may pay for itself in just one screening.

Saves Time

Often hiring managers and technical recruiting companies will know within the first five minutes if IT consultants will be a fit for their IT job opportunities.  Rather than flying in a candidate, taking them out to lunch, and conducting three round interviews, a team can sit in together or take turns interviewing the IT contractor.  A whole day ordeal can be drastically reduced to an hour, leaving plenty of time for other projects and interviewing more candidates.

Body Language

IT staffing firms may use Skype interviews rather than phone interviews to read a candidate’s body language and see how comfortable they feel around information technology.  Also, the webcam provides technical recruiters the opportunity to witness how a consultant responds to questions social cicumstances.  Check for indicators that the applicant is professional by his attire, behavior, as well as the setting and background he chooses to conduct his interview.

Record for Review

The video conference allows hiring managers of IT recruiting firms to review the interview and take note of subtle details.  They can also use the replays to compare candidates’ answers and responses to questions.  If a hiring manager was absent from the meeting, he can view the interview as well for feedback.

While the typical phone and in-person interview will not be disappearing any time soon, the Skype interview may become a more viable option for money and time-conscious IT recruiting companies.

Incorporating Skype into IT Job Interviews: Candidates

Phone screens are quite common during interview rounds as hiring managers select final candidates for IT job opportunities.  With new information technology, IT recruiting firms may even vamp up their interview procedure with an innovative type of screening known as the Skype screen.  If you are a prospective candidate, read on for information and tips to make the most out of a Skype screening.

Check Technology

Prior to the interview, check your audio equipment and microphone.  Though most laptops come with standard webcam features, you may want to invest in newer equipment so your IT staffing interview runs as smoothly as possible.  Check your network connection for a clear signal and send all attachments to technical recruiters prior to the interview.  Have the attachments and your resume open and ready at the start of the Skype call for quick access.

Dress the Part

Just because the interview is in your home, candidates should not become too comfortable.  Opt for an entire suit rather than a dressy shirt and casual pants while maintaining a business attitude.  Use a professional Skype handle versus personal accounts.  Remember to smile and have natural facial expressions during the conversation with IT recruiters.  Also, the camera is where you will be making eye contact, so do not become distracted by staring at yourself while speaking or watching your IT recruiting audience.

Beware of distractions

Interviewing in the privacy of your own home is a luxury, but remember to keep it a formal interview.  Ask family members and roommates for privacy while keeping pets out of the picture.  Use a blank wall or cleared space for your background.  IT headhunters will find it hard to believe you are organized if they spy a cluttered background or mess!

One of the best reasons to conduct a Skype interview is to record and review it after.  Take notes on areas of strength and room for improvement.  The Skype interview may help candidates of technical recruiting firms better communication skills as you become more comfortable with the experience!

IT Recruiting: Persistent or Overly Aggressive… Back Off

Chances are you have heard it is good to follow up with hiring managers after IT job interviews.  Sometimes, this is not the case if you are working with an IT recruiter.  When IT contractors choose to work with technical recruiting companies, they develop their relationship with client companies through IT staffing firms.  Before you sit down to type out a thank you email to the hiring manager, consult your technical recruiter and read on for more tips.

Let IT Recruitersdo their job!

The gift of IT headhunters is they do some of the hard work for you.  Trust that they will in fact follow up with hiring managers for a prompt response and relay that information to you in a timely manner.  Remind yourself that IT recruiting companies would not be in business if they were not determined to land their IT consultants positions.  Instead of trying to nix the middle man, sit back and let technical recruiters take the reins.

Desperation is a turn off

A phone call with the recruiter along with a thank you to the hiring manager is necessary.  In the thank you, ask your recruiter when to expect feedback or a decision timeframe.  If you follow up more than the suggested time frame, you will be pestering your recruiter, which may lead him to believe you are impatient rather than persistent.  It is unlikely that he would forget to provide feedback, so he most likely has not heard back yet.  Also, by keeping to yourself you will be able to focus on other upcoming interviews and IT job opportunities.

Did the interview go well?

If you are sitting by the phone waiting for feedback, try to reflect on how the interview went and how badly you want this role.  If this position did not fit your interests or skill level, then you can relax during the wait period.  For IT jobs that meet your qualifications, calling in to check with your recruiter once is acceptable, but avoid going overboard with emails, texts, and phone calls.

If your recruiter gave you a specific time frame and has not responded to you in a timely manner or provided feedback, reach out to them.  They may be busy, but it is no excuse to not respect your agreement and keep you hanging.

IT Staffing: Seeing Candidates Through Rose Tinted Glasses

Most technical recruiters admit to having a choice contractor and play favorites whether it be their first placement or IT contractors with similar interests.  While it is great to find the good and positive in others, are some IT recruiting firms seeing candidates through rose tinted glasses?  Before a technical recruiter recommends him for other assignments, he should focus on the candidate’s actual work performance and goals.  They may be putting the contractor before more qualified individuals for open IT jobs.

Friendship

It is acceptable to have a friendly relationship with candidates, but IT recruiters should keep their work relationships professional.  IT staffing firms should not let their candidates take advantage of them based on friendships.  Treat contractors with the same amount of respect as any hiring managers or other clients and expect the same from him.  If he asks for honest feedback, avoid sugarcoating information by providing him with the truth, especially if he is unfit match for an open position.

Feedback

When a hiring manager makes suggestions for improvement in a candidate’s performance, do not take it personally or make excuses for him.  Technical recruiting companies should coach their candidates on ways to make the most of assignments and expand experience.  The more they learn, the more experienced they will be for potential, future placements.

Open to New Candidates

If candidates are more qualified than a favorite IT contractor, do not punish prospective candidates and hiring companies for a favorite.  Be open to networking and expanding client bases by meeting with new contractors.

IT recruiting requires mutual respect throughout the relationship.  By favoring another contractor over others, the IT recruiting company is not being fair to some who may be more qualified.  Rather than letting personal preference become involved, focus on the outcome of the placement.

IT Recruiting Firms Nix Monday Morning Blues

Good bye, weekend.  Hello, Monday morning.  If you are like most IT recruiters, you dread the inevitable return to work after a relaxing, or perhaps chaotic, break from IT staffing agencies.  How can you avoid the pangs or lessen the anxiety of an impending five day work week?  Read on for some tips to ease the transition from weekend to the start of a new week.

Finish Tasks on Friday

Come Friday afternoon, most technical recruiters are in a more casual, relaxed mood.  They may put off projects or wait to call prospective candidates until Monday.  Do not let this be you.  By tiding up your to-do list on Friday and staying organized, you can leave more desirable tasks for Monday morning.  Also, by procrastinating you are leaving yourself vulnerable to falling behind if other projects or open IT jobs arise.  Leave IT staffing companies feeling accomplished rather than apathetic.  You may find you enjoy your weekend even more!

Find Out What You Dread Most

Pinpoint what you are dreading most about your Mondays.  If it is a routine cumbersome project, break it up into sections and try to get a head start on Friday down time.  When you have to meet with IT staffing peers first thing, ask to move the meeting to a later time if possible.  You might be the source of your angst if you are repeatedly hitting the snooze button.  Instead, prepare the night before so you have time to sleep in or go to bed earlier on Sunday night.

Plan Something Fun

If you are still feeling the Monday morning slump at technical recruiting companies, turn Mondays into something to look forward to.  Treat yourself to an overly caffeinated and sugary coffee if that is your niche or splurge on a breakfast sandwich.  Schedule a lunch meeting with your favorite hiring managers or IT contractors.  After work, make plans with friends or take some personal time to recoup.

Avoid cramming all your non-work related tasks into the weekend by spreading them out during the week, leaving the weekend more enjoyable and less rushed.  You will return to the office feeling refreshed rather than overwhelmed!

Are IT Recruiting Agencies Spamming Clients?

In the IT recruiting business, the golden rule is to stay in touch with clients to create reoccurring customers.  Technical recruiters do not want hiring managers or IT contractors to forget about them or think they do not care, so they reach out frequently to check in.  While this is crucial in the IT staffing industry, when does following up evolve into spamming?  Here are some tips to keep in touch without crossing the line.

Be Consistent

When first reaching out to IT consultants, ask when a good time would be to meet and discuss resumes, IT job interviews, or just life.  IT recruiters should let their clients know they wish to reach out on a weekly basis if that is the case so candidates are aware and will expect their call.  At the close of discussions, schedule follow up meetings.

Surprise visits can make a consultant’s day, but it can also be a disaster if it is poor timing.  Try to avoid surprising clients unless the recruiter is certain the client will not be too busy with work to have a conversation. 

Make Personal

When sending emails, do not act as though this is the first interaction with a recipient.  An IT recruiter can try calling clients the next time they are about to respond to a message.  Hearing a voice on the other end brings a closer connection than emails where tone and expression can be lost in translation.

A technical recruiter can make the relationship friendly, while also staying professional.  Remember details about IT consultants and ask about anything exciting in their life.  The recruiter may find something in common that he would not have known otherwise!

Mass mailings may make IT headhunters lives easier, but are often easily recognized.  Try to take a few minutes each week to recognize clients.  They will appreciate the personal touch.

Send Valuable Information

Allow clients to control how much content they are receiving.  If they are subscribed to the Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn of IT recruiting firms, they may be receiving the same updates repeatedly.  Try to keep material fresh and irredundant so clients have a reason to subscribe.

If IT staffing agencies are using the same content for social media outlets, they may experience attrition in subscribers.  Also, only send important updates or news so technical recruiting companies are not wasting their client’s time as the message will be deleted.

The point of staying in touch is to not lose contact, do not drive customers away by being overly aggressive!

Technical Recruiting Companies, Stop Second Guessing Yourself!

Making decisions can be a tricky situation, especially when IT recruiters or hiring managers are not one hundred percent on board with their choices.  Any small amount of doubt can set back a technical recruiter and impose regret even if it is a step in the right direction.  Here are some suggestions to put a stop to second guessing at IT recruiting firms.

Research

If technical recruiters or prospective candidates feel they do not have enough information to make a decision, they can do some homework.  The more educated they are about the matter, the more likely they will be to make a solid choice.  Try not to get too hung up on research by wasting time on irrelevant details.  Make a list of pros and cons and go with the best option and tweak along the way if necessary.

Accept Mistakes

No one is perfect or always right despite how hard they may try in the IT recruiting industry.  With that in mind, let intuition guide IT staffing firms to the right path.  Worst case scenario, mistakes are generally reversible and provide a valuable lesson for the future. Also, try not to focus too much on the past especially if it is not too important.  IT recruiting companies will end up experiencing unnecessary anxiety and doubt if they are too hard on themselves.

Be Confident

Most people fear the unknown and steer away from change.  Trying new methods or experiences for the first time brings a new level of confidence and knowledge.  Finally, when a decision is made, stick with the choice and try to not play into doubt.  If problems arise along the way, IT staffing agencies will be ready to approach the situation only now with a better degree of assurance.

Some decisions do not require in depth analysis so avoid the stress and just make a choice.  When time calls for a complicated choice, do not procrastinate and face the problem head on!