Tag Archives: IT contractors

Is the IT industry going Green?

Lately there have been many blogs and articles about the Information Technology industry going green.  More companies are looking to create products that are environmentally friendly while remaining efficient.  Combining the two things is hard but businesses are beginning to research and look into the possible solutions.

IT recruiting companies are using less paper and relying more on technology.  Hiring manager’s typically read resumes instead of printing out piles of paper.  Technology is driving the green revolution, IT contractors are also beginning to learn more about these solutions and new IT job opportunities are opening up.  This trend of going green is slowly catching on, but seems to be growing at a quicker pace, as environmental changes appear to be effecting us more.

Should you start looking into getting certified to work on green efforts?  It might be a good idea to give yourself that extra line on your resume.  Hiring managers are always looking for something that will differentiate you from the next candidate.  Even if they aren’t working on green solutions they might in the future.  It will then give you an advantage over other candidates!

A day in the Life of an IT recruiter

The IT staffing is a very fast-paced, sometimes hectic industry.  IT recruiters are speaking to hundreds of prospective candidates each week.  Even the very best IT recruiters can find it challenging to ensure they keep all of their candidates organized and within reach.  Additionally, in the IT recruiting world, clients typically needed IT contractors “yesterday.”  Therefore, when an IT job order gets called in, IT recruiters need to tap into their candidate network immediately and/or begin their IT recruiting process as quickly as possible.  Days are hectic and nights can be long depending upon the client’s sense of urgency.  Therefore, the IT staffing industry is not for everyone.  Those who do not do well under pressure or thrive in a hectic environment, best not enter the IT recruiting world.  On the flip side, people who like to be busy and thrive on an ever-changing job, tend to fare very well in the IT staffing industry.

A typical day for an IT recruiter….is anything but typical.  They will usually be assigned to one IT job order.  As they search the IT staffing agency’s database, and other IT job boards such as Monster, Dice, CareerBuilder, Hot Jobs, they will make dozens (if not hundreds) of calls.  Or they will send out countless emails every day.  As people respond, the IT recruiter works to communicate with each person via email or phone.  As the IT recruiter is taking the time to respond to every person, additional prospective candidates continue to flood in via postings or responses.  On many occasions, as these tasks are keeping an IT recruiter busy, he or she may have a handful of internal candidate interviews as well.  This adds more work to an already busy day.

As you can see, a day in the life of an IT recruiter is typically hectic.  However, for the right person who thrives on the fast-paced, exciting work environment, the IT staffing industry can be extremely rewarding (both in terms of monetarily and intrinsic satisfaction as the IT recruiter is ultimately helping people find work).

Silicon Valley Rejuvenation May Squeeze Second-Tier Cities

With a recent need for IT recruiting, the bargaining power has fallen into the laps of those looking for IT jobs as well as those who are technical recruiters.  Companies in “second-tier high tech locations” now have to fight for IT resources that are otherwise going to be courted by companies in Silicon Valley.

Therefore, companies will need to re-evaluate their IT recruiting strategies in order to attract as well as retain skilled employees.  By utilizing IT staffing agencies, these companies can ultimately reach more people, thus increasing their chance of filling their IT jobs.

As for those looking for IT jobs, this obviously is good news as it opens up new opportunities and drives demand.  When there is a demand, salaries increase.  Many IT contactors have been forced to take pay cuts or remain in stagnant positions in order to weather the recent economic storm.  In addition, as budgets open up, so do opportunities for exposure to new technologies.  Exposure to the latest and greatest technologies also equates to higher pay rates and salaries.  Therefore, for many reasons, it’s important for IT consultants to remain on top of technology.

Utilize AVID Technical Resources or other IT staffing companies to help find your next position.

Check out the Wall Street Journal article Silicon Valley Rebound Pressures tech Hiring: