Tag Archives: IT recruiter

Technical Recruiters: Best IT Staffing Snacks

With Halloween this past week, it might be tempting to hit up the after holiday sales and stock up on candy.  Maybe IT recruiters are wiser and dip into their child’s stash.  Before deciding to reach for a candy bar or visit the office vending machines of technical recruiting firms, stop.  Here are some healthy snack alternatives to boost energy and treat oneself while avoiding potential guilt.

Sweet Tooth?

Sugary fruit flavored treats and chocolate seem to be a staple for snacking…that is if you are a child.  As an adult, a technical recruiter should be educated on nutritional values and make healthy decisions.  If an IT recruiter craves chocolate, be sure it is dark chocolate.  If you still cannot shake a sugar craving, split a candy bar with another recruiter or candidate at your IT staffing company.

Looking for something fruity?  Try canned fruit packed in water, not syrup, which can be easily stored.  If a recruiter prefers fresh fruit, precut it and store it in containers.  Greek yogurt provides an excellent source of protein while maintaining a low fat content, too.  Just be sure your IT staffing firm has a fridge!

Salty?

Pretzels are low in fat and great to nibble on during mid afternoon slumps.  Be aware of your portion size so you do not over eat.  Microwavable light popcorn is conveniently storable and offers significant dietary fiber with a low calorie count to fill you up.  Still not feeling satisfied?  Reach for nuts which pack a powerful protein punch and healthy fat, but be mindful of your consumption.  If you must have chips, choose baked or reduced fat.

An Inbetween?

Cannot decide between sweet or salty snacks?  Try a combination to satisfy both of your desires.  Opt for trail mix that has mixed nuts as well as chocolate candies or yogurt covered raisins.  Dark chocolate covered pretzels may also do the trick.  Peanut butter with crackers or an apple is an easy and handy small snack, too.

Choosing convenience over healthy snacks is bound to take a toll on your overall well-being.  Pre-pack your snacks to maintain portions and save money.  Keep these practical snacks on hand at IT recruiting firms to fight cravings and hold you over through the afternoon!

IT Recruiting is not Day Care

Hey technical recruiters!  Do you trust your IT contractors?  Are you confident your candidates can make the right decisions on their own?  Some IT recruiters feel it is necessary to walk their clients through the IT staffing process, which is completely acceptable.  What is not acceptable is talking down to your contractors, holding their hand, and giving into outlandish demands throughout their contract duration.

The Customer is Always Right

IT recruiting companies want to keep their clients more than satisfied with their services.  How much can technical recruiting firms give before they begin to break?  By repeatedly meeting contractors’ unrealistic demands and expectations, IT staffing companies will find it difficult to say no in the long run.  Clients may begin to take advantage of a company’s generosity, so an IT recruiter should put his foot down early to prevent things from getting out of hand.

Flip Side: The technical recruiter is not always right.  Be open to suggestions and encourage feedback from your contractors.  Their criticism and praise can help your performance and work ethic!

Making Decisions

Contractors are typically experienced adults and seldom does a recruiter come across a client who cannot make choices on his own.  Only the candidate knows what is best in terms of his wants and needs and never should a recruiter make a decision for him.  Rather than taking the reins, IT staffing firms can help candidates make decisions in terms of which IT jobs would be the best fit for their experience and lifestyle.

Flip Side: If a candidate cannot make up his mind or seems indifferent about an offer, remind him the benefits of taking the position, but reiterate that other candidates would be happy to be in his place. 

Tone

Sometimes it is not what you say to a candidate, but how you say it.  Contractors may be more sensitive while others have a tougher skin and can handle a strong personality or attitude.  The most important aspect of recruiting is staying positive throughout the experience.  Get to know your clients so you know how to conduct business effectively.

Flip Side: Babying your client helps no one.  Coach your contractor with proper instruction and feedback to help his progress.  If he reacts poorly to your advice, it may be time to sever ties and stop representing him.

 

Starting a Hobby Outside of Your IT Recruiting World

A day in the life of technical recruiters differs from the typical nine to five.  We start early and leave the office late to accommodate clients’ schedules. IT staffing firms are always looking to improve performance and meet goals.  However, what some do not realize is that the key to success may lie outside of the IT recruiting office. Rather than having work define the self-worth of an IT recruiter, one should focus on other positive aspects of their lives and consider starting a hobby.

Why?

Focusing solely on work will spur an individual to burn out and experience increased levels of stress in the technical recruiting industry. Anxiety and mood swings stem from feeling overwhelmed, which will ultimately affect one’s output. Starting new hobbies will drive creativity and improve performance. When IT recruiters dedicate time to an enjoyable activity, they temporarily drift from troubles and refresh the mind and enhance focus.

Reaching new goals will help improve one’s self esteem and confidence.  IT headhunters will be more motivated to succeed in other areas when they see their new potential. Even if life in the IT staffing office is good, it is still important to have a separate outlet in the event that stress levels escalate.

How?

Not Enough Time

A common excuse for IT recruiters is that they do not have enough time to dedicate to a hobby. When one considers that the activity may improve job performance, it is then they will consider fitting it in their schedule. Even if it is once a week or every day for fifteen minutes, every little bit will help create a change.

Which One?

It is recommended that one invests some time in researching hobbies before making a commitment. If a technical recruiter finds they do not enjoy their hobby, they could end up more stressed. Before a plan is made, they should test out activities and find which they enjoy best.

IT recruiting firms work hard to be successful and their employees deserve some fun. If you already have a hobby, extend an invite to a co-worker. You have the potential to build a relationship outside of the office while also burning off some stress!

Eating at Your Desk in the IT Recruiting Industry

Boston Technical recruiters often find themselves working through lunch and eating at their desks quite frequently.  As IT recruiters, your hard work will be recognized.  However, do not sacrifice your health to go above and beyond.  Here are some reasons you should get up and out for your lunch instead of hiding in your cube.

Clearer Mind

When an IT staffing representative works nine hours straight, there is no time for the brain to recover.  Eventually you will find yourself burnt out and you will not even remember what you ate or what you may have discussed with a client.  If you have the opportunity to walk even for ten to fifteen minutes a day, preferably outside, do so.  You will return with a clearer mind and ready to focus on new goals.

Sanitation

Your desk is actually dirtier than it appears.  Think of how often you actually clean your desk.  Technical recruiters are constantly touching the phone, keyboard, and mouse… then reaching for their sandwiches.  Is the extra hour you’re putting in today worth the sick day you may have to take later?

Poor Habits

You will probably not realize it, but when you are not focused on your meal, you typically end up eating more and ignoring signals that you may be full– or not even hungry at all.  Later, during the day, you will either feel too full and uncomfortable from overeating or hungry from not listening to your body’s signals.  This can affect your work performance.

IT recruiters spend most of their day on the phone, and if they are eating at their desk, there is a strong chance they are snacking between phone calls.  Eating away from your desk will help curb distractions and prevent potential mistakes or messes.

If You Must Dine at Your Desk…

If you must eat at your desk, try to bring a lunch with you.  Home packed meals tend to be healthier and will leave you feeling less sluggish than if you were to order fast food.  When you eat at your desk, take trips to the water cooler or the bathroom to move your muscles.  If another co-worker is eating at their desk as well, ask if you may join them for some company and get your mind off work for a few minutes.

Eating at your desk is unfortunately becoming the norm.  Remember to maintain proper eating etiquette (ie. not chewing in the phone or talking with your mouth full).  And don’t leave crumbs if you decide to join the movement!

Technical Recruiting – The Plot

Prologue

A Boston IT recruiting company is given the task of filling IT jobs for a well established firm.  A technical recruiter begins cruising through Monster.com, CareerBuilder, and LinkedIn.com to find the most qualified candidate and a resume jumps at him.  He immediately pulls the resume and compares the job qualifications to its listed experience.  Success!

The Introduction

IT recruiters makes the initial contact typically through a phone call or email.  He begins by introducing himself, stating the reason he is calling, and listens for cues of interest.  The IT recruiter will explain the position and answer any of the contractor’s questions.  If the candidate is interested in the position and the technical recruiter has verified all the candidate’s skills and experiences, the recruiter will submit the client’s resume for the job opening.

Rising Action

Hypothetically, the applicant is offered an interview.  The IT headhunter calls the candidate to let him know the good news and prepares him for what to expect.  The recruiter might meet with the contractor before the interview to coach him and ease nerves.  After the interview, the IT recruiter will follow up with the applicant to see how the meeting went and address any questions or concerns.

The Climax

A few days pass and the IT recruiter receives word from the company that they would like to bring the candidate on board.  The IT staffing salesperson calls his client to let him know the exciting news.  He extends the offer.  Before the contractor begins his position, the recruiter will typically meet with him to walk him in and make him feel comfortable on his first day.

Falling Action

Technical recruiters will periodically touch base with the contractor to maintain their relationship and ensure everything is going smooth and see if the contractor has any questions.  The two will stay in touch and relay changes, if any.

Resolution

Either the techncial recruiter will continue working with the contractor, or they will go their separate ways due to new job opportunities or life changes.  Ideally, the team will end on good terms and the two will share a connection for future networking– and a new plot begins.

Seeking a…Client? Part I

It seems coffee meetings are the go to from catching up with business or friends to first dates and meeting with new IT staffing clients.  At first glance, comparing the IT recruiting business with dating might seem entirely wrong, but when you think about it the processes are pretty similar.  They both involve finding “the one” with all the perfect attributes, right?

The Want Ad

Technical recruiters use job boards to post open positions, listing specific criteria to find their most ideal match for the IT job.  It is a blind way of weeding out candidates without personally offending anyone.   Job listings also provide the luxury of choosing from multiple candidates without having to limit yourself to just one applicant.

Preliminary Screening—The Background Check

You will most likely conduct some investigating prior to a date and the same goes for a client meeting.   As a technical recruiter, you will research a consultant’s prior experiences and check to see if you have any connections through LinkedIn or past companies.  A phone call prior to the face to face meeting may help ease nerves for the IT recruiter and contractor.

Getting Ready

Dress to impress as you prepare for your meeting.  Run through your check list to be sure you have all the right material…resume, job description, notepad for questions.  Note the client’s interests so you have topics for conversation.  Leave early so you allow plenty of time to arrive early or on time in case of traffic.

Looking for tips during the meeting?  Check AVID’s blog for Seeking…a Client? Part II.

Fake It Till You Make It—Poor Advice?

A component of setting goals is having the confidence to achieve them.  A number of people rely on the old saying “fake it till you make it”, but is this proper advice when your goals and responsibilities as an IT recruiter involve others?  You do not want to mislead people into believing you are fully capable of taking on responsibilities when you are not prepared.  Rather than “fake it till you make it”, here is some advice to help guide you to achieving your goals.

Be Honest

When you do not know the appropriate procedures or answer to someone’s question never make up an answer.  If you provide a wrong answer, not only will you embarrass yourself when you have to follow up with the correct advice, you will also lose the trust of the other party.  Some IT staffing representatives fear prospective clients will sever ties when they do not have all the answers, but what clients respect more is someone who takes the time and effort to research their concerns and address them in a timely manner.

Ask Questions, Write Down Answers

Asking questions is strongly encouraged, especially when you are a new hire.  Managers become alarmed when you do not ask questions because it is a sign you are going off your own instinct.  Until you feel comfortable doing things your own way, follow procedure.

Technical recruiters conduct a majority of their work over the phone.  Having a training manual handy will help you when a client asks you an unexpected question on the call.  If you do not have the answer at your finger tips, ask the client if you can put them on hold while you find out the answer for them.  When you ask questions, write down the answer as a guide to help you the next time you encounter this problem.

Follow Up

IT recruiters work with a number of clients, so it is important to not let any clients slip through the cracks.  Nothing is more frustrating than waiting on an unreliable person who never gets back to you.  Maintain your work and always follow up, even if it is just to say hello and see how things are going.

Review

Once you feel you have the hang of things at your IT recruiting agency, ask your supervisor to share a review with you.  This review will reflect your accomplishments and what you need to work on.  You are your own worst critic, let someone else point out your achievements and soon you will make it without having to fake it!

Taking Breaks in an IT Recruiting Office

You know those IT recruiters who constantly get out of their seat, walk around, chat by the water cooler, surf the web, and get a cup of coffee…basically any excuse not to do their job?  There is a common misconception that the ideal, efficient technical recruiters who rarely takes breaks and continuously plows through projects and phone calls.  Unfortunately, those employees are far and few between.  The reality is that IT recruiters, like any other employee in any other industry, need to take occasional breaks to keep their sanity (especially in the IT staffing industry where people can literally wear you down).  Sometimes it’s even healthy to take a quick break.

Signs of a needed break

Here are just a few examples of when it is time to take a break:

  • Loss of attention span
  • Inability to focus
  • Frustration
  • Frequent errors
  • High stress

Consequences of not taking a break

There is a difference between consistently working and working efficiently.  Technical recruiters Boston tend to work atypical hours to accommodate the needs of their clients.  Ignoring the signs listed above can trigger the IT recruiter to feel burned out and he will eventually start making errors which could potentially affect relationships with clients.  Stress is not just a mental state and can take tolls on emotional and physical well being, too.  Do not sacrifice your health when there is a simple solution to these stress factors.

Break Suggestions

Boston IT staffing firms have the luxury of working in the city.  Leave your desk and go for a walk through a park at lunch, even if it is for just fifteen minutes you will feel refreshed upon your return.  When projects seem long and cumbersome, split it up into segments.  When you finish a section, reward yourself with a short break so when you start up again you have a clearer mind.  If you cannot seem to focus on a certain project, move onto another and return to it later.

You do not have to forgo output to take a break.  Working at a comfortable pace with breaks and no errors is better than working in overdrive and making frequent mistakes along the way!

IT Job Descriptions

One of the most frustrating aspects of IT job hunting is coming across an incomplete job description.  As a candidate, do you skip over and look for more detailed positions or do you take the risk and apply?  A majority of applicants will continue their search while those that do apply are carelessly sending out their resumes to anyone who will give them a shot.  As an IT recruiter, you want the most qualified candidates for your position so reel them in first with a perfect IT job description.

Job Title

The job title should accurately reflect the tasks and duties of the position.  Obscure or unusual titles have the potential to draw in curious candidates, but can also be lost in most searches.  IT recruiters Boston should choose keywords so jobs appear in relevant searches.

Skills and Qualifications

To weed out unqualified candidates, mention all required skills and prerequisites.  Experience and education level should be included to help determine a salary level.  If there is a certain background preference, list it within qualifications.   The more information technology skills that you have, and can list, the better.

Responsibilities

Listing responsibilities provides an idea of a prospective hire’s day.  This information also helps candidates think of interview questions they might have for the hiring manager.  Including job duties in the description also helps determine boundaries on the job.

Contract Information

If the position is not full-time salary with benefits, IT recruiters should include this in the description.  Some candidates are looking for indefinite short term contracts to test their skills while others are looking strictly for full time perm positions.   By not including these details, you might lose candidates.

So all you technical recruiters, the more detailed job description the better pool of candidates you will have to choose from!

Ask Not What Your IT Recruiter Can Do for You…

From relationships with hiring managers to all the right tips on formatting your resume and prepping for interviews, it seems technical recruiters have the inside scoop.    IT staffing firms are an excellent resource when you are seeking a new opportunity, but never expect your IT recruiter to limit him or herself to just you.  IT recruiters work with multiple candidates at a time, so expecting them to dedicate all of their time and know every intricate detail about your life is unrealistic.  Here are some tips to improve your relationship with IT recruiters Boston and make his life a little easier.

Meeting in Person

Candidates should always meet with their technical recruiter in person.  Not only will it break the ice, but you will also share a closer bond.  Emotions and tone are lost in plain text and facial expressions are invisible over the phone.   While one person might find humor in sarcasm and wit, another might find it offensive.  Meeting with your IT headhunter will help to define these boundaries.

Being Specific

Just as candidates do not want to be strung along, do not mislead your technical recruiters Boston by showing interest in an IT job that is not the right fit.  If you feel uncomfortable about saying no, this is a sign your relationship needs work.  Be upfront with your IT staffing representative about what exactly you are looking for in a position and what you do not want.  Be mindful that letting IT recruiters MA know what does not work for you opens opportunities for others.

Having Your Time

Communication is crucial to maintaining a solid relationship.   Candidates and IT recruiters should discuss mutually agreeable times to discuss any issues or concerns that may arise.  Both parties should aim to be flexible as recruiters work with multiple candidates and consultants may have hectic schedules.  This time slot eases the frustration of missed phone calls or neglected emails, but be open to meeting outside this time as well.

These are just some tips to help candidates and IT recruiters get to know each other better and understand one another’s needs.  If you still feel disconnected from your recruiter, it might be time to move on.  Do not be afraid to speak to another representative.  If you have a successful relationship, let others know and share the wealth!