Tag Archives: IT recruiting

IT Jobs Starting to Heat Up

Like most every industry, the IT job market has been hit hard over the past year and a half.  However, the economy has been showing signs of life.  IT staffing agencies have been reporting a steady increase in hiring among clients.  IT recruiters can no longer find 3-5 candidates for every position.  Instead they’re finding more and more people employed or those with multiple irons in the fire.  Although this makes the IT recruiting job more difficult, these are certainly great signs for the economy.

According to the 2010 IT Hire Intelligence Survey, which was carried out by Monster.com, around 78 percent of the companies who participated are saying that they will be hiring for many positions within the next six months.

In the survey, “of the companies planning to hire, only 26 percent are new openings and only 9 percent are replacement positions”.  This obviously means that there will be new types of IT jobs available.  In addition, IT recruiting agencies will continue to heat up, as companies will not be able to fill all their positions on their own.  In fact, IT staffing agencies have recently started to hire more IT recruiters – an obvious sign that they are receiving more jobs from their clients.

There is finally light at the end of the tunnel.  Although there are still a number of people unemployed, the IT job market is heading in the right direction.  Our advice is to continue to be active on the job search.  Post and refresh your resume on the job boards, utilize LinkedIn for networking and contact as many IT staffing agencies as possible to cast as many lines in the water.  Something will bite….soon.

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:

 

Could Facebook be meeting its demise?

As an IT recruiter, I’m always searching for new technologies and websites to help identify new IT professionals.  A few days ago the New York Times wrote an article about a new social media network that may rival Facebook and Twitter.  It’s called Pip.io.  Pip.io was founded by Leo Shimizu and David Chen and began running this past February and now has around 20,000 users.  IT recruiters can use this site just like Twitter and Facebook – to post additional IT jobs to attract talent for IT recruiting companies.  As seen in an interview done by Robert Scoble on YouTube, it appears that they looked at both Twitter and Facebook and created a new network that encompasses aspects of both websites while adding on features they were lacking.  Their intent, as they say, is to create a UI that is simple enough for even your parents.  We all know, most of our parents probably only go on to check e-mails and then shy away from the internet.  Another factor that plays a big role is privacy.  Users of these networks want to be able to be in control of what they share and not have their information leaked to various locations.

Learning from websites such as Twitter and Facebook, many developers have created their own social media networks and are slowly making them available to technical recruiters and the general public.  Could this mean the end for Facebook? Pip.io has made sure to note that his network should be used as an add-on feature and only made to improve your experience with different networks.  Others aim to become an alternative for Facebook and Twitter.  What does this mean for companies that have invested time into these networks? As for those who are looking for IT jobs, this could be a great opportunity for new IT job openings with these websites and, in turn, increase the use of IT staffing agencies.

Check out the NY Times article here.

Check out the interview Robert Scoble had with the creators of Pip.io.

 

Do’s & Dont’s of Resume Writing

I’m sure you’ve been given many suggestions from numerous IT recruiting agencies on what (and what not) to put on this essential piece of paper. The truth is, you’re crafting a document for the most important product you’ll ever sell – yourself! Take it from an IT recruiting company who has seen it all: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

  1. DO be simple, clear and basic in both content and style.  DON’T over format with several varying fonts, styles, colors, and tables.  While it’s important for your resume to look sharp, conveying the information is most crucial. Sometimes the showmanship can detract from the message. Unfortunately there’s no font special enough to make up for lack of skill – a hiring manager will cut through the styling in no time. It’s better to leave it out completely because believe it or not, a clean plain resume will resonate more effectively.
  2. DO be as concise as possible.  DON’T allow a congested, wordy resume sell you short.  IT Resumes can be lengthy by nature. Listing information technology skill sets combined with the popularity of contract work in this field forces resumes to be extensive. With that said, be succinct. Describe the project or responsibilities in a way that is detailed, but brief. Avoid rambling paragraphs and stick to bullets that are straight to the point.

    3. DO edit for spelling, grammar, verb tense and accuracy. DON’T allow a sloppy resume to cloud your talents. Though IT jobs are less likely to be nitpicky about grammar than say – publishing jobs, basic writing skills are important. Your task is to come across as intelligent and professional. Errors in fundamental skills like spelling can be mistaken for carelessness, disorganization, or laziness. In order to put your best foot forward, you must express high-tech expertise along with everyday proficiencies.

    4. DO focus and tailor your resume to meet the job criteria. DON’T use one generic resume for varying positions. It’s clear to IT recruiting agencies how much you want the job before you even step foot into their office. Do your homework. Your resume should illustrate why your specific knowledge is beneficial to the position you have applied for. A vague description of your talents does not distinguish you from the competition.

    5. DO be 100% honest.  DON’T lie, fib or exaggerate.  This might be the number one “DO” that should come as obvious, but often times does not. IT staffing firms do their research and will discover any inconsistencies in the information you provide. Lying about experience, skill sets, dates, etc. will ruin your chances of being submitted for a job. Don’t do it. Period.

Some IT staffing agencies like AVID Technical Resources will actually re-format your resume to put these suggestions into action. Save IT recruiters some time and stick to these commandments, we assure you it will make the difference in the long run.

Social Media: Essential Tool in the IT Job Search

Given the current economic climate, it is important for job seekers to utilize all available resources in their search. The advent of social media has changed the name of the game, making information easily accessible through various mediums like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.  IT Recruiters use these networking sites to get the word out about available IT jobs.

IT staffing agencies like AVID Technical Resources rely on these resources to alert potential candidates about new opportunities. As soon as a job is posted to our site, it automatically gets linked to social media. Because IT recruiting firms see countless scores of resumes, it is important to remain aware of every new possibility. Constantly checking for updates can make the difference in getting your resume in the right hands.

IT recruiting companies attack each search thoroughly and swiftly. IT recruiters often submit candidates within hours of acquiring fresh IT jobs. Client companies rely on IT staffing firms to get the job done right and fast. If you apply for a job posted a month ago, chances are it’s been filled. Remaining proactive is essential. The quicker you submit your resume, the likelier it is you’ll beat out the competition. Depending on the scope of the project, IT recruiters might be working on a position that is extremely time sensitive.

Engaging in various forms of social media might just be the quickest way to alert yourself about new opportunities. It’s as easy as checking a Facebook or Twitter status on your cell phone and could make the difference in your career. IT recruiting agencies understand the importance of these tools and use networking sites to cast their net far and wide.

Let’s face it – our culture has evolved. Information travels faster than you can imagine, much attributed to the popularity of these different mediums. One thing that remains true, however, is that the early bird does in fact get the worm.   Contact an IT recruiter at AVID Technical Resources to jump start your Information Technology career.

Networking – The Key to Any IT Job Search

Ask any IT recruiter, the most important element to any job search is simply networking.   Whether you utilize IT recruiting agencies or the multitude of free sites available on the internet (such as LinkedIn), networking is by far the best means to finding IT jobs.

Utilize IT recruiters first:
Contacting IT staffing agencies should always be your first call.  IT recruiters have a vast network of clients, therefore, with one call you can tap into dozens and dozens of local IT jobs.  The more IT recruiting companies you reach out to, obviously equates to better and better odds.

Talk to as many IT recruiters as possible across numerous IT staffing agencies.  Meet with the IT recruiting firms, then find a handful of IT recruiters that you connect with and/or trust.  Build a relationship with those IT recruiters, and most importantly, stay in touch with them.  If you do this, you’ll have numerous IT recruiting firms working for you as you tackle your next networking initiative:  social media.

Social Media:
The advent of social media has transformed the IT recruiting industry.  It’s now easier than ever to network and foster relationships that will help you get a foot in the door.  Utilize LinkedIn.  This is one of the most powerful networking sites that IT recruiting companies utilize.  Connect with friends, former co-workers or even people who work internal within that dream company you’ve had your eye on for years.  Tap into these IT resources, then see who they know.  This is networking 101.

Networking Groups:
It might sound obvious, but networking groups are an excellent means to build relationships.  However, they’re probably one of the most under-utilized sources.  The point of the networking group is quite simple.  People are there to network.  Therefore, everyone has a purpose and each person should go out of their way to help one another out.  Reciprocity is imperative.  Some of the better networking groups actually provide “homework” for the participants.  If you’re tasked with finding the contact information for a specific IT manager for the person next to you, then you’re expected to show up at the next event with a name and number.  The same holds true in return.  Outside of utilizing IT staffing agencies, networking groups can drastically improve your chances of landing that next IT job.

Word of Mouth:
Good old fashioned networking starts by simply talking to people.  Remember how to do this?!  In a world of computers, email and text messaging, one of the best ways to network is simply just talking to people.  Get to know people in your every day life.  If you’re active, talk to people in your teams or different groups.  Talk to the person next to you in line, on the train, at a game or even in the elevator.  You never know.  The main point is simple:  get the word out there.

After reading this blog, then you know where you need to start.  Contact one of our IT recruiters at AVID Technical Resources and jump start your career.

10 Job Search Suggestions From An IT Recruiter

Searching for a new job can be an anxious period of time, especially when you currently don’t have a job.  During the search process, you’ll experience a number of emotions – all of them very natural as the process can leave you feeling vulnerable.   There are a number of things that you can do to improve your chances of landing that perfect IT job, such as preparing a strong resume and utilizing IT recruiting companies.  However, in my 12+ years as a seasoned IT recruiting industry veteran, my biggest piece of advice is simple:  Grab the bull by the horns!

More specifically, approach the job search as aggressively as possible.  Be relentless and determined;  give the search process everything you have.

Having said this, I understand that this is very vague advice.  Furthermore, being aggressive and determined won’t get you anywhere if you don’t know where to channel that energy.  Therefore, I’ve created a list of action items.  Take it from an IT recruiter who has placed over a thousand high-tech professionals, if you follow this list of 10 job search suggestions with the steadfast determination described above, you’ll ultimately find that next IT job opportunity.

1)  Create The Perfect Resume: First, see my blog posting, How to Write the Perfect Resume.  Put together a masterpiece as it could make the difference with whether you land that ever-important job interview.  Remember that IT recruiters or hiring managers may be looking at dozens, sometimes hundreds of resumes.  If your CV doesn’t read well or isn’t put together properly, it may cost you that opportunity of a lifetime.  Furthermore, include as many technologies (that you confidentally know well) as possible to ensure your resume comes up in an IT recruiters search.

Hint:  Avoid Cover Letters (see blog posting:  Cover Letters – Not Worth Your Time).

2)  Post Your Resume: IT recruiters live on job boards.  Therefore, if you want to be found, obviously make sure your listed.  Don’t just rely upon Monster.  Utilize all of the IT job boards on the market – regardless of how known or unknown.

3)  Refresh it Your Resume: Simply put, unfortunately some IT recruiters can be lazy (except for the IT recruiters at AVID of course).  Therefore, they may not search back months, upwards of a year, for all resumes on the IT job boards.  Keep your information at the top of the list by refreshing your resume at least once a week (refreshing it daily is overkill).

4) Contact as many IT Recruiting Companies as possible: Because different IT recruiting agencies work with different clients, it’s important that you send your resumes to as many IT staffing companies as possible.  Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.  For more advice, visit:  10 Great Tips for Working with an AVID Technical Resources IT Recruiter

5)  Meet with as many IT Recruiters as possible: It’s critical to build relationships with IT recruiters.  The average IT recruiter will speak with over 100 prospective candidates in a week.  They will likely meet around 5 to 10.  Therefore, to ensure you’re on the top of the IT recruiters list, to make sure they think of you first when they receive that IT job, you have to first build a strong relationship so they will remember you.  As good as some IT recruiters are, it’s virtually impossible to remember every prospective candidate that they have spoken with.  See my previous blog entry:  Why Meet with an AVID IT Recruiter?

6)  Follow up!!: Just submitting a resume is not enough.  Take my advice and follow up.  Ask whether the IT recruiter has received your resume and whether you can set up a time to talk further about your experience (or even better, meet in person).  If you go out of your way to follow up with every resume submittal, you will uncover an opportunity that you may likely not have received otherwise.

7)  Utilize Indeed: Indeed.com is an excellent resource for prospective candidates.  Set up search agents that match your skills, background or even that ideal next IT job.   Create daily email alerts so you literally receive current jobs in your inbox.  Work with an IT recruiter at AVID and send him or her some of the postings to see if they have contacts or relationships that will help you get an interview.

8) Utilize Linkedin: Linkedin is one of the most helpful sites on the internet when it comes to searching for a new job.  It allows you to uncover important contact names in an IT staffing company or IT recruiting agency or even within the direct client themselves.  This allows you a chance to contact the IT recruiter or hiring manager directly.  Linkedin also gives you the ability to create your own network, thus ultimately get referred to a new position through someone you know.

9) Remember to remain Aggressive: After you complete steps 1-7, don’t stop.  If you haven’t seen any positive results yet, don’t give up.  Continue to network with IT recruiters, continue to follow up with IT recruiting companies, continue to remain aggressive.

10)  Network, Network, Network: I mentioned it above, but it’s worth repeating.  Networking is one of the most critical components to finding new opportunities.  Utilize networking websites (such as Linkedin or social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter), join networking groups and quite simply just spread the word that you’re looking for a new IT job opportunity.  The more people that know you, the better your odds of hearing about your next career stop.

So go out and grab the bull by the horns and remain aggressive in your job search!  An IT recruiter at AVID Techncial Resources will be waiting for your call:  617-951-1880.

Find The Best Employees With IT Recruiting Services

When it comes to hiring for a vacant position within your company, only the best IT professionals will do.  In today’s competitive market, that can be tough.  You want to choose a candidate who specializes in the skills that incorporate well into your future IT goals and projects.  What you don’t want to do is to spend months trying to find the perfect candidate, all the while putting your current IT projects on hold.   Finding the best employees with the right IT recruiting services company is absolutely critical.

IT Recruiting Firms Save Time

Sifting through hundreds of resumes, conducting countless number of fruitless interviews, and still finding yourself short of a perfect match to your current opening is frustrating.  Therefore, finding an IT recruiting services firm is critical is the ideal alternative.  The key to the equation is identifying a reliable IT recruiter and IT staffing firm.

IT recruiting firms are evolving fast in the changing economy.  Utilizing IT staffing agencies for all of your IT Recruiting Services is increasing in popularity.  In fact, more companies turn to IT staffing companies now than ever before.

From permanent placement to temporary or contract needs, IT staffing companies have the resources and candidates that will make your next IT project a success.  They have a vast network of professionals and they know what professional would be right for you.   AVID Technical Resources is the IT recruiting services company that you’re looking for.

Trained in the science of assessment, our IT recruiters are capable of assessing skill sets.  From infrastructure support and software development; you can rest assure that we’re able to narrow down an accurate list of qualified candidates for your company.

More Than A Simple Interview

Interviewing and assessing a candidate’s skill set requires a focus to detail, as well as an ability to hone in on a candidate’s true talent.  However, there is more to assessment then just determining a candidate’s skill level.  Well-rounded IT recruiters also assess a candidate’s value as well as his or her own ability to work well in various cultures and environments.  AVID Technical Resources offers this very service to every one of our clients.

Why do the leg work of assessing future candidates when it’s already been done for you?  Avoid the research phase all together and use AVID Technical Resources, an IT staffing company that you can trust and rely upon.

Why AVID Technical Resources?

You want to choose an IT recruiting company that is capable of collaborating between you, your prospective employees and your existing IT team.  Open communication is one of the principles that our firm is built on.

It’s important to note that a hiring manager plays an essential role in the recruiting process. Sharing key information with your IT recruiter is fundamental to finding the perfect match.  The better equipped your recruiter is to “sell” your company, the better apt you will be to fulfill your future IT goals.

Choosing the right IT recruiting firm for your company is a critical component to successfully growing your team and thus advancing your company forward.

  • You want an IT recruiting firm that has a proven track record of matching clients with a perfect match to their company.
  • You will also be best served by choosing an IT recruiting firm specialized in the technology industry.

The answer? AVID Technical Resources:  We attract and retain some of the best choices in the industry. Contact us today and you’ll be on the road to success.  Learn more about how IT recruiting agencies like ours can help.

IT Recruiting Companies Find The Best Technical Talent Available For Your Needs

Let’s face it: sorting through resumes can be a daunting task.  Your time is valuable.  Therefore, IT recruiting companies should not inundate you with candidates. Sorting through resumes is their job.  IT recruiters should carefully screen every individual, provide reference checks and personally meet with most every candidate before they send them to you.

Break the cycle.  Upper management should rely on a qualified headhunter who can help your department reach its full potential.  AVID Technical Resources can help.

If you want your recruiter to understand your business, a great deal relies on your ability to explain your business, your goals, as well as the complete scope of your upcoming projects as well as finding the right firm to help.

Relationship Building

The more time you invest in IT recruiting companies, the quicker you will start seeing results.  Commit yourself to developing a relationship with your IT recruiters and sharing your business goals, trends, and strategies.  The more you share about your business, the better equipped your IT recruiters will be to develop solutions that directly reflect your company’s needs.

IT headhunters use a variety of techniques and methods to attract and retain the most qualified, engineering experts.  Through a series of full assessments, candidates begin to rely on IT recruiters placing them in a position that utilizes their skills and experience.  The more accurate the placement, the more likely IT recruiting companies can maintain candidate retention.

Well-rounded IT recruiting companies take the time to get to know each of their clients and employee candidates.  By establishing personal and professional relationships they are able to find the talent that will be unique for your needs.

The more time you invest in IT recruiting companies now, the less time you have to invest in the future.  Keep in mind that you can’t expect perfection immediately.  Establishing this type of working relationship takes time and commitment of both your and the IT recruiter’s part.

Don’t hastily explain your company or IT job opportunity.  Take the time to explain your culture and/or environment.  Whether over a cup of coffee or a phone conversation, you should make the effort to explain your company to your IT recruiter.  The more info that you can provide about your company, the better your IT recruiters can sell your opportunity to every IT professional.

If relationships with IT recruiting companies is fostered correctly, before long, you should see fewer and fewer resumes from your IT recruiters as they become more and more accurate.  This ultimately allows managers to focus on what matters—managing a well-developed team, reassessing goals, and completing deadlines ahead of schedule.

If the relationship between you and your IT recruiter is a solid one, it’s a win-win.   Contact AVID Technical Resources, one of the leading IT recruiting companies in the industry, today for more information.

You Many Want To Consider A National IT Recruiting Company

Sometimes IT projects encompass a scope that cannot be met locally.  Finding enough local IT contractors or full-time employees can be very challenging and limiting.  Therefore, you need to find an IT recruiting company who has the national reach and unlimited resources like AVID Technical Resources.

National Reach

IT recruiting agencies like AVID Technical Resources offer a national recruiting service for no additional charge.  Our tech recruiters spend a great deal of time seeking and recruiting the top IT talent from around the country and we take a great deal of pride in servicing multiple states.  As your company goes corporate or expands, you’ll want to rely on a recruiting company that can provide consulting services from coast to coast.

If you are a company with multiple offices, it seems fruitless to hire one consulting firm for one office, and another consulting firm for another office.  You need a company that can provide professionals no matter your location. Creating a national network, though, is not an easy task.  It takes time to establish it and we have the history and the connections that you need to help get the right staffing professional.

From software development to software integration, you can rely on our tech recruiters to find the professional that you are looking for.  Whether your position is full time or temporary, our network of candidates can support your unique needs.

In today’s competitive market it never hurts to have a partner, and why not partner with an IT recruiting company that can deliver national solutions?  You do not have to lower your standards or limit your company’s potential due to a lack of resources.  Partner with AVID Technical Resources and only hire the best that the IT industry has to offer!

Temp Solutions Too!

Is your IT department struggling to complete a project that has an approaching deadline?  Why not hire a temporary employee to assist your team?  Whether you choose to hire locally or nationally, AVID Technical Resources will help you meet your deadline.

If you have an upcoming project that requires skills outside of the qualifications of your IT team, choose an IT recruiting company like AVID Technical Resources.  Never miss out on a business opportunity or lose a competitive edge because you don’t have adequate resources.  Partner with us and there will never be another IT project outside of your scope.

Your company needs the very best IT professionals and staffing agencies like AVID Technical Resources can deliver the talent that you need.  Rely on an IT recruiting company with a proven track record of matching professionals to companies for almost a century.  Rely on an IT recruiting company that can provide top quality employees no matter your location.  Rely on an IT recruiting company that can hand deliver real-world solutions to your growing company. Rely on AVID Technical Resources for your IT recruiting needs.