What to Look for When Hiring IT Employees

Companies of all sizes need a strong IT team. Technology is integrating into nearly every operation, regardless of the nature of the business or primary industry. It is essential to find the right IT employees, otherwise, productivity and profitability are both harmed substantially.

While finding an exceptional IT candidate sounds like a daunting task, particularly in today’s tight labor market, it is possible. If you need to hire stellar IT employees, here is what you need to look for during the hiring process.

The Right Technical Skills

The world of IT is vast. Not all tech professionals can function in every IT role, often because the skill sets necessary to excel in each position differ from other IT segments. For example, a professional with a software development background might not be a great fit for an IT security or networking and telecommunications job. While some of their fundamental knowledge bases may be similar, their skill sets differ dramatically.

When you need to hire an IT employee, examine the job duties closely. Identify the critical tasks the candidate will be responsible for and the systems they will use. Determine which skills are genuinely essential from day one and include those in your vacancy announcement, making them a priority when assessing applicants. See if the job seekers have accomplishments that align with the core position objectives, allowing you to see just how they may provide value in the position.

At times, skills testing or technical interviews may be necessary additions to the hiring process. These approaches allow you to determine whether a candidate can perform in the role by asking them to handle scenarios that mirror real-world duties, giving you additional insights into their capabilities.

Don’t Overlook Soft Skills

While technical capability is usually a priority when hiring IT employees, make sure you also look for critical soft skills. Tech professionals need keen problem-solving capabilities, the ability to function as part of a team, and experience with multitasking. Additionally, their communication skills need to be strong, particularly if they need to work with other non-IT departments or speak directly with customers or stakeholders who might not be tech-savvy.

Being diligent and detail oriented is also a must for IT employees. Troubleshooting issues can take a lot of energy, and even small errors can cause major problems, so you need to select a candidate who can work in a potentially high-stress, fast-paced environment.

By seeking out IT candidates with the right combination of technical and soft skills, you can select a new hire who has the ability to thrive in these critical roles. If you would like to know more about how you can hire the best tech pros for your open positions, the experienced team at The Squires Group can help. Contact us to speak with one of our knowledgeable recruitment specialists today and see how our IT hiring expertise can benefit you.


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