Businesses across the world are willing to invest substantial resources in order to secure the services of highly skilled Information Technology professionals, as they can often command a premium salary. The cost of finding the ideal candidate to fill a role can amount to up to 30 percent of the employee’s annual salary, excluding the time and money spent on onboarding and training. If the recruitment process is unsuccessful, the cost can double due to the necessity of finding a suitable replacement.
It is not only the cost of a severance package or the time and energy needed to identify and recruit a suitable replacement (ideally the right person) that should be taken into consideration, but also the effect on team morale and the quality of work produced if an unsuitable hire is made. Having navigated the process of connecting qualified candidates with open positions on numerous occasions, we have learnt the following lessons.
“Fit” Is the Most Crucial Characteristic
When recruiting a remote developer for your company, it is essential that they are a good fit for your current culture. Before you start searching for the right candidate, take the time to reflect on the values and beliefs that your business or team upholds. What do they have in common? How would you describe the work ethic of the team members? It is vital that any new hire is compatible with the existing culture and is likely to work well with the existing team.
Once you have a strong understanding of your own core values, it can be beneficial to seek out individuals who share similar values. Without shared values, there can be a disconnect between employees and their role within the company, leading to dissatisfaction. To get to the heart of a candidate’s values, it can be useful to ask scenario-based questions such as; how would they react if asked to take part in a marathon relay to raise money for charity?
Make Sure Everything Is True
Candidates should be encouraged to tailor their resumes to each role they are applying for in order to emphasise the qualities that make them suitable for the position. However, care should be taken to ensure that they do not resort to ‘padding’ or exaggeration of their qualifications and abilities. It is important to ensure that the prospective employee is as competent as they appear to be on paper.
It is possible to verify the claims of potential candidates by undertaking an assessment, however the simplest way is to conduct due diligence. Gathering references, obtaining copies of qualifications and, if possible, speaking to an ex-colleague are all effective methods of discovering more about a candidate’s team-working abilities.
Recruit Top-Notch IT Professionals by Using Appropriate Tests
Whiteboard tests are a long-established way of assessing a programmer’s capabilities. During these tests, they are tasked with coding exercises but are not provided with any reference materials or assistance. It is understood that even the most talented programmers may need to double-check their syntax or seek help from their peers, and this should not be seen as a sign of weakness. We are now increasingly aware of the limitations of this type of testing.
Rather than relying on tests which are specific to a single programming language, it is preferable to have an existing team member present a genuine problem patch or modification that needs to be made, but which can be implemented quickly, in order to assess a candidate’s skill level. This would give an indication of how the candidate approaches the issue in question.
Ensure Your Recruiter Is Legit
It is essential that if your recruiter is conducting any form of pre-screening on your behalf, they understand the criteria you are looking to use. Having recruiters who are well-versed in the subject matter and can ask pertinent questions is critical to finding and recruiting the most highly skilled technical professionals for your organization. The recruiters at larger companies may not have a great level of expertise in your particular field, however, they may be able to carry out a thorough assessment of applicants to create a strong shortlist.
At Works, we have the freedom to work in a variety of fields and specialize in a range of areas. We have a strong track record of providing high-level executive placements and are also well-versed in finding talented programmers. We are very proud to be considered a boutique firm that specializes in the recruitment of remote technical workers, with a particular focus on developers. Our team is made up of professionals that have a great deal of expertise in this area, meaning that we are able to identify skilled developers quickly and accurately.
Staffing agencies that deal with a high volume of positions for a variety of clients are often the destination of choice for many jobseekers. Unfortunately, some hiring managers employ blanket questionnaires or keyword-spotting algorithms to reduce the number of applicants which, of course, lacks a human element.
The more personal the interaction, the more tailored the service becomes, resulting in smaller organizations favoring such a method. Furthermore, they will be more knowledgeable in their respective field than any corporate recruiter.
Rapid Hiring Is Possible If You Use Telework
It could take a while to locate the right person for the job, which is not always practical. If one of your most experienced developers gives notice, you may only have a few weeks to find a suitable replacement and it would be preferable to make the transition as seamless as possible.
It is indeed possible to expedite the recruitment process for coders by engaging a competent recruiter. To be clear, the entire process can be completed in as little as two weeks! This is made possible by presenting a selection of highly qualified applicants who have already been checked against the specified criteria. All that is required of you is to arrange the interviews, and then narrow down the field of preferred candidates; the paperwork and legal requirements will be handled by us.
We would be delighted to show you the effectiveness of our processes in helping you to identify the right person for the vacancy on your team. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
