Mar 9, 2015 | IT
Getting results with Free Online Technical Testing
We all know that it is sometimes difficult to ascertain if an individual is as good as their CV looks or as strong on the job as they perform in interview.
We have a solution
Did you know that Langley James offer free Online Technical Testing that can be used as part of your interview process to test your potential new employees. Not only that, it can also be used to test your existing employees as part of their appraisal.
To deliver this service, Langley James has chosen Prove IT as our preferred partner. Prove IT is one of the leading Online Technical Testing tools available today and is used by many large organisations to test proficiency levels and technical experience. Working with Prove IT means that we are able to deliver the most comprehensive and effective technology tests that can be performed online or in a controlled environment on virtually any mainstream technology product.
With a suite of over 200 technical tests which include Windows Servers, Active Directory, Exchange. SQL, XP and Mac to name just a few.
Best of all, it is a fast, cost-effective solution that lets you focus on IT staffing and training resources where they will have the most impact.
Following the test, we can provide you with a simple, yet comprehensive analysis. This information can not only help in the shortlisting process but can also be used to staff particular projects or to develop customised training programs to address identified skills gaps. The later can shorten the number of days required for training, reduce training expense and ultimately enhance productivity with little employee downtime.
When it comes to expanding the team, effective selection if critical to organisational success. Using technical testing have been proven to fundamentally improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire recruitment process. In the current climate, candidates can now apply, interview and be offered in a matter of a few short days. Where time is of the essence, Langley James can help you compete in the fast-moving world of recruitment and utilising our Technical Testing means that selection can take place with greater speed and efficiency than previously possible.
Using Langley James can save your organisation valuable time and effort by ensuring that you are able to focus on the best available candidates immediately.
To discuss your requirement needs, or for more details on our free Online Technical Testing, please call us on 0207 099 4839 or email us atlangleyjames@langleyjames.com
Feb 24, 2015 | IT
1. Prepare in Advance
Know what you want in a candidate before you begin the interview.
Review the job specifications and requirements that have been prepared.
Know the job and its responsibilities.
Review the job description.
Prepare a list of standard questions.
Focus on the candidate’s skills, abilities and past work performance that you want him/her to answer.
Prepare a list of prioritised and measurable criteria.
Either in the form of a worksheet or other method, for analysing and comparing the candidates.
Review the candidate’s CV prior to the interview.
Set specific appointment times and reasonable time limits.
Be prepared to justify the use of any required employment test.
Typically, the most legally defensible tests are those that involve a “piece of the job.”
2. Collect Pertinent Information During the Interview
Since past behaviour predicts future behaviour, look for the candidate’s behaviour “patterns” as you collect information.
For example, has the candidate enjoyed “big picture” work or detailed analysis more? Is he/she more of a generalist or more of a specialist? Often, by listening to how the candidate responds to your questions about previous jobs, you will be able to ascertain a very good idea of what their behaviour will be like in the future.
Try not to offer too much detailed information up front, so that the candidate will be able to formulate answers that exactly fit your company’s needs.
Don’t put the right words in his/her mouth! Remember, the candidate (hopefully) wants the job and will be looking to say the right thing to impress you.
Ask questions that focus on the candidate’s past performances.
For example, if the job, such as a Support Analyst, demands an individual who is well-organised and has a logical approach to troubleshooting, you may want to ask, “How do you prioritise tasks in your current position?”
Ask specific, structured questions in regards to specific problems that the job holder may face.
Focus on past behaviour and the results of the candidate’s actions in a particular situation. For example: “As the Help Desk person, you may encounter a few unhappy users who will yell and scream at you over the telephone or in person. Have you had any experience dealing with difficult users? Who was the most difficult user you had to deal with? What was the situation? How did you resolve the problem?”
Notice how well the candidate listens and responds to the questions asked.
Note the candidate’s choice of words and non-verbal behaviour.
Are they answering your questions clearly?
Listen to the questions the candidate asks.
Clarify the reasons why the questions are being asked. Notice which questions he/she asks first as they may be his/her primary concerns.
Take detailed hand-written notes concerning job related topics that will help you distinguish the candidates from one another.
(Especially if you will be conducting several interviews). Help yourself remember each candidate and each interview clearly.
Record information pertaining to the set criteria that will help in the evaluation of candidates.
Organise and analyse the information immediately after the interview when memory is fresh.
Don’t try to remember everything- it’s impossible. One idea is to “rate” each candidate on each of the criteria immediately following the interview.
3. During the Interview
Set a businesslike atmosphere.
Structure the interview and inform the candidate of this structure.
Let the candidate know you will be focusing on past results and that you will be taking a lot of notes.
Provide information on the company and the job to each candidate.
4. Treat All Candidates Fairly
Use your list of standard questions during each interview.
Enable you to treat the applicants the same and so that you can compare fairly.
Refer to the criteria for analysing candidates.
Ask questions in regards to the job criteria.
Keep all questions job-related.
Do not ask discriminating questions.
Show a genuine interest in every candidate you interview.
If possible, have at least one other person to meet and/or interview candidates who are “finalists”.
They should also “rate” the candidates on each of the criteria; ultimately, all interviewers should compare their “ratings” and discuss any discrepancies.
5. Be Courteous and Respectful
Conduct the interview in a private place away from distractions.
Begin the interview on time.
Conduct the interview without interruptions.
Allow sufficient time for the interview.
Appreciate the candidate’s accomplishments.
Do not patronise the candidate.
Do not argue with the candidate.
Thank the candidate for his/her time and interest.
6. Facilitate Open Communication
Immediately attempt to establish a rapport with the candidate.
Break the ice; for example, ask about their experiences in a particular industry or geographical location (refer to his/her CV).
Promote a relaxed environment with free-flowing conversation.
Do not dominate the discussion by talking too much.
Many experts use a 80/20 rule – you talk 20% of the time and the candidate talks 80% of the time.
Politely probe the candidate for information.
Ask open-ended questions that will provide insight into the candidate’s values and traits.
Ask structured questions that will require some thought on the part of the candidate.
Listen carefully to the candidate’s answers.
If they do not provide you with specific results, probe until they do.
Explain the selection process to the candidate.
Offer realistic time frames and stick to your word!
Feb 3, 2015 | IT
Recruit Someone Worth Recruiting – Part Two – Turn Browsers into Buyers
Last week we published the first of two short articles on the topic of motivating change within the recruitment process in order to attract the best IT talent.
We looked at the way in which economic uncertainty, candidate inertia and a buoyant demand for key skills mean that many candidates are happy to stay in their current roles. Don’t worry if you missed it, you can catch up by reading the article here.
The internet has made it incredibly easy for candidates to look for new roles, something those who are serious about their careers must do on an ongoing basis. The freedom of information enabled by the internet also means that it has never been easier to keep up to date with the current job market in terms of salaries, new vacancies and the demand for certain skills. The abundance of information makes the market incredibly transparent.
Many candidates use this information as a barometer for their careers; to confirm their salary is in the right range or to identify which skills they should be developing but every now and then the same candidates will browse job boards and, whilst they may not be actively considering changing roles, they may be persuaded to apply if the new role is attractive enough. The question is; how much better than their existing job does the new role need to be in order to turn those browsers into potential buyers?
The first assumption for most recruiters is that simply offering a salary slightly larger than the one a candidate is currently receiving will be enough to secure their services. However, that is not the case.
Some academic types say that in order to motivate change something has to be 20% better than the average. In terms of IT recruitment that doesn’t necessarily mean just mean offering 20% above the average salary.
IT contractors and IT staff, particularly the next generation, are more likely to value intangible factors when considering new roles, things like; the working environment, company culture, recognition of their efforts, the chance to work with developing technologies, the likelihood of regular and fresh challenges, the company brand, projects the company is involved with or has historically been involved with, opportunities for career progression and even the opportunity for travel.
All of these factors should be actively communicated in your company literature, by your current employees and by your job adverts. Ultimately financial considerations will still be the overriding factor when considering a new role but that doesn’t mean it should be the only carrot on your stick.
Let us know your thoughts on this topic by joining in the conversation on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/langleyjames) or on Twitter (@ITrecruitment).
To find out how Langley James can help you to motivate change and streamline your IT recruitment process please contact us on 0845 124 9555 or langleyjames@langleyjames.com
Feb 3, 2015 | IT
Recruit Someone Worth Recruiting – Part One – Motivate Change
We are constantly asked what the market for IT recruitment is like and our answer can vary greatly; sometimes things are good and sometimes they aren’t so good. Whilst we’re lucky that the IT industry is reasonably stable, it does tend to reflect the economy and general mood of the nation.
January is traditionally subdued and it is usually a time when both companies and candidates take stock, trim the fat and make plans for the year ahead.
It is a little ambitious to rely on once in a lifetime events to boost business and it is often the case that the companies which make a concerted effort during times of economic stagnation reap the rewards when the good times roll around again. They are proactive rather than reactive, they are innovative and they motivate change.
To use a tenuous analogy, the current IT recruitment market can be compared to a shopping centre at this time of year.
People purchased their winter wardrobe before the Christmas and New Year period. They may have slightly exceeded their budget and now January is a time of austerity, a period to be got through, before they can buy a new wardrobe in the spring. They might go to the shopping centre to have a look around but they aren’t too keen to buy anything. In order for the retailers to get people through the door they have to have a compelling offer.
Still with us?!
The current IT recruitment market is just like that shopping centre. There are a lot of potential customers (candidates) who are happy to browse yet they all appear too scared to commit themselves to actively seeking a new role.
One of the main contributing factors to this inertia is that most of the roles which are currently being advertised are identical to those in which candidates are already engaged; they offer the same position, the same career progression (or lack of) and the same salary and benefits package.
Therefore, it is up to those companies who are looking to recruit candidates to fill their vacant positions to motivate change in order to make themselves more attractive to potential employees without simply resorting to paying above market rates, something many are unwilling or unable to do in the current economic climate.
Next week we’ll take a look at how companies can motivate change and how that relates to the issues currently affecting the recruitment decisions of both candidates and employers.
Let us know your thoughts on this topic by joining in the conversation on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/langleyjames) or on Twitter (@ITrecruitment).
To find out how Langley James can help you to motivate change and streamline your IT recruitment process please contact us on 0845 124 9555 or langleyjames@langleyjames.com
Jan 7, 2015 | IT
Big enough to cope, small enough to care
Langley James was founded in 1999 to provide something unique: a bespoke IT recruitment service founded on service excellence.
Now, 16 years later we have helped some of the most respected companies in the world recruit someone worth recruiting.
So, what makes us different?
We don’t employ sales people, just highly trained recruitment experts, who combine leading edge IT knowledge with a professionalism and dedication that is second to none. Whilst many agencies spend 80% of their time chasing new business, our reputation and position in the market means that we can spend 80% of the time focusing on your requirements.
Your absolute satisfaction is what we focus on every step of the way. In fact, we have developed all our services from your perspective so that you get everything you need in order to make your IT recruitment problems a thing of the past.
With more and more emphasis on a candidate led market, we look after your brand as if it was our own. Our expert team will represent you at the highest level to each and every candidate.
How we work
We use a highly effective approach to finding the best talent for each vacancy and with the increasing use of social media, we have the expertise to know how to get the best results.
We also provide you with your own, dedicated client manager; an experienced professional who will be your regular point of contact. With over 50 years’ experience in house, we ensure a consultative, professional approach. Your consultant gets to really know your company and your culture meaning that you not only get the best candidate to fulfil the role but also the best fit within your company.
We are members of the REC and FSB and our memberships also include the CIPD which helps ensure we are on the pulse with the market conditions and can give invaluable market intelligence to our clients. This can be salary surveys, candidate availability or market demands.
We provide a full recruitment service including identifying and screening candidates and managing the full recruitment process. Your specified deadlines for vacancy prioritisation, interview times and specified start dates are all integrated into our process. Our internal database that has been created over the last 16 years, means that you have access to the best people, quickly!
We are also here when you need us, which is why you can call us before most other IT recruitment companies open and after they have usually gone home. Our offices in both the North and South are here to look after you 8am-8pm, Monday to Friday.
Jan 7, 2015 | IT
In a year where we saw U2 give away their album to everyone on iTunes and we successfully landed on a comet, the IT skills gap and recruitment were major concerns for CIO’s, remaining unchanged from 2013.
With some trepidation, confidence started to grow among employers and we saw cautious investment in headcount at the beginning of the year. As a result of the recovering job market clients were demanding more in a marketplace where skilled candidates were proving difficult to find. As confidence grew further we were being asked to fill more and more vacancies created by expansion as opposed to replacing those that had resigned. We also saw a reduction in contract requirements with companies preferring to recruit permanently to secure the best talent.
In a generally supressed candidate market, there was anticipation to take the plunge to change jobs. The skilled candidates were staying put with security a high priority and the market became flooded with less skilled, immediately available candidates. The skills shortage experienced in 2013 became much more previlant last year. Online advertising simply wasn’t working anymore as the quality of those actively searching for employment dropped further.
This created an increase in the need for headhunting – I wonder how many times one of your team took a call from a headhunter last year? Highly skilled candidates were being offered superb opportunities and were attracted to companies offering fantastic benefits packages, promotion opportunities and an emphasis on work-life balance. Companies were having to work harder to ignite interest in the best people to consider making a move.
Those skilled candidates that were motivated to move were in such high demand that they would receive 3-4 offers in a week and disappear off the market within the matter of a few days. Companies would have to interview and offer quickly to be in with a chance of getting the best candidate and even then it wasn’t always guaranteed. With companies keen to retain their IT team, 2014 saw the re-emergence of the counter-offer which saw many candidates decline offers after attempting to resign.
Despite technology, recruiting is still and always will be about the people and during this turbulent year, Langley James helped more client than ever recruit their superstar. Our database means that we have access to some fantastic candidates who are unique to us and ensures that you Recruit Someone Worth Recruiting.
Jan 7, 2015 | IT
It’s official! Christmas is well and truly over. The hangover has finally subsided and we are all back into the swing of things.
With most of the country taking advantage of a 2 week break, it seems as though a job move was top of the New Year resolution list with a huge influx of people registering with agencies on January 5th. Is it simply the realisation that the current job isn’t quite right, or are candidates relighting their ambition and taking advantage of what is traditionally the most exciting month of the year for IT recruitment. After a period of insecurity and reluctance to move jobs, 2015 looks to be the year of change.
According to the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), more than a 33% of workers are planning to leave their job in 2015, so even if your team is just 3, expect to be replacing at least 1 of them before the year is out and this doesn’t even take into account the growth expected over the next 12 months by UK companies.
So why are they looking to leave?
- 59% are looking for improved opportunities for progression
- 56% are looking for a higher salary and benefits package
- 50% are looking for a more interesting role
- 25% of people are feeling unappreciated
Expect to have to work a little harder this year to keep hold of your superstars!
Despite the increase in active candidates, companies will need to work hard to attract the best and 2015 will signal the end of that well-worn interview question “Why should I employ you?” and focus on enticing people into your company. Candidates want to know what makes you different and what you can offer compared with your competitors and we’re not just talking salary. Benefits are becoming increasingly important with a particular emphasis on training and accreditations.
Whilst “skill shortage” has been a buzz phrase in IT recruitment for quite a while now, it doesn’t look as if it will disappear soon and will remain well into 2015. Not only due to a shortage of trainees being recruited 3-5 years ago but need for companies to retain or improve their competitive advantage will increase the demand on analytical and cyber-security roles.
With the invasion of Generation C and the need for products and services to be embedded in digital technology and infrastructure, companies are starting to realise the importance of in-house digital expertise. Looks like the war for exceptional talent will definitely continue.
This is where Langley James can help. With experience spanning 3 decades and over 50 years of experience in-house, we take the time to really understand your requirement and can offer consultative advice on attracting the best of the best. We know our market and really are experts at what we do and it helps that we have a real passion for ensuring you Recruit Someone Worth Recruiting.
Nov 25, 2014 | IT
Article by Andrew Benson BBC
Lewis Hamilton says winning his second world title is the start of “something special” for himself and Mercedes.
He joined Mercedes in 2013 after non-executive chairman Niki Lauda promised they would make him world champion.
After winning Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to clinch the title, Hamilton, 29, said: “I wanted to be part of something building and growing.
“I feel this is just the beginning. What this team has put together is something incredibly special.”
Hamilton won the title by 67 points after a tense season-long battle with team-mate Nico Rosberg.
He is one of seven men to win the championship twice, leaving him one behind three-time victors Sir Jack Brabham, Sir Jackie Stewart, Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna.
Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel are the only four-time winners, Juan Manuel Fangio has five, while Michael Schumacher leads the way with seven.
Hamilton continued: “We’ve got great people in their right positions and me and Nico will continue to push the team forward.
“As will the boss of Mercedes, who has been so committed and building the best engine. These guys know just as much as I do, it’s been phenomenal this year.
“It’s really important the steps we take moving forwards to continue improving and I 100% believe the team will do that.”
Team-mate Rosberg signed a new contract with Mercedes until at least the end of 2016 in May this year, while Hamilton has a contract with Mercedes until the end of next year.
He and the team delayed negotiations over a new deal until the title had been decided so Hamilton could concentrate on his racing.
Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has said they will sit down in the coming days and discuss the new deal and both Stevenage-born Hamilton and his team expect to continue together into a new contract.
Hamilton said: “I definitely don’t feel I am looking for a new challenge. We have a year to go, so there’s no particular rush but this is my home and I’m very happy here.”
Mercedes non-executive chairman Lauda added: “I asked him to leave McLaren and come to Mercedes and he said ‘when are we going to be competitive’. I said I could guarantee him a world championship and in the second year here it is.
“We are going to do this [contract] in the next two weeks. He’s happy, we’re happy, I don’t see any issues.”
Read the original article here
Aug 27, 2014 | IT
Post Holiday Blues
The summer holiday season is over, you’re back at work and it seems like there’s nothing to look forward to for months and months. On top of all that the weather has begun to turn and the evenings are rapidly drawing in. Together it’s a recipe for the ‘post holiday blues.’
Of course, it’s quite normal to feel a little down or frustrated when you return to work. Back-to-work blues tend to be temporary. Still, being back at work can be difficult for many people: problems of having limited freedom and fitting in again with work relationships can lead to frustration.
Factors that commonly contribute to the blues tend to fall into three major categories:
- Psychological – Perhaps you promised yourself you’d keep a better perspective on work problems or not let work run your life, and you’re already struggling to stick to them. You may have unrealistic expectations of your job and colleagues and are feeling disappointed when those expectations fall short
- Financial – You may be worrying about paying forthe next round of expenses i.e Credit Cards & Christmas presents!!!
- Physical – Strains of journeying to work by car or standing on a packed train or bus, combined with a lack of exercise at work can leave you feeling fatigued. It’s possible that you gained weight on holiday from too much food and alcohol and it isn’t going to disappear over night.
All this can add a great deal of pressure to being back at work. So what can you do to keep some of the holiday spirit alive? Try these important strategies:
Acknowledge your feelings
If your work is very routine it’s normal to feel a bit down after a holiday. What is important is finding expression for your feelings. Turning frustration inwards will mean the blues will last longer and could have a significant effect on your own emotional and physical health and on those around you.
Seek support
If you spent the holiday with family or friends, use them for social support. They can help you remember the good times you’ve had, reduce any feelings of isolation at work and share responsibilities at home.
Be realistic
Goals, although made in good faith, are often unrealistic and difficult to achieve. Don’t try to do everything at once -tackle one action at a time. It’s much better to be able to measure and reward your successes than trying to bounce back from disappointment.
Budget
Financial pressures at home can seriously affect how you feel at work. If you are worried about money and paying off credit cards, don’t pretend the pressures aren’t there. Instead, make a plan of how much money you can afford to pay off and the period you need to balance your accounts. Planning ahead will help you avoid tempting extravagances and help you feel more in charge of your life.
Plan ahead
It doesn’t work for everyone, but many people find that planning their next holiday gives them something to look forward to. Perhaps a photograph of the resort or villa you’re planning to visit stuck up in your work area will help. Even if it isn’t another holiday, having an event or a treat planned can help give your work fresh purpose. Of course you shouldn’t take all the spontaneity out of your life, just enough to help you gain control of your circumstances.
Quiet please!
With the work that tends to pile up whilst you’re away to deal with it is even more important that you plan some time to think and relax. If you don’t block the time out, it will get used up with other tasks and interruptions. Plenty of research shows that thinking-time increases your effectiveness and creativity at work. Taking a lunch break regularly and getting outside can help you maintain a sense of perspective of work hassles.
Don’t abandon healthy habits
Don’t let work pressures lead to you eating too many processed foods and ready-made meals. They often contain added sugar and salt, which aren’t good for your health when taken in excess. Work pressures can also lead you to skip meals and snack on sugary foods. If you must snack during the day try a piece of fruit. Many people feel fatigued at work because they get dehydrated, so try to drink eight glasses of water a day.
If the pressures are seriously too much
Sometimes a break from your work can help you realise that you really are overburdened and cannot succeed with work as it is. In this case, you need to identify the source of the problem. If it’s your failure to delegate, you must begin to involve others in making decisions and sharing responsibility. If it is the work itself, then you need to talk to your immediate boss, but have some of your own ideas for resolving the issues ready to contribute.
You will feel much better about work if you make sure you get plenty of sleep and some regular physical activity, such as walking for 30 minutes each day. Not only will exercise help get rid of any extra pounds you may have gained, it will give you extra stamina and energy to get through the day.
Jul 29, 2014 | IT
The IT talent crunch – Are companies to blame
In order to survive the IT talent crunch, companies need to stop looking for people with particular certifications or technical talents and seek technical people who are willing to learn. According to Patrick Gray; who is the founder and president of Prevoyance Group.
Like a migratory bird that returns to its seasonal nesting grounds on a recurring basis, talk of a skills shortage in the IT industry is once again on the lips of CIOs and industry pundits. Technology titans point at the educational system and lament the lack of new math and engineering students, and fund programs to try and swell their ranks while expressing disgust at the current dearth of “talent.”
Rather than blaming poor school funding or singling out students of particular nations as particularly talented in particular disciplines, the CIOs voicing these concerns need to first examine their own hiring practices.
Remember 2000?
14 years ago IT was a hiring frenzy. If you could spell HTML or TCP/IP you were virtually guaranteed a handsome salary and all the associated delights of the heady dot-com days. The IT HR process became mired in an alphabet soup of “certification surfing.” If you had the right acronym or other chit on your resume, you were “in,” despite your personality quirks, inability to communicate with other human beings, or eccentric behaviors. Hiring managers, of course, loved this process, since human resource decisions could be relegated to mining resume databases and a couple of phone calls rather than the tedium of interviews and due diligence.
As the dot-com bubble burst, the ensuing belt tightening left many IT staffers jobless. Young people that had been singing the praises of the IT industry were now its biggest detractors. From bitter laments to friends and family, to humorous websites mocking fast hiring and equally rapid “right-sizings,” IT ended up with a lasting black eye. Peers of this generation and the universities that educated them are not quick to forget this span of a few years, where graduates were promised (and given) the world then cast aside with platitudes about unforeseen economic conditions and the wonders of outsourcing to placate them. While these companies did what they had to do, the certification and technology-focused career paradigm they fostered has left a lingering bad taste in the mouths of many who might have chosen an IT career.
With these memories still fresh in the minds of much of the workforce, the IT industry is largely back up to its old tricks, admonishing graduates to pursue the latest technologies and allowing HR to mine candidate databases for buzzwords as if the post-dot-com massacre never happened. CIOs have largely underestimated the savvy of new entrants to the workforce, and promises of a glorious career, if only you learn the latest skills. So what’s a talent-starved CIO to do?
End Certification surfing
While it’s arguably very hard work, it’s time to return to good old fashioned due diligence in the hiring process. While HR may tell you the best way to find five new developers is to check their certifications, a superior candidate is someone with a willingness to learn, an ability to communicate, and some technical savvy, most likely in that order. The large consulting firms have done a good job of this, hiring everyone from CS grads to history majors, based not on their coursework or technical experience, but on their ability to solve problems and learn rapidly.
The pace of technological change is likely to increase rather than decrease, and quickly hiring people with the latest technology on their resume and firing them tomorrow when that technology is dated is more costly and time consuming than hiring someone with a willingness to learn. I’ll take someone from the most esoteric non-technical field that can quickly learn and articulate problems for my organization over the most sterling technical certifications any day.
To maintain this learning ability, challenge your staff to acquire and employ new skills, both technical and non-technical. Seek input from your people and push them to interact with colleagues outside IT as peers, rather than a soldier blindly following orders. Perhaps most important, develop a culture that rewards excellence. Spend time evaluating your people and providing feedback and letting them know where they stand. High performers will not hang around if you tell everyone they are all equal and all doing “fine.”
Offering opportunity and focusing on an ability to learn is hard work, but presents an IT career as a place where high performers can grow and excel, rather than empty promises of greatness that are erased during the next swath of layoffs. This process is going to take far more time, effort and money than certification surfing, but will serve to repair IT’s damaged reputation, and more importantly deliver an amazingly capable staff that will be excelling while your competitors continue to hire and fire based on the latest buzzwords.
Patrick Gray is the founder and president of Prevoyance Group, and author of Breakthrough IT: Supercharging Organizational Value through Technology. Prevoyance Group provides strategic IT consulting services to Fortune 500 and 1000 companies.
Jul 7, 2014 | IT
How will you cope with the empty office this summer? Could those empty desks be full of potential?
Summer is officially here and school is nearly out. How will you cope with the inevitable reduction in staff numbers during the peak holiday season? For your business, the holiday season can be a time when workload multiplies to answer increased demands. Having a strategy to cope with either of these scenarios will help ensure key deadlines are met without overworking those left in the office.
A complete break is, of course important for the morale and well-being of both your staff and yourself. They should come back to work relaxed, reinvigorated, refreshed and ready to hit the ground running. So… with this in mind, how can you manage this extra work whilst keeping the business running without disruption?
Research by ‘The Guardian’ into the effects of holidays on team working suggests that ‘extra’ workloads are more easily absorbed in small and large-sized businesses whilst medium-sized companies are more likely to utilise temporary or contract staff to relieve the pressure on their teams and ensure business objectives are met.
From an employer’s perspective, hiring contract staff simply makes sense in many circumstances. Could it make sense for you? Many businesses are already staffing up for short or long term projects without the price tag of pension, health care or other benefits. In the current employment market, you can attract the ‘crème de la crème’, and did you know we can supply IT contract workers who can be retained for as little as a day or a week? Contract workers can be kept on longer-term and may even be available for permanent hire. This is a great way for both the contractor and the business to get to know each other before committing to a permanent relationship.
Wouldn’t it be fantastic to be able to increase the ability and motivation of your existing team at a time they would otherwise be lagging under the strain of an extra workload? Do you have projects that have been postponed due to a skills gap? Why not source an IT contract worker with the specific skills you need to get the job done while your permanent employee is on leave? High quality contract workers can bring fresh ideas to your business as well as pass on new skills to existing employees.
It’s not just the during the holiday season that contractors become a vital part of your team. A contractor could be right for you if you:
- Have high employee turnover due to staff burnout
- Need seasonal help, or help with a long-term project
- Cannot offer benefits or are not able to afford a permanent member of staff
- Have a hard to fill position
- Are uncertain about the future of the business or the position itself
We’ve all been there – working late during the weeks running up to your holiday to help reduce the ‘back to work’ catch-up and this pattern is often inevitably repeated upon your return. By midday on your first day back, your holiday can feel like a distant memory. So, as a manager, director or business owner we can sometimes have business objectives affected for three times the amount of time the employee takes for leave.
Our market summary newsletters have shown that the demand for a more flexible workforce has increased considerably over the last few months, with figures released last week confirming that the economy has grown in the last 6 months, albeit gradually. The challenge now is to maintain this pace during the second half of the year and contract positions are playing an increasingly important role in the economic recovery. In fact 7 out of 10 companies are planning to recruit in the next 12 months.
The majority of CEO’s are looking for change within their business in response to the volatile economic climate. They are keen to reduce costs and risk while increasing the efficiency of existing employees, putting even more pressure on you in the IT department. Many are turning to technology as an answer. You can use technologies such as IM Clients, VOIP calls, video chats, PM software and cloud storage to get a lot done from remote locations. In the short-term this can save you an overhead and can also ease the pain of sick days and holidays when urgent tasks pop up. In the long-term, hiring off-site contractors means saving on both salaries and Capex. And did we mention that many contractors will take a lower day rate in exchange for the ability to work from home?
With the availability of such high quality skills and the potential to save money and reduce staff stress, it could be that hiring a contractor is the right decision for your business. Just think of the fresh, untapped talent that could be filling those empty desks this summer.
Jun 22, 2014 | IT
Grab Talent while it’s Hot: Recruit Fast and Beat the Competition
The economy is on the move. Increased confidence means businesses are getting ready to expand, new projects are being planned and with that comes a demand for talent.
BEWARE!
Recruiting the wrong people into your team can hamper and even reverse your hard-earned growth and put your business and other’s jobs at risk.
Good News!
Talent is on the move. People are increasing in confidence and starting to risk moving to pastures new.
Bad News!
Talent is moving fast. Quality candidates are moving to progress their careers rather than out of necessity and employers are having to compete with each other to sell their positions, not only on salary but also on future prospects and company ethos.
It’s only too easy to miss out on the star hires you need, losing them to your competitors, whether recruiting a contract or permanent person. Don’t let your recruitment process put you at risk of being left with ‘zombie’ employees who can destroy your business.
The Answer
Here at Langley James we have noticed one factor resulting in companies succeeding in securing the people they want: speed. Those who act fast, with streamlined recruitment systems in place are winning the talent. In a market where outstanding applicants are often interviewing with multiple companies in a given week it may only take a moment’s delay to lose the candidate you have invested time and resources sourcing and interviewing.
The Rise of the Telephone Interview
When the ideal CV arrives, of course you want to move fast, but conflicting schedules can mean waiting days or weeks to arrange a meeting with that perfect match, by which time your star candidate will already have been snapped up by your rivals.
Arranging a telephone or Skype interview means you can find a suitable time to liaise significantly quicker: you can even arrange an evening conference. While there may still be a pause before you are able to meet in person, you have been able to promote the opportunity you are offering, gain rapport and move yourself to the top of their employer wish list. Anything you can do to reduce the time to hire will help you recruit the right person and avoid those business destroying zombies.
Speed is still of the essence though. Other employers will be moving fast too. If you think you have found the ideal candidate can you be more flexible than usual with your interview process? Can you reduce the amount of interview stages, the time between them or even conduct interviews out of hours? Could skills testing be done remotely rather than in house to save you time?
Here at Langley James we negotiate the scheduling of interviews on your behalf saving you hours on the phone or sending emails. We have a unique insight into our candidates and will only ever send you CVs we think are wholly appropriate for your needs: our specialised knowledge will save you time and win you a superstar who could so easily have slipped through your fingers and into the waiting arms of your competition.
Call us today on 0207 788 660 to speak to one of our experienced and specialised IT Recruitment Consultants. Alternatively email langleyjames@langleyjames.com.
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