To say the information technology industry here in Ireland is big business would be something of an understatement. According to the Central Statistics Office, there are more than 90,000 professionals currently employed in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector while there are over 33,000 working in software development.
That’s a lot of demand for a lot of talent.
Add to that the fact that the very nature of the industry means that it is constantly evolving, and you can understand why employers may need a little help from time to time to secure the right people.
This is why IT recruitment agencies in Ireland are in high demand. It’s also why there’s now a seemingly endless list of these agencies to choose from.
So as an employer, how do you decide which IT recruitment agencies to partner with?
Do you go with the big name agencies or the one with the amazing client list?
Well, that really depends on quite a number of factors so there’s no real definitive answer. That said, there are few things that you can do to ensure that you make the right choice from the huge number of IT recruitment agencies in Dublin and throughout the country.
Understand your company's needs
There’s no point in going shopping for groceries if you don’t know what you’re planning to cook or what tools you already have in the kitchen. The same can be said for talent acquisition.
It’s crucial that you have a complete overview of your current workforce and their roles within the company. But not just that. We’d even suggest that you should have a comprehensive list of the skills and qualifications of each employee. It could be that one of your existing team members has the skills to fill your talent gap or any future gaps that may come along.
You will also need to have a clear understanding of your future talent needs and where any talent gaps may occur. This is particularly important in the IT sector where development in the industry often moves at lightning speed.
Having this information up-to-date and easily accessible is essential as not only will it help you outline your goals to the recruitment agency but it will also help you decide whether or not you actually need to engage their services.
Do your research
It’s a very simple step, but it’s also one that many companies skip over as there’s a tendency to simply go with a name you recognise or the first agency on Google.
However, while we would love to tell you that Software Placements is the best recruitment agency in Dublin or perhaps even Ireland, it’s better that you find this information for yourself. Check an agency’s track record and any references from previous clients. If you can’t find this information on the agency’s website, then go ahead and ask for it. Agencies are more than happy to share their success stories with potential clients.
Another reason why you should take this step is to make sure that the agency is the right fit for your needs. While it may be a big name in the recruitment industry, if the agency has little experience in the IT sector, then it’s probably not the right choice.
Ask about candidate screening and interviews
An IT recruitment agency is only as good as its candidate screening and interview process and you can quote us on that.
It really does go without saying that it’s the agency’s ability to locate and verify authentic talent that sets it apart from the competition. So don’t be afraid to ask the agency how they go about identifying talent for roles. You can even give the agency an example of a specific role and ask how they would screen applicants and what their interview process would involve.
Trust us, there should be no secrets between you and your agency. After all, your end goal is the same — to fill that role with the right talent. So ask what the process is so that you can be sure that it aligns with your in-house process.
Talk about communication
Open lines of communication are essential in any working relationship with an IT recruitment agency particularly as the industry is so fast-paced. Your company’s talent needs may change quickly as your company expands or keeps apace with industry developments. With this in mind, it’s crucial that the agency has an open communication and reporting process in place.
Ask about how the agency will report on its progress. Will you receive updates at regular intervals or only when suitable candidates are found? Any reporting and communication methods that are in place may change depending on the scope of a project, but there should always be a specific point of contact for your company at the agency at any given time.
Make sure the agency aligns with your company's values
This is a step that many companies might not consider as long as the agency is finding the right talent. However, it’s important to note that once you hire an IT recruitment agency, it becomes your representative in the hiring process. This means that if the agency carries out any underhand or unethical practices, it reflects poorly on the company.
But it doesn’t even need to be unethical practices. If the agency is very lax in responding to candidates or puts them through needless, additional interviews, this can also be a bad look for the company. This is because the candidates invariably associate the agency with the company it is hiring for. And if there’s one thing that candidates will do, it’s talk about their candidate experience. This ties in with our earlier tip about the candidate screening and interview process, but it’s worth noting again that you must ensure that the agency aligns with your company values.
We’re not going to say that there’s nothing else to it, but following the steps above will certainly put you on the right track to finding an IT recruitment agency that is a good fit for your company. However, you could also save yourself a lot of time and energy by getting in touch with us here at Software Placements. We’re not going to profess to being the best of the best, but our track record does speak for itself. So give us a call and let’s talk about your talent acquisition needs.