Some may call us a little biassed and perhaps there’s some truth to that, but there’s no doubt that Dublin is a major international hub for technology companies. And while Ireland’s capital may not quite make it onto our list of the top three European tech hubs, the city certainly holds its own in the tech sector.
The success of Dublin as an IT hub is thanks in no small part to Google’s decision to set up its European headquarters in the city way back in 2004. This was the springboard for other major companies to follow suit and we can now list Meta, Etsy, Amazon, and many exciting local startups as Dublin-based companies.
As you can imagine, the decades-long boom in the technology industry has seen IT job opportunities continue to grow year after year. And despite the recent layoffs at many major tech companies, the city is over the worst of it and can once again offer some great opportunities for the right candidate. But as you may have guessed, that boom also led to a huge influx of recruitment agencies specialising in the tech sector.
For a candidate or an employer, this may look like a recruitment paradise with a seemingly endless list of agencies to choose from to either help you with a career change or find talent for that hard-to-fill role. But the truth is that picking a good IT recruitment agency can be confusing and sometimes even frustrating.
With this in mind, here are a few tips to help both candidates and employers choose the right IT recruitment agency in Dublin.
Do your homework
Background, track record, clients — these are the kinds of things you can easily find out about a recruitment agency with just a few clicks. So there really is no excuse not to do a complete check on any recruitment agencies you have in mind. Remember that most of this information should be easy enough to locate on the agency’s website but if not, then a quick phone call or email to the agency will do you no harm.
It’s also a good idea to check any client feedback the agency may have on its site or through Google reviews or even social media reviews. Of course, an agency is always going to present its best testimonials on its website, but if there are none at all, then this should be a red flag.
One important thing to note with regards to reviews in the public domain is that every company or agency is going to have a few bad reviews. This is par for the course for any business so one or two shouldn’t be much of an issue. However, if those bad reviews start to form a pattern or outnumber the good ones, well, you know what to do.
Is IT the agency’s speciality?
There are many great recruitment agencies out there that cover a broad range of industries. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this approach particularly if it is a large multinational agency that has specific departments for each industry. However, there’s a lot to be said for a recruitment agency that specialises in IT or the technology sector in general.
Recruiters at a specialist agency will have a much deeper understanding of the industry and the people that work within it. They will also understand industry trends and language and what salary ranges are currently applicable to certain roles. This allows the agency to provide high-quality and relevant talent to employers and present the best opportunities to candidates.
Trust us, for candidates or employers looking to speed up the recruitment process without scrimping on quality, a specialist agency is a must.
Think about cultural fit
This may not be entirely applicable to candidates, but it is certainly something that employers might want to bear in mind. It may be quite difficult to get a handle on an IT recruitment agency’s work culture, but it’s worth asking about it if speaking with anyone in the agency. The idea here is that you want an agency working for you that holds to the same standards and values as your own company or your personal opinion as a candidate.
How does the agency communicate?
Yes, it might seem like a very silly question that deserves an equally silly answer, but we’re not just talking about email vs. phone calls here. We’re also talking about the frequency of communications and how easy it is to connect with an assigned recruiter if you should have any issues. As an employer or a candidate, you’ll want to know that any developments will be communicated immediately and that should you have any questions, the person you contact will have all the required information at hand.
As with all the tips here that require you to ask the agency for more information, just remember, that the agency will want to work with you and should have no trouble providing you with any assurances you need with regards to communications.
Check its network
A good IT recruitment agency should have a wide network of contacts in the industry. Look for an agency that has established relationships with top companies and IT professionals. Now, this doesn’t mean checking a recruiter’s LinkedIn profile to see who they are connected with. Nope, we’re talking about genuine working relationships within their network. And yes, you guessed it, that means clients.
An IT recruitment agency with at least 5-10 years of experience in the industry should have at least a few standout names in its client list. These are great to see but names at major companies are not the be all and end all of networking. Once the agency has an impressively long list of happy clients and has been in business for a while, you can rest assured that it will have a solid list of contacts within its network.
Ask about its screening process
A good IT recruitment agency should have a thorough screening process that includes technical assessments and interviews. This is a no-brainer for both candidates and employers as it ensures that the agency is taking its job seriously and not wasting anyone’s time. There’s nothing worse than candidates landing in job interviews that they are unsuitable for.
Check those fees
Finally, make sure to check the fees charged by your choice of IT recruitment agency in Dublin. Look for an agency that offers a fair and transparent fee structure that is in line with industry standards. This is equally important for candidates as it is for employers and can vary wildly from agency to agency. The vast majority of agencies will lay the cost of recruitment at the door of the employer, but there may be one or two that want to hit the candidate with a fee too.
Bonus tip
Our final and ‘bonus’ tip is to remove all the worry of choosing the right agency by simply contacting the team here at Software Placements. We’ve got the experience, the client list, the network, and most importantly, the expertise to help you achieve your goals whether you’re a candidate or an employer in the IT sector. So choose the right IT recruitment agency in Dublin and get in touch today.