Technical staffing in the ever-changing IT industry is hard.

Staying ahead demands not only cutting-edge technology, but also the right people to wield it. Navigating the hiring challenges in this competitive landscape can be daunting, especially when previous experiences with IT staffing agencies have led to frustration, disappointment, and precious time wasted.

If you understand the value of contract tech talent, but have encountered challenges in harnessing it effectively — you’re not alone. There’s a critical need for an effective and reliable approach to tech talent acquisition, as highlighted below:

• 85% of IT hiring managers believe that finding skilled tech talent is a significant challenge.
• The average time-to-fill for tech positions is 56 days, which hampers project timelines and growth opportunities.
• IT jobs are projected to grow twice as fast as the overall national employment rate.

This blog kicks off a series on how to find the best tech talent. By the end of the series, you’ll be empowered to make informed decisions and establish meaningful, lasting IT staffing partnerships that drive your company’s success in the dynamic world of tech talent acquisition.

Let’s begin by diving into the tech industry and overcoming the most common hiring challenges.

The Evolving Tech Industry

The tech industry is a dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape that drives innovation and transformation across all sectors. 

As companies strive to remain competitive, they rely on technology to:

• Streamline operations
• Enhance customer experiences, and
• Drive growth

However, this increasing reliance on technology has led to a surge in demand for specialized expertise, creating fierce competition for top tech talent.

Common Tech Hiring Challenges — And How To Overcome Them

As a seasoned hiring manager, you’re no stranger to the unique challenges that come with building a stellar tech team. 

The surging demand of skilled professionals, coupled with a low IT unemployment rate of just 1.5%, makes it difficult to find and retain the right people for your projects. Moreover, the hiring process itself can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, diverting attention from core business activities.

In this landscape, reputable IT recruiting agencies play a pivotal role in connecting companies with seasoned tech professionals. These agencies act as intermediaries, leveraging their expertise, networks, and resources to match the right talent with the right opportunities. 

Yet, many hiring managers have experienced frustration when working with IT staffing agencies.  So how do you overcome the most common recruiting challenges while establishing strong partnerships with tech recruiters? Here’s how.

Tech Hiring Challenge #1: Mismatched Skill Sets and Cultural Fit

Example: Your firm engaged an IT staffing services provider to find a contract software developer with expertise in a specific coding language. However, many of the candidates they presented lacked hands-on experience in that language or were seeking a structured and traditional work environment (which was the opposite of your organization’s culture). 

Not only did this lead to project delays, team morale and performance suffered. 

Solution: Clearly define both technical and soft skill requirements up front. Encourage the staffing agency to prioritize cultural fit assessments and provide them with insights into your company’s work culture.

Why It Works: This ensures that the staffing agency understands your needs accurately, minimizing the chances of mismatched candidates.

Tech Hiring Challenge #2: Lack of Communication and Feedback

Example: You were left in the dark about the progress of candidate evaluations, even after multiple attempts to connect with the recruiter. The lack of communication led to several revisions to the recruitment timeline and hindered decision-making about the project as a whole.

Solution: Establish communication expectations with your recruiter by specifying regular updates and feedback intervals. Request that the agency promptly communicate any challenges or delays as they happen.

Why It Works: Open communication fosters a collaborative environment, allowing for quick issue resolution and alignment throughout the recruitment process.

Tech Hiring Challenge #3: Inconsistent Candidate Quality

Example: Your team is frustrated with your staffing partner because they consistently present candidates with varying skill levels. This inconsistency has raised doubts about the agency’s screening process and capability to find the right specialized expertise for the project.

Solution: Collaborate closely with the agency to define a detailed project job description with project details and skill requirements. Ask about the agency’s candidate vetting process, including technical assessments and reference checks.

Why It Works: Regular feedback ensures that the staffing agency can adapt quickly to your preferences, improving the overall quality of candidate submissions.

Tech Hiring Challenge #4: Fluctuating Market Dynamics

Example: Your team will soon begin building a cybersecurity threat detection and prevention system. Due to market demand, the project will begin very quickly and the hiring timeline is short. But the staffing agency — which you’ve used in the past for various tech initiatives — keeps sending candidates with little expertise in cybersecurity, machine learning, and SEIM.

This mismatch between market demands and candidate capabilities is threatening overall project success.

Solution: Engage with agencies that demonstrate a commitment to staying current with industry trends and in-demand skill sets. Discuss market dynamics during the initial partnership discussions and ensure they regularly update their knowledge base.

Why It Works: Market demands and skill requirements are in constant flux. Staying ahead of these dynamics ensures that the candidates presented align with current and future technology needs.

Tech Hiring Challenge #5: Time and Cost Overruns

Example: You’ve faced repeated delays in the recruitment process, leading to unexpected costs and missed project deadlines.

Solution: Clearly communicate project timelines, milestones, and deliverables to the agency. Collaborate on realistic expectations and emphasize the importance of staying within budget constraints.

Why It Works: This minimizes surprises, reduces time-to-fill, and allows for better project planning.

Transforming Tech Hiring Challenges into Opportunities

Each of these hiring challenges can be addressed with proactive measures and a collaborative approach between hiring managers and recruiting firms. It’s essential to foster open communication, set clear expectations, and prioritize a thorough understanding of your company’s values and requirements. 

By doing so, you can mitigate the risks associated with tech talent acquisition and build successful, lasting staffing agency relationships. 

Key Takeaways: Navigating The Technical Staffing Landscape

• High demand for skilled tech talent has created a competitive hiring landscape, making it crucial for companies to navigate it effectively. 
• Though many hiring managers have had frustrating experiences with staffing partners in the past, they must take proactive measures and a collaborative approach to overcome common hiring challenges in the tech sector. 
• It’s important to build strong partnerships with IT Recruiting Agencies, as they can play a pivotal role in connecting companies with skilled tech professionals.

Next Up: Identifying a Trustworthy IT Staffing Agency

The next installment in our series on how to find the best tech talent discusses how to identify a trustworthy IT staffing services provider. It’s essential to partner with an agency that demonstrates trustworthiness, reliability, and industry expertise. You’ll learn the five key areas to focus on to transform your tech talent hiring experience. 

Can’t wait? Get the complete guide!