IT Management - CIOInsight
Home arrow IT Management arrow IT Jobs: Nine Tips for Hiring the Perfect Candidate

IT Management Slideshow:
IT Jobs: Nine Tips for Hiring the Perfect Candidate

By Dennis McCafferty on 2011-08-15


Let's face it: When it comes to hiring, CIOs and other managers are in the driver's seat these days as a result of a bleak economic climate, and that doesn't appear to be ending anytime soon. In the book "Cracking the New Job Market: The 7 Rules for Getting Hired in Any Economy". (Amacom/available now), author R. William Holland targets employment-bound professionals with an abundance of job search and job interview tips and best practices. For hiring managers, the book also reveals what you should expect from the modern-day job applicant. In IT, for example, it’s not enough to find a candidate who is technically skilled. You'll also want to seek candidates who are well rounded and bring deep industry knowledge. It also helps if they demonstrate awareness of your company's core organizational strategies, as well as a personal commitment to career growth. With this in mind, here are nine questions to consider while reviewing resumes and cover letters and interviewing potential recruits. Holland is founder/principal of R. William Holland Consulting, a career-management firm, as well as a senior vice president at BeamPines, a leadership development, assessment and coaching firm.

LATEST STORIES

BLOGS
 
  • of
Does the candidate quantify accomplishments?
What they'll say: “I launched a new software integration project.”
What you need to hear: “I launched a software integration that saved my company 20% in operating costs”

How keyword savvy is the resume?
If the right words/phrases are there, it underscores sophistication about modern search techniques.

Did they do their homework?
Is the cover letter a copy/paste job? Or does it contain a depth of understanding of your organization’s history, strategies and customers?

Does the cover letter closing contain an action step?
Inviting you to follow up -- with ready contact information -- displays skills for engaging forward progress.

During interview, how does use of language convey depth of knowledge?
Satisfactory response: “I’ve heard about that technology ...”
Better response: “I’ve read about that ...”
Best response: “I’ve worked with that and found it ...”

Is the job candidate comfortable talking about failure?
Extracting lessons learned that influenced professional growth is a sign of mature seasoning.

If they'd been previously downsized, how did the candidate use the time?
A valuable candidate will have used the time to pursuing further education, self-employment or even voluntary IT work to keep connected and keep their skills up-to-date.

Does the applicant seem to know people you know?
If he/she cultivates contacts who are the same or connected to yours, it reveals dedication to meaningful networking.

Did the interviewee say “thank you”?
Whether in an email or an old-fashioned business letter, showing appreciation for your time demonstrates traditional standards of professional courtesy.

  • More slideshows

FEATURED SPONSORED VIDEOS

FEATURED SPONSORED ARTICLES

Erasable E-Paper Saves Trees, Cuts Costs

Why Smart Companies Should Adopt the Lessons of Gaming

Interest in Mobile WiFi Hotspots Fuels New Solutions

A Closer Look at Public Cloud Security

View More Articles

  Brought to You By
Click Here



 

Advertisement

Sponsored Links
  • Try Windows Azure free for 90 days

  • Introducing the world's first family of systems with integrated expertise

  • FREE Securing Smartphones & Tablets for Dummies Book from Sophos
  • 77% of the Fortune 500 Manage Content Securely with Box.
  • Leverage your virtual computing environment with Dell.
  • Build an IT Infrastructure That Delivers the Future
  • 5 New Technologies That Will Change Enterprise ITAdvertisement
  • eWEEK Quick LInks

     
    Close this advertisement