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Working With a Tech Recruiter? Avoid These Mistakes.

A manager meets with tech recruiter to discuss hiring software developers.

As the head of your company, you have a lot on your plate. You are responsible for ensuring that all the moving parts of your business are running smoothly and efficiently. When it comes to hiring software developers, you need to be especially careful. Finding and vetting a talented software developer can be time-consuming and difficult. One option if to work with a tech recruiter to streamline the process and increase your chances of finding someone who is a good fit.

A good recruiter (or staffing firm) will have a network of talented software developers that they can reach out to on your behalf. They will also be experienced in conducting interviews and reference checks.

However, not all recruiters are created equal. There are good recruiters and bad recruiters. You need to be careful when choosing a tech recruiter to work with. In this post, we will share some tips on finding the right recruiter for your needs and avoiding common mistakes in the process. These tips are not limited to working with a recruiter. They are best practices when working with any outside vendor to scale your development capacity.

How To Find the Right Tech Recruiter

When you are looking for a recruiter to help you fill your developer positions, there are some things you should keep in mind:

Make sure the recruiter specializes in placing software developers.

As the demand for software developers continues to grow, it is becoming increasingly important to find a recruiter who specializes in placing these types of candidates. There are many generalist recruiters out there. However, only a specialist will have the specific knowledge and networks necessary to find the best software developer candidates. When meeting with potential recruiters, be sure to ask about their experience placing software developers and request examples of successful placements they have made in the past. 

Find a recruiter with a strong network of software developers.

Another important factor to consider is the size and strength of the recruiter’s network. When filling technical positions, it’s often not enough to post the job on a job board and wait for applications to come in. Instead, you must actively reach out to potential candidates and sell them on the opportunity. The best way to do this is through personal connections, which is why working with a recruiter with a strong network of software developers is so important. By tapping into this network, you’ll be able to reach out to more qualified candidates and increase your chances of making a successful hire.

Make sure the recruiter has a good understanding of your company.

It’s also important to find a recruiter who takes the time to understand your company and its specific needs. The best way to do this is by asking the recruiter for examples of companies they have worked with in the past and what types of positions they have helped them fill. This will give you a good idea of whether the recruiter is a good fit for your company.

Make sure the tech recruiter is transparent.

Finally, you should ensure that the recruiter is transparent about their process and fees. A good recruiter will be upfront about how they operate and how much they charge for their services. They will also be able to answer any questions you have about their process. If a recruiter is not willing to be transparent about their fees or their process, it’s a red flag that you should move on to someone else.

Avoiding Common Mistakes When Working With a Tech Recruiter

Now that you know how to find the right recruiter, let’s take a look at some common mistakes to avoid:

You’re not clear about your needs.

It’s important to be clear about what you’re looking for from the outset. This means being clear about the skills and experience you’re looking for in a candidate, as well as the culture and values that are important to your company. If you’re unclear about your needs, it will be difficult for the recruiter to find the right candidates for your company.

You’re not responsive.

Once you’ve chosen a recruiter, it’s important to be responsive to their requests for information. The recruiter will need your help in understanding your company and its needs. Be sure to respond to their questions promptly. If you’re not responsive, the recruiter will have difficulty doing their job, and you may end up with a less-than-ideal candidate.

You try to micromanage the process.

It’s important to remember that the recruiter is the expert in this situation. While it’s okay to provide guidance, you should resist the urge to micromanage the process. If you try to control every aspect of the recruitment process, you’ll likely end up frustrated and disappointed with the results.

You don’t provide feedback to your tech recruiter.

In addition to being responsive, it’s also important to provide feedback on the candidates you interview. This feedback will help the recruiter to improve their searches and send you better candidates in the future. If you’re not providing feedback, the recruiter will have no way of knowing what you’re looking for. As a result, they will be less likely to find the right candidates for your company.

You fail to negotiate.

Once you’ve found a candidate that you’re happy with, it’s important to negotiate the terms of their employment. This includes their salary, benefits, and other perks. Be sure to have a clear understanding of what you’re willing to offer before you start the negotiation process. If you’re not prepared to negotiate, you may end up paying more than you’re comfortable with.

You’re not patient.

Finally, it’s important to be patient when working with a recruiter. It can take time to find the right candidate. Give the recruiter the time they need to do their job. If you’re not patient, you might be tempted to hire someone who’s not a good fit for your company just to fill the position quickly. This mistake can end up costing you more in the long run.

Start Building Your Software Development Team

Working with a reputable tech recruiter is one way to find an experienced software development team without having to spend all of your time and energy on the search yourself. Just remember to be clear about your needs, responsive to the recruiter’s requests, and patient throughout the process. By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll be well on your way to finding the perfect software development team for your company. These tips are not limited to working with recruiters, they work regardless of the method you are using.

Scaling up your development team? Check out EC Group. We offer a white glove service that gets you a long-term offshore team that complements your in-house development team. With 22 years of experience in the offshore industry, we can provide the quality services you need and deserve.

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