Tech Recruitment: What Does a Recruiter Do?

There is no secret that talent acquisition is one of the most vital processes in every business. It is this process that helps organizations fill their positions with the right specialists, who can then ensure the productivity and efficiency of their everyday operations, and, thus, ensure the overall business success.

It is also not a secret that a recruiter is the most important person in the talent acquisition process. These specialists are responsible for hunting for the right talents who can meet the employers’ expectations. This is something you all should know. But, what you may not know is that talent acquisition has changed a lot in the 21st century with the rise of the IT industry. In this article, we are going to tell you about the so-called IT recruitment and everything you need to know about it!

What Is IT Recruitment?

Regardless of whether you are considering this job for yourself or are a business owner looking for such a specialist to join your team, first of all, you want to understand the job itself. At this point, we have to say that IT recruitment is much different from a traditional process. But, before we get to the main point, if you aren’t quite sure what recruitment itself means, let’s take it from there.

In a nutshell, this term is used to define the entire talent acquisition process. That is, it consists of multiple stages, including identifying, attracting, listing, and interviewing suitable candidates for different positions. Respectively, a recruiter is someone who is responsible for handling all these tasks.

How is the same role different in the IT sector? Basically, it involves all the same tasks. The only significant difference is that an IT recruiter is responsible for picking the best candidates to fill various tech positions. That is, such a specialist needs to have a thorough knowledge of IT and operations of various departments in order to conduct effective tech interviews and recruit IT talents that meet the employer’s needs best.

Tech Recruiter: Job Overview

So, now that you know the definition of the main term, you are probably wondering what the job itself looks like.

As was already mentioned, a person in this role is in charge of all aspects and tasks inherent in the process of sourcing and hiring the right IT talents to fill tech roles within an organization. Such a specialist will identify job openings, determine the employer’s needs and requirements, find and interview candidates, etc.

In order to succeed in this position, one needs to possess a solid range of tech skills, a thorough understanding of Information Technology, as well as a great knowledge of the talent acquisition process and best tactics.

Key Requirements for the Role

According to a standard job description, a specialist in this role must meet the following requirements:

• Holding a minimum of a BA degree in human resources or science.
• In-depth knowledge of technology.
• An excellent understanding of technical skills.
• Experience in the hiring process and proficiency in various platforms.

You can call it a starting pack for every beginner looking to land this job. In some cases, employers may not require prior experience in similar positions. But, in such cases, they will make a bigger bet on the candidate’s skills. So, let’s move on and see what skills you will need to jump-start your career.

Must-Have Skills

Every great professional must demonstrate a strong set of various skills. This includes both soft and hard skills. But, as you can easily guess, technical skills play a decisive role in the job of an IT recruiter.

So, here’s a list of the most in-demand skills:

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and networking skills;
• Critical thinking;
• High flexibility and adaptability;
• Negotiation;
• Knowledge and proficiency in various sourcing channels and techniques;
• Collaboration;
• Time management;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Good knowledge of the IT industry, as well as of the scopes, standards, and expectations for various openings;
• Active listening skills;
• Project management;
• Experience with relevant tools (such as applicant tracking systems);
• Problem-solving;
• Knowledge of various candidate assessment techniques;
• Compassion;
• Ability to handle pipelines of candidates and databases in an accurate manner;
• Ability to deliver the best candidate experience throughout different stages of the hiring process;
• Fast decision making;
• Strong work ethics;
• Understanding of the best interviewing tactics and approaches.

These are just a few of the many skills one may need to perform the job well. Yet, these are the ones that employers are seeking in such specialists most often.

What Do IT Recruiters Do?

We’ve already mentioned that the responsibilities of these specialists span across every stage of the hiring process. Now, let’s take a closer look at the most common duties for this job.

Basically, there are six stages of the process. In this part of our guide, we are going to look at the specific duties of a technical recruiter that are typically present during each stage:

1. Candidate sourcing – This stage spans the entire preparatory process from defining the opening to sourcing the right candidates to fill it. At this point, a good specialist will have to collaborate with hiring managers to define the scope and demands for each role. Also, they are responsible for shaping job descriptions, posting openings on various channels, and screening applicants.
2. Assessment – The next stage involves interviewing. After recruiters have shortlisted all the candidates who have the right competency for each particular position, they are responsible for arranging interviews (either in-person or remote). At this stage, they are also responsible for performing background and other checks. This is also when all tech assessments take place.
3. Recommendation – Based on the data collected from candidates’ resumes, checks, interviews, and tech assessments, an IT recruiter has to present the most suitable applicants to the hiring manager or employer. At this point, they can make recommendations on who can be the best fit.
4. On-site – This stage involves coordinating the final loops of interviews and assessments, keeping track of all candidates, handling all sorts of paperwork, forecasting budgets for the hiring process, etc.
5. Decision – Even though it can feel like the work of a recruiter is over when the final interview loop is over, it is not. These professionals don’t make the decision. However, the job often involves helping the HR team make the decision and confirm it with the head manager.
6. Offer – Lastly, people in this role are also responsible for shaping the final offer and delivering it to the candidate that has been chosen. Another duty that is there is providing feedback to candidates who weren’t selected.

So, this is pretty much what an IT recruiter does on a daily basis. Of course, the job is much more complicated than it may seem at first sight, so there are many additional responsibilities and challenges. But, these are the primary duties.

The Bottom Line

The role of a tech recruiter is crucial in every business. However, despite the importance of these specialists, there is still a lack of clear understanding of this position, as well as a lack of clear expectations for this role.

Now, after reading our guide, you should have a better idea of the job, its scope, and the responsibilities of the specialists in this position.