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Editor in Chief:
Joan Caruso
Writer:
Catherine Carlozzi
Designer:
Roberta Martin
If you have questions or
comments on this
month's issue, send your
feedback to: roberta.martin@ayers.com
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Need for Speed in Hiring IT Consultants
IT Staffing and IT Consulting
by Donna Held & Bob Deissig
The job market has come back and so have the challenges of a competitive environment. “We became accustomed to a new state of ‘business as usual’ during the slowdown of the last few years,” says Donna Held, head of the Ayers IT Consulting group. “We had gotten used to a market where consultants were happy just to have opportunities and would take whatever rate was offered. Employers had the luxury of time and choice. Now it looks as if we’re moving back toward the old boom paradigm, and it requires some adjustment.
“The market is more robust and rates are rising,” she continues. “Good consultants are being snapped up, which means clients have to be prepared to act quickly. For example, one of our consultants had an initial telephone interview on a Friday and was scheduled for a technical interview the following Monday. It never happened. The client made him
an offer on the phone and instead of doing the
second interview Monday, he started work. This
scenario has become more prevalent.
“Clients tell me they understand what the market is like. But by the time they call us to say they like a particular candidate, the possibility is becoming greater that the candidate is off the market. IT is such a specialized field, the pool of great—or even good—candidates in each area isn’t very deep. You can’t wait a week; you can’t even wait two days. If you find a candidate you want, you have to act right away.”
“It’s important for clients who hire technical consultants from us to understand how hot the market for the best candidates is,” says Bob Deissig, President of Staffing Services. “This is the best year we’ve had in our Technical Consulting practice since Y2K. All indications point to the year concluding on the same high note. In fact, on both sides of our staffing business, October has been one of the busiest and best months we’ve ever had.”
“But there is a difference on the full-time side. It’s still not like it was in the dot-com years, when any reasonable candidate got hired. The market may be hot, but employers continue to be very careful, selective, and methodical. The process is still the process.”
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