“‘Why work with an IT staffing company?’, is something I hear regularly”, shares Greg Plum, Brandywine Technology’s Director of Marketing.
This is a question I often hear from hiring managers when discussing their growth plans. The answer to the question starts with a question: As a technology company (and your company IS a technology company, whether your business is in banking, insurance, manufacturing, or consulting), what is your biggest struggle? When I posed this question to a friend who runs an 18-person outsourced IT company in the Philadelphia region, his response went something like this: “We are great at solving technical problems, but when it comes to sales, marketing, and hiring, we are terrible; we need help.” The good news is that the demand for IT services is increasing. The bad news is the demand for IT talent is outpacing the supply. According to a recent CompTIA survey, 48 percent of companies said recruiting is expected to be more challenging in 2019 than it was 2017. The study suggests the contributing factors include a shortage of qualified talent, rising wages, and competition from other types of technology companies.
This got me thinking. With an industry that is facing healthy growth in the coming years and a need for a viable way to enjoy some of the spoils of this growth (i.e. increasing their staff to meet increasing customer demands), maybe it makes sense to explore the technical staffing space. So, after a year-long discovery process, I decided to go “all-in” and join the IT staffing industry.
A Staffing Agency May Offer the Expert Help You Need
After all, I enjoy technology, but I love people. And that is exactly what staffing is all about … people. “Isn’t engaging a staffing firm expensive?” you might ask. Well, similar to the services you provide your customers, it isn’t free. I’ll bet you can easily build a case for the cost of your goods or services. Such is the case with engaging a staffing company to address your hiring needs. Taking it a step further, we all know how specialized and dynamic the technology space has become. Hence, the strong argument for knowing your staffing partner. Make sure they know the difference between Java and JavaScript.
It’s no secret growing companies are in pain. Even listening to the radio these days, we hear “the most challenging part of my job is finding qualified job candidates,” according to the radio voice guy promoting an online resume service. (At least they finally changed the ad from the original version, claiming “the worst part of my job is finding qualified job candidates.” I used to cringe every time I heard that.)
This is precisely why it makes sense to engage a staffing company. You are an expert in your business, probably not in finding IT talent. A major benefit of working with a staffing firm includes the ability to “try before you buy,” giving you full-time access to new talent for weeks, or even months, without the front-end expense and commitment of on-boarding them as a full-time employee. After all, who marries someone after a Skype meeting or even an awesome night out to dinner?
Ultimately, partnering with a staffing firm, especially one that focuses on IT resources, will save you time and money, while allowing you to focus on your business. If you are good with an inbox flooded with resumes, you don’t need a staffing company. If you’d rather meet with pre-screened, qualified candidates for your specific roles, it may well be worth your while to find a specialized staffing company you are comfortable with. You and your inbox will be all the better for it.
Greg Plum is the director of marketing for Brandywine Technology, who also works closely with customers to address their staffing needs. To learn more about how an IT staffing company can help you with your company’s growth, visit Brandywine Technology or drop us a line at 302.656.6100. We’d love to chat!
This article was originally featured in the September/October 2018 issue of Channel Vision magazine.
