Information Technology (IT) recruiters are staffing or Human Resources (HR) professionals who specialize in helping employers to locate qualified computer analysts, programmers and other types of IT personnel. Some firms that employ large numbers of technical staff may employ a full time in-house IT recruiter, but most firms contract recruiting agencies whenever these positions become vacant. An IT recruiter or recruiting agency may use a proactive or a reactive recruitment strategy to locate suitable candidates. Reactive recruiting involves waiting until jobs become vacant before seeking job candidates while proactive recruiting entails gathering information on prospective candidates on an ongoing basis and contacting those individuals whenever jobs are available.
An IT recruiter may have a college degree in HR management or a related field. Some agencies hire entry-level recruiters in which case employees receive on-the-job training. Many employers prefer to work with an IT recruiter that may also have some knowledge of computer science or related fields. Individuals with technical knowledge can more easily determine whether job candidates have the requisite skills to fill certain types of specialized positions. Nevertheless, many recruitment agencies place more of an emphasis on recruiters having a knowledge of HR rather than IT.
The recruitment process often begins when recruiters place advertisements in local newspapers, on job boards or at local recruitment centers. An IT recruiter must prepare the advertisement with the assistance of the employer to ensure that the job description accurately reflects the open position. In some instances, employers require applicants to have certain professional credentials or academic backgrounds. The job advertisement must include this information as well as any other pertinent details such as whether the role is based at a single location or involves travel.
Candidates typically submit job applications or their resume to the IT recruiter. The recruiter usually conducts a brief interview with the candidate during which the candidate's credentials and prior experience are assessed. If the candidate meets the employer's minimum standards then the recruiter passes on the candidate's application, resume and contact details to the employer. The employer may or may not choose to interview the client but the recruiter's involvement in the process normally ends once an interview is arranged with the employer.
Some IT recruiters work exclusively with financial firms and other major companies that employ executive level staff to oversee entire computer systems or the development of new software. Other recruiters assist small firms with hiring IT support specialists who are equipped to handle small programming issues and basic system maintenance. Recruiters often recruit job candidates by holding career fairs at universities and technical colleges. Additionally, some firms place advertisements in trade journals and on websites in order to gather information on seasoned professionals as opposed to students.
