Although tech recruiting isn’t something we normally do here at Peoplescape, it’s something we have a genuine interest in learning more about, and as our valued customers, clients, colleagues, and friends, we wanted to share some new insight on this growing field with you. In order to recruit in any field, you will be best served if you are knowledgeable about the field: become one with the company you are recruiting for, learn the tricks of the trade, and get a picture of the ideal candidate. But with tech recruiting, you have to go a few steps further into the world of geek. Here’s how!

Step 1: Understand technical departments. Different divisions have different goals, and as the recruiter looking to find the perfect fit for that department, you also need to understand those goals and the way the department ebbs and flows. As with most situations when you are the newcomer in a foreign land, you should make every effort to learn the language.

Step 2: Know the team and tools. Who are the major players? What are the tools at your disposal for this recruitment? Use the network and links that are already provided for you, and build on that as much as possible. Create a connection with the team so that you can act as their voice during the search.

Step 3: Match resumes to roles. When you are less than familiar with the day-to-day tasks for a certain job, you need to make sure that the job description is clear and that the resumes that you are putting forward as potential candidates match those job descriptions. Remember that cute cardboard matching game that you played as a kid? Those cardboard pieces should all match up nicely in this puzzle too!

Step 4: Ask good questions. Asking questions can be so critical in any relationship, and especially so in matching a candidate to a job. Make sure you are prepared prior to any conversations with candidates. Discuss the role with as many people in the company as you can, so that you have a full circle view of the role, the responsibilities, and the intricacies that make a department work (or not).

Step 5: Educate yourself. Still unclear on what exactly a software engineer is versus a website developer? Educate yourself! Google, follow blogs, join groups on LinkedIn. Get out there and take advantage of the resources available. And if all else fails, call a professional HR team who knows what they’re doing with any and all recruitments! @PeoplescapeHC #peoplescapehr #HRprofessionals