IT professionals help to maintain your company’s tech stack, advance your technologies and much more. They’re crucial pieces of the startup puzzle, but it takes a certain amount of expertise in IT to hire the right candidates for these roles. A contract IT recruiter can help you find experts in coding, systems management, IT support and other critical IT functions. 

But how do you choose the right contract IT recruiter? Keep the following tips in mind to find the best fit possible for your company:

• Specialization - To hire for an IT role, you need to be familiar with the skills and knowledge an IT professional needs to have. That takes some specialization and expertise. Make sure to seek recruiters who have experience hiring for IT roles. It can also help to find recruiters who specialize in hiring IT roles for startups since startups have unique hiring needs compared to larger companies.

• Ask Questions - Although you’re not hiring a contract recruiter for your in-house team, they’ll still be working closely with you and other hiring stakeholders. So, you should treat the recruiter hiring process the same as you would any full-time employee. Make sure to ask sufficient questions to understand if they’re a good fit for your team. Ask about their work style, recruiting process, expected timelines and any other questions you think are relevant. 

• Proven Track Record - An experienced recruiter should have plenty of references and testimonials from past clients. Make sure to ask for these, so you can check their track record and ensure they have the skills to deliver what you need.

• Culture Fit - Culture fit is important for startups – more so than most types of companies. You should choose a recruiter who can align with your culture and properly communicate these values to potential candidates. Remember, recruiters are often the first impression of your company to these candidates.

How to write an effective job post

Getting a high volume of applicants often isn’t a problem when hiring for a recruiter role. The problem is getting qualified applicants and separating them from the candidates who aren’t a good fit.  

Crafting an effective job post is a great way to maximize qualified candidate applications and reduce unqualified applications. You should make your post as clear and concise as possible. Here are some tips for creating a post that attracts the right talent:

• Job Title - Be specific with the job title, using phrases like “Freelance IT Recruiter” or “Contract IT Recruiter.” This makes it easier for potential recruiters to find your listing on job boards.

• Qualifications - List out the qualifications and technical knowledge required for the role. This could include desired years of experience, knowledge of programming languages, etc. You don’t have to get into the weeds too much, but you should be clear about what the candidate needs to know to succeed in the role.

• Scope of Work - Clearly define the responsibilities and your expectations for the role. Talk about the type of roles you need filled and how quickly you need them filled. This will help potential recruiters understand if they have the bandwidth to take on the job.

• Project Length - Be upfront about the expected length of the project. Do you need ongoing help, or do you just need to fill a few roles? This helps freelance recruiters understand if they’ll have the availability to help you.