Hiring an IT Director – what are the recruitment challenges companies face?
Are you hiring an IT Director? As executive search experts, we’re here to help you! When you’re aiming to fill a high priority and senior position, the challenges will need to be countered before you even begin the process.
Not only is there a high demand for IT talent, the evolving technology landscape means your requirements could change in an instant. No two companies are the same and will therefore encounter different executive search challenges along the way. So, we thought we would outline what we have found to be the most common challenges and pitfalls for companies hiring an IT Director.
The technology landscape – what skills do you need most?
The IT industry is dynamic and constantly evolving. Finding a candidate who not only has current technical knowledge but also stays updated with the latest trends and emerging technologies can be a challenge. Furthermore, companies will need someone who can guide them through technological changes and innovations. Due to this, the skills and knowledge you might need now can change only a few months down the line. That is why someone who does acknowledge all trends and emerging technologies is such a great find in recruitment. An ‘all-rounder’ who constantly betters their own knowledge and, by extension, their teams. The best thing to do is list the absolute must have skills or qualifications – the skills that will never change are the ones you need to focus on first.
Technical and leadership skills – the dream combination
The ideal IT Director not only needs to have strong technical skills but also excellent leadership and management abilities. Balancing technical expertise with the soft skills necessary for effective communication, team management, and strategic planning. However, some IT directors will be used to running large teams while others will be used to a smaller operation. That is something to identify immediately – is it a smaller team who needs a more hands-on director or a larger team who will thrive with someone who can successfully delegate? Of course, the technical know how is imperative too. Not only to have the technical mind to strategise and plan, but to pass this knowledge to the entire company. When planning your recruitment process, include both aspects of the director in all stages – from the job advert to the interview questions.
Recruitment budgets – are there restraints right now?
With economic uncertainty comes a need to focus on budgets and ensuring money is spent in the right places. We all know recruitment is costly, especially if the right calls are not made in the hiring process. Of course, attracting the best IT Directors requires a generous salary and benefits package. Balancing budget constraints with the need for high-quality leadership can be a challenging aspect of the hiring process. Perhaps now is not quite the right time to hire a full time director…but there are alternatives. The rise of fractional consultants or advisors has been plain to see, so it is a viable option if you are looking for solutions to specific problems without the cost of a full-time hire.
Succession planning – weave this into your recruitment strategy
When the need for a new IT Director is sudden, it can be hard to start a search strategy from scratch. That is where succession planning comes in. To create a pipeline of senior IT talent means you will have a solid network to refer to when the time comes. If you haven’t done this, then building multiple relationships won’t happen overnight. Furthermore, succession planning can be worked on internally too. To learn more details and advice on this, explore our blogs below that cover all things succession planning.
- What is succession planning?
- Succession planning: Hiring internally
- Succession planning: Hiring externally
Hire an IT Director with the help of TechNET CxO
TechNET CxO is the trusted executive search partner for many technology and IT companies! Explore the many ways we can help you…
