With so Many Jobseekers, Why Can’t You Hire a Talented Systems Administrator?
Despite relatively high unemployment rates in the United States, it remains difficult to hire talented systems administrators. For many companies, this is a problem that must be solved.
System administrators are one of the most important cogs in your business’s IT machine. Having a talented person in the role is vital to your success. Yet when it comes to attracting top-quality candidates, you find they remain undiscovered by you.
In this article, we discuss some of the main reasons why it’s hard to hire systems administrators and how you can combat these issues.
It’s Taking You Too Long to Hire
According to data compiled by Workable, it takes an average of 51 days for US companies to hire IT employees. Talented people aren’t prepared to wait this long and are often in the hiring cycle with two or three companies simultaneously.
When it comes to hiring top talent into systems administrator roles and other IT jobs, the first across the line (making an offer) really is the winner. When your competition offers a smoother, slicker, and more streamlined hiring process, you will probably lose out.
It could be that your managers take too long to decide, or that they become convinced that the ideal candidate will be usurped by an even more ideal candidate. Whatever the reason, the speed at which your hiring process travels does make a big difference to successful hiring.
If you notice that the job offers you make are turned down because the candidate has signed elsewhere, your hiring process is most likely to be the reason why.
A Poor Reputation as an Employer
Talented system administrators know their worth. They want to work at great companies, whose values align with their own, and who have a reputation for treating their employees well.
Be clear with your values and mission from the outset, include it in your job ads. This way you will attract candidates that align with your company and they will be more likely to flourish in the role.
If you have bad reviews from ex-employees or candidates who have been through a tedious hiring cycle with you, these can also affect your attractiveness to talented candidates in IT jobs. Work on creating the right atmosphere in which your employees can prosper and listen and act on feedback.
A good reputation will help attract the best candidates available on the market.
Your Benefits Package Isn’t Beneficial Enough
While money is a key motivator – and you should ensure that your salary is competitive when measured against those paid by competitors – for many quality candidates it is not the overriding factor in their decision-making process.
Today, many candidates are looking for more than money. They value benefits such as extra paid time off, retirement planning, health plans for them and their dependents, and more flexible working regimes (including opportunities for working from home).
Don’t neglect the value of highlighting the advancement opportunities you offer, including training and development within the role.
Is Your Technology Up to the Job?
System administrators want to work with technologies that interest them and that sharpen their skillsets.
The technology that your company uses will say a lot to potential candidates. Many IT professionals have a preference in the type of tools and platforms they use. You should include this information in your job ad to ensure you get candidates that will thrive in the role.
Assess Your Hiring Process
How are you searching for a new system admin professional? Are you using the same recruiting tactics you were five years ago?
In the age of the internet, recruitment has changed. Especially for IT roles. Many talented candidates are looking for roles online and using social media platforms in their job hunt. You should be active on LinkedIn and other social media, and ensure your website is kept up to date.
Also, stay in touch with specialist staffing agencies – where many candidates are registered. You’ll gain access to a broader and deeper pool of talent, including from the passive candidate market.
Summing Up
Attracting top system administers to apply for your role does not need to be a struggle. You can influence top-quality candidates to apply by focusing on what is important to them, being explicit about your requirements, and ensuring your hiring process is professional and streamlined.
The process starts with a great job description and flows through all the linking pieces – including ensuring your employer brand is as attractive as the vacant job. Be sure to let candidates know that you are a business that cares about its employees, has good values, and rewards its staff with great benefits.
For the help you need to recruit talented system administrators for your company, get in touch with Loyal Source today.