The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred the Great Resignation, with millions of people leaving their jobs. According to Harvard Business Review, resignations have been highest among mid-career workers between 30 and 45 years old. The tech industry has been hit particularly hard, with turnover increasing 4.5% year-over-year in 2021. In a recent Robert Half International survey, about one-third of tech professionals said they were looking for new jobs.
The Value of Partnering with an IT Consultancy, and How to Hire the Right Firm
The Value of Partnering with an IT Consultancy, and How to Hire the Right Firm
Accelerated turnover, coupled with the ongoing retirement of Baby Boomers, has exacerbated the skills shortage plaguing the IT industry for several years. More than 700,000 U.S. tech jobs remain unfilled, according to estimates by IT industry trade group CompTIA. Employee poaching has become routine, particularly for in-demand skills, such as cloud and cybersecurity.
That leaves organizations with a dilemma when it comes to staffing IT initiatives. Should they attempt to hire and retain qualified personnel or outsource to a consulting firm? If outsourcing makes the most sense, how do they identify a firm with the right expertise and experience?
In today’s post, we take a look at IT consultants and how you can make sure you’re hiring the right people for your company. Continue reading below, and if you have further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at DeSeMa today!
THE IN-HOUSE IT CHALLENGE
Hiring IT professionals can have a lot of appeal. IT managers like having people on staff to handle projects from end to end and gain the institutional knowledge that helps align IT with business objectives. In-house IT staff also have an insider’s view of existing IT infrastructure, operational processes, and skills sets that can affect the long-term viability of the solution.
Assuming you can find someone with the needed skills, how long will you retain them? Talented IT pros like new challenges and quickly become bored. In the time between the completion of one project and the start of something new, they are likely to be enticed by another job offer. All of that institutional knowledge walks out the door, and you’re faced with the time, cost, and disruption of finding a replacement.
Furthermore, the insider’s perspective can be a weakness, as well as a strength. In-house IT staff may not have the time to stay abreast of the latest technologies, and mandates to minimize risk can lead to an emphasis on maintaining the status quo. When things have always been done a certain way, it can be harder to see new approaches that could reduce cost, increase performance, or streamline operations.
Help Available
A qualified IT consulting firm can help you overcome these challenges. Consultancies face much lower turnover than in-house IT teams. The consulting firm is able to keep IT pros busy and engaged with a wide range of projects. IT consultants and engineers have opportunities to implement the latest technologies, keep their skills current, and work with companies in a wide range of industries.
Odds are high that the same people will be there year after year to assist you with projects. If there is a change in personnel, the consultancy will find a qualified replacement and get them up to speed. The consultancy never gets sick or goes on vacation and has a bench of engineers to provide expertise and additional resources where needed.
When hiring with a consultancy, it’s important to ask probing questions about the firm’s expertise and experience. Have they done similar projects for companies in the same industry? What results have they been able to achieve? Keep in mind that consultants likely sign NDAs with clients and won’t be in a position to reveal too many project details. However, they should be able to give a sense of the types of problems they’ve solved and the business objectives they’ve met.
The Big Picture
You also need to evaluate consulting firms holistically. One firm may have impressive technical skills and expertise, but communication and responsiveness are lacking. Is their culture compatible with yours? Are you satisfied with how service-level agreements are structured? How do they ensure security and compliance? Outsourcing begins with due diligence, which goes beyond what a firm says in the sales presentation.
Outsourcing doesn’t mean you can just turn over the keys and expect goals to be met. You need to build a close relationship with your consulting partner and follow mutually agreed-upon procedures. Both sides should have designated contacts who communicate regularly to discuss strengths, weaknesses, and long- and short-term objectives. These interactions should be documented and reviewed to ensure clarity of expectations and goals.
In today’s job market, it’s becoming less and less practical to hire qualified IT consultants. By asking the right questions, you can partner with a consultancy that will provide the skills you need over a long-term relationship. If you’re interested in hiring an IT consultant firm, DeSeMa can help! Explore our website and reach out to our experts to start the process today!