Jul 17

Written by: Senthil Prabakaran
7/17/2007 11:43 AM

There are many models for hiring. For IT, talent based hiring instead of skill based hiring would result in getting better candidates. While the actual talents needed for a position depends on a variety of factors, this list at Gallup (from the book Now Discover Your Strengths) can help you zone in on the talents you would want to consider. Look at the position to be filled, and analyze what talents might be needed. Ask questions at the interview to elucidate the talents they might have. Another approach is to use assessment technologies. Thinking only about skills needed for the position is short sighted. Technology changes all the time and you would need someone who can learn things as they come. To find out about their learning, asking the right questions can shed light on this complex aspect. When looking at their job history, look for transitions in technologies within an organization. Ask how they learnt a technology. What were their struggles, resources they used, etc? Were they part of a team, if so, what role they played in that project? Another factor to consider is the technology in your IT environment. Great talent would want to work with the latest and greatest technologies. Creating an IT organization where experimentation and learning is encouraged and resulting in implementing new technologies, will draw a new level of talent. Also, create vendor relations with your major software providers. Apart from support and sales agreements, large vendors like Microsoft, Cisco and others have beta programs that can help create relationships with the product teams. While this might sound as a time sink, creating strategic relationships with major vendors help create a highly motivated and 'knowledge-craving' IT organization.

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