Essentials For Hiring an IT Manager

Given the vital role that technology plays in every aspect of modern-day business, it’s shocking the extent to which many companies ignore urgent IT needs. Unfortunately, this is often true during the process of seeking IT services or hiring an IT manager.

Concerned about budgetary constraints, many businesses fail to make the investment necessary to produce a consistently functional network. The cost of this negligence can be considerable — especially if the selected IT manager is a poor fit for the company in question.

Considerable thought should go into IT management hiring decisions. Your IT manager will ultimately be responsible for everything from security to systems administration. As such, this decision could hold huge implications for your organization both now and several years in the future. At a minimum, take the following into consideration before moving forward with an IT manager:

An Understanding of Current IT Needs

While it’s only natural for businesses to anticipate future IT requirements, many focus too much on far-off concerns while failing to address issues that currently require attention. Prior to hiring an IT manager, it’s important to understand where the most urgent issues reside and how an expert can address them.

In most cases, the initial focus will involve desktop support, as crashed computers represent one of the greatest roadblocks to productivity. Beyond this, urgent issues may include website speed, cluttered CRMs, and unreliable phone systems. If not addressed promptly, these and other problems hold the potential to cause significant damage not only in the short-term but also years down the road.

A thorough understanding of current IT concerns is also essential in that it allows for strategic manager selection. An office dominated by PCs, for example, may benefit from the assistance of an IT manager with Microsoft certification. Other managers may be better positioned to handle your current security or backup concerns — an obvious area of focus if you’ve suffered a data breach or some other security catastrophe.

Choose a Manager Based on Business Size

The smaller the business, the more general the IT service should be, as a single individual may be required to tackle a wide array of tech concerns. When possible, seek a generalist with extensive experience in small business IT. Not only do these managers typically possess a greater breadth of skills, they appreciate the unique issues that today’s small businesses face. Larger organizations, however, can often benefit from targeted assistance from IT managers with niche skills.

While your IT manager should be capable of meeting your company’s current needs, scalability is also important. After all, your IT needs will assuredly grow alongside your organization. Ideally, your selected IT manager can adjust accordingly. This will ensure an easier transition from small business IT concerns to the broader scope of issues that larger businesses face.

Emphasize ROI Over Short-Term Savings

Cheap IT service isn’t necessarily preferable. The best and brightest IT professionals may command higher salaries, but in most cases, this investment is well worth making. Functioning networks, devices, and websites can make a huge difference in terms of productivity and profit, to the point that a significant boost in pay can prove worthwhile if it prompts an even greater improvement in IT management.

When making crucial hiring decisions, think about the long-term implications, considering not only how your preferred IT manager can benefit your organization in the immediate future, but also years down the road. Consider not only skill, but also whether this person is likely to stick around. The last thing you want after going through the effort of hiring is to start over in a few short months.

Seek Candidates Via Word of Mouth

While online job boards may seem like the easiest avenue for finding IT managers, this approach might not produce a quality fit for your business. Often, the best candidates already lie within your company’s existing network.

Offer incentives to entice current employees to provide quality leads. If a recommended manager is ultimately hired, the employee who made the referral could receive a significant bonus. This approach can expedite the hiring process while also helping you find IT experts who fit your specific requirements.

If referrals fail to turn up solid prospects, consider seeking assistance from a professional recruiter. This approach may seem costly, but it can help to unveil the elite talent that might not immediately be evident when scouring job boards. Recruiters enjoy access to a vast network of IT experts, which they can draw on to help you find the best fit for your organization.

Consider Which Managers Might Fit Your Company’s Culture

Company culture should play an integral in hiring for all positions. IT professionals, in particular, should be on board with your philosophy and general approach to doing business. Otherwise, you and your current staff could face a difficult adjustment period. If your IT manager shares your vision, you can feel confident that your preferred technology strategy will be carried out as you see fit.

Hiring for IT managers should not be haphazard. This decision could hold huge implications for your business, so it’s crucial that you take your time to find an ideal fit for your organization. You’ll never regret investing in the very best that IT has to offer.