Hiring is difficult. Hiring managers face mountains of resumes, a sea of unvetted talent, and, with the fast-paced evolution of technology and the increasing demand for specialized skills, increased pressure to find the right IT talent to drive your business forward.
When you decide to seek help from IT staffing professionals, the last thing you want to do is partner with an ineffective agency. But how do you discern the best from the rest in a crowded marketplace? The key lies in identifying partners who embody three essential traits, which will support your long-term growth, adapt to the ever-changing technology landscape, and ensure a successful IT staffing partnership.
The Importance of Integrity in an IT Staffing Partner
Years ago, when I was starting in the IT staffing industry, I agreed to have an exploratory phone conversation with an acquaintance of a shared contact.
The conversation started well. The client and I established a good rapport, and he seemed receptive to my approach to IT staffing. I was optimistic that I might be able to help him. Then, twenty minutes into our call, as he began to describe the kind of support he was looking for, things took a turn.
It wasn’t a match.
As he described his needs, I knew I couldn’t deliver on his request. Although I wished I could say the opposite, I politely explained that I wasn’t the staffing partner he was searching for.
“Great,” he said. “When can we get started?”
“I’m sorry,” I clarified. “I can’t deliver on the project you’ve outlined.”
“I understand,” he replied. “When can we start?”
“No,” I stammered, utterly confused now. “I can’t—” He cut me off. “Every other staffing partner I’ve met with has told me they can execute this project, but in the end, they can’t. They all have started with ‘yes,’ but you started with ‘no.’ You may not be able to help me with this project, but from now on, when you say ‘yes,’ I’ll know you mean it.”
Demetrius “Laz” Lazarikos and I have worked together ever since.
Laz instinctively recognized the value of working with an IT staffing partner with integrity. To build a successful IT workforce, you need absolute transparency and honesty from your staffing partner. That means someone willing to set pragmatic expectations, champions your brand mission, and isn’t afraid to tell you when they won’t be able to deliver on your ask. Only then can you work toward a realistic solution together.
Why Agility Matters in Tech Staffing
“Agility” has been cited as a desirable quality in the IT industry so often in recent memory that it’s threatening to fall into buzzword territory. But there’s a very good reason that I’m using it here—and why leaders should seek out staffing partners with this trait.
Consider a recent request we received at McCann Partners: one of our long-standing clients requested recruiting and onboarding for 30 new contractors simultaneously. While no hiring manager likes dealing with turnover, this client’s business goals meant they needed those contractors to hit the ground running and see the project through to completion.
Conventional thinking might lead you to believe that this request was best suited for a large staffing partner, but the size of the agency isn’t the factor that determines success: it’s agility. Many IT staffing partners build their solutions on rigid templates, which they can copy and paste to support multiple clients. Other IT staffing agencies take a different approach, designing solutions to fit a specific client’s needs.
In the example above, we adjusted our recruiting process to include additional rounds of interviewing and focused on the talent’s ability to complete their contracts. This approach had a two-fold effect: by owning the interview phase, McCann Partners freed up our client’s internal resources and provided them more assurance that the talent placed would be with them for the long haul. When interviewing IT staffing partners, ask for examples that demonstrate a similar level of flexibility, scalability, and (in short) the agility to deliver custom solutions that will solve your business’s unique needs.
Evaluating Commitment in IT Staffing Agencies
“Quality. Responsiveness. Creativity. Well-being. These are the words that describe my experience working with McCann Partners as both a hiring manager seeking exceptional talent and as a candidate looking for challenging opportunities to grow my career.” McCann Partners has been lucky enough to earn many kind words from our clients over the years, but I treasure this quote, given to us by Neil Dedhia because it speaks to our level of commitment, the third and final trait that all IT staffing partners should possess.
The McCann Partners team isn’t focused on simply placing talent; we’re committed to building long-term relationships. Take Neil as an example: his relationship with McCann Partners started when he was a hiring manager seeking top IT talent. Our recruiting team worked closely with Neil and stayed in touch long after our contract was complete, so when Neil was seeking a new work opportunity, he came to us first.
When an IT staffing partner has a commitment to forging strong relationships, it doesn’t just mean that they’ll deliver on your staffing needs today and in the future. It also means that they’ll have access to a strong talent pipeline from years of nurturing relationships with candidates.
Ensuring Long-Term Success in IT Hiring
IT staffing partners exist in a crowded market. Each boasts outcomes and deliverables better than the next. However, finding the right IT staffing partner who can actually meet your company’s specific needs is crucial for your business’s success and growth.
By identifying agencies with integrity, agility, and commitment, you’ll ensure that your relationship is built on trust, adaptability, and long-term value—and that you’re entering into a collaborative and fruitful partnership that will drive your business forward.
