Why You Shouldnt Delay a Job Offer

Why You Shouldnt Delay a Job OfferWhy You Shouldnt Delay a Job OfferAs we approach mid-year, its a good time to check the pulse of IT hiring across North America so you can be confident about any job offer your company makes.Robert Half Technology continues to see strong demand for talented IT pros who can help companies implement technology solutions to achieve their business objectives. We also continue to see companies miss out on hiring qualified professionals because they delay making the job offer, even to a qualified candidate who has gone through the full interview process.When you delay a job offer, a competing company can swoop in, negotiate an offer and take the candidate off the market. When this happens, you have to start the process all over, losing valuable time and effort. Many times you dont find a candidate equal to the one you lost.Here are some tips to help you avoid job offer delays and streamline the hiring processHave your budget approvedNot having approvals in place before you start the hiring process can slow things down. Is the job requisition approved? Is the budget approved? Do you have the authority to negotiate and sign off on the offer without having to engage other company resources at the brde minute? Know the answers to all of these questions before starting the hiring process. Even a one-day delay can mean losing out on a potential employee.Finalize the job descriptionDo you have a finalized job description and know the required skills necessary to perform the job duties? Many times we see an employer who is not exactly sure what they are looking for in a candidate. They add additional requirements and skills to their wish list late in the hiring process. This wastes time because it means current candidates may be interviewing for a job they are no longer qualified for, and your company has to start the search process again.Define your company interview processIdentify your process and stick to it. Ive seen many firms take a c andidate through the interview process and not extend an offer even though the candidate is quite qualified. They add more meetings and extra steps, such as one additional manager interview, a team interview, etc. Fewer steps increases your odds that the candidate is still available when you do make the offer.Waiting for the perfect candidateDont lose out on a very good candidate while you continue looking for another that likely doesnt exist. Many times that perfect partie never comes along and you lose out on a highly qualified individual who would be great in the position at your company. If a candidate possesses the must-haves to be successful in a job, consider moving forward with a job offer even if they may not possess all the nice-to-haves. Keep in mind that nearly a quarter of IT pros we surveyed lose interest in a job one week after the initial interview. If you wait too long, another employer will likely hire them.Know current market trends in hiring, pay and benefitsMany hiring managers approach their hiring based on articles they read that reflect flat employment trends. This leads them to believe there are plenty of IT pros conducting a job search, so there is no reason to rush making a job offer. But its not a flat employment market for tech pros, unlike some other sectors of the job market. Unemployment rates for skilled IT pros are lower than those of the overall employment market. Know the current salary requirement for the job in your market so when you negotiate over salary, you are confident that your numbers are accurate. Offer the best benefits you are able to, and make sure what you offer is on par with other employers in your area and industry.Get over past hiring mistakesIf youve never made a bad hire, you probably have not done a lot of hiring. When youve hired someone who doesnt work out as youd hoped, you may be much more cautious the next time you hire. Dont let past mistakes allow you to miss out on someone who could be your next great lead developer or help desk manager. Tightening up your due diligence is a good idea, such as checking references thoroughly, but dragging out your hiring process because youre nervous can mean missing out on top talent.The success of technology initiatives depends on the people you have working to solve the problem. When you have an open seat on your team, your project timeline and budget are at risk. Its tough to find qualified candidates - when you do, move swiftly.Hiring? We can help you find qualified candidatesREQUEST IT TALENTThis post has been updated to reflect more current information.