Main image of article Recruiters Win IT Pros With Job Details
IT pros get an average of 23 recruiting solicitations a week, according to a survey by staffing service, TEKsystems, that also found that recruiters who provide the most detail about a position are most likely to win them over. The survey done in the fourth quarter of 2011,  involved 2,424 IT pros. Among the findings:
  • 91 percent said they primarily look for clear and realistic views of a job opportunity.
  • 88 percent said they look for feedback throughout the hiring process.
  • 68 percent called the difficulty in obtaining feedback about the hiring process the most difficult challenge they face when looking for a new job.
  • The opportunity to develop and enhance their skills was the most-cited reason for seeking a new position, by 81 percent. The opportunity for career advancement placed second and compensation placed third, though it's still an important factor, according to TEKsystems Director Rachel Russell.
Said Russell:
Really great recruiters engage their client’s hiring managers to understand their priorities, the business problems they’re  trying to solve, the culture of the team, the perks in working for the client’s company and the intangibles that will really make a job opportunity stand out... IT professionals want to talk with someone who can shed real light on an opportunity rather than just sharing what’s written on the job description. ... The best recruiters take the time to get to know the client and the candidate in detail. He or she with the most intelligence wins the matchmaking process.
The bonus? Sixty-five percent say they would give their recruiter a referral if they had a positive experience with that recruiter. And 45 percent said they have 10 or more equally skilled IT pros in their network whom they could refer. On this ere.net post, commenter Maureen Sharib suggests not leaving voicemail messages for candidates, but instead keep calling back until you can connect and better present the opportunity. Meanwhile, commenter Lydia Peavey adds that many tech pros don't like to use the phone, preferring email. I've talked to recruiters who say candidates and hiring managers alike prefer to communicate by text, so it would pay to figure out which mode of communication will work best.