IT Briefcase Exclusive Interview: Technology Recruiting with Bram Daly

In the below interview, Bram Daly, Information Technology Client Services Manager for Alexander Mann Solutions, shares insights on the recruiting process in the technology sector. He offers advice for companies looking to attract and retain top talent.

• Q. How can technology companies attract top talent?

A. Obviously compensation is a large factor in attracting top talent in this field, but technologists live and love IT, it’s one of the most passionate groups of professionals, so telling them a genuine story about what they will be building, how it will affect people and the scale of that impact is very powerful in attracting top talent. But that means it needs to be true and your company needs to have something that separates it from the best. So have a good Employee Value Proposition that is meaningful.

• Q. What should technology companies do to retain top talent? 

A. Retaining top talent is primarily about engagement.  I find that there are two major factors that achieve this: their manager and the work they do every day.  If you move your best programmer of network engineer into a people management role due to their technological skill set and do not develop their people skills to lead there are going to be problems.  Having a good boss is very engaging and keeps people at a company.  Also, the work they do and how that impacts the company and end client is important, but you have to celebrate it.  Peers, leadership, clients, everyone should be aware that your job matters and you play a part in it all coming together.

• Q. What are IT professionals looking for in a company?

A. IT professionals, not surprisingly, want the newest technology to get their hands on and develop their skills.  Technologies love solving problems, if you company has a clear vision around a problem and a mission statement that goes a long way in motivating an IT professional to look at your company.  Look at Google’s – “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”  Simple, clear and powerful; all very attractive things to attach yourself to.

• Q. Are there any red flags to watch out for when hiring in the technology industry?

A. There is a supply and demand issue in this industry- too many jobs, not enough talent, which causes recruiters and companies to hire less than ideal candidates because they need the IT skills.  Not assessing talent for their cultural fit, communication, reasons for leaving prior roles, etc can introduce challenging team members which can bring the skill set but cause friction with people.  While it might solve a short-term problem, bringing in the wrong person who is aggressive, non-communicative, or brings other disruptive behaviors can have a massive impact in the medium and long term.

Bram Daly, Senior Manager, Client Services – Information Technology

Bram has client facing responsibilities for the Americas in the Information Technology sector. This includes overseeing the delivery of full life cycle end –to-end recruitment models for prestigious blue-chip technology companies. Working alongside and leading expert teams, Bram builds, delivers and optimises regional customised solutions, allowing clients to achieve their business objectives by successfully executing talent acquisition and management strategies. Bram has built a 10+ year career with Alexander Mann Solutions, establishing an impactful reputation as a go-to talent acquisition expert in the realm of Information Technology.