Information technology consultants are the solution to the IT talent gap that organizational leaders face. Who else will help drive the completion of digital transformation projects?
Additionally, Information technology consultants are in the crosshairs of the technology industry’s most influential decision-makers — CIOs, CISOs (Chief Information Security Officers), CTOs, etc. Today, good leaders view contingent workers as essential players in the daily operations of the business, especially since they care to know everything about their workforce — who is included, what they do, and where they get it done.
When the demand for project-based work increases in a region, so, too, does the competition among consultants. So, finding and securing the right projects requires the assistance of IT talent managers, especially in competitive job markets such as San Diego, CA, and San Francisco.
In this post, we explain why the partnership between the talent manager and information technology consultant leads to better results — landing the project you want. Additionally, we share examples of the benefits consultants receive when they partner with talent managers, such as career growth and a sense of control.
Talent Managers Access New Projects
Top-performing technology teams recognize people as their most valuable asset, all of them, including information technology consultants. And a recent shift in IT workforce trends revealed that company leaders view consultants as essential players in the daily operations of their teams.
Additionally, IT leaders seek to know the who, what, and where of their entire workforce, including non-full-time employees. In fact, SAP’s most recent External Workforce Insights Report concluded that organizations should include consultants in their talent management strategy. The report further reinforced the benefit talent management agencies provide to large organizations, especially those with a trusted community of skilled technology professionals — identifying specialized talent for critical business projects.
Consultants that work with a reputable talent management team receive project leads faster by being closer to the source — companies with a need for talent. They acquire job-related information and get their hiring documents submitted to hiring managers quickly via these teams and their relationships with their clients. Similar to other freelance professions, it takes a village to thrive as an information technology consultant, and the right hiring resources bring you one step closer to finding the project you want.
In summary, talent managers provide answers to the following burning questions:
What projects are available now?
Which opportunities are in the pipeline?
Who do I network with to learn about future opportunities?
What companies are the best professional and cultural fit for me?
Information Technology Consultants Learn What Companies Want
Unlike full-time employees, Information technology consultants have access to talent managers who serve as advisors. The intermediary between talent and client, these individuals immerse themselves in both worlds (the talent market and internal company environment) and serve as the eyes and ears of the hiring manager and consultant.
The relationship between the talent manager and the hiring organization presents a clear opportunity for information technology consultants. Today, the right talent management team can provide a reliable source of guidance and growth.
Through regular check-ins and interviews, talent professionals inform consultants on the specific skills and experience the hiring manager requested, soft skills needed, cultural fit, and what the organization looks for based on previous hiring decisions. These insights aren’t available to everyone but provide an advantage to the interviewee.
For example, many consultants enjoy freedom and autonomy to choose the projects they work on, which can last for a few months up to a year. However, it’s their responsibility to continuously upskill and improve their portfolio of work. Talent managers help consultants decide where to focus one’s time and energy for the greatest career benefit (e.g., which certifications are helpful). Equally important, they help consultants choose which examples to discuss during the interview and what past projects to highlight.
Talent managers prepare technology professionals for the interview process and offer validated advice, client-specific details, and practice. They thoroughly prepare consultants, from the resume to one-on-one (or panel) discussions with the internal hiring team. Preparation includes a well-written, targeted resume, which increases a person’s chances of finding the work they want; less guesswork and more direct action to reach the end goal: finding the right project.
IT Consultants Receive Personal Attention
Perhaps a better title for this article is: Why Information Technology Consultants find the Right jobs faster With Talent Managers. Why the emphasis on “the right” jobs? It’s a notable difference from traditional recruiting functions: talent managers, especially for technology professionals such as developers, analysts, and project managers, seek to align the right project with the right person.
From years of observation, a good talent manager provides personal attention and one-to-one communication. They use these tactics to understand talent, both personally and professionally. The process isn’t all that different from networking — you can’t help someone unless you know who they are, what they do, and how you can provide value. Connecting the consultant with the right company and project is the outcome.
It only takes one visit to sites like Glassdoor or Indeed to prove that personal attention from talent managers alleviates much of the stress and frustration attached to finding a job. Having another person in your corner to offer support and guidance is invaluable in the long-run. In many examples, job-seekers weren’t chosen, yet they showed appreciation and gratitude towards the process, citing that it was both pleasant and refreshing.
We are all humans, after all, so is it wrong for professionals to resist hiring tools that ignore a person’s uniqueness? ATS, that’s you. The user experience associated with finding a new project should be challenging but also rewarding, not painful and demoralizing. Whether you label it boutique talent management or one-to-one hiring, information technology consultants embrace the perks of this more personal approach.
Three Benefits for IT Consultants
The three benefits discussed in this article explain why information technology consultants find projects faster when partnering with talent managers. Knowing what jobs are (or will be) available, how to get them, and who to network with are crucial factors that impact a person’s success. Skilled technology workers are always in high demand, the solution to an industry-wide talent shortage. But you still want to be in the right place at the right time to land the project you want.