How to Source and Interview Software Engineers

How to Source and vorstellungsgesprch Software EngineersHow to Source and Interview Software EngineersHow to Source and Interview Software Engineers Rossheim Are you looking to hire a software engineer?Sourcing software engineers is extremely challenging, given thehigh demand forIT talent. Recruiters who make the effort to learn how tech talent thinksand what they think aboutcan bring a major strategic advantage to their companies. Once you locate apotential candidate, its crucial that youinterview toimpress them tohelp close the deal.The recruiter tips and insights below will help you successfullysource and interview software engineer talent you need.Key Software EngineerCredentials and CertificationsAbachelors in computer scienceis the most widely accepted degree for software engineersSome employers insist that software engineers come with one or more of hundreds of available certifications from MCAD (Microsoft Certified Application Developer) to CISSP (Certified Information System s Security Professional).Recruiter TipWe narrow it down to the top three languages, says Jenny Chynoweth, talent outreach manager atWhitePages. We dont necessarily do a ranking of candidates, but we do ask about their level of experience and what projects theyve worked on.Critical IT Skills for Software EngineersDesign, implement, test and maintain software for applications or systemsLearn new technologies and exploit them to further the organizations strategic goalsCommunicate effectively with peers, managers and internal or external clientsRecruiter TipsWe build a spec sheet for each role, and its not just hard skills, says Jon-Ray Rivera, vice president of client delivery for recruitment process outsourcing atManpowerGroupin Milwaukee.We would consider a Java developer and move them into Scala if theyre passionate about it, says Chynoweth. Scala is so new, were willing to take inexperienced people who have such a passion about technology that, for example, they do side projects a t home.Experience and Software Engineer RequirementsSome employers require a few years of experience even for entry-level developers and programmersOther organizations are happy to consider new graduates in computer science, and may even prefer to train new programmers in their proprietary development methodology.Recruiter TipsI look for candidates with decent tenure, two years or more at a company Im leery of those under a year, says Chynoweth.I want to know what the candidate accomplished, not what his team did, says Chynoweth. Were interested in what technologies and resources he used, and how long it took him to complete a project.How to Source Software EngineersCollege and university computer science departments are the richest source of new talentOnline communities, especially niche ones, give everyone visibility into broad and deep talent poolsPoaching of talented engineers from competing organization is often frowned uponand often practicedRecruiter TipsWith all the informat ion thats out there, its not necessarily hard to identify those with the right skill set. Were able to build lists of talentnames, companies and titles, says Rivera.Larger companies make more of an effort to create relationships with universities and their computer science or electrical engineering departments, he adds. Large clients do that more than smaller onesthey have the infrastructure for internships or coop programs.How to Engage Software Engineers to Become CandidatesThe best talent is the least likely to be open to cold calls, raising a steep challenge for recruitersSoftware engineers respect recruiters who understand enough about technology and people to surface on-target opportunitiesRecruiter TipWe have to convince candidates to even talk to us, says Rivera. We have a process to gain the interest of a candidate before we get on the phone with them.What to do in the InterviewWhen courting top talent, the interview is the employers key forum to sell the opportunityCandida tes should be tested on their technical acumen andproblem-solving abilityThe more strategic the role of the IT department, the more critical communication skills becomeRecruiter TipsTop talent attracts top talent, says Rivera. We want to learn about the hiring managers, so we can tell candidates about the great leadership at the company. We ask employers to tell us about what theyre working on and with what technologies, so we can talk about it with candidates.Ask the hiring manager what they expect the hire to deliver in three, six or 12 months, says Rivera. If they struggle with that, we work with them to build a compelling message for candidates.How to Close the Deal with Software EngineersMoneys talks, in the form of a substantial bump up in base pay, meaningful performance incentives and sometimes equitySavvy software engineers want to keep themselves marketable by keeping ahead of the technology curveRecruiter TipAt companies like ours, there arent a lot of layers, so theres n ot a big ladder to climb, says Chynoweth. But theres great opportunity to grow by learning new technologies.More ResourcesSoftware Engineer Sample Job Description IT Recruiting How your Business Can Assess ITCandidate SkillsHow to Conduct an Interview and Impress Top Candidates