IT Contract Agency

FAQs About IT Contracting & IT Staffing Agencies

What Is Meant By IT Recruiter?

An IT recruiter provides staffing solutions to clients and assistance to skilled professionals looking for roles in the information technology industry. An IT recruiter has an extensive professional network of IT professionals and businesses which they utilize to quickly find the best matches between top candidates and hiring managers. IT staffing services support and facilitate the hiring process by sourcing, screening, and presenting top tech talent from a large pool of candidates, conducting interviews, negotiating offers, and providing temporary employees to clients with short-term or temp-to-hire needs.

What Are the Roles and Responsibilities of an IT Recruiter?

An IT recruiter is responsible for finding, contacting, and evaluating IT candidates for temporary, contract, or direct hire roles. They work with human resources managers and hiring managers to understand the specific skills and experience required for a position, manage job postings, present candidates, coordinate interviews, and negotiate offers. For temporary or contract jobs, IT recruiters may also collect information and paperwork required for employment, counsel employees and answer questions, collect time sheets, submit invoices, and perform other administrative tasks. IT recruiters may fill a wide array of jobs in the information technology industry, such a as IT project manager, help desk analyst, software development, business analyst, network engineer, desktop support, and even executive-level IT professionals. To effectively fill these roles, they will need to be familiar with the technical skills required for these positions in addition to having a strong understanding of the recruitment process.

Can a Contract Employee Become Permanent?

In some cases, a contract employee may be hired permanently by the company they are working for. This typically happens when the company is impressed with the employee's work and feels that they would be a good long-term fit for the position. If you are interested in becoming permanent, discuss your interest with your staffing agency or hiring manager. However, it is important to remember that contract positions usually exist to complete a project or cover a temporary increase in workload, so there may not be a permanent position available.

Is Getting a Contract Job Through a Staffing Agency Worth It?

There are many benefits for employees who choose to work on a contract basis through a staffing company. Some of these benefits include:

• Ability to work on a variety of projects and gain new skills and experiences

• Opportunity to try out a company without making a long-term commitment

• Some positions allow flexibility in hours and/or remote work options, which can provide better work/life balance

• Great way to get your foot in the door with some of the most admired companies

• Opportunities to network in your field and learn about future opportunities

• Good for those who don't want to be tied down in a permanent position and are looking for flexibility in their career

• Possibility of being hired permanently by the company if both parties are satisfied with the arrangement and there is an open job opportunity

Can You Negotiate a Contract Position?

You always have the option to ask for the pay rate, schedule, or flexibility you need before accepting a position. Discuss what you will need to accept the role with your recruiter (if you are working through a recruiting agency) or hiring manager. If you think the pay is too low, do some research on average rate of pay for that position, or explain why your skills and experience qualify you for a higher pay rate. If you need a different schedule or more flexibility, explain what accommodations you need in order to take the job. Know what your deal breakers are and what you are willing to compromise on before going into negotiations. If you can't come to an agreement, politely decline the role. Staying professional is vital-- don't ghost an employer or recruiter. While this specific role may not be a good fit, you never know what other opportunities you will have in the future, so be sure to protect your professional reputation and maintain professional contacts.

Can I Quit My Job While On Contract?

Life happens, and sometimes you may need to cancel a contract for an unforeseen reason. In this case, it's important to be as open and honest as possible with your employer or recruiter. They may be able to offer a different solution, such as working from home or taking a leave of absence. If you absolutely need to cancel, explain the situation and give professional notice as soon as possible so your employer or recruiter has time to backfill your position. As long as you quit in a professional manner, most employers and staffing agencies will be understanding and will be willing to work with you to find a solution that meets everyone's needs.

Does It Cost Money to Use a Recruiter?

If you are a job seeker, you should pay nothing for a recruiter to assist you with your job search. Employers pay recruiting agencies to find new talent to meet their staffing needs. Staffing companies only charge employers fees for placed candidates, so there is no risk for a business to try working with them. The fee is calculated based on a contract or temporary employee's hourly wage or a direct hire candidate's annual salary. Because of this, it is in a recruiter's interest to get you the best pay. Staffing agencies do not take their fees out of the employee's pay or salary; the client determines what they are willing to pay for a position and the recruiter is paid a separate fee to compensate them for their work.

Is It Bad to Get a Job Through a Staffing Agency? 

Staffing agencies provide opportunities, so if an opportunity is right for you, it's never bad to work with an agency. Most of the negative impressions of staffing agencies come from people who have worked with bad recruiters who may have been unprofessional, inexperienced, or simply not had any good opportunities for them. If you work with an experienced and professional agency with a focus in your field, there is every reason to expect working with a recruiter to be a positive experience. It never hurts to have an additional person in your court to let you know about new opportunities and advise you in your search. Keep in mind that the agency's service is free for job seekers, which means they work for clients, not job seekers. Because of this, it's important to be open about what you're looking for and how your job search is going so they can do their job effectively. While you shouldn't look at an agency as a one-stop shop for a job, a good recruiter's expertise and connections make them an excellent resource, and they are often able to offer opportunities that you would never have heard about otherwise. Using a recruiter for contract roles is also an excellent opportunity to develop your skills and gain experience in a variety of industries.