MSP staffing has helped many organizations overcome their staffing challenges. If a business needs quality contingent staff to address workforce gaps, relying on MSPs has become one of the best methods to do so. However, an MSP needs to hire the right people to succeed in providing contingent IT staff.
If you are an MSP, looking to optimize your business by hiring the right people, this blog will give you all the information you need to make an informed decision. We will cover everything from what you should consider before recruiting, and during the recruitment process, and also answer questions like whether you should work with an MSP IT staffing provider.
What Is MSP IT Recruitment?
IT MSPs are known to provide and manage the best contingent talents to a wide range of organizations in their time of need. This has become a large industry in itself as more and more companies are now relying on MSPs for a contingent workforce.
But as an IT MSP, you also need to hire and staff the right people who are not only talented but also understand the nuances of working in an MSP. Most MSP owners and managers may be well-versed in the technical aspects of their business, but recruitment is a completely different process. Hence, outsourcing to a reputed recruiter can help your goal if you want to scale your MSP business.
What To Consider Before Begining Your Hiring Process?
Before you start looking for new talents to acquire, you have to understand and fully accept the fact that it is a huge commitment for your business. You not only have to put in a lot of effort, time, and resources in searching and interviewing candidates but also maintain them once they are hired.
Having a strong workforce that your clients can rely on, no matter the situation can undoubtedly help to build your reputation and goodwill. However, hiring too many candidates when the demand is not that high can cut into your bottom line. You need to evaluate if hiring a new employee will help bring in more clients or provide better support to the existing ones and decide accordingly.
Once you have decided that a new hire would benefit your business, the next thing to consider is what experience and expertise the candidate should have. Hiring anyone who has basic IT knowledge may not be the right decision. You need to access what are your client’s requirements, what positions are vacant in the team, and your business environment.
Of course, you can hire a relatively inexperienced person too if that’s what your business needs. But having the candidate’s role clear will help you find the best talents, while also giving the employee confidence to join your MSP.
What To Consider During Your Hiring Process?
1. Candidate’s Experience Level
Experience is one of the most important things to consider when hiring an MSP staff. This is true for every industry, not only IT MSPs. While the general rule dictates that hiring the most experienced person for your organization is the way to go, it is not always the case. Clearly state the experience level you are looking for in the job description. This will direct your time and effort in interviewing those candidates, who are eligible for the role.
2. Assess Qualifications and Skills
When you are in the process of interviewing someone, make a note to thoroughly check their qualifications. In addition to qualifications, also make sure to assess their skills. While their experience level could be a good indicator of their skill set, it is always a good idea to ask technical questions regarding their work experience.
3. Clearly Defined Job Roles And Duties
If you are advertising the position or even outsourcing the recruitment process, make sure you mention every job role that the hired candidate would need to perform. This will help the candidate decide if the role is suitable for them or not at the beginning of the process, rather than after you have invested in their training. Avoid having a lengthy description of the company and its founders or managers on the JD. Instead, mention what the company does in brief and what you are looking for in a candidate.
Should You Partner With An MSP Staffing Agency?
An MSP needs to have a competent workforce who understands the challenges and upsides of working in an MSP system. Partnering with an MSP staffing agency can get your hands on the best talents for your MSPs without much hassle. They often take care of everything from recruiting to interviewing the candidate, allowing you to focus on your core business.
A good MSP IT staffing service also ensures that the candidates they select have prior experience working in a similar role with an MSP, so you do not have to train them. This also means that the hiring quality is often better than keeping the hiring process in-house.
Conclusion
Staffing can be a challenging task for MSPs as you are not only hiring for your company but also for your clients. There are several factors that MSP owners and managers need to consider while hiring an IT professional. This can include general recruitment factors such as their education and skills to specific requirements like experience with the type of MSP.
If you are planning to hire more staff for your MSP, partner with an MSP staffing agency, such as Vertical Talent Solutions. We help MSPs find the right candidate for their business and make the process seem effortless. If you would like to further discuss your staffing needs, contact us right away.
Ted White is the President & CEO of Vertical Talent Solutions and has over two decades of IT recruiting experience. Specializing in assisting Managed Service Providers in securing their ideal roles, his expertise navigates career paths precisely. Connect with Ted White for tailored recruitment solutions today.