Looking for the best IT system engineers and administrators is just one part of the recruitment process. You also need to check a lot of factors that would make them the right choice for your organization’s unique work environment. Taking these factors seriously is crucial to ensure you have a robust and motivated workforce.
Having competent MSP IT system engineers and administrators is a crucial part of running a successful IT MSP business. In this blog, we will cover essential tips and strategies for hiring an MSP IT system engineer and administrator for your organization.
A] Things You Need To Know During The Interview
1. Past Experiences
Knowing about the candidate’s past experiences can be one of the most important things to understand if they are fit for the job role. If a candidate has already worked as an MSP IT system engineer or MSP system administrator, you can be assured that you do not have to spend much time or resources training them.
Past experiences can tell you a lot about the candidate’s expertise, skill level, and knowledge. This also includes what companies they have worked with and if any of them were an IT MSP. Knowing this helps you decide if the candidate will be able to adjust according to your business model.
2. Formal Education And College
As an interviewer one of the first things that you must notice about the candidates is their formal education and college. This helps you assess the candidate’s education level and how knowledgeable they are about the theoretical side of things. You will also get to know about their degree and if it is useful for the position they are applying for.
Having a degree from a good college would also be a positive sign for the candidate. You may also ask the candidate why they chose to pursue that college to better understand their goals.
3. Additional Certifications
Sometimes just looking at formal education and the college degree does not provide a complete image. Hence, it is crucial to also ask if the candidate has any additional certifications. These could be subjects they have self-studied or learned through online courses. Even if a candidate is not from a reputed college or has less experience, additional certifications can help to make up for that.
Candidates who have additional certifications may possess more knowledge and skills. Furthermore, candidates who are willing to upskill themselves are more likely to be motivated to work. These types of employees are productive and produce a higher return for Managed IT service providers.
4. Their Social Skills
Unlike education or experience, you cannot assess a candidate’s social skills by looking at their CV. You need to pay close attention to the candidate’s body language and the way they speak to understand if they would be a good pick for your organization’s culture.
Having good social skills is important for system engineering and systems administrator jobs as communication and collaboration are a necessary part of the job. Knowing if the candidate will be able to adjust to your IT MSP’s policies will make your MSP IT recruiting job way easier.
B] List Technical Questions You Should Ask
For The Role Of System Engineer
- How often would you recommend a client update their network system?
- What are some common post-deployment issues you’ve come across with operational systems?
- What details do you consider when creating disaster recovery plans?
- Have you ever had to learn a technology in order to perform your job responsibilities?
- Can you debug a program while someone is using it? If yes, how would you do this?
- Do you have any experience designing or optimizing control systems?
- What is your experience using Java Scripting API? When would it be appropriate to use it?
For The Role Of System Administrator
- Describe the concept of DHCP.
- What is a domain controller?
- What is group policy?
- What do you know about proxy servers?
- What are ARP and EFS?
- What do you know about FTP and SSH? What protocol do they use?
- Can you differentiate between a PowerShell and a Command prompt?
- What is the authoritative restoration of the active directory?
C] How To Write The Best Job Description To Attract The Most Suitable Candidates?
Writing a clear and detailed job description is necessary to set the expectations right. Start with the job title in bold letters and easy-to-read font. Next, list the expected daily roles & responsibilities of a system engineer or administrator, depending on the job role. Make sure you do not miss any job role or write too many.
Mention the skills and qualifications your ideal candidate should possess and how experienced candidate you are looking for. Finally, end with the salary range and benefits your company offers. You can also write about the company culture, but it is best to keep the job description as short as possible.
Conclusion
Hiring the right IT system engineers and administrators for your MSP can be a complex task. You need to consider several factors like education, experience, skills, and adaptability in order to avoid hiring a non-compatible candidate. Hiring a candidate who does not have the necessary skills or experience for the job role can hamper the organization’s ability to deliver the best services to its clients.
To ensure all your IT recruitment needs are met without spending a fortune, partner with a professional MSP IT staffing company in the USA. Vertical Talent Solutions is a reputed and experienced recruitment agency in West Hartford, Connecticut, specializing in IT MSP recruitment. Contact us today to discuss your business needs and let us help you grow your team.
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.