Indulging in the authentic flavors of Italy begins with our carefully curated selection of Italian wines, each crafted with precision and passion. Our wine list features a range of reds, whites, and rosés sourced from renowned vineyards across Italy, showcasing the rich heritage of Italian winemaking. Guests can enjoy a luscious Chianti Classico or a crisp Pinot Grigio, both excellent accompaniments to the appetizers that grace our terrace menu. The intricate flavors of these wines not only elevate the dining experience but also harmonize beautifully with the diverse range of appetizers we serve.

Our appetizers are designed to provide an exquisite taste of Italy, celebrating the quality and authenticity of local ingredients. From classic Bruschetta al Pomodoro, featuring ripe tomatoes and aromatic basil on toasted bread, to the delectable Arancini di Riso, these starters are prepared fresh each day, ensuring maximum flavor and presentation. Each dish is thoughtfully paired with specific wines to enhance the overall taste experience. For instance, the rich flavors of our Prosciutto e Melone find a perfect partner in a chilled Prosecco, presenting a delightful balance of sweetness and savory notes.

The ambiance of our terrace further enriches the dining experience, offering a charming and inviting atmosphere. Illuminated by soft lighting and adorned with vibrant greenery, it provides a serene backdrop for guests to relax and savor each sip of wine and bite of food. The combination of quality wines, authentic appetizers, and a warm, welcoming space creates an unforgettable experience reminiscent of dining in the heart of Italy. By focusing on the integrity of ingredients and thoughtfully crafted dishes, we invite you to revel in the true essence of Italian culinary artistry.

Freshly Baked Pasta: A Culinary Delight

At our restaurant, freshly baked pasta is not merely a menu item; it is a testament to the rich culinary traditions of Italy. We take immense pride in showcasing pasta that is made from high-quality ingredients, sourced from renowned Italian suppliers. The preparation process is a labor of love, beginning with the selection of the finest locally sourced produce and traditional Italian cheeses, which are integral to achieving the authentic taste and texture that our guests have come to love.

The artistry behind our pasta recipes draws on a rich history that dates back centuries in Italian cuisine. Each dish tells a story, inspired by regional variations and time-honored techniques that have been passed down through generations. By utilizing fresh ingredients, we create flavors that are vibrant and true to their Italian roots. Our culinary team continuously strives to innovate while respecting traditional recipes, ensuring that every plate served is a delightful blend of authenticity and creativity.

Apart from the food, the warm and friendly atmosphere of our terrace further enhances the dining experience. Guests are welcomed into an environment that reflects the charm and hospitality of Italy. As they indulge in our freshly baked pasta, they are enveloped in the vibrant sounds and scents reminiscent of an Italian kitchen, providing a sensory experience that complements the culinary journey.

Testimonials from our discerning patrons highlight not only the exceptional flavors but also the love and passion that is infused into every pasta creation. Many express a desire to return, eager to relive their memorable dining experience. This feedback reassures us that our dedication to quality and authenticity resonates deeply with those who choose to dine with us.

The post Experience Authentic Italian Dining on Our Terrace first appeared on iTech.

Italy, a country rich in culinary traditions, is renowned for its exceptional wines and delectable appetizers that perfectly reflect regional diversity. Our selection of Italian wines is curated from various esteemed vineyards, encompassing a wide array of flavors, aromas, and styles. Each bottle serves as a testament to the terroir of its origin, whether it be a robust Barolo from Piedmont or a crisp Pinot Grigio from Friuli. These distinguished wines elevate any dining experience, making them an essential component of our culinary offerings.

The process of selecting these wines is meticulous and intentional. We prioritize quality, seeking out producers who commit to sustainable practices and traditional vinification methods. Our team engages with winemakers to understand the intricate details of their craft, ensuring that our guests enjoy wines that encapsulate the essence of Italy. This dedication to authenticity allows us to present a diverse wine list that caters to various palates, from the casual wine enthusiast to the discerning connoisseur.

Complementing our refined wine selection, we offer a range of Italian appetizers that showcase the freshest ingredients and traditional recipes. Each dish is carefully crafted to enhance the flavors of the accompanying wines. From savory bruschetta topped with ripe tomatoes and fragrant basil to creamy burrata drizzled with olive oil, our appetizers are designed to celebrateItalian gastronomy. We prioritize using locally sourced produce, ensuring every bite reflects the quality and authenticity characteristic of Italian fare.

Our commitment to providing a harmonious dining experience is evident in the seamless pairing of wines and appetizers. This culinary journey allows guests to fully immerse themselves in the vibrant flavors of Italy, whether they are enjoying a leisurely afternoon on the terrace or hosting a special gathering. Each visit promises an exploration of tastes, where every sip and bite tells a story steeped in rich Italian traditions.

Pasta Perfection: Freshly Baked Delights

At our establishment, we take great pride in our pasta offerings, which are a testament to the authentic Italian culinary traditions. Our freshly baked pasta is prepared daily, using only the finest ingredients sourced from renowned Italian suppliers. This commitment to quality ensures that each dish not only meets but exceeds the high standards associated with traditional Italian cuisine.

The artistry of pasta-making is celebrated in every dish we serve. Our skilled chefs engage in traditional methods, emphasizing the importance of using fresh, organic ingredients. From the kneading of the dough to the careful shaping of the pasta, every step is executed with precision. This craftsmanship allows us to create an array of exquisite pasta recipes that cater to diverse palates. Whether you prefer a classic spaghetti arrabbiata or an indulgent fettuccine alfredo, our menu is designed to take you on a flavorful journey.

Our collaboration with celebrated Italian suppliers allows us to bring Italy’s rich culinary heritage directly to your table. We believe that using authentic ingredients, including locally sourced grains and seasonal produce, enhances the overall taste of our dishes. This dedication to authenticity not only results in superior pasta but also contributes to a warm and inviting dining atmosphere, where guests can experience the essence of Italy.

As you enjoy your meal on our terrace, surrounded by a friendly and welcoming environment, it becomes clear that our goal is to create a memorable dining experience. The harmonious blend of our freshly baked pasta and engaging ambiance makes each visit special. We invite you to savor these authentic Italian delights, where every bite reflects our passion for fine Italian cuisine.

The post Experience the Taste of Italy: Fresh Wines and Appetizers on Our Terrace first appeared on iTech.

If you’re ready to hire a team of developers, you may want to get comfortable because according to Rootstrap, the average time it takes to hire a software developer is between two to 6 weeks– but that only applies to a typical software developer who’s hired for a very basic position. If you require a developer with specialized skills, as is often the case, your hiring timeframe could be weeks longer.

This is the reality of hiring a single software developer. But what if you need more than just one developer; what if you need an entire team? You’re tasked with filling multiple positions and in the process, you must be sure that you choose talent who can mesh well with others. A group of individuals does not constitute a team; you need to find developers who have a productive dynamic.

With that said, it’s probably no surprise that the recruiting and hiring process can be a long and rather frustrating one. This is especially true of staffing needs that relate to high-value or especially time-sensitive projects. In many cases, it is not uncommon for a company to spend 8-to-12 weeks or longer hiring a specialized team of software developers. To make matters worse, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all developer, so you could find yourself in a scenario where you’re approached by a development team leader because they’re concerned about a new hire who just isn’t pulling their weight. In the haste to fill a position, a company may overlook the traits that are required to find the right tech talent for the job.

You may not be entirely surprised to learn that on average, there are five companies competing for every available developer. There is a tremendous gap between supply and demand in this talent pool, and that gap is expected to grow even larger. That’s because mobile technology, the Internet of Things, and everyday uses for technology — like summoning a ride via Uber or turning up your home’s AC using an IoT-integrated smart home app — are becoming more and more commonplace. According to U.S.News, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects 26% growth in this profession over the next 10 years, which is about 371,000 jobs.

Why is it So Challenging to Hire a Team of Developers (Quickly)?

The ability to call in a team of developers quickly is important for many companies, both large and small, as it gives you the flexibility to take on profitable projects that you might otherwise be forced to pass up. It also positions you to implement new software and other tech measures promptly.

You may know that you need team members with skills X, Y, and Z. But finding those developers precisely when you need them and assembling a team that can work in a cohesive, productive manner can be a challenge. There are many obstacles standing in your way, including the following:

• You must form a cohesive team, with individuals who complement each others’ personalities, working styles, and skill sets;
• Recruiters may have a limited understanding of what skills and attributes are required in tech talent, so you could end up with a team that’s poorly equipped to meet your needs;
• Many HR staff lack the knowledge required to properly evaluate tech candidates effectively, so they’re forced to cut corners or pull experts from an already-time-pressed tech department; and
• Company leaders may focus exclusively on technical capabilities, failing to consider the importance of soft skills and team dynamics.

When you combine a short timeframe with the typical challenges associated with hiring a software developer, IT experts, or other tech staff,  you may find that you’ve created a recipe for disaster. In the end, this can result in a scenario where you hire the wrong person (or people) — a potentially costly mistake. It’s not uncommon to hear of companies that spent months assembling a development team that had good dynamics and the collective skill set required to get the job done right. But you don’t have months. So what’s the solution?

IT Staffing Services and Other Hiring Solutions

An alternative option is to turn to a tech staffing service provider, who has the experience and knowledge required to assemble a winning team quickly. Staffing firms have several advantages over the internal HR department. They have refined the tech recruiting, screening, and vetting processes, and their extensive knowledge of the tech industry means they’re well-positioned to find the right person for the position. Tech staffing firms also maintain a massive database of candidates who are open to new opportunities, so they can often assemble a cohesive team with minimal recruiting.

Tech staffing firms like iTech specialize in temporary on-site staffing services, which provides companies with an added advantage: you’ll get the right talent precisely when you need it, thereby allowing you to seize opportunities that you would normally pass up. iTech deals in temporary staffing solutions, so if your need is long-term, your company will get the time it needs to properly assemble a permanent team. The temporary team serves as an interim solution, fulfilling your needs in the short term. We also offer tech consulting services, so our experts can provide you with the guidance you need to improve your recruiting and hiring process for developers and other tech staff.

iTech’s development teams are well-established groups, with members who have already learned how to reach maximum productivity as a cohesive unit. This means you’ll see the best results right out of the starting gate, which is good news if you’re on a tight deadline.

iTech is based in Dallas, Texas and we work with clients locally and beyond DFW, Houston, and Austin. If you need help to hire a team of developers, contact us today

The post Are You Struggling to Hire a Team of Software Developers? first appeared on iTech.

Even for those who last more than a few weeks, the stats are still discouraging. It’s estimated that one in three individuals will leave a new job shortly before or around the six-month mark. A 66% long-term retention rate is far from the ideal, regardless of the position or industry. A failed hire is more than just frustrating. It’s costly, yet many hiring managers fail to accurately quantify the expense. In fact, the real cost of hiring a developer is hard to pin down, especially when you consider that it varies dramatically on a case-by-case basis. But no matter how you cut it, the cost can be significant in terms of time and resources. But precisely how and why is the hiring process so involved and costly? And how can you avoid bad hires? We all know about the costs of hiring a recruiter and listing the position, but there are many other factors at play.

The Cost of Evaluating Your Needs

Many companies struggle to articulate their own needs and requirements for a new position. Time-pressed managers often skip the process of developing comprehensive job specs, which are then used to develop a detailed list of job requirements. And too often, the resulting job description is purely focused on technical skills, with little attention to the non-technical and soft skills that can ultimately make or break a project. These factors frequently combine to result in a recruiting effort that goes awry. This leads to a bad hire where the individual doesn’t mesh with your company or their skill set fails to meet your needs.

In order to properly evaluate and identify your precise staffing requirements for a specific position and project, you’ll need to consult with members of your team. A tech team leader can provide you with the insight and information that you need to craft an effective job description and project specs. This is a crucial step, as you may discover the hard way when you attempt to “recycle” and then modify existing specs and job descriptions. You may use the old specs and description as a starting point, then make adjustments to suit. But this rarely works. More often, you end up with an inaccurate view of your needs, which in turn, results in skewed hiring decisions that can carry a hefty price tag.

The Cost of Screening, Vetting and Interviewing

Screening and vetting potential candidates can be a very time-consuming process. It’s not uncommon to encounter scenarios where you invest an inordinate amount of time attempting to evaluate applicants. We’ve seen managers interview over half a dozen candidates over a period of three weeks for each position. That’s costly, since you’re investing time, money and resources, pulling team leaders off current projects to help aid in the hiring process, and/or even delaying the start of a project because you just haven’t found the right person.

Once you’ve identified the individuals who show promise, you’re tasked with verifying their credentials and experience, in addition to evaluating any work samples that they provide. Then you must identify those who are worth a closer look, whether it’s an interview, a test project or another evaluation tool. Many managers also forget to consider the candidate’s personal plans, such as planned vacations, resulting in nasty unexpected surprises down the line.

Oh, and if you lack lots of high-level tech experience, you may need to call upon your tech team yet again to help with these evaluations. It’s virtually impossible for a layman to know which questions to ask or what to look for when examining an individual’s experience, skills and tests/work samples. The more time your tech team spends assisting with the staffing process, the less time they can spend doing what they do best — tech work. This results in productivity dips and an adverse impact on your bottom line. This can be detrimental in some cases, particularly if you’re seeking to call in additional resources because you can’t handle the current workload.

Once a new hire arrives, many companies simply toss them into the pool with little or no onboarding. The result is that they often swim in the wrong direction…or drown.

The Cost of Hiring the Wrong Talent

Hiring the wrong person (or people) for the job can be very costly, particularly in cases where you have a critical need for new team members and subsequently invest a lot of money to fast track the process.

Often, it’s not an individual’s skills (or lack thereof) that make for a bad hire. It’s often the person’s ability to work with your existing tech team. Soft skills and cultural fit matter, so if your new team members aren’t used to the dynamics and culture, then they may struggle to succeed in your company. In short, there is such as thing as a “bad fit.”

You’ll see losses in many areas, including reduced productivity, onboarding-related expenditures for the new team member(s). You essentially waste all of the time and money invested in the recruiting process since it didn’t lead you to the right person (or people) for the job. The cost of hiring the wrong candidate can be even higher in situations where you pay for relocation or additional training.

The bottom line is this: If you invest the time, effort and resources up-front, you can avoid incurring greater cost due to complications down the line. We offer staffing services for clients seeking to bring in a temporary on-site team to assist with a project. This approach gives you a team of tech staffing experts to oversee the recruiting process, so your company’s team members can focus on doing what you do best. What’s more, there’s no long-term commitment. The team remains on-site to work with your in-house talent, and once the project is complete, they return to iTech. So you pay only for the resources you actually use.

The cost of recruiting and hiring a software developer or other tech talent on a temporary basis can be exorbitant when done in the traditional way. You’ll see costs that are comparable to those that are associated with hiring a permanent team member. You’ll need to develop your specs and job description, advertise the position, screen and interview candidates, and oversee the onboarding process. This process essentially remains the same whether you’re hiring a part-time employee, a full-time staffer, a temporary team member or permanent staff. When you turn to a tech and IT staffing service provider, you will see a greater value for your dollar, combined with better quality talent, because you’ll be more apt to connect with the right person for the job. Contact iTech today to discuss your staffing needs and let us help you find the right talent, while improving your bottom line.

The post The Real Costs of Hiring a Software Developer first appeared on iTech.

So while it’s costly to leave tech jobs unfilled, you also know how time-consuming and challenging the IT and tech staffing process can be — particularly when it comes to temporary positions. To be successful, you must invest significant time into developing project specs so, in turn, you can draft an accurate and detailed job description. Then there’s the additional cost of time and money that goes into advertising the position, along with reviewing applicant CVs, checking references and interviewing prospective candidates. And don’t forget those essential test projects that are used to evaluate a candidate’s skill set.

This hiring process is taxing not only on your HR staff, but your tech team as well. You need, at minimum, a tech team leader who has the knowledge required to ask the right questions and evaluate the candidates in an insightful, meaningful way. So it’s understandable that your company may be compelled to hire an IT/tech staffing services provider to oversee this process.

However, the issue of IT staff and software developer procurement can be tricky. Many companies unwittingly find themselves in a bad situation when they turn to a procurement and staffing firm. The reality is that by hiring a firm to oversee procurement, you may be seeing higher costs and far less value than you would expect to see, combined with a lower quality of staff.

Are You Getting What You Pay For?: The Often-Hidden Costs of Procurement

Let’s say you’re evaluating software developers from two different agencies. Agency A bills at $100 per hour, while Agency B bills at $110 per hour — we’ll refer to this as the “price.” But here’s where it gets tricky. While charging a price of $100 per hour, Agency A may be paying the talent — a mid-level resource — a market rate of $40 per hour, while the agency keeps the remaining $60 per hour. So with these figures, you’re seeing a true value of $40 per hour, despite the fact that the “price” is two and a half times that rate.

There’s also Agency B, which charges an hourly rate of $110 per hour. The talent, who delivers expert-level services rightfully earns $80 per hour, while the staffing agency earns $30 per hour. With this more reasonable price break-down, your company enjoys twice the value at a price that’s just ten percent greater than Agency A.

Staffing agencies are, of course, rather hesitant to broadcast precisely what percentage they hand to the employee and what percentage they keep. This is especially true for firms that tend to take a larger percentage, providing less value to you, the client. Unfortunately, many managers and company leaders overlook their staffing service provider’s profit margin, believing that it would be intrusive or out of line to enquire on this topic. But it’s a very important question to ask; one that can have a great impact on the quality and skill level of the talent that arrives on your company’s doorstep. There is a significant difference between the skill and experience level of the tech expert who works for $40 per hour and the tech professional who works for $80 per hour.

If your staffing agency has a significant profit margin, then you’re getting far less value for your dollar — and if you don’t ask the hard questions, you’ll never realize the true cost to your company.

Many companies unwittingly find themselves in a difficult position because they believe they’re paying a competitive rate, yet the talent may only be receiving a fairly small percentage of that hourly wage. This can lead to a scenario where the talent lacks the ideal level of skill and experience you need. Or you could even have resources who leave mid-project because they’ve found a more lucrative-paying job elsewhere. That can have disastrous effects on your tech project and your bottom line. These all too common situations may leave company leaders and project managers perplexed, as they assume the staff is receiving a fair, competitive wage. Although that isn’t always the case, as Wharton Management professor Peter Cappelli points out that it boils down to “whether employees believe the amount you are paying them, all things considered, is unfair relative to what you’re asking them to do and relative to what [type of job] they could get somewhere else.”

“Procurement often focuses on just the price, rather than the overall cost to the company. Price is a defined figure that can be easily relatable, whereas cost is far more complex,” explained iTech CEO Kishore Khandavalli. But even price can be deceptive and therein lies the challenge.

Solutions to These Procurement Challenges

There are a few measures that you, as a company, can take to ensure that you don’t unwittingly fall into this costly procurement trap. Consider the following:

• Ask the Tough Questions — The percentage of the hourly fee that goes to the staffing firm will impact the value that you receive and ultimately, your company’s bottom line. So don’t be afraid to ask about the breakdown. What percentage of the hourly fee does the talent receive?
• Ensure the Talent Earns More Over Time — Recruiting and procurement is costly, so you want to maximize the chances that your resources will stay on-staff for the duration of your project, particularly in the case of those more complex long-term endeavors. One way to achieve this is by ensuring that their pay rate increases over time. It’s fairly standard practice for a procurement firm to gradually decrease their profit margin, freeing up a bit more money for the talent. Staff are more likely to remain on the job for the duration of the project if the contract states that their earnings will gradually increase over time.
• Identify and Minimize the Use of Middlemen — Enquire about the firm’s use of secondary (or tertiary) agencies or contractors. Does your staffing firm handle everything in-house? Or do they subcontract some or all tasks out to other service providers? This is an important question because this translates into a reduction in value, since every service provider wants a slice of the pie. If any secondary or tertiary agencies are utilized, this should be detailed in your contract.

At iTech, we specialize in IT and tech staffing services, providing exceptional value to our clients, while simultaneously compensating our staff in a competitive manner. We believe that this fair, honest approach is critical to maintaining both our talent pool and our clients, who turn to iTech time and time again for assistance sourcing supplementary tech teams on a per-project basis. In fact, as a testament to our fair treatment of our talent, approximately half of our new team members are referred by our current team members.

Founded in 2003, our firm is based in Burlington, Vermont and serves all US clients with offices in New Jersey, Texas, Virginia, and California. With offices in Canada and a global delivery center in India, our tech talent is situated across the globe, working on-site for the most respected companies in the business world. No matter your location, we invite you to contact iTech today to discuss your staffing needs. Whether you have a project in the works or something planned in the future, let us help improve your bottom line with the perfect talent.

The post The “Hidden” Cost of Using a Staffing Agency: The Importance of Identifying the Profit Margin first appeared on iTech.

The reality is that you’ve spent weeks trying to find a new software developer to join your team. From resume reviews and reference checks, to interviews and coding tests, you’ve done everything you can to find the right expert for the job. You’ve considered hard skills, soft skills, experience and lots of other factors. But the process has been painfully slow and inefficient. Maybe you’re not the world’s most tech-savvy person, so evaluating these candidates and their actual skill sets has required some help. Yet after all these efforts, you still don’t have the right person for the job. This is a common problem and iTech is accustomed to providing a consultative approach to properly identifying the scope and specific resource best suited to your business goals and objectives.

What Challenges Do You Face When Hiring Software Developers?

There is no shortage of obstacles that can stand in the way of finding the right developer from the fast-evolving nature of technology, to the prevalence of agile development, which makes it impossible to attribute a project to a single individual.

Agile development methodologies rarely allow for individual attribution. In a perfect world, a software developer could step into your office and say, I created this mobile app, from start to finish, so it’s an accurate depiction of my skill set. Work samples can be extremely useful in showcasing your skill set. But with the prevalence of agile development, you have many cooks in the kitchen and it’s relatively uncommon to encounter a scenario where a single person can take ownership either in full or in part. This point is exacerbated when you consider that agile development is the most common methodology in today’s techsphere. One workaround for this particular issue involves administering a test or trial project to get a feel for the individual’s skill set before committing to a long-term hiring arrangement.

You need a fair amount of tech knowledge to properly evaluate a candidate. It can be challenging for HR staff to get a good feel for an individual’s skills and abilities. An accurate evaluation typically involves at least one of your company’s tech team leaders. That’s time that your team leaders could be spending on actual tech projects instead of consulting for a new hire. The bottom line is that you need a tech expert to effectively evaluate a candidate. Hiring a tech staffing firm like iTech allows you to make this happen, without pulling from your already-limited in-house tech resources.

The new talent must fit in with your existing development team. Virtually all companies have shifted from a waterfall methodology to an agile development strategy due to a need for greater efficiency and cost savings. Waterfall methodology utilizes a precise, step-by-step assembly line type of process where person A must complete step 1 before passing the project to person B to begin step 2. Agile development is far more flexible, scalable and collaborative, with multiple steps being addressed simultaneously in some cases. As such, agile development entails a team effort which demands that your developers are good team players. The dynamics of a small group are tremendously different from the dynamics of a medium-sized or large group (and either can work with the agile methodology). An individual who is comfortable in one environment may fall short of their true potential in another setting, even if they have all of the necessary tech skills. So you’re tasked with finding a developer who will be a good fit for your company’s one-of-a-kind environment.

Technology is constantly evolving. The rapid evolution of technology is impacting everything from new programming languages, to new development methodologies. Challenges include dealing with significant operating system changes and other advances that add an element of complexity to the talent acquisition process. You’ll see regular changes in terms of the skills you’re seeking and even the job description. This adds a layer of complexity to the talent acquisition process since you’ll have to continually familiarize yourself with new skill sets, methodologies and job descriptions.

There are a wide variety of niches, coding languages and specialties. There are dozens of programming languages and countless types of applications and software programs. Simply writing a list of skills that you’re seeking in candidates can be a difficult task all by itself. Finding the right person can be even more challenging, especially if you’re seeking skills related to a relatively new coding language or tech advancement.

Turning to an Experienced IT, Tech and Software Developer Staffing Firm Like iTech

It’s clear that there are many obstacles that stand between your company and the software developers you need to succeed. But there are some alternatives to the traditional avenue of hiring a new employee.

In some cases, temporary in-house tech staffing services can meet your needs, without the time and hassle associated with the talent acquisition process. At iTech, our team of recruiting and staffing experts know what it takes to assemble a team that can take your project to the next level. With iTech’s on-site staffing services, we’ll embed a team within your company to work on a specific project. Then, once the project is complete, the team returns to iTech and moves on to the next task.

This software development staffing solution gives companies the ability to achieve their development objectives without the time, effort and knowledge required to find a new team member. This is ideal for large, one-time projects that exceed your in-house team’s capabilities and other cases where a permanent employee is not essential.

iTech oversees each and every aspect of the talent recruitment process, so clients like you can focus on your business. Learn more about how our temporary software developer staffing solutions can benefit your company by contacting iTech today.

The post FAQ: What Are the Most Common Talent Acquisition Challenges? first appeared on iTech.

Despite your efforts, to date your search has been fruitless and the bottom line is that you just don’t have time for this. Thus far, your efforts haven’t brought you any closer to finding the staff you need and outside of this, you have numerous other important tasks at hand.

The reality is that the recruiting process can be a long and arduous one, sucking up hours of time and resources for relatively little return in many cases. While the investment may be worthwhile for a permanent full-time employee, your company’s resources may be stretched quite thin if you routinely perform intensive recruiting for part-time or short-term positions.

In the tech and IT industry, it’s common for employees to switch jobs every two to three years. In fact, the tech industry as a whole is said to have the shortest employee tenure of any industry, at an average of three years. This is particularly true for Millennials and this statistic is even lower than the average tenure in the food service industry (which surpasses the tech industry with a five-year average for full-time employees.)

For many companies, outsourcing just isn’t an option, due to the sensitive nature of their work or the degree of in-house oversight and control that’s required for many development projects. This means that you must bring someone into your company, whether it’s on a long-term or a short-term basis. Naturally, this means that a need for strong recruiting is unavoidable. Fortunately, there is a solution to consider: Outsource the recruiting process to a professional consulting firm.

So what are the advantages of turning to an expert who can oversee your tech staffing process, sending the right highly-qualified staff directly to your door? The benefits are numerous, ranging from time and financial savings, to freeing your staff up to do whatever it is that they do best.

Recruiters See a Continuous Flow of New Candidates

Over time, the best professional tech recruiters earn a strong reputation in their field. When this happens, recruiters draw qualified candidates in search of placement with the recruiter’s clients. When the talent comes to you, recruiting is far easier, faster and more cost effective since there’s less time and money spent on advertising available positions.

What’s more, experienced recruiters usually have a vast database of potential candidates. So if a developer comes to the recruiter in search of a job and there’s nothing immediately available to match that person’s skill set, they’ll be added to the database for future consideration.

Professional Recruiters Understand What it Takes to Succeed on the Job

Many less-experienced recruiters place emphasis in all of the wrong areas. For example, you may emphasize experience in a specific development niche, but perhaps this isn’t essential if the candidate has a certain critical skill set or relevant experience in a related area of development.

It’s also easy to overlook issues like hiring for cultural fit and considering an individual’s ability to work within your company’s unique atmosphere. You may have an individual who thrives in highly-collaborative small groups, but this person may be overwhelmed when asked to work in a large group, where he must work with a greater number of people, while also taking the initiative that’s required to successfully perform a role in this type of environment.

There are many things you must consider during the recruiting process; it’s more than just testing and evaluating tech skills. Professional recruiters know what to consider and how to weigh the many points that ought to be taken into consideration, from vetting, to the latest best practices and beyond.

An Experienced Recruiter Can Vet Candidates More Effectively

Vetting is an extremely important element of the recruiting equation, as you must be confident that a particular candidate has the skills they need to thrive in a particular position. It’s easy to exaggerate (or outright lie) on a resume, so vetting and confirming a person’s strengths and skills becomes extremely important.

An experienced recruiter will have the time to properly vet each candidate, whereas a busy company leader or HR manager may not have the time to perform in-depth vetting. What’s more, a recruiter can call upon experience as they look out for warning signs that an applicant has been less-than-truthful and forthcoming on their resume.

A Recruiter Can Implement the Latest Best Practices

In many cases of in-house recruiting, you’ll have a HR manager or company leader spearheading the process. But recruiting isn’t their primary area of specialty; they have a different area of professional expertise. As such, they don’t stay up on the latest best practices, the newest online job portals or other tools’ resources and strategies that can simplify and streamline the process.

But a full-time recruiter will have this knowledge…and much more. They’ll know exactly what questions to ask a candidate. They’ll know where to find the best person for a specific position. And they’ll know what tools, resources and strategies can be leveraged to boost the efficiency of the process as a whole.

Turning to an Experienced IT, Tech and Software Developer Staffing Firm Like iTech

iTech has a talented team of recruiting and staffing experts, who know what it takes to assemble a team that can take your project to the next level. In fact, iTech offers a unique staffing service for companies in need of software development teams. We practice insourcing whereby a team is embedded within your company for a period of time as you strive to complete a project. Then, once the project is complete, the team returns to iTech and moves on to the next task.

This unique software development staffing solution gives companies the ability to complete especially large projects or those that simply surpass what your in-house team can accomplish in a reasonable timeframe. Insourcing also lets you achieve your goals without going through the time-consuming recruiting process in-house. iTech oversees recruiting from start to finish, so you can focus on whatever it is that you do best. Learn more about how iTech’s software developer staffing solutions can benefit your company by contacting us today.

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In short, your once-perfect tech team now has some major holes and you’re in a position where you’re at serious risk of seeing some major timeline overruns.

Software development teams can encounter some rather unique challenges if an individual takes time off unexpectedly. While most approach this issue from a HR perspective, this challenge is at its heart an issue rooted in project management issues such as time overruns.

Fortunately, there are a number of strategies you can employ to ensure that your project gets completed on time, both from a software project management perspective and from a pre-hire stance.

Promote Cross-Training and Skill Set Growth Amongst Tech Team Members

It’s important to maintain a high degree of redundancy amongst your staff’s skill sets, as this gives your in-house team the versatility it needs to cover when someone is out sick or even when a team member quits unexpectedly. Ideally, you should have at least two or three people who can fill a specific role.

You can achieve this objective by offering incentives to employees who opt to pursue additional training or classes. It’s also advantageous to invest in cross-training in-house whenever the opportunity arises.

Skill sets are also a vital consideration during the recruiting and hiring process. It’s usually best to choose the candidate with the broader skill set, as this allows for far greater versatility. So your HR department or recruiter should be on the lookout for individuals with a wide range of talents and skills.

Budget Extra Time into Your Projects

When providing a client with a projected timeframe for a project, it’s best to include a bit of a buffer to allow for incidentals, such as an essential team member who takes time off unexpectedly. This way, you can absorb any delays that result from an individual’s absence.

Lots of issues and challenges can arise during the software development process. Something as simple as an operating system update that occurs during a mobile app build can necessitate some fairly significant alterations that fall outside of the original project scope. Therefore, it’s always wise to integrate a bit of extra time into your predicted development time frame to account for these unanticipated issues. At the end of the day, it’s always better to deliver early versus delivering late.

Calling in Extra Support via Staff Augmentation

A third option entails staff augmentation through a process known as insourcing. So rather than sending your project out to be completed by a third party, you can call in a team of software developers and other tech professionals to help complete the project in-house.

This tech staffing option is most suitable when you encounter staffing gaps that are more long term. For example, if one of your lead developers is involved in a major car accident and will be out of work for the next six weeks, then this form of augmentation can be beneficial. But if you have a developer out sick for just three or four days, it would be a bit impractical to call in reinforcements.

Insourcing offers a diverse variety of benefits, including increased control over the project, since it’s performed in-house by a team who will work alongside your own. You’ll also avoid the hassle and cost of recruiting, while side-stepping the sometimes-lengthy adjustment process that new staff or temps may experience. iTech’s software development teams are comprised of experienced tech experts with refined team dynamics and a high degree of comfort in a variety of different settings. This means they’re better equipped to jump in and acclimate quickly so they can focus on the project. If you’re seeking help with a tech or software development project, contact iTech to learn more about our IT and tech staffing services.

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The tech industry tends to attract highly-intelligent, super-focused individuals who are independent workers and deep thinkers. Although this is beneficial in many respects, communication challenges can arise. Prior to the rise of agile development methodologies, a collaborative and communicative team approach was fairly uncommon in the techsphere. This means that many companies lack well-established communication protocols and tools, while many non-Millennial techies require training to develop the strong communication skills that are so essential in today’s tech industry.

The Cost of Poor Communication Amongst Developers and Others in the Tech Industry

Poor communication can be very costly. One study examined 400 large enterprises with 100,000 employees or more. Average annual losses totaled $62.4 million dollars per company, for a total combined loss of approximately $37 billion. Researchers also found that smaller businesses, companies with an average of 100 employees, sustained an annual loss of $420,000.

Another study estimated cumulative per-worker productivity losses at $26,041 all resulting from communication barriers and poor communication practices.

Poor communication can lead to other problems, too, including:

• Delays and setbacks;
• Poor productivity levels;
• Frustration and poor morale; and
• Errors, omissions and mistakes.

On the flip side, companies with highly communicative company leaders saw returns totaling 47 percent higher over a five-year period when compared to firms where communication is not emphasized. But how do you implement measures that will actually improve your software development team’s communication plan? A two-pronged approach tends to be the most effective at providing tech talent with the tools and the skills that they need to succeed.

Prong 1: Tools and Opportunities to Promote Better Communication Amongst Team Members

Strong interpersonal communication won’t just happen spontaneously. You need to provide the tools that your software developers need to connect and collaborate in an intuitive, productive way.

Agile project management software: Developer-specific project management software like Jira can go a long way toward facilitating stronger communication amongst the members of your development team. You’ll have a portal that promotes communication surrounding workflow, whether it’s coding and development with the portals BitBucket add-on, or continuous integration-related communications with Jira’s Bamboo integration. Stronger communication tends to be a natural byproduct if developers are made aware of what others are doing at particular point in time.

Company-wide messaging tools: Messaging tools can be very useful in allowing for stronger communication, whether your development team is on opposite ends of the office or opposite sides of the planet. However, these tools are only effective if everyone uses the same one. So choose a messaging system to serve as your company’s default. Look for an interface that can be used on all devices and offers a full range of features, such as chat groups, voice calling and video chatting. Offering a few different tools within a single interface can be useful, as this provides your team with an opportunity to pick the communication method that feels most intuitive in a particular situation.

Daily morning meetings: The tradition known as the daily morning meeting has long-been practiced in the sales industry, in newsrooms and in a variety of other business niches. But only recently have tech companies started hosting morning meetings. It’s a tradition that has emerged alongside agile, team-based development methodologies. Morning meetings can serve as a wonderful team-building opportunity, allowing for updates and promoting a higher level of communicativeness.

Prong 2: Promoting Stronger Communication Skills in Your Tech Team

The right communication tools and opportunities are absolutely useless if nobody uses them! This is where interpersonal communication comes into play.

An introvert is apt to look within himself in situations where a more extroverted peer might look outward to others. For instance, when an introvert stumbles upon a question, he seeks the answer on his own, whereas an extrovert asks a coworker.

The tech field tends to attract highly intelligent, logical, analytical introverts. As such, this industry is one where you’re more apt to encounter individuals who lack a highly refined communication skill set. Of course, there is a broad spectrum. While a small number of individuals may truly struggle to communicate, most tend to be more solitary because a highly communicative approach just doesn’t feel natural or comfortable.

Since the technology field tends to have a higher proportion of introverts and lone wolves, companies can really benefit from implementing strategies designed to grow and develop an individual’s communication skills.

Convey the importance of strong communication: Techies tend to examine problems in a very logical, practical and methodical way. Use this to your advantage and make it clear precisely why communication is so important. Take a problem solution approach as you explain the role of communications. Explain the challenge that you’re seeking to overcome and then discuss how better communication should help you to overcome the challenge. This also provides the team with an opportunity to start developing their own unique solutions to the problems that result from poor communication.

Workshops to grow communication skills: A natural introvert or “lone wolf” may simply lack the skills required to communicate in a fast, efficient way. So invest in workshops designed to teach these skills in a fun, engaging way. The best workshops will also create a sense of unity, which is also key to the success of your software development team. In fact, that leads us into our final point…

Team-building exercises: As humans, we tend to be more communicative when we feel like we’re part of a team. This requires a sense of unity and belonging. Therefore, it’s critical that your developers feel as though they’re working with others to achieve something greater. This is where it can be useful to invest in team-building workshops and even retreats that are designed to help form stronger bonds.

Establishing Communication Protocols for Developers

Once you’ve provided the tools and opportunities, company leaders should work with supervisors and team leaders to get a sense for what best practices should be implemented as part of a larger software development communication policy.

Your communication protocols should address a number of different areas, including:

• What tools and platforms will be used to communicate;
• When to use a particular communication tool;
• Precise situations that should prompt specific forms of communication; and
• Who should be involved or cc’d in specific communications.

Each development team is comprised of unique individuals with some equally unique dynamics. So it’s wise to afford your team some control over precisely how they connect and collaborate. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and what works for one team may be woefully ineffective for another team. For this reason, it can be very beneficial to actively involve your software development staff as you develop new protocols.

Also remember that your development team will evolve over time, as will the technology that you use on a daily basis. Therefore, it’s essential that you revisit your protocols periodically to maintain maximum efficiency and productivity.

Many companies can also benefit from working with developers who serve as positive role models for their less communicative peers. At iTech, our well-established development teams have been dispatched to a vast range of different work environments. Strong communication is one of the keys to our success.

Through a unique tech and IT staffing practice known as insourcing, our talented teams are embedded in dozens of different companies. This experience has transformed our tech specialists and developers into strong communicators who routinely accomplish far more than the tech project that they were assigned to complete. It’s not uncommon for our clients to gain lots of useful insight into what it means to be an adept communicator and team player in today’s tech field. industry. If you need help with a development project and wish to learn more about insourcing, contact iTech today.

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The good news is you’re in good company. Oxford University estimates that half of all large IT projects defined as projects with a total price tag of over $15 million saw cost overruns, while about one in ten see time overruns.

Project delays arise from a wide range of different issues, with many of them totally random and unexpected. In other instances, time overruns are unavoidable because the original deadline was unrealistic. An important piece of the equation is the creation of realistic, viable project timeframes, so you don’t guarantee failure before you even begin. However, this is just one factor that you must consider during the on-boarding process. There are a number of additional steps you can take to minimize or totally avoid time overruns in software and app development projects.

Tip 1: Begin the Project With Clear, Detailed Specs

The decisions that are made at the very beginning of a project can have a tremendous impact on the ultimate outcome. For this reason, it’s vital that you begin by creating a clear and detailed spec document, outlining a number of key points, including:

• the phases or stages;
• precise specifications;
• deadlines for each phase; and
• precisely what work will be performed during each phase.

Without proper project specs, there’s a good chance you’ll suffer from problems such as scope creep and budget overruns.

Tip 2: Using a Phased, Team Approach and Setting Goals to Avoid Development Timeline Overruns

Top software and app developers use agile methodologies. Agile development usually includes the practice of dividing a single large project into multiple phases or stages, each with its own budget and timeline. It’s typical for developers to work in small teams and, when combined with a phased approach, the endeavor becomes far easier to manage and ultimately, execute.

A phased approach is also more client-friendly and lends itself to a good invoicing strategy. The client can pay in installments as each stage is completed. Plus, this approach allows for short-term deliverables at the end of every phase. This keeps clients happy as they’ll have an opportunity to see tangible, measurable progress. That’s far more satisfying than a response like, we’re working on it.

Tip 3: Beware of Scope Creep and Its Impact on Project Timelines

Scope creep is commonly observed in connection with time and budget overruns, particularly when it comes to software, website, and app development projects. Scope creep occurs when you have a nebulous, poorly-defined project scope, which often lacks an effective change control protocol. Over time, the scope expands and shifts to the extent that the project no longer aligns with the previously-established budget and timeline expectations.

If a project’s scope is altered, the timeframe and budget must be adjusted accordingly. Otherwise, a developer may find that it’s impossible to meet deadlines because they were established with something very different in mind.

Tip 4: Expect and Schedule for the Unexpected

Take your anticipated development timeframe and increase that figure by up to 20 percent (depending upon complexity) to allow for thorough testing and troubleshooting. You never know what challenges you may encounter during the course of a project. Whether it’s a highly complex enterprise software build, or a straightforward but innovative B2C mobile app, you must expect and plan for the unexpected. These obstacles may entail troubleshooting tasks, problem-solving for a bug, or addressing other unanticipated events, such as an iOS update (this may necessitate fairly significant revisions to a mobile app or software program).

At the end of the day, it’s better to exceed the client’s expectations by finishing early versus leaving the client disappointed as a result of delays.

Tip 5: Use Continuous Integration Strategy to Streamline Workflow

Continuous integration strategy can go a long way toward pacing your project and ensuring consistent productivity levels at all stages in a development project. Platforms such as BitBucket and GitHub are key elements of this approach, as they allow developers to check out code segments (just as you’d check out a book in the library). The coding progresses through the various stages until the project reaches a state of completion.

Continuous integration strategy combined with the use of project management platforms like GitHub and BitBucket allows for more effective tracking and management as the project progresses through development, QA testing/acceptance, and production.

Tip 6: Time Tracking and Analysis to Maximize Productivity

Time tracking is critical, as this practice provides you with the data you need to identify both strengths and areas of inefficiency. In cases where you identify an area associated with poor productivity, you’ll have the opportunity to mitigate and resolve the situation. This approach offers the insight required to set more realistic project deadlines and timeframes.

You can choose from a vast range of time tracking apps, desktop software and even smartwatch apps, including Toggl, FreshBooks, Harvest, TimeDoctor, and EverHour. These apps also provide key HR data, giving companies the power to evaluate workflow and employee performance in a more comprehensive manner.

Using a Multi-Pronged Strategy for Time Overrun Mitigation

When you take a multi-pronged approach to project management for app and software development, you’ll have a far greater chance of remaining on time and on budget. In cases where the aforementioned tips just aren’t viable or practical, you might consider a rather unique IT staffing solution known as insourcing. Insourcing allows companies to sidestep a diverse array of challenges. It’s an effective strategy for minimizing your chances of joining the nearly one in ten projects that fall behind schedule.

iTech specializes in insourcing, as we dispatch an experienced, fully-vetted team of developers and other tech professionals to assist with a specific project. Insourcing works on a per-project basis, allowing firms to call in extra help only if and when it’s required. You avoid the hassle of recruiting, staffing, and training, while also saving time and money as you call in the support you need to meet your objectives. Learn more about iTech today and contact us to discuss your tech and IT staffing needs.

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