Hiring Part Time Help - IT

I wonder if any people here could offer suggestions to this?

I run a small IT consultancy business, and for the last 2 and a bit years its grown steadily.

I'm now at the point where I really could do eith an extra pair of hands sometimes Its getting to the point where I am slipping on my response times due to not being able to be in 2 places at once.

Anyone in the industry (or even with experience in the HR dept) know of the best way to find decent people? I dont have masses of cash to dump at advertising, just to find some wrong'un.

Ideally I'd find someone who is able to/willing to be paid weekly on a day rate, and who is happy to operate as a sub contractor. Probably looking at around 3 days per week.

I think I'm looking for a trial of 3 months to see how much time they can really free up for me, and then for me to see how much extra business I can get in that extra free time!

Should things go well then of course they will be offered a full time position, and being the first hire, they will stand good prospects in growing with the company and gaining a senior position when others are hired.

Thoughts?

I know you said you need someone now but have you thought about training someone up... An apprentice?

Cheap wages which would mean you could perhaps take him/her on full time now.

[JamesMio]

My first thoughts are why do you have to be so bl**dy far away?! As I'm currently working down my redundancy notice this I'd exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for to keep things tiding over.

However, I'd have thought there must be am abundance of good IT guys currently out if work, it seems to be the first section to get the axe. Gumtree might be worth a try, free ads and should be local enough for your target audience?

Good luck!

Hong, my personal experience is that finding someone who shares the vision, who knows instinctively what to do, and who isn't interested simply in pay day is damn hard. Agencies are only interested in getting a fee.

I agree with 'no employees' - again, my personal experience is that most are difficult to manage, resent being given constructive advice, and watch the clock. We have just started a small business and as it grows (hopefully) I will only ever have self employed consultants who will have a basic retainer and who will be paid on proven tangible results and that only when the cash comes in.

Is there anyone in any of your competitors who you know is looking for a job? Or maybe even in one of your clients, but be careful about this for fear of losing the client if they think that you have poached their people.

[timwilky]

Finding good IT staff is damm difficult. I spent 25 years trying to do it and probably over the hundred I have employed about 10% are "good", these are the ones with knowledge, ability, drive and vision.

Keeping them was impossible. I had a brainless incapable IT director who lacked vision and saw IT as a service provisioning whereas I saw it as delivering business advantage.

[TSM]

consultancy in what, ie what do you specialise in?

Originally Posted by Ed

Hong, my personal experience is that finding someone who shares the vision, who knows instinctively what to do, and who isn't interested simply in pay day is damn hard. Agencies are only interested in getting a fee.

I agree with 'no employees' - again, my personal experience is that most are difficult to manage, resent being given constructive advice, and watch the clock. We have just started a small business and as it grows (hopefully) I will only ever have self employed consultants who will have a basic retainer and who will be paid on proven tangible results and that only when the cash comes in.

Is there anyone in any of your competitors who you know is looking for a job? Or maybe even in one of your clients, but be careful about this for fear of losing the client if they think that you have poached their people.

I agree with your sentiments Ed, and that is exactly what I want and the difficulties I am facing. Being small means there is a lot less room for error as well.

None of my clients have any IT people worth looking at, becuase they either have none or have 1 or 2 that don't know their mouse from their keyboards!

Originally Posted by timwilky

Finding good IT staff is damm difficult. I spent 25 years trying to do it and probably over the hundred I have employed about 10% are "good", these are the ones with knowledge, ability, drive and vision.

Keeping them was impossible. I had a brainless incapable IT director who lacked vision and saw IT as a service provisioning whereas I saw it as delivering business advantage.

I'm confident there are some out there to be found. Although from dealing with various vendor IT Support staff recently, I really do wonder where all the decent people are going!

Originally Posted by TSM

consultancy in what, ie what do you specialise in?

IT Services, SME. Complete end to end, from Desktop Support to Server Management, LAN/WAN, Energy Efficient Computing/Carbon Neutral Computing, Hardware/Software Suppy/Install/Config, Domain/Web Hosting/Design, you name it.

What I want is what every employer wants really, skillset aside the rest is pretty standard stuff. I want someone dynamic, who can think for themselves, has their priorities straight and that want to grow with the company. Not interested in the typical "9-5, must have 1hr lunch break" people.

I know there are loads of places to look out there, a gazillion job websites, etc - just wondered if you guys had any particular recommendations.

Might try find some places that offer IT Courses and stick an ad up there...

I need someone who has at least some basic, practical experience with Windows OS's, networking, etc, and I am more than happy to train them up. I dont think I have the time to teach the real real basic stuff though. Someone who I can point in the right direction, and for them to have the initiative to go and research it for themselves.

Oh, and they must drive

Try PeoplePerHour.com. It's free to list an advert and people apply based on what you need. If the work can be done remotely you can get cheap labour from anywhere. You can specify qualifications you want them to have and even get references.

I run a few websites and have hired article writers through it and although you get some rubbish applying it is worth it. Even better is you don't pay until the work is done so if it's rubbish or not what you asked for you can get it redone before you pay up.

Hope that helps!

[Biker Biggles]

Most small operations rely on word of mouth and who you know.Do you know anyone who can do what you want done?If so work on them as it will be far more reliable than a shot in the dark with various applicants.
Having said that,if you can get someone with the qualities you want,you may find they want more than you are willing to give in remuneration.Like a share in the business.I know I would.

Thanks Weegie, I'll have a gander there - can't hurt!

BB, totally right there. There is only 1 possible candidate I have in mind, but he there are a number of things that may be an issue longer term, and he is not "available" yet...

He lives in South London, and most of my clients are north of London and the commute may not suite him, and although he does have a license, he has not car yet, which could take an unknown amount of time to sort. We'll see.

Renumeration wise...I have given it some thought already. If whoever I go for can prove to help bring more business in, and make it worthwhile, I wouldnt say it's out of the question. However for just an engineer, no chance!