Mastering tech recruitment

In our latest episode of Happy Recruiting, we spoke with Diana Rose, Talent Acquisition Specialist at Boozt, for an in-depth conversation on tech recruiting. Why is there such a high demand, why is tech recruiting so unique and where does candidate experience come in? We break down some of the key takeaways below!

The demand for tech talent

Tech now touches every industry, whether it’s healthcare or e-commerce, the growing demand for tech professionals is fueled by digital transformation, AI, data, and the need for cross-functional skills. Businesses are no longer just interested in purely technical expertise. They expect their developers, engineers and product managers to understand the goals and strategies of the business.

Why is tech recruiting so unique?

Diana stresses the importance of recruiters hiring for tech roles needing a deep understanding of how technology is evolving, unlike some traditional recruitment methods. Recruiters must be data-driven, tech-savvy and be very clear on candidate expectations. Diana and her team at Boozt use tools to achieve success through structured hiring processes. They automate workflows for consistency and ensure they maintain a high level of transparency with their candidates throughout the hiring process.

The importance of employer branding and candidate experience

Having a strong employer brand and a positive candidate experience will make a huge difference, no matter which sector or role you’re hiring for. But it can be especially important for attracting top tech talent.

Diana emphasizes the importance of treating every candidate with fresh eyes, as a unique case, especially in global hiring. At Boozt, they prioritize delivering a clear message about the company’s culture, values and vision. This creates an authentic but more importantly, honest experience from the very first impression.

"Candidates aren’t just choosing a job; they’re choosing a place to grow. Our role is to make sure they feel that from day one."

HR as a Business Partner in Tech Hiring

Sometimes it can feel easier to work in silos, but the impact on your hiring isn’t worth it. Diana outlines how HR teams can help tech hiring proactively by using some of the following methods:

• Scheduling 1:1’s with developers and other tech teams within the business to understand the technical side of things. It’s crucial to understand how things work and what skills are needed.
• Having clear communication and strong collaboration with hiring managers to ensure everyone is on the same page with what skills and experience are needed within the team.
• Doing individual research to keep up with tech trends, how AI is affecting tech, automation and cybersecurity, to better align hiring strategies with business needs.

What works and what doesn’t

Success won’t happen overnight, you need time and testing to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Diana explains how success at Boozt has come from agility, structure and personalization. She also recalls some of the mistakes they made early on, such as the hiring process being too generic, with inflexible interview slots. They found much more success being adaptable to their candidates.

"You can't be rigid in tech hiring. You need to adapt to the candidate’s schedule and mindset. If they’re free at 9:15 tomorrow, you make it happen."

There are some other things Diana recommends for leveling up your tech recruiting. Such as:

• Shadowing team leads and developers regularly to learn the ins and outs of how a tech team operates.
• Resources such as Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and TechHRX 
• Networking where you can, staying active on LinkedIn and joining talent acquisition communities to learn from and collaborate with peers

Final Thoughts

Diana stresses that the most successful recruiters are the ones who connect deeply with both candidates and hiring teams. Traditional recruitment methods aren’t enough anymore, and embracing continual learning is the key to success.

With more software tools, data points and competition than ever, recruiters must learn to blend a fluency with technology with strategic thinking and empathy towards candidates.

To listen to the rest of the episode and learn more on tech hiring, check out the episode on your preferred platform below!