How to Hire for Information Technology and Network Engineering

Hiring can be difficult and overwhelming no matter what role you are looking to fill.

When it comes to How to Hire for Information Technology and Network Engineering, hiring the right person can have a dramatic effect on the rest of your business.

However, this can be quite a challenge for the hiring manager.

With plenty of ITIL certifications for Philippinos or Australians or anywhere in the world available online, your company will surely have a surplus of applicants.

The right IT professional and network architect can help you streamline your business, saving time and money.

Unfortunately, choosing the wrong IT professional can also have negative effects on your bottom line.

If your company servers or network goes down, the entire company is affected.

A network engineers’ job is especially crucial for successful communication and effective business operations.

They monitor and alter network infrastructure and network hardware based on issues, traffic congestion, preventative maintenance implementation, upgrade installation, and new product configuration.

Successful and talented network engineers are natural collaborators, often interacting with management and staff to facilitate the coordination of a successful network system.

Knowing what qualifications and skills to look for is only one key aspect when hiring an IT professional.

Here we will help you understand what you need to know to hire for information technology and network engineering.

image of a hiring manager reviewing a successful candidates resume - How to Hire for Information Technology and Network Engineering

 

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The Resume Matters

A resume can tell you a lot about the career path and skill sets of IT professionals.

Whether your candidate has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a professional certification, there is a wealth of information that you can use to make your hiring decision in a candidate’s resume.

Education is important for IT professionals and database administrators, but a bachelor’s degree is not always necessary to be successful.

Professional certifications like Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE), Cisco Certified Network Professional / Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNP/CCNA), Juniper Networks Certified Expert Security (JNCIE-ENT), Network+, and Wireshark Certified Network Analyst (WCNA) are all great indicators that your applicant has received proper Information systems and network administration training.

In their resume, they should discuss their experience with network infrastructure and computer hardware.

Their experience should clearly highlight their proficiency with Internet and infrastructure devices, including switches, routers, wireless access points, controllers, and firewalls.

A good network engineer candidate will also have expertise in designing, monitoring, and repairing local area networks (LAN) and wide area networks (WAN).

All of this information, if it applies to the candidate, should be clearly detailed in their resume.

So you can get a solid grasp of their work history and certifications by reading a candidate’s resume, but did you know there are other things you can learn?

Pay attention to their spelling and grammar.

Attention to detail is key in information technology, including network engineering.

You should want an engineer that is as detail-oriented as possible.

A flawless resume will show their commitment to detail and accuracy.

You can also learn about any gaps or red flags from their resume, like short employment tenures.

It is important to inquire about these, whether you ask the candidate or reach out to their references.

Don’t neglect resumes during the hiring process – they can help you weed out bad candidates before the interview process begins and save you time.

Focus on What You Know

LinkedIn has written several great articles all about hiring network engineers, including how to write a network engineer job description.

These articles are helpful, but contain a lot of technical jargon.

If you’re not an IT professional, but looking to hire one, these resources are not the most helpful if you haven’t done your own research.

Sure, the candidate resume may say that they are proficient in certain areas, but how do you know?

A quick Google search should help you understand the basics, but will they help you analyze a candidate’s response to a question like, “What is your experience with heterogeneous networks and environment?”

This is why we recommend focusing on what you know – and asking other qualified professionals about what you don’t.

A candidate’s experience and education are laid out for you on their resume and an ideal candidate will always be able to offer references when requested.

A reference check is a great way to relieve any doubts you may have and confirm your candidate’s abilities and experience with a qualified professional.

Reference checks can also provide you information that you can’t get from a resume, like your candidate’s ability to work well with others.

Don’t assume you know everything about the perfect IT candidate, especially if you don’t work in IT yourself.

Do your research and rely on other qualified professionals like Enternet Business Systems Company Page if you have questions.

This is why we always recommend a reference check!

Money Matters

When you are hiring for an IT professional, it is important to be upfront and transparent about the duties and salaries of the roles you are hiring for.

If you are looking to hire a top-notch network engineer, you must make sure that you are meeting their salary expectations.

You can easily research the average salary for a specific role on a number of different free websites.

Your job description for this role should clearly indicate the salary range you are offering if you are looking to attract the best candidates.

A Little Work Goes a Long Way

Hiring for information technology and network engineering is challenging only if you haven’t done a little research yourself.

Whether you are learning about the candidate’s background through a reference check or inquiring about their professional certifications, this research goes a long way when it comes to hiring the best IT professional for your organization.

If you want to ensure your network architecture is in good hands, it’s important to use each candidate’s resume and references to inform your decision and make the best choice.  

Additional Reading; Top 9 Summer Break Safety TipsThe Summer Technology Contract Every Family Needs and 8 Ways to Prepare Before you Travel.

 

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