Cengiz Jaffer

Hiring Digital Talent: Top 5 Tips

Hiring digital talent in the current market might sound like a daunting task, but as long as you have mapped out exactly what it is that your business needs, it doesn’t have to be a difficult process. The key for hiring digital talent focuses around the following five tips: Tip 1: Have a clear strategy. Don’t just jump straight in at the deep end and think, “We need a Content Manager / SEO Specialist / PPC Assistant / CRO Executive”. If you have already found yourself at that stage, ask yourself - why is it that you think it’s that role (or roles) that you need within your business? Take a step back and look at what it is your business is trying to achieve. Then, discuss with your current digital team, as well as digital recruitment experts, what type of digital roles you should bring in to benefit the overall business strategy. Don’t just assume you need a certain type of digital expert just because every other company seems to have one - take a look at what it is your business specifically needs. Tip 2: Ensure you set expectations. Setting out on the hiring process can seem daunting. In order to benefit your business and to make the entire process as smooth and seamless as possible, you need to make sure you have set expectations, in terms of the role, the type of candidate you need, and the time in which you need to fill the role. Many businesses suffer because they undertake the task of hiring new talent without setting firm expectations at the start of the process. Some businesses expect to be able to hire the most incredible talent in the market, within the space of five working days, and under budget. Can this happen? Of course, it can! But as long as your recruitment expectations are set at the start of the process, especially given the current demand for digital talent - it’ll make the whole operation a lot smoother. Tapping into recruitment experts in your sector can also help to guide the process, using their insight, knowledge and understanding of your business, to ensure that your expectations are achievable and focus on the best interests for your company. Tip 3: Keep an open mind. One key factor when recruiting digital talent is to keep an open mind. Just like digital itself, the market for talent is constantly in flux. One minute there will be a surge of SEO experts, the next minute there will be a wave of PPC pros. Similarly, we’ve noticed that one week there’ll be a huge number of candidates looking for permanent roles, followed by contractors the following week. If you’d planned on only hiring a permanent member of staff, or only hiring a contractor for a six-month position - keep an open mind. This could change, and as long as it benefits the business, that’s all that matters. (Of course, if you’re not too sure what kind of employee you should hire, let us know and we can help guide you in the right direction). Tip 4: Make sure talent can add to your culture. Of course, having the right digital skillset is the most important part of hiring digital talent, but it’s also absolutely vital that they can add to the culture of your business.. What value will they add to the overall business? Will they be able to offer further insight to your wider teams? Will they be an excellent addition overall? Ask yourself these questions before you offer a candidate the position, despite whether they tick all the boxes in terms of experience. If they add extra value to the company and internal relationships, you’ll achieve the performance results you need, and improve your company culture too. Tip 5: Work with a recruiter you trust Not all businesses work with recruiters, but when it comes to digital recruitment, it’s advisable to work with someone who you can trust to lead the way. The digital talent market in the UK is huge, but knowing who is right for what, and who is available, is a completely different story. So, if you do decide to work with a recruiter, be sure it’s someone you know will understand your business requirements. Not only that, but make sure they will keep the process organised and easy, and will find the perfect talent for your business. Get in touch If your business is currently on the lookout for digital talent, get in touch with the team at Oscar Digital and we can help. Our digital marketing recruitment experts will be able to find the perfect candidates to fit into your business, no matter how broad or niche your requirements might be.

Cengiz Jaffer

Lead Consultant - Tech - UK: Front End Development

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