Hiring The Best Knowledge Workers, Techies & Nerds: The Secrets & Science Of Hiring Technical People

Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive, timely manual for technology sector
Review: In this comprehensive, detailed handbook, Rothman recognizes what employers have to do to be able to attract the best technical workers. It's not enough simply to advertise for job openings, but the technical work has to be properly described to attract the right kind of prospective employees. Otherwise, the hiring process will be inefficient, murky, and errant. Reviewing resumes, screening potential candidates for interviews and preparing for these, and conducting an interview are other topics. A consultant to technical firms, Rothman also goes into a personal touch with individuals looking for employment which gives them a favorable impression of the company. This is desirable because a company might want to hire an applicant at a future time; and it creates a favorable image of the company among technical workers. This specialized hiring manual is timely considering the present pick-up in activity in the technology sector of the economy. Many technology companies have to start now preparing to hire new technical workers to be able to capitalize on the opportunities shaping up.


Rating:
Summary: Hiring techies? Your competition is reading this book ...
Review: If you are involved in any way with hiring techies, you need this book -- not just as a one-time read, but as one you will refer to repeatedly.

(If you're a techie looking to get hired, it has considerable value, as well.)

Some other recent books, such as <u>How Would You Move Mt. Fuji?</u> deal with the *entire* hiring process only lightly, if at all. This book covers everything, from coming up with the critical/optional requirements of the position (an especially favorite section), through finding and sourcing candidates, résumé review (é is alt-0233 on the numeric keypad, BTW), phone-screen techniques, and truly useful interviewing guidance (another outstanding section). It also covers the crucial decision-making process, reference checking, and making the job offer. It discerns the differences between hiring contributors and managers quite well indeed.

Those of us who have lived painfully through a bad hiring decision know the tremendous cost in money, disruption, and angst. Risk is inherent in every hiring situation, but reading and applying this book will help you go a *long* way toward mitigating that risk.

I bought this book for myself. I'll be buying it for my peer managers, my directors, and my team. It's *good*, and it's *useful*.