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Wolverine Technical Staffing Reports IT Worker Shortage

Who says jobs are scarce now? That's certainly not the case with information technology jobs, at least according to placement experts at Ann Arbor-based Wolverine Technical Staffing Inc.

Wolverine Technical Staffing specializes in providing search and placement services for IT professionals nationwide. And Wolverine's placement specialists report there's no shortage of IT jobs in Michigan, the Midwest and in most of the major metropolitan areas around the nation.

The problem, they say, is a scarcity of qualified candidates. IT job openings in Michigan and elsewhere require specialized skills. 
"Unskilled jobs are a thing of the past," Wolverine CEO Jim Irwin said. "That's why so many of the unemployed need to be retrained in a particular skill. And until they are, job openings are going to continue to outpace candidates. The job world in IT has a different problem though, since the candidates are already trained. But job openings still outpace available candidates. And this is even more so in contracting."

Wolverine's CEO says the IT hiring process faces some notable changes in 2011:
* First, the candidates know they're in demand.
* Second, they find they're qualified for more than one available job, and they're willing to go after them.
* And third, the "good" ones -- those you want to hire -- are getting multiple job offers.

So what can companies do about it?

Here are some of Irwin's suggestions:
* Sell the candidate on your opportunity. Too many managers put on their 'buyer' hats when they interview. Tell the candidate what you or your company can do to make their job better than someone else can.
* Be willing to pay a competitive wage. Remember, you are probably in competition for the candidate you want. So don't try to buy cheaply.
* Don't drag out your decision to hire. The longer you wait, the more likely your competition will become involved. If you're not the only decision maker, be sure the hiring staffers at your company are in quick decision mode.

Wolverine Technical Staffing is based in Ann Arbor. It provides search and placement services for IT professionals nationwide. Its consultants have specific competencies that match clients' pending work and projects.

More at www.wolverinetech.com.

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