If you’re ready to bring on new IT staff, but you’re not an IT professional yourself, you may not be sure exactly what qualifications are needed. Fortunately, there are a few qualities that all IT professionals need.

Here’s what to look for as you interview IT candidates

Tech Knowledge

You’ll want to make sure that the candidate you choose has the hard skills needed to do the job. The specific skills will vary by position, but may include things such as database management, programming languages, or web architecture. When you interview IT candidates, look for a degree or certifications in a tech field.

Logical Thinking

IT professionals often need to troubleshoot systems. They need to be able to articulate a clear plan, follow a basic if-then flowchart, and brainstorm solutions. They also need the ability to make leaps in logic and apply incoming information in new ways.

Attention to Detail

It can be tough to isolate an IT problem, and every piece of information could yield a valuable clue. Successful IT professionals are detail-oriented and able to sift through large amounts of data. They need to pay attention to everything, yet determine fairly quickly what might be relevant to the situation at hand.

Communication

Troubleshooting an IT problem means working with clients who are not necessarily IT-savvy. A strong candidate has good communication skills, including the ability to listen and understand what the problem is. She also needs to be able to explain her findings and proposed solutions in a clear, easy-to-follow way. She should be cool under pressure and able to stay calm even when the client does not.

Learning from Experience

Schools can teach basic IT skills. But they can’t cover every possible scenario. A good IT professional is able to build on what he learned in school by incorporating the lessons learned on the job. Over time, a good IT professional will learn to sort issues into different categories, try solutions that have worked before, and invent novel solutions based on previous experience.

Build A Forward-Thinking Tech Team With PEAK

If you are looking for talented IT professionals who can help your organization achieve its goals in the new year, contact the experts at PEAK Technical Staffing today to learn how we can help you access cutting-edge talent.