Problems recruiting a web developer - any ideas?

[CableGuy]

Hi all

We're currently advertising for a web developer. We've advertised using an agency and the job is posted on all the major job boards. The salary option is good and we've been specific about what we're looking for.

We've had hundreds of responses (good) but most aren't up to much. It's been 6 weeks now so I am looking at other approaches.

Can anyone suggest any other recruitment options? For example, are there any specific web sites, rather than the generic job boards, which may be useful? I was also thinking of posting on Gumtree? I was even thinking about running some Google AdWords!

If anyone has any suggestions they would be gratefully received.

Many thanks :)

[Kev Jaques]

Hi CableGuy

Can you send me a pm of what you're looking for?

Thanks :)

[CableGuy]

Hi CableGuy

Can you send me a pm of what you're looking for?

Thanks :)

Web Developer - mainly with eCommerce skills and expert knowledge of ASP/.NET and/or PHP...

[matt.chatterley]

Have you considered outsourcing?

I don't necessarily mean 'outsourcing abroad', but I mean employing an external company, instead of retaining an employee.

It depends upon exactly what you are wanting to achieve and your aims as to how suitable this is, but possibly worth some thought..

[DambTech]

Have you considered outsourcing?

I don't necessarily mean 'outsourcing abroad', but I mean employing an external company, instead of retaining an employee.In the current market then this may be an option you should consider, providing you give clear details on what your requirements are then there should be no problem.

Dave

[Subbynet]

Hi,

I can't help but think getting the message out is not the problem here - you've got hundreds of replies, but if the calibre of respondents is not as expected I would look closer at the actual advert itself and/or the pay.

[awebapart.com]

job is posted on all the major job boards
...
are there any specific web sites, rather than the generic job boards
If you are looking for a specialist, then posting on generic job boards probably wont help, since the specialists will mainly be looking at the specialist job boards. Did you or your agency post your job on www.jobserve.com (http://www.jobserve.com) ? Jobserve is where a lot of IT specialists look for jobs.

[CableGuy]

Hi,

I can't help but think getting the message out is not the problem here - you've got hundreds of replies, but if the calibre of respondents is not as expected I would look closer at the actual advert itself and/or the pay.

1. Outsourcing - this isn't an option for us as we've been doing for this 10 years and now need dedicated in-house skills.

2. We have revised the advert several times and monitored the responses to each revision. The salary is also above average.

Perhaps I can pose these questions. If you were looking for this position, where would you advertise? If you were a developer looking for a new job, where would you look?

[CableGuy]

If you are looking for a specialist, then posting on generic job boards probably wont help, since the specialists will mainly be looking at the specialist job boards. Did you or your agency post your job on www.jobserve.com (http://www.jobserve.com) ? Jobserve is where a lot of IT specialists look for jobs.

Will check on this. Cheers.

[adam391]

CableGuy,

If you’re based in the southwest or willing to look at someone working remotely I would be happy to talk about working with you.

You can get a good overview of my skills at my website www.adamcurtis.co.uk (http://www.adamcurtis.co.uk)

feel free to PM me or contact me through my website.

Regards

Adam Curtis


(http://www.adamcurtis.co.uk)

[PointandStare]

Try posting on freelancers.net (http://freelancers.net)

[sjr4x4]

From My IT Contracting days, I used to use Jobserve, but you could also contact large recruiters directly like Hays IT.

Also ASP/.Net and PHP, this is pretty broad, meaning a solid background in Microsoft IIS, and Linux/Unix Apache Platforms. Assume from PHP you would also want MySQL skills if a LAMP solution, and if ASP would they need a working knowledge of MS SQL?

Could you narrow it down and concentrate on one technology? Our Dev's specialise in LAMP, they can and do work in MS & ASP but I know what they prefer.

[mountrecruitment]

Hi Cableguy,

If the Agency / Agencies you have used haven't had the ad on Jobserve already then they are probably the wrong type of company for the job. There are other boards such as cwjobs that this should be posted on, If you want to chat feel free to get in touch.

Otherwise best of luck with it, the right candidate will be out there.

[FAB Enterprises]

CableGuy,

If I was looking for the position it would be Jobserve and the major agencies. I would never look on Gumtree.

As sjr mentions to have specialist skills in both .net & PHP you looking for a pretty exceptional individual which you'll need pay top dollar for. Probably better to focus on one or the other not both or look to create two positions this could possibly be a better option for you.

Good luck with your search

Mason

[greenbox]

i would try posting on jobserve and cwjobs, thats were you tend to find the serious IT professionals looking. Thats where i used to look, when i worked for other people.

[mountrecruitment]

i would try posting on jobserve and cwjobs, thats were you tend to find the serious IT professionals looking. Thats where i used to look, when i worked for other people.

Agreed these are the two key sites for IT, there are several more worth looking at.

The problem you face is that if you have been rejecting a lot of cv's already then you may need to work with an IT Recruitment firm to make sure you dont end up paying full price for multiple ads which you may repeat several times. It sounds like some of the "leg work" needs to be done for you to find those people with the right skills.

Also dare i say it but recruitment firms will do more than post an ad - the good ones anyway! :)

[ozbon]

If you were a developer looking for a new job, where would you look?

Jobserve (as per earlier replies)

Any IT job agency worth it's salt will put the ad there. If they haven't, odds are you've gone with the wrong agency...

[Jeewhizz]

The problem is, any really good candidate is going to have his pick of the jobs. I've not had to worry in the past, and when I was contracting, when a contract expired, I literally placed a few calls on a friday afternoon, and was in a new contract on a Monday morning.

Most really good developers I know have a similar 'black book' of people to call, and tend to mix in certain areas.

If your looking for a PHP developer, why not try the PHP London mailing list if you are based in the M25 - http://www.phplondon.org/wiki/Job_offers