IT Managers have an important job in your company. Technology has moved to the forefront of business operations; today, it’s likely that all of your major business functions are tied to technology in some way. IT Managers maintain technology infrastructures and deploy improvements to keep your business running smoothly. Finding the right professional to handle these functions is a business imperative. But in a low unemployment market, it’s going to feel like a needle in a haystack. Here are some questions that will help you find the right IT manager for your business.
What to Ask an IT Manager?
The technology the IT manager needs to know depends on the hardware and software your company is using. But the job requirements should also encompass any strategic initiatives the company has. For example, do you have a data center that you’re planning to migrate to the cloud sometime soon? Is cyber and data security becoming a more pressing concern? Ask questions regarding the candidate’s experiences with the particular stack you’re operating under, but also determine their ability to manage the people, processes, and technology in our organization. Try asking questions such as:
- What skills do you think are important for today’s IT managers?
- What is your process for gathering system and user requirements?
- What do you consider some of the top priorities of IT budgets today.
- Tell me about a time when you had to negotiate for new software or hardware?
- What are the imperatives for data security today?
- Have you ever developed a bring your own device (BYOD) policy?
- How would you organize a cloud migration?
- What steps would you follow before deploying anew software?
Find out if the IT Manager has ever handled offshore teams. Ask them how they stay current on IT security and the latest hacker threats. Also look for IT Managers that have deployed large hardware or software initiatives. If so, the chances are they’ve prepared cost analysis reports and also handled situations that required the successful rollout of new technology systems.
As professional interviewers, we also like behavioral questions. If you’re interviewing an IT manager, try asking:
- Describe a situation when you had to describe a technical project to a non-technical audience.
- How do you handle conflict between team members?
- What is the most challenging technology rollout you’ve ever taken on?
- Describe how you motivate your teams?
Take your investigation a step further and find out about their attitudes toward disaster recovery planning; a skill that is crucially important at a time when everything from natural disasters to hackers threaten our corporate technology resources.
It’s also vital to find out the IT Manager’s attitude toward learning new things. Technology changes incredibly rapidly today so finding an IT Manager who is focused on continual learning is your key to a great hire. To assess their desire to learn new skills, try asking the IT Manager what was the last software IT skill they learned and what they are most interested in for the future.
IT Managers play an increasingly important role in your business. They are the professionals tasked with everything from innovation to keeping your critical data safe. They can make or break parts of your company like e-commerce or even invoicing, because all of our corporate functions leverage the software and hardware that makes up your technology stack.
Find Your Next Great Manager with NueVista!
Today’s best IT Managers are part strategists, part technologists, and part communicators to lead your business. Finding the right IT Manager starts with finding the right staffing partner. NueVista has a carefully crafted process to assess your needs and then a robust professional network to help fulfill them. Reach out to our expert recruiters today!
