Hiring Tech Help for Your Business

Tips on creating your own geek squad

By John Henshell, Writer/Editor/Communications Consultant, John Henshell

You may be a genius when it comes to creating new products and services. But if you're like many business owners, you may not have a clue when it comes to technology. And even if you do know your way around a circuit board, you may not have the time to devote to keeping your computers and other gear humming. It's time to consider hiring a tech consultant or an employee when you:

Have a hardware or software problem you can't solve.
Need objective, specialized purchasing recommendations.
Need to create specialized software or a custom database.
Want to establish a secure network.
Need technical help to complete a project.
Grow to the point where you need someone to manage and implement information technology.

Determine your needs

Before you begin your search for tech help, take stock of why you need help. Do you need assistance with a quick-fix problem, a major project, ongoing support, or some combination thereof?
Try: Write down everything you want from your tech consultant or employee. Learn more about finding the help you need from Entrepreneur.com.

Hire a specialty search firm

Many executive recruiters and employment agencies specialize in technology. They know how to find and screen qualified applicants. They can present the leading candidates to you for a final interview. Search firms usually charge a percentage of the project fee or first-year salary.
Try: Check kforce, etech resources, Synergy Seven, or a local firm.

Recruit through a professional association

Professional associations often limit their job banks to paid members, which prevents you from being swamped with résumés from unqualified candidates. If you need to hire someone with specialized expertise, an association of tech experts is a good starting place.
Try: Post a "Contract Opportunity" on the Independent Computer Consultants Association site, or post a job on the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Computer Society site. You can also search for an IT services firm by location at the National Association of Computer Consultant Businesses or check The Riley Guide for links to general resources, recruiters and recruiting sites, and professional associations and publications.

Network

Word-of-mouth is a low-cost and effective way to find good candidates.
Try: Ask your peers or colleagues in your professional association if they know of any consultants. Ask the vendor of your specialty software, or other key suppliers. Network through an organization such as your local chamber of commerce or Linked In.

Place a help-wanted ad

If you have the expertise to evaluate candidates' technical skills, you may want to advertise on your local newspaper's Web site or on one of the major Internet job boards.
Try: Dice specializes in technology and engineering; Monster.com and Yahoo! HotJobs are the most popular general job sites. Place a free ad on craigslist, but beware that you may get a lot of responses from unqualified applicants.

Check out the big guys

Many large, reputable corporations provide a variety of small business consulting services. They offer greater peace-of-mind than a fellow entrepreneur can, but usually charge accordingly.
Try: Investigate IBM business services or IBM IT services to learn about services and pricing.

Some vendors, such as Microsoft, Sun, and IBM, offer certification programs for tech consultants. Consider candidates with appropriate certifications.
When telling your potential hire about your needs, stick to describing your business goals as opposed to asking for specific types of software or tech tools. For instance, say that you need a customer database; don't say you need FileMaker Pro. Let the expert decide which tools and software will best meet your needs.
To protect both parties, have your consultant sign a contract.