DevOps has been a key focus of IT organizations in recent years. It’s the backbone of digital transformation, streamlining processes and removing friction so teams can release software faster and more frequently. The demand for DevOps talent is growing fast, as more companies transition to this agile, collaborative workflow. With implementation challenges and cultural changes, hiring the right people is essential to your organization’s success with DevOps. This guide will give you insight into what makes someone a great candidate for your DevOps team, how to source candidates from different channels and techniques for interviewing them effectively.
Retaining DevOps talent within the enterprise is often as much of a challenge as it is finding and recruiting for DevOps. Edison & Black, is a leading technical recruiting company with DevOps being one of the most common roles enterprise clients struggle to fill. This guide will give you insight into what makes someone a great candidate for a DevOps team, how to source candidates from different channels, and strategies for interviewing them effectively. With the tips in this guide, you can ensure that you are hiring the right people for your organization.
What is DevOps?
While the definition of DevOps varies, a DevOps Engineer is a highly technical role that requires knowledge and experience in both software development and IT/operations. It’s a role that has evolved from the need for businesses to speed up their software development and deployment cycles to keep up with the fast-paced digital world in which we live. In order for businesses to keep up with customer demand, they must rely on software to organize, automate, and expedite their business processes. The DevOps Engineer bridges the gap between software engineers, who design and develop software, and IT/operations personnel, who manage and run company infrastructure. The DevOps Engineer’s role is to make sure that the various software systems that run a company are integrated and communicate with each other in an efficient manner. They’ll collaborate with developers, operations managers, and business representatives to make sure that software is ready to be deployed as soon as it’s ready to go. The DevOps Engineer will also be responsible for monitoring the systems and making adjustments as needed.
What Makes a Great DevOps Candidate?
Most people think about hiring the wrong way. They think about what they need, what their weaknesses are, and how someone can help them. Instead, you should be hiring for what the organization needs, what the organization’s weaknesses are, and what the candidate needs. Find the right candidates by assessing the following traits. The right DevOps culture, the right organization for hiring a DevOps team is one that values collaboration, experimentation, and transparency. This is crucial, as the DevOps workflow requires teams to work across silos. The ability to collaborate and the ability to succeed at DevOps requires team members to be comfortable with collaboration and creative problem-solving. You should look for candidates who demonstrate the ability to work in a team and share knowledge. Inherently, the right technical skills in implementing DevOps requires an understanding of the many new technologies involved. Therefore, it is important to look for candidates with a mix of technical and people skills.
How to Recruiting DevOps Candidates on the Job
Nearly all companies often struggle to attract DevOps talent, even though the demand for these roles is high. If you’re looking to hire the best DevOps talent, try the following strategies: - Make your organization desirable - Achieving a DevOps transformation requires culture change on every level. You should start with assessing your organization’s culture and make changes where necessary. - Make your organization visible - Hiring managers are responsible for sourcing and attracting talent. While most organizations have a dedicated recruiting team, many teams still struggle to attract candidates. Start by making sure your organization is visible to candidates by putting yourself out there. - Make your organization’s brand real - Candidates don’t want to join an organization that doesn’t reflect what they see in marketing materials. You should make sure your brand is authentic and your culture is reflected in everything you do.
Where to Find DevOps Talent
When it comes to where to find DevOps talent, there are many options available to you. Depending on your budget, hiring needs, and the type of candidate you’re looking to hire, you can choose the best option. - Internal Talent - If your organization is growing, you can also look internally to find DevOps candidates. This is especially useful if your organization has a need for a DevOps manager. - Referral Programs - If you have a current team, you can use a referral program to find new talent. You can also use candidate surveys to gauge interest and find out what candidates are looking for. - Internal Job Boards - Many organizations have internal job boards and use them to post new jobs. If you don’t have one, you should start one. - External Job Boards - External job boards are a great way to source new talent. You can post your job and reach a larger audience than internal boards allow for. - Social Media - Social media is a great way to attract new talent and discuss your organization’s needs. You can use social media to find candidates, build relationships with future candidates, and attract talent to your company.
How to Interview DevOps Candidates
Once you find potential DevOps candidates, you need to interview them. This is where many companies fail, as they often hire the wrong candidates. To hire the right people, try the following tips: Define the Job Description. The best way to avoid hiring the wrong candidates is to make sure you know exactly what you’re looking for. A great way to do this is by defining your job description. Create a Great Candidate Experience - The candidate experience is everything. It starts the moment someone applies for a job with your company. Make sure you treat candidates well and make them feel welcome during the interview process. Know Your Interview Process You should also make sure your interview process is consistent and fair. You also want to know where you have room for improvement. Give Candidates Time, and ensure candidates have enough time to respond to your interview request. This is crucial to making sure you have enough time to make a decision.
Staffing top DevOps Talent
Among all the new roles, processes, and procedures that have come out of the DevOps movement, one necessity has remained constant: hiring. In order for your organization to adopt DevOps effectively, you need the right people on your team who can drive change from within. Unfortunately, this is not as easy as it sounds. For many companies, finding qualified DevOps professionals can be a challenge. If you’re struggling with recruiting great candidates and implementing a plan to get more from your hiring efforts, we’ve got you covered! Our guide will give you everything you need to know about finding and attracting DevOps professionals.
Why is Placing for DevOps so hard?
When you’re trying to attract top talent, the hiring landscape is often a scary place. With more than 3 million job openings expected to go unfilled in 2019 alone, many professionals are feeling the pressure to pick up a new role. At the same time, more companies are looking to hire than ever before. With all of these factors at play, competition for the best DevOps candidates will be fierce. When it comes to DevOps roles, there is a high need for technical skills that many companies simply can’t find. Engineers who can design, write, and debug software, create infrastructure, and understand the business process for which the software is being built are in high demand. There is also a shortage of workers with skills in the broader computer science fields that are used to support the growing DevOps industry. This includes expertise in areas like data analytics, artificial intelligence, and computer programming languages.
Finding the Right Candidates: Job Ads and Beyond
The first step in finding the best candidates for your DevOps roles is to write effective job ads that grab attention. Your job ads are the first thing candidates will see when they search for open positions at your company, so it’s important to make them count. Some tips for writing a great job ad include: - Be specific. - Your job ad should be very clear about the requirements, responsibilities, and expectations of the role. Be as detailed as possible so that you can attract candidates who are the right fit for the job. Doing so will help you avoid wasting time and money by spending on interviews with candidates who can’t pass your hiring standards. - Be concise. - Your job ad should be short and sweet. DevOps Engineers have many options when they’re searching for jobs, so you need to reel them in quickly. Your job ad should grab the attention of potential candidates and reel them in with a compelling message. - Be creative. - You don’t have to stick to traditional job ads if you don’t want to. In many cases, creative and out-of-the-box job ads are more effective than traditional ones.
Tips For Recruiting in the DevOps World
Reach out to your network. - Your network of colleagues, peers, and former colleagues is a valuable source of information when it comes to finding candidates. Be sure to keep in touch with people who left your team on positive terms. Check in with them every once in a while and ask if they know anyone who would be a good fit for your openings. - Host events where you can interact with potential candidates face-to-face. - Attending events where your potential candidates congregate is a great way to network and gain valuable insight into the type of people you should be looking for. You can also use events as an opportunity to practice your interviewing skills and gain confidence. - Reach out to universities and offer paid internships or practicum opportunities. - Many universities have computer science programs that offer coursework and hands-on experience in a variety of different computer science fields. By partnering with universities, you can offer paid assistantships and practicum opportunities to students who are studying in these fields. - Use social media to your advantage. - Social media is often overlooked when it comes to recruiting, but it can be a powerful tool if you know how to use it right. Make an effort to engage with candidates on social media. Be sure to respond to comments and questions promptly.
Finding Top Talent Takes Time
When you’re hiring for DevOps roles, you need to be prepared to put in the legwork. It will take time, patience, and effort to find the right candidates for your company. However, diligence pays off, and by taking the time to find the best candidates, you’ll increase your chances of hiring great employees who will help your organization achieve success. Finding the right candidates for DevOps roles is challenging, but it’s critical to success. When you’re hiring for DevOps roles, find a hiring partner that can help you stay on top of best practices, new trends, and the latest hiring strategies.