September 11, 2012
You want to hire an IT consulting firm. Now what? First and foremost, your company needs to thoroughly discuss the plans for the projects you want to complete. Create an outline or brief of each project that includes, but is not limited to, the following components:
- The goals of the project
- What type of consultants you need to realize these goals
- When you would like the consultant(s) to start work
- Expectations about the timeline needed to complete the projects • Anticipated costs and budget
After you have created a solid plan, it is time to request bids from multiple IT consulting firms. Your strategy should not solely be based on the lowest rates as that may sometimes mean you will receive fewer services and/or lower quality. However, the highest priced may not necessarily provide the best service either. Pay attention to the services that their proposals say that they provide. Make sure that the proposal has not left out a critical component that you need or want.
Seek out reviews from others who have used their services and research answers to all of your questions, including the following:
- How many consultants has the firm placed recently?
- How do they source candidates?
- What is their typical turn-around time with finding IT professionals for similar projects?
- How big of a talent pool do they have to choose from?
- Were the consultants they recently placed of good quality?
With the information from the proposals and your research, you should be able to narrow down your options to two or three. From there, you can try to negotiate on cost and type of services provided if you so choose.
After you have all the information needed and have considered your remaining options, it is time to make a decision! Once it is made official, the IT consulting firm you have chosen will begin their process for finding you the perfect consultant(s).
The process of finding an appropriate IT consulting provider may be a bit hectic and seem like a lot of work; but, when you choose the right firm they will make the whole process of finding the right people so much easier. IT consulting firms have extensive knowledge about the IT and staffing industries. Their expertise will take away the burden of screening, interviewing, and on-boarding from your company which, in turn, will save you time and money. That’s always nice, right?
What questions do you have about finding or working with and IT consulting firm? Let us know below, we would be happy to answer your questions!
Posted By: Briana Perrino