The Hidden Reality
of IT Hiring

A business owner recently shared their hiring experience: 8 months searching for an IT person, three interview rounds, and when they finally hired someone for £42k, the new employee quit after two weeks. Their feedback? "This role needs three different people, not one."

This highlights a fundamental shift in how IT works today. The days of hiring one "computer person" to handle everything are over.

Understanding Modern IT Complexity

Today's business IT requirements have evolved dramatically. A typical growing business needs expertise across multiple specialized areas:

• Infrastructure management - Network design, server administration, cloud architecture
• Security and compliance - GDPR requirements, threat detection, backup strategies
• Application integration - CRM systems, accounting software, productivity tools
• Strategic planning - Technology roadmaps, vendor evaluation, cost optimization

Each area requires different skills, certifications, and ongoing training. The technology landscape changes rapidly - what worked five years ago may be obsolete today.

Hidden Costs of Building an Internal IT Team

When budgeting for IT staff, many businesses underestimate the total cost. Beyond salary, consider these factors:

• Recruitment costs - Agency fees, interview time, background checks
• Training and certification - Keeping skills current requires ongoing investment
• Tools and software - Professional monitoring tools, remote access licenses, security software
• Holiday and sick cover - IT issues don't stop when staff are unavailable
• Career progression - Retaining good IT staff requires salary increases and development opportunities

The key is understanding which approach aligns with your business size, growth plans, and IT complexity.

Industry Trends and Alternatives

Many successful businesses are rethinking their approach to IT staffing. Rather than hiring generalists, they're exploring specialist partnerships.

For example, recruitment agencies often need deep expertise in applicant tracking systems like Bullhorn or Vincere. These platforms have specific compliance requirements and integration complexities that require specialized knowledge.

Similarly, accountancy firms need IT support that understands HMRC filing deadlines, Making Tax Digital requirements, and the critical nature of month-end processes.

Strategic Considerations

When evaluating IT staffing options, consider how technology can become a competitive advantage rather than just a necessary cost.

Key questions to ask:

• Do you need broad IT generalists or deep specialists?
• How critical is 24/7 availability for your operations?
• What level of industry-specific expertise do you require?
• How quickly do you need to scale IT support as you grow?
• What's your risk tolerance for single points of failure?

Different businesses will answer these questions differently, leading to different optimal solutions.

The Transition Reality

We know what you're thinking: "But I need someone in the office." Do you though?

Most IT work happens remotely anyway. Server maintenance, software updates, security monitoring - none of this requires someone to sit in your office. And for the rare times you need physical presence, any decent MSP provides on-site support.

The businesses making this transition are discovering something interesting: their "IT person" was spending most of their time on basic support tickets anyway. Password resets, printer issues, basic troubleshooting. Tasks that a proper help desk handles more efficiently.

Framework for Decision Making

When evaluating IT staffing options, consider these key questions to guide your decision:

• Coverage requirements: Do you need 40-hour-a-week presence or responsive support when issues arise?
• Management preference: Are you prepared to manage IT staff or would you prefer outcome-based service agreements?
• Primary objective: Is your goal building an internal team or ensuring reliable technology operations?
• Expertise needs: Do you require broad generalist skills or deep specialist knowledge in specific areas?
• Scalability: How quickly do you need to adapt IT support as your business grows or changes?

Different businesses will answer these questions differently based on their size, industry, growth stage, and technology complexity. There's no one-size-fits-all solution.