1. Working with Computer Futures
“IT recruitment is our
thing, it’s all we do and
we do it well.”
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2. About Computer Futures
Computer Futures is one of Europe’s
most dynamic and highly regarded IT
recruitment consultancies; a reputation
that has been developed over 25 years.
• business consulting & management
• business intelligence, RDBMS and IT
finance systems
• SAP/ERP & IT Sales.
IT recruitment is our thing, it’s all we do
and we do it well. We have the technical
expertise, in-depth market knowledge
and international footprint to enable our
clients to manage change and help our
candidates to take their careers to the
next level.
National and global reach
We take a localised approach to
recruitment but have a network of 19
offices based across Europe and the
US and a global candidate database of
900,000+ IT professionals.
Specialist vertical market consultants
Rather than offering a generalist
approach to IT recruitment each of our
400+ expert consultants focuses purely
on one specific technology, in one
tightly defined geographical area and on
either a contract or permanent basis.
As a result, our business is renowned
for offering specialist expertise across
several key disciplines, including:
• support, network, systems &
infrastructure
• applications design, development &
testing
As a business we have a wealth of
experience in placing candidates from
one country to another - if the skills
are not available in your country then
we will take full advantage of our
international resources to locate them.
as they are with HR departments,
and repeat business has driven our
success as a company.
Whether you are an IT professional
looking for your next position or an
employer looking to add to your team
on a permanent or contract basis, our
IT recruitment experts can provide
unique insight and unparalleled
access to the best roles and the best
people. That’s why we place an IT
professional every 38 minutes.
Our clients
Our business model allows us to
remain flexible enough to deal with
client organisations of all sizes, from
the smallest start-up companies to the
largest multinationals. Our consultants
are equally comfortable developing
relationships with line managers
“Our consultants are equally comfortable
developing relationships with line managers as
they are with HR departments”
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3. Our approach
Computer Futures’ success is due in no small part to our ability to provide a tried and tested structure, strategy and process
to the unique requirements of each client. Our 6-step recruitment framework enables us to gather knowledge and insight and
is the basis on which we develop campaigns and solutions that address the unique challenges of those we work with. It also
provides the foundation by which we measure and monitor the success and effectiveness of every assignment we work on.
Aftercare
Needs analysis
Technology
Onboarding
IT
Client/
Candidate
Search & source
Local
Hiring process
Screening & shortlisting
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4. Needs analysis
The Computer Futures recruitment
process is most effective when our
clients set aside time to define each
role in detail and outline exactly how
they like to work.
You’ll be assigned a specialist
consultant who focuses on your
specific area of IT and who will design
a bespoke recruitment ‘Blueprint’ to
match your unique requirements. 25
years of IT, recruitment have shown that
clients who work with us to define a
mutually agreeable process repeatedly
secure the best people.
Vacancy briefing
The essential first step lies in the
consultant’s ability to understand your
organisation and the roles you are
recruiting for. Whenever possible this
relationship starts with an on-site visit
from one of our IT specialists, during
which they will investigate the workings
of your business and the type of people
that succeed.
Once your consultant has a solid
understanding of your company and
the positions you’re recruiting for, a
comprehensive job specification is
taken. This will determine all of the
details of your current vacancies in
terms of:
• skills, technical abilities and the
competencies required
• team dynamics and working
environment
• responsibilities of the position
• desired educational background
• desired personality traits.
through to the timescales you can
commit to. We never take a
“one-size-fits-all” approach.
Service level agreement
We will then formulate a service
level agreement which outlines the
responsibilities of both parties and
specifies in measurable terms the
service level we will provide. This is an
extremely effective tool for monitoring
quality assurance during
post-placement meetings and
performance reviews with your
consultant(s) and Client Services
Manager.
Your consultant will then outline the key
deliverables in a Job Specification Form.
This will provide you with the confidence
that we have a clear understanding
of the role and can be assured that a
targeted recruitment process will follow.
Bespoke recruitment blueprint
Following the vacancy briefing we
draft a tailored recruitment plan to
cover everything from the number of
shortlisted CVs you’d like to receive
“We never take a ‘one-size-fits-all’
approach to recruitment.”
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5. Search & source
Computer Futures’ consultants use a
potent combination of the latest search
tools and methodologies to generate
interest from both active and passive
jobseekers.
The recruitment industry is constantly
changing; we have always positioned
ourselves at the forefront of innovation
and have been doing this since
1986. By constantly adapting our
approach and utilising only the most
effective resources, we have gained
the competitive edge when it comes to
sourcing exceptional talent.
Custom built candidate database
We have invested more than £4m in
our custom built candidate database
which contains the details of more than
900,000 screened candidates globally.
This highly intuitive system is used
by our consultants to search for,
qualify and track conversations
with candidates and filter the most
appropriate applications for specific
jobs. It also allows us to create
bespoke candidate pools for our clients
based on current and potential future
requirements.
We proactively market to this database
and partner with online job boards to
ensure that the software is as
up-to-date and efficient as possible.
When you engage Computer Futures
you have a true reflection of what’s
available in the current marketplace.
multiple agencies are seeking to secure
a particularly proficient candidate for
their roles.
If the candidate is out there, looking
and relevant then it’s highly likely you
will receive their CV on your desk!
Varied routes to market
We maintain that our database is the
strongest in the industry, but we do
not just rely on this invaluable source
of high-quality candidates. We adopt
a “no-stone-unturned” approach
to recruitment and the intelligent
sourcing methods that our IT specialist
consultants use include:
• extensive job board advertising
• social and professional networking
• proactive candidate acquisition
through referrals
• IT networking events.
In addition, many of the industry’s
leading IT professionals work with us
on a retained, exclusive basis and are
therefore unavailable through any other
agency. As our client this will ensure
that you avoid the bidding wars over
salary & fees that inevitably occur when
“We have gained the competitive edge when it
comes to sourcing exceptional talent.”
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6. Screening & shortlisting
Computer Futures’ consultants work
with the brightest IT talent and are
renowned for their ability to deliver
shortlists of exceptional professionals
whose skills and experience perfectly
match each client’s requirements.
The painstaking screening processes
that all of our IT specialists follow have
been honed over 25 years, ensuring
that the candidates we supply deliver
significant value from day one.
Extensive candidate
interviewing process
As experts in competency based
interviewing, our consultants use the
agreed job specification as the key tool
in determining which applicants have
the technical skills and experience to
succeed in your role(s).
Relevant prospects are interviewed
face-to-face whenever geographically
possible or over the phone on at
least two occasions. During these
conversations we explore salary or rate
expectations, personal motivations
and career goals before establishing
whether they are culturally aligned to
your organisation.
Technical testing
Computer Futures’ consultants use
their own IT expertise to evaluate
a candidate’s skills while further
validation is sought through a
combination of ‘Kenexa Prove It’
technical assessments. These
comprehensive tests return objective
and accurate measurements of skills
and knowledge of all IT areas, including
systems & infrastructure, databases,
ERP, design & development, consulting
& management, business intelligence &
finance.
Shortlisting and presentation of CVs
Only then will we deliver a manageable
shortlist of qualified and culturally
aligned people. This shortlist includes a
screening summary and an addendum
from each candidate explaining their
suitability in their own words. This
streamlines the process while helping
you to make an informed judgement on
which candidates to invite for interview.
Referencing
Our own testing methods ensure we
only submit skilled and competent
candidates for each role. We provide
a minimum of two verbal references
from current and former employers
for extra security and can incorporate
any pertinent questions you wish to
suggest. These investigations are
designed to explore attitudes to work,
such as the ability to manage long-term
projects or perform under pressure.
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7. Hiring process
Computer Futures’ consultants provide
a complete end-to-end recruitment
solution, managing the labour
intensive aspects of the process and
freeing your time to focus purely on
business critical staffing decisions.
Whether marketing your employer
offering to their networks of active
and passive jobseekers, managing
interviews, handling the final offer or
following up with attentive aftercare
services, our consultants will keep you
fully informed at each and every stage.
Detailed progress reports
We will update you with regular,
up-to-the-minute progress reports,
providing a comprehensive overview of
the recruitment activity carried out on
your behalf and including:
Interview stage
Following the delivery of a fully
screened shortlist we will respond
rapidly to your interview requests and
manage the next stage. We appreciate
that you don’t want to see prospects
who have been obviously prepped for
your questions. It’s our responsibility
to ensure that each candidate fully
understands the job specification, your
organisation and the interview process.
We also brief our clients on the
candidates’ expectations and provide
any relevant off-CV information.
Where beneficial we will also advise
you on the key selling points of your
employer proposition from a candidate
perspective, so that you have the best
chance of securing the brightest talent.
Offer management and
post-placement
Computer Futures’ consultants are
experts in negotiating placements
and managing candidates between
interview stages, the offer and the start
of the new role. Once a placement is
made we follow up with our structured
post-placement process to ensure the
candidate is adding value and to tackle
any early issues should they arise.
• number of adverts placed and where
• number of candidates who responded
• number of candidates interviewed/
screened
• a description of any difficulties we
have encountered.
Regular progress reports will help you to
monitor our service against the service
level agreement. They also provide
scope for us to recommend flexibility
in any area of the job specification for
improved search results if a skill set is
particularly niche.
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8. Onboarding
Employ a candidate or accept a
position through Computer Futures
and you will enjoy a smooth, consistent
onboarding service with no unexpected
surprises.
3. We will ensure the candidate
We place an IT professional every
38 minutes and during our 25 years
of IT recruitment we have encountered
and devised solutions for every
imaginable obstacle; continually
adapting our approach to successfully
manage all eventualities.
4. We will liaise with both parties with
1. We will ensure the candidate
receives written and verbal confirmation
of the offer from Computer Futures.
2. We will run through the package
on offer in great detail with the
candidate to ensure they’re fully aware
of any additional benefits they may be
receiving, as well as any probationary
period they may have to serve.
withdraws from any outstanding
applications and removes their CV from
any job boards.
regards to paperwork and ensure both
have the correct details and understand
their responsibilities.
5. We will advise the candidate on the
start date and confirm this with you to
ensure we agree a date convenient for
both parties.
7. We will collect all references and
documentation needed for security
checking if required.
8. We will maintain weekly
communication with both parties to
ensure transparent communication
at all times during the onboarding
process.
Our experience has shown these
onboarding commitments are key to the
final stages of a successful placement
but should be adaptable to suit your
individual requirements as part of the
bespoke service we provide.
6. We will provide assistance to the
candidate in handing in their notice
and discuss potential counter offers to
minimise the risk of non-starters.
“Our consultants are experts in negotiating placements
and managing candidates between interview stages,
the offer and the start of the new role.”
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9. Aftercare
Computer Futures’ success to date
can be attributed to our unrivalled
IT expertise and the strength of the
lasting relationships we develop with
both clients and candidates.
The end-to-end service we provide
certainly does not finish once
a placement is made. We offer
meticulous aftercare services to
monitor a candidate’s performance,
measure satisfaction levels and
highlight ways to improve the
partnership moving forward.
Post-placement meeting
We will dedicate a Client Services
Manager to your account and organise
on-site meetings with all parties
following placement. Typically this takes
place a fortnight after the candidate
has started in the role and incorporates
a short survey with key questions that
explore the hiring process and early
impressions.
The significant time invested in
understanding our customers’ unique
requirements ensures the vast majority
of candidates we place are extremely
satisfied in their roles and add value
to client organisations from day one. If
unexpected issues arise the
after-placement meeting provides an
opportunity for us to offer mitigation
advice before they reach a point of
uncontrollability.
The Client Services Manager acts as a
key point of contact, liaising across all
internal divisions, regions and teams
to ensure all of our people understand
your requirements so you enjoy
consistency of service.
Calls take place every two weeks and
our consultants also visit contractors
on site to gain a better understanding
of the working environment. This
ultimately gives peace of mind to our
clients as they know we are staying in
touch, gaining regular feedback and
dealing with any issues, meaning they
are likely to look positively on extension
opportunities if they arise.
A true partnership
Our key clients come to see us as an
extension of their hiring teams and
we still work with many organisations
where we initially placed candidates
more than 25 years ago.
Contractor monitoring calls
Candidate relationships are vital to
our business success. It is important
our contractors feel fully supported
throughout their job search and the
duration of their contracts.
“Computer Futures’ success can be attributed to
our unrivalled IT expertise and the strength of the
lasting relationships we develop with both clients
and candidates.”
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