Top Mistakes We Make Daily: 2017

Saturday, 4 February 2017

5 Common tech hiring mistakes to avoid

This contributed piece has been edited and approved by Network World editors

Finding the right hire for IT can be a chore, and if you get it wrong, the consequences can be substantial. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, a bad hire costs at least 30% of the initial annual salary, but that number is believed to be much higher. It’s a mistake that companies simply can’t afford to make in today’s increasingly competitive marketplace.

To help avoid the pitfalls of a bad hire and net the tech talent you require, here are five common hiring mistakes to consider:

1. Thinking it’s a business-driven market and not the candidate-driven market it currently is. Companies looking for tech talent often operate under the misguided belief that they have the power since they are doing the hiring. However, when it comes to highly qualified, niche IT and tech talent, that is no longer the case. Because specialized talent with technical expertise is so difficult to find and hire, qualified candidates are the ones dictating what job offers they respond to, which companies they want to work for, and how much they’ll be paid. To net top talent, companies must accept they are searching for talent in a candidate-driven market and act accordingly. Or, risk losing out on the talent they want to competitors that already understand this.

2. Offering too little due to small budgets. Simply put, if you want top tech talent, you’ll need to pay up. Since qualified candidates are dictating the market, they are demanding higher salaries. Think you can low ball candidates after they are through the interview process? Think again. Current employee salaries are often one of the main stats candidates research on sites like Glassdoor to see if companies can match the rates highly qualified tech talent demands.

3. Failing to test coding and technical capabilities. Due to the difficulty that high-end tech talent searches pose, many hiring managers overlook the importance of testing candidate’s skills and capabilities because their resumes often showcase the experience they are looking for. But, resumes only tell one side of the story. It’s crucial to test the skills of tech applicants more so than any other group because of the need for specific expertise. While it may seem like they have the skills you’re looking for, you will only know for sure by providing them with a test using a coding or programming language proficiency test. Tests should be task-oriented, requiring applicants to develop a function using the coding language or languages that are required for the job. These can be automated through platforms like Codility. Implementing this one method will significantly lower the odds of making a bad hire, meaning you won’t be left with any surprises once they sign on the dotted line.

4. Overlooking internal talent. When looking to make a new hire, your current employees can also be your best resource. While many companies believe creating a referral program is the best way to net new talent, don’t make the mistake of overlooking internal talent. Although internal candidates may need additional training, given the current hiring market, this could likely be the faster and less expensive route without sacrificing the tech expertise you’re looking for. Promoting internally also boosts employee retention rates and engagement because they are shown that loyalty and hard work are respected and rewarded in the workplace. Given that the average tenure for tech professionals is only 1 to 3 years, companies looking to boost retention rates, improve culture, and grow internally can’t afford to overlook internal talent for new job openings.

5. Not moving fast enough. One hiring mistake that almost every business makes is not moving fast enough when it comes to the hiring process. Tech talent is a hot commodity and candidates are more aware of this than ever before. Qualified applicants will simply move on with their job search if they don’t hear back within a reasonable time frame or if the hiring process drags on for weeks. Although hiring managers are overwhelmed trying to balance their day-to-day responsibilities with hiring, it’s critical they prioritize the hiring process and show candidates that they are the top priority. The more time lags, the more likely candidates will simply move on. Nothing is worse than dedicating time to interviewing all of the potential candidates just to miss out on the initial candidate they fell in love with.

Making the right hiring choice for your tech team is crucial. Avoid these common hiring mistakes to net the best talent available and dodge the expensive and time-consuming pitfalls of getting it wrong.

Mondo is the largest nationwide staffing agency specializing in high-end, niche IT, Tech, and Digital Marketing talent.

Sunday, 29 January 2017

4 MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN GOING SOLAR

There are now more than 1 million solar systems installed in the United States, according to a recent report by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association. Q3 2016 was record-shattering by all accounts, and the solar industry is poised to almost double year after year. Despite widespread growth, there are misunderstandings and misconceptions that cost solar shoppers money. Keeping these common mistakes with solar panels for home use in mind can reduce the cost of going solar and your expenses over time.

Mistake #1: Not Making the Wisest Decision to Buy or Lease a Solar System

Solar leases and power purchase agreements (third-party-owned systems) soared in popularity several years ago but are now on the decline. These third-party ownership arrangements allow homeowners to install a solar system on their home without actually purchasing the equipment. Many agreements enabled homeowners to go solar for no money down, but the agreements are often 20 years in length. In many states, the homeowner pays less for the solar electricity than if they were purchasing it from the power grid, but some solar shoppers may be leaving money on the table.

There are a couple of disadvantages to solar leases and power purchase agreements. Homeowners are entitled to the 30 percent federal tax credit when they own the solar system but not for third-party-owned systems. This has a huge financial impact because a tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in federal income taxes owed. For example, a $10,000 solar system could qualify for a $3,000 tax credit. Solar leases also got a bad name because they can complicate home sales if the new homeowner doesn’t or cannot take over the agreement.

There are now many more financing options available for solar panels for home use than there were several years ago, and this is a big reason that third-party-owned solar systems are dropping in popularity. Many of these options have low fixed rates and require little, if any, money down to go solar. Ultimately, whether it is more financially savvy to lease or to finance a solar system depends on the terms of the contract and the loan agreement. Just make sure that you understand the terms of each agreement before deciding so that there aren’t any surprises down the line.

Mistake #2: Installing a New Solar System on an Old Roof

Solar energy systems are designed to last 25 to 30 years. It can be costly to remove and reinstall the panels if you need to replace your roof during the life of your solar system. If your roof will need to be replaced in the near future, complete the roof work first and then install your solar system. It might, however, be possible to complete some roof repairs around the solar system, depending on the solar panel mounting hardware and the needed repairs.

Mistake #3: Not Shopping Around to Get Competitive Solar Bids

Although the cost of installing a solar system has fallen dramatically, the soft costs still constitute a lot of the total system cost. These costs vary widely by the solar installer, so it’s a good idea to shop around. Like any other home improvement project, there can be a big difference in the cost of installing a solar system with different installers. Understand Solar is a great free service to link you to top-rated solar installers for solar estimates, and the EnergySage Marketplace has been praised by solar shoppers because the platform allows installers to put in bids and for homeowners to make an apples-to-apples comparison of the various options.

Mistake #4: Overlooking Energy-Efficiency Improvements Before Going Solar

Did you know that the U.S. is the worldwide leader in wasting energy? Before getting solar panels for home use, it’s a good idea to consider how much energy your home really requires, especially if you want your solar system to generate most of your power.

This is partially for financial reasons. In most states, consumers are compensated for solar power using net metering. At the end of the one-year period, your electric usage and solar credits are tallied up. If your solar system generated less energy than your home consumed, you pay the difference. If the solar panels produced more energy than you used, surplus solar energy credits are typically reset to zero. This means that most solar homeowners won’t get compensated for excess power, making proper solar system sizing important.

In many cases, it is cheaper to boost home energy efficiency than to buy a larger solar system. Keep in mind that your cooling system and possibly your water heater may account for a lot of your total electricity use.