Without Expanding Horizons, You Have No Chance to Find Your Path

Does a Recruiter Need to Know How to Program? – We discuss IT recruiter knowledge with our colleague, Aleksandra Jarosz.

Aleksandra Jarosz: A trained psychologist. At Altimi, she is part of the Recruitment team.

From a recruiter’s perspective, working in a software house prevents falling into a routine, given the vast array of positions, technologies, and experiences.

• Altimi: Ola, what do you think attracts recruiters to the IT industry?
• Ola: I believe it's the dynamic nature of the work and the immense growth opportunities. I love acquiring knowledge and am grateful to work in an environment where, without expanding my horizons, I wouldn’t stand a chance. This motivates me to continuously enhance my skills and qualifications. Additionally, compared to other industries, IT offers more attractive salaries even at the start of one’s career.
• Altimi: Yes, the industry is ever-evolving and offers many opportunities. I see you have a great enthusiasm for your work. But are beginner recruiters prepared for the job?
• Ola: There are many people eager to enter recruitment. From my previous job, I can reveal that we received around 700 applications for a recruiter position. Unfortunately, about 50% didn’t meet the requirements. The popularity of the recruitment profession and high demand mean many people want to pursue it without prior preparation. While I think a good recruiter doesn’t necessarily need a degree in Human Resources Management, it’s crucial to be able to communicate with different personalities. Therefore, candidates should ideally have education related to team management, interpersonal relations, or social psychology.
• Altimi: You’re referring to soft skills, but what about technical knowledge? Is IT knowledge necessary for a recruiter?
• Ola: I would be lying if I said it’s not necessary. It’s like a salesperson in a bike shop who doesn’t need to assemble bikes from scratch but should understand what they’re selling. Knowing basics such as frontend and backend languages, understanding that Kotlin is not just ketchup, and differentiating Java from JavaScript are essential to becoming a professional.
• Altimi: Do recruiters feel stressed before talking to candidates? Can a lack of technical knowledge be paralyzing?
• Ola: I don’t get nervous, though I rarely do. From what I hear, many recruiters experience stress before their first interviews, but it becomes more routine over time.
• Altimi: Lastly, what resources and materials would you recommend for recruiters to gain IT knowledge?
• Ola: There aren't many Polish books for novices in IT recruitment, but I recommend "Technology Made Simple for the Technical Recruiter" by Obi Obganufe. It’s easier to gain knowledge from industry portals with articles that explain technology intricacies. I find articles on CodersLab, the Geek section on JustJoinIT, and the NoFluffJobs blog helpful. At Altimi, I also benefit from asking our developers and PMs, who have always been willing to help.
• Altimi: To conclude, we wish you many helpful colleagues and continued enthusiasm for work and development.
• Ola: Thanks!

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