Backing up Business Data to the Cloud – A Good Option?

Cloud backupToday, cloud hosted solutions are quite feasible as there have been tremendous improvements in bandwidth and quality of network connectivity. Feasible not only for software (SAAS) and platforms (PAAS), but also for storage solutions under the umbrella of infrastructure as a service(IAAS). Furthermore, if data is stored in multiple cloud drives, there are management platforms available to keep track of where your valuable information is. We reviewed MultCloud which provides this function.

Historically, while tape backups started off being the leading method for backup, there are now a number of options today for storage and backup. This includes DVD’s, USB connected devices and tape, with cloud hosted backup being a competitive option.

The Nuts and Bolts of Cloud Based Backup

All operated by a vendor, the backup is maintained with a remote cloud site. There are different types of cloud based backup services available which include public, private or hybrid based. In general, public clouds offer capacity at the lowest cost and the minimum level of scalability. Hybrid and private cloud based backups offer a more flexible capacity at a higher cost. Whenever there is a cloud data backup, systems onsite periodically sync with remote systems to save the data to a remote cloud server.

Cloud Based Data Backup, is it Really Better?

There are several advantages to using a cloud based backup for your business data:

  • You do not incur any capital costs for purchasing or maintaining infrastructure as you would with servers and networking gear. Even medium sized organizations typically have IT costs in the tens of thousands of dollars every year towards hardware purchases, replacement and servicing. With the cloud, all that goes away.
  • You are able to get better outcomes and managerial control over the cloud backup process. It is  more streamlined as you are able to work with specialized providers regarding issues and specific requirements.
  • Your IT organization gets access to capacity which is flexible with regards to the ability to scale up or ramp down on-demand.

Categories of Cloud Backup Services

There are several categories of cloud backup services:

  • Public cloud backup: The cloud site provides services to several organizations, not just yours. The typical public cloud model is one where a minimum amount of storage is available free while higher levels are available on a paid basis. It is the most inexpensive of all the options since the provider services you from a common infrastructure.
  • Private cloud backup: Utilized when you have very specific backup needs for your organization and are unable to use an off the shelf public cloud solution. The cost of private cloud backup is high and you invariably will end up needing large IT staff sizes.
  • Hybrid cloud backup: Backup solutions based on hybrid clouds are uniquely designed with a blend of private and public cloud systems in order to provide a near private cloud solution at lower price points.

Will Cloud Based Data Backup be Right for my Organization?

Here are some aspects you could ponder over if you are considering employing a cloud based backup solution for your business:

  • Does your data have a short RTO, recovery time objective? Given that data transfer speeds in cloud based backup will always be lower than those achievable from offline storage devices. Conventional backup techniques could provide better performance when backing up short RTO data.
  • How much is the volume of data requiring backup? Popularly used backup methods such as tape, DVD’s or USB connected devices could be more suitable if you need very large data volumes to be backed up.
  • What is the estimated growth rate for your data? The guidelines from analyst Russ Fellows are that a growth rate which is 10% and lower in volume terms every month makes cloud based backup solutions suitable.

Which is the Right Pick, Public, Private or Cloud?

These are some aspects you could consider if you are thinking about going ahead with cloud hosted solutions for backup for your business.

  • If environments have severe restrictions on sharing of data, you should opt for a private cloud designed to your specific requirements
  • If your IT systems needs to meet SLA’s that are stringent, you may opt for custom designed private cloud based systems
  • If you need to be able to request storage capacity be increased on a somewhat ad hoc basis, private cloud based hosting would be suitable
  • If there are constraints in terms of limits on spends on budgets, public cloud based systems would prove to be a good choice
  • If you have very specific backup requirements and have the budget to accommodate high maintenance and development costs, you can go in for a hybrid cloud based backup solution. Hybrid cloud based design provides clear separation between public and private cloud function components – the private components handle privacy sensitive data and public cloud components take care of the backup requirements related to data which is not critical in nature.

Final Thought

As mentioned above, there are a number of options today for storing data with cloud hosted backup being a viable option. Now it is up to you to decide if backing up your business data to the cloud is a good option.

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10 Considerations for Choosing a Project Management Tool

considerationMore and more project managers are getting involved in selecting project management software tools. Which makes sense – after all, project managers are the people who will use the product on a day-to-day basis. They will also have strong views about what the software should do and how it can help them manage their projects.

If you are asked to get involved in choosing new software for the team, what should you be looking for? Below I share my top 10 considerations for project management tools. They aren’t in order of importance, as what’s most important for one project may vary to the next. You may even think some of them aren’t important at all! Use this list as a starting point when assessing the software on the market that you would like to add to your shortlist.

1. Ease of Use

First, you need to make sure that whatever software you invest in is easy to use! It should go without saying, but some tools are very complicated and users require several days of training. The best product for you will be something that you find straightforward to use and that will suit your team. Many tools offer free trials so you’ll get to see what it is like working in the software before making the commitment to buy it.

2. Scheduling Tools

If you want to be able to manage your projects effectively, you’ll need professional-grade scheduling tools like Gantt chart software. Many basic products won’t display your project plans in a Gantt chart format and will simply show you a list of tasks. While that might be OK for very small projects with a tiny team, as soon as you start to manage anything even a little bit complicated you’ll need more than that, so look for it now.

3. Task Management

A task list is the start of all Gantt charts, so you’ll need task management features too. This should also include the ability to assign tasks to others in the team so that they know what work they should focus on.

You should be able to order tasks in ways that make sense to you. That means grouping them together and adding target completion dates. The ability to send out email alerts to the person responsible for completing the work is another bonus!

4. Ability to Share Externally

Sharing your plans and tasks with team members in your company is one thing; however also look for the functionality which makes project data available to people outside your business. This is especially useful when it comes to working with contractors and third parties. It’s also another reason why cloud-based online software is so popular and effective.

5. Real-Time Reporting

Save yourself some time by finding a product that has real-time reporting. This will pull data from various different areas of the project management software and use it to produce reports that reflect the current status of the project.

6. Dashboards and Graphical Reports

While we’re on the subject of reports, something that will show your reports in a graphical format is often handy. It might not be the deciding factor when it comes to choosing a tool, but in my experience many stakeholders and sponsors respond best to dashboards and charts over written reports. Look for a tool that has built-in dashboards that can be tailored for each stakeholder.

7. Security

Functionality is all well and good, but if your data isn’t safe then the integrity of your project isn’t either. Check out the security options offered by your preferred software provider. If they are hosting your software online, make sure they have 128-bit encryption. Use a separate dedicated hosting platform to keep your customer data safe and secure from everyone else’s.

8. Professional Interface

There are so many tools out there, but some look quite old-fashioned. Your primary criteria for choosing a software product should really be functionality. However it doesn’t hurt to go for something that looks attractive. You’ll like using it and your colleagues will think you are cutting edge!

9. Customizable

Lots of reports out of the box feature is great, but it’s even better to have the ability to customize your experience with custom exports and fields. You should be able to make small changes to the look of the tool to let it reflect your own working preferences. Some will let you upload logos, change colors and so on. The most important areas for customization are reports and data columns.  These give you flexibility in how you want to show information to your stakeholders. In turn, providing you knowledge about what needs to be managed on the project.

10. Timesheets

Finally, look out for a project management product that includes time-sheets. These might not be a popular choice with your team but they will help you keep track of tasks. They provide early warnings about delays and also let you check the validity of your task estimates. Go for a product that makes it easy for your team to complete their time-sheets. For example, one that lets you copy the tasks and activities from the previous week.

These are my top 10 recommendations for product features. You can decide which of them are most important for you, and select your project management software based on those criteria. To assist with your decision, we have reviewed the top 15 project management web applications for 2016. There are so many products to choose from that it’s important to make the right choice for you and your team. So, take your time and test your shortlisted software before making a final decision.

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11 Leadership Qualities of a Great Project Manager

Good_LeaderYou have just been promoted to project manager. Congratulations! I’m sure it’s something you’ve been hoping for, for quite some time – and no doubt you deserve it. With that being said, there will be some adjustments that you’ll have to make. After all, leadership is nothing like what you have done before. Your acquired technical skills and taking orders don’t necessarily help when your delegating. Interpersonal skills are important. Without them, it doesn’t matter what project management tools you might have.

Before we start looking at those management skills, let me just make one point. Despite what some people might be say, leadership is not something that you’re born with. Leadership is learned. It takes practice, intentional learning and dedication. That should both be frightening and liberating. Frightening because it means you might just suck. Liberating because you may be bad at the start but that doesn’t mean you always will be. You can improve. You simply have to apply yourself.

Good? Now let’s look at those skills.

1. Convey the big picture

The first step of being a good leader is to realize that you are responsible for the big picture, while those under you are responsible for the nitty gritty. That means you have to steer the boat, without telling each sailor how to row their oars.

Yes, that’s right, that’s a metaphor for micromanagement. If you’re micromanaging, not only will the people on your team hate you, you won’t be able to keep your head above the fray. That will be bad for everybody involved. Focus on the big picture and making certain that everybody knows their place. Then let them do their part.

2. Build the team

Great leaders make other people better. Don’t simply lead, but give the people under you the opportunity to blossom. Allow them to become better at what they do.

This could include: hosting workshops, having regular discussions about what can be improved, or just sitting down and listening to what the team members have to say.  Do this without feeling the need to interject, interrupt or defend yourself. Ensure sure you’re doing it right.

3. Superior communication skills

When it comes down to it, communication is the key to being an excellent leader. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t realize how bad they are at it. There are lots of reports about companies who discover that their new graduates are exceedingly bad at communicating.  However, the graduates believe they excel at it. Resulting in them not improving their communication skills. Now obviously that’s a nightmare for both the graduates and the people they work with.

Don’t be like those graduates. You can always work on improving your communications skills.

4. Find the solution

When other people complain, leaders find solutions. It is very important that a leader solves the problem rather than fixating on it. This requires a certain amount of creativity and thinking outside the box.

Most importantly, it involves understanding who in your team is capable of what. As well, make certain that you discuss the problem with the right person. This person is more likely to give you a solution or at least the key puzzle piece that will help you find it.

5. Delegate

In fact, delegation is another one of those skills that you need to master. Delegation isn’t easy, let me be clear about that. It means trusting people to do their task. Additionally, it means knowing what everybody is capable of and what they are not.

This is not something you can do when the hurricane has hit. You need to start figuring all that out when the waters are still calm. So when the storm hits you know who is capable of what, so that the ship doesn’t capsize.

6. Optimism

You’re not the anchor that needs to be dragged, you’re the sail that propels the team forward. That means you have to remain optimistic. If not, it is like your are telling them that they’re not going to be able to surmount to the challenges ahead.

That sucks the energy right out of everyone.

Have a negative thought? Everybody does. Just keep it to yourself and instead focus on motivating your team on completing tasks, rather than complaining about how much they still have to do.

7. Set the example

How can you expect people to behave in a proper fashion if you don’t? Leaders are supposed to show how to be better. Yes, though that’s hard to live up to, that means don’t gossip, stay composed, don’t slack off and whatever you do, try not to give into your weird habits! If you do, then other people will take that as their cue to do the same and you won’t have the authority to tell them differently, without looking like a hypocrite.

8. Empathy

We want to know that when we have a problem we can go to our bosses and they will understand. If we don’t have that feeling then we might not even mention the problem. That can lead to all sorts of other problems down the road. For that reason make sure you’re willing to listen to your team.

Do not forget that everyone is balancing work and life, and may have some challenges outside of your business. Understand the needs of your employees.

Yes, that might be hard sometimes. After all, you’ve got a busy schedule as well, but if you don’t then you’re going to find yourself fighting off fires, when you could have just snuffed out sparks.

9. Remain composed

Never blow your top off, become overwrought, or flip out. You’re in charge, it’s unbecoming. If you start losing your cool, it’s going to be very hard for those in your team to maintain theirs – or, for that matter, to keep their respect for you.

So learn to breath, give a second thought to everything you’re going to say in a highly emotional state. If things aren’t going well with another person in your team, take them aside so that if words are said in anger, at least they’re between you and that person.

10. Passion

Be passionate about what you’re doing. If you’re not, how is your team ever going to be? Believe that what you’re doing is worthwhile.We like passionate people and are willing to follow them. That means that we’ll put in extra hours if it’s necessary. That will never happen if you’re just blasé and don’t really seem to care. So try to remain passionate about what you’re doing and where you’re going with the project. It will pay dividends in the long run.

11. Rise to your full potential

And finally, I’m going to say it again that leadership is a skill. For that reason, you can always keep improving to make yourself better at it. Never despair because you’re not great yet and equally never think that you’re the best you can be. Always assume there is something more to learn. There is some other way you can improve.

Concluding thought

As long as you keep improving, you’ll inspire your team to do the same. That means the work environment and results will follow suit.   Which is ultimately what everyone wants.

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Progressive Elaboration Is the Only Sane Approach to Planning!

Progressive Elaboration Is the Only Sane Approach to Planning!
By Kiron D. Bondale
Imagine that you are planning a multi-day road trip across the country to a town which you’ve never visited before. Chances are that you will load your smartphone with maps to help you navigate the journey as well as identifying some points of interest […]

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Managing Your Project Pipeline vs Your Resources

Managing Your Project Pipeline vs Your Resources
By Diana Eskander
Winning a new project is exciting for any business. But it usually doesn’t take very long for the feeling or triumph to be taken over by the realization that more work means a greater challenge for resource management and the evaluation of how realistic it is to […]

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Benchmarking Your PMO

Benchmarking Your PMO
By Tushar Patel
Every year, Innotas conducts a survey of project management professionals – Project Managers, PMOs, CIOs, and IT Management – to help get a sense of trends in project and portfolio management. Over the years, several trends seem to continue, while new insights always seem to enter the forefront, regardless there is […]

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Top 10 Project Management Worst Practices

10 Worst Practices Project ManagerPeople like to focus on the good things that project managers do, and there are plenty. Today, we’re going to focus on some of the less desirable things that some (not you, we’re sure) project managers do. Enjoy.

We’re all familiar with best practices. It’s a phrase used frequently in business to categorically lump together bench-marking and implementation techniques that work well for other companies or industries to bring them into your organization. I’m not sure who judges a practice to be the best, but there sure are a lot of them out there.

We’re going to ski down a different slope and look at the Top 10 WORST Practices that a project manager can do or get involved in. Again, I am unaware of who deems these to be the worst but I’m sure you’ll be able to relate as you read down the list. With no further ado, and in no particular order, here they are.

1. Saying “It’s Not My Job”

The types of phrases that should never come out of a project manager’s mouth are, “It’s not my job” or its close relative, “That’s above my pay grade.” These comments frame you as being victimized and helpless, and certainly communicate a weak, and perhaps lazy, mentality that there’s nothing you can do about the situation. To throw your hands up in the air and say, “Oh well” is nothing short of apathetic. A project manager should never claim or give the impression of being apathetic or helpless, especially if it affects the successful outcome of a project. Everything is your job until your project is done. This may mean that there are decisions that need to be made that you can’t make on your own, but, you better be involved in facilitating and expediting those conversations and decisions.

2. Trusting Without Verification

We all need to trust our peers. Otherwise, everything would be micromanaged, everyone would go crazy, and nothing would get done. However, there is a certain amount of verification that needs to go along with that level of trust. There is nothing wrong with following up on someone that said they completed a particular task or activity. Ask them to show you how something works, or ask the next person who received the deliverable how things are going. There’s nothing worse than getting to the end of a project and realizing something basic and simple was missed earlier. One simple item can create a lot of delays and issues when discovered late. Keep focused on how things progress throughout the entire duration of the project. Your team will appreciate your level of concern and interest.

3. Forwarding an E-Mail to the Wrong People

This is a classic mistake that can negatively impact a project manager’s career. I’ve seen it happen so many times that it’s not funny. A project manager is putting together a summary of the project in an email in which he includes a reference to a 3rd party vendor who is working along with the client and your company. He feels as if this 3rd party is looking to take away business from your company by making you look bad so the project manager needs to do everything within his power to make sure this doesn’t happen.

This is all pretty routine stuff for an email that will be sent internally. The problem is he includes the client as well as the 3rd party vendor in the email! Get ready for some serious backpedaling. I’ve seen project managers forward entire cost / fee budgets to clients by mistake.

I think the biggest email faux pas I have ever seen has come from an HR manager who inadvertently forwarded the entire companies payroll figures to all the employees! Plus, there were notations that indicated which people were no longer going to be with the company within the next month. Ouch! Be extremely careful with your email. Watch that auto-fill feature because it can quickly turn to auto-kill…as in automatically kill your career as a project manager.

4. Not Taking Someone to the Solution of Their Problem

Don’t you hate it when you ask someone at a grocery store where to find something and all they do is point in a general direction? Great. What I’m looking for is somewhere in the back half of the store which is the size of a football field. What kind of help is that? We are all guilty of giving sweeping generalizations as project managers when someone comes and asks us a question. We may have the answer but we say we’re not sure because we think it will take too long to explain. Or, we send them down the hall to talk to someone else to get them out of our office. Or, we point in a general direction and tell them the answer is over there somewhere. Next time, take them to the answer of their problem. They’ll appreciate the extra time you spent taking them not only to the right aisle but to the exact shelf.

5. Not Pre-emptively Communicating

Some project managers fall into the trap of thinking that if someone wants to know something they will come and ask, or that it’s not their job to tell someone about the project before they ask. That should never be the case, especially if a client is involved. You need to get to the point where you anticipate their questions and then answer them before they come up. For example, a client should never have to call in and ask about the status of their project. You should have meetings and processes set up that will keep them informed of the project’s status.

6. Going Dark

I’ve worked with a lot of people over the years and one of my favorites was an SVP (Senior Vice President) who often said, “Just don’t go dark on me.” He didn’t care what I was doing or where I was doing it, as long as I was 100% available when he needed me. This is especially important if you are fortunate enough to work remotely or on-site with a client. I’ve seen some remote resources and even project managers be unreachable for days at a time! Who does that?? Totally unacceptable.

7. Whining

Once I overheard a memorable conversation between two DBAs (Database Administrator) who each made well over six figures. They were complaining in the lunchroom about the sodas being $1.75 ever since the owner’s kids took over the vending machines. The owner had given his kids oversight of the vending machines to teach them business skills, and the first thing they did was jack up the price of a soda from .50 to $1.75. Sure, the kids had a lot to learn, but these two guys were seriously upset and whining about the situation. They were not doing any favors for themselves.

Sometimes we do the same thing as a project manager, we whine about small things on our projects. These small things really don’t make that big of a difference, or there are plenty of other options available, like bringing in your own soda. Complaining makes you look bad and sets a terrible example for your team.

8. Saying “That’s Just the Way It Is”

Is your company doing something that’s dumb? Is there a system in place that just doesn’t work right? Do you resign yourself to believing that it is what it is? A better approach is to say “Yes, that’s the way it is currently. However, if we make just a few minor adjustments we can make it a whole lot better in just a couple of weeks.” Don’t settle for something that’s broken and don’t assume it has to stay that way. Always look for opportunities to make things better.

9. Not Keeping Up with Your Project Management Certifications

Let’s say you have your PMP certification, do you remember how much work and studying was necessary to complete your certification in the first place? A lot. How much studying and preparation is necessary to keep up with your certification? Not that much. You only need 20 professional development units per year and five of those can come from your job as a project manager! You’ve got problems if you can’t find a way to scrounge up 15 hours per year to keep up with your certification.

10. Not Having a Project Management Certification

PMP certified project managers make on average $10,000 more per year than their non-certified counterparts. That’s an additional quarter million dollars if you’re a project manager for 25 years! If you are interested in a PMP certification we have done a review of Master of Project Academy.

I’m sure there are many more practices that could make this list, but these are enough for now. I’d love to hear the worst practices you’ve ever seen!

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5 Tools to Make You a Productive Project Manager

Need a simple project management software to manage your team?
Check-out our valuable and unique Top 15 Web Applications 2016.

5_tools_for_PMOne of the essential characteristics of a top-class project manager is productivity. In order to achieve the company’s goals, a good manager has to set the example and accomplish as much as possible using the right resources. However, this is not an easy task, as a leader, you have to complete your own tasks, plan for the future and supervise your team’s work.

Thankfully, technology has come to help you out. Nowadays, there are several tools that can support you to be an excellent role model and the most productive person in the office. This will boost the workflow of your project. Here are the best solutions available on the market. Simply choose the one that meets your needs.

asana new logo1. Asana

One of the most popular, Asana is a user friendly program that will make your project flow smoothly. You can use it for one or multiple projects. You can effortlessly add goals, milestones, deadlines, attachments, and much more.

In Asana, your tasks can be dependent: meaning you can’t go to the next task before completing the previous one. As well, you will able to include a large amount of details to the task such as notes, links, tags and comments. Asana is free for up to 15 users and has an app available for Android and iOS devices.

We Reviewed Asana

trello-logo2. Trello

If you prefer something more visual, Trello is the program for you.  Based on the Kanban method, this app allows you to have a view of all the parts of the workflow using lists and cards. It might take some time for you to come up with the best way to organize your workflow, but this is just part of the fun.

Despite what it looks like, Trello is a powerful tool which allows you to assign due dates, add a calendar, invite your team to collaborate, leave comments and do much more. It also integrates with several tools like Slack, GitHub and GDrive. The app is free for Android and iOS devices.

We Reviewed Trello

agile zen3. AgileZen

Another tool based on the Kanban method, AgileZen works for any kind of project. While remaining focused on your tasks, use it to see an overview of the project, and never lose track of what you have to do next.

The Thia tool includes several solutions for team communication, from comment box to integration with chat rooms. Furthermore, to improve the outcome of the project, it comes with a tracker for key performance metrics.

Use this program for free if you are working on an open source project. If not, the cost is USD $9 per month.

We Reviewed Agilezen

basecamp-logo4. Basecamp

When it comes to project management, Basecamp will set you with the pros. This software is one of the first online solutions created with purpose. Basecamp knows exactly what your needs are and will offer them in a software that is all nicely wrapped up for you. Even Nasa uses their solution, so you know how serious they are.

Of course it comes with a price. After a 45-day free trial, with unlimited users, the cost is USD $29 for internal teams or USD $79 to share with clients. It is worth every cent as Basecamp will not only help you organize your tasks but will also predict and monitor them. This will save you the hassle of figuring out what you have forgotten to do.

We Reviewed Basecamp

evernote logo5. Evernote

Consider that Evernote is an excellent tool if your challenge is remembering your next tasks or ideas for future projects. This tool works on your desktop, mobile, and can be sync across all your devices in order to have access to your notes anywhere at anytime. As well, you can save audio, texts, links, attachments, web clips, and more to it.

Additionally, a note doesn’t need to be just a note. You can transform it into a to-do list and add a reminder. The search feature is considerably powerful, capable of finding words even on handwritten notes with sharing and collaboration tools available.

Evernote has a free version with basic features and several paid plans that add extra flavors according to your needs.

We Reviewed Evernote

The bottom line

Being productive has a lot to do with the ability to do your work effectively. The idea behind these tools is that repetitive and basic tasks can be done automatically. This way you can save your brain for more important matters, such as how to improve your project or support your team.

So try these five solutions and see which one works for you. Take your time to find the best program as it will be your next best friend. It will definitely put a smile on your face.

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Managing Project Expectations

Managing Project Expectations
By Diana Eskander
How to define and organize project scope
Projects range in size, complexity, duration, resources, stakeholders – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Defining the scope of a given project – what the intended result is, and what’s required to bring it to completion – is not only important, it’s necessary.
It creates […]

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5 Tips for Hiring the Right Person for your Project

Need a simple project management software to manage your team?
Check-out our valuable and unique Top 15 Web Applications 2016.

right_employeeGetting a project done on time depends on finding the right person. The hiring process for your project can be a stressful experience but with careful consideration it will be rewarding. Every project has specific goals with their own set of challenges.

For each project, finding the right combination of people to create a collaborative team is a challenging job. As you look for people to fill each position, focus on where you see them fitting into the overall team model. Depending on the projects length, take into consideration how the different personalities will interact before friction occurs. In a perfect world everyone will consistently get along, however this rarely happens.

As the hiring process takes time, plan as far ahead as possible. You will increase the success of your project the more time you spend researching potential candidates. If you wait until the last minute you might be forced to take a less optimal candidate due to time constraints. Part of the preparation process should be clearly setting the goals of the project. They should be easily understood and have measurements of success.

After you have listed your goals, develop a list of necessary skill sets that are required to accomplish the goals. These skill sets are what you will use in your advertisement. For the skill sets you desire, be precise as possible, include in your job advertisement the programs that will used on a daily basis. In today’s hiring market, potential employees will be using the internet to search for open job skills that correlate with their own experience.

An important way that you can find suitable candidates is to reach out to colleagues in your field. Tell as many people as possible what you are looking for. They might have someone in mind that will be a great fit. Once you have developed a list of people to interview, use the ideas below as a way to help make the final decision before hiring each individual. If you are interested in hiring freelancers we recommend reading our article: The Best 5 Job Websites to Find and Hire Freelancers.

1. Outside the Office

A different way to setup an interview is to mimic the interactions that will occur during the project. For example, some team members on the project will only interact virtually as they are located around the world. Completing the interview in the communication environment that will be used during the project is a good way to sense of how the candidate will perform. You will quickly understand how effectively they will communicate to other team members.

2. Complete Test Task

Regarding the above real world interviewing, consider posing a small test for the candidate to perform. The process of how they find a solution is just as important as the solution itself. Discovering what steps they took to complete the task can give you a window into how they approach problem solving.

3. Learn and Retain

Asking questions that demonstrates the candidate’s ability to quickly process and retain new information is important. Ask them to provide examples where they successfully accomplish this skill set in the past. Learning quickly is a good skill set asset as there are typically unexpected problems that require creative thinking skills to solve it.

4. Attitude towards Work

Finding out what motivates a job candidate is necessary to understand how they will perform. You might discover that this person has a passion for an aspect of the project which means they will complete the tasks with excellence. Knowing that a candidate has a positive attitude towards completing top quality work can help lift the spirit of the whole team during more trying times of the project.

5. Complimentary Skills

If you are going to be working directly in the hiring process make sure your candidates compliment your skill set. You don’t necessarily want someone that thinks the way you do. Self evaluate and discover your weak points. For the best group dynamic, make sure that your prospective team complements one another’s strengths and weaknesses.

Conclusion

The hiring process will always be complicated but it doesn’t have to be difficult. By finding ways to sort out different personality types and skill sets, an accurate picture can emerge for each candidate. Using this information will allow you to make a more informed decision and lead to a successful project.

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