Working with Computer Futures

“IT recruitment is our
thing, it’s all we do and
we do it well.”

1
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”

2
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

3
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.”

4
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.”

5
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.

6
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.

7
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.”

8
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.”

9

Digital cf winning_propositions_v11

  • 1.
    Working with ComputerFutures “IT recruitment is our thing, it’s all we do and we do it well.” 1
  • 2.
    About Computer Futures ComputerFutures 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” 2
  • 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 3
  • 4.
    Needs analysis The ComputerFutures 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.” 4
  • 5.
    Search & source ComputerFutures’ 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.” 5
  • 6.
    Screening & shortlisting ComputerFutures’ 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. 6
  • 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. 7
  • 8.
    Onboarding Employ a candidateor 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.” 8
  • 9.
    Aftercare Computer Futures’ successto 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.” 9