IT Researcher – salaries, requirements, career path

An IT Researcher is a specialist responsible for finding talent in one of the most rapidly growing industries. He or she helps companies find ideal candidates for positions in programming, cyber security or systems engineering. The earnings for this position are attractive and the role itself offers a wide range of development opportunities, especially for those who combine a passion for technology with recruitment skills. Who can become an IT Researcher? What conditions must such a person meet? Let’s find out!

IT Researcher – characteristics

An IT Researcher is a specialist responsible for finding technical talent in the IT industry. Thanks to their analytical skills and market knowledge, they support recruitment teams in sourcing highly qualified employees.

However, this is not an easy task, especially nowadays, when competition in the IT industry is constantly growing and the requirements of experienced programmers are increasing.Importantly, people in this position must have an excellent understanding of the technical requirements of various positions, which enables them to precisely match candidates with the needs of the company. Specific and often advanced knowledge is therefore essential.

The IT Researcher not only searches databases of candidates, but also makes contact with them, analyses their CVs and prepares them for interviews.

Where does an IT Researcher find employment?

IT Researchers are primarily sought after by companies operating in the new technologies sector. They will find employment both in the internal HR departments of IT companies, as well as in recruitment agencies specialising in the acquisition of technical talent. Large technology corporations, start-ups, outsourcing companies as well as global recruitment agencies offer many career opportunities for people with this professional profile.

In addition, the role of IT Researcher is also invaluable in consulting companies that work with various clients to provide technology solutions. They can also find employment in the fintech sector, e-commerce or even in multinational video game companies, where IT specialists with very specific skills are needed.

Responsibilities of an IT Researcher

On a day-to-day basis, an IT Researcher is involved in sourcing candidate information using various platforms such as LinkedIn, GitHub, Stack Overflow or specialised databases. However, data analysis alone is only part of the job.

IT Researchers often interact with potential candidates, conducting initial interviews to better assess their skills and fit with the company in question. In addition to this, their responsibilities include:

• creating and maintaining candidate databases;
• keeping up to date with the latest trends in the IT industry to know what skills and technologies are most in demand;
• liaising with recruiters, technical departments and project managers;
• preparing reports and analyses on the labour market, as well as maintaining statistics on recruitment effectiveness.

The IT Researcher is often required to be proactive – he or she does not wait for candidates to advertise, but seeks out the best people on their own, even if they are not looking for new employment at the moment.

Requirements for the position of IT Researcher

Working as an IT Researcher requires a diverse set of skills and personality traits to effectively navigate the dynamic IT industry. What is of particular importance?

Education

Although formal education is not always crucial, employers often prefer candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Which degrees are valued?

• Human Resource Management (HR) – useful as it helps you understand the basics of recruitment and people management.
• Computer science or information technology (IT) – particularly relevant to the technical requirements of the positions you will be recruiting for.
• Psychology or Sociology – these majors teach you to understand people, which is key in assessing candidates’ soft skills.

Some companies may also accept candidates with a degree in the humanities, provided your technical knowledge is sufficient to understand the requirements of the IT industry.

Courses and certificates

Taking specialised courses can significantly increase your value on the labour market. Popular courses include:

• talent sourcing – courses teaching candidate sourcing techniques, offered by platforms such as Udemy, LinkedIn Learning;
• technical IT training – courses introducing you to various IT technologies (e.g. Java, Python, SQL) available on platforms such as Coursera or Codecademy;
• recruitment certifications – e.g. Certified Recruitment Specialist (CRS) or Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) to prove your recruitment competencies.

Knowledge of recruitment tools

It is crucial for an IT Researcher to be proficient in the platforms and tools used for recruitment;

• Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) – systems for managing candidate applications, e.g. Greenhouse, Lever;
• social and professional platforms – LinkedIn, GitHub, Stack Overflow – these sites are a treasure trove of information about potential candidates;
• CV databases and sourcing tools – tools such as Hiretual, AmazingHiring or SeekOut help with advanced searches for IT professionals.

Technical skills

An IT Researcher needs to be well versed in technologies to understand and assess the qualifications of candidates.

• understanding of different roles in IT – from programmers to testers to system administrators;
• knowledge of programming languages – you don’t have to be a programmer, but knowledge of basic languages like Python, JavaScript and SQL will make it easier to assess candidates;
• understanding of DevOps tools – knowledge of popular tools such as Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes will help you better understand the needs of technical teams;

Interpersonal and communication skills

IT Researchers also need to demonstrate well-developed interpersonal skills. What matters in this context?

• communication skills – the ability to speak clearly and connect with candidates;
• relationship-building ability – establishing long-term relationships with candidates, even if they are not currently ready to move on;
• team collaboration – the IT Researcher works closely with recruiters and technical managers, which requires open and effective communication.

Fluent English

In the IT industry, especially in international companies, English is indispensable. The ability to:

• conducting recruitment interviews in English;
• prepare recruitment documentation in English;
• communicate with candidates from different countries, which also requires an understanding of cultural differences.

IT Researcher salary

Earnings for the position of IT researcher are very attractive, especially in large cities and technology companies. The average salary ranges from PLN 5,000 to 7,500 gross per month, but in the case of more experienced specialists or people working in large corporations, the earnings can reach as much as PLN 10,000 gross.

The amount of salary depends largely on the place of employment – people working in Warsaw, Kraków or Wrocław can count on higher salaries than those employed in smaller cities.

IT Researcher’s career path

The career path for an IT researcher is quite clear. At the beginning, he or she can start as a Junior IT Researcher, where they gain their first experience and learn recruitment tools. Over time, as experience grows, it is possible to advance to Senior IT Researcher, where one manages more complex projects and even mentors younger teammates.

The next step could be to develop into a Talent Acquisition Specialist – a role that involves not only finding candidates, but also managing the entire recruitment process, from interviewing to hiring.

Summary

The job of an IT researcher is not just about finding candidates. It is a dynamic and demanding profession that combines technical knowledge with interpersonal skills. For people who enjoy working with people, have a flair for analysis and can navigate the complex world of IT, this is a great career path.