ABSTRACT
It is necessary to decide on the source of recruitment, or indeed, if recruiting is necessary at all–a close look at the specification may show that the requirement is better filled by contracting out the work rather than recruiting. Recruitment of staff from line departments has all the usual hazards of poaching and, because the chances are that the line department involved is or will be a user of the computer department, even greater efforts than usual must be made to avoid ill-feeling. Recruitment from outside avoids all the special problems raised by internal recruiting and at least offers the chance of ensuring a technically competent solution to the computing problems. The hiring of trained staff to fill short-term gaps caused by illness, peak loads or lack of specific expertise not usually required should always be considered as an alternative to the recruitment of permanent staff.
