There is a problem among startup and digital companies founders: they came up with a great idea but simply don’t have the tech expertise to realize it. Today more and more companies are looking for top-level experts who can handle all of the technological operations. And here comes a Chief Technical Officer.
In this article Inoxoft shares some tips on how to hire a CTO and how this decision can benefit your business.
Who is a CTO?
The Chief Technology Officer is the technical executive, who is involved in the company’s technological development. Overviews the whole technical process of the product development, and leads a business regarding its technological needs.
Also, this person leads engineering departments and applies the company’s budget to invest in the areas of their concern. The CTO usually reports to the company’s Chief Executive Officer.
The common responsibilities of a CTO are to:
- Manage the company’s tech solutions.
- Define the future product’s architecture
- Create technical strategy
- Serve as the company’s technology architect
- Choose the technology stack
- Attract and employ more tech talents
- Define a clear roadmap
- Advice on the most up-to-date technologies
The types of chief technology officers
Сhief technology officers have similar roles in companies, but each of them can have a different focus and responsibilities. Here is a list of different types of CTOs:
Digital Business Leader
The digital business leader is aware of the latest technology trends in the software development market and creates a strategy, which can potentially transform a business model, products, and services. Also, improve efficiency and raise profits.
The CTO’s responsibilities are to :
- Identify new business models and capabilities
- drive strategies within the company
- translate client’s needs into digital products
Business Enabler
This type of CTO is responsible for technologies in the companies that are producing them. Also, the business enabler
- ensures that the business and client’s needs are fully met.
- makes technology investment decisions
- builds the company’s own digital product
- collaborates with the engineering team on product development
- introduces operational technology to the company
IT-Innovator
An IT Innovator is a leader of software development services providers (e.g. software architects, technology experts, innovation managers, etc). Analyze technology trends and has a vision of how to apply changes to the company.
IT-Innovator:
- transform software development operations by creating technology strategies
- works as a team leader for engineers
- renovates the infrastructure by using automation, multi-cloud, and edge computing.
Chief operating officer
In companies with numerous software development processes, CTO can be a Chief Operating Officer. He or she drives the day-to-day IT operations, maintains the existing business model, provides software development services.
- CTO COO’s responsibilities are to:
- ensure IT services delivery
- drive strategic decisions on potential investments
- control incidents that occur in external and internal systems
- connect business objectives with technical solutions
The qualities of a great CTO
The role of CTO is focused on tech expertise, that’s why a lot of them are being former engineers and developers. The qualities needed to be successful in this position are
- Technical background
- Related experience
- Strong management skills
- Strategic thinking
Does your company need the one?
To answer this question, take a look at your company’s state, goals and plans. Hiring the right CTO at the right time is an important decision affecting the growth of your business.
Companies hire CTOs to manage technology challenges during the software development life cycle. Bringing another expert to the company may benefit your business by:
- Ensuring a better decision-making process
- Identifying and pursuing new opportunities with technology
- Analyzing and monitoring all technical performance metrics
- Providing oversight to your company’s IT department
How to hire a CTO when you’re non-technical?
Follow these tips to ensure the hiring process goes smoothly.
- The more you understand who you need, the easier this process will be. Determine the CTO role requirements and what type of CTO you would like to hire.
- The best candidate for this position is the one who has the right mix of soft and technical skills and the one who has a strong cultural fit. Create a list of skills you are seeking in the role and prioritize them.
- Most likely best candidates have several offers. Pitch your company to the potential CTO and make him/her interested. The more the candidate likes your idea, the more chances you have for his/her to choose you.
- Don’t list the qualities you search for in a CTO, instead list what he or she will gain from working with you.
- Find the best candidates. Don’t underestimate your network and local tech events.
- Your competitors’ employees may look for better career paths. Search for a tech-savvy developer who might be your potential CTO, at other companies.
- There are various search platforms that are helpful in looking up the chief technical officer positions and making the process optimized:
- Linkedin is a platform that was created specifically for a community of different professions. It allows people to find a job and recruiters to headhunt candidates.
- Upwork is a freelancing marketplace. But here also can be found potential candidates, who would like to work full-time.
- Facebook is rather a social network for a personal matter. However, it can be also a great platform for recruitmentю. There are different communities where software developers can sign up in search of vacancies and recruiters can connect with the relevant candidates.
Conclusion
Whether you are a young startup, small business, or software development company with experience, consider hiring a CTO. A chief technology officer helps your business make better decisions about the tech stack, avoid mistakes, save extra costs, and deliver the product to the market fastly.
