Fast Access to Top IT Talent – How Hotlists Work

In the fast-paced world of IT recruitment, where time is a critical factor, efficiency and access to high-quality candidates are key. That’s exactly why we introduced the Hotlists process – an innovative approach that not only streamlines communication with clients but also significantly speeds up the hiring cycle.
For “In Our Focus,” Miloš Radaković, Head of IT Development, and Svetla Bashliyska, IT Team Lead at Manpower Bulgaria, share an inside look at how the Hotlists model works.

What are Hotlists and how do we select “hot” candidates?

Miloš: Hotlists are bi-weekly portfolios of carefully selected IT professionals who are actively looking for new opportunities and ready to start work within a short timeframe.
Each candidate on the list is pre-screened and interviewed by our recruiters, and the portfolio includes key information about their professional profile: technologies, experience, industries they’ve worked in, and employment preferences.
All profiles are anonymised, but contain everything necessary to give a clear picture of each candidate’s tech stack, level of expertise, and job preferences.

The criteria for selecting candidates for the Hotlist include:

• In-demand technical skills
• Proven professional experience
• Availability to start quickly
• Motivation and commitment to new projects

In a world where technology evolves at lightning speed, companies can’t afford to wait for the “perfect” candidate to appear. Hotlists are our strategic answer to faster, smarter, and more efficient IT recruitment.

How do Hotlists help clients shorten time-to-hire?

Miloš: Hotlists act as a proactive talent delivery tool, eliminating the need for lengthy search and initial screening cycles.
Instead of waiting for suitable candidates to apply to job ads, our clients receive a curated portfolio of vetted and available IT specialists every two weeks.

This provides several key advantages:

• Faster time-to-hire
  Clients can select a profile directly from the list and start the hiring process immediately.
• Improved forecasting and planning
  The consistent rhythm of Hotlist delivery allows companies to plan future staffing needs.
• Higher recruitment quality
  Since all candidates are pre-qualified, the risk of unsuitable profiles is minimal.

Ultimately, Hotlists don’t just simplify the hiring process – they speed it up, structure it, and make it more transparent for both clients and candidates.

The results speak for themselves: faster placements, better alignment between business needs and candidate skills, and higher satisfaction with the overall process.

How do we maintain an active pool of high-quality, motivated candidates in a dynamic IT environment?

Svetla: In the dynamic IT sector, the key to maintaining an active and relevant candidate base is ongoing engagement. This means consistent communication with talent not just when a position opens up, but also through sharing market insights, career development opportunities, and practical advice.

At Manpower Bulgaria, we believe that a personal approach makes all the difference. That’s why we offer tailored career consultations that support candidates not only in finding their next role, but also in growing from Junior to Mid and Senior levels.

Building trust through transparency, respect, and timely feedback is the foundation of our long-term partnerships with IT professionals. Additionally, we leverage modern ATS platforms and AI tools to ensure we provide not just "active" but the right candidates with the motivation, skillset, and vision to grow.

What are the most in-demand IT roles and skills dominating the Hotlists?

Svetla: Today’s most sought-after IT professionals are Cloud specialists, particularly those with experience in AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
Next are Cybersecurity Experts who are highly valued across both the corporate sector and among startups that recognise the need for strong data protection.

We’re also seeing a significant rise in demand for Data Engineers and Data Scientists, driven by growing interest in AI-based projects and automation.
The most in-demand tech stack includes containerisation tools like Docker and Kubernetes, Infrastructure as Code solutions like Terraform, and AI/ML libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scikit-learn.

In addition to technical expertise, companies increasingly value candidates who can think strategically, contribute to building scalable architectures, and quickly adapt to new technology environments.

If you’d like to learn more about our Hotlists and how they can support your business, feel free to contact:
Miloš Radaković – [email protected]
Svetla Bashliyska – [email protected]