The Secret of Getting a Job in IT Sector
Whether you are a fresher looking for the first job or you have been working for the majority of your life and looking for a job change, now is the right to begin your career as an IT professional.
The Information Technology (IT) industry has been blossoming since past few decades now and with so much growth and huge demand of new gadgets, apps, and software, there is no slowing down for the industry.
Getting a Job in IT Sector
One of the most crucial and difficult step while applying for jobs is seeking the right profiles. Worry not! This guide will help you with all the information that you need on every step of searching for the right job in the IT field.
· Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae
People often consider both as same, but there is a difference and it is important to know which one a company prefers. A resume is generally limited to one page while a CV is typical of 2-3 pages at the max.
Resumes are to present to the point information about yourself whereas CVs let you give detailed information about your qualifications, education, experience, research, publications, and awards.
· First Impressions
Your resume or CV will be your first impression to a potential employer, so you have to make sure that your resume portrays a complete, positive, and true picture about who you are.
Take adequate time to ensure that your resume or CV is professional, void of any typos, and is clearly written.
· Find the Balance
One of the toughest parts while writing a resume or CV is about finding the balance between the way of presenting yourself and how much to talk about your achievements.
You must ensure that everything on your resume is valid and is supported by a reference or illustrated by your own working knowledge.
· Coordinate your Resume for Each Job
Try to avoid sending a carbon copy of your resume to every position you are applying for.
Always tailor your CV as per the job requirements. Research about the company as much as you can and see what software or technologies they use and work on. Make sure to keep your CV broad, highlighting the specific pieces of software and technology from your research on the job specification.
Information Technology is an important part of every business today, and companies tend to look for the people who have genuine flare, interest, skills, and passion for the job.
To make your resume stand out among the other applicants, you can include some power words and relevant keywords as per the specific job requirement and company profile.
· Stick to Relevant Information
These days, most of the employers are interested in the real experience of the aspirant for that is relevant to the job applied for. You have to have the skills and qualifications that make you stand out above the ones who have nothing to do with that position.
The best resumes are considered to be the ones which are closely relevant to the job description. Find the right balance in your resume between your general work experience and your relevant work experience.
Include 2-3 most critical aspect of the job role in your resume and display your competency through your behavior and past experience.
Also, remember that every hiring manager is different, but like most of the humans, they too have some common tendencies and hot buttons for which you can research and play as per them to make your way through the interview.
· Backup Information on your Resume
It is important that every detail on your resume or CV is valid and accurate. The interview process may differ from company to company, but there will always be questions about your work experience, education, and skills that you have mentioned in your resume.
Prepare and do your homework on the company, interviewer(s) and the job profile. You should be ready to exemplify the knowledge that you have listed on your CV.
Enthusiastically convey to the hiring manager why you think you are suitable for the job by demonstrating everything you have shown on your resume.
· Master your Interview Skills
So now you have submitted your resume and secured a face to face interview, it’s time to prepare for your first meeting with the potential future employer. Keep in mind that “first impressions are often considered as the last impressions”, so dress appropriate and professional for the interview.
Complete and revise your research about the company before the interview and show the hiring manager that you are genuinely serious about that specific position in that specific company.
· Know the Company
You will feel confident going for the interview if you are honest on your resume and have properly researched about the company.
Don’t be afraid to ask any questions about the position, your day-to-day activities, company dynamic, kind of people you may work with, toots and technologies that they use, or anything that comes to your mind about the job. This will show that you are not interested in just ‘a’ job, but ‘the’ job and prove that you have done your research.
· Build and Improve Network
Networking is basically about finding people with similar career goals and connecting with them hoping that one of these connections will lead you to a job in your desired field. With social media in place, networking is easier than ever before.
Go to meetings and conferences, have something of value to offer and ask interesting questions. Treat everyone you interact with as your potential lead, but avoid showing desperation.
You cannot build a successful network with an attitude of getting something instead of giving. You must always be ready to help someone else out, or else you may lose connections that could help you in your career.
· Job Search Engines
Job search engines like Monster and Indeed are the excellent source to find a suitable IT position. As the demand within the IT industry rises up, more and more technical jobs are being posted on such sites.
This is the era of the Internet, take advantage of that and use these platforms to help find the desired job.
· LinkedIn and Other Digital Platforms
LinkedIn is the best and most powerful networking tool available at present. You can connect with the people you work or would like to work with, or with people who work in the similar field, and they might be the foundation stone for your next job.
This networking tool also allows you to connect with people who are not from the IT field but can be beneficial, as they might have connections you need to enter the industry.
Apart from LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter can also be beneficial in your search for an IT position. You can use these platforms to discuss your passion for IT, answer questions, let people become familiar with you, and build some level of rapport and trust with other people, as you never know when a simple interaction may turn into a lead.
Let your known be aware of the kind of job you are looking for, and see if they have connections or information about any job opening that suits your skills and requirements.
Conclusion
Now that you have hands on the resources and information that you need to help in your hunt for a job as an IT professional, the process from start to finish should no longer seem daunting.
Be prepared to face some extreme difficulties to ultimately land to the job of your dreams, but never give up. As people say, "hard work always pays off in the end', you will establish your position in your new found job.
