Hey—Don’t hire me!
Not the message you want to be sending to employers when you are shopping the IT job market. Unfortunately, some candidates are unaware of their eye-popping mistakes. Ignorance may seem bliss, but unemployment is not. Here are some red flags IT recruiters use to screen candidates:
– Poor Grammar and Typos
Neglecting to spell check and proof read your resume is an easy way to ruin your candidacy. IT staffing firms select the best applicants for their open positions. A spelling error or typo is a red flag for technical recruiters indicating this candidate does not check or review his work. It is worthwhile to have a second set of eyes review your resume before you begin applying to postings.
– Readability and Relevancy Issues
If an IT staffing agency has a harder time reading your resume than a Shakespearian play, this might be a clue it needs tweaking. A technical recruiter will scratch a candidate who cannot communicate and highlight his skills in writing. Gear resumes for the specific postings and keep it relevant! Write about what YOU accomplished at IT jobs, not job descriptions. Avoid buzz words that add nothing to your resume as it is better to be precise and brief than convoluted and lengthy.
– Stretching the Truth
Never exaggerate your experiences or lie about your past. If you are placed in an IT job in which you are unqualified, you will end up right where you were before you scored the position– only now you have lost the help from technical recruiters. Tell the IT staffing firm your skill level and how frequently you used the skill set, including the last time you used them. The technical recruiting company can then place you with the appropriate opening. If you have gaps of employment or multiple short-term positions on your resume, be prepared to explain. Technical recruiters Boston will not make a placement if he believes the candidate will not complete their assignment.
– Negative Attitude
When IT recruiters Boston reach out to you, they also look for social cues. Do you speak positively of previous employers? Can you communicate and express yourself with adequately? IT staffing agencies MA seek candidates who will work well in the office environment. Negative attitudes create conflicts that can affect working conditions. Keep your conversations upbeat, try to stay optimistic, and end on a good note.
– Lack of Communication
If a technical recruiter reaches out to you, be sure to respond in a timely manner. It’s not only frustrating waiting on a response, but it also halts a process. The lack of response signifies your lack of interest in the position. Be respectful and do not waste your IT recruiter’s time. If something does not interest you or is not working out, tell your recruiter and they will take the next steps to try to accommodate you.
Remember to treat your technical staffing firm how you want to be treated!
For further tips on job searching, visit AVID’s Job Seekers page.
Never Burn a Bridge- Leaving in a Tasteful Manner
Looking for new opportunities, tired of the same routine, or seeking better benefits… you know when your time is up at an IT job, on to the next one right? Sure, but never leave a position empty handed. Always have recommendations in hand and leave on good terms. Give Notice—and Feedback Never drop a bombshell on an employer or IT recruiters, give at least two weeks notice prior to your departure. This will allow companies and/or IT staffing firms to find a replacement and transition him into your role. This is your chance to stand out and prove how well you have mastered tasks by teaching your acquired skills. Having a meeting to explain why you wish to leave your role allows the company or IT recruiting company to see where it needs to improve its strategies and goals. This meeting also provides you with the opportunity to gain quality feedback on your performance. When meeting with technical recruiters, explain what you disliked about the position so they can place you in a role that is more geared toward your interests. Finish Strong “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift”- Steve Prefontaine You might feel lazy and wish to do the bare minimum during your remaining time, but fight the urge. Finish strong and tie any loose ends. Leave with a lasting impression, as these last few days will be the foundation of your recommendation and determine if your IT staffing agency will use you for upcoming placements. If there is an unresolved issue, fix it before your replacement takes on your role, it eases the frustrations on both ends. Be sure to introduce your replacement to your partners so they understand each other’s roles and how to communicate with one another. Stay on Good Terms—Connected and Recommended Treat all coworkers from the past as if they are still in the next cubicle over. If you have not already, network with your IT recruiters Boston, co-workers, and managers on Linkedin. You never know when you are applying to a new position who could be the hiring manager and if you share connections. Your daily water cooler talk could be the lead way in transitioning your career. Speaking ill of previous experiences puts you on a pedestal of negativity. Do not be tempted to bad mouth an old employer or technical recruiting agency no matter how harshly you were treated or if your expectations were not met. When you cannot think of anything you enjoyed during your time at the position, speak of the skills you attained and how you wish to use them to advance your career. Be Grateful Your previous employer took you on their team—and payroll. Be thankful that they allowed you to share this experience by sending a brief thank you note. Thank your IT staffing representative for their hard work and effort to secure you a position and wish that they keep you in mind for upcoming roles. If you seemed to have burned a bridge in the process, it might be salvageable. Admit your faults and, as mentioned before, finish strong.
Asking for Feedback in the IT industry
As an IT professional, after you complete an assignment or project, make sure you ask for feedback. What aspects of the project did you handle well or what are your areas of improvement. Any criticism you receive may in turn help you improve your abilities, thus only making you more marketable in the future. If you utilized IT recruiting firms, then make sure the IT recruiters provide you with feedback from your direct report. Again, knowing where you can improve is the first step to actually improving.
Feedback should actually start before you land that IT consulting engagement. You should ask IT recruiters for feedback after interviewing for IT jobs. If it feels appropriate at the time, ask the hiring manager on the spot to ensure you’re provided first-hand information. It would be good to know how you come across face to face when interviewing so you don’t put off future hiring managers.
Feedback is extremely important in helping you build better relationships with other IT professionals. In the IT consulting industry, this is a critical component to ensure you’re never between IT contract jobs. This will also gain the respect of the various technical recruiters that you work with – another important resource to help you consistently remained employed.
Therefore, remember to ask for feedback after your next interview and/or IT job assignment. This will only help you identify your strengths – and continue to fine tune them…..and even more important, it will isolate your weaknesses so you can focus on improving them. Do not to take any criticism to heart as it is only to help you better yourself.