Tag Archives: IT job

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.

How To Find The IT Recruiting Job That is Right For You

There are so numerous IT recruiting  jobs out there.  The problem for many IT recruiters is that they may not know they’re value or level of experience in comparison to other technical recruiters.  Therefore, here are a few ways to navigate the IT recruitment industry and find the right job for you.

Try taking on new projects within your current IT staffing company. This will allow you to venture into other parts of the recruiting industry without having to switch careers.  During these projects you may meet new people within the company and learn about the kinds of tasks they do in their technical recruiting job.

Read blogs that pertain to the IT recruitment industry.  Many IT recruiting companies have blogs that are saturated with industry information and technical chatter.  Learn about other recruiting professionals and what they are doing for a living.  You can research the companies they work for and the opportunities they have access to.  This will allow you to see what IT recruiters MA are up to and what you can potentially do in the future.

If there is something you think might interest you, try presenting a project to your boss that will allow you to try out them out.  Trying out new roles will help you decide whether it is the right thing for you.

Also contact one of the many IT staffing firms local to you.  Build a relationship with a handful of headunters (based on their credibility, responsiveness and other factors that separate them from the thousands of recruiters out there).  Research local IT recruiting agencies.  Find which specialize in information technology, then read the reviews about each company.  Narrow your search to the best of the best as this is your career you’re putting in their hands.

In the end, the more you try out and explore other roles or companies, the more you’ll be able to identify what it is you want to do within the information technology recruiting industry…..and what company you want to work for.  Activity is king, sitting back and doing nothing will get you nowhere.

Respect In The IT Recruiting Industry

Like in any other industry, respect is extremely important in IT staffing. All prospective candidates should be treated with respect.  In return, all IT recruiters should be treated with the same.   Having said that, respect should be earned and not taken for granted.

First and foremost, you must present yourself as a reputable technical recruiter.  Simple callbacks, resume advice, interview tips and just simple common courtesy should be the approach for all IT recruiters.  These characteristics alone with set you apart from other IT staffing firms and IT recruiters Boston.

Candidates should always look to improve themselves.  Technical recruiters will respect your desire to get better.  Asking for feedback after each interview is a great way to strengthen your IT job search skills.  Take constructive criticism, for as hard as it can be to hear, it will only better your abilities.

These are just a few things that will help build respect in the IT recruitment industry.  Respect will not only prove you to be a valued employee, it will help you gain credibility with your peers.

Checklist of Preparation Tips before an IT job interview

Job seekers put in countless hours applying for IT jobs and contacting IT recruiters.  High activity typically translates into multiple interviews.  The focus then becomes the face to face meeting with the client company.

First, take a close read through our Interview Tips.  Always remember that you never get a second chance to make a first impression.  Therefore, do everything you can to put your best foot forward the minute you walk through that client’s door or the lobby of the IT staffing company representing you.

Do the research.  When you interview for a company, have a background of what they do.  Find their competitors in their industry.  Show the interviewers that you are familiar with their company – this will let him/her know that you at least have some level of initiative…and interest in working for the company.

Think about why you want to apply for this position.  Some hiring managers will even ask why this position interests you.  Even if you are not completely interested in the position, make sure you have a response ready for this question.

Know your strengths and weaknesses.  Cliché question, but it’s one of the interview questions often asked by IT recruiters Boston and client companies alike.  Take your skills and experiences and show the technical recruiters or hiring managers why you are interested in the IT job and why you want to work there.

Most importantly, ask the hiring manager questions.  Questions can range from topics surrounding the IT job description to the company culture.  Having questions prepared will once again show the interviewers that you have a strong interest in the IT job opportunity as well as the company.

So do your homework and prepare before every interview. This will ensure you’re putting your best foot forward and will help separate yourself from other IT job seekers applying for the job.

The Importance of Building Relationships With IT Recruiters

Prospective candidates usually come to an IT staffing agency to help finding an IT job. Some are desperately looking and others already know the drill. Many will apply to the technical job opportunities available on the IT recruiting company’s website while some will just submit their resume directly to their IT recruiters and hope for the best.

While both could help you land a new technical position, take the time to build a relationship with multiple IT recruiters Boston. Pick up the phone and talk with a technical recruiter at various IT staffing agencies. Getting to know them personally will better your chance of landing that perfect IT job. Keep your name at the tip of the IT headhunter’s tongue; stay in contact to make sure your resume sits atop of their pile. Show the IT recruiter that you’re not just a name or are just technical skills on paper; show them that you’re a living person with a family. Build the relationship so they know who you are and you know who they are.

Stay in touch throughout the IT job hunt. Let them know about other companies you have applied to so they do not submit you to the same place. They may also be able to expedite the review of your resume if the IT recruiter has close ties with any of those companies.

Also stay in touch with the technical recruiters after the placement. A common mistake that IT job seekers make is losing touch with IT recruiters Boston after they land a new position. But do not let this happen. You never know when a stronger opportunity will become available or when you’ll find yourself looking or even suddenly out of work. You should look at the IT recruiter/candidate relationship as something long term and beneficial for both sides.

Therefore, build a relationship with IT recruiters. It will benefit you from start to finish. IT jobs are competitive and if you have someone that will stand behind you, technical recruiters can help overcome your competition.

Organize the Night Before an IT Job Interview

Take 1: It is 8:45 am on a Monday morning.  Your interview is at 9:15 am.  One slight problem… your printer is jammed and you cannot print the latest copy of your resume.  You were going to research the IT recruiting company before you left.  You rip the pages from the printer and trip out the door to your car.  On your commute you realize you do not know the name of the IT recruiter. You quickly jot down two questions on the back of your crinkled resume.  Flustered, you enter the lobby of the IT staffing agency with one minute to spare.  At 9:15 am, you hang your head and enter the IT job interview.

Don’t let this be you!  In the world of IT staffing, we live by Murphy’s Law: Anything that can go wrong will go wrong!

Quite the pessimistic view, but if you are in this position you’ll wish you had been better prepared.    Our AVID technical recruiters make it a point to ensure that you do not find yourself in this situation.  AVID IT recruiters  take the time to reach out to you and provide tips from tweaking your resume to interview prepping.

Here are just some key tips for your interview:

–          Always wear a suit and iron the night before: You never get a second chance to make a first impression!  Even if you are overdressed for the IT recruiting firm’s environment, you’ll still look good and you will feel it, too.  Having a back up outfit doesn’t hurt either.

–          Research the night before and write down your questions:  You will look prepared and have you questions answered.  Make note of recent press releases, the hiring staff will see your interest in the IT recruiting company.

–          Know your resume:  Always make sure your resume is up to date and includes all relevant experience.  Be prepared to answer questions about employment gaps or responsibilities.

–          Take the commute:  Research your commute to your interview at least a day in advance. Take the drive, take the train, or walk it the day before and be sure to time it.  Leave yourself enough time to arrive 15 minutes early for the interview.

Take 2: It is 8:00 pm on Sunday night.  You are prepping for the interview with the technical recruiting firm.  You are ironing your suit and a back up outfit just in case.  You research the IT recruiting agency, their technical recruiters, and latest press releases, writing down questions and thoughts.  You are flipping through your notes, reviewing your resume and remembering all of your interview tips.  You pack your bag the night before.  You’ve done the commute and spare yourself an extra fifteen minutes to arrive early.  Next morning, you arrive fifteen minutes prior to your interview as expected with a clear mind, no worries.  You walk in, looking sharp and present your values and experiences.  Your technical recruiter calls you the next day with good news!

For more tips, visit our interview tips page!

Try Not to Take Things Personally as an IT Job Seeker

A job seeker applies to various IT job postings, attends interviews, and speaks with IT recruiters Boston.  Sometimes you just are not a good fit for the position or the company.  So how should you handle this after being turned down by so many jobs?

Try not to take it personal.  Things happen for a reason so just look at it as another opportunity to find a better IT job.  When you get turned down for a position there are many good things that can come out of it.  You may not have gotten that job, but that technical recruiter or hiring manager has your resume and now knows who you are.  Somewhere down the line a position may open up and one of the IT recruiters or hiring managers might remember you and choose you as a candidate.

If you do not do well on an interview or do not get called back for a second one it will be alright.  Take time to reflect upon your interview.  Think about how you prepared as well as how you did.  You may not have answered all the questions confidently.  Or maybe you did not connect your experiences well enough with the job description.  This is your chance to improve on any of your weaknesses.  The more interviews you go to, the better you will become as long as you analyze how you interviewed.

Job seekers do not fret. There are many more IT jobs out there.  Getting turned down is just an opportunity to improve your job search and interview skills.  Remember that every technical recruiter you meet is another connection so keep applying more IT jobs.

How To Be a Successful IT Job Seeker

As an IT job seeker you may be wondering how some candidates receive so many interviews and ultimately job offers.  In order to get this type of return, you need to put in the effort.  Here are a few tips from our IT recruiters Boston for those of you who want to get ahead.

When you search on IT job boards, apply to as many positions that you see fit. Most importantly, you should take a look at the employers and IT recruiting firms who have jobs posted.  Create a spreadsheet and add the company names so you know whom you’ve sent your resume to as well as whom you should follow back up with for feedback and/or future positions.  In addition, try searching for the applicable hiring manager for the role on Linkedin and send him/her your resume directly.

Our last 3 recommendations from our IT recruiters:

1)      To find the right IT job, you have to put in the time and effort.

2)      To find the right IT job, you have to be aggressive.

3)      To find the right IT job, you have to be organized.

How to Start Your IT Job Search?

Starting your IT job search may seem like an uphill climb.  There are so many companies and IT recruiters Boston to choose from.  So how do you get over that hurdle and take that first step?

You may want to analyze your current, or most recent, IT job to figure out what it is that you like about it and what you do not like.  Think about the kind of environment you would like to work in.  Depending on the company you work for, the culture can also affect you and your productivity.

Next, contact some IT recruiting companies.   Ask your peers to refer IT recruiters, research the IT staffing companies, then work with the IT headhunters that you feel more comfortable with and ask them to help you narrow down the type of positions that you’re a good fit for.  IT recruiters MA will be able to look at your resume and figure out what kinds of IT jobs that you can apply to.  Once you figure out what you are looking for, start searching job boards such as Monster.

So what are you waiting for?  The first action step must come from you.  Pick up the phone and call an IT recruiter or log on to some of the job boards and begin submitting your resume.  Take action!