Tag Archives: IT job

Sending Cover Letters Electronically

Selling yourself is critical when searching for a job.  As we have stressed, it’s important to sell yourself in an interview.  However, to get that IT job interview, you must first sell yourself in your resume.  However, before you send that resume, you actually have a chance to sell yourself in a cover letter.  This is your chance as an IT professional to give personality to your resume.

Since most resumes are now sent electronically, when an IT manager receives your email, the first item they will see is the subject line.  This is one advantage of sending your professional documents through the Internet.  Use this subject line to catch the attention of the hiring manager or IT recruiter.  Describe yourself in a few words and the position you are applying for.

A couple tips:  Always try finding the hiring managers name (then make sure you spell it correctly).  You do not want to be sending a cover letter to “Whom it may concern”.  If you cannot find a name then you can send it to Human Resources.

In terms of the length you do not want to keep those managers or IT recruiters reading a lengthy document about how you would be a perfect fit for the IT job.  Technical recruiters and information technology professionals are busy people who will likely not have the time or patience to read through a full page.  So take a good look at your experiences and why this position would be good for you.  As an IT professional you have to make sure that you sell your technical skills within the first paragraph.  Give those IT hiring managers and/or technical recruiters a brief overview that will keep them wanting to read more about you.

As always remember that the resume you send to IT recruiting companies must include the keywords referenced in the job description.  This will allow human resources or even some lesser-technical IT recruiters the ability to see that you have the information technology skills that their position requires.

Consider these tips before sending your next cover letter.   These come from IT recruiters Boston who spend countless hours every day reading resumes and cover letters.

Updating Your Resume

As an information technology professional, you are consistently using the various IT skills that you have acquired.  You’re also exposed to new technologies that help you master your craft.  If you are an IT professional who is always on the lookout for new technical job opportunities, you need to make sure to keep track and document all of these skills and technologies.

To start, keep a notebook or create a spreadsheet that will contain all of your new skills as well as technologies that you have used in the past.  Then after you complete a project task jot down some notes about everything you participated in.

Taking notes allows you to remember everything while it’s fresh.  Most of us will not remember that small project that allowed us to perfect those IT skills.  Subsequently, when it comes time to update your resume, you run the risk of leaving out some important technologies.

In the IT staffing world, technical recruiters understand the value of listing these technologies on a candidate’s resume.  IT recruiters also know that a candidate’s market value is typically dictated upon how many technologies they have experience in using and/or whether they’re strong with certain ones that are in demand.

When working with an IT recruiting firm, you never know when the next IT job opportunity is around the corner.  So why not be prepared for when that time comes.  You will not only have some good job descriptions readily available, but it will be a cheat sheet for when you are preparing for an interview.

Getting That Reference

When you are a job seeker, you will be applying to many IT jobs.  IT recruiters and hiring managers will want to know about the various experiences you have had during your career.  They will also want to know about how well you worked with others and interacted with your previous employers. This is when your references and referrals will come in handy.

When choosing your references, make sure that the person will be able to evaluate your performance accurately, and of course, communicate your experience in a positive light.  Put together a list of the references you want to use.  When you create this document, you will want to put their name, the company where you worked together, the date/timeframe when you worked there, his or her role, then your IT job as well.  In addition, you will need to write down their phone number and possibly an email address.  To be considerate, you should be sure to ask them about their preferred method of contact.

Once you identify who will be a suitable reference, contact them and give them the courtesy of a heads up.  They need to know that they may be contacted – you never want to give out a reference without getting their permission ahead of time.

During your interview, you will then appear prepared when you’re able to give IT recruiters Boston or hiring managers a complete list of references with everything they will need to know in order to get a better understanding of your work ethic.  It will allow you to impress the technical recruiters or hiring managers and possibly give you a better chance of impressing them for that IT job.

How to Prepare For IT Job Fairs

It is that time of the year again, where career fairs are popping up everywhere.  If you are back at school finishing up your MBA or your bachelor’s degree, you may need to start looking for that IT job.  There are a few things you will need to keep in mind when attending these IT recruiting events.

First of all, make sure you research the IT recruiting agency or company beforehand.  You as a prospective candidate need to show a keen interest in the firm.  Learn a little about the IT recruiters or hiring managers representing the company.  Find out what their role is and even where they were prior to joining the company.  All this can be found on Linkedin.  Where knowledge is power, and hitting it off with a prospective employer is critical, use the information that is at your fingertips.

Second, you should think about your ideal role and what additional positions that you’re qualified to fill.  Even if the various IT recruiting agencies Boston or client companies are not advertising your desired position, leave them with a resume.  You never know when an IT job position will open up.  If the Boston recruiters already have your information, you may be one of the first prospective candidates on their list when that high tech job opens up.

Next, come prepared.  As an information technology professional looking for a new job, you need to dress the part.  Do not go in jeans and a t-shirt.  Try business casual or business formal.  First impressions are critical.  In addition, make sure you have enough copies of your resume and of course do not forget to proofread it to make sure all the necessary technology keywords are on there.

Finally, break out of your comfort zone.  IT job fairs are useless unless you talk to IT recruiters and/or prospective employers.  If there’s a long line to speak with technical recruiters, then wait in it.  If you feel awkward about approaching a potential employer, walk up and introduce yourself.  The more people you meet, the better your chance of making a connection that will help you find that next IT job.

IT job Interviewing – Uncommon Sense

Most candidates make the same mistakes during an interview.  Many don’t even realize they are creating a negative first impression. Don’t forget, as soon as you walk through the door, you’re being assessed.

Often, mistakes are subtle, but why waive a red flag with an employer if you can avoid it?

Here are some important tips to consider before your next interview”

First impressions count! Those first minutes when you meet the IT recruiters or direct hiring manager can make a world of difference in determining the outcome of the interview. Based on this, you will either be working the rest of the interview to overcome a bad impression, or get the benefit of the doubt on concerns that the IT manager may have.

Appearance – Outfit, composure, tidiness, and polish can create a very positive first impression. Is your hair neatly combed? Are you dressed too flashy or inappropriately? Conservative dress is always better than flashy. Are you sitting or standing straight, or sprawled across the chair? Are your shoes clean and polished? Are your pants, shirt, coat or skirt or blouse tidy and pressed, or overly wrinkled? Do your clothes fit appropriately or are they too tight, too loose, too short, or too long? Are you wearing too much makeup, perfume, or cologne? All these become factors on a first impression in an IT job interview setting.

The Greeting – Is your handshake too firm or too loose? This is a major factor for both men and women. Are you too loud or do you mumble? Are you too informal with the technical recruiter or hirig manager? Are you too serious or are you exuding a warm smile? Relax, breathe and be as natural as possible while maintaining an aura of professionalism.

NO REFRESHMENTS – THIS ISN’T A MOVIE THEATER! When arriving for an interview, it’s extremely common that someone might offer you a something to drink; a glass of water or coffee. It’s generally best to politely let them know you appreciate the offer but you are all set. This is for multiple reasons…

  • They usually ask to be polite, not because they want to ensure you’re not parched.
  • You’re probably somewhat nervous already, and creating a situation that makes you need to go to the restroom during the interview won’t help anyone.
  • Many people end up fidgeting with the cup or bottle to the point of distraction.
  • There’s always a possibility of spilling it, on you, on the floor, or on their desk.

Be professional, yet natural! Often, people either sit too relaxed, or too stiff. Sliding down in your chair and crossing your legs with one knee over the other may seem overly casual. Sitting straight and crossing your legs with your ankle on your knee may seem like you are nervous and uncomfortable. Sitting with your feet on the floor or one knee over the other, reasonably straight and slightly leaning forward can make you appear alert and engaged. Practice in front of a mirror to find what works best for you, but how you sit makes a very distinct impression.

Be Nice! It’s not just your skills; rather, they are looking for the complete “package”. Along with evaluating whether you can do the IT job, they are deciding whether they would like spending 8 hours a day with you. If you’re too stern in your discussion with them, or exhibit a bad attitude, or complain about previous co-workers, managers, or companies, they are not likely to warm up to you when it comes to personal considerations. Without being overly gregarious or making jokes, discussing the job and your skills in a warm, comfortable, and upbeat manner will go a long way toward building a relationship.

Make a Long Story Short! While you definitely don’t want to give one-word answers or answers that are so short you leave the IT recruiters Boston or hiring managers looking for more… you definitely don’t want to give answers that are far too long. Usually people do it because they aren’t sufficiently prepared for the questions being asked, so they ramble on until they think they’ve covered every aspect of it. Preparation by writing out answers to commonly asked questions and practicing them at home will help you give succinct and effective answers in the interview. Prepare for the most common questions:  “Why do you think you’re a fit for this specific role?”  “What are your strengths?  “Your weaknesses?”  “Tell us a time in which you’ve overcome adversity?”

Don’t try the patience of a technical recruiter or IT manager by being too long-winded!

Inquisition – At the end of an interview, you’d be surprised at how often people do not have any questions for the technical recruiters Boston or IT managers. If you’re not prepared to as any questions, it makes you appear indifferent or having a lack of interest.  Always ask questions at the end of an IT job interview.  Prepare the night before.

LinkedIn – Get Connected, Get Recruited

–          LinkedIn is the best way to get your name in cyberspace (in a good way!).
Your LinkedIn profile is an online resume for you, and it’s a way for you to get your resume in front of people without actually sending it. It’s your BRAND. This means, that the quality of your LinkedIn profile is vital. Ensure that it’s professional and easy to skim to get what’s important about you–a bulleted summary for each role you’ve held is ideal.

–          LinkedIn is a way to reconnect and establish your network.
Connecting to others on some level is what LinkedIn is all about. Joining groups is a great way to do that. Find groups that are focused in your industry/skill set/company/school. This will not only connect you directly and indirectly to global professionals and IT recruiters, it will keep you up to date on industry trends and happenings. Outside of  IT headhunters, it’s your most valuable IT job search tool.

–          LinkedIn is an incredible source for learning about clients.
Companies that span from large enterprise-level to smaller start-ups frequently maintain LinkedIn pages that are more educational than their official corporate pages for IT professionals who are looking for more employment-related information. Most current employees, including hiring managers can be found through an employee link on these pages.

–          Front Row Access to Recruiters.
Good IT recruiters Boston utilize all of the job boards. Great technical recruiters utilize the “passive” candidates on LinkedIn. Having a strong profile puts you front and center for us to find you easily.

New Year’s Resolutions for IT Job Seekers!

Challenge your Existing IT Job Search System
As you begin your technical job search, keeping track of various companies and roles within those companies seems easy enough. As time goes on, and you apply for more roles and work with additional IT Recruiters and IT Staffing companies, the list can seem endless! Sooner or later your “system” gets sloppy and starts to break down – and things begin to fall through the cracks. You lose track of where you’ve applied, who you spoke with and what was said, you forget to follow-up with contacts you’ve made, and so on. It’s time to get re-organized, and try to re-invent your system. Use Excel, or Word, or a simple notebook – whatever means is most comfortable for you. Find a system will work best for you and try to go back and re-create and record everything you’ve done to date that was part of your current IT job search. Then as a second part of your resolution, re-dedicate yourself to maintaining your “new” system. Stick with it, and don’t let things slip through the cracks in 2011!

Spend More Time on your Job Search!
Everyone says it – looking for a job is a full-time job in and of itself. It would be easy to say that you should put in a full 8 hours a day, 5 days a week doing it … but that’s a bit much for just about anyone (although don’t let us stop you if you are that motivated!). I would suggest that a minimum goal should be 4-5 hours a day. That’s time spent online, on the phone, speaking with IT recruiters Boston, traveling to and from meetings, and (most valuable of all) actual face time with people who are part of your targeted search plan. Set goals for yourself that you can realistically achieve. For example, research and contact two new IT recruiting companies each day. I’m sure you can think of other similar goals that make sense for yourself. Whatever goals you set, make sure they are measurable and easily achievable, and keep track of each day’s progress for yourself. This will help you stay on task and not waste too much time with useless distractions.

Don’t Let Technology be your Downfall
The internet is one of the best tools for job-seekers. However, it can also be a huge distraction and waste of time. Make sure you are not spending your days in front of a screen without having actual meaningful conversations with people that are part of your job-search plan. Answering online job postings is probably the least effective way to find a job. Limit the amount of time you spend doing that to no more than 15%. Sending emails to targeted people is often a good first step… but at the end of the day, direct live communication with actual people is the only way to get decisions made, and people hired. Overcome your trepidation; stop stressing about rejection, step outside of your comfort zone and pick up the phone!

Join New Networking Groups
There are some really great local Networking Groups (sometimes called “meet ups”) in almost every city and community. They’re easy to find with a simple Google search or meetup.com. Many job-seekers attend regular meetings of those groups, and derive a lot of help, guidance, and advice … and also meet many other job-seekers who can often be very helpful and supportive. After a while, though, attending those same meetings month after month can get repetitive – and you keep seeing the same people over and over. Try seeking out a new local group or two and drop in on their meetings. You just may find a fresh perspective, hear a new idea, or meet new people that you can add to your network. Break out of your comfortable routine!

Revise your Online Presence
You’ve probably labored for hours perfecting your resume and tweaking your online profile on LinkedIn, Monster, Careerbuilder and other job boards and social networking sites. You tend to think of it as a finished work. These avenues were not meant to be stagnant. Sometimes a fresh perspective from a new set of eyes is needed to show you things you’ve missed, or could improve upon. Consider how you might improve or re-vamp your own resume and online profiles. Show it to, and ask for feedback from someone else you trust who knows the art of resume-writing. Always remember to be open to new styles and information, you never know what pique’s the interest of hiring managers or IT Recruiters!

Keeping it Simple on a Resume

It may be that time again when you as an high-tech professional are thinking about whether this IT job you currently have is worth it or you may just want to update your resume.  Regardless of your reasons, you need to always think about keeping your qualifications to 1-2 pages maximum.  The simpler the better.

Hiring managers and IT recruiters want to find the best candidate possible for the IT job as quickly as possible.  This means they are going to be looking at dozens, sometimes hundreds, of resumes.  Eventually they will begin to blur with so much text on a sheet of paper.  So how do you keep them from skimming your resume?

Make sure everything is easily readable.  Don’t make the font too small or have long paragraphs explaining everything you did at a company.  Utilize bullets.  You want to make write your skills and responsibilities as straight to the point as possible.  In addition, you want to make sure that the skills made an impact on your project initiatives.

Another aspect is putting in keywords and technologies.  In the IT staffing industry, IT recruiters rely heavily on searching resume databases by key words.  IT managers want to know that you have the right skills for the IT job.  So why not make it easier for them and list them out using the appropriate names for them.  This will allow hiring managers and IT recruiters to easily ctrl+ f your resume document online to find the appropriate skills for the IT job.

Remember to keep these tips in mind when updating your resume.  As an IT professional, you can always get a second opinion on your resume from local IT staffing companies like AVID Technical Resources. 

Hiring from the best of the best

As a hiring manger, you want to choose an IT professional from a highly skilled pool of candidates.  Although nobody wants to settle, most IT managers don’t have time to interview, never mind sort through, dozens of resumes.  Therefore, the best option is turning to an IT recruiting agency that already has connections to prospective candidates with the skills you need.  Let the IT recruitment firms take the time to sort through resumes.  Let the IT staffing companies conduct dozens of phone screens to narrow your search to the best one or two IT resources.

Our IT recruiters add numerous information technology professionals to our database on a daily basis.  We build relationships with them from day one and contact each whenever there is a position that is a potential fit.  So next time an IT job opens up, focus on what you do best, and let an IT staffing firm focus on what they do best.

How to Gain Experience with New Technologies

With so many software and hardware systems on the market today, IT job seekers need to stay current with new technologies.  If you feel like you are falling behind on your skills, then look to take on a contract position to gain exposure to specific technologies.

Additionally, look to take classes.  There are free classes and networking events that hold lessons on new protocols and software.  The government is also funding training programs for the unemployed.  Take the time, do some research and take advantage of these offerings.

Finally, although typically among the most expensive resources, look to become certified in new technologies.  IT recruiters will tell you that employers often look for IT professionals with certifications.