Tag Archives: IT job

How to Keep up with New Technologies as a Hiring Manager

IT professionals are constantly finding new ways of achieving the same goal and doing it with new software or devices. So how do you keep your company staffed with up-to-date IT professionals? IT recruiting firms will fill your contract IT job positions. By opting to use contract workers over permanent ones, you’re giving your company flexibility in the types of IT workers you have. As a hiring manager, there will be different projects you will have to oversee.  These may require different skills and technologies. So next time you need to fill an IT position,  think about whether you will need that skill you’re hiring for later on.

 

New IT Job Interviewing Strategies

Many prospective IT job seekers are very similar in their technical ability.  Additionally, with so many candidates on the market to choose from, the hiring process has become increasingly difficult for managers.  IT recruiters often debrief prospective candidates after they interview to try to get insight into what hiring managers are looking for.  Recently, IT recruiting firms are reporting an increasing trend in some alternative interviewing strategies.

One in particular is the personality test.  The goal of the questionnaire is to find out how you react to different situations.  This is something that hiring managers cannot get from an interview, and is imperative to help ensure you fit with the company’s culture and dynamic.

Another interview strategy that IT recruiters reported was logic tests. The interviewer uses this test to get better insight into the IT job seeker’s problem solving skills.

Therefore, if you are currently searching for new IT jobs, make sure to practice some problem solving tests.  Feel free to contact one of our IT recruiters at AVID Technical Resources.  You never know when a hiring manager will surprise you with a pop quiz!

Where are the IT Jobs? In the Mobile Applications Industry!

As many are already aware of, the smart phone market is relatively new, but growing at a rapid pace.  New high-tech applications are being developed daily due to the increased popularity of the iPhone (and to a lesser extent the Droid).  So what does this mean for IT professionals who are currently on the lookout for IT jobs? It means that there will be an emergence of development opportunities in the mobile applications industry.

Last week at “Tech Tuesdays” in Boston, MA, many of the local video game development companies showcased some of their new games that will run on smart phones.  A few companies made announcements that they were on the lookout for android developers, but admitted they were tough to come by.

In conjunction, IT recruiting companies have seen an increase in this very demand.  Subsequently, IT staffing firms have begun to have their IT recruiters build a network of smart phone application developers.

Knowing this, regardless of economic conditions, it appears as though the smart phone application development market is in high demand.  Therefore, for all high tech programmers looking for their next IT job opportunity, look no further than the mobile phone application industry.

Keeping Track of Your Experience

If you currently have or have had an IT job, then it’s a good idea to keep track of all of the different technologies that you become exposed to.  In an ever-changing industry such as Information Technology, it’s critical that you list as many technologies as possible on your resume (of course, without fabricating experience).  This not only helps your chances of having your resume found by IT recruiters and IT staffing firms, but it also makes you more marketable.

Additionally, the more technologies that you have experience with, the more you are worth from a compensation standpoint.  Finally, tracking all of your IT skills will allow you gauge your experience level and help you identify what additional skills you need to hone.

Be sure to keep a log of every technology in each of your IT jobs.  Also keep track of your job responsibilities.  It’s critical that you accurately track both and include this information on your resume, as you never know what skills or experience your next employer is looking for.

Contract IT Job Positions

Most job seekers are looking for permanent position in the Information Technology industry.  However, contract IT staffing is a widely popular alternative that could also lead you to a full-time opportunity.  Additionally, in this economy, contract IT jobs provide you with that ever-important foot in the door.

There are many benefits to working a contract IT job. First, from the client’s perspective (or IT staffing firm), they can get a look at your work ethic and how well you mesh with the company.  Conversely, from the candidate’s side, they can get a taste of the company to see if it is an environment where they would like to work.  Second, contract IT job opportunities typically pay higher than full time positions.  (Additionally, consultants are paid for every hour they work whereas permanent employees are typically salaried).

Another upside of choosing a contract IT job is that it gives you flexibility to move around from one company to another.  Utilize IT recruiting companies to help open up additional opportunities.  Also if you have plans to travel, you know that after a certain time period you will be finished with your contract IT job and can enjoy your time off.

If you are curious about what kind of position you are looking for, then contact an IT recruitment company like AVID Technical Resources.  Our IT recruiters are always willing to lend you a hand.

Elevator Pitches

One of the most essential things you need as an IT job seeker is an elevator pitch.  This tool is used constantly wherever you go.  A job seeker never knows when they will meet an IT recruiter or hiring manager who can help connect them with that perfect IT job.

During IT job fairs and interviews a job seeker may be asked to quickly tell IT recruiters or hiring managers about themselves.  By having prepared you pitch with all the IT experience you have beforehand, you will be calm and not have to stress about what you may say.  Your impression on the hiring manager would be seamless.

Elevator pitches should be short and concise hitting all of your major selling points.  Who you are, your past success and why you’re a fit for the particular IT job or organization.  Most importantly, sell yourself.

So the next time you have some free time on your hands, make sure to work on your pitch to help you land that perfect IT job.

IT Job Fairs and Why They’re Important to Job Seekers

As an IT job seeker, it is important to put a face to a name on a resume.  A great place to connect with companies that you’re interested in is by attending job fairs held for IT professionals.  Many corporations will send out their hiring managers or IT recruiters to find prospective candidates who seem like a good match.  In addition, a large number of IT staffing agencies typically attend as well.  Combined, this gives you a great opportunity to meet and network with a number of contacts that can help land you that perfect IT job.

IT job fairs give hiring managers a chance to mingle with IT job seekers in a non-interview environment.  You can casually mention what you know about the company and what you would like to know.  Speaking with a hiring manager at an IT job fair is less threatening, but at the same time you need to make sure that you pitch yourself correctly.  You want them to remember you…in a positive way.

So when you go to that next IT job fair, make sure you practice your elevator pitch and include a unique fact about you so that hiring manager will remember you when they have hiring needs.

Proofread

As a job seeker actively looking for an IT job, you are constantly sending out resumes and emails to hiring managers or IT recruiters working for IT staffing agencies.  In order to make sure that your email or resume is not disregarded, make sure that you proofread for any typos and grammatical errors.  Hiring managers want to go through a resume quickly without having to interpret what you meant to write.

By proofreading everything you send to a hiring manager or IT recruiter, they will be able to get through your documents and better see what IT skills you have.  The IT staffing industry is fast-paced and IT recruiters want to find the right prospective candidate for the IT job quickly.  By facilitating the process, you are giving yourself a better chance at that IT job.

Most importantly, by not proofreading your resume, you hurt your chances of landing that perfect IT job.  Take it from this IT recruiter who has had more than one client disqualify one of our candidates due to errors in the resume, proofreading is critically important.  Always put your best foot forward during the IT job search.  Don’t let someone disqualify you because you didn’t take the extra couple of minutes to proofread.

Make Yourself Available for IT Recruiters

When you are a job seeker working with IT recruiters, you need to be easily accessible.  When an AVID Technical Resources’ Account Manager identifies a new IT job opportunity, our IT recruiting team immediately begins looking for prospective candidates.  At AVID Technical Resources we try to submit candidates within the first few days the IT job position becomes available.  The IT Staffing Industry is fast-paced, therefore in order to beat out the other IT recruiting companies, we need to respond to our clients as quickly as possible.

If you miss a call or email, you might be missing out on your dream IT job.  If you don’t have a PDA (Blackberry, iPhone), it might be worth the investment.   In today’s age, whether good or bad, people must be accessible and able to respond immediately to emails.  Another reality is that clients typically needed candidates “yesterday.”  Therefore, the IT recruiters will go with the first candidate or candidates that respond to them.

So when one of our IT recruiters contacts you about a new IT job position, give them a call or return their email as soon as you can.  You never know what new opportunity is waiting for you.

First Impression: The Handshake

As IT recruiters, we’re constantly meeting with prospective candidates and IT hiring managers.  Typically our first interaction with each is a handshake.  As we’ve all been told, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.  Therefore, here are some tips to make sure you put your best foot forward from the very start:

1.        Make sure you greet and introduce yourself briefly before extending your hand for a shake.

2.        When shaking the hiring manager’s hand, make sure to stand up if you’re not already standing. This is a clear sign of respect.

3.        When shaking the hiring managers hand, look him or her in the eyes.

4.        Try to have a firm grip but not too forceful.  The hiring manager does not want to know how strong you are but how qualified you are for the IT job.

5.        Only use one hand.  Shaking with both hands is a bit excessive.  The hiring manager will find that you are being too personal.

6.        Sweaty hands.  If the hiring manager’s hands are sweaty, do not wipe your hands immediately.  Most likely they are aware of their hands and it will embarrass them if they see you wipe your hands.  When you sit down find a moment when you can wipe your hand without being noticed.

7.        More importantly, make sure your hands aren’t sweaty!

For more tips and advice, contact one of our IT recruiters today.  They’re IT staffing industry experts and will help prepare you for your next IT job interview.