The hunt for a job can be difficult, especially as the economy recovers from a downturn. Add to that the millions of Americans currently looking for a job, and it may feel like you will never find the perfect job, let alone snag an interview.
However, there are plenty of tools available to assist you in your job search. You just need to use them. The IT and accounting job markets are competitive so you’ve need to put in time and effort. “Don’t rely only on your recruiter or job boards; you’ve got to have a multipronged attack if you want to secure a job in a reasonable amount of time,” says Rich Hein, contributor to CIO.
Hein shares some helpful tips for landing a job in the tech industry.
Keep Technical Skills Updated
What skills would make you more valuable to an employer? Make the effort to add those skills to your toolbox. “This could mean taking online courses, workshops, webinars or books, going back to college or a tech school,” says Hein. This will show employers you not only have a passion to learn, but you stay up-to-date on new trends in the IT or accounting industry.
Use Social Media
Hein says if you don’t have a social media presence, you are doing yourself a disservice. Hiring managers and recruiters are using social media to find candidates. Take the time to create a detailed LinkedIn profile, and also check out Google+. For IT professionals, you’ll want to check out StackOverFlow, and CodeProject. As Hein mentions, an IT pro that can’t be found on any of these social networks is a red flag to employers.
Build Your Professional Network
Join trade associations and attend regular networking events and/or conferences. Reconnect with former bosses, coworkers, and clients. The opportunities that present themselves through increased networking efforts might surprise you!
Differentiate Yourself
You need to let hiring managers and recruiters know what you will bring to the table, and why you’ll be a better choice for them to hire than the next person. “The best way to do this is to know what an employer’s problems and pain points are. Once you know that, focus on how you can solve those problems,” says Hein.
Update Your Resume Regularly
It’s important to keep your resume up-to-date, relevant, and accomplishment-driven and to all that in two pages at the most. Don’t forget to include the public link to your LinkedIn profile, and make sure it’s easily readable, suggests Hein.
Also, emphasize skills beyond your technical expertise. People wear many hats so don’t sell yourself short. Stress your strategic thinking and leadership skills along with your technical expertise, and the business related groups you fraternize.
“The resume should include a “professional affiliations” section, reflecting active involvement in the most “cutting edge” organizations and associations,” says Ford Myers, executive career coach and author of Get The Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring.
To be successful in your job hunt, remain patient and be proactive. Don’t give up if you hit a few walls. Looking for a new job takes a lot of time and effort. Keep plugging away and eventually the right position will come along.