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Quick tips to get going
Karin Call
October 5, 2000
Beginning a job search, one step at a time
Despite a booming economy and an overload of job openings for IT professionals, your dream job won't necessarily jump into your lap. You have to start somewhere in order to land all those well-deserved interviews.
Position yourselfIn a fast-paced industry, it is more important than ever to keep your job skills current. It is advantageous to stay in top professional form. Fill in the gaps, if you need to. Have years of hands-on Novell experience but no certificate? Now is the time to take the test.
RedecorateHow does your resume look? Most companies still favor chronological resumes. What are they looking for? Well, it's tough to believe, but some are still bothered by the once-taboo job-hopper's resume. Others want an explanation for time gaps in your professional employment background. Did you go back to school, or were you just hanging out at with the guys at the federal penitentiary? Tell them.
In the high tech industry, employers aren't overly particular about where you got your know-how, as long as you have it. They want proven job experience, training classes, formal education, self-taught expertise and certifications. Get it down on paper for the employers who aren't psychic.
Focus on your achievements. Did you complete a network installation, with three servers and 356 computers, in one day, all by yourself? Include it.
Don't forget keywords. Are you fluent in 17 programming languages? List them individually. Many recruiters and employers search resumes by keyword to find matches for specific positions. And if they don't search by keywords, they should.
Still not coming together? There are dozens if not hundreds of online resume builders. Alternately, purchase software or download free programs to help you do the job to get the job.
Just to be safe, contact your Aunt Jane, the CEO, and have her critique your resume. If you have some cash, hire a local resume service. Or choose one of the many reputable online critique services instead. Just make sure the person doing the job has a handle on the pulse of the technology industry. If Aunt Jane is the CEO of a small organic soybean farm, as opposed to sys admin like you, don't go there.
Once the content is complete, make sure you have a copy saved on your hard drive in several formats. For instance, keep a copy in ASCII/text-only format in addition to an easily attachable, nicely formatted, Word document.
It wouldn't hurt to have a flawless hard copy on heavy weight paper stock lying around, too. Yes, I'm serious. While it's not likely that you will do the snail mail thing, it's always impressive to have a presentation copy with you when you walk into an interview. Many times an interviewer has asked me for an extra copy of my resume because she either lost hers, passed it onto a colleague without copying it, left it on her desk, or left it in the bathroom.
Cover Yourself Make life easier by preparing a general cover letter, which can be tailored to the specific job you are applying for. Check out the many examples online if you are at a loss for words. But remember, develop a tone that will make you stand out in a crowd, as well as showcase your talent and experience - all in as few words as possible.
Narrow The Playing FieldOkay, you already know what your area of expertise is. You need to determine if you are going for a permanent, contract or consulting position. This determines the content of your cover letter, how you approach a headhunter, and the keywords you use when searching for positions on the Web.
Scrounging For InterviewsWith a professional, flattering resume and cover letter on hand, you can be confident and proactive in your job search. If you don't want to wait for employers to come to you, go through this checklist of methods to help you obtain interviews quickly:
- Announce your availability online. There is no end to Web sites that allow you to post your resume for free.
- Enlist the help of a recruiter. They're everywhere and the competition for good job candidates is fierce. Find a headhunter who understands your expertise. You can never have too many people working for you.
- Contact former colleagues. After all, they know you and your special skills. Most people are happy to pass on any leads. By now they will have forgotten the time you were playing Internet fantasy football on company time.
- Go back to college. Rather, go back to your college’s career center. Peruse their job board, even if you've been out of school for a decade or two. You never know what you might find.
- Attend job fairs that deal with anything remotely pertaining to your industry of choice. Pushing the envelope may be a way to discover unforeseen options.
- Follow the news on companies that interest you. If they are restructuring or have a bundle of cash coming their way, you may have a better chance at an opening.
- Volunteer to do something that will show off your skills. Setup a database for your local Chamber of Commerce and train the staff to use it. You'd be amazed at how many contacts non-profit agencies have. And they're glad to pass them your way.
That's ItOf course there are many more methods worthy of your consideration. For instance, spending time researching leads on the countless job sites the Internet offers. But with this prosperous job market, no matter how you begin your search, it's time to get going!
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