Top 10 IT Job Search Success Secrets Used by Pros

Top 10 IT Job Search Success Secrets Used by Pros

  1. Be proactive. Create a targeted list of five to ten key companies, and use your (and other’s) Linkedin and professional networks to find a contact in all.
  2. Rely on more than the Internet. Polls and studies and statistics show networking is a factor in landing 67 – 87% of jobs.
  3. Create a wide network. Let family, friends, instructors, and other students know what job you are searching for and what companies interest you, and let them help you job search.
  4. Create a Branded Résumé. Visit https://mnstateitcoe.org/category/webinars/ to discover how to create a résumé that gets a hiring manager’s attention.
  5. Use the Internet wisely. Create a LinkedIn profile based on your Branded Résumé.  Use your “Headline” as your attention-grabber.
  6. Follow up. When you meet people who could be valuable contacts, follow up by connecting to them – but go one step further and send a link to a great article or blog post they might enjoy.
  7. Manage your expectations. If you are looking for your first IT job, forego the urge to find the perfect job. Sometimes it’s best to get into a great company and work your way up.
  8. Be professional. Have a professional sounding voicemail message. Check if your Facebook page has any embarrassing or inappropriate photos, if so, delete them. Employers do check prospects online. Privacy settings can’t guarantee safety from a focused search.
  9. Take every job interview seriously. Dress professionally. Even if the company has a relaxed-attire culture, interviewers judge your appearance as an indicator of how much effort you give to your endeavors. Research the company and prepare answers to tough questions (such as offered in earlier Hot Jobs bulletins).
  10. Use your college career office. Just as you focus on the latest and most important IT technical skills, the professionals in the career office focus on the latest and most important job search strategies – put their expertise to work for you.

Sharon Boerbon Hanson is associate executive director of Advance IT Minnesota, a Center of Excellence that promotes awareness of and excellence in IT careers in order to ensure business success. She has over 25 years’ experience marketing and brand-building, and has been a resume and interview coach 15 years.

Avoid Interview Tricks, Traps, and Pitfalls

Employers are looking for “must haves.” Present yourself as a “must have” by avoiding the tricks, traps, and pitfalls that trip up many people during interviews. For each question the employer asks, you want to answer in a way that positions you as the most desirable candidate.