The following article is brought to you by Jobsite -Ed.
Even with the IT job market positively flourishing in 2013, many people find the prospect of finding employment daunting.
Graduates, especially those looking for sought after positions such as IT support jobs, may worry about getting the first foot on the career ladder, so it’s important to improve your odds by doing the appropriate research.
IT jobseekers may need to have certain industry-related qualifications in order to apply for certain jobs, so it’s important to find out what’s needed. If you don’t have the right qualifications you may still be able to apply for an entry level position which offers ‘on the job’ training. Certification is good but often experience is better, so expressing a passion for IT and a willingness to learn may convince an employer to take you on.
Using websites such as Jobsite.co.uk, a leading UK online recruitment site, can help to point you in the right direction. Sites such as this take the hassle out of job hunting and use intelligent search and match technology to help bring recruiters and potential employees together quickly and easily.
Once you’ve selected a job you like the look of, you’ll need to send a CV and covering letter – no matter how advanced your qualifications, a rushed attempt could mean your application ends up on the reject pile. Ensure your application is well written, concise and to the point. Sending an application with typos, sloppy grammar and bad formatting shows a lack of care.
It is of course, important to list all relevant qualifications and work history. Don’t just list the companies you have worked for, list a key achievement for each role. Maybe you helped to coordinate an office move or developed a bespoke content management system – these achievements are all worth mentioning.
If you’re a recent graduate you may need to list all your work experience, even if not IT related. If you worked weekends in a supermarket there could be elements of the job that will make you attractive to a prospective employer. Were you allowed to cash-up at the end of a shift? Were you given key-holder responsibility thus showing trustworthiness? These skills are called transferable skills and they will show an employer that you could be an asset to their company.
The next stage, if your application is successful, will be the interview. Like with your CV, make sure you prepare properly or you won’t make a good impression. Learn about the company, find out what systems they have in place and come up with ideas of how you could improve or enhance these systems.
Be confident, but not cocky, and make sure you dress appropriately. You may be applying for software engineer jobs which permit casual work attire on a day-to-day basis in the office. However you should always dress smartly for the interview. Some corporate companies may frown upon casual interview clothes, so err on the side of caution.
Once the interview is over then it’s just a matter of waiting. If you’re not successful in this instance it may be permissible to ask for feedback so you can work on any weak areas for your next interview.
Finally, when it comes to careers in IT, remember you should ABL – ‘always be learning’ – as technology is always renewing and developing.
For further information and for the latest software engineering and other IT jobs listings in your area, visit Jobsite.
