Okay, so you completed your first IT certification (well done you) and now you’re ready to get applying to those all-important IT roles.
But how do you stand out from the crowd? How do you make employers pick you from the overflowing pool of talent out there?
Today, we’ll be sharing 4 ways that you can maximise your IT employment chances so you can land your dream job! Let’s get started.
Level Up Your Skillset
At this point, I’m assuming that you’ll have already completed some form of foundational IT course like CompTIA IT Fundamentals to help kick start your journey.
However, I want you to keep in mind that many jobs in IT won’t just require you to focus on your technical abilities. Of course, that’s important but there are also a lot of roles that require you to lead a team, be analytical, make tough decisions, face customers and more. So, be sure to convey all your capabilities to any potential employer – not just the technical ones.
Additionally, if you already have some clarity on what area you’d like to niche down into, let’s say cyber security, you could look at investing in additional courses to further develop your skillset while you’re applying for new roles. You want to include any further development you’re working on currently on your CV too. Even If you’ve not completed it yet. It shows potential employers that you are keen on consistently working on yourself and building on your talents.
Get a Professional to Comb Through Your CV
Speaking of CV’s, first impressions count. On average, a recruiter will spend just 7 seconds looking at your CV while shortlisting candidates. 7 seconds! That’s very little time to shoot your shot and get noticed. By seeking help from a professional who’s either in the IT industry already, or is a recruiter and knows what they look for, you can ensure that you’re always getting placed in the callback pile and not just thrown to one side.
Network
Networking is one of the best ways to become recognised in your industry as an authority. Not only will you build great working relationships on the way, you never know when a person you’re chatting with might have a job role coming up. Or, better yet, if you end up being recommended for a role through someone you know. Nowadays, with the help of social media, it’s really easy to build up your network. Create a LinkedIn profile and be sure to connect with those that you’ve already had the opportunity to work with in the past. If you’ve never worked in IT before, this could be people you met through your Online IT Certifications or previous colleagues. Remember I said that there are other skills you need besides technical ones, and some of them may transfer over from a previous role and these connections you’ve built can vouch for you.
Establish yourself as an authority by frequently sharing people’s LinkedIn posts and adding in your two cents on the topic. Make it valuable and spark up a conversation…you never know where these conversations might lead and by adding your thoughts and feelings, you’re positioning yourself as an expert who’s ‘in the know’.
Consider Temporary Roles
Finally, I want to remind you that experience is everything and sometimes it can be more important than qualifications. If you have the opportunity to do a short term contract/temporary role, don’t shun it. It can be the perfect place to get your foot in the door in the IT world and open up countless opportunities moving forward. Sometimes, temp jobs lead to full-time roles within that company and even if not, you will have spent 3, 6, 9 months or however long getting valuable work experience that you can share with your next potential employer.
Final Thoughts
We hope that this post has armed you with what you need to position yourself effectively moving forward so you can get hired! Remember, getting certified is just the first step on what’s hopefully going to be a long and prosperous career. So, get brushing up on those CV skills, get a pro to give it a once over and let us know below…How you’re going to stand out in those all-important 7 seconds.
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