IT Job seeker: Seven Tips for Marketing Yourself
In Bangladesh, when the IT based firms started their operations, it was really difficult for them to get good IT graduates. There were many reasons including the lack of good quality people, lack of standard institutions, and qualified graduates who passed from the universities did not stay in the country. But today, the scenario has changed dramatically. There are many universities and training institutions which provide IT education. So many graduates are coming out of the universities. But there are not enough jobs. On the other hand, IT firms say they do not get quality candidates for the jobs available. So, the competition increased a lot.
In order to get a good job, here are a seven tips to help you cope with the job market’s new realities:
Assess Your Soft Skills
A few years back, two years of experience as a systems administrator might have gotten you hired. No longer — not when you are competing against hundreds of candidates with skills similar to yours. Candidates must now assess their soft skills. IT job seekers should ask themselves about core competencies, especially mentoring and team-building.
Develop an Elevator Pitch
The elevator pitch is a brief self-marketing statement to be delivered at job fairs, conferences or other networking events. The pitch should echo the summary of a resume. The pitch should sound informal and unrehearsed.
Learn to Network
As any salesperson understands, who you know is essential to finding leads. Networking is about being able to connect from person to person to person; it’s about building a web of relationships, until you meet someone who’s looking for what you do.. Building a network means attending technical conferences, classes, job fairs, IT organizations and special networking events designed for IT job seeker. Try to be out there and make an effort to be known, if you sit around and wait for something to happen, you’re going to be disappointed.
Seek a Support Structure
In order to learn, or relearn, networking and interviewing skills, look to organizations offering workshops or classes.
Know Your Audience
Selling yourself effectively means learning everything you can about a company, from the time you write a cover letter to interview day. IT job seekers need to have researched the company be able to speak intelligently about the company and offer their skill set to solve the company’s problems.
Be a Closer
IT job seekers should use a traditional sales tactic for closing the sale. At the end of an interview, ask the interviewer, “Based on this interview, is there anything that would keep you from hiring me for this position?”. It’s very much a sales-type question. What’s more, it will help you learn what mistakes you may have made in the interview. Don’t forget to send a follow-up note to the individuals you’ve met at the company, thanking them for their time.
Practice Patience
Finally, don’t be discouraged if finding a jo takes weeks or months. Practice patience each and everyday. If you stop looking, you’re out of the game. As any salesperson knows, perseverance is essential to closing the sale or getting a job.
