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IT Resumes: Getting Past the HR Gatekeeper

Editor’s note: IvyExec.com is a content partner of this blog who offers a guest article each month. This article is reprinted with Ivy Exec’s permission as part of an ongoing partnership as a contributor on The Voice of Jobseekers.

Basic and IT resumes at least in writing guidelines do not apply to Information Technology professionals; you have an audience, not a single reader, to keep in mind. To top it off, this audience does not speak your language.

Since a member of the IT team probably won’t even see your resume until it’s passed through a few rounds with HR, focus should be on your soft skills, ability to impact the bottom line, and how well-rounded you are.

To emphasize your team leadership and people skills, broaden your thinking about your work experience and tell us about any management experience (people, projects, etc.) and about any client interactions you might have had. Doing so will really take IT resumes up a level from an individual contributor level to a team player and leader.

Limit the use of technical jargon and acronyms that might not be related to your career goals; the “alphabet soup” will be a huge barrier for the resume and will turn off the reader. Use a detailed but tailored ‘Technical Skills’ section, this way your resume won’t require listing the technology used on each project. Leave out any technologies no longer in use which would make you seem outdated.

Expanding your soft skills demonstrates how your technical abilities have improved business in a language that speaks both HR and IT.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

The Entrepreneur and Job Seeker Skill Test

If you want an opportunity to become a reality, go prove it. Pictures and videos count but prove it in front of a live audience. Do it in front of many people.

Job seeker, if numbers on a paper fail to work, then show your prospective customer or boss that you can demonstrate how to get the job done face-to-face. I bet your competition wouldn’t offer proof like that! Don’t be afraid to test your skills.

In a previous post, I discussed how Having The Right Skills Impacts Your Pay.

Entrepreneurs and job seekers alike could raise their perceived value in front of employers or potential clients in one major way: Allow your skills to be tested.

Don’t allow the fear making mistakes to paralyze you, even if you think you may not have the right stuff.

Through failure and shortcomings, you’ll get the right stuff through practice and training

But you have to go get it. Make it happen. And all the other relevant clichés.

You may say, “I shouldn’t have to do that! Who else has to do that?”

Exactly. Who else will do that?

Hardly Anyone.

Get it?

Toni Stone was the first woman to play in the old Negro Baseball League. Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Satchel Paige, and Larry Doby all started their careers there. History allows us to view it as a hub of future major league ball players. Stone is a model for attributes every entrepreneur and job seeker should possess, including:

Learning to Thrive in a Hostile Environment,
Learning to Adapt to Changes,
Pioneering a Movement for Equality
Embracing Challenges and Excelling

Read the rest at We Talk Today!

by SandraTedford

Do You Know What Skills Employers Are Looking For?

Do you know someone who is currently unemployed? Whether you’ve been unemployed yourself or you know someone who’s been affected by the economic turbulence over the past four years, it can be quite frustrating. Having experienced unemployment before, I can tell you it’s terribly frustrating. Do you know what skills employers are looking for?

One reason among others, why unemployment is so frustrating, is the fact that the number of unemployed workers outnumbers the number of unfilled jobs 4 to 1.

Seems rather strange wouldn’t you agree?

There’s a gap in the skills employers require and workers possess.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics they’re currently 12.1 million unemployed persons in the United States.

Approximately 50 percent of the 1,361 U.S.based companies surveyed indicated in a recent survey by Manpower, U.S.companies are having difficulty filling open positions . Positions include high skilled jobs requiring advanced training. Additionally, the study showed American companies are less likely to invest in training than their foreign counterparts.

Similarly, a USA Today article cited 58% of high skilled Manufacturing and Engineering jobs go unfilled for at least three to six months.

Why?

Well one reason is training. Job Training is a major issue in the U.S. If employers want to fill high skilled jobs, they’ll need find the right talent.

Similarly if potential hires are pursuing careers in one of these sectors, they’ll need to find out what skills employers are looking for.

Furthermore, what does this mean for job seekers?

It means job seekers will have to shift their thinking and how they view work in the new economy.

In order to fill highly skilled jobs, candidates should consider adopting an entrepreneurial mindset. This includes exploring three ideas in how they approach their job search:

Find the need and fill it.

Find out what specific skills employers are looking for. Then find out how to acquire those skills.

Do you have to obtain formal training from a university or community college?

Are workshops and seminars available?

Google is a great research tool to find free and paid events in and around your city related to your industry.

What skills are hot right now?

Try attending industry workshops and seminars to find out what direction the industry headed.

Who are the leaders in the industry?

Using LinkedIn can be a valuable resource to research companies and leaders within those organizations.

Answering the questions above is the first step to help you develop a plan to narrow your professional skills gap. It will also help you determine how you can differentiate yourself from other job seekers.

Finding Work Is Your Business

Potential hires have to look at finding work as their business and not the headhunter or corporate recruiter. Every interview is like a new lead that could lead to a new job.

How many leads do you have in the pipeline? Look at this way. The more people you meet, the more leads you’ll be able to generate.

Additionally, treat the employer like a first class business would treat a customer. Think of the company hiring as a client.

3. Find a Network that’s Working

In a previous post, I posed the question “Is Your Social Network Working?” and the importance of utilizing your online network to find work. Basically, if you’re not on LinkedIn, join.

Start developing you’re online portfolio by building your online network. Creating a LinkedIn profile will help you build your online portfolio.

As I mentioned before, I highly recommend creating a profile on LinkedIn if you’re looking for work or a career change. Join groups and find people on LinkedIn that are working in your specific industry. LinkedIn also recognizes the “Top Influencer of the Week” for members who share information that others either like or post a comment. Begin networking people who are proven leaders in your industry.

Don’t be intimidated. Remember, they were once job seekers themselves and sat in the same seat you are currently seated.

What about you? What are your plans to acquire skills to improve your job search and career?