Are You Making These IT Job Search Mistakes?

With the economy slowly improving, things are looking a little better for those hopeful professionals who are looking for a job in the IT field. It’s time to put aside that part-time grunt job that you took to tide you over, and go for that dream IT position you’ve always wanted. What’s to stop you?

Some common job search errors can be particularly useful in sinking your IT job search. That’s why you need to get wise to the biggest IT job search mistakes and avoid them. Hey, any little advantage helps. Right?

Technobabble. Okay, yes, you want to show prospective employers that you are well-versed in the jargon and terminology that accompanies your field. That’s great. Furthermore, it’s accepted that, by the very nature of the field, IT professionals normally have longer resumes with more complex content to them.

Unfortunately, loading your resume with too many tech details or harping too much on tech skills can be counter-productive. Remember, long resumes are a chore to slog through. You want to demonstrate your effectiveness as a team member, not present a list of tech skills. Distil it down to two pages max, and give the reader some clue as to your personality and work ethic.

Failing To Network. As the old saying goes, “Sometimes, it’s not what you know; it’s who you know!”. That’s why job seekers need to schmooze. Whether it’s face to face contact or establishing and maintaining an online presence (or both…choose both), networking cannot be neglected. Friends, or friends of friends, may open more doors than you ever thought possible.

Let your friends know you’re looking for a job. Get the word out. Then establish a profile on LinkedIn, upload your resume details, join a few groups, and keep your pages updated.

Adopting A Scattered, Wide-Angle Approach. The problem with applying for every single IT-related position is that you end up spreading yourself too thin. It’s where the law of diminishing returns kicks in. You can only give so much time and energy to the pursuit of any given position, and by trying for everything, you end up only being able to give a superficial effort to each separate endeavor.

It’s better if you narrow your focus to a particular aspect of the IT industry in which you’re interested (and qualified!). Sure, you’re applying for fewer jobs that way, but you can give each search a whole lot more time and attention. You’re swapping out quantity for quality. Never underestimate The Power Of The Targeted Job Search.

Not Following Up

While you don’t want to pester a potential employer by hounding them with calls, emails, texts, carrier pigeons, etc., you can’t afford to fall into the other extreme either. A savvy employer realizes that they probably aren’t the only company you’re trying for, and thus they may not have a clear idea of how serious you are about getting the job.

According to the article “8 IT Job Search Mistakes and How to Avoid Them”, some employers actually wait for applicants to follow up before giving them serious consideration. Following up shows that you’re determined. The article recommends you checking in after about a week.

Avoid these pitfalls, and you should soon find yourself in the job of your dreams. All it takes is a little skill, a little luck, and the right connections and opportunity.