Free Job Hunting Tips

Photo: D’Arcy Norman

If you are seeking a career in Information Technology, the best place to look, for obvious reasons, is the internet. Many websites (most of them built and maintained by IT professionals) offer job listings for IT positions. The secret of a successful job search is knowing where to find the best openings.

To use a web-based job board, the procedure generally requires you to complete the following steps:

1. Register with the site by entering a username (often your email address) and password.

2. When your registration is confirmed (usually with an automated email from the site), you will have access to the site’s job listings (some sites may offer “premium” services for a fee, but even those generally offer some listings free of charge).

3. Often the site will allow you to enter information into an online form that will create a profile of your skills, training and/or the type of position(s) that you are seeking.

Sometimes the purpose of the profile is to help you narrow down your job search. In some cases, the site will generate personalized listings for you, based on the information that you have provided and the listings contained in the site’s database.

4. Often you will be able to specify whether you are looking for full- or part-time work, and whether you are seeking a long-term salaried position or (as it is often the case in IT) a contractual position with a fixed time frame.

5. If you do not see any positions available that interest you, many sites allow you to post your resume to allow potential employers to search for people with your qualifications.

Searching online for an IT job can be made easier and less frustrating if you consider the following suggestions:

1. Be prepared to provide this information:

a) Create portfolios of your work in both hard (computerized) and soft (paper) form. Usually you will be asked to attach files to an e-mail or online form, but some companies still want “snail mail” on paper showing your resume, cover letter, clips/samples, etc.

b) Decide where you want to work. Are you willing to relocate for the right job? If not, how far are you willing to commute?

c) Think about salary. Generally you are advised to avoid discussion of salary until you have been offered the job, but some employers want you to tell them your salary requirements or preferences upfront, with your application. Make sure you have a figure or range in mind.

2. Take a look at the location and salary considerations above and decide which is the higher priority for you.

3. Begin your online job search and find the websites that have the most IT job postings.

4. Register with several of those sites to get greater access to the job listings they contain.

5. Post your resume to the sites that allow it, based on the salary and location factors that you have prioritized above.

Photo: Joits

Searching for a job overseas can be quite an adventurous undertaking, but there are pitfalls that you’ll want to avoid when considering a relocation to another country. Also the relocation should start during the application process, rather than just mailing out resumes from your home country.

In Europe, one obstacle you’ll likely encounter is obtaining a work permit. And even after you receive the work permit, you’ll still need a residence permit to be able to stay in Europe for an extended period. A worker from outside Europe can only receive a work permit if it can be shown that no Europeans are qualified for the job. And that can be difficult to demonstrate, as there are 18 different countries in the European Economic Area.

If you’re considering a career in Spain, you’re required to provide a great deal of specific documentation, including an application letter and resume in hard copy (paper), a recent photo, and Spanish translations of your diploma(s), certifications and other credentials. There’s a specific formal style required for the letter, including, at the end, “En espera de sus noticias, les saluda atentamente”.

For those interested in pursuing a career in the U.K., there are many newspapers (mostly based in London) that offer listings of employment opportunities. Companies in the U.K. tend to pay a lot of attention to the reasons why you’re seeking a job with them - is it the product they make or their location that attracts you? They want to know the specific reason why you’re interested in working for them.

For careers in Italy, as in Spain, you should also have a typed letter of application in the native language. Using Italian is a must for your explanation of why you want to work in Italy. You’ll be expected to have your diploma(s), certification(s) and other credentials, and a list of references at hand for the initial interview. You can expect several follow-up interviews, which may include a psychological/aptitude test. Make sure you take great care in your dress and grooming to show your serious interest and enthusiasm for the job that you’re applying for.

Typically, searching for a job abroad will take six months to as much as a year. You should think of your job search process as a full-time occupation in itself. If you’re not sure what path to take, you might want to consider career counseling. A counselor can give you sound advice on how to tailor your job search to your interests and abilities.

Photo: GOGO Visual

Your job interview gives you the chance to set yourself apart from the other candidates for the position. Since your skills are the most important asset that you bring to the job, it is important to use the interview as an opportunity to emphasize the skills that you have to offer.

Most companies are seeking employees who have expertise in the field, potential to help the company grow and expand, and personal and character traits that make them welcome as colleagues.

Skills can be categorized into three groups: Specialized skills, transferable skills and personal qualities.

1. Specialized skills - Are acquired through training and on-the-job experience. Your educational background, other training, conferences and seminars, and work experience all contribute to your specialized skills.

These skills can include computer skills, marketing and sales, management skills and other specializations, depending on the area of business you are involved in.

2. Transferable skills - Sometimes called “portable” skills, are those that are an asset to any workplace in any field, or those that apply to several different specializations within a specific business or industry. Employers want workers to be able to do more than just the job they have been hired for.

Transferable skills include math and language skills (being good with numbers, being skilled at verbal and written communication), leadership and management (managing time, managing projects, managing people), self-organization and problem-solving.

3. Personal qualities - Are usually what an interviewer is interested in when they ask you an open-ended question such as: “Tell me a little bit about yourself”. It is not only what you answer, but how you answer, that sets you apart.

Personal qualities include being organized, goal-oriented, creative, analytical, flexible and other qualities of personality and character. Be modest, but make sure your potential employer sees which of these qualities you have.

Before beginning interviews, take some time to assess yourself. Look at your resume and make a list of the skills it highlights. See which skills fall into the categories of personal qualities, transferable/portable skills and specialized skills. Make sure you are ready to highlight skills from each category during your interview.

Think of the job interview as your own “commercial” for yourself and use it as an opportunity to include “selling points” based on the skills that have been outlined in your assessment.

Many job postings emphasize specialized skills, but in the interview make sure that you also show your transferable skills and personal traits. Companies will be looking for those skills, even if they don’t advertise them in the job posting.