We continue to work in technology as consultants. Like you, as IT professionals, we understand your world, it’s challenges and opportunities. We have informed opinions through our thought leadership blogs. These are based on our real life experiences and knowledge of IT trends and issues.
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There are a multiple of reasons why we look and prepare for a job change and a new challenge. Even if you are settled in your current job there is no lack of loyalty to your current employer if you retain a steady state of readiness for a dream offer. Preparation can be simple and not that time consuming
4 easy ways to prepare for a someday job search
If you are unhappy with your current role its really worth unpicking and understanding why you want to move on. Moving for the wring reasons and without a positive purpose can be quite stressful and can often end with a new job you dont want! Assessing reasons why you want to leave can bring clarity and a more positive frame of mind when job hunting. If you are scoring highly on 2-3 of the factors identified below its time to plan your next move, Even one of these factors can contribute to looking for a new opportunity
Why do people leave their current employer?
Many of us can through a variety of reasons simply leave a job or be made redundant. Looking for a new job following a break can require a different strategy than if you are already employed
Four ways to find a job after leaving a job or being made redundant
For those who have taken a career break or a long absence it can take longer and more planning to return to work
Writing a great CV is still the only way to get into the Job Application process, whether thats through an employer directly or via a recruitment agency. Even a direct approach through Linkedin will still require at some point a stand out CV to secure an interview.
Some generic advice for CV writing and templates are provided below:-
Some IT specialisms do require a bit of tailoring to make your CV stand out and memorable. Some specific advice for specific job types is included below:-
CV Writing for Technical Roles
CV Template for Technical Roles
Social media is a key tool for both your job hunting and for validation by hiring managers and recruiters of your skills, experiences and professional attributes. When combined with a great CV a strong and professional social media presence can really help you in securing an interview. Our social media advice includes some do’s and dont’s across multiple social media platforms.
7 Ways for Linkedin help you find a job
Using Twitter to hep your job hunt
10 Things not to do on social media which could impact your job chances
Interviewing via Skype or Video is becoming more commonplace especially in helping both employers and recruitment agencies short list final candidates for on premise interviews. Its easy for candidates to under prepare for these types of interviews. Following some basic guidelines for the preparation and conduct of these interviews can pay huge dividends and significantly increase your chances of making it through to the next round.
Telephone Interviews still play a vital role in the candidate selection process. Getting through the first hurdle of the application process can often be determined by a good first “chat” either with a recruitment agency or further into the process with a potential hiring manager. Many experienced candidates wont need any advice but for more junior roles a recap on some basics can help your application. The one key piece of advice we should give is never, ever try to be interviewed by phone if you arent in a quite space – Its an absolute no-no.
The face to face interview. The one big (and last) chance of landing that plum job can rely wholly on 1 hour of you interacting successfully with your potential boss, peers and potentially an assortment of HR and talent people. Its the one interview when you just cant afford to wing it!
Some generic advice on preparing for and getting through the interview:-
How to prepare for the interview
How to succeed at the interview
A guide to interview by Dylan Littlefield
Depending on your seniority or technical specialism following some specific advice can help your application enormously: –
Technical Roles – Interviewing and things to avoid
Ok, congratulations, you have got through all of the interviews and you’re finally at the point where you’re discussing salary and the job package. So, do you just accept the salary on offer or do you take a gamble and hold out for more? From the basic pay to your benefits package, make sure you know the most effective way to negotiate an offer. Your approach may differ significantly of you are negotiating directly with your prospective employer or a recruitment agency. The game of poker begins here:-
How to handle being made an indicative job offer at a job interview
10 Questions to ask after a verbal offer has been made
Negotiating salary and benefits
How to gracefully turn down a job offer
A final word of caution. You may have been advised right at the beginning of your job application that the salary has a maximum potential and this wont be upped under any circumstances. Many organisations now implement pay scales and your attempt to up the basic package may fail. However, many other benefits and job flexibility can be negotiable and these may be far more important to you than a few thousand before tac on the basic salary!
The offer has been accepted and contracts exchanged, start dates have been agreed and you may have chatted to your new boss before you start your new job. Getting prepared for your first few days can significantly reduce the stress of starting with your new employer
Getting ready for your first day
What successful people do in their first week at a new job
10 ways to make the most of your new job in the first month
Our commitments to candidates:-
- Throughout our contact with you we will be working toward a joint goal – to find you a new role in an environment which matches your career ambitions, individual needs and technical, managerial and leadership skills and expertise.
- We have been candidates ourselves so our approach is to treat all applicants in a way that we would like to be treated ourselves – with integrity, professionalism and respect.
- We will always endeavour to gain an understanding of the direction in which you want your career to grow in addition to gauging your suitability for the advertised job.
- We will make sure you have a thorough and complete understanding of the advertised role.
- We will be honest and open from the outset about the salary and package on offer and attempt to match your expectations with the clients.’
- We will always, no matter what stage you reach, feedback promptly on the status of your application and if rejected provide feedback and reasons why.
- If you are made an indicative offer we will help you engage with your next employer all the way through to your first working day in your new job
Why are we different?
In addition to our extensive experience of working in technology one of our key differentiators is the use of technical “panellists”. If shortlisted, you would engage with a specialist panelist to assess your technical skills and experiences. Panelists are selected from individuals who are experts in their relevant fields and are currently working within the industry so are entirely up to date with the technical requirements of the job. We will at every stage keep you informed of your application in a timely and professional manner and we will always give you feedback if you are rejected at any stage. We won’t keep you hanging around for updates and we will be prompt even if it’s not the answer you were looking for.
Our Ethics
We work to the highest levels of personal and professional ethics which means we won’t engage in any sharp recruitment practices. We understand how essential it is for all your details to remain confidential. We would never ask your current employers for references or information about you or pass your CV to any potential employer without your full prior understanding and consent. Our recruitment processes are based on robust business systems which are fully workflow and www based. We maintain audit trails of all your interactions with us, and decisions pertaining to your application and fully respect your personal and legacy rights to privacy of data.
Our Approach
We assess your application quickly and if short listed we would engage with you in a dialogue about both the job and your suitability and career/job aspirations. Typically, this would involve a short Skype interview at a time that suits you as we don’t work 9-5!. If the post is particularly technical we may ask you to do a timed technical test. We would, if you are confirmed for the client interview, talk with you more about the employer and prepare you for the client interview. We will help you engage with the employer up to the point you actually start including taking questions about the contract of employment and we would hope to check in with after you have been working a few months.
