11 Strategies That Will Get You an IT Job

11 Strategies That Will Get You an IT Job

1. Customise your CV and covering letter.
Customise your CV for the jobs you're after. If you are changing careers from retail to IT, then highlight elements from your IT training course or experience of IT in retail. We have a free CV consultation service when you qualify for our job guarantee scheme. We also provide expert tips on how you should tailor your CV to fit.

2. Get some Work Experience. This is probably the most powerful strategy to landing an IT Job. Write to IT Firms offering your skills to make them money for free for work experience. This will let you showcase your skills and lead to employment.

3. Diversify your search.
It is a numbers game out. The more employers you send your CV to, the greater the likelihood of receiving offers for job interviews. You need to respond to newspaper ads, IT industry magazines such as Computing and Computer Weekly. Also post your CV online, search some job websites such as Monster, talk to your friends and attend an industry trade show. The more ways you search, the more likely you are to connect with the right employers.

4. Network with Contacts in the Industry.                                                                                                                  60 per cent of jobs are never advertised. One of the keys to creative job-hunting is creating a network of contacts as a source of information about the career that you're interested in, and as a way to get yourself known by the right people. Let your contacts know you're on the job market. Or look online: with more than 95,000 members worldwide, Ecademy is a valuable place to meet business movers and shakers.

5. Find a company where you fit in.
Browse potential employers' websites and ask your friends about what it's like to work at their companies. Employers are looking for candidates who would be a good fit and thrive within the company culture.

6. Take Rejection Positively.
Experts estimate the average job search to last anywhere between three and 10 months - and that means a lot of rejection. Apply to 10 to 20 jobs per week. Test your CV with jobs you don’t really want. Get feedback, improve your CV and apply for jobs your really want. This maximises your chances of success.

Keep at it: your dream job is out there.

7. Always be prepared.
You can never be too prepared for your first meeting with a potential employer. Before your interview, always browse the company's website. Find out as much as you can about the company's products, leadership, mission and culture. Prepare answers to common interview questions and be ready for difficult ones.

8. Be on time.
Whether it's an informal or formal interview, always arrive about 10 minutes early. Allow plenty of time for traffic, transport delays and bad weather.

9. Dress and act the part.
Good interview technique is as much about looking the part as verbally communicating well. Around two-thirds of human communication is non-verbal and lasting impressions are formed quickly, largely based on appearance. In fact, the way you walk and stand accounts for 80 per cent of someone's first impression of you. A well-tailored suit is almost always appropriate for interviews.

10. Set up a website/blog.
Look at those IT Services company’s who have a website. Your skills are equivalent to the IT services you can provide to a company See how you can replicate their website and show employers the IT skills that you have. If you set a blog you can create an impressive offering quickly. Your blog will show off your creativity. Take time to create a short, snazzy presentation could also be impressive. But avoid being cheesy.

11. Ask good questions.
At the end of an interview, the employer will inevitably ask if you have any questions. Have a list of questions prepared that showcase your company research and interest in the position.

Understand that the more companies your contact, the more opportunities you have, the better the job that you’ll be able to choose.

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