4 answers
Robert
Student
Gray Court, South Carolina
1
Question
Asked
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What is the best way to stand out from the pack when new grad job searching?
Hello all, I am one semester away from graduating with a bachelor's in IT, and I have been struggling in the job-search sector for quite some time now in search of a full-time post-grad position. I have been using linked in premium and noticed how many people there are consistently applying for the same job at extremely high volumes the moment they're posted. Currently, I have been trying my best to hand-tailor every resume to its concurrent position, write a cover letter for each, as well as try to contact school alumni or hiring managers in the company to ask about and get more information about the job before applying. So far though, no callbacks or interviews. What are some other things I should be taking into consideration to better stand out against the large crowd in the IT sector currently? Thanks!
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4 answers
Robert Epstein
General Manager
86
Answers
Naples, Florida
Updated
Robert’s Answer
Hi Robert,
Sounds like you’re already doing a lot of the correct things. One more thing to consider: In addition to “hand-tailoring” your responses, consider approaching other non-IT specialties that you really enjoy (and that you’re good at). What do you love doing besides IT? Let’s say you really like animals and used to volunteer at an animal shelter. Approach veterinary clinics, talk to folks in that field, and let them know you’re looking for an IT position. And if someone doesn’t have an IT opening, always ask them who might. In other words, contact your “secondary” most enjoyable activities first, and let them know of your IT skills.
Best of luck!
Sounds like you’re already doing a lot of the correct things. One more thing to consider: In addition to “hand-tailoring” your responses, consider approaching other non-IT specialties that you really enjoy (and that you’re good at). What do you love doing besides IT? Let’s say you really like animals and used to volunteer at an animal shelter. Approach veterinary clinics, talk to folks in that field, and let them know you’re looking for an IT position. And if someone doesn’t have an IT opening, always ask them who might. In other words, contact your “secondary” most enjoyable activities first, and let them know of your IT skills.
Best of luck!
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian-Nutritionist & Software Developer since 1972 => Optimization Of Human Performance: jim.frangos@gmail
6726
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
A Good Day To You, Robert!
Best Ways to Stand Out in the Job Market for New IT Graduates
1. Optimize Your Online Presence
In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial. Ensure that your LinkedIn profile is complete and professional. This includes:
A professional photo
A compelling headline that reflects your career aspirations
A detailed summary that highlights your skills, experiences, and what you bring to potential employers
Recommendations from professors or internship supervisors
Additionally, consider creating a personal website or portfolio showcasing your projects, coding samples, or any relevant work. This can serve as a practical demonstration of your skills and differentiate you from other candidates.
2. Networking Strategically
While reaching out to alumni is a great start, expanding your networking efforts can yield better results. Attend industry conferences, workshops, and meetups related to IT. Engaging with professionals in person can lead to valuable connections and insights into job openings that may not be publicly advertised.
Utilize platforms like Meetup.com or Eventbrite to find local tech events. Additionally, consider joining relevant online communities on platforms like Discord or Reddit where IT professionals gather.
3. Gain Relevant Experience
If you’re struggling to secure interviews, consider gaining additional experience through internships, volunteer work, or freelance projects. Even unpaid opportunities can provide you with practical experience and enhance your resume.
Participating in hackathons or contributing to open-source projects can also showcase your skills and commitment to the field while allowing you to network with other tech enthusiasts.
4. Tailor Your Applications Further
While you are already tailoring your resumes and cover letters, ensure that they reflect not only the job description but also the company culture and values. Research each company thoroughly before applying:
Understand their mission statement
Familiarize yourself with their products/services
Mention specific aspects of the company in your cover letter that resonate with you
This level of customization shows genuine interest in the position and can set you apart from candidates who submit generic applications.
5. Prepare for Interviews Proactively
If you’re not receiving callbacks after interviews, it may be beneficial to seek feedback on your interview performance if possible. Practice common technical interview questions related to IT roles (e.g., coding challenges) as well as behavioral questions.
Mock interviews with friends or mentors can help build confidence and improve your responses under pressure.
6. Leverage Job Boards Effectively
While LinkedIn is a popular platform for job searching, don’t limit yourself solely to it. Explore niche job boards specific to IT roles such as Stack Overflow Jobs or GitHub Jobs where companies often post openings looking for tech talent specifically.
Set up alerts on these platforms so you’re notified immediately when new positions are posted.
7. Continuous Learning and Certification
The IT field is constantly evolving; thus, staying updated with the latest technologies is essential. Consider pursuing certifications relevant to your desired role (e.g., CompTIA A+, AWS Certified Solutions Architect). These credentials can enhance your resume and demonstrate commitment to professional development.
Engaging in online courses through platforms like Coursera or Udemy can also help you learn new skills that are currently in demand within the industry.
By implementing these strategies systematically while maintaining persistence in your search efforts, you’ll increase your chances of standing out among other candidates in the competitive IT job market.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
1. LinkedIn Talent Solutions
Provides insights into effective job searching strategies tailored for recent graduates including optimizing profiles and networking tips.
2. National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)
Offers research-based recommendations on how students should approach job searching including resume writing techniques and interview preparation strategies.
3. Harvard Business Review
Features articles discussing best practices for networking effectively within industries as well as strategies for standing out during job searches based on real-world case studies.
Probability the answer is correct: 95%
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
|=========================God Bless You, Richly!===========================|
|=========================James Constantine=============================|
|=======================The Little Old Aussie Battler========================|
|===================Programming For Your Nutrition Education=================|
|==========================~ Since 1972!================================|
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
Best Ways to Stand Out in the Job Market for New IT Graduates
1. Optimize Your Online Presence
In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial. Ensure that your LinkedIn profile is complete and professional. This includes:
A professional photo
A compelling headline that reflects your career aspirations
A detailed summary that highlights your skills, experiences, and what you bring to potential employers
Recommendations from professors or internship supervisors
Additionally, consider creating a personal website or portfolio showcasing your projects, coding samples, or any relevant work. This can serve as a practical demonstration of your skills and differentiate you from other candidates.
2. Networking Strategically
While reaching out to alumni is a great start, expanding your networking efforts can yield better results. Attend industry conferences, workshops, and meetups related to IT. Engaging with professionals in person can lead to valuable connections and insights into job openings that may not be publicly advertised.
Utilize platforms like Meetup.com or Eventbrite to find local tech events. Additionally, consider joining relevant online communities on platforms like Discord or Reddit where IT professionals gather.
3. Gain Relevant Experience
If you’re struggling to secure interviews, consider gaining additional experience through internships, volunteer work, or freelance projects. Even unpaid opportunities can provide you with practical experience and enhance your resume.
Participating in hackathons or contributing to open-source projects can also showcase your skills and commitment to the field while allowing you to network with other tech enthusiasts.
4. Tailor Your Applications Further
While you are already tailoring your resumes and cover letters, ensure that they reflect not only the job description but also the company culture and values. Research each company thoroughly before applying:
Understand their mission statement
Familiarize yourself with their products/services
Mention specific aspects of the company in your cover letter that resonate with you
This level of customization shows genuine interest in the position and can set you apart from candidates who submit generic applications.
5. Prepare for Interviews Proactively
If you’re not receiving callbacks after interviews, it may be beneficial to seek feedback on your interview performance if possible. Practice common technical interview questions related to IT roles (e.g., coding challenges) as well as behavioral questions.
Mock interviews with friends or mentors can help build confidence and improve your responses under pressure.
6. Leverage Job Boards Effectively
While LinkedIn is a popular platform for job searching, don’t limit yourself solely to it. Explore niche job boards specific to IT roles such as Stack Overflow Jobs or GitHub Jobs where companies often post openings looking for tech talent specifically.
Set up alerts on these platforms so you’re notified immediately when new positions are posted.
7. Continuous Learning and Certification
The IT field is constantly evolving; thus, staying updated with the latest technologies is essential. Consider pursuing certifications relevant to your desired role (e.g., CompTIA A+, AWS Certified Solutions Architect). These credentials can enhance your resume and demonstrate commitment to professional development.
Engaging in online courses through platforms like Coursera or Udemy can also help you learn new skills that are currently in demand within the industry.
By implementing these strategies systematically while maintaining persistence in your search efforts, you’ll increase your chances of standing out among other candidates in the competitive IT job market.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
1. LinkedIn Talent Solutions
Provides insights into effective job searching strategies tailored for recent graduates including optimizing profiles and networking tips.
2. National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE)
Offers research-based recommendations on how students should approach job searching including resume writing techniques and interview preparation strategies.
3. Harvard Business Review
Features articles discussing best practices for networking effectively within industries as well as strategies for standing out during job searches based on real-world case studies.
Probability the answer is correct: 95%
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
|=========================God Bless You, Richly!===========================|
|=========================James Constantine=============================|
|=======================The Little Old Aussie Battler========================|
|===================Programming For Your Nutrition Education=================|
|==========================~ Since 1972!================================|
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
Connie Rodriguez
6
Answers
San Jose, California
Updated
Connie’s Answer
Hi Robert.
I would recommend finding a mentor that is currently in the IT career field, and can help you build skills and work experience needed for the job, or even better help you get the job in their company to build this work experience and skills needed.
You can also contact professors, former employers (if applicable), counselors, or staff on campus that you are close with for strong letters of recommendation to improve your chances of getting an interview.
If you can find volunteer opportunities for the IT career field, I would also recommend asking for volunteer opportunities to build skills and experience. Consider volunteering for several months to impress your colleagues and boss enough to the point where you can confidently ask the boss for a job position once they have a job opening for the position you're interested in.
Also, it is not enough to just ask alumni to give you information on the job search. If possible you can ask alumni or classmates that are currently working in the IT field to refer you to the recruiting managers of the companies you would like to work in.
Wishing you good luck on the job search!
I would recommend finding a mentor that is currently in the IT career field, and can help you build skills and work experience needed for the job, or even better help you get the job in their company to build this work experience and skills needed.
You can also contact professors, former employers (if applicable), counselors, or staff on campus that you are close with for strong letters of recommendation to improve your chances of getting an interview.
If you can find volunteer opportunities for the IT career field, I would also recommend asking for volunteer opportunities to build skills and experience. Consider volunteering for several months to impress your colleagues and boss enough to the point where you can confidently ask the boss for a job position once they have a job opening for the position you're interested in.
Also, it is not enough to just ask alumni to give you information on the job search. If possible you can ask alumni or classmates that are currently working in the IT field to refer you to the recruiting managers of the companies you would like to work in.
Wishing you good luck on the job search!
Tony Roig
Volunteer
58
Answers
New Hope, Pennsylvania
Updated
Tony’s Answer
Hi Robert,
Given the current seemingly higher supply of IT professionals looking for new positions, you may be overlooked for more experienced candidates. If you haven't already, you may want to consider applying to less IT focused positions but ones that work within the IT field, such as software testing. Or positions that utilize IT extensively but are not IT positions such as Information Analyst. You could then move to a more IT focused position within the company which is typically easier to do.
Best wishes,
Tony
Given the current seemingly higher supply of IT professionals looking for new positions, you may be overlooked for more experienced candidates. If you haven't already, you may want to consider applying to less IT focused positions but ones that work within the IT field, such as software testing. Or positions that utilize IT extensively but are not IT positions such as Information Analyst. You could then move to a more IT focused position within the company which is typically easier to do.
Best wishes,
Tony