The relationship between employer and candidate has often been seen as a one-way street, with that often-dreaded interview question; 'why do you want to work here?' springing to mind. However more and more, it's the employers themselves who are being asked the tough questions. Following a recent BCS report on how better company cultures would attract more women back into the profession; how much do we look into the company we're applying for?
In the current job market, although many people searching for a new role will be keen to make a swift move back into work, the ways in which people make employment decisions is showing signs of change. For many IT workers, company culture is still high on the job-hunting agenda. Similar to the BCS findings, Computer People's Salary Survey conducted earlier in the year also suggested how the culture of an organisation is key to a happy and contented workforce.
Some 70% of those questioned placed high importance on the quality of their working environment and culture. Many also saw the culture of a company to be a deal breaker in their choice to apply for a position or not. Findings such as these highlight the shifting onus on companies of all sizes to sell themselves to the candidate rather than vice versa.
You are a technical
person. If you are like me, you might be pretty geeky. I don't think there's
anything wrong with that (!), but you might need to think about your social
skills so you can build rapport with your interviewer.
Building rapport with your interviewer is an intangible thing, but it leads to
a great conversation and a way to showcase your skills. Make sure you make contact with the interviewer as a human
being.
Here's how:
As you
speak through the interview, continue to
make eye contact every so often with your interviewer. Keep your
interviewing skills in mind, and you'll do well.
At the end of the interview, ask the hiring manager for a business card so you
can write a thank you note. I'm old fashioned and prefer a handwritten note,
but an email might be good enough. Learn enough about the hiring manager so you
know!
Being geeky doesn't mean you have zero social skills. It just means that you
(and I) have to work on them a little. A little practice will go a long way.
Here I will cover five of the more important key aspects used to assess the suitability of candidates for IT roles - largely stemming both from my experience as an interviewer for technical roles, and on the other side as a interviewee.
Education
A good education is a good start, as far as employability is concerned. A degree is not always necessary to break into an IT career, but it certainly helps - treat your degree as a foot in the door, not as a passport to an automatic career.
A key thing to remember is that your IT education does not end with the receipt of your degree - in many ways, it is just the beginning. If you wish to remain competitive, you will need to constantly improve your skills, and keep up with developments in languages or frameworks.
Do not discount additional educational routes either, in particular professional training courses. Microsoft's offerings are well known, and valuable - as are Cisco Career Certifications.
Qualifications alone will not get you a job, though - you will
need to round out your education with the demonstration of a little aptitude
and a willingness to continue learning.
Experience
Regardless of qualifications on paper, the breadth of experience you have will also be a major factor in your employability. A degree in database systems is one thing; ten years working as a DBA is quite another.
For university leavers, the lack of experience is a hampering factor - many job listings state that they require a certain number of years of 'professional experience', which may seem insurmountable to those who have dedicated the last three-plus years to the study of their chosen art.
If you lack the required experience, fear not - some
positions will be more amenable to graduates than others - and the key thing to
remember is that years of experience can be trumped with your other assets,
whether it is your specific skill set, or demonstrable dedication to a field.
Confidence
This is perhaps the hardest asset to attain, but confidence is a great skill to have in an interview situation. The IT world is filled with introverts, many of whom are greatly skilled, but if you cannot convey your suitability for a role your chances may be diminished.
Confidence does not mean you have to know the answer to every question - but it does mean that you should not be fazed should you come across a query in a subject with which you are unfamiliar. There is no perfect solution to dealing with unknowns, but do not let it throw you - just roll with it and steer your answer back to the areas in which you are capable.
Be wary of arrogance, too - you do not want to come across as confident to the point of rudeness. Your demeanour in interviews should be a balance between confidence, likeability, and a touch of modesty where needed.
You do not need to be fresh-faced to be enthusiastic. A passion for IT, or a specific area, is undeniably a boon in terms of getting a job.
Genuine passion for a subject usually shines in the interview - if the interviewer sees that you are willing to talk at great length about a particular subject, they will probably note that as a key interest of yours. Just make sure it is relevant to the role!
It is not just your ability to wax lyrical about a subject that will convey enthusiasm either - extra-curricular activities, such as maintaining a relevant blog on a technical subject or indulging in personal projects, will help in showing your enthusiasm and dedication to a given field.
Such relevant work is particularly suited to the next point,
demonstration:
Demonstration
The single best thing you can bring to a job interview is a direct demonstration of your skills. You could talk about how many years experience you have with a language until you are blue in the face, but if you can demonstrate a concrete example of those skills, you will fare far better.
For certain skills, this may be tricky - but in my field (web development / design), a solid portfolio of live URLs that are demonstrable of suitable skills are invaluable. The visual aspect is important - whether it is printouts, screenshots, or live demonstrations - such assets will ably illustrate your talents, and in a much more memorable way than simply discussing such work.
During the interviews I have conducted, demonstrable ability in the form of a good portfolio has always been a good indicator of the skills of an interviewee. If you have any previous work that you are proud of, make sure you take some means of demonstrating it to the interview.
Of course, the list above is not exhaustive. In my experience, at least, the above are amongst the most important. Maximising the effectiveness of the way you communicate your skill set to an interviewer is the key to maximising your chance at a position.