The 2012 IT Job Market

With the 2012 IT job market on the upswing, now is as good of a time as ever to get out and find the job of your dreams.  According to a report by Ciozone.com, more and more companies are looking to hire IT pros throughout the 2012 year, which is both an exciting and intimidating prospect.  The best way for you to prepare for such an opportunity is to update your resume and be as prepared as possible when you are called for a job interview.

When it comes to securing a job interview, your resume is the key to getting in the front door.  It is really the only thing a potential boss has to go off of when they are looking for potential new hires, so you want to make sure it looks as good as possible.  Make sure it is as up to date as possible with any special skills you may want the employer to be aware of before they make their decision.  You want your resume to jum off the page with information about what makes you such a great potential hire.  Having a well written, inspiring cover letter does not hurt either.

If you are lucky enough to secure an interview off of your resume, you next step is not to drop the ball while you are in the interview.  Be as aware of your potential job responsibilties as possible and make sure you are going to be comfortable in the interview.  There is nothing worse than coming into an interview ill prepared and stressed about what is to come.  Do your research and make sure you are ready for this big moment in your life.

With the recent influx of new IT job opportunities, it is important to make sure you are ready for everything that comes your way.  Make sure that you are prepared with an amazing resume as well as working knowledge of the position you have applied for.  If you need any more information about ways to secure a job, please contact us.

IT Jobs: Where They Are & How To Secure One

In the world of Internet Technology jobs, the experts are forecasting continued and sustained growth.  The Bureau of Labor and Statistics has estimated the rate of growth at over 20%.  While some occupations may outpace others, overall the IT jobs market looks very good indeed.
To monitor this growth, here are some jobs that you might want to follow:

• Systems Analysts
• Database Administrators
• Help Desk & Support
• Programmers and Developers
• IT Managers 

Some people believe that the Bureau of Labor and Statistics' projections are on the conservative side.  However, due to the constant changing of the IT field, an accurate forecast can be a challenge.
Once you have decided on a specific occupation, it might be helpful to know just where these jobs are being created.  NetworkWorld.com recently published a list of "The Best Cities For Finding IT Jobs In 2012".  You will find that the list consists of large cities but depending on your job choice, location may not be a concern.  More often today, IT jobs can be performed from home and your decision about where to live will be entirely your own.

Most "tips for job hunting success" are well known.  From cleaned up, professional resumes to personal video presentations.  There are however, a few areas in which you would be well served to focus.

• Make sure that all your personal websites are presentable and appropriate.  Hiring Managers have learned to find these sites no matter how well you might think they are hidden.  Don't take the chance that a questionable site could be discovered. 

• You may have heard it before but you can never say it too often, check your spelling, grammar, capitalization and punctuation.  Remember them and check them often.  Find an expert if necessary. 

• Always follow-up on your resume.  Place a call and display your communication skills.  Send an email and show off your business letter writing skills.  Do not let your potential employer think you are no longer interested. 

Established in 1984, Comrise is a minority-owned, global consulting firm with headquarters in the U.S. and China. Our teams specialize in IT, Big Data, and Workforce Solutions (Staff Augmentation, Recruiting, RPO, and Payrolling). With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Comrise provides local talent and resources on a global scale.  When you are in need of our services, please don't hesitate to contact us, we are ready to go to work for you.

Web and IT Jobs: Tips for Successful Outsourcing

There are many benefits to moving a businesses website development or other IT jobs offshore and with today's economy it can also be a very smart decision.  When thinking about outsourcing your work to another country you can be sure that many of the problems experienced in the past will be the same as those that keep coming up for you today.  We can learn from past mistakes as well as success stories and we would be wise to research common pitfalls prior to actually outsourcing any work. While outsourcing can bring substantial savings, those gains can be wiped out in an instant because a project was not clearly defined at the onset.

Managing offshore projects will require a unique set of preparations in order to head off any potential problems.  First being the most obvious and that is to become familiar with the country and culture where you will be doing business.  Becoming informed can range from reading anything you can find on the internet or at the library to taking a course designed specifically for those needing to learn about a specific culture. You can be sure that any investment of your time or money in this area will bring you a great return.
Another area in which special attention should be paid is in the matter of good communication.  Having someone available that can help with any language barriers would be wise, especially when the project is new. Insuring that the flow of communication is efficient and reliable is the best way to avoid misunderstandings.  Constant monitoring and quality control will be more important when dealing with offshore projects because problems may not be reported due to cultural pressures to perform or avoid failure of any kind. Staying in the loop as much as possible will help prevent the possibility of unforeseen problems.

When managing offshore projects it is more important than ever to get it in writing.  By adhering to strict guidelines in this regard you can expect the added benefit of an accountable workforce.  There will never be room for assumptions and someone will always be accountable.  Make doubly sure that your expectations are also clearly defined and confirm understanding as many times as necessary.  Of course, work that is very complicated or that needs extra attention will not be as successfully outsourced as work that is consistent in nature.

By adhering to these common-sense guidelines we are confident that you find your outsourcing experience to be a positive and rewarding endeavor.

Established in 1984, Comrise is a minority-owned, global consulting firm with headquarters in the U.S. and China. Our teams specialize in IT, Big Data, and Workforce Solutions (Staff Augmentation, Recruiting, RPO, and Payrolling). With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Comrise provides local talent and resources on a global scale.

Our Global Management Team here at Comrise would like to invite you to contact us to discuss how we can help you meet your offshoring needs and maximize your cost savings potential.

Forbes: Tech companies look for that just-right resume in the hiring process.

Software engineers, according to Gayle Laakmann McDowell, author of ‘Cracking the Coding Interview,’ need to pay particular attention in the hiring process on how they write their resumes, according to her post on  Forbes.com, “What Are Common Mistakes That Applicants Make When Writing Their Resumes for Tech Companies.” 

Even though her overview is written with the tech applicant foremost in her mind, her tips do apply across the board; furthermore, she focuses on what she classifies as “the most common serious mistakes” in writing the resume. 

Before you get too deep-in-the-weeds in a detailed resume, take to heart her pithy reminder that “resumes are not read; they are skimmed for about 15 seconds;” furthermore, a screener is unlikely to read the entire piece.

That said, here is a summary of the most common missteps in writing the resume:

“1. Long Resumes:” Short and concise with no more than 2 pages is her advice.

“2. Paragraphs/Lengthy Bullets:” Readers abhor paragraphs...and don’t use more than 1-2 lines in the bullet copy; “...ideally, no more than half of the bullets should be 2 lines.”

“3. Team/Group Focus:” Take credit up front for the projects you worked on, designed, created, etc. Leave out the team association, the reader is interested in “you.” Here it’s all about “accomplishments and achievements.”

“4. Messy Resumes:” She believes software engineers should not be creating “their own templates...If you’re not good at design, why are you doing this?”  Keep your pages uncluttered and easy to read. McDowell has no problem with using a well-designed template, one with columns, which makes it easier for the reader to scan important info.

“5. Listing Responsibility instead of Accomplishments:” Break down the responsibilities and then use bullets. Pick out 3-5 accomplishments in the roles you’ve chosen to highlight, and repeat for each role or assignment.

“6. Leaving out Cool Stuff Because It’s Not ‘Resume Material’: The takeaway in all the material you might be considering for your resume comes down to this: “start thinking about if something makes you look more or less awesome.”  

Our global clients are always looking for that ‘just right’ candidate on a contract, contract-to-hire and even full-time employment. Contact us for more information on how Comrise can help you marketed your IT skills, education and experience.
 

Dressing for a Job Interview

Once you get an interview, it's crucial to be prepared.  First impressions, which are largely formed by how you are dressed and the first few seconds of interaction with you, go a long way in determining if you're a good fit for the company and that isn't any different for people who are seeking IT jobs.
While it may be common sense to dress nicely for a job interview, that definition will vary from person to person.  So here are some solid guidelines to use when selecting what to wear and how to physically present yourself for the interview:

• Dark, conservative suits are best.  Think navy, black, dark browns, or grey.  It must be freshly pressed.  No wrinkles.  For women a classic suit still suits best, but you don't need to be boring- you can add a scarf or small belt to show a little color and personality.
• For men: A solid colored tie or simple patterned.  Too many patterns will distract from your message.
• Dark shoes and socks.  If you think they won't see your socks- you're wrong!  Many interviewers pay attention to the details.
• Get a hair cut.  A freshly groomed appearance is important.
• For men: Shave your facial hair.  Some of this will simply be knowing the company you're applying for, but if the company is conservative, you're going to want to shave your beard and mustache.
• No excessive jewelry.  For men: take out earrings and take off necklaces.  For women, keep your ear piercings to just one.  
• Shine your shoes.  Saying you're detail oriented is one thing, showing it through your appearance is another.  For women: keep the show simple and comfortable.  Nothing is worse than tripping over yourself as you reach to shake the hand of your interviewer.
• Your nails should be trimmed and clean.  Again, it's all about the details.  For women: keep the polish simple and classic, and the length appropriate.  Having extremely long nails is distracting.

Following these basic tips will make certain that you stand out in a positive way, and help the interviewer focus on your qualifications and not your outlandish outfit.  For more information on how to stand out in your interview, please contact us today!