Sat back surfing the net from the comfort of my sofa watching the tragedy in Haiti unfold made me realise just how lucky we really are. First and foremost the country is in desperate need of aid and trained medical staff to deal with the overwhelming number of casualties. But what about the rest of us, how can we help?

Watching a BBC report showing images of UN workers coordinating the relief effort using laptops in a makeshift office also got me thinking about how we can use the skills and resources we already have to make a difference.

So I decided to do some research on how IT professionals can also lend a helping hand.

A quick perusal of the main search engines returned a few related results, a couple of which, to my delight, reported on how some IT professionals are rolling up their sleeves and getting stuck in by volunteering their IT skills as well as calling for the donation of old laptops to help with the rescue effort.

This blog by Scott Stadum details just some of the ways technological initiatives are helping Haiti, while this article describes how solar powered technology is helping.

Unfortunately, all these articles were found on US sites, which not only led me to wonder why there seems to be a lack of such a scheme here in the UK but also led me to the question of whether or not it is only in the case of a catastrophic event such as that of Haiti that we think about how our old or unused items could be used by those in need.

To what extent do we already recycle or pass on our old or unused pieces of technology or does most of it end up in landfill?

Despite the growing popularity of mobile phone recycling companies, few of us ever consider recycling our laptops. We came across the following websites that offer to recycle your old laptops or repair them to be sent to Africa, or donated to charities around the UK. You may also be able to get involved as a volunteer.

Computer Aid International
IT for charities
Digital Growth
Donate a PC
Charity Technology Trust

So although you may not be able to directly use your IT skills for the recent crisis in Haiti, don’t forget that you can still help by donating to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which distributes money between 13 humanitarian aid agencies, or call them on 0370 60 60 900.

If you are looking for an IT job in the charity / Not for Profit sector The IT Job Board.co.uk currently has vacancies with Friends of the earth, The British Heart Foundation, VSO and Axis.

Or if you know of any way IT professionals can get involved with charities, post a comment or write your own IT blog.

Copyright The IT Job Board
Source: www.theitjobboard.co.uk

One of the most searched for keyphrases in UK search engines over recent weeks within the IT space was the term ‘resignation letter’*. So it seems the New Year brings a hunger for a new job and a new start. But before you go handing in your notice don’t forget to ensure your CV is up to date and ready to send to potential employers.

To help you on your way to job seeking success, The IT Job Board team spoke to IT hiring managers and IT recruitment consultants to discover what makes an IT CV different, top CV tips to follow and how you can write a CV effectively.

Follow these steps and not only will you stand out from the crowd but you will also stand a much better chance of securing that all important position.

Step 1: Technical Difficulties? Include an IT skills section

What sets the IT sector apart from any other is the sheer volume of skills you develop throughout your career. So, trying to convey an impressive list of IT skills on your CV can be tough. Often this can appear messy, unstructured or unclear.

Be sure to include a clearly defined skills section so that you can effectively sell yourself. Bullet points are a good way to manage this or a small table with your IT skills clearly listed.

And don’t forget to make them as relevant to the position you are applying for as possible. If you can clearly demonstrate how your skills played a part in your previous role, you will put yourself immediately in the mix. The same applies for soft skills.

Not only will this highlight your specific areas of expertise and allow hiring managers to determine whether or not your IT skills match those required for the job; but it will also mean that recruiters can find you easily on their system when performing a key word search within a CV database tool.

Step 2: More is less when you write a CV

Most CV tips will advise you that your résumé should be no more than two pages long.
The most striking aspect of an IT CV is that it doesn’t have to follow the 2 page rule. As previously mentioned, the extent of your technological expertise can mean there is a lot to fit in to a very small space. Therefore, contrary to popular belief, you can write a CV that is often much longer than the norm; and if you are an IT contractor it is likely to be even longer. That’s why it is so important to keep it relevant.

If you tend to hold permanent positions then you should try to follow the two page rule wherever possible. However if it does span three pages due to a long list of experience then recruiters will still read it. But make sure you are selective about what you’re including. If some of your previous positions were ten years ago, don’t include them. Likewise, if your CV is spanning three pages and some of your previous experience is not relevant to the role you are applying for, this could be a section to consider cutting out.

Step 3: It’s ok to be different

You could try including images to illustrate your certification, such as the Microsoft Certified logos. Or, if your forté is web design or HTML, why not put links to sites you have designed or HTML emails that you have created. As most of us nowadays apply for jobs online, potential employers are normally just a click away from seeing your work. So take advantage of this and show off what you can do.

When speaking to recruitment consultants and employers, they revealed it was rare to receive a CV in an unusual format, such as Powerpoint. When asked for their opinion most replied that this would be viewed in a very positive light and would definitely catch their attention. However, they did stress if you decide to go down this route you must ensure that this is in addition to a perfectly polished CV.

Deviate from the norm and you take a risk. But soft skills are not to be overlooked especially when applying for an IT job. If you have the whole package, you are a much more appealing candidate. And one thing that is clear, in this market you need to be noticed.

Step 4: Easy as 123?

There is no right or wrong way to write a CV, it is personal to you but you need to ensure you are demonstrating your skills and experience to the best of your ability. As obvious as it may sound, almost every single consultant and manager said you’d be surprised by how many applicants overlook the most basic aspects of a CV. Here’s a run-down of the most common:

Five firm favourites

• Always refer back to the job advert & tailor your application
• Include an IT skills section, placing the most relevant skills at top
• List work history in chronological order
• Make it relevant, specific & concise
• Keep it clear & simple

5 faux pas

• Strange fonts
• Out of date information
• Bad spelling & grammar
• Clutter / bad layout
• Too much / too little detail

Step 5: Visit The IT Job Board

Search for your ideal IT job by visiting www.theitjobboard.co.uk. Remember to upload your CV so that employers can find you. And now you can search for IT jobs on the go by downloading the iPhone App. Or write your own IT blog and let us know about your job hunting experiences.

And don’t forget to read our previous blog post Top Tips for Interview Success.

*According to Hitwise UK

Copyright The IT Job Board
Source: www.theitjobboard.co.uk

This week there have been reports that over £50 billion will be spent on IT in the next year and this will increase by 1.8% year on year within the next four years. This will lead to the creation of new businesses and, in turn, we will see an extra 80,000 IT jobs springing up in the market.

With more competition in the job market at the moment, employers will be scrutinising applicants more than ever to find their ideal fit. So how can you clearly present yourself to the best of your ability? The IT Job Board spoke to a number of recruiters about the interview process and how IT candidates can not only sell themselves and impress but also tick all the boxes so that they are sure to get the job.

1)  Know your CV

IT is one area you just cannot afford to exaggerate. Most of the recruiters we spoke to said that IT professionals would always be faced with detailed questions regarding specific skill sets on your CV so if you don’t know your stuff, there will be no hiding from it.

One recruitment consultant we spoke to said:

‘Even if you don’t possess them, knowing the hot skills on the market can be key to identifying areas for improvement. If you don’t know the technologies in question, just be honest. It is more advantageous if you display what you do know along with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn quickly.’

Some HR consultants informed us there would be a technical expert present in the interview, to really drill down and discover your strengths and weaknesses.

Lynn Phillips, HR Manager for Business Systems Group, had this advice:

‘Be prepared to talk in depth about your area of expertise with a specialist in that field. It is vital that you can clearly demonstrate your knowledge when asked. But don’t forget the HR manager accompanying the specialist. Don’t over-use acronyms that they may not understand. And the usual interview tips still apply: make eye contact with both interviewers, show enthusiasm, ask questions and you will be a much more favourable candidate.’

2) Balance your knowledge

The most common piece of advice we came across was that it is vital to link your skills to real-life examples of how you have used these in your previous roles. This could be business knowledge, technical skills and soft skills.

Nowadays knowing your technology or having an array of technical abilities may not be enough. Employers are interested in candidates that are also business focused, who have a much higher level of business acumen.

Joyce Gell, Senior Director of Red Rock Group said:

‘If the candidate is on the service provider side in any capacity, being in tune to client needs is vital. Budgets and schedules rule and over-design is a no no, so stress your ability to stay focused on those points and show past examples of your compliance to client budgets. Graphics are useful, the interviewer may or may not have time to see your design work but bring it anyway.
On the end user side, it’s a slightly different ball game. Be smart, know your field and be prepared – say you are a team player and bring diagrams and other indications of your skill set.’

An alternative way of displaying these skills and showing your interest could be to ask questions. Michel A. Bourque, Managing Director of EIC, gave these examples:

Where does that fit in to the Project lifecycle?
Would I be involved just to the Development phase or right down to Testing Deployment and Support?
What are the timelines? If the project runs overtime – will there be an extension?
What sort of challenges does this project pose?
How many people would I be working with, where do I fit in with the team?
What is the reporting structure like?

3) Know the market

One of the key points highlighted was that knowing the market, what’s happening, which areas are growing and which are not is one of the first steps in getting ahead. This will be expected. So make sure you do your research and keep up to date by reading industry specific information on a regular basis. This will help you to tie this knowledge into how you could make recommendations for that particular company and improve business processes, showing your value to their business.

This can include which areas have most commonly had their budgets cut, how does this fit into the area you would be working in as well as the business and market trends as a whole. It is of equal importance to make sure you thoroughly research the company, it’s core areas and where it sits in the market.

Other points to consider

There is a lot you can do to help yourself during the interview process but don’t forget to be prepared. It’s better to have too much to draw on than too little.

It may sound like a no-brainer but a number of the consultants we spoke to said the feedback they have had from clients is it is surprising how many candidates make obvious mistakes that on some occasions have cost them the job.

These could include:

• Dress smartly – even if the company has a relaxed dress code
• Speak clearly and be concise – this can reflect your ability in other areas
• Take a copy of your CV with you
• Remember body language and eye contact
• Be an all-rounder

Good luck!

The IT Job Board Team

Professional networking for IT professionals

From research conducted by The IT Job Board 41% of IT professionals stated that online networks were becoming increasingly important. The IT Job Board wanted to demonstrate just how IT professionals could harness professionals networks as a medium to find a new job.

We spoke to Stefan Schmidt-Grell, the Director of Xing jobs at Xing AG,  recruitment consultants and other industry experts to bring you some of the best ways to leverage these tools for your career.

Build your network

A key element of having a successful professional network is to build on your contacts.

Stefan Schmidt-Grell of Xing suggested that “Having professional contacts can open doors, and more and more business people are finding this out. Numerous studies we have conducted highlight the importance of building a network of contacts therefore the value of a properly functioning network for one’s own career is of vital importance”.

To build a strong network however you need to do more than simply inviting people to connect with you, you need to engage and build a relationship that provides mutual value. But just how can you build a lucrative network;

1) Join groups and communities – There are 2 different approaches that you can benefit from online groups and communities within Xing and LinkedIn;

Pinpointing Key Contacts – Most likely you would have pinpointed contacts of interest, however now you need to find a compelling reason for them to connect with you. Start by reviewing their profile to determine which groups or communities they are affiliated with. If you know where they are hanging out, this then provides you with an opportunity to get involved in discussions they have started or are involved in. Once you begin to engage with them, you can then request to connect – providing a more subtle way to do so.

Actively Joining Groups & Communities – LinkedIn and Xing have many IT groups that have formed around various skill areas. By joining relevant groups and communities you have the opportunity to share knowledge with like minded IT professionals and connect with those of value. Contribution matters when engaging in online communities as you are assisting others and not just in it for self-gain. In addition, this will help you position yourself as an industry specialist.

2) Answer questions
Outside of groups and communities both LinkedIn and Xing have an ‘Q&As’ section which allows you to view questions posted by other members. Try searching for questions related to your skills and experience and then respond. The benefits of doing so are;

- On LinkedIn answers are rated as “Best Answers” by the person who posted the question. If you have contributed and had a “Best Answer” rating this shows up on your profile underneath a category or specialisation ie IT Security. As a result when someone views your profile they will be able to view your areas of specialisation.
- Similar to engaging in groups, by answering questions on Xing & LinkedIn you will have the opportunity to connect with new relevant people in your industry.

3) Don’t Neglect The Recruitment Agencies & Internal Recruiters
Often many professionals fail to consider building rapport with recruitment agencies or HR professionals. We know a lot of IT professionals have a love/hate relationship with recruitment agencies – however they are an important part of the job hunting process thus the better relationships you can build, the more opportunities that may come your way. According to Mr Schmidt-Grell from Xing there are now more than 40,000 recruiters on the Xing platform, and from a survey of over 2,600 recruiters, over half of them are using the platform to recruit up to 3 times a week, and over one-third do so daily.

So our advice here is simple, actively seek out those recruiters currently engaging in groups and are looking for candidates and attempt to engage and connect with them.

Marketing Your Profile

If you are actively seeking a new job, it is key to get your profile noticed. Simply creating your profile will not guarantee people will view it. You need to actively put yourself out there to make it obvious to the most relevant people that you are seeking a new opportunity.

Looking for a job status – On both Xing and LinkedIn you can promote that you are looking for a role both subtly or in a more obvious manner. For those in a permanent role, a subtle approach is probably best, and can be displayed in your profile settings on both networks.
For those in a position to make it more obvious that you are looking for work, you can use some of the following techniques;
- Update your status with “seeking new employment” on both LinkedIn and Xing. Not only will this display on your profile to prospective employers viewing your account, but it will also display in your connections network updates.
- On LinkedIn, next to your name you can insert “Seeking New Opportunities”, which will draw recruiters to view your profile from search results. 

Complete and optimise your profile – Recruiters often use Linked In and Xing like a CV database where they can perform candidate searches based on;
- Company Name
- Industries
- Keywords

On this basis it is vital that you provide a complete profile detailing positions from at least the past 5 – 7 years to ensure that you are found when recruiters are performing searches via these various methods – particularly those that are industry or company related. In addition to this optimising your profile so it contains the right keywords is also a good idea, but stay away from keyword stuffing your profile as its important is to keep your profile relevant

Make it easy to contact you – LinkedIn and Xing both have a function whereby you can send emails to people you are connected with. Getting in touch with those that you are not connected with is slightly more difficult. Depending on your account settings (paid or unpaid) you are restricted to the number of messages you can send. With this in mind remember that recruiters may often face this problem and may find it difficult to contact you. Adding an email address or phone number to your profile will make getting in touch much easier for recruiters if they are interested in your experience.

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Source: www.theitjobboard.co.uk

With the current economic climate looking like it is, it’s no wonder IT professionals are becoming less choosy and more varied in their job hunting methods. People are gearing up for change and having to redefine their expectations.

Increased competition for jobs means differentiating yourself, and keeping up-to-date with the IT market is becoming a key factor to success. Fewer opportunities also means IT professionals need to make the most of all job hunting tools available.

The IT Job Board has taken the time to understand how IT professionals job hunting activities have changed in the current climate to allow you to assess what you need to do to secure your next role.

Willing to take anything?
Results showed IT professionals are becoming less selective in terms of both role and salary, which is not a surprise in the recession. In fact to become more attractive as a candidate, 59.1% are lowering salary expectations in the current climate. Whilst 57.1% admitted to having become less selective with the jobs they are applying for, suggesting they will apply to any job even if it is not related to a field they specialise in.

Whilst we understand it is difficult for some, we recommend investing more time into jobs that are truly relevant to your experience. This will ensure your application stands out and is a far better approach then investing less time per job but spreading your CV to roles that vaguely matches your experiences.

Where to invest your energy
Job hunting has become so time-consuming job that it is important to know where to focus your energy to get the best outcome for your efforts.

Our research shows that from the 200 candidates surveyed, nearly 40% found their last job through an agency, whilst the second most important methods were IT specific job boards and direct company contact.

However whilst many found their previous role through agencies there are some considerations to make. In the current economic climate many organisations need to reduce their recruitment budgets thus are looking to utilise both direct methods and job sites more actively. As a result it is important to ensure you are not solely relying on an agency to find the best job for you. If you want to go direct, make sure your online profile is strong i.e. LinkedIn profile reflects your experience and contact is not just by email but through a follow up call to introduce yourself. And make sure that you are benefiting from all of the tools i.e. email alerts and CV upload facilities available on IT specific job sites.

‘Being in the Know’
Keeping up to date with developments in the market is proving essential when job hunting. It is important to stress that having knowledge about the company you are interviewing for is no longer a minimum requirement, greater market knowledge is key. Recruiters want to see candidates who can display specialist knowledge about the market as well as having an impressive skills portfolio.

Copyright The IT Job Board
Source: www.theitjobboard.co.uk

Make recruitment agencies notice you
Growing unemployment is resulting in increasing demand for every IT job out there. Recruitment consultants have been a receiving record numbers of CV’s that they need to scan through to find the ideal candidate for job.

Do you know what a recruitment agency is looking for in a CV?
A number of IT professionals we have spoken to have raised concerns about recruitment agencies lack of response to their applications. This has created the myth that jobs which are posted are ‘fake’ or don’t exist’. The reality of it is however that recruitment consultants receive hundreds of CV’s a day. As they are targeted on the number of placements they make CV’s that aren’t relevant at first glance wont be considered.

Being an IT professional it is hard to understand exactly what it is that recruitment consultants are looking for in your CV. The IT Job Board wanted to provide you with top tips straight from the recruiters mouth.

Technical/ Non-technical
Talk about your skills both technical and non-technical. This will make your CV really stand out as its displays your technical capabilities as well as commercial understanding and business acumen. Recruitment consultants will often just scan the page so it is vital that you communicate your experiences clearly so you tick as many boxes as possible.

Allen Sutherland from Real Resourcing advised;

“ Be as clear as you can about projects you have worked on and skills you have acquired, for example if you have worked as a developer, be specific about the technologies you have used as well as the project based skills you have acquired. This will really make your CV stand out from the generic ones”

He went on to say:

“Don’t include anything and everything on your CV, make sure you are honest about your skills, we find that a lot of candidates these days seem to list every skill just so their CV comes up on searches”

Timing
A common myth is that the quicker you apply for a job the better chance you have of being put forward by the recruitment consultant. The IT Job Board spoke to various recruitment consultants and the general consensus was that there is no “right time” to send in an application. It depends on the level, complexity and urgency of the role and how well the applicant matches the job requirement. We would advise however that if the job has been advertised for a couple of days then call the recruitment consultant first to ensure the vacancy is still open. If so then take the opportunity to gather as much detail about the role before submitting your application.

Tailoring the CV
Recruitment agencies look for the extent or degree to which the CV demonstrated that a candidate is suitable for the role. Tailoring your CV to match the job requirement means that you have a high chance of being noticed by recruitment consultants. Avoid slipping through the net because the details they are looking for don’t stand out enough. If you do feel as though your application has been overlooked then follow up with a phone call to find out what’s happening.

Length of CV
Laura Cooper from manage SAP stated the following on this topic;

“Don’t worry about how many pages your CV is as most technical CV’s can be between 1-3 pages. If you did contracts in the past, are quite senior or have had a colourful career, its a good idea to just say 1990- 1999 and list the company, position and dates worked there in a list. People are only interested in your technical work in the last 5-9 years anyway but they are interested in seeing your progression”

Learning ability
Candidates rarely make or demonstrate the link between their learning ability, practice and work experience. For example showing that one had learned C# from scratch to master’s level, and then produced a workable and well supported application, all within six or nine months, would demonstrate something quite remarkable. Any project manager will want to know that a candidate can contribute positively and speed up the progress of their project. Recruitment consultants will be looking for additional information like this that will give you the edge, giving you a better chance in securing the role.

Don’t assume
IT professionals often make assumptions about the people reading their CV – by assuming that daily jargon, acronyms and references will be understood. Recruitment consultants might be clued up on the job they are recruiting for but this doesn’t mean that they are expected to know every piece of jargon in every industry.

One final piece of advice from us would be from us would be;

Build your network
Building relationships with recruitment consultants can often help your application. As a first measure pinpoint the recruitment agencies that can be of most benefit to you, if you need help on this refer to our Linked In group to find out which agencies were voted the best for IT recruitment.

Its always best to meet with the recruitment agent face to face, so pick up the phone to try and arrange a meeting, this will be a great opportunity to really sell your skills and experience. Make a good impression to ensure that you stay top of their mind so if a suitable role comes up you will be the first to be considered.

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Source: www.theitjobboard.co.uk