10 IT Job Search Habits To Nail A New Gig
Job searching is about more than finding the magic keywords. Research shows that developing the right habits goes a long way toward achieving a successful job search.
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It's a good time to be an IT professional. IT salaries, especially for those switching to new jobs, are on the rise. The unemployment rate in IT is so low (2.3% by some estimates, depending on what counts as IT) that, unlike some job sectors, IT pros probably aren't competing with people re-entering the job market in the wake of the last recession.
Still, looking for a job is not easy. The process is long and complicated. We're here to give you some habits that will make it as painless as possible.
We're not talking about new apps for the job search (we've got those here) or tips on organizing your resume. We're talking about ways to change your mindset and essentially the lifestyle behind finding a new job.
[ First impressions are everything. Read How To Mess Up Your First Days On The Job. ]
Many of us, especially if we're unemployed, are driven by guilt to spend every second of every day looking for a new job. You feel bad about spending a little time playing a computer game or seeing a friend. But what you're really doing is spinning your wheels. Basically, you're creating busy work for yourself in the name of trying hard and "covering your bases."
In the process you lose touch with the things that make you interesting and worthwhile to a potential hiring company. You become less healthy, more desperate, and less hirable.
There's a better way, according to a study on successful job seekers conducted by DeVry University on behalf of the Career Advisory Board. In March, DeVry polled 589 US professionals who had accepted a new job in the last year and who received an interview for that role within six months of being recruited or starting a new job search. The online survey covered job seekers in multiple industries and followed the habits of both "passive job seekers" (people with a job who were recruited to leave their current job) and active job seekers who recently had a successful job search.
You can see that most of the successful candidates followed many of the same habits and patterns. We combined that learning with tips from other career coaches and recruiters to give you 10 basic habits for finding a better job. Check them out and tell us if you've recently used any of these to get a job. If you are looking for a job, which of these habits most appeal most to you? Tell us all about it in the comments section below.
According to the CAB study, 66% of respondents who were classified as "active" job seekers applied to 10 jobs or fewer, and 50% of these respondents only applied to five. Being selective gives you more time to do a better job with each application and frees you up to follow some of the other tips coming up.
When you're unemployed, it is easy to feel guilty about not having a job and to spend eight hours a day looking for a job. What you really end up doing, though, is staying glued to your computer, refreshing the page for no reason. Meanwhile, you're missing out on other things you can be doing. Forty-five percent of respondents in the CAB study spent only an hour searching per day, and 47% spent one to three hours. That means 92% of job seekers are spending three hours or less per day on job hunting.
You want a job that allows you to grow, so you don't want to pick jobs you are overqualified for. At the same time, you don't want to waste your time being unrealistic. The vast majority of respondents -- 90% -- in the CAB study said being 75% qualified for a job was a good threshold.
If you are not contacting the person listed as a contact for the job, you're definitely doing it wrong. Almost three quarters (70%) of respondents in the CAB study reached out to contact people to learn more about the job. It can save you from applying for a job you don't want or can't get. It can also give you the ammo you need to make the perfect application for the job.
You've heard this a billion times, but if you aren't doing it (because it really is a pain), you are hurting yourself. Eighty-four percent of respondents in the CAB study made a custom resume, complete with keywords, for each job. Does that sound like a lot of work? It is. But remember: You're being picky about jobs now. Applying for fewer jobs leaves you more time to make custom resumes (and custom cover letters) that are as slick as a custom ride.
Despite what you hear, you can't leverage your social network into a job using LinkedIn or Facebook. Nearly all successful candidates used a mixed approach that combined digital media, in-person networking, and "real-life" family and business contacts. Only 33% of respondents in the CAB study said they used LinkedIn "occasionally or frequently." Get in the habit of making use of the online and offline members of your network. Like it or not, getting hired might require shaking a lot of hands.
If you are unemployed and only spending one to three hours on your job search, what else do you do all day? It is important to get up and have a full day, just as when you are working. It keeps the mind sharp, keeps your attitude professional, and avoids the depression that can set in with a lengthy job search. Continue your morning routine as if you had a job, and make sure you stick to it.
There are holes in your resume. Everyone has them. Maybe there's a certification you are missing. Maybe you didn't finish a degree. If you know something is holding you back, use the time (if possible) to fix that hole. If money is available, take care of that certification. If it is an issue with experience, volunteering may help you fill the hole on your resume and give you the step up you need.
Remember, you've got the time because you're not spending eight hours on your job search. Susan B. Joyce, president of NETability, calls it "sharpening the saw." In a piece on the Huffington Post, Joyce said that people should "continue to learn and grow in knowledge and skill, even when you don't have a job. This is SO important for job seekers, particularly if the job search drags on more than a few months, which seems to be more common these days."
It can feel silly, especially if you ask a friend to help, but interviewing is a skill. It's a skill some of us only polish in the job search, and then we forget how to do it. Practice and refine your answers to common questions such as, "What attracted you to this position?" or "What is your biggest weakness?" Check out some of these "trap" questions you might hear in order to make sure you are prepared for oddball interview questions.
Or pick up a hobby. Your mental health and attitude can often be a deciding factor in whether or not you get a job. We're not saying someone will hire you simply because you got ripped at the gym. Rather, your energy and happiness will help you through the rigors and emotional issues of the search. Chan Ngee Key, founder of Springboard Talent, said in a post on LinkedIn, "[J]ob search requires a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Eat well; get a lot of exercise, but rest when you need to rest. Have hobbies and enjoy doing what interests you. Get together with friends often. Spend time with your family. Don't eschew routines and relationships at the expense of working hard to get the job that you want. If you take care of yourself, the good things will follow."
Of course, there are other job search techniques that matter, such as proofreading your resume or buying the right clothing to wear on an interview. But these aren't really habits so much as they are techniques. If you get into the habit of doing all of these other things well, those sorts of details should be easy.
How many of these habits are part of your job search routine? Which might be helpful to you the next time around? What other habits have you developed to help you find work? Let us know in the comments section below.
Of course, there are other job search techniques that matter, such as proofreading your resume or buying the right clothing to wear on an interview. But these aren't really habits so much as they are techniques. If you get into the habit of doing all of these other things well, those sorts of details should be easy.
How many of these habits are part of your job search routine? Which might be helpful to you the next time around? What other habits have you developed to help you find work? Let us know in the comments section below.
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