Job Search Tip of the Week #52 (2018)
Caressa Moy | December 24, 2018 | 9:00 am
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Recruiters: What Can They Really Do For You?
You might know that recruiters can increase your exposure to potential employers. So why aren’t you working with one? Many people hold outdated or incorrect views about working with a staffing firm and the value a great recruiter can bring to a job search. Here’s the real scoop on the ins and outs of working with a recruiter.
What recruiters can do for you
To get the most out of a relationship with a recruiting firm, you need to understand exactly what recruiters do and don’t do:
- Recruiters work for their clients. Companies who need help filling a job opening hire staffing firms. Thus, those companies, not you, foot the bill for services rendered. And contrary to popular belief, the fee does not come from a candidate’s salary — it is calculated using that salary, but is paid for out of the client’s recruitment budget.
- Not all recruiters are created equal. Recruiting companies often specialize in finding workers for a certain profession (such as the IT field) or level of expertise (such as management or executive functions). Some help clients find workers from around the country, while others work locally. Some are paid only if they submit a candidate who is hired; others are paid a retainer just to stay on the lookout for good employees.
- Recruiters really do want to find you a perfect job. It’s in everyone’s best interest to present you to companies that are a great fit — most staffing firms are only paid when they find the perfect candidate. That’s why it’s important to be honest about your skillset and what you’re looking for in an employer. Never pad your résumé to increase your chances of finding work. After all, you don’t know what the employers are looking for — the recruiter does.
- Job boards and recruiters are not on the same level. Instead of getting lost in a huge pool of potential candidates, you can stand out from the crowd with a recruiter. A recruiter’s role is to preselect qualified candidates and present them directly to employers.
Job Search Tip of the Week #51 (2018)
Caressa Moy | December 17, 2018 | 9:00 am
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What Advantages Do IT Recruiters Offer Tech Contractors and Part-Time Employees?
With the holiday season rapidly approaching, are you looking for more flexible work arrangements?
For a tech professional who wants either contracting or part-time work, a reputable recruiting firm can be your best friend. Recruiting firms can help take care of many of the more practical aspects of finding assignments, such as wage negotiation, marketing and advertising, and insurance benefits. And for today’s IT pros, those are all advantages worth striving for.
Getting started
For professionals just entering the workforce after college or for those who are dipping their toes into the contracting pool, a recruiter can be a godsend. Recruiters already possess a wealth of resources and expertise to evaluate your skill set — and suggest ways to strengthen it — as well as find assignments that fit your capabilities and interests.
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Job Search Tip of the Week #50 (2018)
Caressa Moy | December 10, 2018 | 9:00 am
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Try Before You Buy: The Scoop on Temp-to-Perm Jobs
Looking for work? Temp work is a great place to find a long-lasting position. Forbes points to survey data confirming that 58% of employers plan to bring on part-time, temp, or contract workers within the next five years. Nearly three-quarters of those jobs are likely to become full-time, permanent positions.
Of course, temp work doesn’t always translate into long-term placement. The best way to find these opportunities is to work with a talented recruiter who can match you with the right company from the start.
Chase Technology Consultants (CTC) knows the value of temp-to-perm placements for both employers and job seekers. A temp position allows candidates to get their foot in the door and is an opportunity to prove that they would make excellent employees. It also gives companies a chance to see potential employees in action and make sure that they are a good fit for the company culture. This type of “trial period” can give employers a bit more time to consider or compare promising candidates.
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Job Search Tip of the Week #49 (2018)
Caressa Moy | December 3, 2018 | 9:00 am
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Use a Multiple-Job History to Your Advantage
…and Leave Your Job-Hopping History in the Past
Q. I’ve held three full-time positions in the last three years. How can I explain this experience on my résumé without coming across as a job-hopper?
A. Job-hopping — holding a succession of jobs in a relatively short time frame — isn’t that unusual, given the employment challenges brought on by the Great Recession. And the practice is becoming the norm in the tech industry, where software professionals often change jobs every two to three years. Still, a history of job changes can cause a potential employer to question your loyalty and staying power.
To avoid being perceived as a job-hopper, you need to present your job history in a new way. Your initial step, according to various career experts, is to craft your résumé to direct attention to your career story rather than your job history.
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Job Search Tip of the Week #48 (2018)
Caressa Moy | November 26, 2018 | 9:00 am
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Success Tips for IT Contractors
As the job market changes, many technology experts — both newly minted and workforce veterans — are considering independent contracting. Working as a contractor offers multiple benefits: flexibility, higher earning potential, an easier transition into permanent work, and the opportunity to broaden your skill set. If you’re considering contract work, there are some things you can do to boost your chances of success.
Set the stage
First, do your research. Calculate how much you’ll need to charge to cover taxes, business expenses, and benefits (such as health insurance) and still earn an acceptable living wage. Will you need to purchase hardware or software? Office furniture? Design or develop a website? What about business cards or advertising? Monster suggests figuring out how much you’d need to earn annually as a full-time employee, then dividing that figure by 1,000 to calculate an hourly contract figure.
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Job Search Tip of the Week #47 (2018)
Caressa Moy | November 19, 2018 | 9:00 am
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Thinking of holding off on your job search until the New Year rings in? Before you put your efforts on pause, consider this: the upcoming winter holiday season may be the most wonderful time of year to find a new job!
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Job Search Tip of the Week #46 (2018)
Caressa Moy | November 12, 2018 | 9:00 am
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The Importance of the Post-Interview “Thank You”
Give Thanks – or Your Chance for that Job Could Be Cooked [INFOGRAPHIC]
Thanksgiving’s next week – have you taken the time yet to be thankful during your job search?
In a recent survey by online job-matching service Ladders, more than 75 percent of interviewers reported that receiving a thank you note impacts their hiring decision.
“Many job seekers believe that the interview is over once they step out of the office, but that’s simply not the case,” said Amanda Augustine, then a job search expert at Ladders. “Based on my decade-long experience in conducting interviews, I can attest first-hand that failure to follow-up can be the deciding factor in rejecting a candidate who is otherwise a great fit.”
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Job Search Tip of the Week #45 (2018)
Caressa Moy | November 5, 2018 | 9:00 am
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Why You Never Want to Skip the Thank-You Note
It’s one of the great last impressions you can make!
Congratulations! After:
- Properly formatting your résumé using this free IT résumé template and how-to,
- Showing hiring managers what they want to see on your résumé,
- Preparing yourself for these 3 digital recruitment trends that are changing the candidate selection and evaluation process,
- Cutting through the noise on social media, and
- Networking and collaborating online with hiring companies and other IT and technology professionals
…you got the interview and rocked it. Now, how do you make yourself memorable and continue to differentiate yourself from other candidates? Send a thank-you note.
A couple short sentences sent within the first 24 hours of your interview can really tip the hiring scales in your favor (or not). Keep reading below to learn more, then download these TEN thank-you note templates which you can customize to suit your needs. (Pro Tip: A good IT recruiter like Chase Technology Consultants can help you write and proofread thank-you notes. Just ask!)
Now get on with making that great last impression.
You’ve found the perfect company. You’ve aced the interview. Now all you can do is wait, right?
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Job Search Tip of the Week #44 (2018)
Caressa Moy | October 29, 2018 | 9:00 am
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‘Tis the season for all things tricky, but your job search shouldn’t be one of them! Take some cues from these classic Halloween characters:
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Don’t turn into a clumsy zombie. Use your brain and avoid the 10 scariest job seeker mistakes!
For example, nothing screams “I’m not detail-oriented and I don’t double check my work!” as loud as typos and misspellings do, and those are things a careful proofread and edit of your résumé can catch. Keep an eye out for these top five most common typographical and grammatical errors that tech professionals make, and review, revise, and repeat! |
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Bewitch with an irresistible résumé. Cast a spell over hiring managers with this properly formatted résumé template, created just for web developers and software engineers!
Not enough time for a complete makeover? Give your résumé a new face by switching up the font – any of these six work like a charm. Then quickly lance these words off your résumé as if they were the boils, and toss these ones into your cauldron instead! |
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Don’t put up a front, or try to transform into someone you’re not. Did you know that more than half of hiring managers have caught a job candidate in a lie?
You don’t have to resort to embellishing your skill set or falsifying information on your résumé (or in an interview, for that matter) to make a great first impression. There are other ways you can stand out from the crowd, and besides – you need to show the real you to snag a job you’ll love. |
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No bones about it – always dress up for your interview. The science behind snap judgments says that physical appearance is a vital part of that initial first impression. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this checklist of interview attire do’s and don’ts!
Already chosen your costume, but not sure about the color? Careful – some scream the wrong message! Psychology says these are the best and worst colors to wear to an interview. |
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Don’t suck the life out of your interview. There are lots of things you may be doing that could end your interview before it even begins. For instance, arriving too early or late to your interview comes across as inconsiderate.
Let’s say you make it to the interview on time, but you have a cold, lifeless greeting (or any of the other nine types of bad handshakes); the body language of a corpse; or the voice of the undead. You’ll be out the door faster than it’d take you to bleed out from a vampire bite! |
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Don’t get so wrapped up that you do all the talking! The interview is an opportunity not only for a potential employer to get to know you and for you to sell yourself for the role, but also for you to determine whether you can see yourself on their team and working on their web app or software products.
Not sure how to get your interviewer talking? Thorough pre-interview research = intelligent end-of-interview questions! Avoid making any of these seven inquiries, which will likely slam the lid on your candidacy shut. |
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Don’t go ghost – or get ghosted. No one likes feeling invisible! Whether you’re a job seeker or a hiring manager, reply to emails and return phone calls, even if it’s to say you’re not interested, took another job, or hired someone else. If a mutual contact put the two of you in touch or if you’ve had previous correspondence, this move is especially important to maintain your professional relationships.
Job seekers: avoid disappearing off the hiring radar by reaching out after applying or interviewing for a job. Not sure when to follow up, or how? Use this flow chart, and start crafting the perfect thank-you note. |
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Light up the (networking) night. Now’s not the time to be window dressing or a porch-flower – hiring heats up in the fall and slows after Thanksgiving and through New Year’s. So get off your doorstep and network your way into a job! Use these mnemonic devices and these five steps to conquer any event.
Afraid to go out and about alone in a strange crowd? Gather your boo crew – but make a pact not to hang out with only each other the entire time! |
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Don’t kill the relationship when you lose out on the job. Your candidacy could be passed over for a reason that’s beyond your control, like a headcount cap or budget reallocation. Or maybe you’re a good cultural fit, but not what the team needs right now from a functional standpoint.
Whatever the case, it’s counterproductive to harbor hard feelings and shut the door, especially since the Boston tech community is so small. Instead, become career resilient! Break the job rejection cycle, and ask for specific feedback and how you can keep in touch. |
