Breaking into the IT Industry

by Paul Griffin

Changing to an IT career:

There are a lot of people that want to break into the IT industry, but they face a dilemma: they aren’t certain whether or how they should make the switch from their current career. This article will offer some helpful hints for anyone looking to make the change to a new and rewarding IT career.

The first and most important thing for any candidate is to understand the industry. Any candidate serious about an IT job will want to become familiar with publications that are popular with those in the industry. These publications include “Fast company”, “Business 2.0″ and “The industry Standard”. Candidates should always strive to gain understanding of key business principles and common problems within the technology world. Jargon is very important in this industry. If you’re working for an internet company, you’ll want to know the difference between “hits” and “uniques”.

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Asking For the Position Using Sales Techniques

Learning to ask for the position is a must in today’s job market. Asking for the position lets your future employer know that you want the job. You are not begging, and your are not pleading…you are professionally, and confidently, asking to join their team. I would assume that you just might be the only candidate, during the interview process, that has the confidence to ask for the position! During my past interviews, I’ve asked for the position, this is what I’ve been told by interviewers:

1. You are the only person who asked for the job, thank you.
2. We are looking for someone who really wants to join our team.
3. No one else has asked for the position today, but you.

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Six Degrees Away From a Job Referral

Do you know you are possibly, “six degrees” away from your next interview? “Six degrees of separation,” also known simply as networking, was tested on a news program. A man from overseas got in contact with a total stranger in the U.S. He accomplished this by contacting six people, who set up a meeting with this person he never met. He contacted the first person, who then new someone, who then new another….you get the point.

Lucky for you, your task is a little easier since you have more data to provide your new contacts. For example:

1. You know the company you are looking to join and the job title you can reference.
2. You know the city it is located in.
3. You probably know at least 250 people you can contact as your “first degree.”
4. You can contact folks via email, in-person or over the phone.
5. You can join local organizations to network business owners.
6. You can use social networking sites like LinkedIn.

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10 Ways to Search For a Job Today!

There are several ways to start your job search. I have tried almost every kind of job search. In the past I would walk into a corporation or company, show them my resume and ask to talk with a hiring manager. This technique doesn’t work anymore. Everyone is online and usually can’t talk with a candidate until they’ve applied online. So, below I’ve listed 10 ways to search for a job in today’s market. I hope one works for you!

1. Network everyone you know.

2. Keep your online resumes updated and refreshed at least weekly on the job sites. Also, practice using different key words for your search taken from online job descriptions similar to the position your seeking, something may pop up that you haven’t seen yet.

3. Join organizations in your career field and network with new faces.

4. Utilize social networks, etc., to network and meet new people, recruiters, etc.

5. Stay in touch with recruiters you’ve talked with, at least weekly.

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Mind Storm Your Way to a New Career

By Ben Rivera

I first heard about Mind Storming from Brian Tracy. It is kind of like brainstorming, but without a small team of people. With Mind Storming, it’s all about you working toward your goals. Most people use this technique to set and attain their personal goals. But you can also apply it to your job search or use it in your current career move ahead in your position, get promoted or get a better job. It’s a simple, yet powerful, tool that can put you in “the zone” and help you gain momentum in your job search. Here’s how it works. First, you must make a clear goal. Brian Tracy says goals should be “clear, specific, time bound and measurable.” Once you have your goal, write it in the form of a question. For example, “I want to get hired in the security field in the next three months.” Would then be, “How can I get hired in the security field in the next three months?” Now you have 20 very important answers to complete. Your job is to write 20 answers to your new goal question. Usually, most goal setters come up with the first 5-10 ideas pretty quick. From that point the final 11-20 gets more and more difficult. But you must finish. Mind Storming gets you thinking, keeps you moving toward your goal and helps you stay positive in your job search.

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