TECHNOLOGY CAREERS

Get Creative: Tactics and Tips for Using Unusual Approaches in Your Job Hunt

With intense competition for IT positions, many candidates are taking their job-hunting strategies to new levels. In addition to relying on traditional methods, some are attempting more creative approaches to stand out from the crowd. Don’t worry, however; you don’t have to send a singing telegram to a prospective employer’s office to get noticed. Research by our company has uncovered more effective strategies for capturing the interest of hiring managers.

Tactic: Befriending Employees
Chief information officers (CIOs) surveyed by Robert Half Technology said getting to know a prospective employer’s staffing members can be a wise move for job candidates. One noted that a job seeker developed friendships with people in the organization’s IT department before coming into the interview. You might be able to meet employees through involvement in professional groups and receive encouragement from them to apply for a position at their firm, for example. Another respondent said he was impressed by students who attended regularly scheduled conferences in which the employer participated, noting, “As a result, a symbiotic relationship was created where we now have many former students on staff at my company.”

Tip: Use networking to your advantage. If none of your contacts knows people at a target company, search networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn to make connections at a firm. Let employees of the organization know you’re considering an employment opportunity there and ask if they would be willing to provide feedback on what it’s like to work for the business.

Tactic: Persistence
Showing a sincere interest in working for a firm can pay off. “One CIO candidate took me to lunch during the interview process, didn’t get hired, and then took me to lunch two more times to stay in touch. I finally found something for him,” said one surveyed executive.

Tip: While it’s good to show your determination to land the position by maintaining communication with the hiring manager, you don’t want to cross the line. If someone asks you to stop contacting him or her, abide by the person’s wishes.

Tactic: Creative Packaging
Many job seekers have made notable impressions with hiring managers for the way they submitted their resumes, from sending the document as a paper airplane to rolling the resume up inside a toy truck. This approach can be risky but may hit the right note in creative industries or IT specialties such as web design.

Tip: No matter how imaginative the packaging, the content of your resume is what matters most to hiring managers. Make sure it showcases your skill set and experience effectively and contains no typos or grammatical errors. Have friends and family review the document for clarity and appearance.

A little ingenuity may help you get a foot in the door at prospective employers. Just be sure you are spending as much time preparing for the interview as you do on landing the meeting. Research the company so you understand its challenges and goals, be ready to discuss how you’ve provided bottom-line results to previous companies, and follow up with a handwritten thank-you note after the interview. You’ll help ensure you stand out as a top-notch candidate.

Robert Half Technology is a leading provider of IT professionals for initiatives ranging from web development and multiplatform systems integration to network security and technical support. The company has more than 100 locations worldwide. Search for jobs now or learn more at www.rht.com.