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IT Resume Essentials: Tailoring Your Experience for Relevance and Impact

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Your past experience makes up the majority of your IT resume and demonstrates your qualifications for the job you want. As a result, you should tailor your experience for relevance to the role and impact on the organization.

Knowing which experience to include in your IT resume can be difficult. Following these guidelines can help.

Implement these tips to tailor the experience section of your IT resume for relevance and impact.

Customize Your Resume

Tailor your IT resume to each job you apply for. For instance, focus on the job duties, responsibilities, and qualifications listed in the job posting. Then, detail your relevant knowledge, skills, experience, and achievements in these areas.

Include relevant, quantifiable examples of how you provided value for an employer in previous roles. Show that you can provide similar value for your next employer.

Use Relevant Keywords

Include throughout your IT resume relevant keywords. These keywords might be used in the job posting or commonly referred to in your industry.

Using relevant keywords helps your resume get past an applicant tracking system (ATS) and to a hiring manager. Showing that you are a good match for the position encourages the manager to contact you for an interview.

Share Relevant Information  

Where you are in your IT career impacts the details you might include in your Experience section. For instance, if you are just starting out, you should include any part-time IT jobs, contract work, temporary jobs, internships, and volunteer work you are engaged in. Conversely, if you are further along in your career, you should include the full-time IT jobs, contract work, and temporary jobs you have engaged in over the past 10 years.

Include Relevant Details

Ensure the information you share in your Experience section is relevant to your desired role. For instance, if you are targeting a software engineer position, you should include your current and previous engineering positions. Or, if you want to work as a programmer at a law firm, you could include your previous position as a paralegal.

Detail your main duties, responsibilities, and achievements for each position. Also, focus on your hard, soft, and transferrable skills.

Properly Format Your Resume

Include relevant headings for each section of your IT resume. For instance, you might select “Experience” or “Work Experience.”

If you choose a chronological format, list your jobs for the past 10 years in reverse chronological order in your Experience section. Include the following details:

  • Job title
  • Company name
  • Location
  • Employment dates (month and year)
  • Job Duties
  • Achievements
  • Promotions

Do You Want Additional Help with Your IT Resume?

Partner with RightStone for additional support throughout your job search. Visit our job board today.

The Role of IT Experts in the Internet of Things Era

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The role of IT experts in the Internet of Things era continues to grow. As the Internet of Things expands, current and future career opportunities increase.

The Internet of Things is a system of connected devices with unique identifiers that transfer data over the Internet without intervention from a computer or human. These devices may be computers, digital machines, objects, animals, or people. Examples include biochip transponders and smartwatches.

The Internet of Things supports efficient, effective business operations. Companies can leverage big data to anticipate trends, make informed decisions, deliver better customer experiences, and drive growth.

As a result, you should consider building an IT career involving the Internet of Things. The following are some job opportunities you could choose from.

Discover the role of IT experts in the Internet of Things era and available career opportunities.

Internet of Things Embedded Systems Designer

An Internet of Things embedded systems designer executes the complete software development cycle. This systems designer creates scalable, optimized Internet of Things software systems, then reviews them and develops relevant security. They design, develop, code, test, and debug the software to optimize performance.

Internet of Things Network Engineer

An Internet of Things network engineer creates and develops devices, software, and sensors that connect devices to other systems. This engineer researches, builds, and tests Internet of Things solutions. They design, code, and test device features, analyze user needs, and resolve issues with network connectivity and platforms.

Internet of Things Security Specialist

An Internet of Things security specialist provides security during the development stages of Internet of Things-related software, hardware, networks, and data centers. This specialist monitors and mitigates vulnerabilities and risks. They must recognize potential threats or attacks and build infrastructure such as firewalls for prevention.

Internet of Things Solutions Engineer

An Internet of Things solutions engineer works with customers to design solutions that fit their needs. This engineer chooses appropriate sensors and radio technology to meet customer requirements and then guides the customer through the process of implementing the projects. They help plan, design, and architect Internet of Things solutions, then operate and maintain these solutions.

Internet of Things Systems Administrator

An Internet of Things systems administrator sets up and maintains account access for Internet of Things systems. This professional maintains the systems, including verifying that the peripherals are working, setting up software and hardware upgrades, and monitoring system performance. They also create file systems, install software, and manage backups and recovery.

Internet of Things Infrastructure Architect

An Internet of Things infrastructure architect obtains, manages, filters, and interprets the data transmitted through the Internet of Things networks. This data may be shared between the internet and other connected devices, such as smart sensors, phones, appliances, cameras, and vehicles. The infrastructure architect uses data to help companies design better Internet of Things solutions to resolve customer issues.

Build an IT Career Involving the Internet of Things

Find a role involving the Internet of Things with help from RightStone. Visit our job board today.

AI in IT Jobs: Navigating Opportunities and Skills for Success

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a greater part of IT jobs. The growing popularity of this technology means additional skills are needed to fill the increasing opportunities in the IT industry.

AI includes machine learning, natural language processing, data mining, image recognition, robotics, and decision-making algorithms. These technologies require computer science, math, engineering, and related skills.

The increasing use of AI elevates the demand for these skills. Working with this technology can lead to ongoing opportunities for career development.

Learn how to navigate AI opportunities in IT jobs and the skills needed for success.

Data Skills

Working with data in AI projects involves data extraction, data analysis, and data visualization. Therefore, knowledge of programming languages such as Python, R, and SQL and experience with tools such as Pandas and NumPy are required.

Machine Learning Skills

Machine learning analyzes data to uncover patterns, create predictions or judgments, and learn from experience. Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, and MATLAB and experience with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow and Keras are needed to create the algorithms.

Natural Language Processing Skills

Natural language processing analyzes text to understand human language and produce natural, believable answers. Programming skills in Python and Java and familiarity with natural language processing tools such as NLTK and spaCy also are essential.

Machine Learning Engineer

A machine learning engineer uses software, predictive models, and natural language processing to analyze data sets. This professional understands software development methodology, agile practices, software development tools from integrated development environments such as Eclipse and IntelliJ, and the components of a continuous deployment pipeline.

Robotic Scientist

A robotic scientist builds mechanical devices that perform tasks with commands from humans. Writing and manipulating computer programs, collaborating with other specialists, and developing prototypes are required.

Data Scientist

A data scientist collects data, then uses machine learning and predictive analytics to analyze and interpret the data. Expertise in using big data platforms and tools such as Hadoop, Pig, Hive, Spark, and MapReduce is required. Fluency in statistical computing languages and programming languages such as SQL, Python, Scala, and Perl also is essential.

Research Scientist

A research scientist is an expert in machine learning, natural language processing, computational statistics, applied mathematics, and other AI disciplines. These professionals use deep learning, graphical models, reinforcement learning, computer perception, and data representation in their work.

Are You Ready to Use AI in an IT Job?

Work with RightStone to find a job working with AI in IT. Visit our job board today.

Engineering Interviews: Common Questions and How to Nail Them

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Before participating in engineering interviews, you should practice answering common questions. Developing clear, concise answers to typical interview questions helps show the interviewer how your knowledge, skills, experience, and accomplishments equip you for the role.

Preparing for engineering interview questions helps increase your confidence level. The more confident you feel, the more likely you will advance in the hiring process.

Practice answering these common questions to prepare for your engineering interview.

What was the most difficult project you worked on, and how did you get through the challenging tasks?

Show how you manage your time and multitask while working on complex projects that require multiple teams, resources, and timelines. Include your thought processes for overcoming challenges and your skills used to navigate forward.

For instance, “I worked on an engineering project that involved making predictions about mountains and the nearby roads. I changed the data to include climate and environmental changes so the risk factors aligned with the wildlife, weather, and residents. Although the project was challenging in the beginning, making these changes helped me complete it.”

How do you explain engineering ideas to an audience who is unfamiliar with the topic?

Demonstrate that you have a strong understanding of engineering concepts and can clearly explain them to non-engineering professionals. For instance, “I provide examples of engineering that are easily understood and relate to the person or situation. For example, when I talk with construction workers, I compare what I am saying to the process of how roads are paved. Relating the engineering ideas to real-life situations provides a better understanding of them.”

Which resources do you use to stay current with engineering developments?

Clarify the engineering blogs, magazines, professional associations, or other resources you use to learn about the latest news, technology, and trends. Also, demonstrate your ability to adapt to new processes and best practices.

 

For instance, “I subscribe to authoritative engineering journals and actively participate in engineer-based Slack chat rooms. I also read blogs and articles on the latest research and stay connected with peers outside of work.”

Which safety procedures are in place for when you check your engineering work for mistakes?

Show how seriously you take safety measures when working to minimize potential issues. Include how your knowledge of safety standards supports your desire to keep projects safe.

For instance, “I constantly check for mistakes. For example, I triple-check my math and measurements and ask a fellow engineer to check my work before marking it complete. These steps help ensure there are no mistakes.”

Do You Want Additional Help with Interview Preparation?

Partner with RightStone for additional help to prepare for engineering interviews. Visit our job board to get started today.

Transferable Skills: The Best Skills to Have When Changing Careers

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Transferable skills are the best skills to have when changing careers. You can apply these talents and abilities to multiple roles and industries for a successful transition.

Including your relevant transferrable skills in your resume shows the value you can provide an organization. It demonstrates how the skills you developed in previous positions align with the skills required for the position you desire. This encourages the hiring manager to contact you for an interview.

Learn which transferrable skills to include in your resume when changing careers.

Industry Expertise

If you are changing careers within the IT industry, include in your resume your knowledge, skills, and experience that can benefit the company. Mention the amount of time you spent in the industry and the types of projects you worked on.

Communication

Strong verbal and written communication skills are required for virtually any role. You likely will engage with colleagues, managers, coworkers, HR professionals, and other company stakeholders. Effectively sharing your ideas, input, decisions, and thought process is essential for success.

Find effective ways to list in your resume examples of your communication skills. This may include how you explain IT concepts and projects to non-IT professionals so that they understand your work.

Project Management

Overseeing at least some parts of projects is essential for most roles. As a result, including in your resume organization and time management shows you establish priorities, maintain a schedule, and finish tasks by the deadlines.

Consider referencing IT projects you managed. Provide enough detail to explain your role, results, and impact on the company.

Analysis

Your analytical skills are essential for problem-solving. You can use data to make educated decisions and explain your reasoning.

Consider sharing in your resume examples of how you analyzed IT problems to find solutions. Include the impact of your actions, such as increased efficiencies or lower costs.

Adaptability

Because change is part of every company and industry, fast adaptation is essential. This is especially true if your career change leads you to work for a startup. Your role regularly may change based on the company’s needs.

Highlight in your resume situations where you had to quickly adapt to complete an IT project. Include how you think on your feet and perform in high-pressure situations to benefit the organization.

Leadership

Demonstrating leadership skills is beneficial when changing careers. Hiring managers always want to add leaders to their teams.

Include in your resume examples of your leadership skills to stand out from other candidates. Depending on your work experience, share examples of when you lead IT projects, employees, or both.

Are You Ready to Change Careers?

If you are changing careers within the IT industry, reach out to RightStone for help with the transition. Visit our job board today.

Green Flags To Look For In A Potential Employer

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Green flags in a potential employer indicate that the organization may be a good place to work. These signs include attractive company culture, challenging work, and opportunities for advancement.

Understanding how to look for green flags in a potential employer before applying for a role, during an interview, and after receiving a job offer helps determine which company may be right for you. This helps you be successful in your new position.

Discover Green Flags To Look For In A Potential Employer.

Green Flags In The Job Posting

Look for these signs in the job posting:

  • A diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture
  • Company values aligned with yours
  • Competitive compensation range
  • Attractive benefits
  • Tailored job qualifications

Green Flags For The Company

The more diverse the employees, benefits, and perks, the more equitable and inclusive the company:

  • Diverse employees in leadership roles
  • Pay Transparency
  • Negotiable benefits
  • Equitable benefits, such as paid family leave instead of paid maternity leave
  • Significant budget for employee professional development
  • Mentorship and/or coaching program
  • Wheelchair-accessible building
  • Gender-neutral restrooms
  • Paid volunteer hours
  • Adequate information to prepare for interviews

Green Flags For Junior Developers

If you are beginning your IT career, look for a potential employer with these traits:

  • Headquarters in a city with at least one IT boot camp
  • Signs on the company’s website or LinkedIn profile that the organization hires bootcamp graduates and junior developers
  • Blog posts on the company’s website or social media pages that are directed at the junior developer experience

Green Flags During The Interview

Seek these elements during an interview:

  • Punctual interviewers
  • Interviewer camaraderie
  • Inquiry about your preferred pronouns
  • Questions tailored to your knowledge, skills, and experience
  • Interviewer engagement

Questions To Uncover Green or Red Flags

Consider asking these subtle questions to determine green or red flags:

  • How is your company involved in the community?
  • What does success look like here?
  • Is weekend work common?
  • How does the team approach tight deadlines?

You also might want to ask more direct questions:

  • Are there any requirements for using work apps on personal devices?
  • If you could fix one thing within the organization, what would it be?
  • Are employees encouraged to raise technical and ethical concerns?
  • If you knew then what you know now, would you still have joined the company?

Are You Ready to Find Your Next Employer?

Work with RightStone to find your next IT role. Visit our job board today.

Career Check-In Time! Are You on Track to Meet Your 2023 Goals?

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The middle of the year is an excellent time to check in on your career. Understanding whether you are on track to meet your 2023 goals is essential to accomplish your objectives.

Perhaps you reached some goals but not others. Maybe you have goals that no longer fit your career objectives. These are reasons why you should revisit your goals.

Follow these guidelines to check in and determine whether you are on track to meet your 2023 career goals.

Review Your Goals

Look back at your goals for the year. Determine whether they still align with what you want to accomplish.

Take out the goals that you no longer want to attain. Consider replacing them with new ones. Or, you can dedicate more time to achieving your remaining goals.

Determine whether you reached any of your goals. If so, cross them off.

Consider whether you are putting in enough effort to meet your remaining goals. Remember that some may take longer to accomplish than others.

Measure Your Progress

Use your established criteria to measure your progress toward your goals. Comparing where you were when the year began to where you are now shown how far you have come. It also indicates what you still must do to attain your goals.

If you are not on track to achieve your goals, determine why. Find ways to resolve the issues and get back on schedule.

Track Your Goals

Regularly check in to record your progress in reaching your goals. Knowing where you are at in the process helps determine whether you are on track to meet your goals. If you fall behind, you can take action to get to where you should be.

Review Your Action Plan

Focus on whether you are reaching the deadlines included in your action plan. If not, determine why.

Perhaps the deadlines were unreasonable. Or, maybe you require more resources or support to meet them.

Resolve the issues that caused you not to reach your deadlines. Then, reset your timeline.

Celebrate Your Successes

Reward yourself for the goals you accomplished. You might want to go out for dinner or drinks with friends, enjoy a spa service, or plan a weekend trip to somewhere you have been wanting to visit. This provides motivation to continue to attain your goals.   

Do You Need to Add to Your IT Team?

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How To Find Gratitude In A Job You Don’t Love

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Finding gratitude in a job you don’t love can be challenging. Having to fulfill job duties and responsibilities you dislike makes coming to work difficult.

Your adverse feelings about not loving your job can carry over into your personal life. You might consistently come home tired and stressed. This can lead to issues with your family and friends.

Fortunately, you can take steps to find gratitude in a job you don’t love. This makes your work more tolerable.

Implement These Tips To Find Gratitude In A Job You Don’t Love

Maintain A Positive Attitude

Focus on positive thoughts as you work. This may include how hard you worked to secure your job, how much you accomplished throughout the day, or what you plan to handle next.

Maintaining a positive attitude helps create a positive work environment. This is one thing to be grateful for when you don’t love your job.

Emphasize What You Enjoy

Focus on what you like about your job and company. This may include your commute, office location, or manager. Or, it could be your competitive salary, attractive benefits, and perks, or the knowledge and skills you developed that can lead to your next position.

Emphasizing the positive aspects of work helps you find gratitude. This makes having a job you don’t love more bearable.

Take Breaks

Schedule regular breaks throughout the day. Include an hour for lunch.

Use your breaks to engage in relaxing activities. This may include stretching, taking a walk, or meditating. Or, you might read a book, listen to music, or talk with colleagues and coworkers who are on break.

Use all your paid time off. Take vacations with family and friends. Making memories with loved ones helps you find gratitude when you don’t love your job.

Develop Work Friendships

Working with people, you enjoy helps pass the time. You can talk about your interests and experiences during breaks. You might even decide to get together outside of the office.

Engage in Fun

Plan after-work activities that you enjoy. You can focus on them during your work breaks.

You might want to participate in a yoga class or join friends for dinner or happy hour. You could volunteer with a nonprofit organization or engage in a new book.

Setting boundaries between your work and personal time helps maintain peace of mind. Focusing on yourself helps you find gratitude in a job you don’t love.

Need Help Finding Great Employees?

Work with RightStone to hire the IT professionals you need to reach company goals and make your job easier. Learn more today.

How To Build Stronger Relationships At Work

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Humans are naturally sociable. This is why building strong relationships increases our happiness.

Having strong work relationships helps increase engagement, collaboration, and productivity. It also improves job satisfaction and employee morale.

The stronger your work relationships, the more industry professionals you connect with. This can increase your career opportunities.

Implement These Tips To Build Stronger Relationships At Work.

Display a Positive Attitude

Be positive when interacting with colleagues and coworkers. This encourages them to remain positive as well. It also helps maintain a pleasant work environment.

Stay Present

Focus on others during conversations. This helps you remain mentally present and engaged. Providing your full attention to others helps build stronger relationships at work.

Openly Communicate

Be honest and transparent when communicating with colleagues, managers, and coworkers. This helps build trust and rapport.

Actively listen during conversations. For instance, ask follow-up questions to gather more information. Also, repeat what you hear to check your understanding. Additionally, consider what was said before responding.

Appreciate Others

Let your colleagues and coworkers know specific things you appreciate about them. This may include someone’s positive attitude, their regular check-ins to see how others are doing, or their desire to help when needed. Expressing appreciation encourages others to form strong relationships with you.

Offer to Help

Let your colleagues and coworkers know you are willing to help them when needed. Providing your knowledge and experience to benefit others shows you care about them.

Ask for help when needed. Others should be willing to support you as well.

Be Accountable

Follow through on your commitments. This shows that your colleagues and coworkers can rely on you.

Be realistic when asked to take on a project or participate in an event. Let others know if your schedule does not allow for anything more to be added.

Enhance Your Emotional Intelligence

Continuously improve on identifying and managing your emotions and reacting to others’ emotions. Understanding how emotions shape your thoughts and behaviors increases your control over your actions. This enhances your self-management.

Increasing your emotional intelligence deepens your understanding of who you are. This helps you communicate more clearly and build stronger relationships.

Are You Looking For A New Role?

Begin building a relationship with a recruiter from RightStone to find your next IT position. Visit our job board today.

3 Ways to Learn About A Company’s Culture Before Accepting A Job Offer

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A company’s culture is defined by its mission, vision, and core values. These characteristics set a foundation for the goals, expectations, and ethics that define employees’ behavior at every level.

Companies can have a variety of cultures. For instance, whereas some companies have a team-based culture, others support individual accomplishments. Also, some companies have hierarchical management, while others are more casual.

Working for a company whose culture aligns with your values is essential for long-term success. This provides motivation to work individually and collaboratively to reach company goals.

Discover three ways to learn about a company’s culture before accepting a job offer

1. Online Research

Use the organization’s website to research the company’s culture. Pay close attention to the mission statement and careers page to help determine the organization’s values and priorities.

Gain insight into what working for the organization is like. Look for details on compensation, benefits, awards, and other relevant information.

Visit the organization’s social media pages to learn about the company’s priorities. Use your findings to determine whether to accept a job offer from the organization.

2. Employee Feedback

Read employer reviews to determine what current and former employees have to say about the company’s culture. Look for positive and negative patterns in employee feedback.

Use LinkedIn to connect with current and former employees. Ask them to share honest feedback about the company’s culture. Use what you learn to determine whether to accept the company’s job offer.

3. Job Interview

Arrive early for your interview to observe the office environment. Focus on the energy and how the employees interact:

  • Do the employees appear happy to work for the organization?
  • Are the employees friendly to you?
  • Would you enjoy working in the environment?

Ask about the company’s culture during your interview. Consider choosing from the following questions:

  • How would you describe the company’s culture?
  • What makes the company’s culture unique?
  • How would you describe the work environment?
  • What do you like best about working here?
  • Which activities do you participate in outside of work hours?

Focus on your experience during the interview process. This provides an indication of what it would be like working for the organization.

Reflect on the following issues:

  • Were you treated professionally?
  • Did you talk with different employees?
  • How comfortable did you feel throughout the interview process?

Do You Need Help with Your IT Job Search?

Include RightStone in your job search to land your next IT position. Visit our job board today.