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IT Resume Essentials: Tailoring Your Experience for Relevance and Impact

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.


AI in IT Jobs: Navigating Opportunities and Skills for Success

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

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

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

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.


How To Build Stronger Relationships At Work

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

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.


7 Reasons to Update Your LinkedIn Profile

As an IT professional, odds are you regularly update your resume. This ensures you are ready for opportunities as you learn about them.

Similarly, you should regularly update your LinkedIn profile. Keeping your details current and relevant shows hiring managers and recruiters what you have to offer employers.

Engaging with hiring managers and recruiters opens you up to new opportunities. These opportunities can advance your career.

Discover seven reasons to update your LinkedIn profile.

1. An Annual LinkedIn Update Is Essential

Conducting an annual review of the knowledge, skills, and accomplishments you gained in the last 12 months lets you add the details to your LinkedIn profile. You also can delete the information that is no longer relevant to your career path. These actions help hiring managers and recruiters focus on the details that can lead to your next opportunity.

2. Industry Professionals View Your LinkedIn Profile

Hiring managers, recruiters, and other professionals in your industry use your LinkedIn profile to determine your qualifications for roles. As a result, they might reach out about potential career opportunities. Sharing current information facilitates this process.

3. A Recession Is Coming

Entering a recession means economic instability. As a result, you should be prepared for anything to happen within your company and industry.

Having a complete, current, and engaging LinkedIn profile helps you pursue relevant roles if the need arises. It also makes you an attractive passive candidate for opportunities that fit your knowledge, skills, and experience.

4. Position Yourself for Opportunities

Updating your LinkedIn profile ensures it aligns with your career goals. This shows your authentic interest in professional growth. It also demonstrates you are equipped to take on the role you desire.

You also can connect with other professionals, hiring managers, and recruiters in your industry. These individuals might help you land your next role.

5. Gain the Latest LinkedIn Updates

Check your LinkedIn feed when you update your profile. Accept the relevant connection requests you received. Also, respond to the messages in your inbox. Additionally, read articles to find out what is new in your industry. These activities help you prepare for your next career opportunity.

6. Show Relevance in Your Industry

Activate Creator Mode to position yourself as a thought leader in your industry. You can publish content and share your area of expertise.

Creator Mode lets you identify the top five hashtags you want to be associated with. These hashtags sit below your headline to let viewers know more about you when they click on your profile.

7. Stand Out from Your Peers

Updating your LinkedIn profile increases your visibility and credibility with industry professionals, hiring managers, and recruiters. This helps increase your network and professional opportunities.

Include images and videos to provide greater insight into your brand. This helps others connect with you on a more personal level.

Are You Ready for Your Next Opportunity?

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


Building a Strong Personal Brand: How to Stand Out in a Competitive Job Market

Building a strong personal brand helps you stand out in a competitive job market. Differentiating yourself shows what you have to offer an employer that others do not.

Creating a strong personal brand positions you as a thought leader in your field. This shows other IT professionals, hiring managers, and recruiters the value you can provide to an organization.

Having a strong personal brand helps form a lasting impression on hiring managers and recruiters. As a result, they likely will contact you about the jobs you apply for or opportunities that fit your skills and experience. These activities can help secure your next position.

Learn how to build a strong personal brand and stand out in a competitive job market.

Create Your Foundation

Build an authentic foundation that shows who you truly are. Purposefully and strategically showcase the value you provide for others.

  • Ensure your brand reflects your values, beliefs, and passions. Include your interests, skills, and credentials.
  • Focus your brand vision on what you want to be known for. Develop it according to your purpose and what you want to accomplish.
  • Create a brand message that you want to communicate to your audience. Ensure it reflects your personal characteristics and traits.

Determine Your Target Audience

Consider the industry professionals you want your personal brand to appeal to. This should include IT professionals, hiring managers, HR professionals, company leaders, and recruiters.

Your personal brand is designed to attract people in your target audience. This means your brand resonates with these individuals and attracts them to you.

Develop an Irresistible Offer

Determine what you want to sell to your target audience. This may solve a certain problem or attain a certain result.

Focus on the value you provide others, such as employers, in exchange for something, such as a desirable job with competitive income, benefits, and perks and an attractive work environment.

Set Your Content Strategy

Create and share content that helps your target audience. This builds trust and positions you as an authority in the IT industry.

  • List topics that would be helpful to your target audience. You can use an online tool such as Google’s Keyword Planner to conduct keyword research and uncover popular topics.
  • Decide which type of content to create and where to publish it. Types of content include blog posts, videos, and infographics. Publication sites include LinkedIn, YouTube, and Quora.
  • Focus on quality and consistency when publishing your content. You might want to start by creating two content types, such as blog posts and videos, and publish them on two platforms, such as LinkedIn and YouTube, and add more later.

Is It Time to Find a New IT Job?

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


What Are Common Interview Styles?

Interview styles differ by the method of asking the questions. For instance, participation in a panel interview may involve being asked behavioral questions to learn more about your work experience.

Some interviewers might choose multiple interview styles. Different styles can gather the information needed to fill different needs.

You can practice answering questions in different interview styles to prepare for the one your potential employer uses. These tips can help.

Learn about the common interview styles and how you can prepare for them.

Open-Ended Interview Style

Open-ended interview questions typically are broad in scope. This means you speak significantly more than the interviewer.

One topic may be how your strengths can help you succeed in the position. Or, the interviewer might ask you to describe how your skills and experiences relate to the role and can benefit your performance.

Emphasize your hard and soft skills in your answers. Include specific examples of how you used these skills in previous roles. Demonstrate that you are well-equipped to carry out the job duties and responsibilities.

Situational Interview Style

Situational interview questions present real-life scenarios and ask how you would approach the situation or solve the problem. This helps the interviewer determine whether you would handle the issue in line with company culture.

Be sure to include specific examples of how you handled similar scenarios in previous positions. This demonstrates how you would handle related situations with your next employer.

Behavioral Interview Style

Behavioral interview questions focus on your thinking, behavior, and outcomes in previous professional, personal, and interpersonal situations. The results of your behavior show what likely would happen under similar circumstances while working at another company.

Behavioral questions may be broad, such as asking how you work while under pressure. Or, they might involve how you would handle a specific situation in the workplace.

Use the STAR method to answer behavioral questions. Explain the situation you encountered, the tasks you performed, the actions you took, and your results. Demonstrate effective communication, leadership, creativity, teamwork, flexibility, organization, and problem-solving in your answer.

Want Additional Interview Prep?

Partner with a recruiter from RightStone for interview coaching and other job search support. Visit our job board today.