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Are you a software engineer, or are you on your way to earning a degree? Then you may likely be thinking about how to find a job if you don't have one. Most of the time, the challenge isn't getting any job. Software engineering is one of the hottest skills in the 21st-century labor market, so your expertise is in high demand.
Even more, the software engineering role covers a wide range of expertise, so there's virtually a role for a software engineer in almost every organization where technology is being used to make money. However, when it comes to landing the right IT job among the numerous jobs out there, now that may not be a walk in the park.
Without further ado, allow us to run you through these eight tips to help you find software engineering jobs that are right for you.
Software engineering is vast. It would take you some time and resources to be competent in the multiple areas of infotech technology. To be honest, it's almost impossible to find someone who knows all branch of software engineering and its application. That's because before you gain competence in one field or programming language, another technology is hitting the market.
Therefore, you need to know yourself when you are on the hunt for the perfect job. List the capabilities you possess, i.e., both technical and non-technical skills that will be a valuable addition to an employer's business. This is not a resumé; it's what you need to prepare your resume or attend an interview. Be honest. Avoid overblowing your trumpet while your actual level of competence isn't anywhere near what you claim.
Every job can't possibly be for you, so It's okay to be specific that you have basic knowledge in an area. Your experience may still find application with an employer's project. After all, one can improve in a weakness area, especially if you apply to a company that's open to developing its software engineers on the job.
Furthermore, know how to present your strength. For example, the java programming language is a common skill for many software engineers. However, it's one thing to have been programming Java for years; it's another ball game to know how to optimize Nhibernate. Therefore being able to present your strengths is crucial.
This point looks at what kind of job you desire and how far you can go to get it. Here, you may want to answer the following questions.
Think of your resume as a PowerPoint presentation or a sale pitch; only this time, you may not be there to explain what's on the document. Whether a potential employee is requesting a hard copy resume or you are using a digital copy to make an online application, make sure it's not clumsy but easy to locate the essential things like your skills.
You might want to avoid a common mistake. Okay, so a job advert requests for competence in Java, which is your area of expertise. That doesn't mean you should dump your old resumé on the online application. Try to tailor your resume and cover letter to fit each position you are applying for. Every job advert may seem similar because they require a software engineer, which is what you are. But believe it or not, every job position is unique.
Take what you have listed in the first point above to design your resume in line with the job. Reword, add information but forget to avoid overstating your capabilities.
Software developers are problem solvers, so you want to let the hiring manager know the challenges or problems you have solved in the past, the initiative you put in place to solve the problem, and possibly, how it translated to productivity. Also, if you can quantify your achievement, go ahead and do so.
You may have heard an eye-catchy designed resumé can be helpful. That's because there are tons of resumé disease, and the HR person or hiring manager may not have time to see them all. However, if your resumé is attractive, it could catch the attention of the reader. If the application requires a cover letter, customize your letter to fit the application and add a statement that shows you are best for the role.
While you may check job sites for tech available vacancies, you'll do well to spread your net to websites like LinkedIn, where hiring managers and staff of software development companies have their profiles. This way, you can get direct referrals if your profile catches their attention.
Remember, some jobs don't reach glassdoor, LinkedIn, or indeed at all. Some employers simply tell their in-house developers to recommend competent engineers. Therefore, it now comes down to a game of who do you have on your network. Try and keep a good network of professionals in the industry you are aspiring to get a job. Furthermore, some jobs are not listed on public job sites. You'll only find them in the company's vacancy section. Therefore, you'll do well to visit a specific company's website.
If you are not getting what you want from the companies you desire, don't sit around waiting for them to roll out their vacancy. Some of these companies may have an existing pool of resumé where they check for talents whenever they are ready to hire. So it won't be a bad idea if you want to bypass a bureaucratic HR. You can visit a tech company's website to check for the names of the CEO, head of software development, or research.
Check them out on linked in and forward your resumé to them. This move may work out with smaller IT firms than the established ones. Don't forget to send follow-up emails when you don't hear feedback. Sometimes, they are not ignoring you; your mail might have been lost in a sea of other emails.
We are no doubt in the age of advanced tech, where a person’s profile is one click away on social media platforms. You can quickly learn about someone by visiting their profile behind them. So, recruiters are taking advantage of this readily-available information.
Many of them now look beyond your technical skills interpersonal skills to your ability to maintain professionalism. You may have presented all the good things about yourself on your resume, your social media life can also give other details about you that can make or mar your application.
You might think you are catching fun or only dropping a harmless rant online. Make no mistake; many companies may class your post under unprofessionalism, which could impair your chances of getting a job. So, clean up your cyberspace.
Professional gaps can also a turnoff for many employers. While it may not totally be your fault that you have one or two years gap in your job history, it might be your fault you've not acquired any more knowledge within the last three years.
You'll do well to take online courses relevant to your skill. There are many free and not-so-expensive courses in coding languages online. You can list them in your resume, and they can go a long way in standing you out from the remaining applicants.
Well, unless you are among the luckiest people in the world, rejection has become a regular part of job-hunting for most people. If you applied for a dream job with high expectations, but you don't seem to get any response, it's not a bad idea to send a follow-up email. You can say, "I just wanted to make sure my application got to you."
Furthermore, you can attach another copy of your resumé and let them know you are still open for any available position that suits your profile and experience. If you get a negative response, there's no need to worry. Like I mentioned earlier, a software engineer is one of the hottest skills around, just keep applying till you get the right job.
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