How Do You Find a Job That Matches Your Skill Set?

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When it comes time to find a new job, you can’t just apply to anything that tickles your fancy; you need to find options that match your current skill set. But how do you manage a search with that in mind? By using the right methods.

Depending on where you are in your career and what you’re hoping to do in your next position, this process may be fairly intuitive. However, if you are looking to head off in a slightly different direction, you might not know exactly where to begin. To help you manage the process, here are some tips to help you locate a job that matches your skill set.

Evaluate Your Core Skills

The first step you need to take is to analyze what you have to offer. Often, the easiest way to do this is to list your core skills on paper. Include anything you feel confident in using on a daily basis, and don’t forget to record soft skills as well as hard skills during your evaluation.

This exercise is designed to help you understand what your current skill set includes. If you need help, review your latest job description or resume for guidance. If you’ve recently completed additional education or training, reference those details to fill out your list.

The length of the list isn’t particularly important. You just want to be honest about what you know, so you can match it to job openings.

Search Using Skill-Oriented Keywords

Now that you have a list of core competencies, you can begin searching using keywords selected from the included skills. Start with those you enjoy most and hope to use in your next job. As you begin sorting through the results, review the other skills the employers require and see if it is a match.

If a competency can go by multiple names or be referenced as an acronym, don’t be afraid to run the search using the variations. You also don’t have to limit your search to one skill. Focus on your top few preferred capabilities and see what shows up in the results.

By taking a skills-based approach instead of focusing on job titles, you may find more options than you would otherwise. In many cases, titles vary from one business to the next, so focusing on those designations may lead you to miss out on opportunities. Skill-oriented keywords are fairly universal, so you might find something interesting by concentrating on those details instead.

Work with a Recruiter

One of the simplest methods to see how your skills translate into new opportunities is to work with a skilled recruiter. Often, they have an idea of where a particular skill set can fit within organizations and may be able to connect you to opportunities you’d otherwise miss. Typically, they can help you assess your core competencies as well, helping you identify what you bring to the table.

Are you looking for a new IT job?

If you are interested in working with a talented recruiter during your search, the team at Resolution Technologies can help you find the right match for your skill set. Contact us today to see how working with a professional recruitment firm can help you reach your goals.

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How Deep is Your Talent Pool?

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With unemployment reaching new lows, many companies have been in reaction mode when it comes to filling positions. While this can get the job done, you quickly find yourself moving from one proverbial fire to the next, leaving you feeling as if you can’t get ahead. However, if you instead focus on creating a deep talent pool, you can get out of this perpetual cycle for something more favorable.

The depth of your talent pool is based on the number of job seekers or prospects that are actively interested in hearing about openings within your company. These individuals are typically eager to learn about opportunities, making them ideal for filling key positions quickly. But these pools of great talent don’t spring up out of nowhere; they have to be enticed and cultivated. To help you create a deep talent pool of potential candidates, here are some tips for managing the process.

Keep an Eye on Future Needs

One of the simplest ways to develop a strong talent pool is to anticipate your own needs. That way, you can begin reaching out for the right kind of skills before the need actually exists. This approach requires frequent talent assessments to determine any skill gaps and figure out if upcoming projects are well-staffed or need supplementation. Once you see a need on the horizon, it is time to actively recruit those professionals so that you have a strong selection when it comes time to hire.

Examine Prior Applicants

Job seekers who applied for a position previously may be interested in hearing about new opportunities. To keep these potential candidates interested, companies need to keep communication open and see if the relationship can be maintained. This can include providing feedback on their prior application or interview, helping them see what went right as well as what areas may need improvement. You can also get confirmation that they are interested in staying in the loop, making it easier to reach out directly if an opening comes along.

Reassess Current Candidates

Sometimes, a job seeker has a lot of potential, but they weren’t ideal for the position to which they applied. Taking a second look at current candidates who may be suitable in other jobs can give you access to great talent who are actively interested in finding a role with your organization. Whether they could be right for an opening that is coming up in the near future or an opportunity in a different department, consider reaching out to gauge their interest.

Connect with a Skilled Staffing Agency

If you want to add instant depth to your talent pool, one of the easiest methods is to work with a reputable staffing firm like Resolution Technologies. Often, they maintain contact with a wide range of active and passive job seekers, including professionals who may be ideal for your company’s current or future needs. If you are interested in learning more, contact us today.

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Have a Specific Job Available? Where Are All of the Candidates?

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It’s no secret that companies are struggling to find the tech pros they need to fill all of their vacant positions. Currently, the national unemployment rate among IT professionals reached 2.5 percent during the first quarter of 2017, showing exactly how few qualified individuals are actually seeking new employment opportunities.

The truth is there are talented people out there; they’re just working at other jobs. And those who are currently looking for new opportunities might not have the skills or experience you are looking for, leaving you short on qualified applicants.

However, it’s also possible the right candidates simply aren’t finding your job openings or that the information provided isn’t connecting in the right way. If your recruitment methods aren’t getting the information out to the right people, then the number of available candidates is irrelevant. To help you locate the right professionals for your job opening, here are some tips for managing the process in this highly competitive market.

Focus on High Priority Needs

If your job posting looks like a laundry list of requirements, then it’s possible candidates are screening themselves out of contention because they don’t possess every skill listed as a must-have. Instead of including everything you hope a person may have, scale the skills requirements down to only high priority competencies. This makes it easier to connect with job seekers who have those core skills and limits the chance of a person removing themselves from being a potential candidate because they think they aren’t qualified.

Keep your vacancy announcement concise by including only what you absolutely must find as this increases your chance of getting high-quality applicants that can fill skill gaps and perform key tasks. In most cases, talented candidates will bring additional skills with them, checking off many of the other boxes you would like to see anyway.

Use New Recruitment Tools

It wasn’t long ago when you could just post an opening on the company website and get all of the applicants you need. However, this approach isn’t as effective in an economy where IT professionals aren’t struggling to find opportunities. Even using large national job boards might not connect you with the right potential employees, as they aren’t as popular as they once were among job seekers.

Now, you need to cast a wider net if you want to reach top talent. This means using tools like social media to get the word out about openings, posting on industry specific job boards, and working with professional staffing firms to get access to the right job seekers.

Are you looking for IT talent?

The wider you cast your net, the more likely you’ll find the ideal candidate for your job. If you’re seeking top talent, the team at Resolution Technologies can help you connect with job seekers throughout the area. Contact us to discuss your specific job today and see how our services can work for you.

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3 Tips That Will Make You a Successful Remote Worker

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Many tech professionals see the opportunity to be a remote worker as a dream come true. You can eliminate costly and tedious commutes, working in a comfortable environment, and enjoy an additional level of flexibility most office-based employees don’t receive.

However, working remotely comes with different challenges, and it isn’t necessarily the right move for everyone. To help ensure you are successful in a remote position, here are three tips you can begin using today.

1) Discuss Expectations Early and Often

You can’t be successful if you don’t understand what your manager or the company is expecting of you. When you work remotely, there isn’t as much direct oversight regarding your job, making it easy for something to filter if you don’t understand exactly what you need to accomplish.

To begin, you need to make sure you and your manager are on the same page regarding your schedule. This can involve set hours or something more flexible, such as the completion of specific tasks or making a certain amount of progress on a daily or weekly basis. To meet these requirements, you may need to establish a check-in system or schedule times to provide updates regarding your work.

You also need to clarify if there are certain team-oriented activities, such as meetings or planning sessions, for which you must be virtually present. If so, determine how you will participate, such as if you need to attend over the phone or using video conferencing and make sure you keep the details in the calendar invite or somewhere else highly accessible.

2) Establish Methods for Communication

When you are a remote worker, it’s easy to feel disconnected from co-workers. Much of this can be alleviated if the right communication and collaboration tools are in place. Discuss all of the available solutions with your manager and determine which methods are best for which activities. You may also need to find out if your co-workers have certain preferences for communicating, so you know how to reach the people you need whenever the need arises.

You also need to make sure your written and phone-based communication skills are up to par. In most cases, you’ll spend most of your time speaking with managers and co-workers through email or using instant messaging systems. With that in mind, you need to be prepared to convey critical information concisely while maintaining a professional tone. You also need to ensure you’re able to speak clearly over the phone, especially if you are on speaker phone in a conference room. When you communicate in writing or through voice-only options, people don’t have visual cues to help them understand you, so you must take that into consideration.

3) Get Regular Face Time

It is easier to connect with people when you can see them, at least occasionally. Luckily, video conferencing technology is more robust than ever, so it is fairly easy to schedule time to see your manager and co-worker on a regular basis. Consider having key conversations using video chat or attend team meetings using the technology. That way, you can feel like a more cohesive part of the team, and everyone else will feel the same.

Are you looking for a new job?

If you are interested in learning more about working as a remote worker or would like to explore job opportunities in your area, Resolution Technologies can connect you with some of today’s leading employers. Contact us today to see how our services can help you be successful in your next position.

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Why Your Employees are Quitting (and How to Keep Your Best Talent)

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Some companies are surprised to hear that more Americans switch jobs around 12 times by the time they reach age 48. In fact, IT professionals only stay in a position for an average of 16.8 months. But what is it that actually causes an employee to stay or go? Here are a few of the reasons your staff may be heading out the door and what you can do about it.

Salary

Even though money isn’t everything, the opportunity to receive higher pay does encourage some workers to consider other employment options. This is especially true if they are being considered for new roles, as symbolic changes in job title alone aren’t sufficient for improving retention.

While raises don’t have to be awarded without justification, it is critical your company keeps salaries in line with what is being offered by the competition. Otherwise, your best talent may be lured away by promises of more money.

Culture

Employees today are putting more value on corporate culture. Having opportunities to learn and grow, the ability to stay engaged on the job, working for a mission they can get behind and ample recognition can all encourage workers to stay with their current business. Similarly, organizations that fall short in these areas may suffer from retention issues.

A company’s culture is often developed over time, and it can be hard to define. However, any business can improve with the proper effort. Begin by defining your core values and help workers see how their contributions help more than just the bottom line. Then, support professional development amongst your staff and make sure that appreciation for a job well done is part of the norm.

Stagnation

Just as it is important for your company’s culture to offer opportunities to develop professional, it is also vital to show a clear path for career progression. If a top employee feels like they have hit a dead end with your organization, they will look elsewhere to meet their goals.

Ideally, businesses should look for chances to promote from within, especially if the proper skill set is already represented in a member of your team. Additionally, help your staff understand what they need to do to be considered promotable and work with them to facilitate any skill building or experience-based opportunities that are required to help them move forward.

By supporting their career progression and defining what it takes to get ahead, your strongest workers will have a system to navigate to reach their career objectives. Not only will this help keep them engaged with your business, but it can also build your reputation as an ideal employer in the area, making future recruitment efforts easier.

Are you looking for top IT talent?

If you are looking for candidates to fill vacant positions, the professionals at Resolution Technologies can connect you with local job seekers with the right skills, education, and experience. Contact us to discuss your hiring needs today.

Corporate Training Strategies for Your IT Team

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Many corporate training programs are underwhelming at best. Often, the information is provided by outside organizations with little knowledge of the business, making it difficult for the programs to provide the value you need keep your IT team moving forward. At times, the material may be completely irrelevant, giving workers with knowledge they can’t apply, or redundant, covering information that the team already knows.

If you want to make the most of your corporate training programs for your IT team, then it is important to have a strong strategy in place. To help you make sure yours fits the bill, here are some tips for creating a corporate training strategy that provides value to your employees and your business.

Define the Goals

Training shouldn’t be offered unless it furthers an objective. This could be anything from familiarizing your team with new systems, helping them advance their skills, or improving overall operational efficiency. By understanding what you want the training to accomplish, you can help choose options that will make your goals a reality. Otherwise, you may be sending people out for classes that don’t provide any value, which is a waste of time and money.

It is also important to outline any priorities. For example, if a new system is being implemented and there isn’t an employee on staff with the right level of experience, then that training should be administered before less critical topics. Training that covers skill gaps and provides an immediate return on investment should take precedence in most cases as it will make your team more productive overall.

Consider the Methods

An employee or team can receive training through a range of mechanisms. Traditional classroom-based learning, online courses, or experiential options are all available and can be effective in their own right. However, not every method is ideal for every topic, timetable, or employee.

It is important to consider which approach best meets the needs of the organization and the worker. Classroom-based learning can convey a large amount of information, and may even include hands-on learning opportunities, but may require key employees to be out of the office during the duration.

Online courses let employees move at their own pace and can be worked around other priorities, but often offer less support should they need guidance. Experiential learning, such as mentorship cross training, may feel more organic and often contains the most crucial information, but the timetable can be vague and, when provided by another employee, actually takes two workers away from their core duties to complete.

No one mechanism is ideal for every situation, so it is important to consider the variables when creating training opportunities.

Are you looking to bring on top IT talent?

Creating a corporate training strategy requires planning. By reviewing the areas above, you can create a strong foundation for a program that can work for your business over the long-term. If you are looking for new staff members that can further your current goals or are looking for contractors to help provide training to your core staff, Resolution Technologies can assist you as you work towards your objectives. Contact us today to discuss your needs.

Fresh Out of College (or Just About)? How Do You Stand Out from the Crowd?

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The end of the school year is upon us, and that means a plethora of college grads are about to hit the job market. With so many people jumping in at the same time, and with similar credentials, it can be hard to figure out exactly what you need to do to stand out from the crowd. If you are a recent graduate looking to make a strong impression, here are some tips to help you rise to the top.

Use Your College’s Resources

Most major colleges and universities have career centers that provide services to soon-to-be and current college graduates. Often, they have dedicated staff members that can assist you with creating a resume and reviewing potential job opportunities based on your degree. They also have strong professional networks and are familiar with companies in the area that are willing to give freshly minted graduates a try.

Whether they can connect you to your ideal post-college job or not, they do have expertise that is worth having on your side.

Build the Right Profiles

While most college graduates have experience creating profiles on social media, you need to take a different approach if you intend to use these services to find employment opportunities. First, if you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, now is the time to build one. Make sure your photo is professional and that all of the sections are properly filled out. Create a summary statement that references the kind of position you are hoping to land and make sure all of the other content is based on your professional life and goals, and not your personal ones.

Then, start building your network. You can connect with other graduates as well as professionals you meet that can help you start a career. Finally, make sure to stay active on the site and use it as a resource for job hunting and career advice.

Start Networking

It is never too early to start networking. If you have an opportunity to attend job fairs, relevant conferences, meet and greets, or volunteer in the field, then take advantage of these chances to meet other professionals. Connections you make today may help you find your ideal position, or they may simply help you learn important information about your chosen career path. Either way, you have a lot to gain if you start networking now instead of later.

Work with a Recruiter

Sometimes the easiest way to stand out is to work with a professional recruiter. They can help you explore open positions, build a strong resume and LinkedIn profile, and connect with employers who are looking for candidates just like you.

Are you a new grad and looking for an IT job?

Staffing firms often have deep connections in the local area, so their network can be a significant advantage when you are looking for a job. If you are interested in getting assistance from a skilled recruiter, the professionals at Resolution Technologies can help you on your journey. Contact us today and see how our services can help you stand out from the crowd.

3 Ways to Continue Your Education While You Have a Full-Time Job

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The idea of juggling higher education with a full-time job is intimidating. Often, it can feel as though there is barely enough time for the life you have today, let alone if you decide to add schooling to your schedule. But there are ways to pursue your dreams of more education while keeping your current paycheck. To help you weigh your options, here is an overview of three ways you can continue your education while working 40+ hours a week.

1) Night and Weekend Classes

Many brick and mortar colleges and universities offer certain programs that can be finished using only night or weekend classes. Often, this is an ideal solution for people who need to work full-time but are interested in a degree that is best served by being in an actual classroom (or who simply prefer this approach).

In some cases, you can actually finish a degree in the same length of time as those taking courses during the day. In others, you may find a part-time school schedule is more conducive to your needs. Either approach will help you earn your degree, so choose the time commitment that works best for you.

2) Online Programs

Thanks to the rising demand, getting a degree online has never been easier. A range of schools, including some of the most reputable institutions in the nation, offer degree plans that can be finished entirely from the comfort of your own home. And, in most cases, you can complete your assignments at any time of day and on any day of the week as long as you meet the deadlines.

For students who are relatively self-motivated, don’t need a lot of direct instruction, and require some flexibility, an online degree program can be ideal. You can also choose from full-time and part-time class schedules, just as you would if you attended classes in person.

3) Certifications

Sometimes, you don’t need a full college degree to keep your career moving forward. There is a range of IT-related certifications that can elevate your resume and assert you have the right skills for your target position.

In some cases, certifications function as proof of knowledge you already have, meaning all you need to do is study and take the test. Others accompany specific classes or programs, but they usually require fewer courses to complete than a formal degree.

In either case, you can formalize your knowledge without having to commit to a multi-year degree plan, which can be ideal for full-time employees looking to advance in their current field and not necessarily start a new one.

Are you looking for a new job?

By using one of the methods above, it is possible to continue your education will maintaining a full-time job. If you are interested in learning how additional education can change your career options or are looking for a new position, the team at Resolution Technologies has the industry expertise to guide you forward. Contact us today to see how education and employment can work together for a brighter future.

 

What to Expect in an IT Interview

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While many job interviews involve variations of the same questions, IT interviews often include specific technical questions to help assess your skills and capabilities. Hiring managers typically need more details to make sure you possess the experience they need to complete their teams, ensuring you can properly handle the duties of the position.

Even though it can seem like preparing for these questions is difficult, there are ways to anticipate what may lie ahead.

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To help you get ready for your next IT interview, here are some tips for managing the process.

Review the Job Posting

The job posting is your biggest source of information as it outlines the key skills and abilities the ideal candidate must possess. Specific programming languages, systems, software or other knowledge areas listed in the announcement will likely be covered by the hiring manager’s questions, so be prepared to speak about each of them.

To show you are a strong candidate, relate each skill to a specific example from your prior duties or educational experiences. That way, you can provide details beyond just confirming you are not only familiar with the skill, but you know how to use it in a practical way.

Pay Attention to the Interview Type

When most job seekers think of interviews, they imagine sitting across from the hiring manager and answering questions. However, many IT recruitments include a technical interview as well as a traditional variant, and they aren’t managed the same way.

A traditional interview typically matches the image candidates have in their head. Technical interviews can be somewhat different, as they involve more demonstrations and less talk. For example, you may be asked to write some code on a whiteboard during a technical interview to show how you would solve a particular problem.

If you are coming in for a technical interview, it is important to review any fundamental skills related to the position that may be demonstrable. Be prepared to write out responses by hand and give explanations regarding why you took a particular approach.

While you might not know the exact question until it is asked, understanding the format is somewhat different during a technical interview can make it less of a shock when you are asked to write out a response.

Get Up to Speed on Recent IT Developments

Few fields change as quickly as IT, and many hiring managers want employees who stay up to date on new developments on their own. This not only shows you have an interest in the work outside of a formal job setting, but you understand how a role can change over time as new technologies emerge.

Before going into your interview, look up recent announcements and new products that relate to the job specifically. That way, when the interviewer asks if you have an interest in anything upcoming, you have specific examples to provide.

Are you looking for your next IT job interview?

If you are looking for more tips regarding IT interviews or are seeking new opportunities in your field, Resolution Technologies can help. Contact us to discuss your employment needs today.

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What IT Soft Skills to Look For in a Candidate

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Finding the best candidate for your tech position involves more than just the programming languages they know, the systems they have encountered and the software with which they are familiar. It includes their ability to use various soft skills in the workplace to promote team-oriented objectives and manage their duties. But identifying the soft skills to prioritize isn’t always obvious.

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Here are some of the most useful IT soft skills to pursue.

Adaptability

Few fields change and evolve like IT. Emerging technologies shake up the workplace on a regular basis, and best practices evolve as new products and services hit the market.

This means you need to select tech candidates who can roll with the changes instead of fighting against them, and that requires adaptability. Often, IT professionals who possess the right amount of agility to meet these changing needs are open to learning and thrive on new challenges.

Generally, you can gather pertinent information regarding their experiences doing just that during the interview by focusing on questions that ask for examples during the answer, such as, “Can you give me an example of a time you had to learn a new skill to manage your job duties?”

Collaboration

Being able to work as part of a team is a common requirement for IT employees. This requires a combination of communication and teamwork skills designed to help the group move forward towards a common goal.

If a candidate doesn’t have experience working with individuals from multiple teams to complete projects, their skills may be less developed than other professionals. Look for applicants who can provide examples of projects where several specialties had to work together to reach a successful outcome, and you may have a candidate with the collaboration skills you need.

Reliability

A tech pros skills are irrelevant if they can’t be counted on to complete their work in a timely manner and be present when they are needed. Employees need to manage their time in a way that allows them to meet their commitments, including everything from arriving to work on time to providing their deliverables by agreed upon due dates.

One of the easiest methods to gather this information is through thorough reference checks. You can also ask questions regarding attendance and timeliness, times when the candidate had to struggle to meet a deadline or instances where they feel behind and how they recovered.

Enthusiasm

Employees who are excited about what they do will typically outperform those who are less interested in the work. Additionally, they may be more open to learning new skills to meet challenges and have increased interest in exploring new possibilities and technologies within their field.

Passionate workers often have a strong drive to succeed and persevere, making them valuable assets during challenging times.

Find Top IT talent with Resolution today!

If you would like to know more about soft skills or are looking for a great IT candidate to fill a vacancy, the recruitment professionals at Resolution Technologies can help you get what you need. Contact us to discuss your IT needs today.

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