Are You Starting A New Career in IT? Here Is What You Need To DoSo, you've decided to embark on a new IT career path. Do you know what IT role is best for you? The competition for information technology employment remains fierce, with new technologies being invented almost every day. However, there are a few things you should do to get a move or two ahead of the competition of people waiting to interview for these positions.What interests you?Before getting a new job, think about what interests you and whether or not that purpose will be satisfied in the new job. Examine your passions and see if they are compatible with a career in IT. If computer gaming is your passion, you may be interested in a career in game testing, game programming, video game design, or game development engineering.Isn’t it a good fit for you?Finding a right fit requires more than just matching your desires to the job description. A new career is a life-changing event, so it's important to evaluate it wisely. Find out what your new IT position requires and whether your experience, skills, and interests are a good match. Learn as much as you can about IT employment options, wage expectations, and the needed skills.Do your research to uncover the company’s gapsMost companies today are in the midst of a "transformational phase", due to changing customer habits, new competitors, new business models and basically the digitization of everything. As a result, the people they need to recruit are shifting as well. So do your research and figure out what new technological skills they'll need to succeed in their transition.Network with the right peopleLinkedIn is a useful tool for getting to know important contacts better without the strain of a face-to-face meeting for which you might be unprepared. Connect with IT professionals and request knowledge that will help you in your job search, such as their experience as an IT Technician or in a related role, training courses, and certifications that you might need to gain the additional skills & knowledge. Remember, your key networking aim should be to develop a relationship and establish rapport so when a future opportunity arises, your connection will be willing to refer you.Earn tech-related certificationsCertification for IT professionals is voluntary and there are variety of optional qualifications that can improve their employability and broaden their knowledge base such as such as Network+, Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA),Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT) and CompTIA A+ can help you secure great jobs ranging from entry level positions to jobs and possibly increase your earning potential.Build your resumeCreate a resume that highlights your professional skills. Any roles where you were in charge of configuring and helping others with technological issues should be highlighted. Click here for the Tech Resume Writing Guide.Many individuals desire to take this step but they often overlook the required preparation and execution that will help them achieve their goals. In Experis, we evaluate hundreds of thousands of applicants every year, and along the way we’ve learned a thing or two about what differentiates a candidate and makes us want to talk to them.And, we would be more than happy to hear from you too. Fill in the form below for us to reach out to you.
Job Advice
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Are You Starting A New Career in IT? Here Is What You Need To Do
12 May 2021 -
The Tech Resume Writing Guide (Experis Perspective: The global leader in accelerating careers in the ICT industry )
8 December 2020 The Tech Resume Writing Guide (Experis Perspective: The global leader in accelerating careers in the ICT industry)IT professions can be very competitive to secure and each opportunity will probably receive a wide range of applications so, standing out is important in this field. All you need is a TECHNICAL RESUME when seeking employment in IT, computer science, coding, software engineering, web development or design, DevOps or network or system administration.Each role will have their own unique requirements, so personalizing your tech resume depending on those needs can help you stand out.Now, the question is, how to best write a technical resume to secure a job in the IT ground?Keep it straight forwardMany people believe that a good CV is all about squeezing dozens of details with heaps of pages, making it as competitive as possible. In actual fact, it’s best to keep it clear, precise, and straightforward. Say exactly what YOU CAN DO. The best CVs are the ones that you can stare at in 5 seconds to see what someone is really about instantly.A good CV should provide contextDemonstrate your significant role, what& how you built projects; whether you were part of a global team or working alone.Be specific about what you have exactly done, what systems you have worked on, what technologies you have used in order for them to see your mix of skills and experience.Outline your most impressive achievements instead of tasks and responsibilities in the work experience section. Examples include:Led the development of a new user interface that increased customer satisfaction by 25%.Mentored a team of 10web developers.Developed and implemented a feedback system for customers to report bugs and concerns.Re-engineered account software systems for customers that reduced bugs by20%.Collaborated on the development of new software interfaces for banks.How to best show case your technical skills?Your resume should also include your relevant technical skills to the job you’re applying. These skills may include computer programs, databases, coding tools and platforms which you have been used in the previous/current working place. Stay relevant by:Deleting obsolete skill sets that are not relevant to the job you are applying.Separating technical skills into familiar categories such as operating systems, networks and programming tools.Listing skills in the order of their relevance to your objective.Recruiters also like to see how much technical experience you have, so either add how many years of experience you have with each technology or list your level of competence.Programming: C# (2 years), Java (5 years), Python (6 years)Operating systems: Ubuntu (1 year), OSX (5 years), Linux (7 years)Testing: Mercury Quality Centre (1 year), Test Director (1 year)OrExpert: TFS, HTML, JDBC, C/C++, Hudson, CSS, SOAP, J2EE, EclipseIntermediate: C#, ASP.NET, SQL, Visual Studio, Java, Ruby on Rails, VB.NET, HibernateLearning: Jenkins, Python, REST, springSample Software Engineer Resume Writing FormatPersonal & contact informationNow, this section doesn’t need any creativity, but it must be factually correct because in the end you want an impressed recruiter to be able to contact you for an interview.Full nameCurrent title: Software Engineer (align to the job description) Contact number: +6017*******Email address: [email protected](use a professional email)Link to your LinkedIn profileSummaryThe best way recruiters simply glance over your resume looking for the most important information is via a resume summary, which are snappy paragraphs that go on top of your resume. "Experienced software engineer with a strong background in developing award-winning strategies for a diverse clientele. 12+ years of industry experience includes leading large engineering teams to achieve concrete goals on a strict deadline. Strong skills include Database management and MySQL, .NET and Java".ExperienceIt's meant to present you as a wholesome candidate by showcasing your relevant accomplishments and that you can do the job well.Here’s how we recommend you structure your work experience section:Position nameCompany NameDatesResponsibilities & AchievementsE.g.:Software EngineerElectronicsX03/2017 - 07/2020Built an ecommerce site integrated with multiple payment APIs for a45% in company revenueCompleted eight major projects, working closely with agile development team to develop, test and maintain Web- and desktop-based software applicationsGoal-surpassing 9.2 NPS (customer satisfaction) scores, up from 8.5 last fiscal yearConsistently achieved 100% compliance with industry best practicesReduced security breaches by75%EducationInclude your highest degree and feel free to list a key (relevant) certification too. Here's how to format your educational achievements:Program Name: Bachelor's Degree in Science/Information Technology University Name: APIIT/UCTI – Asia Pacific University| Aug2012–Aug 2014Years Attended: 08/2008 - 06/2012Major: Software EngineeringGPA (OPTIONAL): 3.75 CertificationsOracle Certified Professional (OCP): Java ME Mobile Application DeveloperOracle Certified Professional (OCP): Java SE ProgrammerTechnical SkillsPut all relevant skills on your resume. Here are the most commonly used skills for a software engineer resume:PHPDebuggingWeb DevelopmentGlobal Project ManagementMobile & Cloud SolutionsSaaS & IaaS Technologies (e.g., AWS, OpenStack)Solutions Engineering, Testing & OptimizationWhen listing your technical proficiencies, remember always to be honest about your level of ability. E.g.:Expert: Multithreading MS Windows Server, MS SQL Server, IIS, TFS, SSIS, OLAPIntermediate: Java, .NET, C#, C++, T-SQL, ASP.NET, MVC, WCF, REST, AJAX, TCP/IPLink to LinkedInLinkedIn is the perfect add-on to your tech CV. Your LinkedIn profile is your chance to put your best self out there whether you use it to demonstrate your career choices in context, highlight your biggest achievements, or show off your personality. It strengthens your first impression in a way no other profile section can.Ask for HelpDon’t be afraid to ask the professionals to proofread it for grammatical errors, jargon, and repetition. IT companies look for smart, professional people who can develop high-quality technical solutions, and you don’t want a typo to distract from your skills.And, we would be more than happy to offer some advice & guidance on your technical CV, so fill in the form below for us to reach out to you.Posted by:Yogakumari Sankar- Prospect & Content Development Executive
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Cyber Safe at Home
2 September 2020 Cyber Safe at Home Malaysia will continue imposing the recovery phase of "Movement Control Order" measures to contain the COVID-19 till Dec. 31 that means MORE people are getting online now – be it for business, education, entertainment, socialising or working from home due to the pandemic. As remote working brings new opportunities, it also brings new challenges. Nevertheless, the higher usage of technology also means bigger risks of running into cyber threats. COVID-19 has changed the landscape and remains the top-of-mind concern for individuals, organizations, and governments around the world. Here are some tips to stay safe from cyber-attacks when at home. Switch off Alexa, Apple HomePod, Google Home or anywhere you are working. Be careful when discussing confidential information if you use a smart home device - they may be listening and recording conversations. Keep devices off while working and update device privacy settings to allow you to delete conversations easily. Master the tech you use - not muting yourself is the new hitting reply all. If video conferencing is new to you, give it a test with a colleague before going live with others. As example, collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Slack or Skype users, there are many bite-sized trainings available on YouTube page to get you on the fast track to becoming an expert. Poor connection while video conferencing? Turn the cameras off. Video conferencing is a great tool but can overload the network easily so consider having the camera feature on at the start of a meeting, and then switching to audio only to preserve bandwidth and improve the quality of your connection. Get creative with meeting start times. Avoid scheduling all your meetings on the hour to preserve bandwidth – consider moving your team check in to start at 9:05 instead of 9:00. Beware of any external tools that not recommended by your employer as they pose serious privacy and security risks. Always leverage on your company tools. Choose a trusted application for audio/video calling and file sharing that ensures end-to-end encryption. Some company have access to a suite of collaborative, cloud-enabled Office 365 tools that make it easy for their employee to stay in touch with colleagues, clients, candidates and other partners: both Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Skype for Business provide safe and secure solutions for web conferencing. Lastly, be alert to links and attachments, especially from unknown senders. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all accounts. Now, most online services provide a way to use your mobile device or other methods to protect your accounts in this way. You can also ask IT Manager on how to recognize phishing attempts and report suspected encounters, including watching out for spelling and bad grammar, and suspicious links and attachments from people you do not know. 2 Sept 2020Posted by:Nadhirah Afiqah - Marketing Assistant
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How to Use Social Channels in Your Job Search
3 January 2020 With so much time we spend on social media and our increased usage of this platform for news and other information, it's not surprising that many of us rely on social media ads as a key new way to find jobs. Job hunting through social media can take place on any platform but LinkedIn may be the first social network most people think of when it comes to a career change. However, Facebook has come up with a job board feature, where companies can post jobs directly to their company page or a specific job pages. Job seekers can apply to the jobs immediately through Facebook. So it means that branding can take place on any platform, from Facebook, to Instagram, to Twitter and many more.For job seekers, here are tips to maximize positive exposure through strategically using social media channels.Complete A Social Media AuditFirst, are your social media profiles public or private? You should scan of your social media footprint and take note of all the places where you show up. Do you post content that shows your talents or interests? These are questions you should have in mind when you start digging through your online presence. Consider what your social media profiles say about you to someone who has never met you and if you are satisfied with the picture it portrays.Optimize Your ProfilesNext, take action. You may want to make certain profiles private, create secondary accounts or start purposefully sharing content that matches the job you are seeking. As an example, for Facebook and LinkedIn, you’ll have to fix all incorrect information about yourself before applying, as your application pulls information from your profile.Remember to use keywords in your profiles that might be used by recruiters who are searching for suitable candidates for their openings.For example, if you are a developer, mention the names of languages you are familiar with. Share links to projects or portfolios that you may have online. Reach Out To Others – When RelevantWhat’s the etiquette for social media messages regarding a job search? It’s no different than using any other channel. A personal message to someone who can help make a connection or introduction can be of great value– as long as it’s relevant and doesn’t come across as spam. Do your research prior to firing off a direct message to show that you’re interested in talking to this person specifically, rather than spamming your network.Grow Professionally Using Social MediaWhether a job search is active or passive, social media can always be leveraged to grow, learn and make ongoing connections. For example, YouTube is a trove of tutorial videos that can teach coding skills, networking tips and countless other important career skills. There is always time to watch cat videos but remember to leverage on the unprecedented opportunity that the internet has brought to the world. Instead of wasting time on social media, use it for your professional advantage.Social media is just one tool in a job search. Don’t only post or tweet at the expense of networking, polishing your resume and developing your career. Combining traditional career advancement with social media can accelerate your job growth.
