Avoid these mistakes on your next developer job search
Learn from the pros they will steer you right!
I would have gotten that job if it wasn’t for the recruiter.
Have you thought that before? Early in my career, I had a strong dislike for recruiters.
Then I started to get to know them. Understand what they do. How they can help me.
I have quite a few recruiters that I know. They have counseled me on how to work better with them. Here are some tips they shared.
Know there role
Firstly, we need to know the role they play. The recruiter is working with the company to fill a role.
They will help you tweak your resume. Also, they can prepare you for the interview.
Please don’t belittle them. They can help you more than you think. If you treat the rudely don’t expect any favors.
Know the market
Figures you find for salaries online can be off. For instance, if you are in a smaller market don’t expect the same pay.
The recruiters will know the market they work in. Also, they know what the companies they work with pay.
Career Progression
Your career progression is your job. Your focus should be on the role and work. The recruiter can assist you in finding the right opportunity.
It is important to play the long game. Don’t focus on more pay. That usually leads to the wrong opportunity.
Where do you want to be in five or ten years? Perhaps you want to be a software architect. Or maybe a technical manager.
The answers to this question can filter the opportunities. Share this with the recruiter.
Resume
Make sure your resume is up to date. They don’t age well if you leave them alone.
Adam Viet shared this, “Not spending enough time on their resume. Just listing technologies isn’t enough, especially in today’s era.”
Too many developers just pack technologies in their resumes. Many of them they have never used. Don’t do that!
LinkedIn
Developers have a love-hate relationship with Linkedin. On the one hand, it helps them find work. On the other, it attracts a lot of recruiters.
Some developers will abandon their profiles. I call this the Ghost Town approach.
Adam reminds us to, “Make sure your resume and LinkedIn match.” He has seen a lot of differences. This can be a red flag to recruiters and employers.
Optimize your keywords
Have you seen the resume with every technology known? You know the type that makes you think there is no one who knows all of this.
Ed Han shared, “Make sure to optimize your keywords.” He jokingly said, “Don’t forget to remove Visual Basic 6 and Windows 98 too.”
Ed said he has seen too many resumes packed with old technology. It doesn’t help and gets your resume tossed.
GitHub
Developers write code. A great way to show it is through GitHub. Ed stated, “Always have an interesting GitHub account.”
Adam Viet concurs, “Have a project in GitHub you can talk about.” This gives you some proof of coding.
Experience Developers
In Tech Survival 101, Greg Jensen shared the idea of a career narrative. Essentially, your career story is like a movie arc. Paint a picture of where you are going.
Greg has led developers at multiple stops. He looks for people who see their career as a story. Not just a trip with multiple stops.
What is your career narrative? This can help you make an impression in an interview or when you meet someone new.
Entry level
Ed Han shared this wonderful question for entry-level developers. “Tell me your Hello World moment.”
Wow! As an old developer that takes me back. I remember doing my first HelloWorld program with C, C++, and Java.
This question gives you an opportunity to share your journey too. Where did you take it from there?
For instance, I remember learning C/C++ at Iowa State University. I picked up one of those Teach Yourself C in 21 Days books. That helped me get ahead of the class.
It all starts with understanding the role of the recruiter. They don’t do magic. You must collaborate with them.
Have your resources ready. Keep your resume and LinkedIn updated. Make sure they are synched up.
Know where you want to go in your career. Cooperate with the recruiter to find the best fit.
Once you do get interviews, be prepared to answer the questions. Have an intriguing GitHub.
Knowing a great technical recruiter is a must in today’s competitive market.