As one enters the professional job market for the first time, there are two things to keep in mind. The first is that although you have the same basic background as other recent grads, there are always differences that can be highlighted on a resume or even more importantly in an interview.
Lifelong interests can elevate an interviewer’s opinion in an evaluation. Software developers who start by developing games long before they’re out of High School can have a significant advantage over other recent grads. There are other careers where early interests and activities can play a significant role in differentiating yourself from your competition.
Secondly, simply and in my opinion the most important differentiator is attitude. As a hiring manager I have had the pleasure to work with a number of recent grads finding their niche in business and I can tell you that the single most important criteria for my decision has always been their attitude. I can teach technique, I can encourage hard work but I can’t force someone to want to be there.
I can always tell the difference between those who do a job because it pays well or it’s what they could get and someone who wants to be there and believes in what they do. I can also see those basic traits and interests in recent grads during their interviews (especially from the ones who point it out to me) and it makes all the difference in the world.
Chuck Bowman, Business Development Consultant
Mature candidates are in a challenging position. They are many times faced with being informed “You are overqualified and have too much experience”. I attended a panel discussion of several CIOs who responded to this same worry from an older worker’s question about finding a job. All of the CIO’s agreed that you should never “dumb down” your resume to get a job. In the end, you will be found out and lose your credibility. Also, many employers embrace the broad experience, reliability and wisdom they bring to the team which is an advantage for seasoned candidates.
Realizing that times are tough, the older job seeker is more willing to accept a lower salary because they aren’t interested in climbing the corporate ladder but want more interesting work Many are gaining an edge over a younger candidate by foregoing benefits if a retirement health plan is already in place by a previous employer.
Keeping abreast of new technology by taking courses at a local college or community center is key. By being a “lifelong learner” and focusing on what you can offer the business, the mature candidate can communicate about the company’s needs and similar past projects that have been successful.
Many older candidates are adapting to the job market by considering a career change. By discovering their passions and primary interests, they are finding more rewarding careers. What do you naturally enjoy doing? Can you translate your interests into a career?
Probably the most important aspect of adapting to today’s market is attitude by keeping a positive outlook and knowing that age has power.
Joyce -Business Development Manager-
Resumes paint the picture of the tasks you personally have achieved in your career. The length will depend on your experience level. Someone with less than 10 years of experience should try and keep it to one page while a seasoned person might need two. There are always exceptions especially if you are having numerous contracts within the ten years. I personally believe that any experience beyond ten years is most likely dated especially in the Information Technology world. My rule of thumb is to only put experiences beyond the ten years on the resume if it pertains to the position you are applying for to show the potential employer you have that experience.
Resumes are developed to give the potential employer the key highlights of your expertise not to write a book. Paint the picture of your career in a clear, concise and detailed format. Use the interview to elaborate and sell yourself more.
Joan
APC employees, friends and families participated in the 2009 Thad and Alice Eure Walk for Hope on Sunday October 22nd in Raleigh, North Carolina. The event hosted 3,000 walkers, runners, volunteers and sponsors and raised about $400,000. More than 20 contributors from APC were involved by donating their time, money, or participation in the walk /run. This is APC’s 5th year attending the event.
The Walk for Hope is hosted by The Foundation of Hope for Research and Treatment of Mental Illness which was founded by Thad Eure, Jr. and his wife Alice in 1984. The Foundation of hope has raised over $2 million and leveraged $89 million in grants for research conducted in North Carolina to treat mental illness. To learn more about this foundation, please visit their website at: http://walkforhope.com/
Alliance of Professionals and Consultants Inc, is a preferred professional services and staffing company providing highly skilled technical and managerial support for Information Technology, Engineering and Business Services. APC engages consulting professionals in 34 states, Canada, Europe and Asia. APC was founded and incorporated in North Carolina in 1993. APC is headquartered in Raleigh.
Visit our website at http://www.apc-services.com.
I gave my personal life away at the beginning of my career. I thought if I worked harder than anyone else, I would go farther. Wrong. There are so many variables in a career (your actual worth is a small part lol) that working harder has little to no guarantee for rewards.
Way back in the tech dark ages I had a phone and fax. Now there are way too many ways to give away personal time. But no one can blame anyone but themselves for how they spend time. Thankfully I have learned to balance my life better, grown kids and good health also helps.
I love all the technology! I know if there is an emergency, or someone thinks there is an emergency I can deal with it realtime via cell, text, twitter etc. I love that, it has unchained me from an office to be with customers! If a small voice in the back of my head wonders if the response due today was “really” sent I know I can find out. I am a control freak so any technology that gives me more avenues for control, I love it. Good news for me, I am wise enough now to know I control my personal time. Repeat after me “It is mine to give away…no one else”.
Cheval -Government Business Development Manager-
Trust no one! No, that’s an exaggeration. What I meant to say is that very few people within any given company have a full view as to what may or may not be beneficial for every single part of the organization. You may apply that to whomever picks up the phone, to middle management, and occasionally even executives. Keep in mind I’m not talking about every large company here, but there are quite a few that fit the bill. Seldom does the sales person know the burden they may put on accounting, nor does the software developer know how much more difficult they may have just made day-to-day warehouse processing by changing the order entry system.
As a manager or an executive you need to reach deeper into your process if you really want to save you co-workers and administrative staff time and money. I don’t mean just one meeting, I mean continuing education on how they can best meet the needs of your department in a timely and cost effective manner.
You’re wondering: “Jason, you handsome businessman, how do you have such in-depth knowledge about the wrongdoing I commit almost daily?” When we start talking about IT consulting, seldom does purchasing understand exactly what IT is looking for, nor does HR understand the many of the complexities of Java development. They shouldn’t be faulted for this, of course, it’s not their area of expertise.
This applies to you if you’re the Director of Engineering, Development, Support, Peanut Butter Texture. It is your responsibility to either train your purchasing staff to understand the technical nature of that specific job, the difference between C# and VB.net, the reason why Linux experience may be interchangeable with Unix experience, or (here comes the pitch), you can line yourself up with a vendor that knows the difference. If you are losing profitability, or your hiring cycle takes too long, or you find yourself stuck with a freeze the moment you find that perfect candidate (after a 3 month search), it is your fault.
There, I said it. Line yourself up correctly with the non-technical side of your operation, and find some vendors that understand your business, ones that aren’t just trying to “close the deal” with you. By the way, here’s my email address: raleighbdm@apc-services.com.
Jason -Business Development Manager-
