Whether you are completely new to Python or just looking to improve your capabilities, here are a few Python projects for you to try in the coming weeks.
Python’s growing momentum is undeniable. Favoured by data scientists and those involved in AI and machine learning, the programming language has risen to the top of the popularity list in just a few years, with a lot of Python projects. A recent study by online learning platform O’Reilly found Python to be the “preeminent” language of 2019. Representing both the highest number of searches and the most trainings contracted through the portal.
There are many reasons for this rapid ascend. Python is an efficient and easily readable language. It allows developers to create lean code that reads very much like English, while its built-in data structures are user-friendly and fast to implement. Additionally, Python is surrounded by an expansive support ecosystem which offers a wide array extension packages and open-access code repositories.
As we have mentioned before, these days of quarantine provide a great opportunity to acquire new skills and strengthen your CV. And how best to learn code than by developing hands-on experience with it?
Whether you are completely new to Python or just looking to improve your capabilities; here are a few Python projects for you to try in the coming weeks.
Python projects for beginners
If you are just now jumping into Python, the official Python Software Foundation’s website offers a ton of free resources to begin with. There you can access the language’s official documentation and refer to an exhaustive list of reliable resources for beginners.
As for projects, you can, for example, start with the list of over 30 beginner exercises at PracticePython.org. They are detailed step by step and offer a separate section for solutions to keep you challenged. PythonForBeginners is another good portal for Python projects and fundamentals. When it comes to automation, Al Sweigart’s Automate the Boring Stuff with Python is a fantastic — and free — work of reference.
Popular beginner projects include:
Dice rolling simulator
Guess the number
Hangman
Fill an online form
Update and format Excel spreadsheets
Of course, learning portals like Codecademy and Udemy are another great way of developing your Python skills. In fact, a multitude of platforms have made courses available for free to help people skill up during lockdown. You can find more about it here.
More advanced projects
For those who are already versed in the basics of Python, the Internet is full of interesting project ideas. You can get lost in for days. For instance, this edureka blog post contains precise instructions on how to complete a series of engaging intermediate and advanced projects. Among these, you can practice data visualization techniques and get acquainted with popular Python-supported libraries like Matplotlib. For more advanced projects, you can dive into machine learning and deep learning with TensorFlow and PyTorch.
Alternatively; if you are looking for already developed capabilities to use in your own code or apps; you can of course, always find thousands of Python-related repositories on Github. There are endless paths one can take with Python. From website crawlers to image processing modules or a Spotify playlist generator.
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the tech news
story of the past few days has been the Apple-Google partnership against
COVID-19.
Announced last week, the unlikely union
between the two giants will focus on developing an app to help determine if a
person has been in close contact with an infected individual.
The system will let users opt-in, providing
anonymous and decentralised tracing. Much like a tool previously proposed by
MIT researchers, the app will theoretically ensure privacy by leveraging
Bluetooth connectivity.
Is anonymity really guaranteed? Should this
power be in the hands of private companies or controlled by public
institutions?
The two companies held a media call earlier this week to answer questions by reporters. Here’s TechCrunch’s account of what was discussed in that call.
If you’d like to dive deeper into the specifics, here’s a look at how these tracing tools work.
And they keep burning 5G towers…
Last week we touched on an ongoing phenomenon
that sounds surreal even in these strange times.
Some people in the UK are attacking 5G cell
towers, believing them to be linked to COVID-19.
Well — it looks like events keep escalating,
fueled by ludicrous conspiracy theories and social media claims that 5G is
behind the spread of the disease.
According to industry body Mobile UK, the country’s
network received more than
20 attacks over the weekend.
It turns out that one of the attacks was
directed at — wait for it — a 5G tower servicing a nearby hospital.
Genius.
Like the virus itself, this wave of disinformation seems to be spreading like wildfire, with incidents now being reported in the Netherlands.
Cybersecurity
Now more than ever, ensuring your network and
data security is critical for business success.
Remote
work has multiplied the number of potential points of entry for attackers,
while phishing attacks are easier to carry out thanks to greater use of social
media and email tools.
Just in
the US, a cybersecurity consultancy firm claims to have experienced a 500% increase in
attacks directly related to work-from-home individuals.
Now is the time to strengthen your IT security team, if you haven’t done so yet.
One more week equals one more look at the new
tech initiatives being launched to help fight the novel pandemic.
Speaking
of cybersecurity, Microsoft announced
that its
AccountGuard security service is now available for free for healthcare staff,
as well as for human rights and humanitarian organisations.
The
company has also released
a new
security patch addressing 113 bugs. Make sure to update your system.
Cloud provider DigitalOcean has created a hub where developers can share their projects aimed at tackling the crisis. The various initiatives go from hackathons to remote learning and quarantine support platforms.
A start-up called Thoughtful Human has partnered with BetterHelp to offer a free month of emotional support with licensed therapists.
Working on Mars — from home
Nothing better to remind you that you’re not
alone working from home.
NASA’s Curiosity team keeps operating the Mars rover from the comfort of their households. Inspiring to say the least.
If they can coordinate across time zones and different computing setups to drive a robot that’s millions of miles away, we can all weather this storm.
The Big Data engineer job consist of developing, maintaining, testing, and evaluating Big Data solutions.
Data Analyst is the go-to expert for all operations related to the company’s databases. They assemble and processes data in order to assess business activity and make appropriate recommendations. Their job allows them to “make the data speak” by interpreting them.
This relatively new digital profession is essential in all sectors: commerce, finance, banking, insurance…
Certainly, one of the first missions of the Data Analyst is to collect, process and study statistical data to produce business analysis and provide recommendations. That is to say, the analyst creates and models the various databases necessary to accomplish the tasks, ensuring proper functioning and the regular updating of the database.
Define segmentation criteria
The Data Analyst is also responsible for
defining segmentation. To do this, they must find relevant data sources that
allow them, for example, to define the target of marketing campaigns or
identify consumer trends.
Popularize data and make it accessible
For example, extracting and translating business data into statistical data makes it possible to synthesize and popularize information. This data processing allows company managers and teams to analyze the data and use it to improve performance.
Required skills of the Data Analyst
An appetite for numbers
Above all, to be a successful, you must first of all love statistics. Reports, tables, graphs… are the main working tools of the Data Analyst.
Knowledge in data analysis and statistical methodologies
An expert in Data Analysis musts also have mastery of statistical methodologies and associated mathematical models to set up efficient analysis systems.
Proficiency in IT tools, languages and databases
Then, Proficiency in the DB SQL computer language, as well as in web analytics tools and data mining tools is often essential for data analysts.
Extreme rigour
Moreover, as this is an activity requiring the manipulation of encrypted data, the Data Analyst must be endowed with extreme rigour, having developed and analytical mind and fool-proof organization skills. Concentration is also one of the skills needed to be a good analyst. They also must keep abreast of new legal and regulatory regulations for data management.
The Data Analyst is a more than buoyant function which is set to keep developing strongly. With the evolution of the IT landscape, companies face exponential growth in the number of data. Therefore, large companies in areas like finance, e-commerce, marketing, industry and medicine are the most likely businesses to recruit in this area.
Salary of the Data Analyst
The average daily rate is between €400 and €800.
Training of the Data Analyst
In conclusion, to become a Data Analyst, college-level training is required. Companies tend to favour candidates who have followed courses in engineering, statistics, or even computer science.
To go higher up in this function then, it is recommended to pursue a specialized master’s program. Several career paths are possible, including as consultant positions such as Data Scientist, Business Intelligence Engineer, Data Engineer or even Chief Data Officer.
Several online learning platforms and software manufacturers have made some free IT courses so that tech professionals can exit this crisis better prepared.
It’s probably safe to
say that we all have uttered these words at some point in our lives — If I
had more time, I would….
With a good part of the world on lockdown to fight the expansion of COVID-19, now it might be the perfect time to put this premise to the test. Even if your effective schedule remains unaltered and you are simply working from home, there’s still a lot that you can do with whatever time you’re saving by not having to commute.With this in mind, several online learning platforms and software manufacturers have made some courses available for free so that tech and IT professionals like yourself can exit this crisis better prepared. These courses add to the already extensive list of free online resources that were already accessible before the quarantine.
Re-skilling and continuous learning are a must for those looking to advance their career in a field like technology, where skill shortages are a prevalent problem and tools are constantly being updated. Accordingly, we suggest you make the most of the extra time on hand by benefitting from the below resources.
Coursera
The eLearning powerhouse has always offered a multitude of free courses from ivy-league universities and top technical schools across the globe — especially if you didn’t mind not receiving an official diploma for which you had to pay. However, and until May 31, a total of 100 courses will be accessible for free through the platform.
The reviews team at Business Insider has gone through the list of courses and identified 9 of them related to computer science. You will obtain an official certificate upon completion, at no cost and even enjoying access to otherwise premium features like homework grading and expanded reading materials
Hurry up, as most of
these courses start today, April 08 – and make sure to add that certificate to
your CV and LinkedIn profile once the course is completed.
With a somewhat more
of a quick-bite and mobile mentality, Udemy offers a wide variety of courses
and tutorials in dozens of topics. These are taught by subject matter experts
and eLearning initiatives directly, without requiring the involvement of a third-party
institution.
The portal has made available over 530 courses for free so we can all invest in our education in the upcoming weeks. A lot of these focus on IT-related topics, from data science to videogame design.
A household name in tech education and computing, Codeacademy offers free courses on topics spanning from coding to computational theory and web development. The possibilities are almost endless, and you can even choose specific skill paths like building chatbots with Python or creating front-end apps with React.
CompTIA IT
Fundamentals
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), known globally for its reputed certification programs, is offering free 30-day learning licenses for its IT Fundamentals (ITF+) curriculum. The overall course is probably too introductory if you are a seasoned tech expert, but you might find it touches on topics you haven’t had time to explore.
You can also pass the
link along to anyone who is considering a career in IT but is not quite sure
yet.
SAP and Microsoft
Another
career-advancement option for these days of confinement is investing time in
official vendor certifications and learning programs. These let you master some
of the world’s most ubiquitous software tools and validate your skills in front
of the community.
Additionally, Microsoft Learn offers a comprehensive host of learning resources for Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365, or the Power Platform. among others. Just keep in mind that, to protect its staff from the virus, Microsoft has implemented some changes in its user policy, as well as extended certain courses and deadlines. Here’s a full list of changes.
Don’t forget your
soft skills
Last but not least, think of dedicating some time to develop your soft skills. In IT, it is becoming increasingly vital to possess a strong set of soft skills to complement your technical ones – from interpersonal communication to adaptability and creative thinking.
Or perhaps you should focus on your mental health and resilience? LinkedIn Learning is providing free mindfulness courses to help people cope with lockdowns.
What are the different S/4HANA roles that IT professionals can choose to take?
As a result of the impending 2030 deadline,
businesses still relying on SAP’s older software find themselves in a race
against the clock to migrate to S/4HANA; a lengthy and hefty task. But early
adoption has been sluggish, and few SAP specialists have had the chance to get
hands-on experience with the technology.
Demand for S/4 skills is higher than ever and will only increase in the coming months. Both newcomers and SAP veterans have now the chance to jump on the S/4HANA bandwagon and give a boost to their career.
Functional vs.
Technical roles
Just as with ECC6, there are two main categories of S/4HANA roles: functional and technical. However, these two categories often overlap with one another, and the best specialists have a combination of the two.
Then, functional roles essentially serve as the link between business and solution development, helping organisations design and implement S/4HANA environments. These profiles combine a sound technical understanding of SAP’s ERP suite with domain expertise – having knowledge of, for example, finance or HR. They also possess strong communication and leadership capabilities. Therefore, a functional expert has a strong business background and a very good understanding of business flows and processes. Thus, that leads them to be responsible for customising the ecosystem after the implementation of new flows or after an evolution in the core model.
On the other hand, technical roles, as the name suggests, have more to do with the development (coding), monitoring and running of S/4HANA applications. Their main strength is in IT, and less so in industry knowledge or interpersonal skills. However, that doesn’t mean technical profiles don’t need to be competent in these areas – soft skills are becoming more and more crucial for IT professionals.
Functional roles
Specialists in functional S/4HANA roles come from a technical background or are at least well-versed in the technical requirements and capabilities of S/4HANA. Then, domain or industry expertise is a must, as they must have a good grasp of all those non-IT-related concepts to design efficient solutions.
Moreover, a great part of the functional specialist’s job is coordinating with business leaders, end-users and all the other roles involved in the SAP project. Consequently, they also must be good communicators and have well-developed project management and organisational skills.
Also, the specific role within the team mostly depends on the depth of focus and level of seniority. The main functional roles include:
Business Analyst
Firstly, SAP Business Analysts are responsible for assessing and defining the business case driving S/4HANA implementation. These professionals understand the ins and outs of SAP’s platform, leveraging great business and industry acumen to identify what ERP solutions can be applied to optimise company operations. They also help train end-users in the use of the platform.
They
often come from a business background or have extensive experience in the
specific industry and practice (e.g. Finance or manufacturing), a skillset they
complement with S/4 training and know-how. Others started in IT and have later
garnered valuable business and consultancy expertise.
Application / Module expert
These are very focused business analysts or more
technical profiles specialised in a particular S/4HANA module (e.g. Finance,
Sales). These subject matter experts can provide advice and implement SAP
components or oversee their day-to-day operations — or both. It is a must for
module experts to be proficient in the area of business to which their module
relates.
A good example of an SAP application expert is the SAP FI/CO consultant or analyst. These professionals are specialists in de Finance and Controlling modules, expertise which they combine with financial wisdom to help companies produce reports and streamline operational costs.
Solution Architect
As their title suggests, solution architects are the ones designing the S/4HANA environment based on the company’s business needs. They also have a big-picture mentality, which they mix with a deep understanding of SAP tools and other software and hardware tools to devise custom-made ERP systems.
In addition, architects need to be good at communicating their vision and collaborating across the many teams involved in a project, both in technical roles and in more business-related areas.
Project Manager
Somewhat the least technical role of them all,
the project manager coordinates the full life-cycle implementation and
configuration of S/4HANA projects. Think of them as a sports team coach. The
project manager keeps track of project goals and progress while ensuring that
every moving part is on the same page.
Moreover, these are individuals with strong leadership and communication skills and that have a knack for problem-solving. They possess a good understanding of the S/4HANA platform and its different modules. In fact, SAP project managers usually have a business background as well as expertise in core modules (e.g. Supply Chain or Finance). Under today’s continuous improvement and delivery (CI/CD) paradigm, project managers must also be proficient in Agile development methodologies.
Technical roles
These are the developers and specialists
responsible for delivering and maintaining the SAP solutions as designed by the
functional half of the team. Technical specialists are also often involved in
the design phase of a project and can help advice on capabilities or ways of
approaching a problem. The best specialists in technical positions tend to have
good business and domain knowledge and are able to put themselves in the shoes
of the functional specialist.
Technical S/4HANA roles include:
ABAP Developer
Creates, tests and implements S/4HANA solutions using SAP’s proprietary ABAP language. These are SAP’s hardcore coders, in charge of the platform’s back end and making the application work. They also are, of course, great coders, and they need to possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
The best ABAP developers combine mastery of
S/4HANA modules with great creativity to deliver efficient and lean software
solutions. They are also fluent in DevOps and Agile development methodologies
and work well in CI/CD product cycles.
SAP Fiori Developer
They are the front-end counterpart of ABAP
developers. SAP Fiori is SAP’s advanced user experience (UX) engine. Fiori
developers work together with their ABAP piers to develop the visual interface
of S/4HANA applications.
In addition, these technical professionals are good coders, but they also possess skills in end-user-related areas like psychology
SAP Basis Administrator
The equivalent of a System Administrator in other platforms, SAP Basis administrators configure and ensure the correct performance and the reliability of the whole S/4 environment. They also have a mix of technical and interpersonal capabilities and do a lot of landscape management and monitoring.
Basis administrators have a deep understanding of the S/4HANA ecosystem and its different modules, but they are also knowledgeable in ABAP, Linux and Java. They also have good collaboration skills, as they need to coordinate with technical colleagues and end-users to keep the system in perfect shape.
Security Analyst
Moreover, administers and monitors security roles and authorization profiles for S/4 systems. Security analysts can be also considered a more focused version of a basis administrator, combining deep technical knowledge of the SAP environment with a focus on security.
Security analysts are proficient in SAP’s
role-based security concepts and Profile Generator. They also need to be able
to speak to infrastructure-level security concerns to other, less technical
roles within the IT team or business managers.
Data analyst
Lastly, these professionals leverage business intelligence and data management to produce insights that help inform business decisions. They are also experts in data engineering and databases, able to create high and low-level data product designs based on business and technology requirements. Moreover, data analysts are experts in SAP HANA in-memory database, and they need fluency in Agile methodologies to be able to collaborate effectively with the rest of the technical team. Additionally, the best data analysts possess good business and domain acumen, which lets them reach deeper and more actionable insights and better communicate with their business peers.
Want to make the most of S/4HANA’s career potential? Also Check our comprehensive S/4HANA Careers Guide.
Find your next assignment on our freelance and permanent IT recruitment platform, or join Mindquest so you don’t miss out on any job opportunity!
Things really escalate quickly sometimes. A few baseless claims here, some conspiracy theories there, and boom -- people start burning 5G telecommunication towers.
Things really escalate quickly sometimes. A few baseless claims here, some conspiracy theories there, and boom — people start burning 5G telecommunication towers.
At least that’s what’s happened in
the UK in recent weeks. A perfect-storm combination of public
disinformation and fake news has prompted some citizens to link 5G to
COVID-19.
The theories are as varied as they are full
of nonsense.
Some say 5G is making the effects of the
virus worse. Others believe that there is no coronavirus at all, that
governments are making it all up to hide the real cause of the symptoms: 5G.
A good reminder of
how important it is to communicate technological advances properly.
News from the frontlines…
Another week has gone by, bringing with it
new tech initiatives to fight the spread of COVID-19. Here are some of this
week’s most note-worthy new developments:
A team of researchers created an AI tool capable of predicting the chance of a patient developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This promising algorithm provided 80% accuracy during initial tests, opening new possibilities to identify potentially critical patients early on.
Other efforts are also leveraging data and computation to find a solution to our current situation. AI and public health researchers at MIT and Harvard have pointed at the importance of Big Data in the fight against the coronavirus.
Finally, the big names in tech keep
announcing pandemic-related initiatives.
Intel pledged
$50
million to accelerate access to technology at the point of patient care.
Meanwhile, the CEO of Twitter and Square, Jack
Dorsey, offered
$1 billion (roughly 28% of his wealth) to
fund global COVID-19 relief efforts.
If the crisis found you in the middle of a
job hunt, you might now be wondering if you’ll be able to find a job at all in
the current climate. Or perhaps your projects were put on hold and you need new
ones ASAP.
No need to worry.
With the surge in remote work and internet
traffic, businesses need IT professionals now more than ever. Cloud computing
services like Microsoft Teams and Azure are skyrocketing. So is
videoconferencing. But that’s not all.
Many businesses weren’t ready for this sudden digital transformation and need all the help they can get. Additionally, the rise in digital operations has accentuated the cybersecurity skills shortage.
Find out what industries are booming and how you can seize the moment in this article.
News from the frontlines…
With every day that goes by, we hear of
another tech initiative being launched to halt the spread of COVID-19. These
are certainly inspiring new developments, and we thought they deserve a space
in our weekly MCC update.
Stay
tuned every week to learn how vital the IT world is becoming in this global
fight ?
In the
meantime, you can get acquainted with all ongoing efforts with this
great article.
This week’s highlight?
Quantum computing leader D-Wave Systems is giving free cloud access to their quantum computers to anyone working on responses to the pandemic.
The power of comedy
As psychologists often remind us, seeking
solace in humour is a very healthy response to difficult situations — You
surely have noticed an increase in the number of memes you are receiving as of
late.
So…
here’s another weekly section! This week…
A software engineer at Dell has created a great (and fun) comic on why we shouldn’t be afraid of AI.
Plus, seriously — be careful with videoconference filters. These guys’ boss spent a whole meeting being a potato:
The World Has Stopped — Your Career Doesn’t Need To. Well, we have a message for you — don’t surrender. There is still plenty you can do.
Yes, the world has stopped. We are living through scary and uncertain times. Millions of people find themselves stuck at home for the foreseeable future. While businesses across the globe scramble to move their operations online and stay afloat. In this climate of uncertainty, economists and global institutions are telling us to brace for the worst crisis since 2008; some say even worse. Workers are losing their jobs, and whole activity sectors are freezing new hires.
If you were in the middle of a job hunt when all this started, nobody would blame you for becoming discouraged by the current situation. Or perhaps your current IT projects have been put on hold and you are fear you might not be able to find new ones anytime soon.
Well, we have a message for you — don’t surrender. There is still plenty you can do.
Thriving amid adversity
At the same time that industries like commercial aviation are going through the darkest days of their history, other businesses are thriving. From entertainment platforms and social networks to online retail and videoconferencing services, some companies are simply very well-positioned to take advantage of our society’s sudden change of habits. Even too well-positioned in some cases.
Enterprise cloud companies are experiencing lag and connectivity issues, while streaming services have had to downgrade their video quality to cope with the traffic increase. Meantime retailers are hiring in mass to meet the demand for online shopping and home deliveries. You can focus your job search on those sectors that are thriving in the middle of this chaos. There are plenty.
You can also join the frontlines of the fight against COVID-19 by collaborating with the many technological initiatives now underway — from 3D-printed ventilators to AI and data modelling.
A global thirst for ITspecialists
The coronavirus outbreak has prompted a lot of companies to undergo light-speed digital transformation. Classes are going online, telemedicine is now a real thing, and you can visit museum exhibits through your laptop.
All of these organisations need skilled IT talent like yours. A recent study by London’s Imperial College suggests that, only in the UK alone, 48% of companies will prioritize technology hiring in the coming months.
Additionally, the soaring numbers of employees working remotely is accentuating an already existing problem: the cybersecurity skills shortage. If you have security experience or are thinking of obtaining some, now it’s the time.
The world has stopped: Gain new skills, take a closer look at your career
When was the last time you had so much time? Only the hours saved by not having to commute should be enough for you to benefit from the current situation.
Tons of free learning resources are available online these days, from coding bootcamps to university classes in all sorts of topics. Some eLearning portals like MasterClass have even started offering free courses for those at home because of to the pandemic. You can also develop your skills with a certain technology by using free official resources like openSAP or Microsoft Learn.
On the other hand, it’s not always that we get the chance to stop for a moment and re-evaluate our career’s direction while the world has stopped. Are you happy with what you currently do, or perhaps is it time to embrace other passions? Is there something you could do or improve on to advance your career?
Find and assembling the right security experts & security team is proving even more difficult than it usually is already.
How to find the good security experts? About a third of the world’s population is estimated to be currently under confinement to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. As a result, businesses across the globe are resorting to remote work to continue operations in those areas where that is possible. This is adding unprecedented amounts of stress to already understaffed IT departments.
CIOs and other IT leaders find themselves racing against the clock to adapt the whole company’s infrastructure to a work-from-home scenario while tackling their biggest concern: cybersecurity. And for good reason – threats are increasing exponentially.
But assembling the right security experts & security team is proving even more difficult than it usually is already.
Security threatsgive no quarter
Hackers are certainly not going to close shop because of a tiny microorganism. If anything, they are using it to their benefit. For instance; phishing emails; were already the most common form of attack experienced by organisations. But the past days have seen a great surge in attacks trying to lure employees into clicking on an email sent by “their boss” or containing virus-related information.
Among the most reprehensible of attacks are those being experienced by health and medical institutions. Not even the World Health Organisation was spared, targeted earlier last month by a false-domain attack aimed at stealing passwords from agency staffers. The situation is so dire that a group of 400 security experts from international giants like Microsoft and Amazon has volunteered to fight hacking tied to the coronavirus.
Yet that is not the main issue. The pressure being put on enterprise networks is quickly revealing system vulnerabilities. And especially for those companies least used to distributed work and that rely too much on local networks. In short, the soaring numbers of employees working from home are finally making most decision-makers aware of what IT leaders have been warning us for a while. The business world’s generalised lack of a comprehensive security policy and employee awareness training.
Although effective measures like VPNs have gained adoption in recent years, problems generated by shadow IT and BYOD remain largely unresolved. Many staffers will be accessing company resources through their personal devices and networks in the coming weeks. Multiplying exponentially the potential points of entry for attackers.
Experts are becoming even harder to find
In turn, this increase in cyberthreats is exacerbating the skill and personnel shortages the security sector was already experiencing. According to a recent study by ISC, the global security industry lacks more than 4 million security professionals. The world’s security workforce would need to grow 145% yearly just to meet the demand for skilled talent.
The shortage of skills impacts some of the most critical roles within IT security. Such as those related to identifying threats or patching and updating vulnerable systems. However, the deficit is more acute in areas tied to rapidly emerging or evolving technologies. For instance, and in this WFH crisis more than ever, security in multi-cloud environments is key. Unfortunately, few organisations have dedicated cloud security experts or proper encryption protocols for their data in the cloud.
Not surprisingly, the cost of security expertise has also become a problem as the lack of skilled talent drives wages up. And so the vicious circle goes.
Hire or outsource?
With everyone battling over the same security experts. Defining a solid talent strategy and identifying the right partners can make the difference; between a multi-million breach and your department’s success.
Regarding your talent strategy, you first need to decide whether you want to expand your team or rely on the temporary help of consultants. If you had been planning on bringing more people on board for some time, this might be the perfect time to create new permanent positions or fill vacant ones.
On the other hand, calling on a freelancer will most likely allow you to speed up the selection process and provide a quicker response to the crisis. Working with an independent contractor can also help you secure exactly the skills you need at a more competitive cost. As the freelance talent market tends to be more agile and flexible.
No matter which option you are leaning towards, don’t hesitate to seek the guidance and help of talent experts. Time is of the essence in the cybersecurity wars. Partnering up with the right IT staffing specialists will not only allow you to access the best talent; it will help you secure it before another company closes the deal.
What's the best way to prepare for an IT job interview? Selection processes can be quite daunting - common sense can help a great deal.
What’s the best way to prepare for an IT job interview? Selection processes can be quite daunting – especially when we are talking about first interviews. But, even if you are a seasoned expert who thinks they have got interviewing techniques all figured out, it never hurts to look at how you approach these defining moments and see what you can do better.
As with many things in life, common sense can help a great deal.
Need advice on how to start or develop your freelance consulting business in tech or IT? Need to start a new permanent or freelance assignment? Join Mindquest and get support from our team of experts.
First impressions
The first, and most obvious, point to consider is that first impressions are often everything. How much the interviewers like you or not will make the difference between getting called in for a second interview and receiving a “thank you for your interest” email. With that in mind, take also into account that first interviews might not be with your future manager – most are conducted by HR professionals and therefore are focused on softer skills rather than on technical ones.
Knowledge is power. Showing that you took the time and effort to thoroughly research the company shows your professionalism and interest in the position. Take a look at the company’s website and social media accounts, at the project or department with which you will be involved. Get a sense of what they do, and, most importantly, what they have done recently. Chances are they recently released a new product or service, that they were featured in a news article. See if you can factor that into the conversation.
You should also try to get a sense of culture. Is it formal, laid back? The response will help you prepare better.
I am not going to get into the recommended attire – that goes without saying.
Honesty
Let’s clarify something. Conducting extensive research and preparations for the interview does not mean you should just show up and play the part. Honesty is key, both to your interviewers and to yourself. Pretending to be in line with everything the company might get you the job after all. But the truth will eventually reveal itself, and you will either end up hating your job or not fitting in.
Be straightforward, be yourself.
Be humble, but ring the bell
Honesty is great, but it is even better when paired with humility. The purpose of job interviews is to evaluate a candidate’s fit for a position. Both culturally and in terms of technical skills. That requires you to highlight your abilities and qualifications; to present your story in a way that further reinforces the good feeling the interviewer got from your CV. But no one likes self-absorbed and presumptuous colleagues.
To avoid giving the impression of being one, make sure to keep a balanced approach when describing your past professional experience and achievements. Be the humble person everyone knows you are, don’t be afraid of admitting you don’t know about a particular topic and avoid overstatements.
“So… Tell me about a time you made a mistake and how you solved it”. Many wait with dread for the moment when they are asked one of these infamous tricky questions. They can feel like a trap – say the wrong thing, and you’re toast.
In reality, and no matter what some claim, there is not a right or wrong way to answer these questions. They are designed for two things: to reveal your thought processes and to evaluate your professional character and professional ethics. With that in mind, let the previously mentioned points – honesty and humility – guide your way.
Prepare for an IT Job Interview: Ask questions yourself
Finally, it is very important to ask questions back. It does not only make the interview more dynamic and helps you guide the conversation;but it also shows that you have initiative and are proactive when faced with a challenge. It also offers a good opportunity to show you did your homework and researched the company carefully. Ask them what it was like to implement that project, or how much you liked their new platform.
For more tips on how to prepare for an IT job interview, check out our advice to face technical interviews.
