Discover our time management tips in remote for IT Professionals. Here are a few tips on how to achieve full efficiency while working remotely.
Discover our time management tips in remote for IT Professionals. Having independence in one’s work is a great thing for any driven professional who likes to take the initiative. But it is not all advantages.
Working independently lets you distribute your energy throughout the day as you see fit, giving you more flexibility to dedicate time to yourself and others. Yet all that schedule juggling requires solid time management skills.
Here are a few tips on how to achieve full efficiency while working remotely.
Time management tips in remote:
Start by building a comprehensive calendar
It is easy to get overflowed with daily activities and forget about the bigger picture. Especially for newcomers to the remote working life.
Outline all your tasks and upcoming deadlines and incorporate them into a comprehensive calendar. Plan your week and then look at each day, building a schedule that defines clear goals while allowing for some flexibility.
Spending 10 minutes at the start of each day to review your calendar will let you reassess priorities and adjust objectives. Your goals should be “smart”, that is, achievable without excesses. Sort priorities and categorize tasks.
You can use one of the myriads of free calendar apps out there or opt for the more traditional paper version. Whatever works best for you.
Make sure to put some time on your calendar to deal with all the administrative tasks we all love so much (invoicing, timesheets, reporting, etc…).
Prioritize the most important tasks
It is advisable to use the morning hours to carry out your most important tasks, namely the ones that will demand the most energy and attention from you. For most people, the morning is the time of day when their brain is most productive.
Starting with the more tedious tasks will make the rest of your day easier, leaving the less strenuous tasks for when your mind is tired.
Find an adequate place to work
You must be comfortable to deliver your best work. Your work environment should nurture your productivity and creativity while promoting general well-being.
Don’t forget that your body and mind need to rest periodically to remain at full capacity. Choose a work setting that allows you to take breaks throughout the day. An hour of work usually requires 10 minutes of break.
To manage your daily schedule in the best possible way, try using the Pomodoro, or ‘Tomato’ method — yes, Italian.
This technique is designed to help you split your working day by alternating breaks and intense concentration sprints.
The steps are pretty straightforward:
Focus your attention on a single task at a time
Set a timer to a fixed duration of 25 minutes
Work on that single task for the duration of the timer
Once the time has passed, take a break for 5 minutes
Start again from the beginning and, after the 4th repetition, take a longer break (15-30 minutes).
Plan for the unexpected
Your daily schedule will often be thrown off by unforeseen events that you will have to deal with. As Murphy’s law makes clear, nothing goes as planned. Here, reactivity is key. Allocate some time on your calendar for contingency management so that you are not caught off-guard by unexpected pitfalls.
With any self-employed activity, tracking your performance is necessary to identify what works and what needs to be improved to achieve optimum results. The slow summer months can be a good time to carry out this type of assessment and ensure you are doing the best you can to be a successful IT freelancer.
But what are the best indicators of success
for your self-employed activity? Follow these key indicators to draw
appropriate conclusions and make effective resolutions, both in terms of income
and of work methods
Has your turnover increased compared to
the previous year?
What was your turnover this past year? Was
it higher or lower than the previous year? Although freelance income can vary widely
from month-to-month, looking at the bigger picture will help you assess your
performance. Compare this year’s figure with what you achieved the previous
year over the same period. Deduct from it the percentage of evolution. If that
percentage is negative, it might be time to change certain things.
When calculating your turnover, do not
forget to take into account all your expenses. Then divide your total turnover
by month to get a comprehensive overview of the year.
Did you have more expenses than last
year?
Another indicator of the health of your one-person business is the total amount of your expenses, especially compared to the previous year. As a successful IT freelancer, your charges should be in theory low, especially if you carry out your tasks at the client’s office or from your own home.
If the expenses incurred are made in the
interest of your activity and this has resulted in an increase in your gross
turnover, this is a good sign. On the other hand, if your expenses have
increased more than your earnings, you have things to ask yourself.
Are you managing your time well?
Time management is essential for any successful IT freelancer. You must organize your days to be as productive as possible while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. thinking of allowing yourself moments of rest.
But that is not all: as an successful IT freelancer, you must also reserve some time for housekeeping. Make sure you allocate time to deal with administrative duties, as well as to search for your next assignments.
Have you managed to retain customers
this year?
Customer loyalty is a key indicator of a successful IT freelancer, as it reflects the ability to build trust and ensure satisfaction with clients. The higher your loyalty level, the more likely you are to be contacted again by this client. But you are also more likely to get good recommendations; the best asset for finding new assignments.
You can also look at your customer
portfolio and calculate your average income per customer: you may find that
some customers have asked for too much time compared to what they paid you.
If you are doing short assignments and a client represents almost all of your turnover, you are in a delicate situation that must be taken into account. You in danger of depending too much on this unique client. In the case of long missions, this indicator is obviously less relevant.
Looking for the definitive S/4HANA careers guide? Here's everything you need to know about pursuing a career in the new incarnation of SAP's ERP
Looking for the definitive S/4HANA careers guide? Here’s an overview of everything you need to know about pursuing a career in the new incarnation of SAP’s ERP; S/4HANA.
The clock is ticking for companies across the globe to migrate to SAP’s next-generation ERP suite. With the German company discontinuing official support for its currently most used ERP (ECC6) in 2030; those businesses working with the legacy software must now go through the lengthy and resource-intensive process. And that is great news for you.
Although S/4 is the future of SAP ERP and organisations adopting SAP for the first time are jumping directly into the newer platform; expertise in S/4 remains elusive as many companies are still waiting to carry out the migration.
Whether you are interested in learning more about S/4HANA or you would like to expand your expertise, these are golden days for SAP specialists. The generational change in both the workforce and SAP’s ERP offers an unparalleled opportunity for consultants and in-house talent alike. Take advantage of it. Develop your S/4 expertise with this S/4HANA careers guide. The rewards will be plentiful.
Any S/4HANA careers guide should start by clarifying exactly what S/4HANA is.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are all-encompassing software toolsets with capabilities extending across most business functions and departments. From accounting and human resources to procurement and supply chain management, ERP software allows organisations to easily plan and execute operations from a single platform. The speed, efficiency and cohesiveness derived from its use have made ERP a staple of business management. As well as one of the most profitable specialisations in the IT world.
S/4HANA is SAP’s response to the enterprise’s move to the cloud and its need for faster data processing. Half of all business data is estimated to be already in the cloud. More and more companies are taking business-critical applications off-premises, and few applications are more critical than ERP systems. At the same time, the modern enterprise requires data insights and operational efficiency that were simply out of reach for legacy ERP software.
Labelled as SAP’s next-generation ERP, S/4HANA will effectively replace the ubiquitous ECC6 suite. When official support for the latter is discontinued in 2030.
Migration to S/4Hana
The migration to S/4HANA, has many steps and can accommodate several approaches. Companies moving into the new ecosystem can do so by building on top of already existing systems or by starting anew (brownfield vs. greenfield implementation). Regardless of the chosen approach, however, you can be sure of one thing: all projects start with the blueprinting
As a world-leading ERP provider, SAP provides a comprehensive catalogue of solutions that only experts can implement and help run smoothly. Accordingly, there is a constant stream of demand for IT professionals with SAP skills. What’s more: demand outweighs supply in some areas of expertise. Chief among these is S/4HANA.
According to a report by Resulting IT, only 8% of organisations using ECC have made the transition to the new iteration of SAP’s software suite. That is alarming, especially considering that the report estimates the current product set has over 400 million lines of code and many companies have invested millions customizing it. These will have to be re-written when moving to S/4HANA. But that’s just the beginning of the story.
When it comes to S/4HANA, the difficulties in finding talent that is well-versed in the new environment multiply. There is a generalised lack of experience in the live or near go-live stages of the transition. Although 48% of SAP specialists declare having been involved in S/4 projects. A significant portion of these are solutions architects. And therefore only have experience in the early blueprinting stages of the project.
Couple that with the fact that; just in the UK alone; 40% of SAP experts plan to retire within the next 10 years, and we are looking at the perfect storm.
The expertise that you will develop and need will vary depending on the type of projects you take.
Additionally, and just as with ECC6, there are two main categories of S/4HANA expert profiles: functional and technical. These two categories often overlap with one another, and the best specialists have a combination of the two.
Go beyond this S/4HANA careers guide and learn more about all the different roles within S/4HANA.
Developing your S/4HANA expertise
At the theoretical level, the best way to go about honing your S/4HANA skills is to resort to SAP’s official learning portal, SAP Training. There you can find a myriad of courses and certifications that will help you master the various tools in S/4.
While the courses are free, you must pay a fee to obtain the official certification. But we highly recommend you do so, since they are a great measurement of how prepared you are and validate your expertise in front of the SAP community. They will look great on your CV
The courses and certifications are a good option for newcomers to the SAP ecosystem. But also for seasoned professionals looking to upskill and add new S/4HANA capabilities to their toolset.
No matter how good your S/4HANA careers guide is, and in addition to learning the basics and getting certified, you must get real-world experience working with S/4HANA. The way to go about it will depend on how many S/4 projects you have previously collaborated with, as well as your knowledge of ERP systems and business domains.
To those who are completely new to S/4HANA, it can be challenging to get a job in a field that requires previous experience. But you can get around this barrier.
Be ready to take a pay cut in exchange for a role in S/4HANA projects, even if it is through positions that are more junior than those you would normally pursue. Think of it as an investment in your future. Make sure to highlight the suitable skills that you already possess, like ERP expertise or knowledge in and business.
The importance of attending events
You should also keep an eye open for any relevant industry and networking events. Attending will give you a better feel for what it is like to work in S/4 and will provide you with actionable tips on how to build your career. You can even often find companies looking for new talent among attendees.
Re-orient your CV to highlight your S/4 focus and skills. Present yourself not as an IT expert with S/4 know-how, but as an expert in S/4HANA. Try to get involved in a wider variety of projects that allow you to build deeper and more comprehensive expertise. Again, industry events are highly recommended to stay up-to-date with current trends and best practices and network with other professionals. Keep learning. Stay tuned regarding software updates, new certifications.
There is always room for improvement. Once you have some S/4HANA experience on your back, focus on becoming a true expert in the technology.
In addition to cultivating your S/4HANA skills, you must define a career strategy. What’s the best way of becoming a highly coveted expert? There is not a simple answer to this question. Especially since the rapid evolution of the talent market has blurred the traditional line between permanent contracts and freelancing.
Permanent position & Freelancing paths
A permanent position offers you greater stability and social protections. Giving you access to more economic benefits, like unemployment and certain contract regulations. It also lets you enjoy the totality of a company’s corporate benefits, whether it’s paid tuition or a gym membership. Something you wouldn’t have access to as an independent employee. This can be decisive in newer fields like S/4HANA, since you might be able to benefit from free training and career development programs.
On the other hand, freelancing makes it easier for you to develop a wider range of skills by working on different projects. This broader experience is very attractive to employers. At the same time, businesses are more likely to hire freelancers for S/4HANA projects, as there is a shortage of skilled workers and S/4 implementations often have a specific duration.
Independent workers must deal with limited social protections, fluctuating activity and internal red tape. However, the average daily rate of SAP freelancers is well above the average rate of salaried employees in most countries. They also express high levels of job satisfaction, with 4-out-of-5 freelancers claiming to be happy with their lifestyle.
Conclusion
Depending on the stage of your life cycle you find yourself in, you’ll tend to favour one option over the other, and that’s totally fine. Both paths are complementary and have their perks and disadvantages. Additionally, the relative novelty of S/4HANA is a key factor to consider when making your decision.
Given how competitive today’s IT jobs market is, most of us can use a few pointers on how to find a job in IT.
But, first of all, let’s get something out of the way: the question of whether it is best to look for a job when employed than when unemployed.
There are many reasons why someone would think looking for a job while unemployed is harder. Hiring companies might be suspicious of your trajectory when you have been out of the game for a while. They could think you lack certain skills or drive; that there’s something missing from your profile that led to you being unemployed.
On the other hand, looking for a new job when you already have one shows ambition, nonconformity. It is proof that the IT talent market values you and gives you more leverage when negotiating your contract conditions.
Well – yes and no.
There are many good reasons for an IT professional to be out of work. You might be waiting for the perfect project, planning a change in direction. Or perhaps you simply wanted to take some time off after a few intense projects in a row. That’s especially true for freelancers, who often experience employment gaps in between projects.
These four simple steps can be of help to find a job in IT, whether you are employed or unemployed.
Develop a solid portfolio to find a job in IT while being unemployed
Chances are you already have a great deal of experience under your wing. You’ve worked for interesting companies, played a key role in noteworthy projects, helped bring to light successful products.
Beyond including all that experience in your CV, putting together a short portfolio can help potential employers get a better picture of your skills and strengths. It doesn’t need to be a portfolio as polished as. Let’s say, that of a designer or a graphic artist – a simple explanation of every one of your best projects will suffice. If you’re after a programming job, put together some of your best code.
Gather your references
Nothing validates your capabilities better than satisfied former employers. Instead of waiting for the hiring company to ask for your professional references, present them upfront. By doing so, you will be showing proactiveness, confidence in your professional profile. It will also help you stand out among other candidates.
A good letter of recommendation by an ex-colleague who is in a good position and/or company at the moment can be very helpful as well.
Keep on learning
This is something you should do even if you are not looking for a job at the moment. Since technology is continuously evolving, your success as an IT pro depends in great part on your ability to keep up with the most in-demand skills – both technical and other, softer skills.
Take advantage of the many free online IT courses out there. Develop new skills, challenge yourself. It will show employers you’re not just standing there, idle, that you are ambitious and in constant motion.
Find a job in IT by attending industry events
It’s true: the pandemic has put on halt most in-person industry events. However, and just like the rest of the business world, these get-togethers are adapting to the new reality.
Webinars, online Q&As… These events offer a great opportunity for you to gain visibility within the community, to talk or chat to potential employers and let them know you are looking to find a job in IT. It’s always easier to get your foot in the door through an in-person (or online) introduction.
Just as with face-to-face interactions, first impressions are crucial in the online job-hunting world. Here are the key steps to improve online visibility; that every technology professional should take to project a solid online image.
Just as with face-to-face interactions, first impressions are crucial in the online job-hunting world. Here are the key steps to improve online visibility; that every technology professional should take to project a solid online image.
6 steps to improve online visibility
Google yourself
Among steps to improve online visibility, this one might seem rather obvious… But you would be surprised of how many applicants forget this vital step. Remember that Fotolog or Myspace profile you made in middle school? Well, Google does. Chances are your adolescent self does not quite reflect the person you have grown to be. Or perhaps you would simply prefer keeping your personal life to yourself.
Conduct an in-depth search to unearth all the information a stranger would find should they looked you up online. Then review all that info and ask yourself whether or not you should delete certain things or update your account’s privacy settings.
Polish your LinkedIn profile
LinkedIn has become an absolute necessity for any professional looking for a job or wanting to stay active in the talent market. Your LinkedIn page is like your business passport, if you will. Start by polishing your profile.
Make sure your photograph is updated, professional and in HD. Follow the platform’s simple guide to complete your profile – add a good intro and about section describing your background and aspirations. Include all relevant skills in the dedicated section. Don’t just add job titles and companies in the timeline detailing your work experience. Provide a brief description of what you did while working for that company or what the project was about.
Be active where it matters
Would you trust a social media expert that wasn’t active on any social media platform? Probably not. Even if you secretly are an expert on something, it really pays off if you show it. At least you should be visible in the circles that matter the most to you and your area of expertise.
Create a robust profile on all relevant job boards and professional networks – from generalist sites like Indeed, to more specialised ones like GitHub or AngelList. Get involved in discussion groups and forums. Write an article or post with tips or insights you’d like to share. Here are a few examples of content you could be writing yourself:
If you want to go the extra mile, sign up to the portals of companies exclusively dedicated to IT and tech recruiting. That will put you in the radar of the top recruiters for your specialty. You can sign up to ours here.
Consistency across platforms
Once that’s covered, make sure that you are presenting a cohesive profile across all platforms and services. Is the image you are projecting on LinkedIn consistent with your Twitter profile? Are your past job titles the same on the different job boards? Do the start and end dates of previous projects match?
Maintaining consistency is important. It shows that you take yourself seriously and conveys a unified and robust message regarding who you are and what you aspire to.
Know your keywords
You know how search engines work. Check that you are including in your online profiles all the relevant keywords to secure a top spot on the search results page. Pay special attention to synonyms, and make sure to include the most common descriptive variants of an activity or skill.
Look at your peers
Something that can help you in your keyword search is looking at the profiles of other people. Look for experts in the field you are applying to, see what keywords they are using. Pay special attention to how they structure their personal and professional details, learn as much as you can. The more senior or trusted this subject matter expert is, the better.
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.
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.
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?
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.
If you wonder how to get a job in IT consulting, here are the top 5 most sought-after soft skills in IT that you should cultivate to thrive in consulting.
Soft skills are becoming more and more decisive in the IT world. Which traditionally valued technical or hard skills above all others. That made sense when IT departments were siloed from other areas of activity and seldom involved in everyday business decisions. But today, technology permeates all layers of our society and is integral to the success of most companies. As a result, IT consultants now more than ever need to possess a series of complementary traits. To stand out among their peers, work more effectively with others and secure the best contracts.
The first of the most sought-after soft skills in IT is the entrepreneurial spirit. One of the key qualities for consultants in any field is their entrepreneurial drive. Consultants need to be proactive in their efforts to find new projects and clients to work with. They should be able to identify and outline a career path, to find a niche suitable to their capabilities and where they can shine. New business development know-how is also important. To become an IT consultants you must stay on the lookout for contract opportunities and foster professional relationships that will lead to them.
At the same time, this very same proactiveness is one of the main reasons employers hire IT consultants in the first place. They want an expert that can operate autonomously and bring in a new perspective to a particular problem . Which brings us to the next point.
Creativity
Also referred to as problem-solving, the ability to approach scenarios with an open mind is very advantageous in fields like IT. In which the best path forward is not always obvious. Lateral thinking is one of the principles upon which innovation is built.
Making the most of the resources available to you is critical when time is of the essence and the map uncharted. If you like riddles and logic puzzles, you are on the right track.
Jumping from one project to the other requires flexibility. The to become an excellent IT consultants you need to be capable of succeeding across different teams and industries. Adapt to different company cultures and ways of working. As well as to the various IT infrastructures and development environments of the modern enterprise.
Furthermore, technology and businesses are constantly evolving. And consultants must update their skillset and knowledge accordingly if they want to stay relevant.
Interpersonal skills
Adaptability is closely tied to the ability to work collaboratively. IT consultants not only need to interact effectively with other engineers and managers; they also must engage with other stakeholders – like decision-makers and end users — who might not be proficient in certain technologies or jargon. A good IT consultant can communicate problems, solutions and needs in a clear and plain manner that everyone will understand.
On the other hand, possessing good interpersonal skills helps IT consultants better integrate into company teams. When you are brought into a pre-existing project, it is very important to be able to connect with other employees to both have a better experience and make sure all those involved are aware of the added value you are delivering.
From a business development perspective, social skills can greatly help in your networking efforts to find contracts.
Curiosity
The last of the soft skills most sought after by companies to hire an IT consultant is curiosity. Just as importantly, a good consultant should keep a hungry mind. The curiosity to learn new things, whether they are related to your area of expertise or to a specific business domain, is the engine that propels professional and personal development forward. Ask questions – to yourself and to others. Scratch the surface and always try to go the extra mile.
