Month: November 2020

Weekly News: Bot Friday

Also discover our article: The IT Jobs Market of Today

Bot Friday

Black Friday long ago escaped the confines of its native United States to become a global shopping phenomenon. Now, another trend is joining this spread: bot.

If you are looking to catch a sweet deal this year, be advised: you’ll have to compete with more than a swarm of people lining up at the store’s gates.

For some time now, retail bots have been out there scouting the Internet for the best deals. The exact second an item goes on sale, the bots flag the deal to their owner, who then makes a profit by selling a bot at a higher price.

The item on sale is sold out? Chances are bots are to blame and it’s on eBay now.

BBC

Fighting cyberattacks with deception

With cyberattacks getting increasingly sophisticated, organisations have to deploy comprehensive cybersec solutions that address multiple fronts.

Enter deception.

Deception technology is easy to deploy and manage, being to attackers what a honey trap is to fruit flies. Whereas traditional deception was solely focused on this honeypot approach, today’s solutions are way more powerful and have become one of the most effective ways to detect and stop attackers early on.

However, persistent myths about the technology are keeping companies from leveraging its full potential.

eWeek

SAP skills shortage threatens UK businesses

We have discussed the issue of SAP skills shortages before, but new research insights keep coming in reinforcing this trend.

In the last two weeks, two surveys conducted in the UK have put a number to the SAP talent gap. A study by Ensono revealed how 80% of SAP customers have postponed cloud migrations due to skills shortages.

According to the UK & Ireland SAP User Group, 35% of organisations cite the cost of salaries as the main roadblock for recruiting SAP roles, while the overall lack of skills in the market is the main cause for concern for 24% of companies.

The SAP skills gap is further accentuated with the industry’s imminent migration to S/4HANA, which has businesses competing for the scarce number of professionals with this set of skills.

Diginomica

With S/4HANA migration in full throttle, becoming an S/4 expert is more than a smart move.

Download our S/4HANA career guide to find out how.

Tags black friday, cybersecurity, deception, ecommerce, retail bots, SAP, SAP HANA

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Weekly News: Translating Cat Meows

Post author By Mindquest
Post date 20th November 2020
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Translating Cat Meows; what the EU could do about emissions; Quantum moves ahead; and an anti-poaching cloud cover… Discover our Weekly News.

Translating Cat Meows: Do you speak cat?

What did the cat just say?

According to research, cats do not share a common language. Every cat is unique and tailors its meows to its owner (a.k.a. human servant). And, just like it happens with people, some cats are chattier than others.

Well, a former Amazon Alexa developer has created an app that leverages AI and machine learning to translate those meows into human language.

MeowTalk already has 13 phrases in its vocabulary, including “Feed me!” and “Leave me alone.”

You can bet you’ll be hearing the first one a lot more.

BBC

What the EU could do about emissions

The use of renewable energies and other traditional approaches to curbing emissions are no longer enough if the EU wants to meet its 2050 climate-neutrality target.

Enter technology.

From large-scale, data-powered simulations of the Earth’s climate to green data centers, there are plenty of emerging technology initiatives underway for which EU funding could be a game-changer.

The folks at Politico have compiled a shortlist for you to bring up over dinner.

Politico

Quantum moves ahead

Several of the world’s leading research institutions and tech companies have been working on their own take on quantum computing for a while now.

One of the key differences between the various approaches out there is what is used as the basis of the computer’s qubits, the basic units of information on which quantum computers operate.

While technology juggernauts like IBM and Intel had traditionally opted for using tiny superconducting loops as qubits, the use of trapped-ion systems remained marginal.

Now that is changing. Ion traps have gained traction, which is good for competition.

Nature

An anti-poaching cloud cover

The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has revealed how its collaboration with Google Cloud is helping protect endangered species from poachers.

Beyond developing custom machine learning models to identify and track threatened animals across the globe, ZSL used a network of acoustic sensors to listen for gunshots in a nature reserve in Cameroon.

The organisation then used the data collected to generate insights on poacher activity, revealing key details like what time of day poachers tend to be more active and where.

ZSL hopes to evolve these insights into a monitoring system that is able to provide alerts in real time.

ComputerWeekly

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Tags AI, Cloud, IT news, machine learning, quantum computing, technology news

IT Consultants Tips for your daily life as a freelancer

They wanted to come to my place at 10 pm: an unexpected freelance experience

Post author By Mindquest
Post date 20th November 2020
No Comments on They wanted to come to my place at 10 pm: an unexpected freelance experience

I am Lilian Alvarez, freelance iOS expert and manager of a training organisation specialising in supporting IT freelancers. The story I am about to tell you really happened to me. I have intentionally changed and left out some details out of respect for my clients’ privacy. Discover an unexpected freelance experience.

An unexpected freelance experience

It all started with a message on a professional networking platform.

Hello, Lilian.
We need a developer to update the version of a mobile application …

After a few messages were exchanged, I proposed a telephone meeting.

During the meeting, the person told me they ran a web agency. A few weeks before, they had inherited a project from another team, and they were having a lot of technical issues with it. They needed assistance.

So far, nothing surprising.

Right away, I offered to make an estimate of the cost of my services. To do this, I needed to analyse the source code.

And … That’s where things got tricky.

The person refused to share the project files with me.

That’s not odd by itself. Secrecy is vital for some companies (which I hear and respect). This is why I proposed signing a confidentiality agreement. But the person refused again.

I tried to explain myself better:

It’s like walking into the auto repair shops and saying, “My car won’t start anymore, how much will it cost me to fix it?”

That’s a difficult question to answer without first getting your hands dirty to identify the origin of the problem.

That’s when the person offered to come to my house after a full day of work. Because why not.

– This way, I can make sure that you are not making any copies of the source code.
– Uh, sorry?

Okay, I should have ended the discussion right there. But no.

Of an accommodating nature, I suggested meeting at a bar to assess the problem. The person accepted, only to end up cancelling 30 minutes before the appointment.

I learned a lesson from this experience. To say the least:

Not all leads that come to you are worth pursuing.

Spending 2 days doing pre-sales for a service that won’t last more than a week is just not worth it.

My advice

Beyond this little adventure, I would like to give you some advice on the 4 types of customers you should flee:

1. The torturer

They have been abusing providers ever since they read Steve Jobs’ biography.

They tend to change their mind about the colour of the connect button 45 times a day. Of course, they want these requests to be addressed immediately.

How to spot this kind of client? Their last 3 providers have disappeared without leaving any trace.

2. The bad payer

They refuse to pay any deposit before the start of the job.

3. The psychopath

They want to come to your home at 10 p.m. to watch you work. I speak knowingly…

4. The lawyer

They want you to sign a contract with penalties for non-compliance with delivery deadlines. In an of itself, this type of contract is not bad, and may well have its place in a client-freelancer relationship.

However, I must warn you: never sign such a document if you are dependent on resources and customer feedback to meet your deadlines.

And it can get worse. If the boundaries and deadlines of the project are blurry, this kind of commitment is the best way to end up working for free and under pressure.

Of course, it is possible to come across a serious customer who at first glance seems to fall into one of the categories mentioned above.

But, as I often tell participants of my training courses, a freelancer is not just a consultant. A freelancer is also the manager of a company. And a manager must work to do the best possible job while preparing for the worst.

And how about you, what’s your weirdest and unexpected freelance experience?

Before closing this web page, I invite you to follow my newsletter.

I regularly share advice on IT freelancing as well as my latest articles (one-click unsubscribe): ? https://bit.ly/3je2vvL ?

You can also explore my trainings and guidance for freelancers here: www.lilianalvarez.com (Eligible for financing)

Lilian Alvarez.

Find me on Twitter and LinkedIn

To avoid ending up working with the bad type of client, you can also go through a partner such as Mindquest ?. Get access to the best jobs and benefit from personalised follow-up until the end of your contract. You focus on the project; they take care of the rest.

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Tags career tips, client stories, freelancer, iOS developer, IT careers

Growing your career: permanent & freelance IT Consultants

5 Free Online Business Courses for IT Pros

Post author By Mindquest
Post date 20th November 2020
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Now more than ever, IT professionals need to complement their technical expertise with soft skills and business acumen to remain on top of an ultra-competitive talent market. Well, we’ve put together a shortlist of free online business courses to help you do exactly that.

Time to level up.

Technology Entrepreneurship: Lab to Market – edX

A little entrepreneurial spirit never hurt anyone. Even if you are a hardcore tech guy working deep within a big company’s IT department; having a better picture of how technology products go from inception to market can help you a great deal in the long-term.

This course by Harvard’s Laboratory for Innovation Science and the University of California San Diego; is part of our online business courses shortlist because of the good overview it will provide you. Especially in how business basics and critical thinking can be applied to commercialising new technologies.

Power Dressing in the Zoom Era – Future Learn

The title says it all. Since remote work has become the norm, mastering traditional ways of communicating is no longer enough. In this free, two-hour course, you will learn how to improve the image you project online.

What’s best to wear in video interviews? How can you polish your personal and business brands so that they are aligned and represent you the best possible way? How about non-verbal communication.

Introduction to Finance and Accounting Specialization – Coursera

You’ve heard it before. There’s no budget for this project at the moment. This will have to wait until the next financial year. Well, it’s about time you learn what such statements entail. If your idea of accounting boils down to household maintenance and personal budgeting; then you should probably work on developing your financial literacy.

A solid understanding of how organisations get and administer money is a must for anyone in business. Whether they are a manager or an IT specialist. This Wharton School of Business course provides a good overview of the subject.

Intercultural Communication and Conflict Resolution – Coursera

Have you ever gotten yourself in an awkward situation by unknowingly saying something odd to someone with a different cultural background than yours? Unless you have been living under a tree your entire life, you probably have. In an increasingly global business world, being aware of cultural divides and how to breach them is a must.

This quick course by the University of California Irvine serves as a great introduction to intercultural communication; and also about the resolution of the conflicts it creates.

Contract Management: Building Relationships in Business – Future Learn

In many ways, contract making is an art. Negotiation, risk assessment and market intelligence all play an important role in ensuring the drafting and signature of win-win business agreements. If you are an IT freelancer or have had to sign service agreements as part of your everyday job, you know what this is all about.

This course covers all you should take into account when approaching contracts for the first time, or how to improve your contract-making capabilities if you already have some experience. Offered by the University of Southampton, the course is backed by UK government & World Commerce & Contracting.

Tags business skills, IT careers, IT professionals, negotiation, online business courses, Online courses, upskilling

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Weekly News: High Speed Levitating pod

Post author By Mindquest
Post date 13th November 2020
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Hyperloop’s first passenger ride

Richard Branson’s Virgin Hyperloop completed this past weekend the world’s first passenger ride on a high-speed levitating pod.

The successful test marks a key milestone for the technology. It indeed promises to revolutionise human and cargo transportation by using magnetic levitation to hurtle vehicles through vacuum tubes.

Although the Hyperloop executives involved in the trial only reached a top speed of 172 km/h, the technology promises to deliver speeds of 966 km/h and faster. That’s twice as fast as a commercial jet with a fraction of the emissions. It could be a reality by 2030.

The Guardian

High Speed Levitating pod: Updates from Microsoft

Microsoft has released the .NET 5.0 developer platform, introducing among other features the new C# 9 and F# 5 programming languages.

.NET 5.0 allows developers to unify their toolset across platforms and operating systems, whether they are building for desktop, mobile, cloud or IoT applications. The new programming languages offer easier, more expressive top-level coding.

Additionally, the Redmond, Virginia company released on Tuesday its November security patch, addressing 112 vulnerabilities. The Windows zero-day vulnerability revealed last month is among them.

TechRepublic / ZDNet

High Speed Levitating pod: Tougher EU tech export rules

European law-makers are tightening rules for the export of dual-use technology products, a category of technologies that can be used both by civilians and the military.

The technologies involved to improve high-speed levitating pod include high-performance computing (HPC), drones and facial recognition software, will now require vendors to meet a much higher set of conditions when closing licensing deals.

The rules focus on protecting democracy and human rights and can be easily and quickly amended to cover any new emerging technologies that may appear in the future.

ITPro

Tags .NET 5.0, EU export laws, hyperloop, IT news, technology news

Tech Magazine TOP 10 experts' articles

Top 10 SAP Experts from the Netherlands to Follow on Twitter

Post author By Mindquest
Post date 12th November 2020
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Discover SAP experts from the Netherlands. If you are an SAP pro in the Netherlands or would like to become one, these are the people you should include in your Twitter feed. Some are SAP insiders, while others are independent experts and consultants. All of them are worth a follow.

Discover our Ultimate S/4HANA Careers Guide

10 experts SAP from the Netherlands to follow on Twitter

As the IT environment is constantly evolving, it is crucial, if not necessary, to connect with the brightest minds to keep up with innovation. In other words, the more contacts you get, the more likely you are to solve IT challenges. Therefore, we at Mindquest are pleased to provide you with a list of the best SAP Experts from the Netherlands to follow.

Fred Verheul

@fredverheul

Firstly, Fred is an SAP Developer and Consultant at strategic SAP integrator SOA People, where he is helping grow the firm’s SAP HANA and Big Data practices. Fred is also a certified Scrum Master and was recognised with the 2017 SAP Community Citizenship Award for his many contributions to the SAP community.

Twan van den Broek

@tbroek

Twan is a Customer Innovation Architect at SAP, where he leads the SAP Experience Center in the Netherlands to help customers and partners develop personalised SAP experiences that benefit both the business and the end-user. Moreover, Twan has an extensive track record as a blogger and can often be found sharing his experiences and insight at seminars and industry events.

Robin van het Hof

@Qualiture

Robin is an SAP experience specialist with more than 13 years behind his back helping organisations develop and implement environments on the SAP NetWeaver platform. His expertise also covers the newer SAP Cloud Platform and SAPUI5/OpenUI5. In addition, Robin has his own company, Qualiture, and is an SAP Mentor and SAP HANA Distinguished Engineer.

Marleen Verhaag

@marleen_verhaag

Then, Marleen is SAP’s Senior Director Industries & Value Advisory for North EMEA, where she mainly focuses on helping financial services companies with strategic software solutions. She is also the Global Head of SAP’s Global Business Women’s Network, the largest SAP employee-driven network (75 chapters, 13,000+ members) helping women advance their careers and the company’s business.

Wim Snoep

@wsnoep

Wim is a Senior SAP Expert at INNOV8iON, a consultancy specialised in SAP technologies. He focuses on the SAP Cloud Platform, designing and developing innovative solutions by leveraging a mix of Machine Learning, IoT and SAP Fiori. Wim is also heavily involved in the Dutch SAP community and the country’s chapter of SAP Inside Track.

Jan Penninkhof

@jpenninkhof

Jan is an Enterprise Architect at SAP, where he works together with businesses to co-develop next-gen enterprise architectures for SAP customers and partners. Jan describes himself as an SAP Cloud Platform addict and SAP Technology Ambassador. He often tweets about upcoming workshops and webinars and has been blogging for years.

Xavier Hacking

@xjhacking

Xavier is an SAP BI and SAP Analytics Cloud specialist working at consulting firm Interdobs. He is also a book author at SAP PRESS and an avid blogger. In addition to the educational content he regularly shares on Twitter, you can find his expert tips on his blog HackingSAP.com.

Wouter van Heddeghem

@SAP_Financials

Wouter is the SAP S/4HANA Finance Managing consultant at Capgemini. He has over two decades of experience working with SAP FICO in 15 countries, where he has helped leading multinational companies with a wide variety of SAP projects. Wouter helps customers define and implement the roadmap to S/4HANA Finance and transform processes accordingly.

Martijn van Foeken

@mfoeken

Martijn is SAP BI Consultant at Interdobs. He specialises in SAP BusinessObjects solutions, as well as in SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP HANA. Martijn regularly shares educational content on these platforms and contributes to their continuous improvement by submitting improvement requests.

Denys van Kempen

@dvankempen

Denys is Technology Expert at SAP focusing on SAP HANA and Analytics. He has been at SAP for more than 10 years, where he helps SAP’s Global Partner Organisation support partners with the company’s technologies. Denys is a true SAP advocate, blogging extensively and managing content for the SAP HANA Academy.

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10 of the Best SAP Experts in Germany to Follow Online

Tags Netherlands, SAP, SAP experts, SITNL, Twitter

Digital Job Descriptions

IT Vendor Manager : Job Description

Post author By Mindquest
Post date 12th November 2020
No Comments on IT Vendor Manager : Job Description

Use our template to create a compelling and comprehensive IT Vendor Manager job description to attract top talent.

The IT Vendor Manager position is becoming increasingly ubiquitous within the IT departments of large companies. Its spread is a side effect of another increasingly ubiquitous trend: that of outsourcing of technological and IT functions. More and more companies are deciding to call on external service providers rather than carrying out certain developments internally.

This professional intervenes when a company has to choose, for example, new management software, or when it needs to renew its IT equipment or decides to call on an IT service provider. This person leads the supplier selection process, determining which one offers the best value for the business and managing the entire relationship with them.

Also explore the role of the Cisco Network Engineer

What is the role of the IT Vendor Manager?

Clearly define the company’s needs in terms of IT equipment and services

To do the best possible job, the IT Vendor Manager must establish a solid line of communication with all stakeholders. Particularly with the IT teams and businesses users that will be impacted by the IT solutions and equipment in question. IT Vendor Manager must listen carefully to them and conduct a thorough analysis to define their needs.

Manage the relationship with suppliers

The expert also needs to play the role of negotiator and mediator. They are in constant contact with the company’s IT suppliers. They must monitor their performance and work on the optimisation of all outsourced services.

Deal with the administrative and financial aspects

They will also be responsible for the administrative and financial aspects of the contract with these suppliers. They will have to ensure compliance with service commitments and negotiate penalties for non-compliance.

Required skills of the IT Vendor Manager

Excellent communication skills

For operations to run smoothly, the IT Vendor Manager must demonstrate transparency and diplomacy both internally and externally. Here communication is key.

Technical expertise

To be more successful communicating, the IT Vendor Manager must understand all the ins and outs of the subject of the contract. They must have a good knowledge of software, computer hardware and IT services, as well as in-depth knowledge of their business applications.

Be organised and rigorous

The manager must manage all aspects related to the execution of a contract and must therefore have solid project management skills. They must also be very rigorous and good with numbers to ensure proper administrative and financial management.

Within the industry

The IT Vendor Manager can rise within a company’s IT department in any industry but is most commonly found in industries such as information technology, service companies, and public administration.

Salary of the IT Vendor Manager

The salary varies greatly depending on the size and complexity of the projects to be managed, as well as on the specifics of the company, but the average daily rate tends to fluctuate between €450 and €900.

Training of the IT Vendor Manager

To access this position, it is recommended to have a university degree as well as a master’s degree in computer science, business or engineering. As this profession is relatively new, there are currently no specific courses or training that will get you there.

Tags IT careers, IT Vendor Manager, IT Vendors, IT who is who, technology careers

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Weekly News: The Funny Side of AI

Post author By Mindquest
Post date 6th November 2020
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We are often discussing the dangerous implications of AI and what we can do to address them: bias, job losses… So it’s refreshing to be able to talk about its more benign side effects. Discover the funny side of AI.

3 stories to discover the funny side of AI

Football or bald head?

Do you enjoy football? How about bald heads?

Since the start of the pandemic, the world of sports has had to forgo live audiences in favour of live streamings. Bigger teams and leagues can afford proper TV crews to cover their matches, but smaller teams need to be more creative.

A football team in Inverness, Scotland decided to use an AI-enabled camera to track the football’s movements. Unfortunately, and to the delight of the whole world, the camera tracked the referee’s bald head instead of the ball. Best match ever.

TNW

IT Job Hunting Done Well: A Step-by-Step Guide

What drones are really for

Few technologies have received as much public hype as drone technology. We all have a friend who enjoys chasing flocks of sheep with their little quadcopter. If you don’t, then you might be that friend.

But what are drones actually good for?

The non-consumer applications that first come to mind tend to be rather pessimistic. Surveillance, warfare… There is an understandable trust deficit when it comes to drones, but the technology’s potential is huge if we manage to overcome it.

From humanitarian aid in dangers zones to remote delivery and agriculture, drones can be extremely helpful in helping us get where we need to get more easily and in time.

TechRadar

Funny side of AI: Game over for 1809

Microsoft is discontinuing service for Windows 10 version 1809 starting on November 10, so make sure all your systems are upgraded accordingly.

The cut will affect Windows 10 1809 for Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, and IoT Core, which will stop receiving security updates and support.

Support for Windows 10 1803 for Enterprise, Education and IoT Enterprise will be extended until May 2021, as will the Enterprise and Education versions of 1809.

TechRepublic

Discover more articles about AI

Read our article: AI, IBM Chips, and a Novel Cloud Security Concept: The Week in Tech News

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Tags AI, Artificial Intelligence, business intelligence, drones, IT news, technology news, Windows 1809

Horizon 2050

Nadia — Chapter V

Follow the story of Nadia, a quantum security expert in 2050 London

Nadia, a story by Miquel Morales.

—

Jumping in now? Catch up with previous chapters.

Chapter V

“You know, it’s not the first time I deal with the likes of you. Nor it will be the last, for that matter.”

There is something unsettling about empty houses. Especially when they aren’t yours. Everything in the living room looked tidy and ready to be used, with only a thin layer of dust betraying how abandoned the place was.

As Tom had suggested, Nadia had made it out of the city under the cover of darkness. The paycard he had left her at the apartment had been useful. Tom had left her a burner phone as well. Seriously, though. What on Earth is going on? She had been played by this EVE. But how?

Nadia had gotten herself a headscarf and a cheap regular-speed train ticket to Coventry, hoping her friend would be there and willing to let her lay low for a while. Tina was her name. Her family had a big country house surrounded by fields of barley, which they mainly used in the Summer months. Nadia had been invited for a barbecue a few times with other people from college. She had met Tina in a physics class.

Well, it wasn’t Summer, and there was no one in sight. But it was too late to go back to London, and she couldn’t risk staying at a hotel or something like that. RayStar had a big reach, and every modern establishment had AI-enabled security cameras these days. There was probably already an arrest order out there. She couldn’t risk any of her biometrics being picked up by the system.

Thankfully, Nadia was able to find a half-open window in the back of the house. Well, more like she had half-opened the window. Ooops. Anyway, she doubted they would mind at all. They had too much money in any case.

After hunting for snacks in the kitchen — cashews would do — Nadia did a full tour around the house and decided to settle down in the downstairs living room. It was nice and cosy, and the big windows would allow the upcoming morning light to wake her up early. She needed to devise a plan and get going. Staying for more than a day in that house would be too dangerous. But first, some rest.

She threw herself on a comfy couch and hugged a hand-knitted pillow with a big smile. Two seconds later she was falling into a deep slumber, her dreaming brain conjuring up old memories.

Nadia woke up in a fright, her face covered in cold sweat from one of those nightmares only the subconscious remembers. IT was still dark. A hellish sound was coming out of her backpack. The phone. She picked it up. Unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Hey. It’s me.” Her sister.

“What the… Where are you, what’s going on?”

“246 Reinford Lane. Meet me there at noon.”

“What?”

Nadia threw the phone across the room in anger. The call had dropped.

To be continued…

Read the next chapter: Nadia — Final Chapter

Need tips on how to find a job in IT? Check out our IT job hunting guide.

Tags cybersecurity, Horizon 2050, Nadia, quantum computing, sci-fi, short stories

Growing your career: permanent & freelance IT Consultants

The ABC for Landing the Best IT Jobs

Post author By Mindquest
Post date 5th November 2020
No Comments on The ABC for Landing the Best IT Jobs

Let’s get this out right off the bat. All jobs are fundamentally rewarding and can teach you at least one thing that you’ll be able to leverage for future assignments. But you will need a bit more focus if you want to go after the best IT jobs.

Outlining the best career path according to your needs and aspirations is an art, and; just like with every form of art; you need to start by mastering the basics. Here is a quick refresher of what you’ll need to cover to ensure you are building the career you want, one job at a time.

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.

Define your professional aspirations

First of all, you will have to figure out what type of assignments you want to pursue. It is at this point that the choice of company and industry becomes essential.

You should learn all you can about that sector and account for the long term. Keeping in mind where you are and where you would like to get to will allow you to develop and implement a solid career strategy that sets you on the right path. For example, if you want to be in the luxury sector, you will have to prioritise companies or industries that are at least linked to it.

Position yourself for the best IT jobs

Then you should define your set of skills and position yourself according to the type of projects you want to target.

You need to make inventory of your skills and update your CV accordingly. Making sure it is aligned with your profiles on social and professional networks like LinkedIn. Define your offering and highlight the capabilities you would like to develop through your next project. And don’t make things up. Recruiters are not stupid.

What you are offering should be in line with the strategic vision of the company or industry you are targetting. Therefore, it is important to understand the current state of the business as well as the possible needs that the company may have now and in the future.

Polish your brand and organise your activity

Finally, having a polished and coherent image is key. The image you project is vital because it reflects both your personal and professional brands. It should be aligned with your offering and the needs of the industry you are targeting to maximise your chances of attracting the attention of the right recruiters.

But your image is worth nothing if you can’t deliver on it. Most recruiters will ask for references from past companies for which you have worked.

Here self-organisation and the proper management of your time are key. There are several organisational tools out there that will make your life easier and will help you optimise your workflows.

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!

Need tips on how to find a job in IT? Check out our IT job hunting guide.

Tags best it jobs, career advice, CV, IT careers, IT Job Hunting Done Well: A Step-by-Step Guide, it jobs, landing the best it jobs, LinkedIn, tips and tricks