When you are a graduate in a computer or IT or any stream related to IT industry, you start dreaming an IT job, right? Also, you may already be in an IT company and hope for greener pastures. Getting a job in an IT company is a difficult and challenging task. But once you are in and become a part of it, it becomes very easy.

Job Seekers Fit Into Three Categories

• The Fresh Graduate;
• The Experienced Hopper;
• The apply, apply and no reply kind.

The Fresher

A fresh graduate hopes for a campus interview to get a job. In this case, not your resume but your interview is what matters. You have to be an academic expert and a bright student [always in the eyes of your professors], and you might bag an apprentice job. Don’t lose the opportunity or reject it outright. It may not pay you much but it counts a lot towards your experience.

Employers are always keen to know the period of your unemployment and the relevant reasons. The slightest gap without any valid reason is an instant blacklist candidate for some of them. So, for your age as a fresher, just get all the experience you can get your hands on, and keep building your profile.

The Hopper

If you are not satisfied with your job or your workplace or attracted towards creamier things, you can use your experience as a major asset. Jobs in Information Technology can be quite difficult. So, count what challenges you encountered while completed any tasks you were responsible for.

Sometimes, the job you are looking for is from a different sector, disconnected to your education or current position. For example, you may be a programming lead or manager interested in the post of finance manager instead. Don’t fret and give up. You must tailor your resume focusing on the position you have applied for. Give instances of how you have cut costs in your previous company. Any post-graduation in finance while working will add that much flavor to your resume.

Now before you start applying, we’ll see how you can list out your experience. Start from reverse chronological order, i.e. include the most recent job first. Apart from that, the following tips can come in handy as well:

1. First of all, know the company you are applying for and modify your resume format.
2. The HR Departments of some IT companies use software that scrutinizes the applications (which can be in thousands) for just one position. It’s called a spider or a crawler. Most of the applications are deleted in this primary phase because the applications do not have the right ‘keywords’. So, beware the HR Bot and list out your skills that match those in the job description.
3. Do not write a large resume. It is not a CV. Make it short; two pages maximum. Do not use phrases like ‘responsible for’. Instead use ‘have done’, ‘have performed’ or ‘accomplished’ etc.
4. If the application is online it is not necessary to write your full address.
5. Include your personal website or LinkedIn URL, Twitter / Facebook handles, etc. It will show the real you, and how you can matter to the company.
6. Do not write your resume in clumsy or gaudy language. Both will reduce your credibility.
7. If your resume passes the bot-check, the hiring managers and your potential boss will see your resume just for few seconds. So make sure you have summarized everything.
8. Extracurricular activities – write only about your achievements, accomplishment, and hobbies. If your hobby is reading do not just mention ‘I like reading’. Well, who doesn’t? Instead, write about a particular branch of literature. E.g. science and fiction or Shakespeare.
9. Covering letter – without a covering letter, your application has no meaning. The covering letter should convince your future boss why you are right for the job.

Apply, Apply But No Reply

These candidates are mostly confused freshers. So, they just keep applying to any position without proper research or remorse. And they don’t understand the reason behind their rejections. For them, here are some handy pointers:

Make a balance sheet of your positive and negative things (this question is also asked in an interview). Your balance sheet should have a credit balance. i.e. your qualities and qualifications should be more than the shortcomings. This credit balance should exceed the job requirements.

Your primary hurdle may be an acute lack of experience. No job <=> No experience. This vicious circle is a time loop. To get out, write about even the smallest experience about your work, even if it is voluntary. Your resume is kept for two to three years in the company; they may review it if they find a job suitable for you.

Finally, marketing yourself matters. Think about advertisements of products and reflect how you can leverage that knowledge to promote yourself. Though IT jobs are plum, they need the dedicated, honest and good qualified people. So, project yourself accordingly.