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First Impressions are Lasting in IT Job Hunt
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Friday, 06 February 2009
First Impressions are Lasting in IT Job Hunt Featured Speakers: Bruce Culbert, Alison Todd and Ben Crosby
Why are some people better at securing a job interview than others? Your credentials and employment history may be just as good as or even better than other candidates, but for some reason your resume gets pushed to the bottom of the pile.
The answer may lie in first impressions, says Bruce Culbert, chief executive officer of iSymmetry, an IT consulting and recruiting services provider with offices in Washington, D.C. and Alpharetta, Ga. Whether it is your resume or an actual interview, that first impression can be critical to getting the inside edge.
"Instead of just plowing into an interview, you should prepare for it," he advises. That may involve standing in front of a mirror and answering questions that you may be asked, and working on your delivery. "Role play, get your spouse to ask you questions. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse," he says.
Beyond the interview, there are some very practical steps you can take on the resume front to improve your odds. For starters, make sure your resume is tailored to the occasion or opportunity. If you are attending a job fair, then a more general resume is appropriate, but if you are applying for a specific job, then it should be tailored to that position. Don’t get fancy with the fonts or graphics, use action words to describe your successes, and above all, don't lie.
"Don't exaggerate your employment history or job titles," he says. "It will catch up to you."
Culbert and his associates at iSymmetry have created a five-part audiocast series on How to Land an IT Job in a Down Economy. CIOZone has presented the first two parts in the series, Knowing Where to Hunt and It's All About the Network.
In this week's episode, First Impressions are Lasting Impressions, Culbert, and iSymmetry associates Alison Todd and Ben Crosby discuss the following topics:
How to best position your credentials in a winning resume.
How to communicate to hiring managers and respond to job opportunities.
How to prepare and practice for any type of interview.
Bruce Culbert is CEO of iSymmetry, an IT consulting and recruitment company with offices in Washington, D.C. and Alpharetta, Ga. His career spans more than 25 years in the IT industry, leading ground breaking initiatives for such organizations as IBM, BearingPoint, KPMG and Salesforce.com. He is a director on the board of the National CRM Association and serves as an adjunct professor in the MBA program at Kennesaw University.
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