Quebec is going through a fertile period in information technology (IT) development and there are abounding job offers. But this doesn’t mean IT job seekers can neglect the recruitment process. A look at mistakes to avoid.
In the hiring interview, IT professionals have a tendency to diss their previous employers! This is one of the pieces of information revealed by a recent survey by the California firm Robert Half Technology, which also reveals that employers are suspicious of too many candidates whose resume is full of a huge amount of jobs held for very short periods of time. The practice is obviously accepted for self-employed workers, but it is considered problematic for those who hold salaried positions.
“Gossip about former employers is indeed a flaw that I have often observed among IT job seekers,” remarks IT recruiter Eric Turcotte, vice-president of the Alteo agency. “Talking badly about the former boss is a practice to be avoided in all areas of employment, because employers generally are seeking a positive person who knows how to create good chemistry with his team. IT professionals allow themselves considerable latitude, given the abundance of job offers. This is a mistake. No boss will appreciate your backbiting. It is a highly collaborative environment, so your ability to cultivate harmonious relationships, your attitude of humility, curiosity and flexibility will be required.”
IT job seekers: enhance your specialization
In North America, all positions are now highly specialized. Believing that you will be able to apply to all offers by counting on your versatility is a utopia. “It is important to read the job description very carefully,” Eric Turcotte points out. “The sector has been greatly segmented in recent years and has led to a search for very specific and highly specialized skills. Don’t hesitate to repeat the vocabulary of the job description in your resume, if the skills sought match your career path.”
Statistics also show that job seekers are not sufficiently prepared to answer technical questions during the interview. Yet over 60% of the time during the interview will be devoted to these technical questions. “It is difficult to predict what questions will be asked, so it is essential to be prepared very seriously,” the recruiter adds.
One obvious fact: the Montreal market requires fluency in French and English. Many applicants, whether francophone, anglophone or allophone, neglect the importance of bilingualism.