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1ST STEPS IN THE HUNT
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Shortage
October 08, 1999
Either there is a shortage of information technology workers, or there isn't. It really ought to be that simple, don't you think?
As usual, the answer is a frustrating yes and no. And peeling back the hyperbole surrounding the issue is definitely worthwhile for those of you considering entering (or continuing education in) a field that falls under the broad heading of 'information technology sciences'.
What is becoming clear is that there is rampant age discrimination going on in the hi-tech workplace. While the ITAA (Information Technology Association of America) claims that there are 400,000 unfilled programming & software positions in the US, anecdotal evidence is building that suggests this is not the whole story. The ITAA backs its numbers with a US Commerce Dept. study projecting a shortage of 1.3 million information technology workers by the middle of the next decade.
Technology companies prize techies that are willing to work 10-12 hr days, are so inexperienced that they can't demand huge salaries, yet have the raw abilities to jump into a project without requiring a huge investment in training. And older (30 yrs and up) workers no longer fit into these categories. Over 80% of employed programmers are under 45 years old. Many of these workers end up in management or sales, and not because they want to - they are forced to move out of the field they love by the push for younger and cheaper workers.
Congress is pushing to increase the number of H1-B workers allowed into the US to 200,000. The advantage of using H1-B workers, from an Employer's standpoint, is that these workers can only work for the firm that sponsors their special visas. The sponsoring firm does the paperwork necessary for green cards/work permits, and then can use the threat of revoking the Employee's work status to keep wages down. For the six years that these hi-tech immigrant workers toil long hours in Silicon Valley's version of a sweatshop, these workers have little bargaining power to try for a fair and competitive wage.
If you are considering a career in programming, computer science, or another similar field, think long and hard whether this is just a stepping-stone to something else. If it isn't, and you want to stay in the field for a number of years to come, you may have a tough battle ahead. Computer sciences may be the ticket to a decent starting salary that turns into a career dead end.
The Screen Game
October 07, 1999
Jobhunting feels like a game of you against the world. Hundreds of other hopeful Job applicants are vying for the same Job that you covet, and Hiring Managers (or their applicant software program) will discard you and your resume in less than thirty seconds if you are missing a particularly desirable skill, degree, keyword, or extra year of experience.
You'll need to fight back aggressively, understanding the system and proacting accordingly. While HR Managers will cringe and moan about the ethical questions, resumes are merely a tool to market yourself. As such they should be used to sell a company on your best qualities and skill set. Negative information should be left out - let your new Employers find out what your flaws are after you have the Job and they are more willing to work with you. And puffing your skills somewhat is a common and generally acceptable practice.
Companies do not have the resources to effectively verify all the information in your resume - if you sound legitimate during the Interview, they figure they'll take their chances by hiring you. So tailor your resumes to the specific Job you're applying for, adjusting your skill set and experience marginally to increase your chances of actually getting to the Interview stage.
If the Job calls for three years experience and you've got two, input 'three yrs exp' on the application form. Remember the year of experience you got consulting on the side? Or add the experience you got in a somewhat similar Job function from a previous Employer. Employees learn on the Job, so once you get the Job you'll have that extra year under your belt in no time flat - so don't fret small discrepancies between what the Job 'requires' and what your resume 'offers'.
Too many candidates get screened out from Jobs they are perfectly capable of performing because they don't understand how to play the 'screen game'. Don't let arbitrary standards keep you from the Job you want, need, and can perform as well as other Job candidates.
From the Pros
October 06, 1999
Those that can't do, teach.
It's always easier to tell someone what to do than to actually do it yourself. Hence the expression 'easier said than done.' People love to give advice, and are loath to accept it. It's just the nature of the beast.
Career advice professionals are, of course, no exception to this rule. In fact they are probably guiltier than most of giving advice that they themselves do not take. Survey results from these career pros indicates that not only do most of them not have multiple targeted resumes, but most of their resumes are either nonexistent or are at least five years out of date.
Most of us are resistant to change, whether in our personal or professional lives. Change requires a lot of energy, forcing us to rethink our assumptions on a variety of fronts. But change is the order of the day, especially in today's Job Market. Employers need to be able to adapt faster, and that requires an innovative workforce that can perform different Job functions next week from the ones they performed last week.
To increase your comfort level with change you need to continually update your skills, accept learning new tasks as a way of life (not something just for school days), and practice describing your salable abilities until it flows like it comes from the lips of a master storyteller. The story you tell describing your skills needs to have some riveting moments in it - the drama must stick in the Employer's brain.
Overall, your life is a story to be told. The more compelling you make it, the more likely it will be remembered. Insofar as your story relates to the targeted Job and problems a company wants solved, the likelier you are to get the Job offered to you. And if you ever meet an HR professional out there looking for a Job, remind them of the old adage, "Physician, heal thyself."
Success and Failure
October 05, 1999
Your life is not charmed. While Murphy's Law was not designed with you specifically in mind, some days it sure seems like it. Temporary setbacks are just that - temporary. Employees realize all too well that their Employees (or Employees to be) are subject to human frailties. All Jobs involve trial and error. No one enjoys failure. Well, almost no one. I've had a few co-workers that took a perverse pleasure in screwing things up at work. What Employers are dying for are Employees that care about 'getting it right', even if the first attempts fail. In effect, successive failures lead to success. A few good habits will lead you in that direction:
Purpose
Today's Date, 1999
Here's a useful exercise, ask yourself "Why am I Jobhunting?"
Superficial answers are easy, like:
Some introspection and soul searching may lead to answers with more depth. In work, as in life, we need a sense of accomplishment. This feeling has its origins in our need for purpose, or a raison d'etre (reason to be). Deep down, this is the motive force behind Jobhunters and the Jobhunt.
You get a feel for this when you do volunteer work for some cause you care about. We want our self-image to have at least a tinge of a halo. These brushes with purpose heighten our sense of right and wrong. Involvement with a cause greater than ourselves gives satisfaction in a way that a paycheck doesn't, and leaves us longing for more of the same. And wondering how we can make ends meet yet do what we love.
Before accepting the first Job that opens up (or that you pry open from a reluctant Employer), think about whether this position will offer fleeting flashes of accomplishment, or longer lasting tastes of your elusive sense of purpose. It's hard, but if you can open up several Job and Career options you might just catch your own purpose by its tail and inspire others to do the same.
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October 03, 1999
- Job Hunt Don'ts
- Job Hunt Don'ts II
- Acquisition Costs
- News Sources
- Procrastination
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Materials written by John Sumser © TwoColorHat. All Rights Reserved.