How to Recruit for In-Demand IT Skills

How to Recruit for In-Demand IT SkillsHow to Recruit for In-Demand IT SkillsHow to Recruit for In-Demand IT Skills ConlanAccording to Computerworlds 2015 Forecast survey of IT executives, almost a quarter of all companies expect to hire more IT employees this year. Is yours one of them?If so, youll need a plan to recruit the best of these coveted employees, including candidates with these three in-demand IT skillsDevOps. The term refers to software developers who can also manage operations including the server infrastructure that keeps company websites and applications online and running reliably, says Shayleen Stuto, talent coordinator at TechnologyAdvice.Having a strong DevOps kollektiv not only gives a company a solid core of experienced software engineers. It also reduces IT staffing costs and tightly integrates a companys products with the infrastructure that hosts them.Web applications. Since 2011, web application skills have continued to be in high demand, says Moses Sison of Switch.co. Skills include Java, HTML and CSS.Python/Django prowess. Some of the most in-demand and hardest to fill software engineer job skills include Python web application development experience or Django web application framework experience, says Vanessa Pean, Director of Talent at ScrollMotion.IT Recruiting on Job BoardsOnline job boards are always a good place to begin your IT recruiting. Sison says about 60 percent of his companys candidates come from job ads.Its essential to market the awesome opportunities your company has to offer IT talent, says Sison.This starts with a well-written job descriptions. When you sit down to write a job ad, be specific about the skills youre looking for. Include a list of the attributes necessary to succeed in the role and those that are desirable in a candidate. And dont forget to highlight what makes your organization special.More Ways to Find In-Demand IT SkillsCourtney Muller, senior associate of talent at Novus, recommends spending time on a repository hosting service such as Github or other sites where developers share code and collaborate to find people with the skills you need. Holding discussion groups can be helpful as well.Hosting and participating in meet-up groups that support Scala and other technologies has been particularly helpful for our team to learn cool stuff from really interesting people and develop long-term relationships, she says.Tools such as TalentBin by provide a comprehensive profile of technical professionals, including their contact information.Recruiting IT Talent for Small CompaniesTech skills are important, but smaller companies may want to consider candidates with a broader background, says Kiyoko Fujimura, executive vice president of BuzzBuzzHome.As a startup with a lean engineering team of 12, its important to us that every member is able to understand the end-to-end implementation of a project, not just the technical requirements, she says.Fujimura is constantly on the lookout for business-minded IT workers, people who she says are looking to answer the question Is the product Im building actually solving the harte nuss its supposed to?In your quest to find IT talent, also keep in mind employee referrals. One of our best sources of candidates is our internal referral program where we offer employees $1,000 if they refer the successful candidate, Fujimura says.Our team will also attend events, sometimes even wearing t-shirts that say Were hiring. That usually makes us stand out from the crowd.How to Assess IT CandidatesKnowing how to assess a candidates IT skills will be a good match for your company can be challenging, particularly if you lack a technical background. One option is to bring in a tech employee who is on your staff to do a technical screening of candidate resumes. This person can also assist with conducting the more technical portion of the in-person interview.During the technical interview, its not uncommon to ask the candidate to solve an IT p roblem using a whiteboard to explain their coding solution. Companies such as Prove It and Brainbench can help you assess a candidates technical know-how.Finally, dont forget to offer a level of compensation that is in line with the competitive recruiting landscape. This is especially important for small businesses that must compete on compensation in 2015.

What you bring is what you get

What you bring is what you getWhat you bring is what you getI thought the gruppe retreat was going great until the CEO left the room. We were halfway through the session. The team was finally opening up. I just cracked the code.?- ?I was thinking to myself.But, I was wrong.Our behavior reflects on others.Like an acute sounding board, our brain internally echoes what others do and feel. Just by looking at someone we experience them,research shows.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraA team or organizational transformation is a reflection of our own personal transformation. If we want others to be courageous, we must first give our very best.So, what really happened with this CEO?What You Reflect Comes Back toYouDriving change requires people to become comfortable with being uncomfortable?- ?and it starts with us.I didnt launch myconsultancyfor financial independence reasons?- ?I wante dspiritual freedom. After 20 plus years of consulting, I needed a clean slate. Unlike regular consultants, I wanted to experiment freely.Freedom meant choosing the clients I want to work with or elend. But, also exposing myself mora than usual.Those who have worked with me know that Im not shy.Im comfortable speaking up my mind?- ?I love to challenge and be challenged. However, something was missing. My employers expected me to tell clients what they wanted to hear?- ?not for me to be authentic.That didnt stop me from speaking up. But, I wasnt giving my best self. I wasnt happy with I was reflecting on others either.Authenticity can become invisible to us but not to others.Our brains are wired to read cues so subtle that, even when we dont consciously register them, our bodies respond.Someones smile activates our own smile muscles in our faces. According toresearch, we internally register what that person is feeling. As a consequence, if their smile is fake, we are more likely to fe el uncomfortable.What we give reflects on othersA woman realized that she was doing an MBA not because she wanted to, but to please her husband. That same night she called him and let him know she was dropping out. The workshop had nothing to do with career change, but the experience still touched her.Another participant decided she didnt want to be miss nice anymore. People were taking advantage of her. This young woman wasnt planning to go rogue. She just wanted to take care of her dreams?- ?to become a priority. This happened after she finished writingher obituary.Did my facilitation or exercises help them see the light? Probably. But, something more important happened.Empathy makes us visible to others.When someone is upset but suppresses their feelings, we may not realize that they are angry. However,a studyshows that even if unnoticed, their anger can increase our blood pressure.When we bring our best self to every moment, we inspire others to be authentic too.Empathy is thest rongest superpowera change agent can have. Its not about being pitiful, but understanding. It helps us appreciate other peoples ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and emotions. We get to see their uniqueness.What Bends, DoesntBreakDriving change requires rebel leaders.When we think of rebels, we think of trouble. But, true rebels dont break things out of joy but to find the way out. They know how to break the habits that hold us back. Rebels challenge groupthink and routines.Being vulnerable is a form of rebellion.Rebels ask questions others dont?- ?they look at a problem from multiple perspectives. They dont pretend to have all the answers. They are okay with looking ignorant or making mistakes. Finding new solutions requires emptying our minds first.We have a fixed idea of rebels in the business world. Take Steve Jobs, for example. We often think of rebels as creative, but also difficult to work with. Its time to shift our thinking.As Francesca Gino said,To be a rebel does not mean you hav e to be an outcast or a troublemaker. Effective rebels are people who break rules in ways that are positive and productive.The author ofRebel Talentbelieves that we dont have to be born a rebel?- ?we can all become one.Leaders are often taught to keep a distance and project a perfect image. To look flawless, confident, and in control. Disclosing ones vulnerability in front of our coworkers is perceived as an act of weakness.Rebels are courageous because they are comfortable being vulnerable.The CEO who left the room wasnt unhappy with the team offsite. She just wasnt comfortable in her own skin. Her team was opening up, but she couldnt. She felt naked. And left.I thought I yperit a client for good. Until, a couple of weeks later, she called me to share her progress?- ?she decided to open up. It wasnt easy though. But, she took the courage and got back in front of her team. She asked for forgiveness.Acknowledging why she left the team retreat while everyone else was playing along req uires courage. It was a first step to embrace her vulnerable side. She realized thatbendingwasnt a weakness, but a strength.As Confucius said, The green reed which bends in the wind is stronger than the mighty oak which breaks in a storm.Vulnerability doesnt mean being weak but accepting we have flaws and weaknesses. When you recognize you are not perfect, you keep the door open. Thats how you grow.Being vulnerable is letting ourselves be seen?- ?our true self becomes an inspiration to others.Being Vulnerable Is a ResponsibilityPeople can tell when we are not genuine.Asresearchby the University of Wisconsin shows, while we may try to look perfect or in charge, we might also be perceived as inauthentic. Trust is not easy to build?- ?it requires courage.Being vulnerable doesnt mean being weak. Not everyone is ready to accept and acknowledge their weaknesses. But, thats the price you pay to liberate your best self.Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage.?- ?Bren Brown Leading change is a mission full of responsibilities. You are accountable for what you reflect on your team, your organization, and yourself.1. Vulnerability inspiresteamsVulnerability emerged as the key theme from anin-depth studyof successful CEOs. Especially for those who experienced remarkable personal growth and professional success in their businesses.Adaptability to change requires bending without breakingAfter receiving harsh feedback, one of the CEOs chose to be vulnerable. He recognized he was too harsh and harming the team. After sharing his personal plan to his top 60 managers, he generated huge personal support.The team was so inspired that the company outperformed its competitors six years in a row.Driving change is not difficult resistancemakes it difficult. We need the face our fears head-on. And deal with we cant anticipate or control.2. A vulnerable culture seeds trust and innovationThe CEO of a large telco told me that he thought he knew his team very well. Until I asked them to share the last time they laughed, felt love, cried, lied, stole something, and thought about suicide.Disclosing our vulnerability in front of our coworkers gives others permission to give their best.This executive team has been working together for almost a decade. But never felt so comfortable sharing their mistakes before. Feeling exposed strengthened their relationships. Embracing everyones vulnerability made it feelsafer to speak up.Organizations are not initially open to embracing authenticity. They are okay when we talk about innovation, creativity, and change. But, vulnerability makes everyone uncomfortable. However, teams cant experiment without frailty and empathy.As Bren Brown explains, vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity, and change.Adaptability to change is all about being vulnerable. Fresh ideas are fragile?- ?they need a safe space to blossom.3. Vulnerability liberates the best version of ourselvesOne of the best compliments Ive ev er received had nothing to do with my smarts, ideas, or skills. It was all about what I reflected on others. Thats what drove me to write this post.He is not asking us to do anything he hasnt done himself first, one participant shared with the rest. We were wrapping up a very demanding workshop. This person saw my vulnerable self and felt inspired to leave his comfort zone too.We are told that leaders shouldnt ask people to do something they wouldnt do themselves. That sounds tricky to me. Leaders are in a more comfortable position. What seems difficult for others, might not be that hard for them.Leaders must feel as uncomfortable as their teams do.As a change facilitator, I like to keep that present. Each person is fighting a different battle?- ?discomfort is a personal experience. I want to inspire people to become their best version, not to stretch as far as I would.Vulnerability creates accountability. It makes us responsible for bringing the best out of our teams, organizations , and ourselves.We are all good at expecting something from others. We want our leaders, coworkers or family to give more. But, what about ourselves?Empathy and vulnerability are catalysts for change. Our human frailty is more inspirational than any perfect image. What we reflect on others always comes back to us.Are you vulnerable and genuine? People always find out in the end. Give your best self.Im a change instigator helping people and organizations createpositive change. I advise, write, and speak on team development and culture transformation. Receive myweekly insightsor follow me onLinkedIn.This article first appeared on Medium .You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Resume Tips for Freelancers

Resume Tips for FreelancersResume Tips for FreelancersResume Tips for FreelancersFree yourself, with a resume thats equipped for freelance.Say goodbye to being chained to the office and hello to being your own boss. More and mora employees are swapping their 9-to-5s for the freedom of freelancing. Forbes recently reported that freelancers represent 35 percent of the workforce. Experts expect those numbers to continue growing.Though freelancers may enjoy more freedom and the ability to choose their own clients, they still face many of the saatkorn challenges as other workersbut in larger quantity. Unemployed Americans only have to worry about finding the one job to sustain them. Freelancers face a different requirement. They must constantly search for new, higher paying gigs. Finding one job is difficult enough, but finding work to fill your empty calendar, well, that takes skill.Resumes still play an integral part of the job search. Freelancers should continue to hone their primary b randing document, but, keep in mind there are subtle changes needed to make it work. Here are a few resume tips to tailor your resume for your freelance job search.What format and design should I use?Resumes come in various shapes and sizes. Some freelance designers created a brochure, detailing their abilities, experience and education. The creative vorkaufsrechts are limitless. Just remember, the more traditional resume formats are preferred by clients. If you feel you must create a unique piece of art to represent your innovative skills, be sure to include one of these two resume types.Option 1 Chronological Resume.Chronological resumes list all pertinent information in three to four basic sections summary, experience, education and leidable contributions. Organize the information in each section according to date, starting with most recent. An option is to include a subsection under experience to display their most notable clients on their freelance resume.Option 2 Functional R esume.Many freelancers have numerous skills and experience, spanning from the multitude of projects they are assigned. Functional resumes help organize these skills into easy to read sections. Rather than write a description for each job, group all similar descriptions into a bulleted list. Include the correlating experience directly under the bulleted list (i.e. company name, date and positions). You can organize lists by design, marketing, computer proficiency, etc.Should I use the term Freelancer or Independent Contractor?Many freelancers question whether they should use Independent Contractor or Freelancer as their position title. Dont use either. Choose the position that bests fit the experience. Did you manage the companys product launch? Marketing Manager or Branding Supervisor would be acceptable. Did your client bring you onboard to create eCommerce tools? You could list Lead eCommerce Technician or Sr. Backend Developer.This doesnt mean you should mislead potential clients . Never represent a project or contract as employment. Dishonesty, even if it is unintentional, leads to contract violations and lost trust. There are two basic tactics used to prevent misrepresenting a freelancing gig. Add a short phrase within the job description. An easier method is to include Contract within parentheses at the end of the title.Where should I list my projects?Once you step out into the freelance arena, the world stops thinking of you as a team member or employee. You now are an official business, selling services to the highest bidder. Its time to put your best foot, or rather, projects forward. Dont focus on including all your skills and abilities. Most potential clients assume you meet the entry-level criteria.Maintain a running tallyusing Excel or another spreadsheet softwareof all clients and projects. Include a one to two-sentence description, dates and outcomes. Create different sheets for different types of projects (press releases, campaign launches, anal ytics, etc.). This will help you optimize your freelance resume down the road. Create an empty section in your resume entitled Notable Clients and Projects. Leave enough room for about three to five projects. Each time you meet with a new, potential client, list your most impressive projects as they apply to the new clients needs. Keep in mind, name dropping doesnt work well for hiring managers. But clients are more impressed with big names. List those first, even if the projects were smaller and less important.Should I include an objective statement?Never include an objective statement in your resume. Not only is this outdated and awkward, objective statements rarely work for freelance positions. Write a career summary or professional biography instead. Summaries are five to six-line paragraphs and detail your most important qualities. Start by selecting five to six of the most important contributions listed under experience. Rewrite the descriptions using hard and soft skills and keywords from the clients website or job listing.Freelancer resumes also can use this section as a pitch method to replace the outdated objective statement. This tactic forgoes the career summary and focuses more on the clients needs. Remember, youre a freelancer (aka business) that sells services. Tell a prospective client what service you will provide them not just how awesome you are or how much you know. The Freelancer Union offers free advice and proposal templates to help you create a lasting impression.Its time to go beyond the resume.Freelancers must remember to go beyond their resume. Treat your new career as a business. Youre not looking for one job. Rather, you are looking to make an impression in the industry and bring in more revenue. To do this, consider your brand identity. Social media is greatbut Facebook and Twitter only take you so far. Consider these options to help market your freelance services.Professional website. All freelancers must have a websiteto showcas e your work. Building a strong, professional website doesnt take long or cost thousands. Website builders like Wix and Squarespace offer freemium services and what you see is what you get editing.Business social media tools. Facebook and Twitter are great for business. Dont forget to take advantage of other tools. Pinterest and Instagram are the top social media platforms right now. Socially active businesses not only rank higher on Google and other search engines, they are considered more professional experienced. Posting to all those social media accounts is tedious. Buffer and Hootsuite offer freemium services, allowing users to post to multiple accounts at once.Industry Blog. Companies have a love-hate relationship with blogs those who understand how to blog love them those who have no clue hate them. Dont fall into the latter category. Learn to blog, like a professional. Freelancers with a blog are considered more experienced, professional and hold a higher esteem with clients .Now, its time to put these freelance resume tips to the test. Then, see how well you didlet us review your resume for free.

4 Tips for a Healthier Work-life Balance

4 Tips for a Healthier Work-life Balance4 Tips for a Healthier Work-life BalanceFor a lot of us, finding a healthy work-life balance can seem almost impossible.Managing work responsibilities with family responsibilities while trying to fit in a social life can make anyone feel overwhelmed and stressed.The presaya to succeed in work can make it hard to create a balance between your work and home life.However, creating a healthy work-life balance can increase your productivity and work performance.Here are 4 tips for a healthier work-life balance.4. Create a routineIts easy to get into a habit of letting work dictate your schedule.I had this problem at a previous job of mine.I would let projects sidetrack me, and it kept me working late hours.I would let clients schedule meetings with me after regular business hours and end up working 10 hour days on top of an hour commute.I quickly found myself feeling burnt out and depressed over never having time for my family.Thats because I let wo rk dictate my schedule and didnt stick to a routine.To ensure you dont make the same mistake, create a scheduled routine for your time.Be intentional about your work schedule, making sure you are have built in breaks for yourself and establishing a time for you to leave each day.Be sure to include downtime and hobbies into your routine. While you may not get to do a hobby-related activity every day, you should give yourself at least 30 minutes of personal downtime every day.Once you create a routine, make sure to honor it. If you say you want to attend a weekly yoga class twice a week at 545 pm, honor that commitment. Unless its an emergency, dont allow yourself to work through your downtime.3. Unplug from the officeI once had a babo warn me to leave work at work. She knew the temptation of answering client calls and emails off work hours, and she warned me about making myself too accessible.Unfortunately, I didnt listen at first. If a client called or emailed me after work hours, I found myself answering back right then.Clients loved this, but soon, I felt like I was always at work.For many workers, technology has made it easier for us to take work with us.No matter where you are, whether you are at home or at the store or even on vacation, the office can be right next to you on your phone or tablet.In order to create a healthier work-life balance, learn to unplug from the office.Once you are home for the day, leave work-related business alone.This means dont answer work-related emails or messages while you are at home, out to dinner, or on vacation.Disconnect from the office and enjoy your life outside of work.Unplugging from the office will allow you to fully connect with your family and friends and help you enjoy your time off.2. Take Care of Your HealthWhen you are busy or overwhelmed, it can be easy to let your health take a back seat.When I was working long hours and commuting long hours, I stopped taking care of my health.I ate out more. I didnt exerci se as much. I didnt sleep as much as I should.After a while, I just felt terrible. I was tired and sick all the time, and my work suffered.I realized that if I didnt make time for my health, I would continue to struggle.So, I joined a gym and went every day before work. I planned my meals carefully, and I got into a good sleep schedule.I suddenly had more energy in the morning and was more productive at work. I was happier and able to get more done.Taking care of your health can have a significant positive impact on your work-life balance.Exercising can reduce your stress, lift your mood, and give you more energy.Fueling your body with good food makes you less likely to feel drained and sick all time.Developing a good sleep schedule makes it easier to get through your day without having to pound multiple cups of coffee.Set time aside to make sure you are taking care of your body and your health. You will feel better, and you will take less sick days, which your employer will enjoy.1 . Be willing to express your needs.The most significant tip I can give you for a healthier work-life balance is learn to be willing to express your needs.A year or so ago, I went through a loss in my family. After only a few days off, I rushed back into work, trying to distract myself from my grief.I didnt want my employer to know that I was struggling, so I just kept working. But one day, I couldnt do it anymore. I was miserable and in pain. I actually thought about quitting.But instead, I went to my boss and expressed that I needed time off for my mental health. She was understanding and gave me the time off I needed.In order to create a healthy work-life balance, you need to be aware of your needs and be able to express them.Examine what you need to feel balanced and fulfilled and dont be afraid to approach the subject with your employer.If you want to leave by a specific time each day to spend time with your kids, express that. Be open and honest with your boss about your needs and see what you can work out.

Analyst Resume - the Conspiracy

Analyst Resume - the Conspiracy The Argument About Analyst Resume When theres a huge gap, that means having that skill will truly make you stick out from the competition. The part of a change agent in the BA is vital to ensuring all impacted parties are prepared for the changes necessary to accept the solution. If youre lacking a good deal of expert experience then it is even more critical you compose a flawless education section. Most significantly, make sure the parking lot is visible to everybody in the meeting. Provide a distinctive solution for a problem prospective employers are seeking to solve. Use strong action verbs to outline just what you bring and the way you are able to add to the success of the hiring company. The clearest approach to order the info is to outline the aims of the undertaking, what the day-to-day duties were on the undertaking and finally the critical achievements or deliverables of the person. Then, talking about yur secondary abilities and duti es over the main ones is another mistake you have to be cautious of. Simply take a little extra time to learn as much as possible about the prospective employer. You will need to reveal the hiring manager that you could give them what they want. Write your cover letter to make certain it fits the work description. The salary is really sweet too. You might need to take a peek at them and utilize themA because they are editable and may be used to make fantastic resumes. Learn what you have to find startedand how to develop the best resume Uploading to our resume database requires you to make an account. Begin with searching online resources for what you could discover on the corporation. There are several creative resume templates. A Career Objective is valuable if youre applying to a specific position and ready to tailor your objective particularly for that job. Following that, youll have to include your summary of qualifications. Its essential that the employer see a hist ory of BA-like work if at all possible. Keep in mind that each and every job is unique, so you ought to research what skills a particular employer will be searching for. Potential employers may require up to three decades of prior work experience in the specialty. Qualifications Potential employers in the specialty of investment banking will search for candidates with these qualifications in education and work experience. The function of the Business Analyst has grown in importance as the zwischenstaatlich small business environment has gotten more unpredictable. Business Analysts are tasked to create the organization run better by finding solutions to current troubles, introduce efficient means of managing responsibilities and on the lookout for comparative benefits versus competition in the business. Business analysis can encompass a number of responsibilities that are unique to the field theyre in. Highlight your company analysis accomplishments and ensure it is crystal cle ar that youre qualified for the varieties of BA jobs to which youre applying. A certified small business analyst resume is a resume which certifies the experience and qualifications of a company analyst whos interested to work for a specific organization. Hiring managers read career objectives all of the moment, and its simple for them to see through unusually complicated sentence structures and vocabulary. It is not always simple to do, but quantifying your professional experience will offer you an edge over a number of other applicants. There might be a number of jobs youre qualified for that can help you on your career path. The templates mentioned previously would be grand whenever youre looking for help in drafting the most effective possible resumes for the job of a company analyst. Hiring managers will be searching for what skills you have related to the job which you seek. Most hiring managers wish to find a cover letter together with your data scientist resume. A hiri ng manager searching for a Data Analyst is searching for a hardworking individual with oben liegend understanding of business information systems, mathematics, and statistics.

4 Ways to Teach Your Candidates Better Interviewing Skills - Spark Hire

4 Ways to Teach Your Candidates Better Interviewing Skills - Spark HireAs a recruiter, it is important that we provide not only value to our clients, but to our candidates as well. One way that we can provide value to our candidates is by guiding them through the bewerbungsgesprch process and providing them with tips that will help them to interview successfully.There are 4 key ways you can help your candidates to develop better interviewing skills1. Provide insight on the hiring managers background and interview styleSomething that fruchtwein candidates do not have access to when interviewing on their own is an understanding of the hiring managers interview style, personality, or background. This is a great way for you to provide value to a candidate during the interview process.Before your candidate interviews, provide him or her with insight on the hiring manager and what you know about him. Give the candidate an idea of the hiring managers background, experience, and interview st yle. If the hiring manager is blunt and straight forward, let your candidate know.Anything you can do to prepare your candidate for the first meeting with the hiring manager is something your candidate will greatly appreciate.2. Explain the key things the hiring manager is looking forAfter you give the candidate a rundown of the hiring managers background and interview style, its important to let your candidate know the key things that are important to the hiring manager.If the hiring manager is searching for someone who has strong knowledge and experience on a specific database, let your candidate know this. If your candidate has experience on this database, she will know to emphasize this in the interview.3. Provide tips on the types of questions to askAlmost all hiring managers open up the end of the interview for any questions the candidate may have. Guide your candidate on the appropriate questions to ask, depending on the stage of the interview process.Providing sample questio ns can help guide the candidate and point her in the right direction.4. Practice closing the interviewMany hiring managers will be searching for a strong candidate who knows how to ask for the job. Make sure your candidate understands that if they truly want the job, they need to make it known at the end of the interview and ask for the next steps. Practice closing the interview with your candidate until they have found a way that is comfortable for them.What are some other ways you can teach your candidate better interviewing skills? Please share your tips in the comments below.Image Sergey Nivens/BigStock.com