eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
Where are the jobs in tech these days?
One recruiting expert in technology gives his take on where the jobs are and who is more likely to get a job first.
John Younger is the president and CEO of Accolo, a recruiting technology company based in Larkspur, Calif. He told the San Francisco Chronicle in a Q&A article:
“Q: Who’s getting hired and who’s doing the hiring?A: There are a couple of things we’ve seen consistently. People getting hired have very specifically targeted goals. Generalists will be selected only if there’s not a specialist who comes first. As people get desperate, they turn into generalists and that actually turns against you.There’s a bunch of jobs out there. We focus on technology companies, biotech and pharmaceutical, but hiring is picking up in several areas, including sales, marketing and software engineering. Sustainable energy companies are also doing a lot of hiring.The world went sideways last year and stopped hiring, but now (companies) have realized they have to get work done and they need people to do the work.“
A quick search of jobs on Accolo’s site found 210 job listings.
Not sure I fully agree with Younger’s assessment that companies need people when most studies out there have shown significant resistance to hiring, but it’s his business to say there are jobs.
The most telling information is the argument against leaning toward being a generalist. To me, that is smart advice, and is really talking about resumes.
Having a specific job target completely reflected in your resume is where you start. If you’re a Senior Software Developer or Network Infrastructure Expert or Project Manager, stick to that…. Whatever it is, stay with it, show accomplishments and business results from the work you have done. And if you have multiple talents that you want to express, you can still highlight them in your summary profile, just make sure to give a clear picture of what you are targeting in the top half of page one in your resume.
Here is some advice from professional resume writer Abby Locke from her article “Is It Time to Toss Your Resume?”:
“Does Your Resume’s First Page Stand Out?Generally, you have a max of 30 to 60 seconds to make a great impression on a potential employer. Don’t make the mistake of filling your resume’s first page with heavy detail that does not support your qualifications, experience and expertise. Information such as education, certifications, associations and volunteer work take up too much valuable real estate on the first page.Instead, use the first page to strategically draw the reader in with a strong personal branding statement, career highlights and core competencies.“
Locke details further the differences between fluff and useful information and what is truly meant by a personal branding statement. It should be, she suggests, one of the first things someone reads on your resume.
[Disclosure: I do freelance work for TheLadders.com. I may refer to content from them when deemed applicable, but I receive no compensations for links, referrals or anything else on this ZDE site.]