Facing an uncertain economy and slowing revenue growth, many major players in the tech industry have recently parted ways with thousands of employees. These sweeping layoffs have flooded the market with highly skilled talent—making it an increasingly competitive time to land a new job. As a job seeker in tech, you may be wondering what this shift means for your overall career prospects and how you can continue to maintain your competitive edge in today’s tech job market.
“We are witnessing a mass reversal of over hiring that took place during the pandemic,” says Mike Potenza, Vice President of Tandym Tech. “Big tech companies now have more realistic growth expectations, and have needed to rethink their workforce as a result. However, this shouldn’t necessarily raise alarms. It’s more of a sign that the market is leveling out.”
These high-profile layoffs may dominate headlines, but these companies are part of a much broader industry—and there are many other organizations still hiring tech workers. “While big tech is cutting staff, we’re still seeing a strong demand for tech talent,” says Mike. “In fact, many companies are eager to pick up talent who may have previously worked in or been attracted to big tech.”
While this is good news, searching for a new job in tech will feel different than it did just a short time ago. “The jobs are there, but we are seeing a higher number of applicants for each role,” adds Mike. “With more people on the market, there will naturally be more competition. At the same time, employers are able to be more selective when making hiring decisions.”
In other words, finding a new job in today’s tech job market is still possible. You just need to make sure you stand out from your peers.
Now is not the time to take a laid-back approach to job searching. While in the past, you may have just hit “apply” and let your resume do the talking, you should take a more strategic approach to the job search process. Here are some tips to help you successfully navigate today’s evolving tech job market and land a great job.
Tailor your resume
To get the attention of an employer (or an applicant tracking system) in a competitive job market, your resume needs to be relevant. Before submitting any additional applications, create a master version of your resume that lists all of your experience. As you apply to new roles, read the description and take note of any specific skills and experience the employer is looking for. Your master resume should be tailored to each position you apply to, so try to subtly incorporate key aspects of the job description into your experience and skills sections. Read also: How To Make Your Resume Stand Out (And Get Past The ATS)
Bonus tip: include a cover letter
While the necessity of cover letters has been a hotly debated topic, they can be helpful in a more competitive job market. If you choose to include a cover letter in your application, ensure you are showcasing the right, relevant experience at the beginning. This includes any relevant projects you worked on that correlate with the job description of the role, as well as industry experience. These differentiators can bring you to the top of the hiring manager’s application pool. Read also: Is The Cover Letter Phasing Out? It Depends
Highlight transferable skills
If you find yourself in a position where you do not have the exact qualifications listed in the job description, there are still ways for your application to stand out. “If the role calls for experience with a specific product, but you have worked with a competitor’s product, make sure that’s highlighted in your application,” says Mike. “For example, if an employer is calling for a specific JavaScript framework you don’t have experience with, it’s a good idea to mention any other modern JavaScript frameworks you’ve worked on.” Showcasing your correlating experience ensures hiring manager’s you can easily pick up on the technologies for the role.
Emphasize your essential skills
At the same time, pepper your resume with experiences or accomplishments that highlight your essential skills. While they may not be as tangible as your technical skills, they are equally as valuable to employers. These skills include the ability to communicate clearly, work well with others, multi-task, and lead. If you make it to the interview stage of the hiring process, make sure you are able to convey these skills through your body language, your interview responses, and the questions you ask.
Show your growth
As you look for your next opportunity, find ways to show how your skills growth and commitment to continuous learning and development. For example, if you’ve worked on any side projects as part of your development, provide hiring managers with a portfolio of your work and be prepared to discuss it during an interview. If you’ve completed any additional coursework or earned more certifications throughout your career, also be sure to note this.
“With technology evolving so quickly, employers want technologists who are curious and willing to learn new skills,” says Mike. “Leave a strong impression by demonstrating your high growth potential.”
Expand your search
Tech skills are highly valuable to all organizations—and as digital transformation becomes a key priority for many businesses, highly specialized tech talent will continue to be in high demand. “While there may be fewer jobs in big tech, hiring in many other classic enterprise sectors is not slowing down,” says Mike. “Because they were not necessarily technology-driven in the past, it has traditionally been hard for them to attract top tech talent. With an influx of tech professionals on the market, they are seeing this as an opportunity to pick up the talent they need to drive innovation.”
Work with a recruiter
If you feel lost in your job search and need some guidance, it can be extremely beneficial to work with a staffing company. “Connections make an immense difference in the hiring process. Recruiters have the hiring manager’s ears and shortcuts into those roles,” says Mike. “If you align yourself with a reputable staffing company and build relationships with these recruiters, you’ll have a leg up over the competition that’s searching for jobs alone.”
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