How To Apply for a Tech Job

We've recently posted a number of IT positions and after spending the past month sifting through over 100+ job applications, it's painfully obvious that the majority of people in the tech industry don't quite understand how to write a proper cover letter or resume.  It is essential for everyone to possess the core communication skill-set, especially in the written form.

One of the most valuable courses I took in the late 90s was a course on business writing and communication.  It covered topics from writing an efficient cover letter and resume, to publishing a press release for a fictional company.  The course taught me basic writing skills, particularly helping to identify the target audience and the purpose of the communication, both critical components to successfully applying for a new job.  For those of you thinking of applying to our current postings, I am going to outline what I look for in a technical job application:

• Avoid including a picture of yourself in your resume.  At this point in the application process I am not concerned what you look like, and I will deem whether you are 'presentable' at the in-person interview, if we get that far.  This is not a job application for Canada's Next Top Model so an embedded picture of your best 'Thinking Man' pose is not necessary.
• Keep things concise, target 2-pages maximum for your resume, and 1 page for your cover letter.  I've come across cover letters and resumes that are longer than some of the technical manuals for Microsoft Exchange Server, I instantly tune them out!  A 1 page resume may be too little, and 3 pages is overkill.
• Include key projects you've either managed, implemented, or been a part of.  Instead of listing your responsibilities at your current or past employers, list the things you've accomplished and the successful results you've achieved.  I'm impressed by results, not by what your duties were.
• Avoid fancy colours and fonts, stick to something that is easy on the eyes.  If I open your resume and see a rainbow of colours and images, it will most likely land in the shredder.
• Include a little section about yourself, who you are, what you like outside of all things technical.  I know you're not a robot so a small piece on what makes you tick is appreciated and will let me know how you will fit in with our team of great people.
• Spellcheck is your friend, it's there for a reason!  Nothing will get a resume deleted faster than a resume littered with poor spelling, as you'll be communicating with clients on a regular basis!  Perform a spell check before you save and send your documents.
• Use an appropriate document naming convention, example: Instead of Resume(2).doc, rezoomeh.pdf, resume_new_december_final.rtf try and use something that attaches itself to you, such as: LastName_Resume.pdf and LastName_Cover.pdf
• Instead of listing every technical acronym found on Wikipedia, list the things you actually know, focus on what you're good at.  A blanket list of every networking protocol in acronym format with description will make anyone cross-eyed, including myself.
• It is not necessary to include industry certified logos.  Definitely mention your certifications, but don't clutter your resume with various 1-inch jpegs of CCNA and MCSE logos - I'm well aware of what they look like without your reminder.
• Align your cover letter with the job you're applying for.  If a job posting asks for specific skills and/or experience, mention it in your cover letter, specifically what you've done in the past to meet the criteria.  Providing real-world examples of how you meet the needs outlined in the job posting will go a long way to making you a credible candidate.
• A cover letter is not one sentence, break it down into 3 paragraphs:
  
  
  1. The first paragraph should describe why you are interested in this position and why you're applying
  2. The second paragraph should describe how you meet the desired criteria with examples
  3. The third paragraph should tie it all together and emphasize your enthusiasm about the opportunity
• Lastly, avoid being lazy and CCing me and 5 other companies your resume.  It is a very tacky approach that tells me you're too lazy to even care about a) hiding the fact that your mass spamming to numerous potential employers, and b) showing interest in our posting specifically.

The need to write this article has been growing of late, as I've witnessed a large percentage of poorly composed emails, cover letters, and resumes, and I've probably missed out on a solid candidate only because of their poor writing and communication skills.  At the end of the day, it's important that you focus on what the employer is looking for; if you've been a developer for the past 5 years, then why are you applying for a Network Engineer position?  How do your skills and experience meet the needs of the job posting?  Ensuring you align your cover letter with what the employer is looking for, will guarantee they will read your resume.  Once they've reached that point, ensure you paint a clear picture of what you've accomplished in a clear and concise fashion.  It's simplest start to getting your foot in the door, but often the one most poorly executed on.