PACE-IT: CE 1.3 - Targeting a Job Type
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Career Management & Entrepreneurship exam study guide presentations by instructor Mary Keany, MSLIS, MSIS - PACE-IT (Progressive, Accelerated Certifications for Employment in Information Technology)
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PACE-IT: CE 1.3 - Targeting a Job Type
- 1. Targeting a Job Type CE 1.3: Targeting a Job Type Daniela Axinte and Mary Keany2015/2016
- 2. Topics for discussion • Selected by algorithm: why it is so important that you have to have detailed description of the job your are targeting • Detailed description of the job you are targeting • List of skills required • What you have • What you need • Plan on how to bridge the gap over time • Based on the plan, what is the logical sequence of position
- 3. Selected by algorithm • Resumes are read first by »Algorithms »Then, by humans who don’t understand the job »Then, by the hiring manager
- 4. Skills inventory • The skills you currently have • The skills you might need • Plan of how to bridge the gap overtime • Discussing missing skills with potential employer and your plan to acquire those skills
- 5. Closing Skills Gap Plan • Say the job requires you to be fluent in C# (a programming language). Here is what your plan could look like: » Description: C# programming language. » Estimated time to learn the basics: 3 months. » Estimated time to reach an Advanced level: 12 months. » Where can I take the classes: Three levels (basic, intermediate, and advanced) available at EdCC (face-to-face and online options) and on Lynda.com. » Cost: $X per level. Total: $Y. » How I can pay for it: …[scholarship, loan, cash, etc.]. » When can I start the first level: …. » First next step I can take now: • Register for class • Put it on the calendar for the next quarter • Apply for scholarship, get a loan • Read a book from the library to learn more about it • Find C# developers that can provide some guidance of what to expect in this career what resources they recommend • Look for online forums for C# developers and see what type of challenges they have • Etc.
- 6. Topics discussed • Selected by algorithm: why it is so important that you have to have detailed description of the job your are targeting • Detailed description of the job you are targeting • List of skills required • What you have • What you need • Plan on how to bridge the gap over time • Based on the plan, what is the logical sequence of position
- 7. About PACE-IT Program This workforce solution was 100 percent funded by a $3 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability or ownership. Funded by the Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Grant #TC-23745-12-60-A-53. PACE-IT is an equal opportunity employer/program and auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. For those that are hearing impaired, a video phone is available at the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office in Mountlake Terrace Hall 159. Check www.edcc.edu/ssd for office hours. Call 425.354.3113 on a video phone for more information about PACE-IT Program. For any additional special accommodation needed, call SSD office at 425.640.1814. Edmonds Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race; color; religion; national origin; sex; disability; sexual orientation; age; citizenship; marital or veteran status; or genetic information in its programs and activities.
Editor's Notes
- The first filter your resume must pass through is a computer program. It is well known that many resumes submitted online are being rejected by algorithms designed to look for very specific terms. If you switch industries, even if the position is the same or very similar, you might be using a name for the same type of task that the job your are applying for in the new industry is calling it. If that is the case, when the program reads your resume, it will not pick up on that type of task and therefore, you will not get any points for it. These algorithms are part of an applicant tracking system (ATS) that allows hiring professionals to reduce large volumes of resumes into the most relevant by keywords. So, knowing the right terms, the type of skills required, and the job description in detail is very crucial to passing passed the first gatekeeper: the ATS. The second filter is usually a human recruiter who, out of the resumes that passed the algorithm test, matches keywords that were given to them by the hiring manager with the keywords on your resume. Recruiters literally screen the resumes. If your resume contains all or most of the keywords she was searching for, then your resume is given to the hiring manager. The third filter is the hiring manager, who will actually read your resume, and not just look for keywords. The resume should address all or most of the requirements listed in the job description. If the hiring manager likes the resume, they will ask the recruiter to do a phone screening to find out if you are still interested and available. In reality, they want to hear how you present yourself. Are you arrogant, or polite and courteous? Did you answer her questions or just dance around it because you didn’t have an answer for it? In a nutshell, they will make sure you are a worthy candidate both as a person and as a professional before making scheduling an interview with the hiring manager. This is why you have to be prepared and remember the job description, the requirements, and the criteria for which they are looking. The phone screening is also a great opportunity to insert some comments and ask questions that shows you researched the company and are familiar with the industry. Here is an example: “I noticed that your company uses SAP as a financial and a CRM system. I am familiar with salesforce.com as a CRM system. However, I am excited to learn new systems, am a quick learner, and can familiarize myself with the new system in a relatively short term”. What you are really say is: “Hey, I AM familiar with your company and learned about the type of systems your are using for this position as much as could with the information available publically. I also know that the main structure of any CRM (Customer Relationship Manager) system is pretty standard. They might have a different user interface and my be customized differently, but they share the same functionality. Learning a new one knowing one of them is not that hard.”
- If you apply for the dream job but you still lack 1 or 2 skills from the job description, you can talk to the interviewer about how you plan to acquire the skill and tell them about the specifics of the plan. “I know that I am missing X skill, but I already have a plan to acquire it within x months, starting on Y date. Do you think this class is good for the type of work I will be doing in the future, or do you recommend something else? I sincerely appreciate any guidance you might provide”. Initiative, advanced planning, and openness for suggestions go along way.
- Some skills you will find in the job description postings will be harder to plan for than learning how to code in C#, for example. A lot of skills can be addressed with reading, and watching online videos such as TED talks or PBS in-depth reporting. There are also a lot of other free training resources. You just have to make sure you find a reputable one.