Sansa Technology Novemebr 6th Seminar.

1. Ten Myths About Finding a Software/IT Job
John Whaley
CTO, MokaFive

2. Who am I?
 MokaFive Founder and CTO
 Founded in 2005, 45 employees
 Worked at IBM Research in NY and Tokyo
 MIT B.S. and M.Eng, Stanford Ph.D.

3. Finding a job
 Myth #1: Jobs are hard to find. Companies have hiring freezes.
 Reality: Jobs are out there, even in a down economy!
 Trick: Understand the process and make it easy for them to hire you.
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 3

4. Understanding the hiring process
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc./ 4
Resumes
submitted
online
Resumes
from job
fairs
Resumes
from job
sites
Match
keywords
and basic
reqs
Reviewed
by hiring
manager
Passed
phone
screen
Passed
on-site
interview
Offer
accepted!
Recruiter
Personal contact
1000 100 15 8 4 1
Number
at each
stage:

5. Tips in applying
 Include the right keywords to pass the early filters.
 Try to figure out the hiring manager and contact them directly (and personally).
 Learn about the company and position. Customize your resume for each
company to match what they are looking for.
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 5

6. Resume tips
 Use a standard, clean format.
 Write your accomplishments.
 Bulk up with internships and relevant extracurricular/volunteer projects.
 Run a spell check. Have a native English speaker review it.
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 6

7. Lying on your resume
 Myth #2: It’s OK to lie or exaggerate on your resume, everyone does it and no
one will find out.
 Reality: Lying on your resume is not worth it. It will come back to bite you.
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 7

8. Resume tips
 Sell yourself, but don’t make outlandish claims.
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 8

9. Job listings
 Myth #3: Companies will reject your application outright if you don’t meet the
listed requirements.
 Reality: “Must” or “requires” in the job listing usually means “nice to have”.
 Don’t hesitate to apply for a job you think you can do just because you don’t
meet some of the requirements.
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 9

10. Work experience
 Myth #4: Staying at the same company for a long time builds experience and
demonstrates loyalty.
 Reality: Spending too long at the same company in the same position
demonstrates mediocrity and lack of ambition.
 Good average time per role: about 3 years
 Red flag: less than 1 year
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 10

11. Technical skill
 Myth #5: Work in IT/software is 100% technical. Your technical skill is all that
matters.
 Reality: About half the job is communication. Good communication skills are a
requirement.
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 11

12. Job interview
 Your interview is a chance for you to evaluate the company, as well as for the
company to evaluate you.
 They are thinking: “Do I want to work with this person?”
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 12

13. Job interview tips
 Do your homework.
 Arrive early.
 Bring copies of your resume.
 Be careful about how you talk about your previous jobs.
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 13

14. Choosing between offers
 Myth #6: When I have multiple job offers, I should choose the one with the
highest salary.
 Reality: Experience is much more important at the beginning of your career.
Consider the future prospects of the company, your role, and the opportunity
for advancement.
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 14

15. Negotiating salary and benefits
 Myth #7: Your salary level is based on your contribution.
 Reality: Your salary level is based on what the company has to pay you.
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 15

16. Promotions and raises
 Myth #8: Once you get promoted, it is harder to get fired.
 Reality: The more responsibility you have and the higher you are paid, the
easier it is for the company to fire you.
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 16

17. Negotiating initial salary
 Your future salary is based on your starting salary, so a small difference can
add up over time.
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 17

18. Getting a raise/promotion
 Myth #9: The best way to move up and get raises is to work hard and show
your devotion to the same company.
 Reality: It is easier to do a big jump up when changing jobs.
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 18

19. Big company versus small company
 Myth #10: Bigger companies have more opportunities.
 Reality: The bigger the company, the narrower your role.
Copyright 2009 Moka5 Inc. 19