While the tech industry is ever changing, so is the market these days. The tech world is staying active and innovative which keeps hardware and software consultants in demand, but with unemployment being at 8.4% it makes it more challenging to set yourself apart from the competition.
Here at Triple Crown we take great pride in having a thorough vetting process that ensures our tech consultants that we partner with not only meet our standards, but that of our clients. The competition is fierce in tech today in comparison to where we were six months ago, and it is important that you adapt to the market.
As a senior technical recruiter, I have had the opportunity to work with hundreds of tech guru’s and there are only a handful that I am constantly putting on back to back assignments. Why you might ask? They differentiate themselves from their competition. Here is what you can do to start landing yourself more interviews and getting placed on assignment.
Adapt to the market
If you are eager to set yourself apart and land your next position start with adapting to the market around you. This means improving your skill set – if AWS is hot on the market learn it or take a job to get that skill set down even if it means the compensation is a little lower than what you expect. If you are a JavaScript engineer, pick up the back-end side with Java, and AWS cloud development. Those engineers who keep on learning and are willing to pick up a variety of skill-sets do not stay on the market and their compensation is positively affected over the long run.
Create a partnership
In my recruiting career, I have truly worked with some of the best engineers in the nation. My recommendation is to work with a recruiter that you can really trust and believe in to find your next opportunity. Your recruiter is the expert when it comes to making you a match with a client need and does more than just connect the dots. When they need a write up from you to get the interview, be flexible and provide the information that is going to get you further in the process. If your recruiter gives you advice on enhancing or refining your resume, hear them out and understand that your interest is mutually aligned. If you are willing to put in some effort with us, we will sell you the whole way and fight for you to get that next assignment. Our team takes pride in the engineers that we work because we build authentic relationships that turn into partnerships.
Staying on assignment
Now that you have secured the opportunity it is time to stand out and stay on assignment. If an issue arises or your expectations are not met make sure to speak with your recruiter and maintain that open communication with them first. Chances are they’ll be able to handle the situation on your behalf. Here are my tips for staying on assignment:
- Be on time – if you are running late let your manager know.
- Document your project details and keep your manager in the loop.
- Hit your project deadlines – if you are behind let your manager know ASAP.
- Be transparent with your recruiter and hiring manager.
If you have not already noticed, the trend here is communication! Too often I see consultants make the mistake of assuming that their recruiter or manager knows what is going on.
Differentiating from the competition boils down to your ability to adapt, learn new technologies and communicate. If you can make these a priority you will set yourself up for success.
