Navigating the world of work can be difficult but there are things you can do to make landing your dream tech role that much easier. Here are our top tips to help you get ahead:

1. Speak to recruiters

According to Talent’s Sydney Practice Manager, Alan Dowdall, “Now is the time to engage with those recruiters you are connected to or who have contacted you in the past 6 months, and to speak to them about the current landscape based on your current skillset”. Recruiters, especially tech-based ones, can be your best asset in landing a tech role. With access to industry insights and knowledge about which companies are hiring, they can help you in securing interviews for roles most suited to your skillset and experience.

If you’re looking for a digital or tech role, check out our Job Search.

2. Get in touch

Former colleagues and managers are great people to turn to when looking for a new role. Check in with them to see where they are working currently. You may find that they are currently hiring, and can help set you up with an interview.

3. Look to the competition

Another great idea is to look to competitors of your current or previous employers. If they are in a position to hire currently, research who you know in these companies and see if they can make an introduction on your behalf. Use your connections to get a foot in the door.

4. Update your resume

Alan recommends scanning your resume thoroughly, “If it’s only been updated sporadically over the past 5 years, maybe it’s time for a rewrite.” Your core skillset should be clear so hiring managers can easily identify what you will bring to the table. However, Alan cautions, “If your resume reads like a job description, it’s time to update it with tangible achievements and details around projects worked on”. You want to showcase how your skills have actually been put to action. Tangible examples are essential.

5. Expand your skillset

Upskilling is the key that opens the door to many more job opportunities. For example, it may be worthwhile to skill up in security as it is related to your role. According to LinkedIn, hiring demand for professionals skilled in cybersecurity is significant, and companies are increasingly hiring for these roles. The more you can offer a company, the more value they will see in hiring you.

6. Set up job alerts

Sign up for job alerts from job boards and LinkedIn. You will be notified when any roles become available and can be the first to jump on them. It also means you can cut your job search time in half, as these alerts will be doing the hard search work for you. To receive notifications that are even more tailored to you, Alan recommends “staying quite close to your core skills” in the roles you apply for, as this will increase your chances of scoring an interview.

7. Refresh your LinkedIn profile

Your LinkedIn profile is essentially your digital resume, so you want to ensure that it is up to date with your key skills, qualifications and experience. Recruiters and hiring managers will be scanning this to determine whether you are the right fit for the position. LinkedIn is also a great networking tool, and is useful in making known to others that you are looking for work. We recommend that you update your profile to ‘Open to Opportunities’ as you want hiring managers and recruiters to easily be able to find your account and consider you for their open roles.

8. Set your pay expectations

In terms of a salary/pay rate in the current market, you should be asking yourself ‘what I am prepared to accept?’ This rate may not be what you got 12 months ago, so you need to be realistic and competitive if you want to increase your chances of securing your next role.

9. Dedicate some hours to job search

Searching for jobs is no easy task, and can take a large toll on you mentally. Alan recommends “setting a certain number of hours aside each day to do your research, sending your resume and conducting follow up calls with recruiters”. Setting this time aside helps you to establish a routine, and the more consistent you are with your efforts, the greater your chances are of landing a role.

10. Don’t be disheartened

With a shifting market and news of layoffs across big tech companies, Alan’s advice is to keep your spirits high, “Don’t get disheartened. There are still a lot of companies hiring and the right opportunity will present itself once you are consistent in your approach”. Stay motivated and persistent – it will pay off.

If you’re currently looking for tech work, check out our Job Search.