It’s time! You have done the work to identify your target role, you have taken some courses to upskill, your resume is ready and it’s time to search for and apply for jobs!
To increase your chances of success you must target your job search. What this means, is that you have to find target jobs and companies to apply to, you have a targeted resume that you tailor to each job application and you’re writing a targeted cover letter each time you apply.
Here is how to target your job search:
Finding target jobs
As you do your job search and pull up postings for your target role, read through the description to make sure that it aligns with what you expect to be doing in this role. From the research you have done, you should understand what the purpose of the role is and what it entails day to day. A lot of job descriptions are poorly written demonstrating that the company does not understand what this role is truly about. That is a red flag. For example, many companies list job postings for Product Management jobs, but when you read through the descriptions, it is full of Project Management duties. These are two different roles, serving a different purpose.
Finding target companies
Leverage your domain knowledge
When transitioning to tech, a good strategy for your job search is to target companies that are working in the space where you have experience. This is ideal, because your domain knowledge can be a huge asset. For example, someone with a healthcare background can target companies in the HealthTech space. Tech companies in the HealthTech space develop software for healthcare. Similarly, someone in finance, can target FinTech companies – tech companies that develop software for the financial industry.
Align to your passions
After doing your self-inventory, you should have an idea of your likes, dislikes, values, passions, and motivations. Research companies that focus on an area that you are passionate about. Employers love when employees are passionate about their products and their mission.
Leverage your knowledge of the tools
One more strategy for your job search is to look at companies whose products you already use, either in your personal or professional life. Do you use a CRM tool at work? Find the company that develops that CRM and do some research on them. Do you have resources at work that will allow you to get some back-end/admin training on this tool? Can you find classes online? Do you use an app at home to track your budget or find care for your dog? Check them out too!
Research and network
When doing your job search, research is key. Research the target company online, then go on LinkedIn and find people that work there. Reach out to them and see if you can get an informational interview. The goal with the informational interview is to learn about the company culture, growth potential and company trajectory. Maybe this person can also get your resume to the hiring manager.
Last tip: do some research on startups at a website like www.crunchbase.com or www.techcrunch.com. Startups grow fast, need employees, and tend to hire quickly. Startups also tend to appreciate domain knowledge and people in career transition more than large established corporations.
Targeting and tailoring your resume
Target your resume to one role
Whether you wrote your own resume or worked with a professional, you should have a master copy, one that lists all your work experience and accomplishments. From this master version, you create a targeted resume aimed at the role you are applying to. For example, if you are applying to Project Management roles, your resume must read like that of a project manager, using appropriate key words and terminology.
Tailor your resume to the job
When you are submitting your job application, you must tailor this targeted version of your resume to the job description for each application. You want to keep the content concise, while making sure to highlight accomplishments and skills relevant to the job you are submitting to.
Targeting your cover letter
Similarly, you also need to write a targeted cover letter. In the cover letter you need to address the reasons why you feel you will be a good fit and how your previous experience translates to the job you are applying to. This is also the place to talk about your passions for the company’s mission or how you use and love the company’s product, as applicable. Your cover letter must help tech recruiters and hiring managers connect the dots as to why you are the right person for the job.
This is a lot! But it is essential that you do these things when actively searching for a job in tech. It is quality over quantity. You may not be able to apply to 500 jobs a week if you’re doing all these things for each job application, but you will have a much greater chance of getting a call back and an interview for one of the 10 jobs that you are able to apply to that week.
Consider investing in professional services if you are having trouble with your resume, cover letters or job search. It can be worth every penny and will save you a lot of time and headaches!
If you have done all these things and are still not getting results, check out this post on troubleshooting your job search.
Ready to start your journey to a career in tech? Check out the Start Here page for step by step guide.
Let T3 help you transition to tech! Get more information on our one on one coaching program HERE.
