​4 Things To Help You Get Hired in Tech in 2022 (And Red Flags To Avoid)

Hiring Managers, recruiters and HR teams – we deal with them every day. You could be a beginner or an experienced developer on the hunt for something new. Fear not, we've got all the tips on how to get hired in tech. We know all there is to know about the dos and don’ts of job interviews. A recruiter can tell if you're going to be a good hire within seconds. That's why this article could boost your chances of being seen for all the right reasons.

We’re always dishing out solid advice to help candidates get through even the most complex of hiring processes as well as helping organizations spot any red flags in their new hires and ultimately making the right decision when hiring.

So, buckle up. We’ve got some pretty useful – and some surprising - nuggets of knowledge for you to make sure you follow the best practices for software engineer job interviews.

How to Get Hired in Tech

1. Show Interest

It’s sound painfully obvious, but having intention goes much further than you would think. If a recruiter sees you as someone who knows what they want and can give specifics on what an ideal role looks like, they’ll see your enthusiasm and roll with. They're also very likely to channel that enthusiasm to a prospective employer.

On the other hand, if you’re more interested in pay and benefits than what you’ll actually be doing daily, or what working there will do for your career, recruiters will see that and put you in the “less-interested” pile. You could also build your portfolio with your freelance projects. This shows your experience as well as enthusiasm for what you do - whether you're new to it or you're a seasoned pro.

2. Keep It Brief

Currently, the market favours the job seeker. That doesn’t mean you need to show off every single aspect of your life to let them know how good you are. Keep it brief.

Ask yourself, “Could I scan this CV and get all the information I need?”. Because that’s what recruiters are doing when looking at your CV. Make their job easier and keep your CV brief and scannable.

3. Know Your Worth

Research salaries, reach out to your network, ask around, even post something on Linked In if you think it'll give you results. Whatever resources you have at your disposal, use them to find out how much you should be getting paid.

If you tell a recruiter you’re expecting £10k less than industry standard, they’ll assume you don’t really know what you’re doing. Or worse, undervalue your ability. A good recruiter will tell you if you’re being underpaid and find you the right salary, but start off on the right foot and let them know you mean business.

4. Choose The Right Recruiter

We’re speaking directly to tech professionals here. Software developers, tech leads, machine learning engineers, whatever you are, you must pick the right recruiter. Why? Because you know what you’re talking about when it comes to technical requirements – a generic recruiter won’t. So, how are they supposed to know what you’re talking about when you’re telling them what you want from a role?

Stop Waving These Red Flags in Job Interviews

1. How to Explain the Gaps in Your CV

How can you reassure your new employer you'll stay after you've spent so long job hopping? These days, job hopping doesn't demonstrate a negative stint in someone's career the same way it used to. Like we always say, candidate is king - so job hopping could also be seen as you knowing what you want and taking action when you see it.

You could have found yourself in a sticky situation at work, maybe a job didn't turn out to be as you'd hoped, maybe you got an offer you couldn't refuse elsewhere. Whatever your reasons for job hopping, we can assure you that it won't affect your CV as much as you think.

That said, don't avoid talking about it and, if it comes up, just address it. As long as you can explain it, you should be okay. If you start stuttering and stammering when asked about it, not only do you look unprepared, it looks like you could hold down those jobs and don't know how to lie about it.

Even with increasing levels of job hopping, you still need to have an answer if your interviewer asks why your tenure in your last role has been so short. You could get around it by demonstrating the impact you made on the business in such a short time, or you could say how your responsibilities differed as time went on. The main thing we would recommend saying would be something about how the job you're interviewing for is what you now looking for.

2. Bad Mouthing Your Boss

It's unprofessional. That's the bottom line. The last thing your future employer wants to hear is you trash-talking your old or current boss. How do they know you're not going to go away and negatively comment on them too? What if you're going to go into the office and be a trouble maker.

Talking negatively about anyone doesn't make you look great. But, in a professional environment, absolutely not. It could make you seem childish or unable to handle inter-office relationships. Your prospective employer isn't interviewing your old boss. they're interviewing you. So avoid talking about negative past experiences or toxic work culture because, the truth is, your interviewer probably doesn't care.

3. Seeming Entitled In An Interview

Recruiters are there to help you. But, you also have to help them too. Picking up the phone with an attitude, making out like you're too busy or feeling like you "know you're in demand" isn't going to get you a new role anytime soon. Recruiters are there to do a job, and that job is to get you a job. That means stepping up when you have to. Recruiters don't need you to give them your life story, but you're not doing them a favour by jumping on a call with them.

You have to show up and be professional here. Just remember that the more you get paid, the more the recruiter gets paid, so help them to help you!

4. Getting Prepared for an Interview

This is hands-down the most obvious red flag. But, hear us out - we're referring mostly to remote interviews here. When people interview remotely, they sometimes tend to dress slightly more casual than they would have originally. You should treat every aspect of an interview with professionalism - even if you're on a remote call with them over Zoom, dress to impress!

Being prepared also means being tech savvy so there aren't any slipups during the interview. When tech isn't quite on your side, you should always practice a call or familiarise yourself with the equipment before tuning in. Most tech disasters happen at the beginning of a call. Unfortunately, that's when your first impression gets affected. So it's better to be on top of it well before your interview.

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to prepare, understand what you're going to say, dress correctly and understand any questions you might be asked. Another good way to prepare would be to agree with yourself a decent salary that you're aiming for. Wait for the HR rep or recruiter to mention a figure first so you can counter it. But, if they don't, you can be prepared enough to suggest a decent salary without sounding too optimistic or devaluing yourself.

How to Prepare for a Job Interview

If your interview is for a tech role, you can read guides like this one to make sure you're going into it totally prepared with our tips from the experts. If your interview is for a recruitment role, you can reach out to experts like us to give you some advice and even find yourself an opportunity. Whatever preparation you go through to make sure you're doing the best job, Amicus can help you with your tech career.

Find the best role for you here.

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