What IT Candidates Are Asking

With the huge demand for candidates in the IT sector it can sometimes be confusing for candidates, who are getting advice all around them, what their best options are. We will try and pick our way through a few of the more regular questions that are raised frequently.

I have been in my current role for just over a year, is this too soon to move?

This question is relevant to candidates of all levels, although the answer is very different.

For recent graduates a year is considered to be the minimum stay for a first job, as a paid opportunity to learn and take on responsibilities for the first time. If it’s a good company that offers room to progress, the ability to stay longer and grow with the position will look good on the CV. However, if you feel you are being held back or feel advancement isn’t possible then these are legitimate reasons to reassess your options.

For more senior candidates employers tend to look for a solid 18 month to 2 years commitment. If your current role is turning out to be very different to what you originally discussed, or the situation for the company has changed, then these are valid reasons to move on.

As advice to all, take a look at your CV and ask the question “What will a potential employer think?”

Can I secure a big pay rise if I move jobs now?

With the number of IT positions available in Ireland currently the market is driven by candidate availability, so it is a good time to secure an increase in your salary.

A few words of caution here though;

• Potential employers want to ensure candidates are committed to joining their company for the right reasons, if you state your sole reason for moving is financial you will look mercenary (unless you are being vastly underpaid)

• While companies recognise that potential employees will look for a financial incentive to make the move alongside the opportunity, we aren’t seeing the large jumps that were achieved before the financial crisis as companies are still cautious. Be reasonable in your request.

What new technologies are in demand?

In the last year demand for JavaScript, and experience with JavaScript frameworks such as AngularJS, NodeJS, Backbone and Bootstrap has risen considerably. iOS and Android, Ruby on Rails, Python and Scala are further technologies that are very popular.

Many companies have renewed focus on their web presence and utilising mobile apps, so these areas are in particular active currently, and the trend looks to continue, so if you’re thinking of upskilling you can’t go wrong with these.

How long should my CV be?

Gone are the days when a CV should be restricted to one page. Hiring managers much prefer to see the relevant experience leap out of the page! This is not to say your CV should read like War and Peace – keep the information punchy and to the point.

For junior candidates 1-2 pages should be sufficient, whereas 3-4 pages for a senior candidate is perfectly acceptable. Europass CVs tend not to be as effective on the Irish market as on the continent, so have a brief introduction and bullet point relevant experience for each role.