920's Alric Wright identifies three personal traits IT recruiters look out for!
Landing your dream IT job is becoming less about your qualifications or skills – now, a winning personality is your single biggest asset on the road to employment success.
'What employers look for most is your ability to interact with people. There aren't many roles where you sit by yourself for eight hours a day – you usually have to interact with people,' says IT Recruitment Consultant Alric Wright.
Although new to recruitment, Alric relishes the opportunity to meet with people and find the right personalities for the right job. But recruiting in the IT industry can prove challenging, due to the necessity for candidates to possess tangible and complex skills in using digital technology. However, Alric considers himself a people's person, and revelling in dealing with soft skills as a greater priority.
'What employers look for most is your ability to interact with people.'
'Understanding skills is one point, but skills can be taught. Understanding the softer side of people, what personalities work together in what team dynamics, is most interesting.'
So when applying for a job in the IT industry, what is important to emphasise, from first application down to final interview?
Alric identified three key personality traits: confidence, communication and collaboration.
Collaboration
'I think there is a shortage of people with collaborative skills, although it is becoming more highly prized as businesses move to a more agile operational framework. This encourages employees to adapt to new situations, multitask and, of course, collaborate more,' said Alric.
Proving past examples of collaborative efforts in your professional career indicates your ability to work with others, as well as the place you could take up in future team endeavours.
Communication
Communication is vital in any business, be it discussing project details or teaching others about new technologies and devices. In a team environment, you need effective communication skills. But the most exuberant voices are not always the most helpful.
'It is important to have extroverted people in a team. However, you also need quieter people, for a balance. A team where everyone is similar means you will always get the same answer. But different personalities and backgrounds allow people to work together towards a different result.'
Confidence
Finally, when looking for an IT role, confidence in your skills and personality traits is essential. By communicating confidence, employers immediately see qualities of self-motivation, decisiveness and independent thinking. Discussing strategic personal stories can also communicate your winning personality and link it to how you would fulfil the advertised role effectively.
Putting the 'I' in IT by communicating the positive aspects of your personality confidently, and proving your ability to collaborate, will make you an enviable target for employers. Alric's belief in identifying where people's personalities fit is part of the ethos at 920 Career Agents, where we have been matching quality candidates to IT and digital technology jobs for more than 10 years. For more tips on making yourself an attractive employment prospect, make the call to our team today!
