Archives December 2022

Finding entry-level employment in any industry can be difficult, especially in the tech industry. With hot software development positions rising, standing out among more experienced competition can be tough. Tips on how to stand out as an entry-level developer are below.

So, how can you stand out as an entry-level developer with so much competition? Read on for valuable tips to get noticed and land your dream job.

Tips to Help Your Stand Out and Get Hired as an Entry-Level Developer

Let’s look at some top tips to help you stand out as you pursue an entry-level development position.

Build Up Your Skill Set

Being successful as a developer requires constant learning and practice. Many recruiters require you to demonstrate your abilities with tests or assessments, so building your skill set is vital. Learn independently and expand your awareness of new tools, tech languages, and frameworks.

Build Your Portfolio

When your experience is limited, your portfolio can get you in the door. Your portfolio is the place to demonstrate your skills and interests. Your portfolio is an easy way to show employers what you can do and how well you can do it.

Remember to keep your portfolio up to date and ensure that any sample links are easy to access. Also, include projects you worked on individually and as part of a team.

Update Your Resume

The best way to prepare your resume for successful submission is to focus on what you’re including. Try looking at job descriptions for the development roles you’re interested in. You’ll soon notice a pattern among posts and can focus on the most relevant information. For non-tech work history, list first what experience could be potentially useful in a tech role. Also, consider a separate section for significant personal projects to demonstrate your real-world experience.

Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile

Make it simple for employers to learn about you from your LinkedIn page. It should be as robust as your resume, if not more so. You can make your profile work for you in the job search. Use your “About” section to present yourself as a prospective candidate. This is a great chance to state who you are, what you can do, and why you care about development work.

Don’t forget to detail your skills, add your certifications and achievements, and help employers get a feel for you and your tech interests under the “Interests” section.

Grow Your Professional Network

Your network connection may be the key to your next entry-level development role. Ensure you foster those connections with current and former coworkers, managers, and other professionals. The more people within the industry you connect with and stay connected with, the more likely you are to discover new jobs and get hired.

Our team is ready to lend a hand if you’re currently searching for your first developer role!

Employees are leaving the workforce at an alarming rate, and the hiring struggle will likely continue. Now is the time to nail down your hiring needs. The sooner you create a solid hiring plan and implement it, the sooner you’ll fill those job openings.

Anticipate Your Hiring Needs

Calculate how many positions you need to fill during the first quarter. Remember to consider your budget when you determine your hiring needs. Even if the job roles do not need to be filled immediately, start recruiting as soon as possible. Keep your candidate pools filled with potential applicants in mind.

Talk with Your Recruitment Partners

Meet with your internal and external recruitment partners and discuss your hiring needs. Talk about the candidate qualification you need and any niche roles that require filling. Also, discuss networks, skills, and strategies your recruitment team has at hand to maximize the talent search.

Focus on Your Brand Identity

Take a step back and look at your company’s brand identity, including your recruitment process. Consider what makes you unique and why job seekers want to join the company. Also, join your recruitment team and go through your employer reviews. See what issues others have had with your company and how you can address those issues.

Promote Your Available Positions

Work with your recruitment team to promote your available roles to job seekers. Focus on what candidates look for in an employer and develop compelling messaging to attract job seekers. Use your company website, social media, and other channels and platforms to reach candidates.

Move Quickly

The best talent is most likely receiving multiple job offers. You’ll need to make fast decisions during the hiring process and keep candidates engaged through ongoing communication and feedback. Keeping them informed throughout the process and answering their questions promptly will help keep them interested.

Evaluate Your Hiring Process

Your hiring process should be constantly evaluated. Review the rate of applicants, what area receives the most and which the least, and when candidates are most likely to “ghost” during the hiring process. Then, you can take this information and modify your hiring process as needed.

If you need help creating your all-star team, request a consultation with ABBTECH!

Now is the perfect time to evaluate your career progress over the past year. Did you achieve your professional goals? What new goals will you work towards throughout the coming year?

This blog will explain everything you need to set tangible, attainable professional goals. We’ll also look at some great examples of professional goals that you can work towards.

What ARE Professional Development Goals?

“Where do you see yourself and your career in five or ten years?” Professional goals are essentially the answer to that question. Professional goals, or career development goals, are active steps you can take to stimulate growth and advancement in your chosen career. Good professional goals offer a clear vision for your career path and the skills you need to succeed.

Good professional goals may be short or long-term, showing progress and setting measurable milestones along the way.

5 Professional Work Goals

Here are five ideas for professional development that will help you achieve your professional goals:

1. Take a Course to Sharpen Your Skills. Learning goals are a big boost for personal and career development. Choose something that interests you, that boosts your skills and knowledge for your career, and follow through.

2. Learn New Tools. Set a goal to learn new software or skills to expand your ability and flexibility within your job.

3. Improve Your Communication Skills. From meetings to presentations, communication is important in the modern workforce. Research different presentation styles and take public speaking to improve your ability to speak clearly and communicate your ideas.

4. Build Your Network. Building your network means being intentional about connecting with peers in your career industry. Networking may be challenging, especially if you are an introvert. Set small goals and keep track of your progress. You could attend a conference, a local meetup, or join a professional organization with regular activities and events.

5. Become a Business Owner. Starting a small business is very different from taking on a new job. Building a business is a long-term goal and a long-term commitment. It requires a lot of hard work daily and determination to take on a leadership role.

Today, it is easier than ever to set up an e-commerce business. Don’t forget to set some goals for your new business!

Conclusion

Professional goals help you focus on where you want to be in your career. They clarify the steps to take to reach your short- and long-term goals and give you the roadmap for success.

Is a new job in the new year a goal of yours? Search our open positions today!

Showing appreciation to your employees is easy when everyone is in-office. What if your team is remote? How can you show your employees how valued and appreciated they are when they are miles (or even countries) apart? Employee appreciation ideas for your remote team to follow.

If you’re eager to show your remote team your appreciation and gratitude, we have a few ideas! Let’s look at some great (and affordable) employee appreciation ideas perfect for your remote team.

Affordable Remote Employee Appreciation Ideas

Employee Recognition

Sometimes the simplest gesture is the most rewarding. You can show appreciation to your remote employees by appreciating them publicly. Send a personal “Thank You” note to each of them and thank them for all they’ve contributed over the past year. Be specific, too.

Organize a virtual event to recognize employee contributions throughout the year. Individual and team achievements can be rewarded with certificates and awards.

Buy Them Lunch

Who doesn’t love good food? If a company gathering for lunch or dinner isn’t possible, consider gift cards for a restaurant or for a popular food delivery service such as Grubhub. You can gift lunch, dinner, or an allowance for coffee in the new year.

Wellness Package

The 2020 pandemic taught us that health should always be a top priority. Employee wellness has become a major focus for most companies as we become more wellness conscious. A wellness package is a wonderful way to show your remote employees your appreciation and let them know their health matters to you. You could offer virtual employees a variety of wellness bonuses and perks, such as healthy meal subscriptions, fitness app subscriptions, spa or massage gift certificates, or gift cards for healthy snack baskets.

Paid Time Off

How about a vacation? Times are stressful, and many remote employees would benefit from some extra time off. Adequate rest minimizes burnout and allows employees to work at their best. Consider gifting remote employees a week off or a time allowance for vacation.

Career Development

Just because employees are working from home doesn’t mean professional development should be on hold. Encourage your employees to grow professionally by offering online learning opportunities. There are many online schools and websites that provide a variety of courses to expand skillsets and stimulate career growth.

Conclusion

Working from home can be lonely, and the distance from coworkers and managers makes it difficult to see and feel validation and appreciation in your job. Making the effort to recognize and reward your remote employees will encourage and support them. It will also foster company loyalty and pride in their role and their work. With some simple gestures of gratitude and affordable gifts, you can help your employees feel appreciated and focused on their personal growth and company growth.

If you’re searching for more people to add to your remote team, let our team at ABBTECH lend you a hand!