The Tech Job Market is Hotter Than Ever So Here's Some Tips to Get Into The Industry

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We all know how fast tech is adapting and growing right now, but what you might not have known is quite how much demand there is for IT superstars to make all those changes happen.

Talent, who are Australia’s largest privately-owned recruitment company, recently released a whole heap of interesting stats about the tech job market and they might just make you want to start Googling a possible career in the industry.

They found that tech salaries were increasing up to 30% on average globally and candidates usually have two or three offers on the go, with counter-offers also up 30%.

This is because there just aren’t enough skilled IT professionals to meet the number of jobs atm. With many hard borders still up and working from home requirements at an all-time high, there’s a shortage of candidates with the specific skill sets needed.

What are those skill sets the industry is lacking, you ask? Automation, cloud security, data analytics, HTML5 – they’re all likely to get you a job pretty quick these days.

So, with all that talk about the rising star of the job market that is technology, we spoke to Talent Perth Managing Director, Paul Mackin-Brown, about how to snag yourself a job. Here are his tips:

Make the most of a Grad Program.

Not only do Graduate Programs look good on your resume, but Paul says you can also use them to your advantage.

“A lot of industries offer really strong graduate programs, and they are worth their weight in gold,” he says.

“Typically, grads get the opportunity to come in and more of a general role. Treat it like a prolonged job interview. Meet as many people as you can and influence as many people as you can.”

Make connections.

Speaking of meeting people, Paul emphasises the importance of building up your network when you’ve got the chance.

“Being able to pick up a referee as a result of your work experience, or being able to make connections and then potentially pick up or reapply for a contract role there afterwards, is highly valuable,” he says.

That also extends to online connections as well.

“Be active on LinkedIn and clean up your social media because organisations do check,” he says.

Be smart about the industry you pick.

Or, in Paul’s words, “pick an industry that’s in demand.”

“Really identify the career path you want, the technology role you want and then try and work a pathway that leads there,” he says.

“IT is a very healthy market at the moment, there are a lot of opportunities out there, and we don’t see that diminishing. Data analytics and cyber security are particularly significant.”

Look into where you’re sending your CV (and follow up wherever you send it).

Paul says there’s two things to consider when it comes to the ol’ resume.

The first is not to underestimate how important it is.

“Send your CV to an organisation and then follow it up. Find out how it was received. Why didn’t they contact you back? Use their feedback. Follow it up with a phone call to then put a bit of personality to your CV. It shows a level of determination and being proactive,” he says.

The second is doing some research into the organisation you’re sending it to.

“It’s not all just about dollars. Understand their culture and their values to see if they align with your own. Consider how much they care about the people they’re looking to employ,” he says.

Oh, and if you need help with your resume, you can find our trusty resume builder in your Student Edge profile or get JobReady with Student Edge Plus.

Brb, just going to find out what HTML5 is.

Header image: Canva.