TechiePR can help
Are you a brilliant technical person that can't seem to nail interviews? Or do you feel like you are stuck as a grunt and not moving up in leadership?
The natural tendency for some techies is to hit the books harder or learn the latest hot tech skill. Did this work the last time? If not, how would it be different this time?
Consider that you need a different set of non-technical skills: Speaking human and making meaningful connections. Over and over I talk to hiring managers that want people they can tolerate being around for enormous amounts of time. They like people that they can relate to as human beings.
The natural tendency for some techies is to hit the books harder or learn the latest hot tech skill. Did this work the last time? If not, how would it be different this time?
Consider that you need a different set of non-technical skills: Speaking human and making meaningful connections. Over and over I talk to hiring managers that want people they can tolerate being around for enormous amounts of time. They like people that they can relate to as human beings.
Speak (and Write) for Humans
One hiring manager tells me that 95% of the resumes he seen took the "kitchen sink approach". This describes an antiquated method where the resume is loaded up with technical key words to flag search engines. That is fine for computers but "usually sent us into the interview with a bad first impression". He felt that if the resume "focused on the person, we would have went into interviews excited to meet this person".
Solution: The profile that you fill out for search engines should be very different than the resume/profile that is meant to be viewed by a human being. Try these 6 small changes your self or let TechiePR do a profile makeover for you. When you talk to people, unless they are in your specific circle of tech, resist your immediate urge for tech speak. The rule of thumb that works for me is to explain it in a way that an 8yr old can understand.
One hiring manager tells me that 95% of the resumes he seen took the "kitchen sink approach". This describes an antiquated method where the resume is loaded up with technical key words to flag search engines. That is fine for computers but "usually sent us into the interview with a bad first impression". He felt that if the resume "focused on the person, we would have went into interviews excited to meet this person".
Solution: The profile that you fill out for search engines should be very different than the resume/profile that is meant to be viewed by a human being. Try these 6 small changes your self or let TechiePR do a profile makeover for you. When you talk to people, unless they are in your specific circle of tech, resist your immediate urge for tech speak. The rule of thumb that works for me is to explain it in a way that an 8yr old can understand.
Meaningful connections
One hiring manager told me that there is an energy/vibe in her team that she doesn't want to disrupt. She goes on that there are people who have all the technical criteria but she just doesn't "Connect" with. In general, people don't want to waste their time talking to somebody that doesn't meet the basic technical criteria. That's why they do phone interviews. By the time you get to the in person interview, they already know you can do the job. They just want to see if they like you personally.
Solution: Making meaningful connections is an art that is developed over time. In my humble opinion, the key is empathy. If you truly are interested in other people, then you will truly be interesting to them. Show them that you are somebody they can see fitting in to their team, not just how many tech words you know.
What do you think?
Does this really connect with you? Think it is full of crap? Share your thoughts.
One hiring manager told me that there is an energy/vibe in her team that she doesn't want to disrupt. She goes on that there are people who have all the technical criteria but she just doesn't "Connect" with. In general, people don't want to waste their time talking to somebody that doesn't meet the basic technical criteria. That's why they do phone interviews. By the time you get to the in person interview, they already know you can do the job. They just want to see if they like you personally.
Solution: Making meaningful connections is an art that is developed over time. In my humble opinion, the key is empathy. If you truly are interested in other people, then you will truly be interesting to them. Show them that you are somebody they can see fitting in to their team, not just how many tech words you know.
What do you think?
Does this really connect with you? Think it is full of crap? Share your thoughts.