75.2%.
According to DevSkiller, that’s a percentage of software developers who are open to new opportunities. It’s fair to say that IT workers aren’t afraid of career changes.
For some, it’s a matter of burnout. For others, it’s the lack of recognition or opportunities for advancement. The reasons might be different, but the goal is the same — find a more satisfying job.
How can you know that a company and position are right for you? Observe yourself and the potential employer and be inquisitive.
This beginner’s guide to IT employment is here to give you the tools to do so.
Table of Contents
How to look for an it job
Step 1: Preparation
Start with careful thought and preparation, it’s always better to be safe than sorry! After all, you don’t change your job for the sake of change — you’re looking for a fulfilling and rewarding career.
To identify the right opportunities, you need to make an effort. Set goals for the future and ask yourself basic questions, such as:
What do I need at the present stage of my professional development?
Do I look for a more responsible position, a different work environment, or a new type of work?
What’s bothered me in my previous and current workplace? Would I like to avoid it in the future?
What’s been missing in my professional life so far?
Is there anything specific that would help me upgrade my skills and work more effectively?
What tasks have given me the most satisfaction?
This list will help you form your expectations and decide on
the type of positions you’re interested in,
the type of companies you’d feel comfortable working for,
the working conditions you need to reach your full potential, and
the benefits that are important for you.
For example, think whether you prefer to work for a software development company — where you can test yourself in various projects and gain experience in many different technologies — or work on a specific product, which you will know inside out and develop in a well-known technological stack.
What are your career aspirations, perhaps it’s time for a promotion? You may want to see the name of your position prefixed by “Senior” or “Mid” this time and take on new responsibilities. If the title is not a biggie for you, focus on technologies and types of projects that will help you pick up new skills.
It’s not only about how you work and what you work on but also where you’ll be spending a big part of your day. Is your dream location the city center or the district where you live? Do you thrive in an open space in a skyscraper or a small office in a house with a garden? Is it the moment to get into the digital nomad lifestyle?
The workplace can be a deal-breaker, I get it. Remain a little flexible, though. The office and its location can change, especially in the current situation.
Step 2: Research
You already know what you want, but where can you find it? Indeed, AngelList, Bulldogjob, LinkedIn — there are so many job search sites to check. They’re convenient, it’s an obvious choice.
Leave this beaten track behind and don’t rely only on job ads, they’re just the tip of the iceberg.
Here’s what you can do instead:
Ask around — ask your friends whether the companies they work for are hiring or write a LinkedIn post to get recommendations from your connections. This way, you can learn more about potential employers and find out about interesting opportunities before other candidates.
Visit business websites — if you have a list of the companies you’d love to work for, go directly to their websites. In most cases, you’ll find all job postings, some of which are not available anywhere else.
Direct messages and networking — reach out to decision-makers or recruiters to get first-hand information. Even if there are no openings at the moment, they will keep you in mind for the future.
Attend job fairs — it’s a great opportunity to get the feel of the companies.
Questions to ask yourself before an interview
1. Deal-Breakers
Eventually, you get invited to a job interview. Before you go to the meeting, sort out your priorities and answer the following questions:
Am I ready for a long commute in the name of a satisfying job? Is the location a deciding factor?
Is job stability important for me or would I rather juggle multiple projects as a freelancer?
If my professional goal is to change the technology I specialize in, am I ready to accept a lower position, possibly start as a junior, and have my pay lowered?
Where would I like to be in the next few years? Can the company I am applying to help me get there?
This list is not complete without one more question — what are my financial expectations and preferred form of cooperation?
2. Financial Requirements
Think about the minimum salary you’d accept if the job dazzled you and the number that would be perfect for you. Take into consideration the average salary for this position and the range offered by the company.
The recruiter will treat your suggestion not only as a point of reference but also as proof that you’ve prepared for the interview and you know what you’re worth. At the end of the process, they will offer a salary based on the internal criteria and adequate to your skills and experience.
Remember that each employer has their own requirements, so salary discrepancies between companies are not unusual. In case of any doubts, ask for detailed feedback and clarification.
So, what if you came up with a number that is too low? Will the employer pay you more than you asked for? The answer is yes. An honest employer, the one you’re looking for, will. As long as it is within the range for the position.
How to check whether you’ve been treated fairly? As always, my universal advice is to simply ask. Ask what the final offer is based on. You can’t argue with the company’s policy, but you have the right to know what happened backstage.
3. Legal Form of Cooperation
In the tech industry, you usually need to choose from
a sole proprietorship — so-called B2B,
an employment contract, and
a contract for a specified task.
Don’t treat your company as a financial advisor. Do your research and decide which contract is the most beneficial in your case.
A recruiter or someone from the accounting department would gladly offer their advice, but they’re not necessarily experts in this area and they don’t want to push you to go for one option or another. And this is a desirable and professional approach.
Questions to ask the recruiter
You’ve answered all the possible questions you could answer, right? Pass the baton to the potential employer.
1. Position
Find out what the company expects from you and what the position you are applying for is exactly about. Compare your idea about the position with the way the recruiter describes it and say what you're looking for.
For example, if you believe you could secure a senior position, ask the recruiter what the duties of a senior in a given company look like. The answers will be organization-specific, they could also be completely different than you imagined them to be.
Be honest in the conversation, not only about the details of your experience but also about your personality, plans, strengths, or preferences regarding the way you work — individually or in a team, remotely or in the office.
You might dislike such questions and feel pressured to give the “correct” answer. The truth is there are NO right or wrong answers here. Being open will help you avoid misunderstandings and mismatch in expectations and job recruitment.
2. Company
The interview is also the right time for questions about the company and its history.
To get the most out of it and build up a detailed picture of the workplace, ask
what the company’s plans are,
in which direction it is currently heading,
whether it has a vision and values that support it, and
how these values are being implemented.
Another good practice is to ask recruiters from the HR department or technical team why they work for this company and what the merits of the job are for them.
Both the words and reactions can tell you a lot.
3. Projects
You’re looking for an IT job, so your job satisfaction depends greatly on the quality of projects. Make sure their profile suits you.
Looking for a career in a software development company? These questions are a must:
Is there a specific customer profile?
What’s the methodology — Agile (Kanban, Scrum, or mixed) or Waterfall?
How do you deal with overtime or breaks between projects?
Who makes technical decisions?
For a product company, go with a different set of questions:
What’s the structure of the team?
How modern is the tech stack?
How does the tech stack evolve?
What challenges await the team?
Will the product be developed further or is the only task to maintain the application?
How do you develop the product?
What’s the product management framework?
The answers will give you a picture of the management style, strategy, and tactics.
Make it more personal and ask about all the aspects that have been driving you crazy at work or have been lacking in your professional life so far.
Look for specific answers. You can expect them during the interview or in a post-interview email. It’s a good sign if you get not only the information you need but also feedback.
If nobody gets back to you for quite some time, chase the recruiters up. Write or call to see what’s happening with your application. After all, you’re dealing with human beings, they can forget to write an email or even click the “send” button!
What to pay attention to during the recruitment process
Have you ever heard that action speaks louder than words? Then make use of it and become a keen observer. Everything you spot during the recruitment process can be a herald of what is to come.
So, what is the best indicator of your future employee satisfaction?
1. Greetings
Look at how they greet you when you enter the office for the first time.
Imagine there’s a person waiting for you in the hall. In the case of Evojam, this person would be me. I give you a welcoming smile and walk you to the interview room. We chit-chat about your drive and comment on the weather. “Would you like something to drink?” I ask. You start an interview sipping your coffee and listening to a company overview.
It’s a good beginning, isn’t it?
Now, what if there was no interview room available, I came late, and mumbled something with a grumpy face? Seems like a bad omen.
The way you are greeted is a direct reflection of workplace relationships.
Examine this matter even further — ask for an office tour. Check how the place looks and how it makes you feel. The decor isn’t the key here. Observe the employees you meet in the hallway. Do they talk, wave at you in a friendly manner, and occasionally burst into laughter? Or is the atmosphere rather tense?
2. Atmosphere
Speaking of atmosphere, the interview itself can lift the veil on the work environment.
Usually, there are two options. The interview resembles (1) a hearing or enhanced interrogation or (2) a casual conversation with people who want to get to know you.
The truth is a valuable company will look for candidates who have specific skills, but they will also look for a good culture fit. Would you rather spend one-third of your day with friendly and stimulating or dull and difficult people? Exactly.
Ideal interviewers will treat you as a human being, not a machine with handy functions. They will be interested in your hobbies, worldview, and frame of mind.
3. Values vs Benefits
Companies have a set of core values that shape their culture. At least, they are said to shape the culture…
Check whether integrity, accountability, and learning are just empty words or a moral compass for the whole organization.
Listen to the examples the interviewer gives as a response to your questions. Discuss the conditions and benefits, and you will get a peek into the dynamics of the company.
Let’s say the company of your choice identifies development as its core value. Without internal and external training opportunities, education budget, knowledge-sharing events, corporate library, or dedicated space for quiet work in the office — it’s just a hollow statement.
Benefits are nothing unusual in today’s job market, especially for the tech industry. There is almost no job ad without a bonus or two. The tricky bit is to decide on these perks with the core values in mind.
Benefits should be a part of a bigger plan, not a magnet for attracting candidates.
Remember that a large corporation means a large budget, so be extra skeptical about the function of their benefits. If such a company claims to care for employees and their work-life balance, ask whether they offer paid vacation days, proper cooperation agreements, flexible working hours, or remote work.
The mere existence of these benefits is not enough. Learn how exactly you can use them and what the rules are. You will see whether core values serve as a cultural cornerstone or they’re just a fancy yet meaningless part of the business website.
4. Website
Business websites can also be a great source of information if you know where to look.
Before the interview or even sending your CV, open the “Career” and “Team” tab. Look at photos of employees, read job descriptions, pay attention to the language, and get the overall vibe of the brand. Is the website generic? Trendy? Original? Most importantly, does it present a consistent message?
Note to Remember
When looking for new opportunities in the IT sector, always verify your potential employer.
Use the proven methods described in the article — pay attention to what the recruiter is saying, note consistency in the company’s communication, and trust your intuition.
It requires effort and powers of observation, but it’s a fair price to pay for avoiding disappointment and making the best of your new tech career.
Now, time to send some CVs!
Good luck!
If you have any other tips and tricks relevant to this topic, please share them in the comments section :)
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