Applying for a new job is not only about matching your skills to an employer’s needs. It’s about achieving a mutually beneficial fit.
Likewise, an interview is not only an opportunity to sell yourself but also to make sure the company is a good match for you.
There are lots of people with software development skills out there. Emphasizing your traits, interests, character, and goals may help you connect with a business that can maximize your skillset and character.
7 Things to Check Before Applying for a New Job
So check out the following 7 things before applying to any software development job. This can increase your success rate, save time, and help you make a difference by doing meaningful work.
1. Check your CV
Tweak your CV for every potential employer. Every company is different, even if they start to sound the same when reading their job postings. Look for the differences and ensure your CV is tailored to their needs.
Use wording from their postings to demonstrate that you are a good match and have taken the time to learn about the company’s needs. When writing your cover letter or email, do your best to write to someone you can address by name.
2. Check the Company’s Size
In a large firm, you may benefit from significant resources. You may even find opportunities to develop software that changes how the world runs. It will probably be harder to stand out, however, and not everyone enjoys the potential impersonality of a large firm.
A small firm may offer you the opportunity to make contributions that are visible on a day-to-day basis. You may find that you are working more intimately with others and that your value is more apparent.
And a small business can often respond more quickly to changes in the market, which can be exciting. However, you may lack some of the resources or stimulation from the ambitious projects of a giant firm.
3. Check the Firm’s Culture and Goals
Job satisfaction is primarily based on an employee’s fit with a company’s culture and goals. Increasingly, workers want to work for a business aligned with their values and goals.
So, make this a priority before applying. Try to learn more about the business, not only what they do but also why they do it.
Where you see yourself in five or ten years is a classic interview question. Prepare for this, but ask where the business sees itself in five to ten years. Do you want to be there, too? Is that work you can be proud of and that will challenge you enough?
4. Check Who You Would Be Working With
No matter what we do, most people work with others at some stage. It will be helpful to get on with your colleagues, so try to find out who they are.
You may get the name of one of the two people you will report to from the job posting.
Look them up on Leadar and see what you can find about their interests and professional background – a few things remind you that they are real people with lives outside of work.
See if you can find one or two things in common. This could be useful in interviews and if you land the job. Nuwber is a massive database of US citizens that can help you with this task.
Check out where people live and their occupations to verify that you’re researching the right person and get a little background to help you see what you have in common, geographically and otherwise.
5. Check Your Soft Skills
Soft skills, such as emotional intelligence skills like active listening and appreciating differences between cultures, can make the difference between getting a job and being told good luck for your continuing job search.
While lots of people may have similar qualifications to you, potential employers will be particularly interested in how you work with others. Employers increasingly want to see what value you can bring to a company beyond your diplomas and certificates.
Experience demonstrating your soft skills and how you can work and communicate with different groups of people can be a significant bonus.
So, check that your soft skills are on point. If not, consider doing some learning or participating in some group activities that can demonstrate your leadership and team playing.
6. Check Remote Working Possibilities
Increasingly, employers realize the benefits of employees working remotely. With modern technology, communication can take place almost anywhere at any time. It’s no longer necessary for many workers to be present on site. Teams can collaborate across the globe.
As well as being cost-effective for employers, remote working has many benefits for employees and freelancers.
These include but are not limited to flexibility regarding working hours and childcare needs, minimizing unnecessary meetings, maximizing opportunities to travel while working, and working in an environment without typical workplace interruptions.
If you are familiar with remote work or if working could make a big difference in your life, you may wish to prioritize this factor in relevant software development roles.
7. Check Your First Impressions
Despite what’s written on your CV and all your experience in software development, how you look still makes a difference. Whether we like it or not, first impressions make a significant impact. Take them seriously. People do judge books by their covers.
Think about your appearance from your potential employer’s perspective. Make it easier for them to see that you are the right candidate for them.
Everything from how you write your email to what you wear during your interview needs to project the idea that you will add value to their company while fitting in and making everyone’s lives easier. Don’t leave the presentation to chance.
Summary
Your software development skills will be critical, of course, but don’t forget all the other things that help you add value. These 7 things to check should help you hone in on businesses that will help you achieve your goals and get you more callbacks.
