Secrets of the Job Hunt

Career Advice Podcasts & Job Seeker Network

4 Reasons Why Tech Candidates Can't Get Tech Jobs

So much is made today about the fact (or myth) that there aren't any technical jobs out there. What I have heard from employers (and found to be true) is that they simply cannot find quality candidates to fill technical openings they have been trying to fill for quite some time. A current sampling of the technical jobs site Dice.com finds more than 83,000 job openings as of February 7, 2012.


Why the disconnect? Here are my top 4 reasons:

  1. Lack of Training: Many technology candidates simply don't have the training required in the necessary skill sets to qualify them for the openings that are out there. Very few are willing to go out and get that training (on their own, if need be) to position them for that next great opportunity.

  2. Subpar Academic Framework: Our schools and universities today are failing our true technical candidates. The push in recent years has been for colleges and universities (either brick-and-mortar or online institutions) to offer "technology" degrees. They end up teaching a lot of unapplied theory that corporate technology leaders don't value, because they have not seen it translate into real-life results.

  3. Ineffective Resume: Some candidates do have the sought after experience, skills, and knowledge. However, many don't know how to market those traits effectively on their resume to be seriously considered for the opportunities. One example is the generic resume. A job seeker wants a resume that works for many different roles, but makes it so general that they are not strong in any one area. Of course, when an employer is hiring, they are doing so for a specific role, not a general one, rendering the resume ineffective.

  4. Poor Job Search Skills: Finally, many job seekers simply don't know how to look for jobs in the right way. More than 50% still use job sites like Monster, Indeed, or CareerBuilder exclusively. Although lots of jobs are posted on these sites, that's not where the real action is. There are so many other, more effective channels that a job seeker can employ to identify and secure a great job.

Views: 73

Tags: IT, job, jobs, resume, search, tech, technical

Comment by Cameron Evenson on February 10, 2012 at 4:33pm

Actually, in Alberta they say their is a shortage of nearly 130,000 skilled people. But what I find here is that it really isn't that there aren't people in Canada to do this work, but that they have no experience in the Energies industry and thus can't be hired. However, the Energies industry is so focused that getting experience isn't easy and many people are under employed or exit the province unable to work in their field. 

I find the ability to adapt to a job is gone, employers want you to be a perfect fit and if you have to learn anything with them they refuse to take an invested interest in your skills regardless how profitable you might have been with other companies. For myself I have a proven track record of streamlining company systems, but even if you look at what this means to the bottom line for every dollar of my wage you get 4 in savings. Most employers will not buy into a person of my somewhat unique talents. I do find this to be rather staggering. 

Comment by Stephen Van Vreede on February 13, 2012 at 9:41am

Good point, Cameron. This is the case in many industries. Our technical institutions aren't helping any either. The cost for highly focused technical training is so much that many job seekers cannot afford it. Most programs are priced with the government or corporate client in mind, not your average citizen. We really need a fundamental shift in our educational system to improve flexibility and adaptability to market dynamics and to help folks graduate with meaningful, applied skills.

In terms of your proven track record, I welcome you to send me a copy of your resume at stephen@ittechexec.com so I can offer you some recommendations and options.

Thanks,

Stephen (www.ittechexec.com)

Comment

You need to be a member of Secrets of the Job Hunt to add comments!

Join Secrets of the Job Hunt

Videos

  • Add Videos
  • View All

Latest Activity

Phil Rosenberg posted a blog post

Veteran Job Search Problems Mirror Others Changing Careers

An excerpt from reCareered's 5/28/12 newsletter that that compares veteran job search challenges to other career changers ... In honor of Memorial Day, let’s look at the job search problems returning veterans…See More
Wednesday
0 Comments
Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW posted a blog post

Putting the Right Social Media Face First

Face-to-face networking is incredibly important, and if you know your way around, then you have a distinct advantage over much of your competition. You’re making a serious mistake if you do not have a social media presence or if you skip social media sites all together.If you’ve neglected to create a social media presence, especially on LinkedIn, then you are missing out on an incredible opportunity to find open positions. Targeted, extensive networking is still the number one way to find a…See More
Wednesday
0 Comments
Erik Blane posted a blog post

How To Never Miss Your Next Big Job Opportunity

Opportunities are all around us. We just have to know how to spot them and when to accept them.In terms of finding a new job, closing yourself off to new opportunities is one of the worst things you can do. In the current job market, you are competing not only with people in your previous industry, but also with others who are open to new opportunities.On the other hand, by opening yourself up, you flip this argument in your favor. You now have many more jobs available to you and are competing…See More
Wednesday
0 Comments
Profile IconRobert Weller and Stacy Randazzo joined Secrets of the Job Hunt
Wednesday

© 2012   Created by Jessica Miller-Merrell, SPHR.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service