資深 IT 及科技專業人士如何更新履歷

IT Search’s David Shanahan explores how more experienced professionals can ensure that their CVs are attractive, despite applying for roles in a competitive space.

Artificial intelligence has forever altered how professionals, new and more established, engage with the workplace. In STEM, jobseekers applying for a position often have to have a battery of skills closely linked to AI and the jobs themselves have morphed to represent hybrid responsibilities. 

Alongside the change in working expectations, skill requirements and what constitutes a specific role, early-career professionals are now in a position where they can apply for jobs that also pertain to more senior jobseekers, creating an environment that is arguably far more complex and competitive. 

With that in mind, there are a number of steps more experienced jobseekers can take to optimise their chances of securing a coveted position. 

According to David Shanahan, a director at Irish recruitment agency IT Search, which is a member of the Vertical Markets Group, many older professionals are losing out on roles at the decision-making stage. How they are making their case, in a changing landscape, could have something to do with it. 

He told SiliconRepublic.com, “I’ve spoken with a number of very experienced candidates who are getting through three or four stages and then just missing out on the offer. Companies are being very specific with senior hires. 

“They’re often recruiting to solve a particular problem, whether that’s a transformation programme, AI adoption, cybersecurity, cloud strategy or modernising legacy systems. At the final stage, you can have two excellent candidates, but one has experience that is just that bit closer to what the company needs right now.

“There can also be an element of risk management around fit. If someone is coming from a large multinational into a smaller company, for example, the employer may be concerned how they will adapt to a more hands-on environment. Equally, if someone is taking a lower salary or title, there can be concerns about whether they will stay.”

He finds that, once you are in or close to a final interview, your experience has generally placed you there. What you need to do now is ensure that the recruiter or employer can clearly see why your experience is relevant to the company’s particular challenges. 

And that often starts with showing you have the ‘right stuff’ on paper from the get go. Especially if you are competing with early-career starters who have similar skills, but may lack the necessary leadership qualities associated with established professionals. 

Clear and current

Shanahan said, “The biggest challenge is probably knowing what to leave out. If you have 20 or 25 years of experience, there is a tendency to want to showcase all of in the CV. You end up with five or six pages and the experience that is actually relevant to the role can get lost.

“The same basic rule applies whether you have five years of experience or 25. Your CV needs to quickly show why you are suitable for that particular job. For someone more senior, that means being quite ruthless with older or less relevant experience.

“I’d put most of the detail into the last eight to 10 years and keep earlier positions much shorter. Also, don’t assume a job title explains what you did. Be specific about what you personally delivered, changed or improved and, where possible, quantify the impact.”

More experienced professionals should also make an effort to avoid using generic descriptions when describing their skills and achievements in the technology space. In being specific, professionals can showcase strongpoints and what has actually been accomplished. 

He said, “For recent roles, I generally want to understand four things; the scale of the role, what you changed, what you personally delivered and what impact it had. That gives the employer a much clearer picture than a long list of responsibilities.”

Older members of the workforce should also make use of social media as a means of creating an online presence. Increased visibility via platforms such as LinkedIn, he noted, can aid senior-level professionals, especially if they are to be considered for roles that have yet to be advertised or made public. 

He said, “Recruiters and employers are actively searching for people, so you need to make it easy for them to find you. That doesn’t mean you suddenly need to start posting on LinkedIn every day. For most people, I’d concentrate on getting the basics right. 

“Make sure the profile is current, that your recent experience is properly explained and that it includes the terminology recruiters are likely to search for. I’d also use it to reconnect with your network. Someone who has spent 10 or 15 years with the same employer may not have needed to think about networking or their LinkedIn profile for a long time.” 

He finds, for those at senior-level, networks become increasingly important, as former colleagues, clients, recruiters and contacts within the industry create opportunities and open doors you may not have been aware of previously. 

Future focus

When asked how Ireland’s tech sector may better blend the talents of new and older professionals in the workplace, Shanahan noted it is critical that neither group be siloed, but rather that they be viewed as a single team, with alternating capabilities. 

“Experienced professionals generally have seen major programmes succeed and fail, dealt with difficult stakeholders, managed through downturns and growth periods and understand the consequences of technology decisions beyond the technology itself. That experience can be particularly valuable now,” he said. 

Adding, “AI is a good example. Organisations need people with current AI skills, but successful adoption also requires people who understand governance, risk, data, business processes and organisational change. You don’t necessarily get all of that from one generation or one type of candidate.

“I also think employers could be more open-minded about career paths. Someone moving from a multinational to a scale-up, or from a senior management position into something more hands-on, isn’t necessarily taking a backwards step. The important question is whether they have experience that is useful to the business.”

And for the technology professionals struggling to navigate a difficult jobs market, be flexible where you can when considering what the next move looks like. That may be considering a contract, a smaller company, a different sector than what you are used to, or even a different title. 

He said, “Particularly in technology, a move that gives you exposure to an area like AI, cloud or cybersecurity can strengthen your position for the next opportunity.”

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