Want a new developer job How to plan your attack Viewpoint careers advice blog

Want a new developer job How to plan your attack It feels like a long time coming, but you’ve made your mind up â€" now is the time to make your next career move, and you’re finally going to do it. Surely you should be feeling pumped and excited for what the future holds, and of course you are, but a big part of you is also left wondering “well, what do I do now? How do I make this move actually happen?” At this point, it can be all too easy to flounder, but, on the other hand, your new found enthusiasm can lead you to get carried away. So, before you jump in head first and start applying for developer roles left, right and centre, catch your breath and take time to plan your attack it will pay dividends if you do. 1. Figure out the specifics of what you’re looking for in your next developer role It may sound onerous, but putting in a little bit of effort, particularly at this stage, is well worth your time. It will set the tone for the rest of your job search. By reading our previous blog, you will have decided which career path you want to aim for, whether it’s becoming a technical expert, branching out on your own as a developer, or if you have your sights set on becoming a CIO one day. Regardless of your chosen path, you need to be proactive, positive and realistic if you want to make this career move actually happen. So, start by thinking about the specifics of what you’re really looking for, using the list below. You can think broadly and be creative here.  Think about your skills and personality: What are you good at? What are you not so good at? What do you like/dislike about your current job? Which previous projects have you enjoyed, and which have you not enjoyed so much? What additional skills or qualifications do you need to get to where you want to be? What technologies are you specialised in vs want to get more specialised in? Also reflect on your new employer: Which industries particularly interest you? Would you like to join a technology-first company, or is this not as important to you? Would a small start-up or a big multinational suit you best? Ideally, what type of technologies, languages and platforms would your new employer be using? What type of organisational culture and hierarchical structure would suit you best? What do you need from your new boss? An expert and a mentor? Or someone more hands-off? What does your new team look like? An army of smart developers, or a small team of experts? How advanced are they? How agile are they? What opportunities would you like your next job to provide? For instance, how important is lifelong learning to you? Do you want an employer who can support you in developing over the long-term, or are you comfortable leading this yourself? How open are you to relocating? How important is work-life balance to you? Once you’ve got a clear idea of exactly what you want, it helps to put some goals in place. This will ensure your job search maintains momentum, and remains more focused and less scattered. Set yourself goals for the next 5, 10 and 15 years, and break these down into shorter goals, steps and achievements to help you get where you want to be and ensure you are continually making the right level of progress. Next, it’s time to take action. 2. Dust off that CV and hit refresh Once you’re clear on what you want, it’s time to ensure your CV reflects just that. This is often the part many jobseekers dread, but once you get started you’ll soon get stuck into it. You might be the most talented developer the world has ever known, but without a current and targeted CV the world will never actually know it. So, take some time to get it right. If you want to get your CV into the ‘yes’ pile, it’s vital that you match it to each role you apply for. While some text can be reused and repurposed, don’t keep it so generic that the hiring manager realises and places it at the bottom of the pile, or worse in the bin. When it comes to your CV, the first thing the recruiter will want to know is whether you have the right level of expertise and experience for the role in question. Use the below tips to ensure this is obvious from the outset. Personal statement: this gives a concise history of your career to date, your current situation and what you are looking to do next. See below for an example: I am a proactive and driven Senior Software developer, with over 15 years’ experience working across both start-up and multinational organisations. I have specific expertise in XXX, a proven ability to deliver projects on time and a strong problem-solving mind-set. I’m looking for a new developer role in which I can further develop my skills within a team of experts, and deliver real value to a business. Experience: keep this concise and ensure you include links to any previous projects where you can (for instance, an app you’ve developed), this will help reinforce your skills and experience to the reader. It’s also a good idea to provide a link back to your LinkedIn profile, which may well provide the reader with more information. Skills: include training courses you have attended, qualifications you have gained, plus programming languages, technologies and coding you are adept at. Also, don’t forget to include your soft skills, as these are becoming more and more important to tech employers in particular. Utilise keywords throughout: review the job descriptions of roles that could be of potential interest to you. Note down the most apparent keywords, and ensure these are included throughout your CV. Doing this will help ensure your CV makes it past the algorithms. Ensure you’re using the right language: by using the right, professional language you will better convince the reader that you have the right skills and experience for the job â€" so, avoid clichés and use action verbs, such as ‘motivated’ when describing your achievements. Lastly, proofread: check the spelling, grammar, formatting and consistency of names and titles. Finally, make sure your LinkedIn profile is consistent with what you are including in your CV,  and attractive to employers by following these basic tips. 3. Start applying â€" but don’t hit submit on every job Surely now, you can finally start firing off job applications, right? Of course, you want to find your dream developer job, and quickly, but now that you’ve got your plan of attack in place, and have updated your CV, don’t fall at the last hurdle. Don’t let your excitement blind you into thinking any and every new opportunity you come across is a good match for you. It is essential to strike the right balance between being ambitious and realistic. So, once you come across what you think could be an interesting opportunity, take a step back and honestly assess whether it’s really right for you, and whether you’re really right for it. Always bear in mind that you need to achieve equilibrium between applying for roles that challenge and develop you but that aren’t vastly overstretching you. Having said that, when job searching, never downplay your skills in your own mind. It can be easy to talk yourself out of good opportunities from fear of the unknown or change. Don’t fall into this trap. You need to push yourself, otherwise you will never move forward. Complacency is a dangerous mindset with today’s fast pace of development. For instance, if you’re not 100% confident that you’re proficient in every single programming language outlined in the job description, this shouldn’t necessarily put you off applying, not at all. Your new job needs to be a challenge, and you need to learn new things from it â€" otherwise, what’s the point of moving? So, when deciding whether or not to apply, try to adopt a realistic, yet positive mind-set. You know deep down what you’re capable of, and what you’re not…yet. And, once you’ve decided that you’re going to hit ‘submit’ on your application, ensure you’ve applied all the guidance above to send  a tailored CV which does justice to you, your skills and everything you have to offer. Taking your first steps towards a new career change is always daunting; there’s no getting away from that. But, you can make the whole process more bearable and, importantly, more fruitful by following the above advice. Remember, nothing good ever came of standing still, so now’s the time to get down to business and take a strategic approach to your job search. Read more advice and industry insights to develop your career: How the best developers overcome their dev daemons 10 tech job markets that will explode in 2018 Automation: job killer or temp job cultivator How to develop the right strategy and find the right people for your cloud migration