ITSMF READY-ness

Your Resume

Ensure your resume has key words for applicant tracking system (ATS)
An applicant tracking system (ATS) helps companies organize candidates for hiring and recruitment purposes. The ATS parses a resume’s content into categories and then scans it for specific keywords to determine if the job application should be passed along to the recruiter. You want to make sure your resume includes those key words.

Research the role and find similar job descriptions
Ensure you are clear on what the company is looking for and how other companies have described the role you are interested in. This information can help you determine if you’re interested in the role and if you are qualified.

Resume Formats & Templates
If you need assistance with writing your resume, you can also hire someone to write or even review your resume on Fiverr.

Select the appropriate format for your needs. Modern examples are available for free at Canva.

Writing Career Experience

• Include relevant experience only
• No one expects you to have 10 years of experience; instead think of what you have accomplished in the role.
• Note any areas of leadership or responsibility
• Include only 2-5 bullets per job
• Compose one-liner bullet points to communicate your work experience
• Quantify with numbers and/or percentages in your descriptions, where possible

Add LinkedIn QR Code

• Elevate your profile by adding the LinkedIn QR code. This is an easy way to find and connect with other LinkedIn members.
• Follow the steps listed here.

Be Consistent

• Decide how you want to format the following areas by answering the questions below.
• Use the same formatting in ALL sections.

Spelling & Grammar

• Don’t rely on your spell check for everything. Read through every word of your resume.
• Ask at least 2 professionals to review your resume as well

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW

Ensure Consistency
Decide how you want to format the following areas by answering the questions below. Then use the same formatting in ALL sections.

• Do you want to use full sentences or not?
• Which date format will you use?
• Which verb tense you are using: past, present or future ?
• Which chronological order will you use (i.e., most recent to oldest)?

Review for spelling and grammar

• Don’t rely on your spell check; read through every word of your resume
• Ask at least 2 professionals to review your resume as well

Preparing for the Interview

Prepare your tech and your mind

Be familiar with the position and the organization so that you can demonstrate your interest in and fit for the job. Utilize open-source materials, reach out to current employees of the organization. Print your resume and cover letter to have with you during the interview.

Organizational Research

• Year established
• Current CEO
• Products and Services
• Recruiter and Interviewer
• First and Last Name
• Email address

Practice the Interview

• Be detailed in your answers to show the depth of your knowledge.
• Give examples of how you have used the technical tools to show your skill set.

Your Personal Brand

Crafting a personal brand statement is beneficial to state your unique value and experiences to others in a concise manner.

The Basics
To promote the best possible image of yourself, you need to showcase your strengths and be aware of your weaknesses. To start, jot down the answers to the following questions:

• What skills or expertise will you bring?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• What drives you?
• Where do you excel?

By answering the above questions, you should have a better idea of your strengths and weaknesses, but it is also important to remember that there are a lot of other talented people out there. So, the real differentiation happens through what makes you — well, you. In the next step, you will define your values and motivations.

Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch is a brief introduction and overview of who you are professionally. It’s called an elevator pitch since it is meant to last as long as a standard elevator ride. The target length of an elevator pitch is 30-60 seconds. Think of it as a professional first impression “tweet”. It is important to make a good first impression and having a clearly defined elevator pitch means that you are prepared for every interaction.

Dressing for Success

• Bad Image can hold us Back
  Example: Although an NAACP image award winner, Jussie Smollett’s Hate Crime case will jeopardize his career as an actor.
• Mixed Image doesn’t get us what we want
  Example: Spotify’s handling of Joe Rogan caused Black artists to remove catalogs.
• Good Image is Gold
  Example: President Obama – “squeaky clean Image”, held true to Authenticity, Leadership, Honesty

Applying to Conferences

Black Data Processing Associates Technology Conference
Anita B. Org Grace Hopper Celebration (Women in Tech)
National Society of Black Engineers Conference
CMD-IT/ACM Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference

Conduct research on conferences that you should attend

• Determine your goals for the conference. This includes mapping out the sessions that you will attending, attendance at the career fair, and networking opportunities.
• Review the conference agenda and identify the events that would be most beneficial to your goals.
• Take the opportunities to meet fellow colleagues, speakers, or presenters you follow, engage with and that influence you.
• Pre-register for the career fair event at the conference. This includes submitting your resume prior to the conference in case attending companies can review your resume before the fair. In some cases, companies may reach out to you for interviews PRIOR to the career fair.