Today’s job market generally favors tech candidates over the companies looking for new employees. While this sounds ideal for job seekers, it actually presents a situation with unique benefits and drawbacks. Your approach to finding a position may need to be adjusted including anything from the jobs to which you apply and how you handle negotiating an offer.
To help make sure you are prepared to find a tech job in a competitive market such as this one, here are some tips to get you started.
Know Your Worth
When companies compete for the same candidates, compensation tends to improve. That means you may be able to get a higher salary today than you would have been offered for the same work only a few years ago. Before you get too deep into your job search, it is important to know what your skills can get you today.
Start by doing some research. Information about salaries is widely available online, so seeing what people earn when working in your target position is fairly simple. Just make sure you limit the search based on the location where you would like to work, as the salary offered in one city might not equal what you get in another. Additionally, make sure you have comparable education and experience before setting your heart on a specific dollar amount.
Remember Benefits
Your salary is only part of the total compensation package. Benefits like a flexible work schedule, paid time off, access to training and many other items are also involved in determining the full value of a job offer.
Since the market is favoring job seekers, many businesses are improving their benefits packages as well as salary. And these points can also be negotiated. If you find yourself with a job offer that doesn’t quite measure up, and there’s no room to budge on salary, consider whether other benefits can address the difference. You may find yourself happy to accept a position with additional paid vacation or the ability to work from home instead of seeking out a job with the highest salary.
Consider Growth
While the job market favors candidates today, there is no guarantee it will stay that way. Selecting a position with a company that also offers the opportunity to develop professionally and potentially be promoted can offer additional security as well as the chance to move your career forward. In the end, the ability to learn new skills and gain valuable experience can make a slightly lower pay rate a non-issue, especially when compared to an offer that leaves you stagnant.
You May Not Get an Offer
Even if the job market favors job seekers, that doesn’t mean you are ideal for every position. Factors like cultural fit, personality and soft skills also play into hiring decisions. Not everyone fits into every environment even if they appear to have the right hard skills. So, don’t let a “no” from one company stop you from considering opportunities elsewhere.
Are you looking for a new IT job?
If you are interested in finding out about new tech positions in your area, Resolution Technologies can help you explore your options. Contact us to see what today’s job market can do for you.
