This is how you ruin your IT application

Career AdviceApplication

There are some general tips for applications that everyone should know, no matter what job you are applying for: Pay attention to the spelling, have all the important job references together and please check again what photos of you are public on Facebook and Co. circulate. So far, so well known. But there are still a few typical application mistakes that mainly happen to IT professionals. You can find out why this is and how you can avoid it here!

You apply with outdated developer skills

Understandably, people tend to brag about all the skills they can show off in their application. A lot can come together in the course of a developer's life. But if you're referring to technology that's really been out for 10 years, it can disqualify your application. So think about it - your skills in COBOL may be impressive and sometimes even useful - but are they really relevant to the current position? Even if you fear that you will be left with comparatively few skills afterwards – consider whether each skill is really needed for the current position. If she isn't, you don't have to mention her. This gives you more space to delve deeper into the crucial skills.

You are using terminology incorrectly

In the application letter, you want to impress the IT recruiter and try to use the most adolescent words possible. Oh wait, that means eloquent, of course! Avoid throwing around terms that you don't quite understand the meaning of or that aren't—or aren't—used in real life. This can be particularly annoying in the IT area or programming, where developments progress rapidly together with the jargon and a wrong way of speaking quickly outs you as inexperienced. You should try to use correct language. But please, don't write "computer skills" just because that sounds kind of official. A little tip: If you would like to use a complicated term but are honestly not quite sure what it means, look it up again in the very entertaining sideways dictionary.

You're throwing around wildly with abbreviations

Stuffing your IT application with obscure acronyms and abbreviations is a similar trap to boasting about misused jargon. HR professionals keep complaining about so-called AERs (acronym-enhanced-résumés), which they see in IT applications. Reckon that the recruiter who will hire you is unlikely to be a tech pro or coder. Make it easy for him to understand you and don't brag about how well you know AV or that you have three years of BPEL experience. Be prepared that you should explain exactly what you mean by that in the interview at the latest - or simply express yourself clearly in your IT application.

You don't know what the company wants

Yes, IT is important. The IT job you are applying for is also important. But face the truth: As an IT person in a large company, you are probably a small cog in a large machine that wants to achieve a higher goal than just having a well-functioning network. Before you apply, find out what goals the company as a whole is pursuing and what role your future job will play in this. Then, in your application, underline how you will help the company achieve this overarching goal by doing your job as well as you can. Show how goal-oriented you are by putting your position in the right context.

You remain vague in your wording

It's nice that you "worked closely with the network team" or "were well integrated with the development team", but what does that say about your qualifications? It can mean anything or anything. So avoid vague statements and unclear formulations, but describe exactly what you have done in your past positions. Don't be stingy with facts and figures. How big was your team, what was your role in it and what technologies did you deal with on a daily basis? Salt the whole thing with a few details about your technical environment and don't hide the duration of the project. With this information, the recruiter can better assess whether you have the right qualifications for the advertised position.

Conclusion for your IT application

Basically, it's very simple: Try to use precise but understandable language that makes it clear to the other person what you can do. Find out exactly what activities the advertised IT job includes and tailor your application to the company's objectives and the requirements of the job. Emphasize the parts of your IT resume that qualify you for the position and don't burden the recruiter with trivia. Then nothing stands in the way of your successful IT application - and all you have to do is get through the interview.