The information technology job market is red hot, with over half a million job openings in the U.S. If you’re looking to land a new job in IT, your best bet is to emphasize your teamwork skills during an interview. Employers are finding these personality traits in short supply among candidates for tech jobs. As it turns out, displaying your teamwork skills may help you land your next position.
If you’ve ever worked with someone who is terrible at interacting with people, you know the importance of soft skills. Traits like being able to get along with others, work in a team or be a good communicator are called soft skills, and they are becoming the most sought-after traits. It makes sense, especially for tech workers, since IT projects rely heavily on teamwork in managing and troubleshooting issues. As it turns out, being a team player is often hard to spot on a resume. That’s why you should expect a potential employer to quiz you about how you approach teamwork during your next interview. And if you’re not sure how your teamwork skills measure up, Mindtools offers an online quiz where you can score yourself.
Here are several ways to market your teamwork skills during your next interview.
Prepare specific examples of how you work well on a team.
Don’t make the mistake of talking in generalities during your interview: Hiring managers prefer to hear specific examples. Expect a question like “Can you give me an example of when you worked as part of a team?” In your answer, prepare brief anecdotes about specific teams you’ve worked with and your role on the team. Highlight what your team achieved and the skills you used. Take along samples of the work your team accomplished in a folder, on a laptop or tablet.
Let your personality shine during the interview.
People who are great team players are often the glue that holds a team together. They are good communicators, with a friendly and open nature. It turns out that they improve the morale of people around them and bring a team closer together. Be aware that interviewers often look for facial expressions and body language that show the personality and professionalism of a candidate during an interview. Pay attention to the nonverbal cues you’re giving. Are you poised? Are you establishing eye contact with your interviewer? Make sure to smile and showcase your personality in a professional and friendly way. Rehearse by recording yourself on video or in front of others.
The bottom line is that teamwork ability can be the deciding factor in whether or not you land a great job. Your best bet is to market your teamwork ability as part of your interview strategy. To get more advice about finding information technology jobs, visit the Nesco Resource website here.