What Traits Do Employers Want in IT Candidates?

With hiring being fairly steady in the IT industry, you may think you’ll always be able to get a job. And maybe your resume features all of the hottest skills and technologies—but that’s just on paper. If you’re seriously looking for a new job, a better job or your dream job, how can you set yourself apart from other candidates?

Here’s what employers are looking for, beyond your list of technical skills:

1. A background in math and science.
Employers often look for IT candidates with degrees in math or science. Why? Because so many of the tasks related to most IT jobs require analytical skills. They’re looking for proof that you have a demonstrated grasp of a technical field. Obviously this isn’t a dealbreaker if you have major hands-on experience and can wow an employer in every other aspect, but they might bypass your resume if you don’t have the right credentials.

2. The ability to communicate.
You see “good communication skills” in every job description, but they’re necessary these days in the IT field. You’ll often need to speak with users to determine their needs, then confer with other IT employees to figure out how best to address them. If you’re helping an end-user troubleshoot, you need to be able to explain technical knowledge simply and clearly. Be prepared to demonstrate in an interview how you would handle these situations.

3. The desire to keep developing your skills.
Even the least tech-savvy employers know that IT is one of the fastest-moving fields. You need to be able to show that you’ve kept up your skills through recent certifications, classes or proficiencies. And you’ll want to make sure you let them know you’ll always be up for adding new skills and best practices to your arsenal.

4. The right type of personality.
This one can be hard to prove, either through your resume or at your interview. It helps if you exhibit a professional demeanor and that you’re punctual, polite and friendly at an interview. You can also highlight your leadership skills on your resume. Remember, you can have the best, most cutting-edge skills out there, but if you come across as a maverick or a loner who can’t get along with coworkers or fit into a company’s workplace, you’ll be out of the running.

Something else employees like to see when they’re hiring? That you work with a reputable, experienced IT staffing firm like Triumph. If you’d like to see what we can do for you, call or contact us anytime.