Interview Prep & Job Offer Process: Starting a Career in IT Part 3

Our ongoing ACI Learning Tech Academy Career Services series is back for our final installment! This time, we are sharing what you need to know once you get the interview and beyond.

To review Part 1, read Our Expert's Guide to Starting a Career in IT | ACI Learning.

To review Part 2, read here: Social Networking & LinkedIn: Starting a Career in IT

Career Services at ACI Learning Tech Academy

At ACI Learning Tech Academy, our help doesn’t end when you finish your classes. Our team of Employment Development Managers guide you through every step of the job hunt by connecting you with employers and helping you create a resume, cover letter, and online presence to outshine your competition. They know the industry. They know the big employers. They also know exactly what those employers are looking for and how to get hired. Our EDMs help learners optimize their LinkedIn profiles into an important asset that gets attention from recruiters, level-up job-hunting skills to maximize efficiency, and increase the employer response rate. They also help perfect resumes and cover letters with the details that will lead to interviews, and then practice interview techniques.

Meet Karla Urbina

In this career development series, Karla Urbina, our own Career Services Manager, is answering commonly asked questions for those looking to start or develop a career in IT, cybersecurity, or project management.

Let’s say that I’ve done the training, taken all the right steps and now I am landing interviews. What do I do to prepare for my first interview?

Karla: The first important thing (and often overlooked) is to truly KNOW your resume. Ensure you are familiar with your newly learned skills, be prepared to speak to your updated tailored experience, feel confident about discussing your training and certifications. The second most important thing is to dissect the job description. Go through each bullet one by one and make sure you are familiar with every task and every requirement. If there is something you aren’t 100% sure of, use your resources (google is a powerful thing!). Once you are familiar with every bullet, thing of a relatable situation or example when you used the skill or completed a similar task. This will cover you for most of the skills based and the behavioral type questions an interviewer can ask you.

How do I stand out if there are a lot of applicants?

Karla: Sell yourself. Be confident and be prepared. Everything that you say must market yourself and your personality as THE candidate for the job.  Every interview is an opportunity to get better at messaging YOUR personal VALUE Add.

Are there important questions for me to ask during an interview?

Karla: You should always be prepared to ask questions. Not doing so makes you appear unprepared or uninterested. Here are a few questions you can never go wrong with:

• Are there any skills or qualifications I might be lacking that would prevent me from obtaining this position?
• What are some challenges I might experience in this position?
• How do you help your team grow in their profession?
• What are your short-term and long-term expectations for this role?
• What makes this company unique?
• When are you expecting your top candidate to start?

How should I follow up after an interview?

Karla: I still believe it is crucial to send a follow-up “Thank you”. Interviewers still want to know that their time is important, and they’ll appreciate the courtesy (not to mention that this will set you apart from all the other applicants who didn’t do this).

Are you ready to have our Career Services team in your corner?

After completing a training program, you'll get 1-on-1 help to perfect your resume, optimize your LinkedIn profile and even connect with local employers. Contact us today to find out more!