January is often a time where people get that pull towards change. As clichéd as it sounds, a new year really can mean a new career for some people. But even though the prospect is exciting, it can be tricky to know where to start.

To help jobseekers out, we spoke to recruiters from some of Ireland’s top tech employers to glean some insights that will help anyone focus their search and stand out from the crowd.

Avoid hasty decisions

Mitchell Cash is director of talent acquisition and development at Fidelity Investments Ireland. He warned jobseekers who are anxious to hit the job hunt running to take a step back and avoid making any hasty new year decisions.

“Take the time to research market opportunities and identify key organisations you would value joining,” he said. “Consider their reputation and gather evidence on how they can enrich and develop your career.”

Make your CV tell a story

Cash also said that when you are applying for a role, make sure you’re showing off your authentic self and be sure that your application reflects your true skills and abilities.

“Avoid relying on AI to describe your experience or assist with interviews as it can undermine your credibility and potentially harm your reputation and future opportunities with the organisation,” he said.

“Ensure your CV tells a coherent career story. Aim to reflect a career progression and personal growth, rather than just listing various job positions. This helps potential employers see your journey and development clearly.”

Hone technical skills…

Highlighting your skills will always be a vital part of applying for a new role, and when it comes to working in the tech sector, those technical, so-called ‘hard’ skills are crucial.

Jonathan Hayes, a director in technology consulting at PwC, said programming, cloud computing and AI fundamentals are all key skills to focus on.

“Begin with learning SQL and data management, as these are fundamental skills in data analytics. Once you have built a good understanding of SQL, progress to Python, which is an essential language for data analysis and machine learning,” he said.

“Acquire skills in cloud computing by focusing on relevant areas such as data engineering, business intelligence (BI) and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML). Consider the current market demand and interests when choosing which aspects of cloud computing to learn.”

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