Don’t let these 14 mistakes cost you a job in tech

In a poll of 2,600 tech chiefs across the country, 20 percent of the people in charge of offering you a job in tech ask that you please stop badmouthing your former employers.

IT staffing firm Robert Half Technology laid out the results of the survey in a handy infographic, which lists out the top 14 mistakes and warning signs executives say often costs people a job, either by getting resumes to the bottom of the pile or by putting the breaks on an interview process.

“There is strong activity in the employment market right now, especially for tech professionals in Philadelphia,” said Brittany Pipa Nisenzon, the Philly branch manager for Robert Half. “But even though the market for tech professionals is strong, here are still areas where candidates can improve to ensure they get the job they want.”

Here are the big no-nos during your interview, according to CIOs:

1. Don’t badmouth former managers or employers
2. Don’t forget to make eye contact and show a positive body language
3. Don’t show up unprepared for tech questions
4. Don’t forget to get a sense of the business before the interview
5. Don’t gloss over your job history
6. Don’t dress unprofessionally
7. Don’t drop the ball on follow-up and “Thank you” emails

As for resumes, here are the warning signs:

1. Frequent unexplained job-hopping
2. Sloppy formatting
3. Too long or too much irrelevant information
4. Not hyping up business knowledge
5. Too much tech jargon
6. Overly complicated resume format
7. No context offered on previous experience

“Just because the market is favorable and your skills are in demand, doesn’t mean you can overlook important steps in the process,” Pipa Nisenzon said. “Philadelphia-area tech professionals still need to spend time the necessary time preparing for interviews, customizing their resumes for the specific position they’re applying for and conduct themselves in a manner that is going to leave a good impression with the hiring manager.”