New job in 2015? The Reg guide to getting out and moving on

The planning starts now

Social network: handle carefully

Needless to say, any inconsistencies between data on candidates’ CVs and what is publicly available about them online will raise serious questions. LinkedIn is the site most companies will search to find you, but don’t overlook the impact that other social media channels could have: now’s the time to tidy up your Facebook profile, remove “that” picture or revisit your privacy settings.

Make sure your LinkedIn profile is structured so you can be found quickly, advises Adam Gordon of Social Media Search. “Fill it with keywords that your target audience would search for to find you, especially when it comes to your job title, as LinkedIn’s search tool prioritises these.” A strong summary that tells your audience who you are and what drives you is instantly engaging, and much better than a summary of your day-to-day tasks and responsibilities.

We could all use some help with our personal branding

Joining relevant LinkedIn Groups and making relevant contacts will also aid your personal branding. The more contacts you have, the more likely that prospects will come across your status updates and see you in their “People You May Know” suggestions. “Think about what content you could use to demonstrate your expertise and knowledge. Strong content can be used to create goodwill with your target audience,” Gordon says.

Once you whet their appetite, the idea is future employers will want to know more. As a result, they’ll often reach out to make contact, and that's the perfect moment to start a conversation with an interesting prospect.

Don't be a geek

With IT departments increasingly central to businesses, it’s more important than ever that candidates can show themselves - whether through their CVs, social media presence or during the interview process - as possessing the skills to interact with the multiple business departments in an engaging and approachable way.

While the web has made sourcing jobs far easier than ever before, it’s no less important to be as proactive as possible in your job search. Identify larger companies in your target geography that might have their own in-house department, then do your research and target them with a strong cover letter to get yourself noticed.

If there are gaps in your skills armoury, you can’t necessarily rely on your current employer to invest in your training. The fast pace of IT (we’re talking radical change every 18 months) means that continual learning needs to be a way of life. The reality is that specific certifications will tick a box, as they remove an element of risk out of the hiring process.

Combining a current tech skill with business savvy, such as project management, will make you very employable. And advancements in “distance learning” technology mean that job seekers no longer have to take a sickie to sit in a classroom to get certification.