Not much, you may think. Or maybe some immediate similarities come to mind, such as, for example, the need to utilize your skills wisely to make things happen. Writing a good CV requires research and attention to detail, just like writing a good piece of code does.

Whilst recruitment has become substantially more sophisticated over the last few years, there is still a need for preparation, planning, research and testing (interview) similar to development cycles.

There is, however, another not-so-obvious similarity: you will need to fail or not quite get there several times before you get the hang of it and really hit the jackpot in both these activities.

So the story goes like this…

1. The exciting start

When you initially set off to create your next app, piece of code, widget, interface or whatever it is, it is easy to get caught up in the initial exuberance and excitement for how much of a positive difference it will make.  You get straight down to work and all is great until, well…., this happens:

Sound familiar?

2. The obstacles

You can (or possible have already) experience similar hurdles in your job search. Looking for your ideal job can be a bit tricky in that it only works the first or second or even third time around if you are a little lucky (or have a great recruiter!). You may find that the company you were mad about working for hampers your productivity or you don’t get along with your future co-workers. Your dream employer can also reject your application and break your heart or perhaps you were too urgent to progress your career and fired off and unfinished CVs with no response? Something that was supposed to turn your life around so positively now seems to be creating problems that are more than 127 little bugs.

3. The learning

So the good news I have for you is that every action on your part geared towards achieving your goal actually brings you a step closer to achieving it, even if you fail in this particular round. When your code doesn’t work, you detect your errors and learn how to improve it (and it’s even easier with the help of others, as exampled by Exercism). In the same way, when you job hunt you get valuable experience in interviewing, drafting applications, and talking to employers about what you can offer as an IT professional. Even more importantly, you have a chance to “get the feel” of different work environments and types of companies out on the market, which will help you decide where you would best fit in. All of this will hopefully bring you to the happy conclusion which is…

4. The Success!

Getting this perfect job is totally within your reach and all your past experiences can be useful in advancing your career. Reflect back on what you’ve learned and make the next step towards career happiness, just like you would when troubleshooting your new code.

Good luck!

Ewa Zajac

What does coding and job hunting have in common? written by Ewa Zajac, Recruitment Consultant.

Feel free to chat with me about roles within the IT sector in Dublin: (+353) 83 130 8488, ewa@amicus.ie

For current vacancies with Amicus IT, click here IT Jobs Ireland