--- original_url: "https://jace.pro/blog/opportunity-is-out-there/" format: markdown ai_optimized: true --- Opportunity is out there# Opportunity is out there July 30, 2020 [thoughts](/tags/thoughts/) Enable AI AnimationThe other day I was on my computer when I got a message. “Hey Jace, Do you have any thoughts on getting a job working on ServiceNow during these times?” (I wasn’t asked this specifically but the conversation went down that way) Oof, when asked this the first thing I do is consider myself losing my employment. I cannot begin to know the worry they have. These are terrible times. I wish you all best, but every time I try to get involved getting someone a gig or job things go sideways fast. So I stopped doing that. Now I just tell people… the stuff below. That’s why I’m writing this. So I can share it use it to cover all the things. Since March I’ve been watching [slack](https://sndevs.com/) cautiously. Reading about lay offs and furloughs. I encourage everyone in this space to listen to [Robert Fedoruk and CJ Wesley’s podcast featuring Kyle Carson](https://share.transistor.fm/s/bfec71fc). ## [](#thoughts-on-getting-a-job-working-on-servicenow)[Thoughts on getting a job working on ServiceNow](https://jace.pro/post/2020-07-30-opportunity-is-out-there/#thoughts-on-getting-a-job-working-on-servicenow) First you need to land an interview. To do that, make an amazing resume. Some say a resume isn’t important, some say it is. I like my resume and trying to make it look good, but it’s a weird thing. A piece of paper listing skills, history, accomplisments and why you want to work there. ### [](#resumes-are-the-tickets-to-interviews)[Resumes are the tickets to interviews](https://jace.pro/post/2020-07-30-opportunity-is-out-there/#resumes-are-the-tickets-to-interviews) There’s lots of things online about resumes. I don’t have concrete evidence on what works and what doesn’t, so I’ll share my thoughts from my experience. I have a “Base” resume I keep up to date with all my experience and such, and I make copies of it tailored to companies needs. 1. **Keep it current.**Update that resume anytime you get a job with the tasks or skills they list.2. **Don’t lie.**It’s easy to lie, not so easy to get away with it. I wouldn’t want to hire a liar.3. **Describe creatively.**“Handled integrations.” becomes, “Saved 5 hours per week per person automating ServiceNow to Payroll feeds.”4. **Know your skills.**An admin and a developer can look the same on paper.5. **Clean up your social media.**If they look you up, you don’t want controversial things coming up.6. **Know your resume.**BE READY TO SPEAK ON EVERY THING YOU PUT ON THE RESUME.7. **Make it personal.**Tailor the resume to the job. Use their lingo from their job posting.8. **Quantify your successes.**Numbers will find attention.9. **Enlist your community.**Share the details where you help others and they help you.10. **Pair your resume down.**Be concise. This isn’t an biography.You *should* update your resume per position applied. Show your best sides to the potential employer. I’ve done this but not every time. ### [](#interviews-are-just-conversations-to-give-and-get-information)[Interviews are just conversations to give and get information](https://jace.pro/post/2020-07-30-opportunity-is-out-there/#interviews-are-just-conversations-to-give-and-get-information) So since I’m still loving Hamilton I’m going to try something new; **One**, **two**, **three**, **four**, **five**, **six**, **seven**, **eight**, **nine**… It’s the **ten** jobby commandments. 1. **Focus and elevate.**Know your worth and expect it.(I read [this](https://www.kalzumeus.com/2012/01/23/salary-negotiation) to get there. **Every**. **Single**. **Time**).2. **Ready questions for people.**Screening call: benefits, culture, company expectations. Interview: team, and technical specifics.3. **Apply to at least three places.**One you don’t want work at, and the rest you do. Practice with the “don’t” place.4. **Take notes.**Write down notes during the all interview steps. You won’t regret it, and then you’ll have it to reference later.5. **Research. Research. Research.**Understand the goals of each company. What their lines of business are, and consider would you fit in there.6. **Never give a number first.**Goal: Verify you **want** to work here and if they **want** to hire you a lot. When that’s true, numbers are flexible.7. **Listen and repeat.**Use keywords from the job posting, and use them where appropriate.8. **Money isn’t everything.**It’s important. Some places can’t offer you what you need. Consider negotiating extra time off then.9. **“Interesting” is a great word.**Them: We can offer you 80k. You: 80k is interesting. It’s not quite where we need this.10. **Defer to a EXTERNAL_AUTHORTY.**This gives you a scapegoat for refusing a request while not being guilty of the refusal yourself. --- [View this page on GitHub](https://github.com/jacebenson/jace.pro/tree/main/./src/posts/2020/2020-07-30-opportunity-is-out-there.md). [Opportunity is out there](https://jace.pro/blog/opportunity-is-out-there/) [Jace Benson](https://jace.pro) ![Jace Benson](https://jace.pro/icon-512x512.png) --- *This content is from Jace Benson's ServiceNow and tech blog at jace.pro* *Original post: https://jace.pro/blog/opportunity-is-out-there/*