Unsure what companies are looking for when hiring New Collar employees? Curious as to what skills matter most in a New Collar job? Want to apply for a New Collar role, but wondering if your skillset is applicable? Three IBM hiring managers have come together here to share their top tips for candidates seeking a New Collar career.
1. Current and relevant skills take precedence
“The first things I look at are the skills and knowledge that a candidate has and how it will enable them to be successful at IBM. We value diversity in our candidates, so how the skills were attained is secondary to the fact that the skills are current and relevant in the marketplace. A candidate’s interest in ongoing personal learning and development is a strong indicator that they will be able to continue to embrace growth and change and develop their careers once at IBM.
When I’m interviewing, there are a few areas I like to hone in on:
- Critical thinking and problem solving skills. Will you challenge the status quo, looking for new and innovative solutions to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges?
- Teamwork. You’ll be part of globally diverse teams that are embracing new, more agile ways of working.
- Adaptability. Can you handle uncertainty and change? The world is changing at a rapid rate, and IBMers need to be able to grow and adapt with it, through ongoing learning and development and the attainment of new skills.”
-Sam Ladah, IBM Cloud – Armonk, NY
2. Know the core elements of the craft
“The first thing I try to convey to new IBM recruits in design is a sense of pride in our mission. We create the things that make the world run – the world’s largest banks, the biggest big box stores, and global commerce. But I also tell them that their role in achieving those big picture goals starts with having an understanding of the root elements of the design craft – things that are not necessarily taught anymore – like basic visual and type skills, layout and hierarchy.
Given we’re in a time where it’s a delicate balance between the old and the new, I believe an understanding of the core elements of a craft is essential preparation for learning the new technologies that are driving us into the future. As it pertains to design, I look for non-traditional individuals who are committed to understand users, explore concepts, prototype designs and evaluate them with users and stakeholders.”
-Oen Michael Hammonds, IBM Design – Austin, TX
3. Look for the “it” factor
“When interviewing candidates, the initial characteristics I’m looking for are three things: How well someone communicates, if a person is coachable, and if an individual will work well in a team setting. Once I have those items determined, I’m then curious to know how the interviewee learns – visual, verbal, hands on, etc. – and try to understand if the person has the mindset and drive to quickly learn new skills and/or processes.
The last – and most important – aspect I’m looking for is if a candidate passes the ‘it’ factor, which is the ability to see a problem and/or issue not as a roadblock but as an opportunity. During interviews, I ask each candidate to describe a problem and/or issue they can remember either in a personal or professional setting, how they overcame the obstacle, and if it was accomplished by working as a team or individual. I then ask them why this moment stuck out in their mind amongst the many situations they have experienced over time.”
-Christopher Wingler, Public Sector Infrastructure Services – Columbia, MO
Visit the new IBM New Collar Jobs hiring portal, and follow the conversation using #NewCollarJobs.
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