Professional Practice Portfolio: IT Recruitment, Ethics, PG Study

This professional practice portfolio provides a comprehensive analysis of key aspects within the information technology sector. It begins with a critique of IT recruitment processes, examining different interview types and the importance of employee referrals. The portfolio then delves into self-reflection on the author's MBTI type and its relevance to software development, exploring areas of agreement and disagreement with their working style. Further, the project appraises the value of postgraduate study and international experience in IT development, highlighting different program types and their benefits. Finally, it analyzes the importance of ethics for IT professionals, discussing professional behaviors, ethical decision-making, and examples of scandals in the industry. This portfolio aims to provide a holistic view of the professional landscape within the IT sector, incorporating personal reflection, industry analysis, and career development strategies.

Professional practice preparation portfolio
Name:
Course:

1
(2) Critique of recruitment processes used in the information technology sector
 Self-reflection
The IT software organizations have their own recruitment process. This process varies
from professional, technical, to managerial jobs. It is important to know realistic
information about the organization in order to get the job, and stay in the organization.
Also, they tend to use employee referrals, and they find it effective. So the job candidate
has to prepare a list of trusted referrals to support his position in the new job (Rajani, et
al. 2016). IT software companies use effective ways of recruiting, and they offer the
necessary training to enhance the skills of the new employees.
 Different types of interviews
Interviews could take different types according to the organizational choice. I expect to
face four types of interviews during the selection process according to University of Cape
Town (2011), as follows:
 Screening: Large organizations usually have a long recruitment process, they offer an
initial interview to decide whether the candidate is suitable for the vacancy, and could
proceed to the second stage.
 Telephone: It could be done through telephone, video, or Skype in the early stage of
selection. It is similar to the face to face interview, and should be handled in a
professional way.
 One on one: This process involves interviewing different people within the
organization, including, the director or the line manager. It usually takes place in
small organizations.

2
 Panel: This method involves a number of people gathered for the interview, they
have a coordinator, and each one of them has a list of questions to ask the candidate.
 Explanation of the main interview processes used in information technology sector
The hiring manager asks about three main issues when interviewing for an IT job. The
main interview process could be explained according to Doyle (2017), as follows:
 Questions about the candidate, and the technical skills: Include questions about
specific technical details, concerning, skills, education, certificate, tools, and
languages of experience.
 Questions about the Job, and the organization: Include questions describing skills
qualifying for the job, as managerial skills, production process, daily activities, and
key competencies.
 Technical questions: Concerning the main duties, and responsibilities of the job in
specific to make sure that the job best fits the candidate.
 Explanation of how psychometric testing is used
The psychometric test often done by the interviewer in the final stage of the interview
process. It is called the 'behavioural interview', as the interviewer likes to test certain
competencies, and assess different aspects of the candidate's personality, and abilities. He
asks about the candidate behaviour in various situations, and giving examples of how he
could deal with challenging situations (University of Cape Town 2011). Accordingly, the
interviewer can predict the candidate behaviour, and skills in the future.
 Suggestions for preparation:
In order to be well prepared for the interview, the information technology developer has
to know the requirements of the IT software companies, and the certain conditions that

3
dominate the organization, as the academic records, work experience, and the
socioeconomic conditions (Saxena 2011). Accordingly, the candidate can prepare himself
for the required qualifications, be ready to match his credentials to the job requirements,
and to be ready to discuss how the job could match his personal requirements.

4
(3) Critique of my MBTI type
 Discussion of my own MBTI type with respect to previous employment experiences
The personality traits of the IT professionals are different from other occupations
(Lounsbury et al. 2014). The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), is based on the
theory of Jung, which argues that a personal behavior is based on four cognitive
functions, represented in thinking, feeling, sensation, and intuition. People are classified
either extravert or introvert, each type has an impact on the job profile (Varona et al.
2012). Links are established between the organization, and the employees' competencies
through the job profile. Regarding the ICT sector, there are six profile families,
represented in business management, development, design, technical management,
service, and operations, and support (Ribaud & Saliou 2015). The current software
engineering landscape requires that the employee skills should exactly match the
requested talent, and experience. The right person should be placed in the right job.
I have to be aware of my personality, I have the hard skills required for the software
developer as programming, design, and analysis, but the IT companies desire soft skills
as well. Software development should know how to communicate in a written or oral
way, for me, I lack these soft skills. I am an introvert person regarding my attitude. Jung's
typology (1971), classified individuals according to their mental functions to either
sensing – intuition or thinking – feeling. I represent the second type of the mental
function, as I am directed by thinking. According to the fourth parameter of the MBTI,
which determines the dominant function of the personality, I am a judging person (James
et al. 2014). The interview can reveal the personality character, and the specific
requirements for the job. I had the result of my MBTI type, and traits.

5
 Explanation of areas of agreement and disagreement with my MBTI working style
In order to explain the areas of agreement and disagreement with my own MBTI working
style as a software developer, it is important to discuss each trait in details to show the
degree of matching my MBTI. According to Varona et al. (2012), the four traits, could be
discussed as follows:
 Extroverts and introverts: Extroverts are people who focus on people, objects, and
prefer to communicate verbally, which contradicts my personality and the job
requirements. But introverts, are the opposite of the previous pattern, as they
concentrate on their internal ideas, and emotions. This pattern represents my type of
communication and the trait required by the job.
 Sensing and intuitive: Sensing tend to depend on their sense to judge the events,
which contradicts my personality, and the job requirements. But intuitive focus on
complex interactions, and new possibilities, which matches my personality.
 Feeling and thinking: Feeling tend to refer to values to judge the events, which
matches my personality to some extent. But the thinking people, make judgements
according to conclusions, which represents my personality.
 Perceiving and judging: Perceiving demonstrates flexibility, but the judging people
demonstrate structure, and organization, which represent my traits.
Accordingly, my MBTI type, and trait reflect the requirements of the job as a software
developer, which strengthen my position in my field of expertise.

6
(4) Appraisal of the value of Post graduate study and international experience in
information technology development
 Types of PG study and their importance with respect to information technology:
Regional approaches to the relationship between development, and the quality of
postgraduate education is changing. Some approaches focus on the quality assurance of the
education process, while the others focus on the increasing number of postgraduate students
to improve the quality of research, and development (University of Oxford 2015). IT is
considered among the fastest growing industries in the world. It has many diversified fields,
also it has a possibility of finding work in different industries. The postgraduate studies in IT
provide opportunities for the student to be creative, develop personal skills, and branch into
other areas. Each postgraduate program in IT focuses on a specific area of expertise, it is
possible to narrow the focus of choice within each major area. The postgraduate of IT is
more likely to find jobs, as it is ranked among the top five best careers.
The master degree in IT, primarily offers courses of theoretical learning, and practical
projects as part of the course work. Research based courses are also available in the form of
research project or thesis. The course fees vary depending on the length of study, and the
location. Research grants are also available. It is also available to mix between personal
skills, as design, and the experience in the IT programming. Universities known for art can
offer unique opportunities (Post Grad 2017). As a software developer, start-up companies
seeking to develop their own brands, often hire IT developers, to promote their products and
services digitally.
 The advantages of international experience with respect to information technology:

7
Universities encourage students to undertake research placements, and international
experiences. This could take the form of summer courses for research students. For example,
the Imperial College London has established an annual collaborative professional skills
development summer program with partner universities in different world countries, as
Singapore, and Hong Kong. Also, professional on the job training programs could be
established with consultancy projects in different world countries to excel the students' skills.
The European LERU Doctoral offers summer school to help doctoral students to develop
their personal, and professional skills beyond their research. It offers training on essential
enterprise skills as, leadership, government, and academia through the best ways of
communicating academic research (University of Oxford 2015).
Studying IT abroad has many advantages, according to Big Choice Group (2017), as
follows:
 IT can create solutions to problem in every field, accordingly studying postgraduate
courses abroad offers the opportunity to learn within different contexts, and gain
different practices.
 The possibility of undertaking an independent project with businesses, and experts in
the IT field.
 Development of specific skills, as mathematics, innovation, and independent thinking
in relation to IT.
 It offers challenging climate of competition between students from different
backgrounds to complete complex tasks, as well as being prepared to adapt to fast-
paced nature of the IT industry, and the research consultancy.

8
 IT developers who have the opportunity to study abroad and gain diversified
professional experience are in high demand in the web sector as well as across all
businesses that rely on IT.

9
(5) Analysis of 'Why ethics is important for professionals in information technology
 Professional and ethical behaviours
The IT professionals have their code of ethics to help them to handle the moral problems
that may occur due to their work. Acting ethically evolves as a result of choosing
between right, and wrong, as our choice affects our ethics. According to Kimppa (2014),
IT professional ethical issues could be discussed as follows:
 Authority, and responsibility: Knowledge represents the power of the IT
professional, it should be used with wisdom.
 Knowledge, and experience: They should be constantly developed, learn about new
regulations regarding personal privacy, and share their knowledge. They have to
understand that confidential information of their clients should not be revealed to gain
the trust of their clients.
 Attitude: Professionals should consider that their work has meaning through others,
and make their decisions according to this perception.
 Communications: Professionals should document their communications with the
clients, and inform them with the required actions. The clients should be aware of
necessary information either good or bad.
Ethical decisions are reasoned, and principled process. According to Stoodly (2009),
ethical decision making should consider moral perceptions, discernment, resolution, and
analytical thinking, knowledge of duties, and responsibilities, and actions.
 Scandals in the information technology sector
Scandals in the field of IT are many, we can consider the "Smartest guys in the cell"
scandal. Enron the US innovative company, its executives used to cheat investors through

10
Enron offshore firms that were trash containers. Enron could hide its losses by shifting
them to these dummy firms. The company's top executives were accused of stealing
investors' money and most of them were jailed. The other scandal is "Sony rootkit", as the
company loaded a rootkit the copy- protection software to 100 CD titles. These copies were
very harmful to PCs as they generate worms, and Trojans. Sony BMG recalled the infected
CDs and lawsuits were filed against the company by the states of New York, Texas, and
California (Sandoval 2010). There are many other scandals concerning IT companies that
are treated by law.
 The effect of unethical behavior in the information technology sector
IT professionals face many security concerns, as external environmental threats, and
internal espionage. Security concerns by organizations act as drivers for growth, and
hiring of IT professionals. The dishonest activities by IT professionals can have a
negative impact on them, and the organization as well. Security breaches may occur due
to attacks from hackers outside the organization's firewall or by the hands of the IT
employees. The consequences of these attacks may lead to profits, efficiency losses,
delaying services, and shut down operation.
IT has a social impact, IT is responsible for the term "developed nations" in relation to
the internet technologies. IT professionals help the industrial countries to maintain high
standards of living and manage growth. On the other hand the emerging countries depend
on the IT professionals to lift their citizens out of the poverty (Page 2011). Unethical
practices in the IT industry can harm the governments, and businesses as people will not
be able to trust them. It is very important to maintain ethical activities, and establish trust
with organizations, and clients as well succeed in the career of IT.

11
References
Big Choice Group 2017, Degree guide, viewed 20 Oct. 2017, <http://www.studyoverseas.com>.
Doyle, A 2017, Information technology (IT) job interview questions, viewed 20 Oct. 2017,
<www.thebalance.com>.
James, K, Sendall, P, Ceccucci, W, Peslak, A & Hunsinger, S 2014, 'Does personality play role
in computer information systems course performance?', Issues in Information Systems, vol 15,
no. 2, pp. 383-392.
Kimppa, K 2014, 'Code of ethics for information technology professionals', Finnish Information
Processing Association - Ethics workgroup.
Lounsbury, J, Sundstrom, E, Levy, J & Gibson, L 2014, 'Distinctive personality traits of
information technology professionals', Computer and Information Science, vol 7, no. 3, pp. 39-
48.
Page, D 2011, What Negative Impact Does Unethical Behavior Have in Information
Technology?, viewed 20 Oct. 2017, <http://smallbusiness.chron.com>.
Post Grad 2017, Postgraduate programs in IT and computing, viewed 20 Oct. 2017,
<www.postgrad.com>.
Rajani, N, Bhargavi, V & Parvathi, A 2016, 'Recruitment practices in it sector: A comparative
analysis of select Indian & Mnc companies', International Journal of Scintific & Technology
Research , vol 5, no. 4, pp. 257-267.
Ribaud, V & Saliou, P 2015, 'Relating ICT competencies with personality types', Springer
International Publishing, Turkey.

12
Sandoval, G 2010, The 10 biggest tech scandals of the decade, viewed 20 Oct. 2017,
<http://www.techrepublic.com>.
Saxena, B 2011, 'Effective recruitment and selection system for the IT software industry in
India', Algeria.
Stoodly, I 2009, 'IT professionals' experience of ethic and its implications for IT education',
Quensland University of Technology, Australia.
University of Cape Town 2011, 'Interviews', South Africa.
University of Oxford 2015, 'International trends in higher education', UK.
Varona, D, Fernando, L, Pinero, Y & Raza, A 2012, 'Evolution of software engineers’
personality profile', ACM SIGSOFT Software Engineering Notes, vol 37, no. 1, pp. 1-5.
Yilmaz, M, Connor, R & Clarke, P 2014, 'An exploration of individual personality types in
software development', University of Southampton.