Career Management: Articles, Jobs, and More

Why Don't Employers Call Me Back?

2009-10-01T12:20:00.002-04:00

Finding a job is not rocket science... Work your job search smarter; read article below to learn why you may not be getting that call.

Why Don't Employers Call Me Back? Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder writer

Is there any worse confidence killer than rejection? I think it goes back to childhood, when you want a new bike for your birthday but you end up getting a pack of tube socks instead. You immediately wonder if you did something wrong and that's why you didn't get what you wanted.

Go forward a few years when you end up taking your cousin to the prom because everyone else turned you down. And the college years? Basically a parade of rejection that feels like an endless line of Rockette kicks to your confidence.

Or maybe that was just my experience.

Still, that same game of "Is it me or them?" continues well into adulthood as you begin searching for a job. You make a list of your best qualities, send them to employers, get dressed up and try to woo them in an interview. Then you wait. And wait. And wait. The phone never rings.

Job seekers want to know why they can seemingly do everything right, and yet, still they don't hear back from employers. We're not talking about getting turned down for the job -- we're talking about not even hearing a "Sorry, but the position has been filled." So we went to the source to find out.

Submitting the application
For a job seeker, the application process is full of anxiety and excitement. When you're looking for a job, each available position represents a possible new beginning. Before you've submitted an application, you've already daydreamed about your first day on the job. The problem is that to some employers, you're just one in a dozen. Or in some cases, one in 500.

"In the current market, if you post a job, you will get buried with résumés," says Matthew McMahon, partner at staffing firm McMahon Partners LLC. "Maybe 5 percent are in the ballpark." This means plenty of hiring managers spend their time reading irrelevant applications that don't help them find the right candidate. As a result, they have less time for you. "You simply don't have time to respond to [all applicants]."

To many job seekers this attitude may sound cold and impersonal. After all, behind each of these applications is a person waiting for a return call. McMahon cannot possibly respond to each one individually, but he does take the time to reach out to applicants who show promise.

"If somebody is close, but slightly off target, I will usually take the time to give them a call, learn about what they are looking for, tell them about the sort of roles I fill, and keep the notes for future use," he says.

How about the ones who miss the mark completely?

"If the person isn't even close (or has not read the description), I don't bother spending the time because they are obviously applying for everything," he says. Take that as further proof that throwing your application at every open position and hoping to have some success is not the way to conduct a job search.

Can you expect any changes soon?
OK, so that's how things are now, but can job seekers expect to have a more personal interaction with the hiring managers in the future? Possibly, says Caitrin O'Sullivan of iCIMS, a provider of software for human resource companies to track recruiting activity and applications.

"If an organization, especially a medium or large one, were not leveraging an applicant tracking system, it's difficult for job seekers to understand the magnitude of applications flooding recruiters [and] HR managers' desks -- especially during a period of high unemployment," O'Sullivan explains. "Just visually scanning through all of these résumés can take hours upon hours of manpower. To have to communicate with every one of those applicants on top of that would be a truly formidable task."

That's not to say things will always be that way. As someone on the forefront of tracking technology, O'Sullivan sees an increase in interest among companies that can and do keep job seekers updated at regular intervals.

"As more and more organizations are investing in and leveraging HR technology and [applicant tracking systems], it is much easier for the HR team to automate and streamline that process and enable applicants to be aware of their status within the review process," O'Sullivan says. Although not all employers use tools that allow for such tracking, it's something that iCIMS has provided to human resources departments to benefit job seekers.

Until everyone gets on board, don't expect to hear back from employers to learn where you stand. You're always free to call an employer to check on the status of your application or to see if the position has been filled. As long as you are courteous and don't pester them, most companies will let you know one way or the other.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.

Last Updated: 27/08/2009 - 10:34 PM

Would You Change Your Personality to Advance your Career?

2009-09-30T10:28:00.002-04:00

Interesting article below... I've taken Myers-Briggs several times throughout my career; results are always the same. DISC Profile, says that you can't change your personality. What do you think?

Would You Change Your Personality to Advance your Career?

~Anthony Portuesi

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been on the road quite a bit and with each flight I find some needed time to catch up on industry journals, books, and whatever I can get my hands on. My last trip to Chicago proved to be just such an occasion, yet this time I found myself grazing the most recent issue of Spirit (Southwest’s in-flight magazine). Flipping through the pages, I came across an interesting article by Executive Editor Brad Cope, pondering an interesting question – is it possible to change your personality type to advance your career?

While there is no single personality type that can be label the “best” or “most successful,” it’s no secret that certain personalities seem to excel in the business. If you’re familiar with the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), you will find that “ESTJ’s” or those labeled as - Extroverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Judging - are among those most frequently on the fast track for the corner office.

“More executives and managers are ESTJ’s than any other personality type,” says Rich Thompson, divisional director of research for CPP Inc., the organization that publishes the Myers-Briggs test. “ESTJ’s are the preferred personality of America’s business culture.”

To provide a little background, the MBTI enables one to discover and understand their personality preferences. Not necessarily a concrete picture of your every action, but in general, the natural preferences that make you who you are. The theory contends that:

An individual is either primarily Extraverted or Introverted
An individual is either primarily Sensing or iNtuitive
An individual is either primarily Thinking or Feeling
An individual is either primarily Judging or Perceiving
The possible combinations of these basic preferences form the 16 different Personality Types of which we all possess. (To learn more about each personality type visit the Myers-Briggs Foundation website.)

While I won’t ruin the fun of Doug’s adventure in changing his personality, his article brings to light the importance of understanding our own behavior, how we are likely to deal with different situations, and in which environments we are most comfortable. This understanding of our strengths and weaknesses will aid us in becoming a better leaders. Conversely, learning about others’ Personality Types help us to understand the most effective way to communicate with them, and how they function best - essential pieces to creating a winning team.

You Have More Experience Than You Think

2009-09-29T11:42:00.001-04:00

Posted in Career Advice First Job Out of College
Generation Y Job Hunting on September 28, 2009
~Lindsey Pollak

Remember those days when your first assignment back at school in September was to write an essay about everything you did that summer? In recalling those memories, I started to think about the way people recount and catalog their experiences.

When young professionals in particular think about their accomplishments, they don’t often view their experiences and skills as relevant to their job search. But many seemingly non-professional experiences are more relevant than you might think.

I recently wrote about how even the most professionally inactive summers may have qualities applicable to your job search. To find out why summer jobs, self-improvement and summer socials are important, read my blog post, Slacked off This Summer? Time to Turn up the Heat! on The Huffington Post.

As I was writing that post, I realized that most young people are indeed more experienced than they think. We all know that jobs and internships are relevant, but it’s important to take inventory of all your talents and experiences so you don’t freeze up when writing your resume, interviewing for your dream job or filling out your LinkedIn profile. Whether you’re crafting a cover letter for a new job or negotiating a higher salary a current one, it’s important to take inventory and gain confidence in your experiences and abilities.

How far back should you go in your analysis? As a general rule, resume-relevant experience goes back four years for students and recent grads, unless you’ve done something super impressive like winning an Olympic medal or starting your own business, which you should always mention. Read more on the timeline for recalling your achievements in my blog post, Career Q&A: Is it lame to put high school achievements on my resume?

I’ve put together a laundry list of valuable experiences and skills that may not automatically come to mind when conducting your job search. Here are the first five as a teaser — stay tuned for the rest in days to come:

Part I: Education

1. Writing. Do you write for your school newspaper? Did you start a blog? Book reviews, short stories and letters to the editor are all important uses of your communication skills. If you’ve acquired bylines, don’t be shy about showing potential employers what you’ve done. Any well-written content labeled with your name holds value in the marketplace, especially in a business world where writing skills are often lacking.

2. Course work. Every student takes classes, but what have you done specifically that demonstrates the skills and knowledge you bring to the workplace? Notable accomplishments include completing projects from beginning to end, writing research papers, building presentations or models, testing theories, conducting labs and participating in an organized debate. Be selective in what you share, but don’t be shy about it either.

3. Group projects. Though they often seem like a drag, group projects teach us a lot about ourselves and how we work with others. Did you face challenges in working with different types of people? Was your group stuck in a last minute crisis? Did you somehow save the day and pull off a killer presentation? Since most companies value teamwork, these types of experiences add value to your candidacy for a position. If you’re the go-to group leader because everyone knows you’re organized and efficient, mention this as well.

4. Second language. Are you fluent in another language from college courses or Rosetta Stone? Have you learned sign language to help a parent or aid your volunteer efforts? Whether you’ve been bilingual (or more) since birth or learned through time, knowledge of multiple languages is a significant asset in today’s marketplace.

5. Study abroad. Have you lived in another country? Did you participate in an exchange program or live with another family while overseas? The desire to live in another place shows curiosity and confidence. The ability to adjust to another culture demonstrates flexibility, resilience and resourcefulness. These traits are extremely important when adjusting to a new work environment, and employers want to know you’re adaptable.

In my next post, I’ll outline often-overlooked work and extra curricular experiences that are relevant to your job search activities. Stay tuned!

Program Manager, Java Developer, SharePoint Developer; Dayton, OH

2009-08-18T09:40:00.002-04:00

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Great Hires / Bad Hires: How to tell the difference BEFORE you make the offer

2009-08-12T14:58:00.002-04:00

How important are soft skills in potential employees? You might be surprised!

The lesson to be learned is that the interview process is complex, don't let a resume or first interview fool you! Interview better, and possibly invest in pre-employment testing.

Great Hires / Bad Hires: How to tell the difference BEFORE you make the offer
~Kathleen Quinn Votaw

You hire someone. They don’t work out. They leave. What is it that you remember and say about them in the past tense? It’s rarely the fact that they didn’t know how to work the numbers, or that they couldn’t put the pieces of a widget together. No, it’s almost always their soft skills that generate conversation—their personality, character and values.

Two recent scenarios from my personal experience serve as good examples: A multi-generation family-run, team-oriented company in Michigan was about to hire a sales person who had all the skills needed to fill the role and an impressive track record. Before making the hire, they wisely chose to get an assessment of him. In an interview that was part of the assessment, the candidate went into a rage when questioned more deeply about his background. His temper was missed in the normal interview process. Discovering this major flaw before they made the mistake of hiring this key person saved the company hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Another company was not so careful and made a bad hire. This company had strong values: everyone counts; everyone is part of the team; decisions are made by consensus. When a candidate with a strong hierarchical bent was hired, he lasted just thirty days. The disruption was significant, as were the costs.

Go beyond the tactical

Most companies tend toward the tactical in their hiring practices, focusing on long lists of competencies, specific experience required and other hard skills. These are important, of course. Equally important is how the person you hire will fit into your culture, their soft skills. No one would list drama queen, insensitivity, trouble meeting deadlines or poor ethics as qualities they’d like to bring into their companies. But, by not checking out the soft skills, those are exactly the traits you risk hiring. You may also lose your A-players when you make bad hires; they don’t have to tolerate a difficult work environment. As many companies have experienced, the costs and other consequences of a bad hire can be extreme.

Begin with the end in mind
The solution? Begin with the end in mind. Start by thinking about the soft skills that will fit into your organization; then consider the hard skills necessary for the job. Culture, then candidate.

Your company’s values should serve as the foundation for hiring decisions: Who are your customers and how do you choose to serve them? What gives synergy to your teams? Who are the great hires in your organization and what about them helped them succeed in your culture? And what was it, specifically, that kept others from fitting in? These are things you need to understand even before you write the job description. And they tell you what to look for in the interview.

What is it you need to learn in order to understand a candidate’s culture fit? Following are some of the things you need to get to in the interview process and through assessment: How they treat other people on the team; how the people they work with will most likely relate to them; how their interpersonal skills will impact their performance and that of the team; what motivates them and what turns them off; how they process information; how well they communicate; how they react under pressure; how they demonstrate leadership—and how all of these things mesh with your culture. Understanding a candidate’s hard skills is definitely the easy part of the hiring process.

Take your time interviewing. Ask candidates about their previous job, what they liked and didn’t like, and then let them talk. Don’t be afraid of silence. Let the candidate fill the gaps. You’ll discover much of what you need to know. And as you interview and assess candidates, keep in mind that cultural fit can’t be developed.

As Jack Welch said, “You cannot have a black hole in your organization where a star should be.” A star for your company is someone with the hard skills to do the job and the personality, character and values that match your culture. Anything less is a high risk business decision.

Ohio Ranks Best in the Midwest, Among Top 5 for Job Growth in a Clean Energy Economy

2009-07-14T12:28:00.002-04:00

Know your skills and what you have to offer as an employee. ...And one more time for posterity; Focus your job serach on GROWING industries.

Interesting article with hope for Ohio.

Job Search Success! (Quick List!)

2009-07-09T10:12:00.002-04:00

1. Know who "you" are.
Know your strengths. Understand your value in today's market.

2. Network, Network, Network!I will say it again...your network should be built before you ever start searching for a job! Family, friends, face-to-face.

3. Quantify your Strengths.
Define your key strengths by at least 3 accomplishments.

4. Get Techno-savvy.
Social networking websites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), Linked In. Just DO IT!

5. Make a plan and work your plan (DAILY).
Set achievable goals.

6. Stay upbeat.
Positive attitude can work wonders during a job search. It may feel impossible at times, but trust me, it will help!

HAPPY HUNTING!

This is the best time to make real teams and alliances.

2009-06-28T21:42:00.001-04:00

The Upside to the Down Economy
~by Lauren Zander, Career Coach

How can I use the current economic climate to my advantage in my current job?
Be the inspiration in your company. Be a leader. If you notice someone is unhappy or stuck in a negative cycle, try to help him or her. Be the one who rallies people. This is the best time to make real teams and alliances with the genuine heroes who want to win, even against the odds.

Turn the perspective around: Focus on the achievement and challenge of the "underdog" winning, and get people excited and inspired about the idea of triumphing in—and despite of—hard times. Long after the tough times pass, you will be remembered and known and appreciated for being that kind of champion. Innovation and hard work combined with that spirit will win the day. If you don't fall prey to fear you will end up shining, because many people are going to go down with the fear. If you instead represent courage and fortitude and remain focused, it will do you good now and in the future.

Ten Reasons to Take up Biking During a Job Search

2009-06-11T13:49:00.002-04:00

Saw this blog post and identified! Sounds like a great technique for us recruiters as well! Go out and ride our bikes (conserve gas and find potential new clients at the same time! Thanks, Jeff!

Taken from "Jeff Lipschultz" Blog
Fellow Recruiter

While riding my road bike recently, I was thinking about all the benefits of putting in miles on two rubber tires (and no motor!). And then I got to thinking about the job seekers in the world and how biking should be an activity included in their job search routine.

So, without the fanfare of a drumroll, I present in no particular order:

Jeff’s Ten Reasons to Start Biking While Looking for Job:

As you venture out of your immediate neighborhood, travel through industrial parks to find companies to investigate.

Riding helps clear your mind and gives you time to think. Bring a scrap of paper and a pen. You’d be surprised how many great ideas pop into your head while you’re riding.

Obviously, getting some exercise is a chance to burn calories. Hours of research in front of a computer can lead to the opposite.

By meeting new folks who ride in your town, you get to network with all kinds of new contacts. Most bike shops hold weekly rides originating from their shop.
In between jobs, it is sometimes hard to find accomplishments to be proud of. As your miles and fitness increase, you’ll feel extremely good about your positive experience.

Biking adds another dimension to your personal life that may be useful in interviews. You never know, you might have an interviewer who is an avid cyclist. Making personal connections in an interview is key.

Being healthy is appreciated by employers’ (and your own) budget. In fact, many companies have developed programs in the last several years for encouraging their employees to stay fit.

Biking lends itself to setting and achievement of goals. Hiring managers like candidates who are self-directed and can achieve personal goals.

Biking is a stress reliever. It gives your body and brain a chance to vent frustrations by pushing yourself physically. Being out in the world/nature/fresh air helps bring you back to reality. Although this may be a tough time, there is a “bigger picture.”

Duh! It’s a good habit. After you’ve found your next job, you’ll want to continue mashing those pedals!

Dayton, Ohio: Final Fortune 500 Company Abandons City

2009-06-09T14:01:00.000-04:00

Brittanica Blog - by RSS
Jon Talton - June 9th, 2009

At the turn of the last century, Dayton, Ohio, was something akin to the Silicon Valley of its day. It was the home to the Wright brothers, of course, as well as Charles Kettering, the automotive genius who would develop so many innovations that allowed General Motors to become the dominant player in a new industry. And the backbone of all this was the National Cash Register Co. (NCR), founded by John Henry Patterson.

Last week, NCR said it was leaving Dayton after 125 years, decamping its headquarters for what urban theorist James Howard Kunstler would dub one of the suburban “asteroid belts” around Atlanta. It marks the departure of the last of Dayton’s Fortune 500 companies and is in many ways the most vicious blow yet to this battered city.

Considering the future we face, of steadily rising temperatures and their effect on the South, and steadily rising energy prices and their consequences for long, single-occupancy vehicle commuting, this is a boneheaded executive decision. (It wouldn’t be the first: the temperamental Patterson drove away a young Thomas Watson, who went on to found IBM). Worse, it’s a stab in the back for a city that spent years catering to NCR’s every whim. Dayton wasn’t even allowed to compete to keep the headquarters.

But it’s a storm warning for America. There are many Daytons out there.

The conventional arguments will go like this. “NCR needs to align itself for future growth and drive the lowest cost structure in our industry,” as its chairman said. This stretches credulity considering the cost of living in the well-off Atlanta suburbs is higher than in Dayton. NCR will have a hard time attracting young talent to the dreary suburbia of its new home. And the company is hardly relocating to a major technology hub to avail itself of the synergies of ideas and innovations.

Another argument will say, this is creative destruction so deal with it. Unfortunately, Dayton and Ohio have supped for years at the table of destruction but have yet to taste creative feast (and we should remember that economist Joseph Schumpeter, who coined the term, argued that its consequences would harm capitalism, perhaps fatally).

Yet another excuse is that this is the payback for a Rust Belt that became lazy, complacent and uncompetitive. The trouble is, it’s just not true. I was the business editor of the Dayton Daily News in the 1980s and did another stint later at the Cincinnati Enquirer. In fact, after the shocks of the late 1970s and early 1980s, much of the Midwest worked hard to reinvent itself. By the mid-1990s, American manufacturing in the Midwest was as advanced and productive as any place in the world.

Dayton had to learn this lesson early when National Cash Register made the painful transition from mechanical cash registers to computers in the late 1970s. Some 30,000 factory jobs were killed in Dayton at a time when it was also losing the GM Frigidaire appliance plant that employed thousands more. But although blocks of factories owned by “the Cash” were demolished, NCR remained, building a new headquarters perched in a park above downtown. Local and state leaders also persuaded GM to turn the Frigidaire plant into a light-truck auto assembly. Such was the resilience of Dayton.

I’ve written about the city I encountered when I arrived there in 1986. It had been wounded by many of the same ills of older American cities, including suburban flight and poor race relations. But it was a real city, with major corporations, an airline hub, a busy downtown and a diverse economy that included both information-age startups (notably Lexis-Nexis) and good blue-collar jobs. It had more real universities than Phoenix, the nation’s fifth largest city. It was not Youngstown, mortally wounded by dependence on a single industry, decades of bad decisions and a culture of corruption. In many ways, Dayton was still the city of the Wrights and Kettering.

Now almost all those assets are gone. Despite huge subsidies over the years from state and local government, even the GM plant recently shut down. And, finally, the stab in the back from the executive successors to Patterson — a man who deployed his company to rescue the city during the great flood of 1913.

The root causes have little to do with Dayton.

Mergers that took away headquarters were driven by changes in public policy — tax rules encouraged deals whether they made “economic sense” or not; executives were highly compensated for selling “their” firms; Wall Street became much more powerful and made huge fees by pushing mergers, and the government stopped enforcing anti-trust laws, allowing for dangerous industry concentration. Significantly, finance overtook manufacturing as America’s largest economic sector in recent years.

These policies took away Dayton’s air hub, its corporate jewels, its local banks — and allowed NCR to be bought and cast aside by AT&T to land as a fickle vagabond. NCR is surely continually shopping itself on Wall Street even now.

A world trading system established by the United States has slipped its leash and no one can argue credibly any longer that most Americans will be net winners. Having cheap stuff from China will not replace stable jobs with good wages and benefits. As the manufacturing heart of America, the Midwest has felt this the worst. But the Carolinas have lost hundreds of thousands of jobs in textiles, apparel and furniture since China joined the WTO — and those workers have not retrained to be video game developers or stem-cell researchers. As a debtor dependent on China to finance its bailouts and military adventures, Washington is in a weak position to demand that Beijing trade fairly.

The grand malpractice that destroyed General Motors deserves its own treatment — here again, Dayton and Ohio did everything they could to help the automaker, and workers repeatedly made concessions. The changes in policy that tilted the balance so badly against working people and unions also played a role in killing the blue-collar middle class. But with the city and region bleeding companies, it’s not as if a college education will guarantee opportunity, either.

Perhaps the biggest driver is the rootless executive class that runs American business. Their loyalty is to hitting Wall Street’s quarterly numbers, nothing more. Some come in merely to sell a company — as happened with Seattle’s iconic Safeco Insurance. They are coddled, bowed-to and massively compensated. But they have no allegiance to any place or any country.

It’s a nice thought that Dayton can”get its competitive act together” — and I’m sure a small army of consultants will be well paid to offer advice, draft plans, hold summits. But Americans should think long and hard about the fate of Dayton and its kin. Dayton did not walk cluelessly into this calamity. It would be so comforting to believe that it did. That, with some different moves, it could have reinvented itself as a New Economy star.

The reality is that Dayton and Ohio made many right moves — spent decades worrying and acting to head off disaster. And in the end, it didn’t matter. The Reagan-Clinton-Bush era worshipped an abstract “free market” but not the values that either allowed Dayton to emerge as a powerhouse or to reinvent itself in the 1980s. Thus, a handful of metro areas are net winners. Many seemed to prosper in a bubble of house building and leverage — and now they have been brought to earth. Many more seem in permanent eclipse and one largely beyond their control. It is part of a broader national decline cloaked by the prosperity that was built in places like Dayton.

So Dayton watches NCR leave as President Obama is focused on saving the big banks and Wall Street, and, as far as I can see, pretty much trying to shore up the status quo. Those institutions, of course, are “too big to fail.”

What will be the cost of letting Dayton fail? I fear it is huge. We just don’t realize it yet.

Young workers need to adapt job-hunt tactics

2009-06-08T10:08:00.002-04:00

Although this article is addresing young workers, the advice really is for all jobseekers (even the experienced).

~by Carolyn Kepscher, New York Daily New
Monday, June 1st 2009

Twentysomething is usually a wonderful time of life — except if you have to search for a job in today’s economy.

Lindsey Pollak knows the drill. She makes a living helping twentysomethings navigate the job market and handle workplace issues.

In her book, “Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World,” and on her popular blog, she offers sound advice.

We talked about how young workers can cope during the deepest recession in decades.

Q What must the up-and-coming generation do differently to prepare for a great career?

A“The trend for a while now has been for professionals to become the CEOs of their own careers because we no longer live in a world where people stay at the same company for 30 years and retire with a gold watch. This means that the most recent generation to enter the workforce, Generation Y, is much more in control of their careers, but also has to do more work to find jobs, network and stay employed.”

QWhat traits should job hunters emphasize?

A “Gen Y is known for their ease with technology, their global viewpoint, their comfort with diversity and working in teams, their self-confidence, which many older generations call entitlement, but can be very appealing in a career like fund raising or sales, and in an economy where it’s easy to become disheartened.”

QWhat do you think is the worst advice people follow?

A“The résumé blitz. So many students tell me they’ve sent out 100 résumés and nothing happened. Today, because it is so easy to e-mail a résumé with a click of a mouse, everyone sends out zillions of résumés. You have to put in much more effort to stand out to an employer. In-person networking, connecting one-on-one on a social network like LinkedIn.com or meeting potential employers at a professional association event are all much more effective than e-mailing out lots of résumés.”

QWhat’s your most important social networking advice?

A“LinkedIn has become the most popular and valuable professional social network, but it won’t work unless you work it. First, set up a complete profile including keywords a recruiter or business owner might use to find someone like you. ... Scour other people’s profiles to look for companies you may want to apply to, job titles or professions you didn’t know about, professional organizations where you might network and people with similar interests who might be willing to offer you some job search advice. Finally, use LinkedIn to help other people with suggestions, job leads and moral support — the more people you help, the more people will offer to return the favor.

“Twitter can be valuable for networking and company research if you want to find a job where Twitter has a strong presence — for example, PR, new media, technology and venture capital. ... There are also lots of people who tweet out job listings, so do a search on the term jobs to find these.”

QWhat can job seekers focus on to keep perspective?

A“It is tough out there, but there are jobs. ... Remember, this is only your first job out of many, so the most important thing is to get your career started and to make the most of any opportunity you find. The economy will turn around.”

Your Money columnist Carolyn Kepcher, author of the best-selling business book, “Carolyn 101,” is the former “Apprentice” star who thrived working for one of America’s toughest bosses. She’s now CEO of Carolyn & Company Media (carolynandco.com), an enterprise created by and for career women. For info on personal coaching, visit carolyn101.biz.

Dayton losing NCR... Jobs moving to Atlanta

2009-06-03T10:30:00.002-04:00

The writing has been on the walls for awhile. Still I am so saddened to see this "Dayton" icon leave town.

It appears that our community did not fight hard enough to keep this company here! Dayton, which historically is one of the most innovative and entrepreneurial cities in the United States, is slowly turning into a ghost town.

What can we do to turn things around? I am still pondering this myself... For the time being, I will turn off the news, stay focused on what I can do on a daily basis, and have hope for the future. This is certainly not the first time that Dayton has been hit below the belt; unfortunately, it will not be the last either.

Daytonians, let us pull together, and bring back the community spirit needed to move forward!

Tips to Put You Ahead in Your Job Search

2009-06-01T09:57:00.002-04:00

If you are looking to change your job or get a new one in this challenging environment, you are certainly not alone. As unemployment rises, finding a job has become extremely tough.

What should you do before starting your job search?

1. Decide your target market.
What industries would you like to work in? What "employers" do you want to target. Keep in mind that you must think about industries that are growing (or at least not declining). You also want to be practical about your target market. Choose an industry where there is some overlap with your existing skills or experience.

2. Identify the specific role that you are interested in.Your next job may very well not be your dream job, but it might be the next logical step. Determine what role you would like to play, and determine a natural progression from your current job. For example, if you are a Programmer / Analyst, and you want to target a Project Management opportunity, you could easily target a Team Lead role in your next job.

3. What would a potential employer find "valuable" about your skillset?
Determine what skills you have to offer that are unique and sellable to future employers. "If you Build it they will come"!

4. Develop a 60 second elevator pitch.Once you develop the elevator pitch, you need to convey it! Personal interactions, through your resumes and through various online as well as offline media.

5. Do you have a personal network? If not develop it! Immediately!
After completing the first four steps, you need to tell everyone that you feel could help you (former colleagues, alumnae associates, friends, family, Linked In network, etc.!

Happy Searching!

5 Reasons to Attend Conferences

2009-05-27T07:31:00.003-04:00

My friend, Phil Gerbyshak, recently posted this to his blog... I too am a believer in attending conferences. It seems that just when my batteries are about to die, it's time to attend my semi-annual conference. I'm always amazed that when I leave the conference it is with everything I need to go back to my office and be successful! Thanks, Phil for posting these 5 reasons!

5 Reasons to Attend Conferences
~Phil Gerbyshak

Last week I spent 5 amazing days with 1900 other IT service and support professionals at the 2009 HDI Annual Conference. I learned a TON of new things that I plan to share with you over the next few days and weeks. For now, I thought I’d share why I attend conferences like this, and why if you don’t, you should attend them to too.

Networking - If you’re looking to meet folks who can help you answer questions about your industry, there’s no better place to do so than a conference. Get there early, make a plan for who you want to connect and reconnect with, learn and remember new folks’ names, and don’t be afraid to skip a session or two if you get involved in an in-depth conversation.

Inspiration and Recharging Your Batteries - Almost every conference has keynote sessions meant to inspire you to perform at a higher level or think about things differently. This is one of my favorite parts of the conferences I attend, because it gets me moving in the right direction.

Knowledge Gathering - Most conferences have breakout sessions presented and facilitated by experts in their industry. You can learn a LOT from them if you take time to listen to the speaker AND listen to the folks who ask questions, especially if they ask questions you have or questions you have the answer to. Don’t be afraid to go up to someone who asked a question or who needs your help and ask them if you can speak to them a little more.

More Knowledge Gathering - If there were no sponsors, there would be no conferences. Most conferences offer time to interact with the sponsors, to ask them questions to learn from them, and to gather a little more information so you can learn more about them, all in a safe, low-pressure environment.

Knowledge sharing - At the HDI confernece, I had 1 breakout session, 1 panel I facilitated, 1 brain bite first thing in the morning and 1 30 minute presentation/facilitation about creating your elevator pitch for your organization, so my knowledge sharing was very formal. Sometimes my knowledge sharing is more informal, as I try to ask questions and add insights where I feel I can add value. I love to share, and it’s one of my favorite parts of a conference.

Optimize your Linked In Profile in 4 Minutes

2009-05-26T10:45:00.001-04:00

"There are two really quick things you can do on LinkedIn to optimize your profile for SEO -- both to make your LinkedIn profile more discoverable, and to make your profile work for you by sending some SEO authority (link juice) to other pages on the web that you choose."

Click the Link to see how easy this is!!

Signs that the worst could be over?

2009-05-24T10:06:00.000-04:00

"Let’s hope it isn’t wishful thinking. A recent survey of human resources executives found that most believe that their most drastic cost-cutting measures are behind them."

Hired! Do your homework; land a job!

2009-05-22T08:02:00.000-04:00

"I put myself in the place of the employer," he explained. "What would the employer be looking for, what would catch their eye?"
~David Hudson

Counter Offers. Not a good idea; here's why.

2009-05-21T08:20:00.000-04:00

Ten Reasons for Not Accepting A Counter Offer
-Bill from Employment News

1. Question how much the company actually values what you do. Would they have made the counter-offer if you were not leaving?

2. From where is the money for the counter-offer coming? Is it your next raise early? (All companies have strict wage and salary guidelines which must be followed).

3. Your company will immediately start looking for a new person at a lower salary price.

4. Your loyalty will always be in question in the future.

5. When promotion time comes around, your employer will remember who was loyal, and who wasn’t.

6. When times get tough, your employer will begin the cutback with you.

7. The same circumstances that now cause you to consider a change will repeat themselves in the future, even if you accept a counteroffer.

8. Statistics show that if you accept a counteroffer, the probability of voluntarily leaving in six months or being let go within one year is extremely high.

9. Accepting a counteroffer is an insult to your intelligence and a blow to your personal pride, knowing that you were bought.

10. Once the word gets out, the relationship that you now enjoy with your co-workers will never be the same. You will lose the personal satisfaction of peer group acceptance.

HIRING: Workstation Technicians (15 openings)

2009-05-18T20:55:00.001-04:00

Workstation Technicians (5 immediate; 10 more next month)... Looking for MS, break/fix, connectivity, LAN based applications experience, troubleshooting, network support, etc. Immediate Hire. A+ Certification preferred. Cincinnati, OH.

Please tell your friends and have them call me. 937-912-5860

Who's Hiring? The Government, that's who!

2009-05-18T09:26:00.001-04:00

The Government is hiring. There are huge job increases on the way; defense civilian staff to increase by 19,000 jobs!

Check out this article.

Use Twitter To Find a Job!

2009-05-17T18:02:00.000-04:00

Lots of great tips in this article. Check it out!

Learning to Write an Effective Resume

2009-05-13T07:30:00.004-04:00

Compliments of Bill at Employment News.

Learning to write an effective resume is a life skill most people cannot afford to ignore. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median tenure for most professionals is about 4 years. For employees between the ages of 25 and 34, the median tenure is only 2.9 years. Since most of us will change jobs a number of times in our career, we need to become proficient at selling ourselves and writing an effective resume. Consider this: According to Career Builders’ Resume 2007 survey, on average, hiring managers receive 50 resumes for each and every job opening. Due to the sheer number of applicants, many managers skim and sort the resumes into "no go," "maybe," and "looks promising" piles. Only resumes that are well-organized, easy-to-read, and specifically targeted to the position survive the cut. Assuming a candidate has the relevant job experience, professional resume writers know what it takes to keep resumes in the "maybe" or "looks promising" piles. Here are the ten strategies resume professionals use - and you can too. 1. Resumes that make a good first impression emphasize specific accomplishments. Did you increase sales by 40%? Manage a team that introduced a profitable new product? Create and implement a money or time-saving process? Use specific examples to highlight your accomplishments. 2. Just as you would highlight your strongest points in an interview, do so in your resume. Put your strongest achievements and qualifications at the top of your resume. 3. Use a highlights section to catch the hiring manager’s attention. 4. Include only relevant job experience. If your resume is padded, most hiring managers will assume you aren’t qualified for the job. 5. Don’t try to be all things to all people. What are your top 3 skills? Focus on those. 6. Read the job description carefully. Note the keywords and use them to focus your resume. 7. Use an eye-catching, easy-to-read format. Include headings, bold print and bullets. 8. Write a different resume for each job skill/position. Resumes are definitely not one-size-fits-all. 9. To paraphrase JFK - tell not what the company can do for you, tell what you can do for the company. 10. Finally, proof and double-proof your resume. Given the competition, just one or two typos may eliminate a candidate from consideration. We’ve all heard it before: "You only get one chance to make a first impression." If you use the ten strategies outlined above, one chance is all you’ll need. Write a great resume and feel confident in your job search. Good luck!

Career Change?

2009-05-12T07:30:00.002-04:00

Thinking about changing careers? In the current economy, many people are doing just that. Not sure how to get started? Not sure what you want to do? Check out this article.

In reference to my post yesterday: Make sure that it is a career / industry that is either growing (or at least flat), not declining.

It May Be Time To Refocus Job Goals

2009-05-11T17:14:00.001-04:00

Do your research and move to industries that are in a growth mode, or at least flat, not shrinking.

Focus on your skills not job titles.

Beating The Recession.

2009-05-08T15:47:00.002-04:00

McDonalds is getting ready to launch their McCafe in several new locations(after successful test market results)! This is just another way that companies are getting on board and trying to add value to the troubled economy.

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/othercities/birmingham/stories/2009/05/04/story4.html?b=1241409600^1820762&s=btr

I have not tried their specialty coffees...but I think that their regular old cup a joe is pretty good!

Since I'm a coffeeholic, I felt compelled to share!

Tell your Ways of Staying Upbeat. Win a book!

2009-05-07T09:45:00.001-04:00

My friend, Phil Gerbyshak, wants to hear how you are staying upbeat in today's challenging economy!

Windows 7 Release Candidate Debuts Early

2009-05-07T09:35:00.001-04:00

I am so excited about this! I have put off buying a new laptop, until MS 7 comes installed... Hopeing this means that I am one step closer to buying!

Need a job? Get social - in a networking kind of way

2009-05-06T12:16:00.001-04:00

"Highlight your positive presence on the Internet"

Effective Job Search Strategies

2009-05-06T09:54:00.008-04:00

Effective Job Search Strategies.
How to effectively manage your job search.

Common problems for unemployed:

**Personal networks have been neglected while pursuing careers and are often starting job searches without a good network of friends/business colleagues/etc. to ask for assistance.
**Resumes are not up-to-date.
**Interview inexperience:
**Not currently using Social networking web sites (LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter)

SEARCH STRATEGY #1: YOU'VE LOST YOUR JOB. TIME TO BEGIN YOUR SEARCH
It is important that you don't put off your search (even if you have a sizable severance)! It is imperative that you get started on your search right away; the competition is fierce.

Techniques and strategies that are the most effective:

1. Positive Attitude!
2. Obtain contact information of: co-workers, friends, clients, and anyone else who can assist you with your job search. You should have this information printed and in an editable document (like Excel) for easy/quick updating.
3. Ask for letters of recommendation from your peers and managers in your company (do this right away, not the week before you have an interview)
4. Be sure to inform your colleagues, friends, etc. You will want to include your contact information. Personal Email Address, Phone Number, Mailing Address, Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, etc.
5. If applicable, offer your services to your past employer on a contract basis.
6. I always recommend (even if you aren't looking) to have your resume current. However, if it isn't current, then you need to develop the resume as soon as possible.
7. Never burn bridges... You will want to leave your present employer on the best of terms.

Search Strategy #2: BUILD YOUR NETWORK

1. Be hands-on with your job search! Network with people who can give you "good" job search assistance.

2. Be thankful for those that are helpful and respond to you. The long lost art of thank you notes has been forgotten. I always recommend to my candidates that they follow up with an emailed "thank you note" and sometimes a hand written note. It is amazing how many times this has made the decision in the hiring process.

3. Contact your alma matre Alumni Office. There are many resources that universities offer to past graduates.

4. You should already be a member of Linked In. If NOT! Then join!http://www.linkedin.com. Be sure that your profile is complete, and ask for recommendations. Linked In will not work, simply by joining. You will need to make insightful connections with hiring managers and recruiters.

5. Develop 60 second or less pitch about your background and what you are seeking. The pitch should include your greatest accomplishments and what you are looking for in a new opportunity.

6. Get connected to reputable search firms.

7. Stay current by attending relative seminars, workshops or conferences.

Search Strategy #3: The Art of Interviewing (I'm not kidding, it is an art!)
You are being asked to interview. Getting the interview is only 50% of the battle.

It's back to school for you; Do your homework! Research the company. You may also check out the person that will be conducting the interview or perhaps the hiring manager. Per the above, Linked In is a great resource for this. Also, company Websites.

Go to an interview with at least 10 prepared questions. These questions should be about the company and the position (never about salary, benefits, etc.)

ALWAYS dress professionally! Unless you have been told by your recruiter something specific to wear, then plan to wear a suit!

You will need to bring multiple copies of your resume.

Arrive 10 minutes early. No exceptions!

When a potential employer asks questions, give them answers that are quantifiable. Get to the point.

As stated above, always follow up with a thank-you note (email or hand written).

Be clear and concise about why you are the right fit for the job. This should be readdressed in your "thank you note" as well.

KEY!!! When you leave the interview, shake hands and express your interest in the job!

Search Strategy #4: OFFER NEGOTIATION

Share your past compensation candidly.
When they ask you, “What type of compensation package are you seeking?” You should start by answering: “I am very interested in this opportunity and would like to move forward in the process. I am open to a fair offer.” If you are pushed for an answer, “You know my previous compensation. I am open to similar offers but would prefer to avoid a step backward.” Keep in mind this is how you should handle yourself with a potential employer not your recruiter. Not being completely open with your recruiter puts them at a disadvantage in helping you.

It is also important to always get an offer in writing. Verbal offers are okay, but it must be followed by a written offer. NEVER turn in your notice to a current employer until you have a written offer of employment!

Feel free to take some time to evaluate an offer before accepting it. Review it carefully, and make sure all of the terms are acceptable. If not, think of which areas you are willing to give and which ones you are not. This is very much up to the individual. For example, you may be willing to take less pay for more vacation time.

Once you have accepted a new offer, let your network know and and share your new contact information. Be sure to thank everyone for their willingness to help you and remember to stay connected to this valuable network; it is very possible that you may need them in the future!

Jump Starting your Technical Job search.

2009-05-04T09:57:00.000-04:00

You can never be too prepared... Important to be prepare for technical questions as well as personal.

Networking is key in finding new job opportunities.

2009-05-03T10:20:00.003-04:00

Now more than ever, jobseekers are getting together via formal and informal groups to share information on their job search. Excellent idea; however be sure that the focus is not on negativity but on helping each other.

Geography of jobs lost/gained. Data from December 2008.

2009-05-01T17:25:00.000-04:00

Great interactive map.

How To Get a Job!

2009-04-30T12:54:00.002-04:00

Great article on How To Get A Job.

Pay close attention to Page 8... I'm especially keen on (match your skills to their needs)!

I got a new job! Oh, I have to tell them I’m quitting this one?

2009-04-29T22:11:00.001-04:00

Great Post on How to Quit Your Job! err (give notice to your current employer)!

By Bill Meiers

That euphoric feeling of accepting a new position can quickly leave when you start to think about the prospect of having to go to your current boss and give notice. Mostly because you probably have a decent relationship with she or he and your co-workers, so it will be a bittersweet departure. Even if you absolutely despise everything about your job, it still can be tough.

The best way to approach this is head on. Make sure you are giving proper notice time of at least 2 weeks. Schedule a meeting with your boss the very next morning from when you finalize the new job if it is going to be just 2 weeks notice with not a lot of time to spare. Let them know when you ask for the meeting it is time sensitive and that you need to speak that day.

When meeting with your boss, keep it professional and upbeat. Explain that you have accepted an offer with another company and will be leaving on said date. Be unequivocal in your tone (I have accepted and I am leaving, this is my final decision.) Don’t dance around it to soften the news of you leaving: “I am thinking taking this offer”,or “I got another job offer and it looks pretty good.” This leaves the door open for them to try and convince you to stay, or worse yet that you are not actually giving an official notice just “thinking out loud.” I will talk about that in the next post (counteroffers.)

There is no real need to give any more explanation than that. If they ask, you can decide what you want to divulge. I usually kept it vague. The new company is giving me a better opportunity to reach my career goals, the hours are flexible, commute is more desirable. Do not make disparaging remarks about the company you are leaving, co-workers or boss of any kind. Do not reveal salary information. If you have things you want to share that are negative, that is a separate discussion with HR in an exit interview or a one on one with them.

If you feel your boss is putting you off or taking too much time to schedule a meeting, then you should compose a resignation letter and give it to HR. You should do that anyway, but I usually give it to them after the discussion with my supervisor. You can email your boss and explain that time was of the essence in order to do the right thing and that you had no choice since you couldn’t meet with them. Your resignation letter again should be short and sweet:

Dear HR Person,

I regret to inform you that I am resigning my position as Sales Representative at Acme Widgets, effective xx/xx/xxxx.

I have truly enjoyed my time here and wish Acme Widgets the best of luck in the future.

Sincerely,

Me

That’s all you need to write.

Tech Ed 2009 - stops in Cincinnati, OH May 5th

2009-04-28T11:13:00.004-04:00

My friend (Chris Rue) was selected (one of six people) to ride the MS Tech Ed 2009 Cross-country bus. They will be stopping at Maxtrain for the Luau!

Check out the link. Should be a great networking event!

Tech Ed 2009 - stops in Cincinnati, OH May 5th

2009-04-28T11:13:00.000-04:00

Interesting Article Regarding Job Forecast for new Grads

2009-04-28T10:35:00.003-04:00

Another tip not mentioned, is have a professional email address listed on your resume. I recently received a resume with an email address that went something like this:

kegparty@yada.com

Not a good choice of email address for the resume.

Google Profiles...Just Do It!

2009-04-27T07:42:00.000-04:00

Technology Offers Hope for Post College Grads

2009-04-24T16:01:00.000-04:00

Technology Offers Hope for post-college grads. Student from Western Michigan University contemplates a fresh perspective... That perhaps shows wisdom beyond his years. Check outthis article.

The Downturn: Is the Worst Over?

2009-04-23T15:31:00.001-04:00

The Downturn: Is The Worst Over?. Check out this article.

Perhaps there is a glimmer of hope!

IT Salaries to increase by 2% in 2009.

2009-04-22T09:58:00.000-04:00

Even in down economy, new study indicates that IT Salaries to increase by 2% in 2009.

Check out this article.

IT Skills Pay Drops Slightly.

2009-04-21T13:29:00.001-04:00

IT Skills Pay Drops Slightly. Check out this article.

New Research Reveals Highest Paid IT Skills & Certifications During Recession.

2009-04-20T12:18:00.001-04:00

Software Engineer (Cincinnati, OH)

2009-03-24T11:01:00.005-04:00

Job Description:
-Qualified candidates will provide assistance to lead software engineers in the development of software for Infrared thermal imaging systems.
-Experience developing, organizing and publishing software requirements derived from higher level requirements and design documentation; experience defining and publishing software test methods, plans, and performing software testing.
-Experience/knowledge of CMMI design and development processes.
-Experience with Builder C++, GUI is a must.
-Proven proficiency/experience with: MatLab, algorithms for image processing , Coldfire, NIOS, USB, Ethernet, Camera Link, GigE protocols, DirectX, and OpenGL.

Qualifications:
-BS in Electrical or Computer Engineering (degree is mandatory)
-Must be a US Citizen and hold or be able to obtain a security clearance.

Location: Cincinnati, OH

ID #: 01654402

Call or email:

Angela Marasco
angela@am-recruiting.com
http://www.am-recruiting.com
937-912-5860

.net Developers (5 openings)

2009-03-24T10:23:00.002-04:00

.NET Developers (5 openings)
Looking for SQL, C#, ASP and VB.net
Must have a green card or be a U.S. Citizen

Location: Mobile, AL
Paid Relocation.

Call or email.

Angela Marasco
937-912-5860
angela@am-recruiting.com
http://www.am-recruiting.com

Software Engineer

2009-01-12T12:37:00.001-05:00

Essential Functions:
" Professional level development of software for both new products and product improvements.
" Primary duties will include the design, application, test and documentation of product software including control, communication, wireless communication, predictive control and GUI.
" Additional duties will include hardware development support.
" Review and/or implement the following during product development, or sustaining, projects/programs:
" Software Design Specification and Flow Diagrams
" Software Requirements Specifications
" Software Risk Analyses
" Software Verification requirements

Qualifications:
" Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related field and a minimum of 2 years practical software development.
" Proficiency utilizing C++, embedded.
Experience with micro-controller architecture is desirable

Location: Cleveland, OH

The Job Market - "Is Selling Pencils an Option"

2008-11-11T10:41:00.000-05:00

“THE JOB MARKET – IS SELLING PENCILS AN OPTION”
11/10/08
by Bill Gaffney

Q: I have been in a job search for a little over three months but am now starting to get a little concerned because of all the bad economic news. What do you think the job market looks like and where should I be looking for opportunities?

A: First of all I don’t want to sound like Mary Poppins but all is not gloom and doom. Remember the old saying, “Make hay while the sun shines”. Well there is an interesting corollary. Make money while the economy is in the toilet. A friend of mine was recently writing about how the Great Depression created a lot of new millionaires. These were people that had some cash and bought land, houses, companies, stock, etc. Were they mad? No. They bought low and sold much higher. The lesson here is some people look at difficult times and see nothing but doom while other people see opportunities. Now I am done with my pep talk.

Remember I have said multiple times in the past the demographics are with the buyer and not the seller for the foreseeable future. The buyers are the job seekers and the sellers are the companies. You just have to know where to go look.

I would recommend to anyone they go up on the web and Google (Remember no one had ever heard that word a few years ago outside the song with Barney Google.) and look up top growth industries. Interestingly enough when I pulled up a few top 10 pages real estate and financial services were among those on the lists. Most of these lists were based on late summer early fall so we were already seeing the crash in real estate and the one coming in banking. This tells me there are still opportunities there unless you happen to run the subprime portfolio.

I have heard several times over the last couple of years people say, “Our kids are going to be working in jobs in the next five years that don’t even exist today”. There is rapid growth and new technology in energy, health care and outsourced services.

There are also many older established industries like software, IT, consulting and yes, government services, that are doing very well, with high growth. There are some like telecommunications and some specialty manufacturing that are making comebacks. When you look at the growth rate in all of these it is pretty substantial.

Some of you that know me might think I have gone bye-bye with this next comment. Look at the job boards. No I didn’t say send in resumes and fill out applications. I said look. This will also give you a very good idea of which industries are hiring and which aren’t.

If you are already inside these industries it will take, at the most, a little new knowledge. The IT readers know the jobs the companies can’t fill because of lack of people. The same goes with engineers. I think of all the so-called web designers I have dealt with. The vast majority are overpaid, glorified coders. Sorry but that is my reality. So if you know HTML (what IT person doesn’t these days?) and actually have a good eye for graphics, layout, ergonomics, etc you might just have a future in web design.

I have said this many times before. Keep yourself current in skills, technology and other areas. When I see a resume today that says skills include Microsoft Office I think, “doesn’t everyone”.

Keep your eyes open for new opportunities created by the current economic situation. I had an e-mail recently from a gentleman who had experience ten years ago in the distressed commercial real estate/loan workout area. Those services generally haven’t been needed in the last 10 years. They definitely are today.

Of course we will hear of many companies doing mass layoffs. While this market is a little more severe my experience tells me the bulk of these companies have suffered some type of mismanagement that causes these high amount of layoffs. Any company in this situation needs good management so during the layoffs they are typically doing some hiring.

You should keep in mind this situation is temporary. The economy will rebound. The smart companies plan ahead and hire for that rebound.

“Plastics!” That is the famous one word line offered by Mr. Robinson to Dustin Hoffman’s character Ben Braddock in the film “The Graduate”. The question is, “Where are today’s plastics”. They are out there.

Java Developer

2008-10-29T21:01:00.000-04:00

JAVA Applications Developer

Bachelors Degree in Computer Science or related field.
3+ years Java application development.
Skilled in developing Web applications.
Skilled in working with J2EE, JDBC as well as Javascript, HTML, JSP's, XML, Websphere, WSAD.
Skilled in all phases of the System Development Life Cycle.
Must have a stable permanent job record.

Industry leader. Extremely stable corporate environment. Great family atmosphere. Located in lovely midwest community.

***they are looking for people to join their family and stay forever

401k, paid relocation, 100% company funded pension plan. Privately owned, have never had a layoff

Ideal candidate is a junior level java developer from the Midwest, or with ties to area.
Greencard or citizen, stable work history. No job hopping/contractors

8 to 5 work environment, little or no overtime.

Interview process—Immediate technical phone screen with Java lead, then in-person.

Location: Columbia, Missouri

Sr. Network Administrator (Cisco)

2008-10-29T20:55:00.002-04:00

JOB SUMMARY:
To administer and oversee technical design, implementation, organization and troubleshooting of key business systems. Document and handoff support work to IT technicians as appropriate. Provide proactive management to meet business objectives through both user feedback and internal metrics. Has system wide responsibility on complex projects and components. Effectively contributes to team goals. Provides direction to team members and is a key contributor. May solve highly technical complex problems and be called on to consult for other projects. Assists with the transfer of knowledge of technical skills. Viewed as a subject matter expert within the organization. Provides coaching to junior-level employees.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND REQUIREMENTS - SR. NETWORK ADMINISTRATOR:

Responsibilities: Designs complex LAN and WAN strategies to meet a broad spectrum of business needs. Coordinates implementation, optimization, and operation of LAN / WAN systems including procurement, installation, configuration and management. Provides ongoing information to management, customers, and peers regarding enhancements and innovations.

Technical / functional skills (includes computer skills):
Cisco data networks
Cisco routers/switches
Cisco voice networks
Cisco load balancing
Certifications or licenses: CCNP, CCDP, CCIP, CCSP, CCVP
Minimum of 4 years experience with Bachelors degree in Computer Science or related field.—relevant experience can take the place of degree.

Paid relocation fully paid relo--pack and move, house hunting trip (no house purchase)
Bonus: 0-20% of base annually. Profit Sharing 401 (k) Plan: Has average approx 15% for each eligible employee Paid every year since 1952. Calculation based on Base plus Bonus.
Great team oriented environment
Reports to IT Manager, who was promoted from this role.

Location: Des Moines, IA

Email or call if interested:
Angela Marasco
angela@am-recruiting.com
937-912-5860

Storage Achitect

2008-10-24T09:08:00.003-04:00

Direct Hire Opportunity

The Storage Architect's role is to lead the development and long term strategic roadmap for all storage initiatives within the company. The individual would work with the operations team, DBA's and netops team to plan, design, implement the organization's storage infrastructure using to industry best practices to ensure high data quality, reliability, redundancy and availability. This individual will recommend to management plans to develop, implement and procedures to ensure consistent storage provisioning, uptime, optimization and cost reduction. The Storage Architect is also responsible for capacity planning, backup and restore process design, performance analysis, and developing data disaster recovery plans.

Requirements:

In-depth understanding of storage architecture design techniques,theories, principles, and practices including ILM, Hierarchical Storage Management

Administration of a large site 100 servers, storage in excess of 1PB or more
Experience managing multiple files systems, volume managers and high availability software

Working knowledge of SAN, NAS, DAS, RAID, SCSI, FC, tape, clustered storage technologies

Experience architecting enterprise storage, archival/backup systems with a broad spectrum of storage technologies

In-depth understanding of storage architecture design techniques, theories, principles, and practices

ILM/project lifecycle analysis and experience.

4+ years of UNIX/Linux system administration and related web technologies

Location: Cleveland, OH
Paid Relocation

Salary: to 110K

No H1 Sponsorship

If you are interested, please contact:

Angela Marasco
angela@am-recruiting.com
http://www.am-recruiting.com

So You Want Someone To Actually Read Your Resume?

2008-10-24T09:01:00.002-04:00

Taken from Simon Meth (Staffing Consultant and Executive Coach)

You create a perfectly crafted resume. Your cover letter is a literary masterpiece. You respond with both to numerous opportunities and can hardly wait for the influx of phone calls and emails from company recruiters just eager to talk with you about working for their companies. You wait. You wait. You wait some more. Nothing...

Perhaps, just perhaps, you don't really know what makes a resume and cover letter attractive to a corporate recruiter. Perhaps you don't know what will increase the chances of your resume being read. If you've been doing the same thing in your job search for some time without success and you plan to keep on doing the same thing...then perhaps there is something of value here for you. Read on to learn my Top 10 ways to increase your job search success when submitting resumes to corporate websites.

1) A human being never looks at most resumes that are submitted to corporate websites. That's not wrong. It's just the way it is. Use this to your advantage. The reason most resumes never are looked at by a human being is that most resumes don't meet or exceed the requirements for the position. Corporate recruiters are professionals who are paid to source candidates who meet or exceed the requirements for the position. Most recruiters run Boolean searches on corporate resume databases. If you don't meet the requirements then, chances are your resume will be ignored. Simple approach here is to read the requirements and make sure your resume covers the majority of them.

2) If your cover letter has ever stated something like, "I don't meet the requirements for the position but I'm a really fast learner" then perhaps you could look for another line of work. Recruiters are experts at time management. If you're telling them you don't meet the requirements then they'll stop reading right away and move on to the next resume.

3) If you voted for Harry Truman and you think you can hide that you are old enough to have done that then think again. Be honest!

4) If you don't have a degree and you think you can list something nebulous under the university name where you partied hard for a semester and someone might think you have a degree then think again. Be honest!

5) If you've had 16 jobs in the last 10 years and you think leaving employment dates off your resume may hide this fact then think again. Be honest!

6) If your objective says something like, "I want to work for a company that values it's employees, is committed to altruistic acts, and has a great benefits package" then GET A CLUE! The objective ISN'T about you it IS about what you can provide for the company. Get the difference?

7) If your resume contains things you did 20 years ago that you're so proud of and you think will positively influence a corporate recruiter then read and understand the following sentence. Anything more than about 5 years ago is ancient history on a resume. Focus on the past 5 years. Keep the rest brief, very brief.

8) Many recruiters never read cover letters. Some recruiters reject candidates who don't write a cover letter. What is an applicant to do? Write a short, well written, cover letter that is clearly written in response to the position being applied for. A couple of short paragraphs are all you need. Those who like cover letters will read and understand why you applied. Those who don't read them will ignore them anyway.

9) Do research. You may have been the Chief Vice-President of Bottle Washing for World Wide Bottle Washing but if you're applying for a position as a Temporary Glass Enclosure Technician the recruiter may not make the connection. What terms are currently in vogue? Don't know. THEN FIND OUT and make sure they are on your resume. People exiting the military are experts at this. They know and understand that people outside of the military don't have a clue about the jargon used in the military. They translate their resumes to be understandable to the corporate recruiter. Smart.

10) If you send the same resume and cover letter to every opportunity then you really need to think about that. Yes, it's hard work targeting each and every response. The alternative is that you'll spend your days emailing resumes with little or no response.

Take to heart these 10 points and think about them before you hit the send button each time you apply for a position. Please let me know what differences you experience as a result. Thanks for reading.

Senior eCommerce Web Developer Opportunity in Cleveland

2008-10-17T07:23:00.002-04:00

Senior eCommerce Web Developer

Primary responsibility: The primary responsibility of this position is to lead the systems development of our client's web site(s) with a high level of knowledge of leading edge technology. This key position works with partners within the organization to develop the optimum method of two-way communication across the Internet with our external customers and internal business partners.

Apply a high degree of technical knowledge of all web environments and applications currently used. Continue to develop and research knowledge of other applications used in industry and make suggestions for their appropriate use in the environment when applicable. Use past experiences to help guide the company when familiar issues arise. Study and gain understanding of competitor's sites and suggest ways to improve our client's site in order to meet competitive challenges.

Strive to be a change agent by identifying current site issues and suggest and implement appropriate solutions.

Provide advice and guidance to Web Developers in performing technical tasks including writing and analyzing code, designing, configuring and documenting applications and systems, and using object-oriented techniques to improve the efficiency of work.

Write, analyze and interpret source programs. 75% coding

Design large-scale database-driven applications that perform efficiently, are operationally stable including instrumentation, and meet business requirements in a fast-paced dynamic environment.

Regularly codes or modifies, tests, and debugs web pages, applications and jobs of high complexity. May have multiple open assignments.

Perform role of project manager on various large scale projects and assignments possibly involving cross-functional teams including e.g. Information Systems, Customer Service, CRM etc.

Completes project assignments in accordance with the schedule established by the project leadership.

Keeps management informed of project status through periodic status reporting.

Additional responsibilities as requested or required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's degree in Information Systems or related field required.
3+ years of experience in Web Development and Systems Architecture including systems development and programming responsibilities.
2+ years experience designing large-scale web applications including database schemas.
Broadvision One-to-One Enterprise development and administration experience a plus.
Experience with Documentum a plus
Experience going through a platform redo would be a big plus (Broadvision to Documentum or Websphere etc.)
3+ years experience with XML.
2+ years of current experience developing RDBMS to Web applications utilizing server and client-side JavaScript, HTML, SQL and C/C++ or PL/SQL.
Current work experience in an Internet-related ,or high transaction ecommerce environment preferred.
Experience with a high volume on-line retailer preferred
Experience with Unix/ Linux / Red Hat
1+ years experience with JBOSS
3+ years experience with Java
Experience writing technical documents including functional, technical and program specifications and designs.
Experience with and understanding of large-scale Internet architectures on 3-Teir environments (e.g., communications, TCP/IP, firewalls, failover, load balancing, web servers, applications servers, and data base servers).
Experience leading projects involving cross-functional team members.
Effective written and communication skills.
Demonstrated organizational and analytical skills.
Ability to work within project deadlines.

Location: Cleveland, OH
Salary: 75K - 90K Base

Call or email if interested:
Angela Marasco
angela@am-recruiting.com
937-912-5860

Whatcha Talkin Bout Willis? Twitter (What's it all about?)

2008-10-06T09:26:00.002-04:00

Whatcha Talkin Bout Willis?
Taken from the Blog Master: davidebowman

By this time you have probably heard about Twitter. If not, here is a quick summary. Twitter is a site where you, and the rest of the world get 140 characters to answer one question “what are you doing?”
Now the common first reaction by someone who discovers Twitter is to scrunch up their face, tilt their head to the side and scratch it, sigh, tilt their head back again, shrug their shoulders and say “huh?” “What is the big deal?”
Well shortly thereafter you begin to discover that on Twitter people are sharing thoughts and opinions on everything under the sun in a very concise and easy to understand format. Better yet the format is constantly evolving. Twitter also makes it possible to follow brilliant thinkers like John Moore, Pete Blackshaw, and Guy Kawaski, as you follow “what they do.”
Still, the whole thing can seem a bit overwhelming and disjointed. That is where the new Twitter Search (formerly Summize.com) comes into play. Simply type in a term and you can search in real time what people are talking about. Search Dayton, or Obama, or McCain, Pizza, Reds, Apple, whatever - Twitter search will aggregate the results so that you can begin to make sense of it all. Better yet, it is equipped with an RSS feed so that you can track the conversation as it evolves. Track mentions of your name, your employer, your friends, and on and on.
So do you wonder what Willis is talking about? Well I am not sure if Willis (Todd Bridges) uses Twitter, but you can find a whole bunch of people talking about him and darn near anything else by using Twitter Search. Give it a try, and share the interesting things you find with your comments.
Twitter Search

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw9oX-kZ_9k

NEW Opportunity: WMS Software Implementor

2008-10-06T09:12:00.002-04:00

WMS Software Implementor

Overview
This is a great opportunity. You can work from anywhere in the country, from your home, and get to travel all over (you need to be open to about 80% travel to be considered for this job). If this would fit your lifestyle, you have to look into this job! You won't find a better company in this industry, guaranteed.

Our client is growing fast, quick but controlled. They focus on designing and implementing warehousing, transportation and supply chain solutions. Their success is attributed to a unique combination of critical skills in logistics (understanding the business and best practices), information technology (understanding information flow), applications (know the best SCM, WMS and TMS tools on the market), and transition management (they have a proven path for organizations to adopt the new state).

You the consultant will work within a project team throughout project life cycle - requirements definition, solution selection, design, testing, training and implementation. This position involves extensive interaction with employees in all functional areas, offices, clients, vendors and business partners.

Essential Job Functions:

o Achieves work objectives by developing systems requirements, functional design, basic systems configuration and implementation support
o Contributes to project success by leading and/or contributing to client update meetings
o Contributes to project development by generating reports and briefing documents
o Contributes to project success by supporting the design and test planning for supply chain execution integration with host ERP systems and material handling control systemso Achieves work objectives by supporting all aspects of systems testing
o Builds client knowledge by assisting in end user training
o Supports client by communicating with vendors regarding budgetary costing and other issues
o Achieves work objectives by performing financial analysis to derive business case information
o Achieves work objectives by supporting software configuration and assisting in modification determination, development, and testing
o Performs organizational development duties by researching and writing articles for publication and preparing and presenting internal projects
o Supports client development by establishing and maintaining positive relationships with potential, current, and former clients
o Contributes to the achievement of company-wide revenue goals by pursuing follow-on projects with current and former clients

Job Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or other related Engineering degree, or equivalent work experience
2-5 years industry experience inclusive of a Warehouse Management System (WMS) full lifecycle project and/or other top tier supply chain execution systems
Working knowledge and industry experience with the Manhattan Associates, RedPrairie, or the HighJump product suites. Experience with Oracle, SAP, Retek, JDA, JD Edwards, ProVia, MARC Global or other top tier WMS solutions will also be considered
Competency in SQL, MS Access, MS Excel, MS Project, MS Visio software
Excellent verbal and written communication skillso Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines effectively under time constraints
Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously without close supervision
Willingness and ability to travel extensively (80%)

Goal Setting

2008-10-06T09:06:00.002-04:00

Goal Setting
From: www.timethoughts.com

Goal setting is a process that helps you get clear on what you want, make an action plan to help you get there, launch into action, and persist until you reach your destination or find a better one.

This process can significantly increase your probability of success and achieving what you want. Research studies show a direct link between goal setting and enhanced performance in sports and business.

Earl Nightingale put it this way, "People with goals succeed because they know where they are going. It's as simple as that."

Why Personal Goal Setting Works

Texas oil billionaire H.L. Hunt once said that there are only two ingredients necessary for success. The first is that you have to decide exactly what it is that you want.

This is where he believed many stumble. They never decide what it is that they really want.
They may think they want something from time to time, usually something generic and vague like "being rich" or "a better job," but it's just a fleeting thought; they never truly get clear on what these things really mean.

Hunt said that once you've decided what it is that you want, the second ingredient is to determine the price you have to pay to get what you want, and then resolve to pay that price by establishing your priorities and getting to work.

Many who get past the first ingredient never apply the second one. They don't understand that you have to pay the price in full before you can claim your prize.

You can think of goal setting as a process that helps you to decide exactly what it is that you want, and then to systematically pay the price in order to get it. It is a process that helps you focus your time and energy on your targets through careful and deliberate planning.

What is a Goal?
A goal is a well-defined target that gives you clarity, direction, motivation, and focus. Goals are tools that help you in five main ways:

Make a positive change in your life
Form a new habit or change an existing habit
Improve or develop a skill, talent, or ability
Realize a dream or other important outcome
Improve your performance on a task or activity

.net Developer opportunity (2 openings)

2008-09-05T19:17:00.001-04:00

One of our clients in Memphis has direct FTE opportunities for .Net Developers that involve 80% new development. These are new positions due to the growth of the department and the organization. If you do not believe these positions are for you, please forward this e-mail to others in your circle of influence. These positions are solid, in a wonderful working environment, surrounded by great team members.

Sr. Level .NET Developer
Bachelors Degree required
6 years development experience (3 in .net)
Skills necessary: .net, c# and sql server
VisualStudio.net preferred but not necessary
Stable, with a long history in the Memphis area, this organization boasts a number of firsts and is rated among the top in their industry in the world! Due to the number of projects involving new development., client is looking for a solid sr. level C#, .net developer. Translate architecture designs into software code, administer the development of code construction to support OO applications; manage software coding, testing, etc., as well as the design of the system's GUI. If you possess 6 years in C#, .net development, enjoy new development, and want exposure to new technologies, please call. There are a number of new projects involving 80% new development on the immediate horizon. Great benefits. Tuition reimbursement. Career path. Salary: $80k+/- depending on experience. No state income tax. Low Cost of Living.

.NET Developer
Bachelors Degree required
4 years development experience (3 in .net)
Skills necessary: .net, c#, sql server
VisualStudio.net preferred but not necessary
There are many new projects on the table involving about 80% new development in C#, .NET. Stable, with a long history in the Memphis area, this organization boasts a number of firsts and is rated among the top in their industry in the world! If you possess 3 years in C#, .net development, enjoy new development, and want exposure to new technologies, please call. Great benefits. Tuition reimbursement. Career Path. Salary $70k+/- depending on experience. No state income tax. Low Cost of Living.

Technology Architect Lead - Cincinnati, OH

2008-07-30T16:00:00.002-04:00

Technical Architect Lead
Apply a broad base of technology expertise in the design and definition of a highly flexible, highly efficient, andhighly scaleable product architecture to enable company to exploit new markets domestically andinternationally.
Provide technical guidance to internal and external development team members to maximize their strengths andencourage professional development and application of new skills to meet increasing demands for current andfuture development.
Stay abreast of the latest industry technology trends in order to recognize opportunities to advance our technologyand product strategy.

Key Responsibilities:
Design of product prototypes using a variety of technologies.Analysis of costs, potential profits, risks, and benefits of architectural designs.
Produce creative yet well-grounded projections, specifications, and designs that open market opportunities &continually increase technical efficiencies.
Provide consistent, clear communication to senior management.
Contribute to the development and continuous review of appropriate practices, standards, and guidelines

Skills/Competencies Required:
8+ years in commercial software development, including 4+ years of multi-tier, online architecture design with astrong emphasis on search platforms
Technical lead experience in UNIX/Linux web application development, particularly using open source tools &technologies
Technical background, skills, and vision to be able to understand and enhance our online applicationsPractical reliance on industry standard solutions combined with solid past experience in implementing thosesolutions
Possess strong knowledge of industry standards, best practices and tools- performance management (systems, network, applications, & hardware)- testing automation- integration & configurationRefined problem solving skills including risk analysis and alternative solutions
Strong technical design documentation skills

Location: Cincinnati, OH
Salary: to 125K

Contact me immediately if interested:
angela@am-recruiting.com
937-912-5860

"America's Human Capitol is Tested"

2008-07-16T13:10:00.002-04:00

Interesting article. Could impact IT staffing.

America’s human capital is tested
By Clive Crook
Published: July 6 2008 17:43

A startling and profoundly important fact about the US economy has received surprisingly little attention. The educational quality of the country’s workers is starting to decline – not just relatively (because other countries are catching up and moving ahead) but also, for the first time, in absolute terms. Over the coming years, baby-boomers departing from the labour force will have better educational qualifications than the younger workers replacing them. If the ultimate source of an economy’s ability to grow and prosper is its human capital, the US is in trouble.

For decades the educational quality of the US labour force surged. In 1940, less than 5 per cent of the population aged 25-64 had at least a four-year college education. By 2000, the proportion had increased to nearly 30 per cent. Successive generations of workers improved on the educational attainments of their predecessors. Retiring workers were replaced by better-educated youngsters. This remorseless accumulation of human capital helped fuel the country’s postwar growth. According to at least one authoritative study, it was the principal driver.

This trend came to a halt with workers now aged 55-59. Younger cohorts are no better educated than these soon-to-retire boomers. Broadly speaking, educational quality has topped out – and on at least one measure, it is actually deteriorating. In 2006, Americans aged 55-59 collectively possessed more masters degrees, professional degrees and doctorates than Americans aged 30-34. This impending loss of educational capital is entirely outside the country’s experience.

The numbers come from a recent study by Jacob Funk Kirkegaard of the Peterson Institute for International Economics: The Accelerating Decline in America’s High-Skilled Workforce: Implications for Immigration Policy. As the title suggests, Mr Kirkegaard is chiefly concerned with the US visa system, which discriminates in a variety of ways against high-skilled immigrants. Easier entry of immigrants with scarce skills – for which high-tech employers such as Intel, Microsoft and others tirelessly plead – is the quickest and easiest fix and Mr Kirkegaard makes an unanswerable case for it. But the deeper problem, as he notes, lies with the education system. What is going on?

Has a natural ceiling been reached? If so – if everybody who wanted or might benefit from a college education was receiving one – then the halting of that decades-long trend of capital accumulation would be less of a concern. Some of the tailing off can reasonably be attributed to this saturation effect. But in many other countries, the proportion of people aged 25-34 with at least a college education is now as high as, or higher than, in the US – and the trend elsewhere is still pointing up. South Korea, Japan, Canada and Russia already have significantly higher proportions of young workers with a college education or better.

One could question the figures in other ways. Perhaps a modern college education is more valuable to the economy than a 30-year-old college education – so that, quality-adjusted, the country’s educational assets are still climbing. Stocks of knowledge do get out of date. But this is an argument that could go either way: some would argue that academic standards have fallen and that today’s college graduates are educated to a lower level than their elders.

Another plausible argument is that in-work training and mid-life schooling are more important than they used to be and that the figures ignore such assets. Yet another is simply that it is possible to send too many people to college – that for many students, another four years out of the workforce is not in fact a good investment and that it is an even worse investment for the taxpayers who subsidise it. There may be something to all of this.

Yet one key indicator suggests real cause for concern: the declining high school graduation rate, which affects the supply of those seeking to go to college. This too has been a bitterly contested statistic in the US. The country’s highly decentralised education system causes a proliferation of conflicting data sources and definitions. But a recent careful study by Nobel laureate James Heckman and Paul LaFontaine found that the high school graduation rate “has been falling for 40 years” and that this “explains part of the recent slowdown in college attendance”.

In 2002, the US enacted the bipartisan No Child Left Behind policy, which called on schools to boost standardised test scores in a limited range of key subjects and to raise graduation rates. The policy has been almost universally pilloried by teachers and education professionals, who complain that it encourages “teaching to the test”, a narrowing of the curriculum and other forms of self-defeating gaming of the system. They complain, too, that they have been asked to do more with no increase in resources – complaints that have some merit.

Barack Obama says he approves of the law’s goals, but that it has failed in practice and needs to be scrapped. Teachers and their unions have been less pleased to hear him say that he supports experiments with charter schools and other forms of school competition. As the furious debate over No Child Left Behind shows, education reform is an intensely charged political issue, and one where a Democratic presidential nominee needs to take particular care.

Be that as it may, if the US is unable to mend its failing school system, and unwilling to open its doors wider to skilled immigrants, then much of the current gloom about its longer-term economic prospects may, for once, turn out to be justified.

Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2008

3 Free Tech Tools U Need to Use

2008-07-07T11:17:00.001-04:00

Taken from a marketing master (David E. Bowman)

The internet is full of tools that can make your life easier. Here are 3 of my favorites. If you have not heard of these, please give them a look. They can empower you in ways you would never have imagined.

LinkedIn - If you work for a living, you should use LinkedIn. Plain and simple. LinkedIn is a social networking site that caters to business professionals. It is primarily used as a way to keep tabs on connections new and old, but has countless other applications. From personal branding to market research, to finding a job, to sales support, to ad-hoc help desk, the site’s usefulness grows daily. In 2004 the site had about 500 thousand users. As of 2008 it is estimated to have 21 million. How is that for growth? While there is a paid version of the site that adds functionality, you can do most of what you would need to in the free version. Creating a profile is easy and can be done pretty quickly. This one is a must.

Jott - What if you could call a phone number, speak, and have your words emailed to you in both transcribed text and audio form? What if you could do this for free? You can. Jott offers you the ability to send transcribed voice mail messages to yourself and others at no cost. This one is great for when you have those “great idea” or “damn I better not forget that” moments but don’t the ability to immediately write it down. I put Jott in my speed dial, and with the touch of one key, I can leave myself a message. Within minutes I get an email in my inbox capturing my message. The quality of the transcription is actually very good. Having used this hundreds of times, I can only think of one time that I actually had to play back the audio to understand what my message was. All you need to do to sign up for the service is to go to the site, enter your phone number, enter your email address, and viola - Jott at will. This service has come in handy for me more times than I can count. It is so simple, but so powerful at the same time.

Goog411 - Google on your phone. I am not talking about looking things up on an iPhone or Blackberry, I am talking about calling your search in and having it read back to you over the phone. Need Pizza in Dayton, Ohio? Call 1-800-Goog411 and have the Google search done for you for free. They will even connect you directly or email you a google map right to your chosen destination. It is so simple. This one is perfect for those in sales and other fields with lots of windshield time. Not sure exactly where that customer is? Goog411 can save the day. Need to grab some lunch or find a tow truck? Goog411. Again, this is free. This one is also embedded in my speed dial and used regularly.

Positive News About IT Economy

2008-06-30T10:05:00.004-04:00

These are excerpts from a recruiting network regarding the IT economy. It's not as bad as the media would have us believe! Speaking from my personal experience, I couldn't agree with these folks more. My desk is busy, and I am seeing more and more job activity. The reality is that technology isn't going away and it certainly is not slowing down. Onward and upward to that next great career opportunity!

"I'm so tired of negative news in the media. "Recession this," and "Recession that." I have not had so many quality job orders since 1999 (thank you TE trading partners...keep those JO's coming!). Also, remember in 2001 (last real recession) when all the IT consulting firms were laying off in droves (and many went under)? Well, one of the largest IT consulting firms in the world, Accenture (they have 94 of the 100 Global 500 as clients), just reported record profits today and their stock is up 5%.If we were in a recession, Accenture would be laying off (as they did in 2001) and not hiring and having record profits."
- Sean

"Excellent advise Sean. What we hear in the news and what is reality are quite different. Earlier this week this little known factoid was buried in the newsThe economy grew at a 1 percent annualized rate in the first quarter, Let's all conserve energy and stop listening to the news... "
- Don

"We should see some of those IT jobs coming back - for two reasons - inflation is much higher in India and the Far East. The second reason - it is hard on the body to fly there and manage those folks and transportation costs are going through the roof!!!"
- Charlie

Also, my experience over the years has led me to believe that consulting firms are a leading indicator of recovery. I always called them the canaries in the coal mine. First to die, First to be deployed.They haven't died, and they are being deployed in record #'s. We have hit a bit of a summer slow down, but 2008 has been a solid year already, and looks to continue!
- Jed

Hot "new" jobs in Massachusetts

2008-06-23T09:56:00.002-04:00

These jobs are not yet posted... They are NEW and we are recruiting heavily for them. Feel free to share with friends and colleagues! All are located in Massachusetts.

Manager of Technical Services
Responsible for directing the technical research, planning and 24x7 support activities of the UNIX and database Technical Services teams. This includes systems programming and administration; system architecture planning and implementation; database administration; technical methods and standards definition; technical library services and maintenance and advanced escalation support for software and hardware technical issues. This position is responsible for Capital and Expense budget development and administration in addition to hardware/software procurement. The Manager will participate in the development and execution of the Information Systems Business Plan.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience is required in Computer Science. Must have a minimum of ten year's technical and management experience in IS infrastructure and support. Prior experience in AIX, DB2 UDB, Websphere, Oracle and/or EMC environments is required. Strong knowledge of infrastructure design, implementation, maintenance, upgrade and operations techniques along with network/communication concepts. Project management and resource planning experience in a fast-paced environment is required, with the ability to manage and motivate technical personnel. Excellent communication skills both verbally and written and the ability to interact with all levels of senior management is required.

Manager of IT Compliance
Manage all IT related Payment Card Industry (PCI), Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) compliance processes, implementing IT general controls covering Program Development, Program Change, Computer Operations, Security, and third party service providers. Facilitate quality assurance audits on IT controls to ensure process compliance on a regular basis. Develop and maintain metrics measuring the effectiveness of the overall assessment of IT controls in a variety of environments. Work alongside senior management to identify and report upon technology risks, developing recommendations to remediate control weaknesses or categorize mitigating controls. Is responsible for the maintenance and support of the centralized repository of the IT documentation related to the attestation of the Company's financial habits. Assist IT, Internal and External audit teams to clearly define SOX requirements based on industry norms. Map key service provider SAS70's to assess risk, impact and remediation requirements. Serve as subject matter expert on IT compliance to the organization. Lead best practice activities to evolve compliance tasks into routine processes. Manage and build the Quality Assurance functions to insure that all system changes meet Company and regulatory requirements. Provide training, direction and leadership for Change Control compliance. Perform other duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
A minimum of seven (7) years of IT auditing, compliance or technology experience is essential with experience in the retail industry with corporate or multi-site responsibilities a plus. A Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Business Administration or related studies is ideal. Prior IT audit/compliance experience is preferred. Knowledge of Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404, Payment Card Industry standards and of the retail regulatory environment is essential. Must have broad exposure to various technologies, including networks, platforms, and applications. Risk assessment experience and familiarity with tools and techniques used to provide controls and monitoring mechanisms are helpful. Prior project management and Quality Assurance experience is desired. Excellent analytical, organizational, verbal and written communication skills are required, plus a strong attention to detail.

Manager of eCommerce Solutions
Manage, implement and support eCommerce solutions. Provide vision and direction for a departmental team and other management. Monitor industry trends to identify technologies and practices that best align with company goals. Develop and maintain technical and administrative resources. Ensure department compliance with company and regulatory policies and procedures. Provide project leadership for design, development, integration and maintenance of all eCommerce systems. Responsible for staff career development, performance reviews and team hiring decisions; guide and direct the activity of the team. Analyze and outline company's eCommerce strategies and standards for B2C and B2B, based on corporate objectives. Manage relationships with external partners including management of contracts, service levels and vendor performance.

Minimum of 5 years of experience is required managing a complex, high volume, transactional eCommerce environment (online retail merchandising) including a majority of the following: technical project management; business analysis; contract negotiation; systems analysis; and general management of production and maintenance of multichannel retail solutions (Fortune 500 company). Strong working knowledge is essential in eCommerce methodologies and technologies involving enterprise application integration, interactive design, content management, online security, e-mail marketing, e-learning, e-collaboration, search engines, portals, online affiliate programs and online customer care. Understanding is necessary in current market strategies, development tools, infrastructure planning and design. Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills are required, as well as self-motivation and ability to persuasively lead senior management. Strong analytical and managerial skills necessary, as well as structured project management life cycle techniques. Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience is required in computer science or related field.

Manager of Sales Systems
Responsible for systems development, implementation and support for Sales related systems including Point of Sales (POS), Glory Cash Counting, Gas Sales and others as appropriate. Responsibilities include product evaluation, purchase, installation, software selection and/or software development, performance monitoring and application tuning, disaster recovery planning and 7 day per week, 24 hours per day technical supervision/support for problem resolution. Extensively interface with management in various divisions and all levels of team members within the organization. Responsible for managing large IT initiatives. Position includes management, guidance and development for multiple teams of technical professionals including staff with expertise in the following areas: IBM POS Operating System, IBM GSA POS application, Microsoft NT server software, 4690 POS hardware and associated PC servers, applications, and peripherals. Additionally, provide input in the development of Sarbanes Oxley controls, as well as the monitoring of adherence to these controls and other applicable regulatory regulations. Handle additional duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
Minimum of 7-10 years of related IT experience is required.

Project Leader- Software Applications
Support daily functional operations and technical aspects of assigned applications, including providing analytical and applications support for our Logistics and Distribution systems. Interface with all levels of management and the user community. Responsible for managing small and medium sized projects. Plans, leads and supports applications enhancement implementations. Additionally, participates with business partners and IT support teams in the design of new functionality and system architecture. Provides technical training and support for department team members as needed. Prepares and completes project life cycle documentation, test plans and requirements specifications according to department standards. Handle additional duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.

A minimum of 5 years of experience is required in providing application or infrastructure support. Experience desired in a client server applications environment, supporting business initiatives and multiple projects. Experience with AIX, UNIX, Oracle, and/or Windows environments is preferred. Prior experience interfacing applications in a diverse technical environment is essential, as well as a background in application development and support, data communications and networking, project management and supporting project team members. Understanding of Comlink, Websphere, Webmethods/MQ, and/or RF networks/equipment is a plus. Excellent project management, analytical and communications skills are required. Retail industry experience is preferred. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Business or related field is desired; equivalent work experience in Information Technology will be considered.
Manager of Network SolutionsPlease send your resume and cover letter to Attn: GZ/HP/MNS using the contact information provided at the bottom of the page.

This position is responsible for directing the technical research, planning and supporting activities of the Network Solutions department including: network architecture, planning and implementation, network management, technical methods and standards definition, technical library services, maintenance and advanced escalation support for data and voice communications. This position is responsible for Capital and Expense Budget development and administration. This position will also participate in the development and execution of the Information Technology Business Plan. Performs other duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience is required in Computer Science. Must have a minimum of ten (10) year's technical and management experience in IT infrastructure and support. Candidate must have experience with TCP/IP, Ethernet, VOIP solutions design and implementation, DNS, NFS, FTP, SSH, SMTP, SNMP, DHCP, Web Security and LDAP. Experience with network engineering plus strong knowledge of network infrastructure design, implementation, maintenance, upgrade and operations techniques along with network/communication concepts are essential. Must possess hands-on knowledge of information technology and strategic network/communications concepts. Must have working familiarity with various operating systems and industry-accepted standards to be used in traditional, client/server and Internet/Intranet computing environments. Project management and resource planning experience in a fast-paced environment is necessary, with the ability to manage and motivate technical personnel. Excellent communication skills both verbally and written and the ability to interact with all levels of senior management required.

Senior Information Security Engineer
Utilize current information security technology disciplines to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of information assets. Use changing regulatory, threat and technology landscapes to continually develop or maintain security policies and standards to attain compliance throughout the organization. This position provides consulting services to the technology teams and to the organization as a whole through security awareness efforts. As a senior staff member of the Information Security Department within IT, will transfer knowledge to other staff members and serve as a mentor on the execution of duties as an information security professional. Participate in security design and monitoring of operating system and application security. Research and evaluate current security products recommendations. Participate in the implementation and review of audit trail logs and reporting mechanisms, vulnerability assessments and penetration tests. Maintain security policies, standards and security awareness efforts. Work with industry organizations, business partners and technology teams to develop compliance validation methods where appropriate. Perform 3rd party service provider risk assessments to ensure data in outsourced arrangements is secure. Assist in the resolution of security related issues as appropriate to individual level of technical experience. Will perform other duties as assigned.

A minimum of 7+ years experience within an Information Technology organization, with a concentration on Information Security and IT audit experience at the enterprise level, plus a CISSP certification, is required. In depth knowledge of security across technologies, including networks, platforms and applications is mandatory. Familiarity with risk assessment, Internet security, cryptography, and tools and techniques used to provide security controls and monitoring is necessary. Strong knowledge of network infrastructures, including firewalls, VPN's, Intrusion Detection Systems, penetration testing and vulnerability assessment strategies, file and session encryption and cryptography methods, web application and device security is a requisite. Security awareness training, incident response team experience, policy management and contract exposure are essential. Must demonstrate skills in gathering and documenting business and functional requirements toward the implementation of security controls and technologies. Must be a self-starter and be able to respond to rapid changes within IT and the retail industry. Excellent communication and customer service skills are required. Will facilitate effective communications between all members of IT and business by ensuring timely collection and dissemination of information. Must have good Microsoft Office skills, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio and Access. A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field is preferred. Equivalent work experience in Computer Science or related field will be considered.

Senior Java Developer
Provides analytical and technical expertise in the identification and solution of business problems. The focus of this role is to analyze business requirements, and to design and develop web and portal applications on Java based architectures using current industry standards (J2EE, JDBC, XML). This individual serves as a lead technical resource on large projects, assumes the role of project coordinator on small to medium sized projects, as well as performs other tasks and/or responsibilities as assigned. Across all divisions, interacts with business management who are serving on project committees. Performs other duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
At least 6 years of experience is required in analysis, design and implementation of Java based web applications, including programming and systems design. Must have demonstrated JSP, Java and HTML skills, as well as application design and analysis skills. Must also have knowledge and experience of web services, XML, SOAP, JMS or equivalents, HTTP and IP protocols, SQL and DB query skills. Additionally, must have knowledge of project life cycle methodology, as well as strong communication and project coordination skills. Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or equivalent work experience is required.

Senior Project Manager
Manage one or more projects (generally having budgets between $250k and $2 million) within the constraints of scope, quality, schedule, cost and budget. Responsibilities include managing the people, tasks, and external resources for assigned projects within the defined tolerances. Act as a primary liaison between the IT division and the various stakeholders. Establish, build and update project plans with actuals and forecasts, manage deviations from the plan, and identify and manage project risks. Ensure the project team is defined and staffed appropriately and that the appropriate internal and external services are obtained to meet the objectives of the project in order to deliver the specified functionality and requirements defined by the projects. Ensure all the project requirements and/or objectives are properly defined and documented. Communicate with users, IT and senior level management concerning project status and manage stakeholders' expectations. Comply with all System Development/Project Life Cycle, Change Management, Regulatory and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements. Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.

At least seven (7) years of experience is required in IT project delivery including application development projects and working with business and IT users. Also, 3-5 years of increasing responsibility is necessary, with a proven track record in project management delivering complex projects using varied development approaches for internal and externally developed applications. Significant knowledge is essential in project management processes, methods and standards. Requirements also include: experience managing a matrix team of associates, contractors and vendors with various skills and disciplines; strong business acumen and strategic thinking to complement tactical execution skills; and ability to build relationships, influence and negotiate without authority across all levels of IT and business units. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Business or related field, or equivalent work experience, is required. Retail industry experience, PMP (Project Management Professional) certification and knowledge of Six Sigma methodologies desired.

Senior Data Warehouse
Provides the coding and process construction for the development and maintenance of the enterprise data warehouse and supporting business intelligence (BI) structures. Designs, develops, tests and maintains the process of and code that build, support and provision the data warehouse and business intelligence (BI) applications at the company. Develops complex analytic queries and data transformations in SQL and other ETL tools sets. Assists in the development of production reports, cubes and analytical applications. Additionally, captures and maintains business and technical metadata; ensures the integrity, reliability and data quality of the BI systems; and performs diagnostic and recovery techniques as appropriate, as well as handles duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.

Must have over 3 years of related database development experience, including record of working in very graphical development environments for process construction and monitoring. Experience with ETL tools such as DataStage or Informatica preferred, as well as with appropriate software and BI tools such as Oracle, SAS, Cognos, etc. Must have the ability to create and use complex SQL or other forms of database query. Some experience in writing and using stored procedures and triggers within a database system a plus. Strong communication, interpersonal and time management skills are essential, as well as ability to work in a team environment. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent work experience is required.

Quality Assurance Engineer
Working in our Information Technology Division, debug applications through the use of systemic and manual tests to maintain quality standards for applications and work closely with development teams to resolve problems. Develop, maintain and execute manual and automated test scripts to verify application functionality and adherence to business requirements. Create and perform application load tests. Develop and manage a repository of test data to support testing efforts. Provide progress reporting, defect tracking and risk assessments related to testing efforts. Keep pace with emerging quality assurance trends; ensure the existence of development testing standards and processes. Contribute to improving department processes and selection of tools. Ensure that requirements are clearly defined and testable. Comply with System Development/Project Life Cycle (SDLC), Change Management, Regulatory and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements. Handle additional duties and/or responsibilities as assigned.
At least 4 years of experience in software quality assurance testing is required including background in software programming, test planning, test scripts and documentation. Experience is preferred with Mercury Quick TestPro, LoadRunner, Rational Requisite Pro and Clear Quest. Basic abilities in UNIX, Oracle and CICS are required. Familiarity with basic concepts of computer architecture, data structures and standard programming practices is needed. Ability to read and understand software and/or hardware design specifications is necessary. Excellent organizational, communication, problem solving and intepersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively are essential. Bachelor's degree in Business, Computer Science, Engineering or related field is preferred. Quality assurance certification is preferred. Retail industry experience is a plus.

Senior Network Engineer
This position is responsible for all technical and administrative support of company Local Area Network (LAN), Wireless Area Network (WLAN), and Wide Area Network (WAN) infrastructure. Will be responsible for network hardware and software installations, troubleshooting, diagnostics, cabling, documentation, network standards, and management reporting. Ensures compliance with all Company and Regualatory Policies and Procedures.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience is required in Computer Science. Must have a minimum of five (5) years in area network infrastructure support. Must possess hands-on knowledge of LAN and WAN technologies and communication protocols. Must have working familiarity with various operating systems and industry-accepted standards to be used in traditional, client/server and Internet/Intranet computing environments. Will provide general technical and system design guidance to I.T. development teams. Will assess new technologies and define manner in which new system software technologies can be best leveraged by I.T. development staff. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, strong customer service skills, and the ability to interact with all levels are required. Comprehensive knowledge System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) methodology, business systems' design goals and requirements, standards and objectives is preferred.

TAKE CONTROL OF THE INTERVIEW

2008-06-23T09:42:00.002-04:00

Interesting article on "taking control of the interview".

TAKE CONTROL OF THE INTERVIEW: Bill Gaffney, Career Coach

Many times an interviewer will start off by asking me, “So tell me about yourself”. How do I address that question and what are they looking for? Do they want my whole life history or a review of my career? HELP!!

A: Let me fill out the title of this column first. I am not telling you to go in like Ahnold and tell them “I’m back”. I am simply saying, as I have before, many interviewers are ill trained and come up with poor questions because they don’t know any better. In those cases you have to subtly take control and guide the interview in a direction where the “best you” comes out. If you do you might just be the only one who does and you will stand out.

My friend Jeff Skrentny, top Chicago based IT recruiter and one of the best recruiter trainers in the business, has some excellent suggestions about how to handle this question. The most important suggestion is ask the interviewer, “Where would you like me to start?” Probably 90% of them will tell you ether just your career (most likely) or your entire life. The savvy ones will say, “Wherever you would like”. If you get one of these you probably have a good interviewer.

This question is an excellent starting point actually. If they don’t ask it you should find a place in the interview, where you cover what I am going to suggest to you. The interviewer (not typically the HR interviewer as they usually have a preset list of questions) is really interested in three things:

∑ Accomplishments
∑ Demonstrated progression in your career
∑ Scope of responsibilities

Leave you skills for a different point in the interview.

This is really a presentation you should have memorized and rehearsed without sounding robotic. This review should go back 10-12 years and typically cover 2-4 jobs. If you have been with one company during that time review the different positions. If the interviewer wants a history further back they will ask for it.

The presentation for each position should include a brief description of the job, the scope of responsibility (size of budget, people reporting to you, etc) and two or three major accomplishments in that position. Remember an accomplishment is income produced, money saved and/or time saved (production increased). These need to have a reference point such as “I had a targeted budget of 10 million dollars but was able to finish the year at 8 million through productivity increases. If possible include a similar reference point for responsibilities.

Each position you cover should take no more that 1-2 minutes and do just the highlights. Do not get into the minute details. If they want more they will ask. Be careful not to brag, but to me more matter of fact and to exude confidence in your abilities.If you get asked to review your entire life don’t launch into “War and Peace”. Instead do the Cliff’s Notes” version. They probably don’t care at what age you were potty trained or when you took your first swimming lesson. But they might be interested to hear how you did in school or extracurricular activities you were involved in, especially sports. When you talk about your personal life think about things that demonstrate a character or trait related to business, competitiveness, fast starter, teamwork, etc. You might want to also throw in a personal crisis, a death, loss of a competition, etc and follow it with how you responded and overcame it. In interviewing potential recruiters I always look for this. It shows resilience and determination.

Practice the interview with a spouse, business acquaintance, friend, etc. until you have it down without having to think about it. Also practice inflection, tempo, tone, etc. You do not want to sound like you’ve done this 20 times in the last two weeks. Give the person you are practicing with permission to critique you, even to the smallest degree. The more polished you are the better you will come across.

As I stated earlier if you do not get that “Tell me …” question (and hopefully you won’t) work this presentation into the interview somehow. This is especially easy if the interview is meandering. You might say something like, “Would it be helpful if I reviewed some career highlights with you”. I guarantee, besides them wanting to hear this, the interviewer will have an immediate sense of relief since they are uncomfortable doing the interview anyway.

I want to finish by saying three things. There are other points in an interview where you might have to take some subtle control. Watch for meandering and relatively pointless questions. Secondly watch your body language. This can really put an interviewer off. Number one, don’t sit with your arms crossed across your chest. This indicates resistance or boredom. You should review material on this subject. Lastly watch for the interviewers’ tone, inflection, pace, etc. Try to follow that. If they talk slow and deliberately don’t talk fast. This is actually a subtle form of flattery. (You thought I was going to say manipulation, didn’t you?) This will also force you to listen to them without performing answers.Interviewing is both a science and an art. Don’t take it lightly.

Geek Speak > Not As Cool As You Might Think

2008-04-17T13:52:00.002-04:00

I came across this article today on Google Reader. It teaches a great lesson for any deveoper who interacts directly with non-technical users/clients.

Much like the elusive African dancing monkey who does a fantastic version of the Electric Slide to confuse their natural enemies; developers have the ability to sway entire debates in their favor by confusing their enemies with technical jargon. After all, who can argue with someone when they have no clue what the other person is talking about?

Perl Programmer for Dayton Ohio

2008-04-15T08:04:00.001-04:00

In business for over 60 years. Great team environment. Opportunity to GROW!

We are looking for a senior level Perl Application Engineer to hit the ground running and assist with the development of OO, N-tier web applications.

Requirements:2+ years practical experience building web applications using Perl, SQL, XSLT, XML and versioning systems (CVS, Subversion)Prefer Bachelors degree.

angela@am-recruiting.com
937-912-5860