Entrepreneurship isn’t just for the inventors. Anyone can apply the principles of being an entrepreneur into their everyday lives and see the fruits of their labor. But what exactly does it mean to be an entrepreneur? Simply put, an entrepreneur is someone who can build a bridge from the current reality to a future concept, using whatever resources are available.
If the future you want involves that one special job, what will it take to get there? Travelling from A to B usually involves elements of determination, creativity and drive. With hard work and a little luck, you’ll be well on your way. A hard-working mindset is what enables you to create opportunities and open doors. Jefferson put it best when he said, “I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it
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The difference between good and great is often a small amount of effort placed in the right direction. Think of the status quo as if you’re hitting the gas pedal while your wheels are spinning - not very effective right? By shifting gears and slowing down, you’ll be able to get moving faster. Have a strategy that enables success and the pay off will come.
So what is the right way to create your next job opportunity? I can tell you it’s not resume spamming or applying to jobs that are over your head. It’s networking with the right people, spending the time to cultivate lasting relationships, and sidestepping the wall that has been holding you back. The right people are going to help you reach your dreams.
Often, the people you know have an interest in finding talent to provide business solutions to their own networks. Whether it’s a friend, recruiter or colleague, they won’t know about your passions until you tell them, and they probably won’t bring the opportunity to your doorstep. Spend the extra time forging and maintaining friendships to stay relevant, and help yourself by constantly evaluating and upgrading your personal strategy and mission. In time, those connections can help you build the bridge to your next destination.
Use tools like LinkedIn to do research on companies you like and to find connections on the inside. A recommendation from an insider can be the key that opens the door. One of the top reasons recruiting firms are so successful is because they have a direct line to the hiring manager. Their value is created by helping companies find employees and contractors like you.
There are many free resources available to aid you in your job search.
Your ideal job is waiting for you, so be a true entrepreneur and do whatever it takes to get there.
Anyone can write an article about what recruiters are looking for and suggest their own tips on how to land interviews and job offers, but how many of those articles are written from the heart of an IT staffing and consulting firm where hundreds of applicants are screened daily?
Here’s exactly what today’s recruiters are looking for and how you can be the person that stands out from the crowd:
Integrity- We all know
recruiters spend mere seconds when sifting through resumes to identify possible candidates. Keyword spamming or excessively listing skills are red flags that suggest your resume doesn’t accurately reflect what you can do. Trying to impress by listing skills you don’t really have will only serve to hurt you in the long run and it will sour a relationship with a recruiter.
Openness- Entrepreneurship is prevalent with contractors and many go off to start their own companies. If there is a period of time on your resume spent working for yourself, there ought to be some evidence to back up who your clients were and the work you performed. Otherwise, it just seems like gilded unemployment, which goes back to integrity.
Truth- Many candidates have personal profiles on social media and sometimes feel the need to create a fake “shell profile” to put forward. It’s perfectly okay to want your personal life to stay personal. If that’s the case, just say so. By creating an unused profile, it sends a message that you have something to hide.
Alignment- Does all of the information presented create a clear picture about who you are? With social media, it’s becoming easier to find out more about someone’s personality and work ethic from their online presence. Align your profiles with the image you wish to portray.
Social Professionalism- Nearly everyone has a profile on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter or a combination thereof. If you want to be seen as a hard-working, low-risk candidate, it’s best not to be out all weekend long, and you do not want the evidence available for all to see online. Act in the manner in which you would want to be publically portrayed.
Strong Communication Skills- Say what you believe and believe what you say. Every time you interact with recruiters through emails, phone calls or interviews, you will be judged on your confidence and conscientiousness level. Dress to impress and put your best foot forward when talking about what you can do to help the organization. Workers get paid for bringing value to a company, so don’t sell yourself short. Confidence inspires people to believe in you- and that’s a selling point for advancing your application.
Good References- If you have five years experience in your field, surely you’ll have at least three references to back you up. If not, then it’s a red flag that suggest something is off about your history or how you left past jobs.
A Solid Network- Similar to references, a solid network shows that you are immersed in the industry and take the time to foster lasting relationships with colleagues and friends. Interpersonal skills are a big part of the work environment and can put you in a leading position as a candidate.
Follow Through- Do what you say you’re going to do. Could you be trusted on the job if you don’t follow through with a simple task such as calling the recruiter back at 9am? That may seem small, but first impressions are hard to shake. The little things all add up quickly, so make sure everyone you connect with feels good about you as a candidate. When it’s between you and several other people, missing an email or being late could be the thing that breaks your application.
A full ATM- Think of your relationships with recruiters as an ATM. The money represents goodwill and can be put in and taken out. Ideally, you want as much as possible in the machine for future use to draw on. Build it up by staying in touch, updating on progress, and keeping your word. Conversely, do your best not to neglect the relationship because you are pursuing a different road or took another offer. If you keep taking money out, eventually the ATM shuts off and there’s nothing left to draw on in the future.
Keep in mind that excelling in these areas will help you to achieve and fulfill your professional goals and objectives.
We’ve all been there; you’re looking for a new job, and as time goes on you find yourself more and more discouraged at the lack of responses. Days, weeks, and possibly months go by without as much as a few nibbles. You gradually start lowering your expectations, expanding your radius and even widening your specific industry targets. Jobs that were once unattractive now seem like the preferred options. As you see it, the problem is the economy, other “better” candidates, or hiring managers that just don’t understand the value you bring to the table.
To prevail in the face of all this perceived negative pressure, there has to be a change in the strategy that hasn’t been successful. You have to get into the mind of the recruiter or hiring manager and think about what problem they are trying to solve. Generally, the main problem is finding someone who 
can meet the job criteria at the right price. There are many factors that go into this value calculation such as the competition, urgency, job market and the desired experience level. Knowing the target pay-scale of a position and your own experience level will help you to sell yourself for it. It’s imperative to have a grip on the market value of the job you’re aiming at for an understanding on how you stack up.
Out of all the factors, the one that you control the most is the one that sets you apart- your apparent value. You have the power to seed and grow the idea that you are in fact the person to go with. Recruiters want to see success happen. For someone to be successful in a position there has to be passion, experience and knowledge. It’s easy to tell if someone is following their passion because the jobs on a resume will tend to line up along industry or functional lines. Explaining the path you’ve taken shows a great deal about who you are and how you handle situations. How you answer the question “why do you want this position?” is a how recruiters will gauge your interest level. If your answer to the question starts with needing a 9-5 to pay your bills, you won’t be getting the job. Anyone can give that response- it’s assumed you want to make money (does anyone work for free?). Instead, think deeper about why this job is better than the rest and honestly explain why you’d be motivated to plant your roots in the company and work hard.
When it comes to your resume, your level of experience is clear from the examples given under each job title. Whether you have one year or 15 years, it’s impractical to fudge what you did and for how long. However, your industry knowledge is much more abstract and subjective. Ask yourself if you’d rather have an expert with five years experience or a novice with 10. It helps that many openings have leeway with experience when knowledge is clearly demonstrated. That being said, if your experience is too far off from the requirement, then it’s probably not the best fit.
As it is, the job world is ever changing and to keep up, you should never stop improving .The more energy spent building your skills, the less you’ll have to push a recruiter to send your resume forward. Remember to stay positive and be meticulous about the jobs you want. When your experience, knowledge and passion align with the right job, marketing yourself to a recruiter will come naturally.
Nationally, the current unemployment rate is 8.3% (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). But what about the specific unemployment rate for IT professionals? If we break this number down to get to the bottom of “IT,” we can see the national unemployment rate for IT professionals is actually staggeringly low.
The workforce is divided into two categories: professional and unprofessional workers. Of the 13.5 million unemployed persons in January 2012, 5.4 million previously worked in management or professional occupations (Source: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t13.htm). This 
means that less than 40% of currently unemployed workers are classified as “professional workers.”
Breaking this number down further, IT professionals are seeing a current surge in hiring, which lowers the IT unemployment rate even more. IT employment reached an all-time high in January 2012 with an increase of 13,300 jobs, closing out at 4,107,700 jobs (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics/TechServe Alliance, http://www.techservealliance.org/pressroom/documents/IndexreleaseJanuary2012.pdf).
With this recent surge in hiring IT consultants, managers have been asking us, “Where is everyone going? I thought this was a recession!” Despite the national unemployment rate hovering around 8.3%, the current unemployment rate in software development/IT is staggeringly low – just 1%, which is essentially full employment!
With the economy steadily improving, more and more businesses are expanding their IT forces to make up for lost time and accomplish initiatives put on hold during the recession. Unfortunately, there is only so much talent to go around and the best of the best are hired quickly. As a result, consultants are receiving multiple job offers and are accepting only the best, leaving other offers behind.
Given all of the above, is the unemployment rate truly 8.3%? I don’t think so! Today, technology hiring is different – think 1999’s market!
When applying for a job, a good résumé gets your foot in the door. A better résumé gets you an interview and gives you the chance to land the job. But what if you have a very diverse technical background and, as a result, a lengthy, in-depth résumé? The hiring manager may not notice your skills relevant to the job and you could miss an opportunity. So, how can you make the most of your résumé?
For starters, it’s a good idea to have a few different versions of your résumé, especially if youare a developer, business analyst, project manager, or a combination of the three. That way, when applying for a technology staffing role, your résumé highlights only your appropriate skill sets and relevant background. Your résumé should bring out your strengths and pinpoint how your skills match the position’s requirements rather than vaguely summarize all of your skills and background. For clarity, the role and/or title do not change but the summary of experience within the roles may be featured and leveraged differently.
To take 
this a step farther, let’s say you are a project manager with a heavy technical background. If you are applying for a straightforward project manager position, it’s best to leave out most of your technical background and to focus on your project management history. Though you may be an excellent Java developer, including this on your résumé may overshadow your project management experience. The hiring manager may consider you “not a fit” for the job because he or she believes you are a developer, not a project manager. The same is also true for project management roles that require a heavy technical background – let them know about your Java expertise!
You can work with your recruiter to help tailor your résumé to the job. However, as always, make sure your résumé is an honest reflection of your experience and skills. If you want to make sure you don’t get the job, lying on your résumé is a great way to do it.
Leave us a comment if you have any résumé success stories!
With 2012 in full swing, we here at Eliassen Group want to share our New Year’s Resolutions 
with you, our talented consultants. What better time than the start of the New Year to forge new commitments and reinvigorate old ones?
Our New Year’s Resolutions 2012:
- We want to put you to work. That has been our job for the last 23 years. Our talented recruiters take the time to learn about your unique skills and personality. We then match you with a role and environment that helps your career flourish.
- We will prepare you for your interviews throughout the job search. Our recruiters are career coaches who put your interests first. We guide you through the interview process and highlight why your skills are a match for the role.
- We will get you the training and skills you need to further your career. Our training program offers courses in cutting edge technologies in all areas of the software development life cycle and we have secured pricing that benefits all.
Our commitment to our consultants’ careers is at the heart of everything we do here at Eliassen Group. With yet another successful year behind us, we embrace all that 2012 may bring and look forward to furthering your career!
As an IT consultant, you have probably joined a team already working on a project and had to hit the ground running. Whether you’re brought onboard in the initial developing stages or closer to the project’s completion, here are some pointers to make the transition easy for you and your teammates.
Know the Company
If you’ve been working as a Technology Staffing consultant for a few years, you know that each and every company is unique. With this in mind, learn about the company’s culture and goals before joining the team. This will help you become familiar with your potential work environment and put the project goals in perspective. If you have relevant industry experience, talk to your recruiter and ask how to leverage this experience when applying for the position.
Know the Team
While interviewing for the job, be sure to ask questions about the project and team. What is the team dynamic? How many junior and senior resources are on the team? What technologies does the team use? Can you speak to the project manager or team lead? What will your role be? Asking these questions demonstrates your sincere interest in joining the team and allows you to make an informed decision whether or not to accept the job.
Communication is Key
Once onboard, know what the project’s goals are and how you fit in with those goals. Keeping your eyes on the prize helps with team unity and keeps things moving forward. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or offer suggestions. Maintaining an open line of communication between yourself, your manager, and the rest of the team is important to achieve the best end result possible.
Have a success story from a project you’ve worked on? Got anymore pointers to add to our list? Please share with a comment!
With its growing popularity, has Agile development methodology “gone mainstream” or has it stuck to its grassroots approach? Our Agile Bash, hosted at Bentley University on 10/6, brought together a team of talented technology professionals to discuss the current state of Agile methodology and its future.
Typically, Agilists pride themselves on being on the cutting edge. However, with the growing interest and application of Agile across various industries, the panelists and crowd discussed whether or not Agilists had turned in their t-shirts for neckties and what’s in store for Agile and its evangelists in the future.
If you’d like to listen to the discussion, check out our podcast from the Agile Bash event!
If you’d like more information about Agile, check out our five-part Agile Blog Roll or our Agile Practice page!
Were you at the Agile Bash? Did you check out the podcast? Do you have any questions or thoughts on Agile development methodology? Leave us a comment!
They read your résumé. They loved it. They want to meet you. Now what? Start panicking? No! Start planning!
Although most Technology Staffing interviews are brief (usually an hour or less), you should start prepping for the interview days beforehand. The more time you have to prepare, the more likely you are to nail the interview. Here are some simple tips and tricks to keep in mind before you head off for your interview.
Do your homework
Make sure you know about the company and the role. What kind of company is it? What are its goals? What are its services? How does your role contribute to the company’s overarching aims? Can you find any cool or interesting facts about the company? Knowing more about the company will set you apart from the competition and advertise your sincere interest in the role. Work with your recruiter to figure out how best approach the interview. 
Plan to be on time
If your interview is in-person, know where your interview site is. Take a test run to the interview site and account for traffic and inclement weather. If parking is tight, plan on utilizing a nearby parking garage (if possible). Likewise, if it’s a phone interview, make sure to be near the phone. Avoid any other schedule conflicts around the time of your phone interview. If you are using a cell phone, plan to be in an area with good reception.
It’s all a state of mind
Understandably, you’re feeling jittery before the interview. Stay cool! Confidence is easily picked up by hiring managers. Don’t be overly confident and cocky. You know what’s on your résumé; you should be able to speak to your credentials and qualifications. That’s why you’re there in the first place! Make sure you get out any jitters a day or two before the interview. Review your résumé with your recruiter carefully and know your strengths and weaknesses. If possible, ask one of your friends to stage an interview with you for practice.
Do you have any other tips or tricks that work well for you? Drop us a comment and let us know!
It goes without saying that it is necessary to make a great impression during your interview. How can you do this? As we mentioned in this blog post, you have to know the company culture and demonstrate that you are a great fit. For most jobs, showing up to interviews in a t-shirt and jeans won’t bode so well, but this, of course, raises the question: is it possible to overdress for a job interview?
Strangely enough, with the recent hiring surge at small startup compan
ies, the answer has become yes. With the economy steadily recovering, startups have started hiring more and more talent. In an attempt to distinguish themselves from stuffy, stiff-collar companies, startups have begun embracing a “corporate casual” look – no neckties, no jackets, and other relaxed dress code rules. That being said, it still is not wise to show up to an interview this way. However, showing up in your finest-pressed suit may not play out the way you were hoping, either.
When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to dress your best. Wear formal clothing (a nice dress, a pair of slacks, etc.) and bring anything necessary for a quick change from relaxed to professional (a nice pair of earrings, a tie and a jacket, etc.). If you’re unsure, it’s a good idea to arrive to your interview a few minutes early and quietly ask the receptionist for the company’s dress code policies. If you feel that you’re underdressed, you have time to make a pit stop in the restroom and complete your outfit. Now you’re dressed for success!
Before going in for your interview, make sure to ask your technology staffing recruiter about the dress code. You may want to leave your crisp Frank Sinatra suit in the closet.