The amount of tech talent in Michigan has been growing immensely – Much of this growth has stemmed from the technology entrepreneurship and innovation sector.
I recently spoke to a great group of students and budding entrepreneurs at MSU, who shared some of the perceptions about starting a tech company, including needing to be located in Silicon Valley to get funded and find tech talent.
For Michigan, this is a lay-up. Very few states offer any type of support for early stage tech companies to get off the ground (California isn’t one of them). The cost of living on the coasts is close to prohibitive for young companies. Besides the funding support to help companies get started – and those coming out of a university have an incredibly high 75 percent five-year survival rate – the talent question for early tech companies is addressed on several fronts:
1) The tech transfer offices at Michigan’s universities employ 19 part-time mentors in residence. These experienced entrepreneurs help companies build their strategies and develop their products to be ready for funding. They could be retired on a beach but instead choose to give back to the state and the university by dedicating time to helping companies move forward. Many of them opt to join a new company after their engagement with the university.
2) The SBDC Tech Team are also mostly made up of nine experienced tech entrepreneurs who help companies create their technology roadmaps, guide them through strategic decisions, and annually help companies in Michigan raise more than $60 million in follow-on funding.
3) The Tech Transfer Talent Network allows post docs or grad students working on research to continue to build their tech businesses and stay in the state.
4) The Hacker Fellows program trains coders to work in tech startups, where they join the best and the brightest. There are a number of fellows programs that operate around the state and particularly in Detroit – I’m always impressed with their intelligence and dedication.
5) The Michigan I-Corps program teaches tech entrepreneurs in our state’s universities how to get customer validation and assess market need for technologies.
6) The Smart Zone Incubators and the Business Accelerator Fund match consultants and mentors with tech companies on a regular basis. They work with the community to identify appropriate “help” and advice for companies.
Finally, the students and researchers themselves are an incredibly impressive group at our universities. They are amazing technologists, courageous risk-takers, and fascinating innovators. Because Michigan has outstanding universities and faculty, staff and students who are willing to tread new waters in entrepreneurship, we are certainly the state with the largest advantage.
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The Detroit tech scene is filled with passionate, inspirational individuals who are eager to re-develop Detroit. The city has become a huge technology hub for many tech enthusiasts and innovators.
That being said, Brightwing has created Developing Detroit: An interview-based blog to spotlight individuals who drive technology in the city. Discover motivations, advice, and opportunities, straight from the source of Detroit innovation.
Our first Developing Detroit interview is with Amber Conville, a Software Engineer who prides herself on helping other software community amateurs & professionals in-and-around Detroit.
AMBER CONVILLE
Coder | Tech Group Organizer | Detroit Software Community Activist
What’s your favorite part about your involvement on the tech scene?
I think my favorite part is that once you organize the event, a bunch of like-minded people get together & learn something new. It’s always nice to hear people say, “This is really cool. I feel really inspired to work on this.”
Where does your inspiration to code, and collaborate with other tech professionals, stem from?
I just really like coding. I’ve always liked puzzles, and I eventually got into coding just for fun. I’ve had coding jobs for about 7 years now. It’s great.
Have you faced any challenges in your programming/software development career? If so, how have you dealt with these challenges?
I’ve been pretty lucky in the jobs that I’ve had so far. I’ve liked them a lot and they’ve had a lot of good mentorship opportunities.
What advice do you have for women who are looking to become a programmer/tech professional?
I would say join user-groups and networking groups that are dedicated to women in code. Even if you’re intimidated and don’t fully comprehend what somebody is talking about, you’ll pick up little bits of information and you’ll meet other people who can help you. It can seem daunting at first, but that’s how you do it.
We’ve noticed that you’ve had a lot of involvement in Metro-Detroit’s tech-scene and software community.
What is it about Detroit that makes for a great tech environment?
Well Southeast Michigan has had a pretty amazing tech community anyways for a long time. It just seemed natural that if I wanted a group to exist, I would just make one. Lots of people who organize things are perfectly willing to help you do that here. I love it. Everybody is really excited about Detroit and about the software community. It’s perfect.
What’s your vision for Detroit programmers in 5-10 years from now?
Most people are hoping Detroit turns into a Silicon Valley, but I’m really not. I’m hoping that Detroit just keeps doing what it’s doing now. I think Detroit being a software city is awesome. I also think that we need lots of other industries here like art and science-type industries. I’m sure there’s a facet for software in all of those things.
What advice do you have for young tech enthusiasts that are looking to join the software community in Metro-Detroit?
Get out into the world. There’s a million meetups and user-groups. There’s a ton of people who are passionate about learning, teaching, and mentorship.
What kind of resources does the software community in Metro-Detroit have?
There’s a lot of people who want to help. I would suggest going to tech conferences too. 1DevDay – which has a lot of hard talks, is just one day where you can learn a lot, and there’s not a lot of commitment. TechWeek, SelfConference, and Grand Circus are also great resources for the software community.
Are there any tech startups in Detroit that really stand out to you? If so, which ones?
I haven’t been paying too much to the startup scene. I’m a little biased since I used to work at Detroit Labs, but they are a really great company and they’re doing a lot of great things with their apprenticeship program. They hired about 30 people last year who had no coding background, and most of them are developers now.
What are the perks about working in Detroit?
There’s a lot of really great food – I like that a lot! It’s also a great place to learn, grow, and do something new and exciting.
Tech professionals have a lot of opportunities and options these days.
What do you look for in an employer?
I work at a company called Test Double and it has all the things I want. It’s small and everybody is on the same page as far as what they want for the company, including the founders. It’s also remote, so I don’t have to leave my house if I don’t want to. Test Double is just really good at investing in their employees. They’re also committed to helping with personal and professional goals outside of work. That’s the kind of relationship that makes for a good company.
What are you passionate about and where do you want to take your career?
I really like organizing things that can give opportunities to people that might not have had them anyway. I like to help make things easy, discoverable, and safe to learn.
What advice do you have for developers looking for work?
Developers are in demand. Walk outside basically (laughs). But honestly, using your network is the best way to do it. If you don’t know any developers or software connections, start making connections at meetups and user-groups. Also, I suggest looking for programs like the apprenticeship with Detroit Labs.
You’ve organized one of the first Ruby user-groups in Detroit.
This group actually used to exist. It hadn’t met in over a year before I took it over. I started doing Ruby on Rails with my job now and I really wanted to go somewhere to beef up my skills.
What are some of the major advantages you see with this programming language?
Rails is dead easy for doing most things that you need to do on the web. That really makes it easy for people to get into programming without too much overhead. When you’re starting you can be like BOOM.. I now have a website that has a database, can save things, and looks nice if you put CSS on it. That’s a pretty huge step when you’re new to programming.
What advice do you have for programmers looking to learn Ruby?
There’s some really good resources like Rails for Zombies, which is a stupid fun little thing that will teach you how to start working in Rails, and therefore Ruby. I think Why the Lucky Stiff guy is still out there too, which teaches you how to write Ruby with cartoon foxes and silliness.
Bonus Questions
When you’re not programming, what do you like to do in your free time?
Play a lot of videogames (laughs)
Is there anyone or anything you idolize in the software community?
I have a lot of people that I look up to – it’s A LOT of people. Mostly, it’s the people that I’ve worked that have taught me how to program, and to those who mentored me through tough situations and rough teams. I also look up to the people who taught me how to do user-groups and conferences.
Which 3 words best describe the Detroit Tech community?
Passionate | Ambitious | Vibrant
Interested in being featured or have questions about the Developing Detroit series? Contact Joe at [email protected]
Girl Develop It (GDI) Ann Arbor is celebrating it’s 1 year anniversary with a fundraising bash on Thursday, June 4th. All are welcome! The celebration honors the amazing Ann Arbor-based women in tech community that Girl It has helped to build up over the last year. Hear brief remarks from some incredible students, instructors and volunteers whose lives have been impacted by their involvement with GDI and mingle with community members who’ve supported the growth and success of Girl Develop It throughout the year.
GDI Ann Arbor has grown into a community of over 900 members locally, 25 instructors, 40 volunteers and have held almost 50 events including classes, informational talks, and happy hours.
They have invited over 40 local, hiring companies – so there will be plenty of opportunities for networking and engaging with the Ann Arbor tech community! All proceeds from the event will go toward Girl Develop It programming and scholarships to help women, including underrepresented and unemployed women, take the group’s classes to further their careers.
Girl Develop It is a nonprofit organization that exists to provide affordable and judgment-free opportunities for women interested in learning web and software development. Through in-person classes and community support, Girl Develop It helps women of diverse backgrounds achieve their technology goals and build confidence in their careers and their everyday lives. The group has chapters in 47 cities across the country. For more information on Girl Develop It visit their website, where you can get info on a chapter near you or learn how to start a chapter in your area.
Girl Develop It Detroit
Live in the Metro Detroit area? Check out the Detroit chapter of Girl Develop It. They offer tons of classes for people interested in learning to code or improving their coding skills.
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Who says engineers aren’t on social media? Although some engineering professionals stray away from the “kings of social media” (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), there are other popular engineering outlets that often get overlooked. We’ve compiled the top 7 social media outlets for engineers.
LabRoots is a social network service that aims to improve the scientific collaboration of engineers, tech innovators, and scientists. It’s an engineering goldmine for virtual events, webinars, and scientific discoveries. Additional LabRoots perks include fascinating trending topics & videos and engineering breakthrough discussions.
Element 14 was one of the first online communities specifically for engineers. From electronic design all the way through maintenance and repair, this community is a place where engineers and electronic enthusiasts unite. Not only does this engineering platform have user-friendly resources and trending innovations, but you can also connect with other members to create and share relatable content.
Conference Room 4 (CR4) is a collaborative forum for engineers, scientists, technical researchers, and folks who just like technology. This community, which is supported by IHS Engineering 360 (an engineering search engine), is home to discussions on engineering news, and many technical Q and A’s. The layout of the forum isn’t too flashy, but it gathers some of the most talented engineers (mechanical, electrical & software to name a few) into one collaborative environment.
Research Gate is a social networking site for scientists and researchers to discover and share engineering research. You can also connect and collaborate with colleagues, peers, co-authors, and specialists in related fields. “Research Gate is revolutionizing how research is conducted and disseminated in the digital age.” – Los Angeles Times
Github is very well known among the software engineering community – the largest code host on the planet. It’s wide variety of powerful features create a highly collaborative software development for both open source and private projects. Github provides social networking-like functions such as feeds, followers, and wikis.
Like Github, Microsoft’s CodePlex is geared towards software engineers. Within the platform, you can easily collaborate with others on open source projects, and download open source software. Codeplex also has discussion forums, and conveniently organizes the top followed projects.
The ASME Online Community is a social place to connect with others and stay up to date on the latest mechanical engineering news. This platform also allows you to join groups, and participate in various mechanical engineering discussions. ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers), is a not-for-profit membership with over 140,000 members in 151 countries.
Looking for an engineering career? Brightwing can help. For over 40 years, we’ve assisted engineers in their job search. Engineer jobs that we typically have include electrical, mechanical, design, and many more. Have a question about Brightwing jobs? Contact Us.
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The Grand Blanc .NET Users Group is for developers working in and around the Microsoft .NET framework. If you are interested in learning more about .NET and related technologies from talented like-minded developers, this group is for you. Best of all, it’s free to join. The regular monthly meetings feature speakers from around Michigan who provide their insights on .NET and other relevant software developer topics. The meetings are typically on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 5:30 PM. The food and drinks are provided by Brightwing.
THE NEXT MEETUP Thursday, May 14, 2015 5:30pm
UM Flint -William White Building – Room 3203
303 East Kearsley Street, Flint, MI Price: FREE Sign up online to RSVP (space is limited)
TOPIC: ALTERNATE LANGUAGES FOR THE CLR This month, RIIS Software Developer, Onorio Catenacci, will discuss alternate languages for the CLR. Most developers think of C# and .Net as being synonymous but this is a bit of a misconception. There are other languages available to the .Net developer – languages that can make certain jobs much easier and less error-prone.
Onorio will discuss some of these alternate .Net languages and how to integrate them into a .Net project. Onorio is a software developer with 20+ years of experience. He’s especially interested in functional programming and he lead the F# special interest group in Southfield for several years. He also led the Great Lakes Functional Programming Conference in Ann Arbor in 2012.
Are you interested in speaking on a topic at the next Grand Blanc .NET User Group? Contact the group through their meetup page. The group also loves to give away swag at the meetings. Software licenses, geek devices, tech books, t-shirts and more are always greatly appreciated by attendees!
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Which programming languages support the most jobs in your state? Data suggests that popularity among languages don’t always coincide with employment trends.
Which programming languages support the most jobs, with the least competition, in your state? New data from Experts Exchange suggests that the most popular languages don’t always coincide with employment trends.
Location, Location, Location – Programming jobs are often dependent on where we live. For instance, if you’re one of the millions of people who prefer Java, your safest bet to find a well-suited job may lie within Washington, Nebraska, or Mississippi. User-friendly Python, on the other hand, provides an abundance of jobs in California and New York. And wow – Microsoft’s C# is among the most widely demanded languages with low competition.
Why is C# the most demanded language?
Every year, demand and popularity among programming languages seem to trend in new directions. But why C#? One contributing factor may lie within emerging tech hubs like Detroit and Dallas. Many tech startups and firms are trending towards the innovative C# – as it’s often referred to as a blue chip (high quality, widely accepted) platform. It also doesn’t hurt that it provides beautiful, visual coding support tools. Since C# is still emerging, the demand for developers will likely evolve – but not subside.
The rest of the pack
Some developers consider Python as the Apple to programming languages since it focuses on readability and simplicity. Mega sites like Google and Yahoo use Python, and 10 states list Python as the most demanded language for tech jobs. This language isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Since Java and JavaScript both have widespread popularity, the combination of many jobs and low competition is rare. That being said, there doesn’t seem to be much of a geographical trend among these languages. Perl is all by itself in Maine – perhaps because Maine has heavy demand for bioinformatics professionals, where they must know the language.
Which programming language represents your state? Do you think that demand and competition among languages directly affect programmer salaries? We think so.
Ever wonder which computer programming languages pay the most? Upon researching some of the most popular ones, we discovered some intriguing information.
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Ever wonder which computer programming languages pay the most? According to Business Insider, the average salary for computer programmers just hit an all-time high as it approached $100,000.
Having knowledge in programming languages such as Objective C, Java, or .NET is proving to be highly rewarding. Upon researching some of the most popular programming languages with the TIOBE Programming Index, we discovered some intriguing results. The graph below represents the 10 highest paying programming languages to use[Quartz], with their respective popularity (as of March, 2015).
Ruby
Although it’s not quite as popular as your Java and C languages of the world, Ruby has been emerging lately as one of the top choices for tech startups in the United States. Since it’s fully-open sourced, and has a large community culture, Ruby is likely to rise in popularity soon.
Objective C
Used by some of the first iOS developers, it comes to no surprise that Objective C is one of the most popular and rewarding programming languages. Today, object-oriented Objective C, often works side-by-side with Apple’s new Swift language.
Python
This widely used high-level programming language is perhaps as popular as it is because it allows programmers to express concepts in fewer lines of code.
Java
One of the biggest reasons Java is so popular today is because it’s a favorable option for client-server web applications. There are approximately 9 million Java developers – many of them can expect to earn nearly $100,000.
C++
In the middle of the pack comes C++, a general-purpose programming language that has been around since the early 80’s. Used for many system programming situations (i.e. embedded systems), experts developing in this department can bank about $93,000 on average.
JavaScript
JavaScript is a dynamic computer programming language. It’s probably not as popular as its big brother Java because Javascript code is run on a browser only, where Java creates applications that run in a virtual machine or browser.
C
Originating in the 1970’s, C programming language is the oldest, and most popular of all other relevant languages. Many languages have borrowed from C, including Python, Java, and JavaScript.
R
The R language is widely used among statisticians for developing data analysis and statistical software. Learning this language is probably right down your alley if you enjoy math.
C#
C# is a newer language that is an evolution of C and C++. It was designed to build a wide range of enterprise applications that run on the Microsoft .NET Framework. This language is trending upward in popularity and has a diverse variety of programming styles.
Visual Basic .NET
Another major language of the .NET Framework is Visual Basic .NET. This language uses statements to specify actions, and is mainly used for commercial purposes. Although it comes in 10th in salary (out of hundreds), it’s still among the best languages to know in 2015.
Most of these programming languages are paired with IT jobs that are in high demand – some of which will surely be around for a long time, but are increasing in popularity and competition every year. No matter the case, if you’re thinking of being a computer programmer or learning more coding languages, you’ve most likely made a good decision.
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In today’s professional world, the concepts of UI and UX are being used interchangeably. Understanding the difference will help companies to hire and target the right people, optimize design efforts, and help professionals make sound and optimal career-related decisions.
In other words – “A UI without UX is like a painter slapping paint onto canvas without thought; while UX without UI is like the frame of a sculpture with no paper mache on it. A great product experience starts with UX followed by UI. Both are essential for the product’s success.” – Rahul Varshney, Co-creator of Foster.fm.
UX Designrefers to User Experience Design – It’s the process of development and improvement of quality interaction between a user and all facets of a company. It is in theory a non-digital (cognitive science) practice, but used and defined predominantly by digital industries.
UI Designrefers to User Interface Design – it is responsible for the transference of a brand’s strengths and visual assets to a product’s interface as to best enhance the user’s experience. It’s a digital field, which includes responsibility for working with developers or code. (Career Foundry, 2014)
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of defining and differentiating UI & UX, be sure to check out UI vs. UX – The Dilemma & The Basics seminar with Grand Circus in Detroit. Not only will they discuss the overlaps between the disciplines, but they will also clarify the roles and responsibilities for both UI Design and UX Design.
If you are on currently job hunting, inquire about one of our Brightwing’s IT Jobs. We have a diverse range of opportunities including contract to hire, as well as, direct IT jobs with our clients. To sign up for job alerts, and receive helpful information to assist you in the pursuit of your next job, join our talent community.
For nearly 10 years, I have been specializing in professional technical recruiting. I take pride in finding talented opportunists and being that “Go-to-Guy” for my candidates and contracted employees. In my free time, I like to play hockey and relax on the boat with my family.
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Grand Circus is excited to announce the scholarship opportunities for their upcoming Enterprise Developer Bootcamp. The role of an enterprise developer is exciting – salaries of senior .NET developers average $105,000 annually and career opportunities pop up every day across metro Detroit. Employers are looking for .NET talent, and are ready to fill these positions upon bootcamp graduation.
Grand Circus has three scholarship opportunities available – all applicants can apply to as many scholarships as they qualify for:
– The Microsoft Scholarship – celebrating the inventors of the .NET framework, this scholarship is for individuals committed to reinvesting in the city of Detroit and its residents.
– The Dr. Grace Hopper Scholarship – celebrating the inventor of the first programming compiler and the reason the COBOL programming language exists, this scholarship is from women making the leap into the tech industry.
– The Dr. Clarence Ellis Scholarship – celebrating the first African-American phD in Computer Science, this scholarship is for underrepresented minorities within the industry.
Scholarship applications are available to all applicants to Grand Circus’s Enterprise Developer Bootcamp in the second phase of the application process. Apply to the boot camp today! To get into touch with Grand Circus about these scholarship opportunities, give them a call at 313.338.8379.
Brightwing is currently looking for passionate .Net Developers to work on cutting edge technologies. If you know someone in the field, introduce them to Brightwing and you can earn a $1,250 referral bonus and a $50 Visa gift card! You can submit your referrals here.
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The full-page cover letter is becoming a thing of the past. To really get the attention and cut through all the digital noise, give your email correspondence the attention it deserves. Think of email as the new cover letter. Short and to the point always wins.
The Formula
1. Email Subject Lines Are King – use this as an opportunity to sell yourself. You only have a second or two. Instead of writing “Senior account manager position,” write “Senior Acct. Manager – 5 YRS Exceeding Sales Quotas – MBA”
2. Start with a Name Drop, if Possible – First, mention how you found out about the position if, and only if, you were referred by someone. Name dropping isn’t a bad thing, and referrals are usually preferred to blind introductions. Otherwise, don’t waste precious email real estate.
3. Spotlight Worthy Skillsets – It’s easy to say you have leadership skills or work well in teams, but c’mon! You can do better than that. What makes you stand out?
4. Bullet Point Career Wins – List your major career accomplishments to prove you have what it takes to fill the position.
5. End it. Short and Sweet – Thank them, and be on your way.
Email Cover Letter Sample
DOs and DON’Ts to Remember
DON’T be like the rest – So you work well in teams and know how to use Microsoft Word. That’s great, but those characteristics fit the description of thousands of people. It’s important to remember that a cover letter isn’t just a re-worded resume. Be different.
DO stand out – Of course you should include your skills and expertise, but you should also attempt to stand out from the rest. Whether it’s volunteering, career accomplishments, or even a short story about your dedication, everyone has something that makes them unique.
DON’T be too wordy – Think of it like this… some hiring managers read up to 100 emails and cover letters a day! And that’s after they read through resumes and online applications. Truth is, you need to clearly and promptly state your objective so it doesn’t get lost in a jungle of words.
DO be short and sweet – A clean, short cover letter is ideal. Usually a paragraph with a few of your most important, detailed skills and experiences is perfect. Making it too long is dangerous, and unnecessary.
DON’T wait around – Time is of the essence when you are searching for a job. Just sending a quick email is not always enough in competitive labor markets. Sometimes it takes that extra foot forward.
DO follow up – One of the most essential steps in the process of writing and submitting cover letters. When you follow up with a hiring manager or recruiting team, you are showing them that you stand out from others, you are not a robot, and most of all you really care about obtaining the position.
Mike Gourley – Senior Recruiter
I am a driven IT enthusiast dedicated to developing an assortment of professional relationships that contribute to the happiness of candidates and clients. When I’m not recruiting, I enjoy exploring the Upper Peninsula of Michigan or watching my favorite English Premier League team, Arsenal (Go Gunners!)
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There is no better time than now to jump-start your career as an IT professional in the Metro-Detroit area. According to the Detroit Free Press, user-interface software developers and systems engineers are 2 of the hottest jobs in Michigan this year!
It’s no easy task to start or change career paths. Luckily for Detroiters, there are resources out there that allow you to develop IT and software development skills in a matter of months.
Take Grand Circus Detroit for instance – A proud Downtown Detroit company dedicated to producing fresh, local high-quality tech talent. They’re known for their intensive 8-week bootcamps that give students everything they need to know to start a tech career. One woman, Chandra Floyd, quit her job of 11 years to chase her dreams with Grand Circus Detroit.
Girl Develop IT is another organization that shows individuals how to master the ropes of coding and software development. They are a nonprofit organization that exists to provide affordable and accessible programs to women who want to learn web and software development through hands-on instruction. Girl Develop IT’s Michigan chapters include Detroit and Ann Arbor.
There are more tech opportunities than ever in the Metro-Detroit area. Whether you have a desire to become a software or web development professional – or just want to enhance your knowledge, look no further than your local tech development organizations.
If you are ready to discover a new job opportunity now, you may be in luck! Inquire about Brightwing’s information technology jobs for current openings.
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To us, a successful recruiter is someone who is a part-time detective, salesperson, career counselor, and consultant. We believe a recruiter’s success is not only defined by the number of submittals, but by the quality of the hires and the relationships that are built with candidates. To put it simply, we look for professionals who love what they do and find fulfillment in helping others. If this sounds like you, you might be just the recruiter we’re looking for. We’re hiring recruiters with experience placing professional level candidates, preferably within the information technology and engineering disciplines.
To give you a sneak peek at what it’s like at Brightwing we put together a brief video clip. So watch the video, get to know us a little better and if you’re still interested, submit your resume.
More about Us
At Brightwing, we are motivated by a sincere desire to help others. We have been aligning professionals with the right organizations for over 40 years. We do this by learning what motivates our candidates and makes them unique. Once we get to know them, we leverage our client relationships and connect them to the right opportunity – a place where they can contribute and shine. We typically have contract, contract to hire, and direct opportunities available within Information Technology, Engineering and Design, Accounting and Finance, Human Resources, Executive/Management, Marketing and Sales, Supply Chain/Logistics, and Administrative.
Looking for a deeper dive into our culture? Check us out on Facebook.
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Looking for an opportunity to meet up with other Techies and Developers in the Metro Detroit area? If so, Brightwing is proudly sponsoring Great Lakes Area .Net Users Group (GANG) as they host DevLunch on January 28th. On the 4th Wednesday of every month, local developers meet to talk tech, socialize and network over lunch.
As a volunteer-driven, developer-focused organization, GANG is dedicated to .NET development and other related subjects. If you don’t know a lot about the industry, it’s a great opportunity to learn from some of the pros over a casual lunch. Attendance at these events is absolutely free!
Location
Granite City Food and Brewery
699 West Big Beaver Road Troy, MI 48084
Next Lunch
Wednesday, January 28
5:00pm – 6:30pm
Looking for career opportunities as .Net Developer? Check out Brightwing’s IT jobs and inquire openings on our website! You can also set up job alerts to make sure you never miss out on a job opportunity.
Do you often find yourself stuck in a pattern of analysis, constantly looking at hypothetical scenarios without taking action? Indecision is common problem that people face, and the inability to move forward can freeze their progress and have a negative impact on their career. One of the best things that you can do to move forward is to start taking action, even if you are only moving forward one step at a time.
Action Uncovers Possibilities You can analyze all day long, but it will be impossible to uncover the real possibilities until you start taking action. This principle applies to all areas of your life, including your career. For example, if you are involved in a project with a team at work and you find yourself in the situation of always making suggestions but never implementing anything, then it is likely that the team will become frustrated because no forward progress will be made.
On the other hand, you can develop stronger credibility with your coworkers and managers by showing that you are willing to take action. It is important to assess the situation before moving forward, but sometimes the best analysis can’t happen until you have started taking action on the project.
Don’t Be Afraid to Fail Many people are scared to take action because they are afraid of failure. So, they limit their progress by analyzing the situation in order to reduce the possibilities of failure. The truth is that failure is inevitable in life, and you can gain some of the best experiences by taking action to see what didn’t work.
If you start taking action, you can always make small adjustments along the way to increase the likelihood of success. Or, you might find yourself in a situation where you need to completely start over, but you have valuable insights that will make the new plan even more effective.
Taking Action Positions You as a Leader Taking action is a key factor to help you move forward with your career, because other people will naturally follow when you are taking action. More action gives you more opportunity to improve systems, increase productivity, and achieve higher levels of success. Other people are drawn to the employees and managers that are confident in their actions, and you can come out on top if you aren’t scared to get your hands dirty.
Eliminate Regrets When you take action, you can eliminate regrets in your life and your career. One of the worst feelings is the doubtful “what if” questions that arise when you missed a potential opportunity. Action will help you to increase the likelihood of success, and you won’t have any doubts or regrets along the way.
At the same time, action makes you an interesting person. If you don’t want to be the boring person in the office, then you need to start taking action to get people to notice what you are doing.
Sometimes getting started is the hardest part, so it is better to look at the first step instead of trying to understand every step of the process. Start moving in the right direction, and you will see that the momentum will carry you to higher levels of success.
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Success in your career is contingent on one important thing: getting people to take you seriously. If you want to move forward in your career, then you need to make sure that you are building credibility with the people that you are working with. Here are a few things that you can do to build more credibility with coworkers, your boss, and hiring managers:
Be Aware of Your Body Language Your body language sends many verbal signs about confidence, or a lack of confidence. Pay attention to the way you are sitting, standing, and moving throughout the day, and be more deliberate in managing your body language.For example, if you are always slumped over in your chair and keeping your head down, then it is sending the message that you don’t want to talk to anyone and you probably don’t want to be there. On the other hand, straightening your shoulders, looking people in the eye, and holding your head a little higher shows confidence and authority.
Dress for Success Your appearance has a strong impact on first impressions, and dressing the part shows that you are serious about your job. You don’t have to spend too much money to only wear designer clothing or stick with a specific style of clothing. But, it is important to stay well groomed and be one of the best dressed people in your company.
Be a Good Listener People love to talk about themselves, and they want to be heard. When people are talking about themselves, it actually stimulates a portion of the brain to trigger pleasurable emotions. If you want to make a good impression with someone, then you should ask questions and let them talk. This process will form social bonds and increase the likelihood that they will have a favorable memory of the interaction.
Do Your Homework and Take Action It is important to know what you are talking about to add valuable insights and information to the project. The best way to provide value to the project is by researching the topic and preparing in advance, so that you show up to the meeting with good insights to share with the group. Make sure to follow through with the things that you are suggesting, you don’t want to be the person who is all talk and no action. The follow-up is even more important than the presentation of the idea.
Master the Art of Public Speaking Whether you are sitting in an interview or presenting an idea in a board meeting, you need to have the skills to clearly and succinctly share your message with the group. Pay attention to small details, such as the intonation of your voice, how many times you use filler words like “um”, and the clarity and emotion of your words as you are speaking. Try to incorporate stories into your presentations, stories capture the attention of everyone in the room and they leave a stronger impression than boring facts and statistics.
By implementing these tips, you can improve your confidence in the workplace, and that confidence will naturally encourage people to take you seriously. Make sure to maintain the confidence and also stay humble at the same time, because finding the right balance will help you achieve higher levels of success in your career.
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Time is passing you by this very minute as you read. If you are currently reading this article, then perhaps you have some interest in creating a little more time in your day. Now to be perfectly honest, your day is going only have 24 hours in it whether you like it or not. So don’t consider yourself a magician creating time, but a detective scavenging your day for that precious 60 minutes that might have lost its way. And more than a tip or trick, self-awareness is your map to these 60 minutes.
That Thing Only You Know
People are more self-aware than they are often given credit. Consequently, the experts believe that with the right questions, people can quickly come to a conclusion more powerful than anything they have been told. So here is where you start to find your lost 60 minutes. Start with you analyzing your day and you being honest with yourself.
How much time do you spend doing things at work that you wouldn’t want your boss to see? This works for management as well. How much time do you spend on something at work for which you would be embarrassed if your hard working employees were to witness? You see, there are those that expect good stewardship of your time. You know who those people are and you know the time spent on things that would disappoint those people.
It’s not that a little time aloof can’t be healthy from time to time. However, if you really want to find a lost hour of the day, you have to start here as no one knows what this time looks like apart from you. If you are unwilling to go here, then you need to question how committed you are to finding that extra hour.
The End of the Day
If you get off work at 5:00, what time do you stop working? This is not a trick question. Remember, we are talking about saving the day by finding an extra 60 minutes. So if you frequently shut down at 4:45 every day, then recovering that time gets you 25% of the way there. Now this is more than just a motivational approach, but a scheduling one as well.
However, before you schedule, you have to be honest with yourself about when you quit working. You can’t ask your boss about it because you often don’t tell your boss that from 4:30 is when you start staring at the clock rather than working. If you know this about yourself, then its time to start being smart about what you schedule for the end of the day.
If you put projects that are too large to complete at the end of the day, then you need to ask yourself if it is too tempting to just wait until the next day to start. Moreover, if you put frivolous tasks without deadlines at the end of the day, the temptation might be to just put it off until tomorrow. Remember, we are seeking an extra 60 minutes, not a whole day. Consider putting easy tasks with a deadline of that very day as an end of the day task. Consequently, it forces you to put that last hour to use which otherwise would be unproductive.
So these are routes to discovering lost time for which self-awareness will be your guide. If you are unwilling to ask yourself the hard questions about your own work habits, then all the tips and tactics in the world will be of no use. Search yourself and these 60 minutes will be easier to find than you think.
https://gobrightwing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1468935715_1464718917_clock.jpeg400596Paul Cook/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Brightwing-Logo-Black.pngPaul Cook2015-01-14 23:09:502025-06-03 12:14:56Find an Extra Hour Every Day
We all know that organization is the key to success. Here are some concrete tips to help you get there. No rush — try out one per week over the next four weeks.
Make Prioritization a Priority Whatever you hope to accomplish in a given day or week, you’ll need to make it a priority, and approach it with relentless laser focus, otherwise it will be pulled under the current of countless requests, emails, text messages, IMs, tasks, blogs, etc. – you get the gist. If you’ve resolved to get better organized at work, that decision is a great first step – now you’ll need to put the below steps to work.
Clean Your Desk If you’re OCD when it comes to cleanliness, you can probably skip this section. For everyone else: make sure your physical desktop is clean and clutter-free. You may be a slob at home, but at work your professional reputation is always on display, so put your best foot forward. Having a clean, mostly clear office desk will allow you to quickly find what you need; otherwise, the mess will keep nagging you in back of your mind and can even prevent you from fully focusing on your work. To get a handle on the chaos, come to work 30 minutes earlier than usual, and divide the stuff into two piles: things to keep, and junk to discard. Once you’ve thrown out the latter, start organizing the remaining pile, at the very least into two more piles: active projects and archived material. Each of those piles, in turn, can be sorted into subfolders by project name or date, depending on your needs and preferences. Like any other, organization is a skill that gets better with practice.
Don’t Forget Your Digital Workspace Depending on your industry, most of your work and materials may be digital, not physical. So even if your work area is super neat, you may still have a lot of organizing to do with your virtual desktop. Think back to the last time a manager requested a document from you, and you scrambled to find it on your computer desktop or shared drive. Chances are, poor folder organization was the time-sucking culprit. Get a handle on the issue once and for all by carving out some time (perhaps a Friday afternoon) to reorganize and rename folders, and delete or archive any inactive documents – just make sure to communicate your process to anyone who may be impacted to mitigate confusion.
Make Time For Your Calendar Part and parcel with a clean digital and physical workspace is an organized calendar. While you may not always be in full control over your schedule, you probably have more agency than you realize. One way to keep your work life organized is by thoughtfully scheduling your tasks each day and week. Be mindful of your energy and creative levels: if you’re someone who is sharp and alert in the morning, plan your toughest tasks in the AM. Think about the natural rhythm of work in your department: if Wednesdays are always crazy, schedule a buffer to help you handle the pandemonium (e.g. a 30 minute block of time in the AM and PM). And always have a list of back-up tasks (in order of priority) on the off-chance that the day is quieter than expected. At all costs, avoid multi-tasking like the plague. Focusing on one task at a time will help you get things done faster, will increase your sense of accomplishment, and will demonstrate to others that you indeed have the laser-like focus and determination that are so characteristic of successful people.
https://gobrightwing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1468935734_1464718950_organize-office.jpg400600Paul Cook/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Brightwing-Logo-Black.pngPaul Cook2015-01-14 22:57:242025-04-09 14:42:25Organize Your Work for These 4 Quick Wins
Here are some common slip-ups and how to avoid them, so you can stay on the fast-track path to career success. Assuming you want to move forward in your career, avoid these common mistakes that could be sabotaging your own progress.
It is alarmingly simple to sabotage your own career. An insensitive comment, your weekend on social media, or a remark in a room full of politically correct colleagues. Any one of these situations can brand you with the scarlet letter of an untrustworthy, unstable, or poor decision-making employee. Knowing the common traps helps you to avoid them.
Here are five ways to single-handedly self-sabotage your career.
Cross the Boundaries with TMI Too much information, or TMI, crosses workplace boundaries that should remain off limits. One of the most self-sabotaging ways to impact your career is to offer too much information. This may come in the form of a negative remark about a former boss or a co-worker who made a mistake on an important task. When you display a lack of emotional intelligence by offering too much information about someone else or yourself, your career may suffer the consequence.
Mismanage Social Media Horror stories abound regarding social media and mistakes that have cost many their jobs. Uploading a photo from a wild weekend could go viral in the office and end up in the wrong hands. Be mindful of pictures you upload to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Avoid ranting about co-workers, your boss, or office problems. Disgruntled posts about colleagues and clients are not an act of vindication, but self-sabotage.
Become Complacent with Your Skillset When you allow your skills to stagnate you eliminate your ability to bring something fresh to the job. It is important, especially if you want to advance in your career, to keep your skills up-to-date. People with gaps in their ongoing education are not as marketable as those who stay polished. If you plan to move up the ladder, you must keep your industry skills current.
Stalk Your Mentor While stalking may seem like a strong word, becoming overly aligned with your boss, supervisor, or mentor can be detrimental to your career. It is important to maintain a healthy relationship with your boss, but when relationships are taken to extreme, your career may suffer. To avoid over-alignment diversify your workplace relationships and avoid becoming attached at the hip with those who mentor you.
Hold a Grudge and Declare Office War Office conflict is inevitable. It is how you handle it that either sabotages your career or makes you a stronger individual. Rather than holding a grudge against the colleague who beat you out of the corner office, congratulate them and vow to yourself to work harder. Too often petty problems arise in the workplace and cause negative situations. No matter how hurt or angry you are, never send off that improper email or get into a verbal attack with anyone at work. It could cost you your reputation and your career.
https://gobrightwing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1468935742_1464718967_fast-track.jpg400600Paul Cook/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Brightwing-Logo-Black.pngPaul Cook2015-01-14 22:49:292025-06-03 12:14:59Stay on the Fast Track
Trying to get ahead in the workplace? Hoping for an end of year bonus or key to a corner office? The first step in advancing your career is building solid relationships at work, with colleagues and supervisors. Just as there are those in the office to build rapport with, there are also characters who should be avoided at all costs. Here are five people to avoid at work.
The Office Gossip A splash of work-related chitchat is typical, but steer clear of those that like to spread gossip about the boss or co-workers. Avoid getting caught up in the noise and never lose sight of your work goals. The first action in preventing negative gossip from getting out of hand is to approach the gossiper one-on-one. Let them know where you stand without being overly confrontational. Everyone will appreciate your firm stance, including your boss.
The Debbie Downer Watch out for the person who never looks at the bright side. The constant pessimist doesn’t bring a lot of hope and inspiration to the workplace. Whether the company wants to implement a new policy or promote a co-worker, Debbie Downer will always find something negative about the experience. This is not the person you want to associate with if you are trying to maintain good rapport or your sanity. The workplace may be negative enough without scratching for more things to complain about.
The Whiner The office whiner is often known as the complainer. No matter how positive the vibe is at work, this character always has something to whine about. While it is important to remain empathetic to problems and situations co-workers face, be careful not to waste valuable work time listening to complaints. Steer the conversation toward solutions rather than winding down a negative rabbit trail. Remember, someone is always watching.
The Class Clown Every classroom has one, and so does the office. The problem with the office goof-off is that no one takes him or her seriously, including supervisors. And, if you associate with this character, you may be seen as their counterpart. While it is fun to joke around and pull a prank from time to time, avoid branding yourself with a reputation you may not want by associating with this person. Examine your work goals and pursuits. Always ask yourself if someone else’s bad behavior will bring you down.
The Backstabber Backstabbers in the workplace are common. These are the characters that will do anything to advance their reputation and career. Unfortunately, they cannot be trusted and always have ulterior motives. Instead of palling around with the backstabber, keep your distance. Maintain healthy relationships with colleagues who are trustworthy, dependable, and pursuing the same success you are.
https://gobrightwing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1468935745_1464718969_5-people-to-avoid.jpg400600Paul Cook/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Brightwing-Logo-Black.pngPaul Cook2015-01-14 22:48:042025-06-03 12:14:595 Characters to Avoid at Work
On the surface, multitasking seems like a good idea. Why not do two, or even three things at the same time, instead of one? It may sound like a good idea in theory, but when it comes to real life, multitasking isn’t effective. In fact, it is probably killing your productivity without you knowing it.
Here are a few reasons why you should not try to multitask.
Our brains are not wired to multitask You might think you’re a great multitasker. You probably even put it on your resume. But science says otherwise. It’s a fact – our brains are not wired to multitask. We fool ourselves into thinking we’re a multitasking extraordinaire because we can text a friend and watch football at the same time.In the world of work, you’re probably engaged in higher-level tasks than watching the big game while texting. In other words, your multitasking technique won’t translate into increased productivity on the job.Studies show that multitasking is ineffective because the brain is designed to focus on one thing at a time. Switching back and forth between tasks causes you to miss important details and never allows you to concentrate on a singular task. Studies show it can take as long as 20 minutes to get your mind fully reengaged into a task after being interrupted.
You’re not really multitasking We may be able to multitask physically (chew gum and fold laundry), but there’s really no such thing as multitasking when it comes to cognitive tasks. What you’re doing is known as task-switching. Back and forth. Back and forth.Task-switching depletes your mental energy at a quicker rate and never allows you to “get in the zone.” The bottom line, it’s draining and inefficient. Experts say it’s best to do things in batches. Give all your attention and focus to that report, then check email.
You’re prone to mistakes and stressed out Switching back and forth between tasks at a rapid rate while trying to focus on more than one thing at a time is a recipe for disaster. Your brain and body are in a state of chaos, which leads to errors and stress. Two things that certainly won’t earn you that big promotion you’re working towards, right?Researchers at the University of California Irvine showed that chronic multitaskers had elevated heartbeats compared to their more calm, singularly focused co-workers. The multitaskers were in a constant state of high alert. This state wears on your physical and mental health.
The lesson is simple – multitasking is overrated. Stop doing it. You’ll be happier and more productive.
https://gobrightwing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1468935747_1464718975_multitasking.jpg278600Paul Cook/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Brightwing-Logo-Black.pngPaul Cook2015-01-14 22:45:432025-04-09 14:42:473 Ways Multitasking is Killing Your Productivity
Stress in the workplace is inevitable. But chronic, debilitating stress is not, even if you work in an inherently stressful profession. Research shows that ongoing pressure accompanied by increased demands contributes to stress at work. In order to keep your sanity, there are surefire ways to assist, even at the most stressful times.
Consider following these tips to help manage your stress level, ultimately improving your career.
Surround yourself with positive people The people you surround yourself with at work can make a huge impact on your level of peace, satisfaction, and positive outlook. Hanging with the “chain gang” can contribute to stress, especially if the crowd you are with likes to complain. Choose who you associate with wisely. Find supportive and relaxed individuals who are fun to be around and nurture rather than hinder your mindset.
Take care of yourself Reducing stress at work is often contingent on what you do outside the workplace. Pay attention to your physical and your emotional needs. When these needs are met, you are stronger, wiser, and more resilient to stressful situations. Regular exercise provides stress relief and improves the mood. Healthy food choices and plenty of rest also make you more resilient. Remember to put yourself first and meet your basic needs.
Prioritize and organize The first-things-first rule is one that allows you to regain control over stressful situations at work. You may face a hundred pressing emails every Monday morning or an inbox full of managerial requests. To survive you must be able to prioritize and organize by level of importance. Try making a list of to-dos on a daily basis. Tackle them by priority level and do the difficult ones first. Be willing to compromise if you are unable to complete everything you wanted to in a day. Remember, tomorrow offers another 24 hours.
Avoid over-committing Whether it is scheduling things back-to-back, double-booking appointments, or trying to fit too much into a single day, over-commitment can leave you stressed out. Many times we underestimate how long a project might take us. We set personal goals that go unmet simply because we underestimate time. Blocked goals may result in added stress. Focus your attention on the shoulds and musts and drop tasks that are unnecessary. Avoid overcommitting and find yourself more at peace during the day, and night.
Focus on what you love about your job. It is easy to get wrapped up in complaints and what is wrong with the workplace. A healthier focus allows you to reconnect with what you like about your job, rather than what you dislike. Maybe your job highlights a skill you enjoy, such as writing or computer programming. Rather than focusing on the deadline of the project, live in the moment. Focus your attention on the happiness the job brings and what you are contributing by doing it. When you focus on what you love about your job you are happier and more content while doing it.
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When you are looking for a new job, networking is a critical step to help you connect with other people in the industry. You’ve probably heard the saying that you only get a single opportunity to make a good first impression, and networking with an effective elevator speech can make-or-break your job hunting efforts.
What is an Elevator Speech?
This speech is a quick summary of who you are and the skills that you can offer to the company. The process received the nickname “elevator speech” because of the idea that you should be able to convey your message in the time that it takes to ride an elevator. Most potential contacts don’t have the desire to listen to a long, drawn out explanation, which is why you need to capture their attention within the first few moments of the conversation.
It is important to have your elevator speech prepared in advance, because you never know when you are going to meet someone who could be a potential connection for the next step in your career. If you find yourself in a conversation where the other person is asking about you, then you need to clearly convey your message without stumbling over your words and feeling uncomfortable because you don’t know what to say.
Elements of an Effective Elevator Speech
There are several important elements that should be included in your elevator speech:
Start with a “hook” or a question. You need to make sure to fully engage the other person in the conversation from the moment you begin, because you only have a few moments to make your speech. Begin by asking them a question about a common problem, or have a catchy hook that makes them curious about your skill set.
Show how your skill set solves a problem.
Instead of boring the other person with a lengthy history about your education and experience, a better option is to continue the conversation by explaining how you solve a specific problem that many businesses face. Tell the person a boiled down version of your skill set, focusing on the benefits that you can offer a company.
End with a call to action.
Wrap it up nicely with a call to action that encourages them to engage with you further. For example, you might clearly state that you are looking for a new job, and explain the reason why it is time for you to take the next step in your career.
It is important that you limit your elevator speech to 30 seconds or less, because you will quickly lose the person’s attention if you ramble on for too long. Also, make sure that you are talking with a normal, conversational tone. It is easy to slip into a robotic way of speaking, or to make it sound unnatural when you are repeating the same information over and over again. Practice various ways to explain your skill set, so that you can make it a natural part of any conversation.
https://gobrightwing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1468935759_1464719000_elevator.jpeg399600Paul Cook/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Brightwing-Logo-Black.pngPaul Cook2015-01-14 22:10:432025-04-09 14:43:21An Effective Elevator Speech Opens the Doors to New Career Opportunities
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“I am inspired by passionate, enthusiastic people who have a burning desire to grow both professionally and personally. I enjoy creating opportunities for them to push their own boundaries. By creating a culture of learning and growth, I get to see our team members grow beyond their expectations. This is one of the most rewarding aspects of my job at Brightwing.”
Brightwing Birthdate: 12.13.1995
“We have the chance to make a positive change in people’s lives on a daily basis—whether we’re working with a candidate looking for their next great opportunity, or a client or hiring manager in need of talent to complete their team. Positive change is around every corner as long as you take the time to realize it and build relationships for the right reasons, always keeping others’ best interests in mind.”
Specialties: Information Technology (Security, Network, Systems, Infrastructure, Product Managers, Business Analysts and Project Managers)
Brightwing Birthdate: 12.13.1995
“My greatest satisfaction is working with and meeting so many great people. There is no better feeling than finding someone that dream job. Every day brings new challenges and experiences that few careers can provide.”
“As the HR Director at Brightwing, my goal is to act as a catalyst that enables all Brightwingers to be the best employees they can be, contribute to the company’s success, and live out our core values every day. I’m responsible for providing employees with policies and programs that support their employment, recognizing and rewarding them for a job well done and guiding employees’ growth to achieve their professional goals and greatest potential. Brightwing has an incredible ‘let’s do it’ mentality. It’s so refreshing to work around individuals who are constantly improving and challenging one another to be their best.”
“In an egg-and-bacon breakfast, the chicken is involved because it simply lays an egg, while the hog is committed because it gives its life to be the bacon. I am involved in the business of staffing and recruiting but committed to the growth, evolution, and actualization of my colleagues.”
“As a controller at Brightwing, it’s my responsibility to coordinate with all departments to ensure that financial goals are communicated and facilitate discussions of desired efforts to meet those goals. It’s a pleasure to work with various departments such as sales, finance, HR, and marketing to verify that transactions are captured correctly and timely, along with communicating how these transactions impact Brightwing’s goals.“
“As Marketing Manager at Brightwing, my goal is to bridge the gap between us, our candidates, and our partners. People are at our core, and I aim to capture the people, stories, and experiences that shape us.”
“I love the sense of accomplishment knowing I played a part in helping a candidate find a great opportunity—whether the candidate is fresh out of college looking to get their feet wet, or an established engineer looking to make a move up the corporate ladder, or even someone who just doesn’t feel appreciated in their current role and wants to make a lateral move. It’s all rewarding, knowing a candidate puts their trust in you for one of the most stressful events in life. Also, I love working alongside this great group of people who share the same passion, excitement, and sometimes even frustrations on a day-to-day basis.”
“I love meeting engineers who are passionate about their craft and helping them find new challenges that push their careers in the direction they want to go.”
“I love working alongside this great group of people that take pride in being a part of a process—a process which helps individuals succeed in reaching their professional and personal growth, and partnering with organizations that understand the value, as Brightwing values human potential.”
Specialties: Human Resources, Financial Services, Engineering
“As a recruiter, I look forward to meeting new people and building relationships that could lead to professional success. I am excited to expand my networks and help people reach their full potential in their careers.”
“I truly enjoy working with my teammates and helping clients and candidates find the right match in each other. I’m motivated and driven by success and my growth as a person and employee. Each day I learn and apply something new to develop stellar ideas and solutions.”
Specialties: Information Technology including Web/Application Development, Business/Data Analysis, Project Management and Infrastructure Engineering, and Support roles
“With 14 years of staffing experience, I thrive on building meaningful relationships with my clients. I love being a problem solver and helping my clients find that perfect candidate to help contribute to the success of their organization. “
“I truly enjoy being a resource for both clients and candidates. Whether partnering directly with prospective clients, hiring managers and stakeholders to fill critical roles, or helping top talent find their perfect fit, I’m eager to provide solutions, exceed expectations, and create lasting relationships.”
“This business is all about relationships, of which I have built many from both a client and as consultant/employee perspective. It’s more than just working to become financially successful—it is helping others succeed in their goals.”
“I have long held the view that building relationships is one of the most important things in life. Brightwing gives me the opportunity to do that every single day. Constantly connecting and expanding my network allows me to grow endlessly. I love creating relationships through discovering the opportunities that are all around us.”
“I love creating relationships and having conversations with people. The more you get to know someone, the more you understand their goals, values and most importantly their character. Once I truly understand a candidate, I am well equipped to find the best possible fit for them. That’s my goal, finding people jobs they will love!”
“I’m passionate about creating lasting connections between top talent and organizations where they can not only succeed but truly belong. I believe a great match goes beyond skill. It’s about finding the right cultural fit and ensuring personalities align to foster a thriving workplace. By understanding the unique qualities of each company and the aspirations of every candidate, I help build teams that are collaborative, innovative, and productive. At Brightwing, I’m committed to making these meaningful connections that drive success for both individuals and organizations.”
“I’m a dedicated and enthusiastic professional who thrives on helping and guiding candidates as they navigate their career paths and find fulfilling jobs that align with their aspirations. My entire career, I’ve sought and done fulfilling work, and it’s my mission to help professionals accomplish the same thing. My approach is to partner with great companies looking for great people and assist them in integrating top talent into their organizations. The Brightwing experience makes all the difference in accomplishing these goals.”
“It’s the little things that make my job worthwhile. I support several departments, and my top priority is to make sure our employees are onboarded efficiently. When I receive an email from an employee saying how excited they are for the opportunity to work for one of our clients, it feels good knowing that I’m a part of something bigger and that we are doing what we are meant to do here at Brightwing: give people an opportunity to work on something they are passionate about.”
“I enjoy communicating with the contractors we have in all states. It makes me feel good to know that I’m helping people and that they feel comfortable contacting me to answer their questions. I love coming to work every day because I love all the people I work with internally; we are a family.”
“I truly enjoy helping others and taking care of the challenging stuff so they can focus on doing what they enjoy doing. My job allows me to be organized, focused, and detail-oriented. Any HR professional (along with Forrest Gump’s mom) will tell you that each day is like a box of chocolates because you just never know what you are going to get! Coming into the office each day is easy because my colleagues are a supportive family that also encourages me to have fun!”
The 
Grand Circus is excited to announce the scholarship opportunities for their upcoming 
