Engineering is a growing field with ample opportunities. As one of the most in-demand jobs of 2016, it’s a great time to start your engineering career. Embark in your profession following the advice of professionals in the field, and learning more on various career paths, opportunities, and the employment outlook for the upcoming years.

 

 

Early Career Advice for Engineers

“What does it take to forge a successful engineering career?” I wish I had a mathematical model for success. But I don’t. I can, however, share some insights, which my colleagues, including chief technologists and senior engineers at the three major aero-engineering companies, GE, Rolls Royce and Pratt and Whitney, have validated. The consensus: It all comes down to 12 basic principles: Continue Reading…

 

 

2016 Best Engineering Jobs

The occupations on our 2016 Best Engineering Jobs list are diverse and offer good salaries, but the BLS predicts that job growth in this sector will be 3 percent by 2024, which is slower than the average for all jobs. This still equates to more than 67,000 new engineering jobs though, which is good news for those looking to enter the engineering field. Continue Reading…

 

 

The Most In-Demand (And Aging) Engineering Jobs

We can debate how many students will stick with engineering when they get their first homework assignments in college. But let’s assume most of them don’t move to less rigorous majors. Which engineering field should they choose? What are the most in-demand engineering jobs in the U.S. based on job growth, hires, and job posting activity? And which ones have the oldest workforce that will need to be replaced sometime in the next five to 10 years? Continue Reading…

 

 

 

 

 

Brightwing works with engineers to position them in the right jobs. Check out our job board to look at our available positions today!

 

 

Dress for success

 

Dress For SuccessPart of your personal brand is the way you portray yourself in person and online. A strong personal brand can help take you as far as you want to go in your career, open new doors, and give you access to a larger professional network. If you fail to develop your personal brand, others may define it for you.

 

Dress for the job you want.

 

You can portray confidence and competence in an interview by dressing clean, appropriate and professional. Conversely, if you don’t make the effort to dress appropriately for the position or you look messy, you may accidentally portray a lack of respect for authority figures or lack of basic business etiquette.

 

“You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure”- Zig Ziglar

 

Do you want to be a manager or c-level executive in the future? Dress like it! Dress for success!
Remember, even if a company has a casual startup culture, the company’s clientele may have a more reserved environment. You need to show management that you not only have the skills for the job (resume & portfolio), but also the professionalism needed to work with employees and clients- best portrayed by the way you dress.

 

Don’t distract the interviewer by wearing something loud. You want them to focus on you and what you bring to the table, not your neon green statement necklace.

 

Women:
– Have suits laundered and pressed
– Do not show any cleavage
– Skirts or dresses (if wearing one) should not be too short, they should be knee length or at least below fingertips.
– Make sure shoes are clean and polished (no scuffs or mud)
– Wear a simple hairstyle that is neat and away from face
– Skip the perfume, body splash and scented lotion on interview day
– Nails should be nicely manicured, and if wearing nail polish, it should be a neutral color (nothing too bright or trendy) and should not be chipped

 

Men:
– Have suits laundered and pressed
– Wear an undershirt under dress shirt
– Make sure shoes are clean and polished (no scuffs or mud)
– Make sure hair is brushed and away from face
– Facial hair should be clean shaven or neatly trimmed
– Skip the cologne and body spray on interview day

 

Whether you are going on interviews or are happy in your current position, your personal brand still matters! Always dress the part with some advice from our Brightwingers.

 

YOUR ONLINE PERSONA

 

Based on their online persona, many great workers have gained or lost an opportunity. Follow these tips to strengthen and define your online persona:

 

Develop Your Brand

Purpose – Clarify your professional goals first. Are you looking to stay in a similar position? Move up to management? Make a total career change? Write out your goals and establish a one-sentence mission statement to refer back to when you are creating or updating your profiles. This mission statement IS your brand.

Content – Whether your audience is artistic or conservative, be sure the content you write for and on your profile is well written. Post status updates often, and keep in mind public perception before you post.

Format – Pay attention to the layouts of each platform and what information is shown. For the most part, you have control over which fields, job titles, or photos are shown- so be sure to only display items that you wish to get noticed.

Spelling and grammar – This is incredibly important. If you want someone to take you seriously, be sure your spelling and grammar are correct. There is no faster way to be eliminated.

Gracefully decline positions you’re not interested in – Many recruiters will reach out to you with positions you may not be interested in. This is the blessing and the curse of possessing skills in high demand. Always gracefully decline these positions, as the worst thing to do is burn a bridge. If nothing else, you can say: “Thank you for your interest in my professional experience, however I am not currently interested. I will let you know if my situation should change.”

 

Check Your Security!

If you don’t have your social media profiles on lock-down, potential employers will be able to see everything you post, for better or for worse. Review the security settings for each, and make changes as necessary to control what the public can see.  Also, keep in mind security setting options do change periodically so it would be in your best interest to review your security settings on a regular basis.

 

Mugshot

Always, always, always have a profile photo. Even if you are camera shy, having a photo makes your profile 11x more likely to be looked at by a recruiter. It shows that you’re a real person, an active user, and will likely respond to requests or inquiries from other users.

 

 

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a “living resume” site where you showcase your professional experience, connect with companies, groups and professionals. If you sign up for just one social networking site, LinkedIn should be it. Here are some key pointers about personal branding on LinkedIn:

~Write an attention grabbing headline. Edit it to best describe your expertise or to let people know you’re looking for new opportunities

~Make sure your summary clearly defines your expertise.

~If you have one, be sure to add a link to your personal website under your profile summary. This can be used to showcase your skills and portfolio.

~Tailor your LinkedIn profile to showcase the most relevant positions.

~Share articles and post about topics most relevant to your experience and the type of opportunity you are looking for. This information will show up in your connections’ feeds and could potentially grab the attention of a hiring manager or recruiter[/expand]

 

Twitter

Twitter lets you be as clever as you want in few words. It’s a great way to connect with people and groups in your industry. How can you brand yourself with limited characters?

~Refrain from using an embarrassing twitter handle. Either use your name, the name of your personal website, or something that is essential to who you are.

~Fill out your profile completely: put your real name, location (if it’s important to you) and personal website URL.

~Write a killer bio that describes who you are and what you re interested in.

~Just like LinkedIn, share articles and post about topics most relevant to opportunities you are looking for. By staying up to date on new trends and simply re-tweeting interesting articles, you can position yourself as an expert in your field. Shared information will show up in your connections’ feeds and hopefully get the attention of potential employers.

~Working on an interesting project or hobby related to the world of IT? Tweet about it. The key to personal branding is to let others know about your skills, experiences and passions.

 

Facebook

Facebook is one of the first social sites where employers go to see what you’re like outside of work. Create and share status updates, events, and photos. While Facebook is very likely intertwined with both your personal and professional lives, you can definitely step up your game in personal branding. Here’s how:

~Fill out your Facebook profile. Adding your work history and education allows potential employers and recruiters to see your professional background.

~Add your personal website and other relevant social media to your contact information.

~Follow companies that interest you so you can stay up to date on their activity, check out jobs they are hiring for and learn about any events they may be hosting or attending.

~Join user groups and follow professional associations. Many will post about upcoming networking events and speakers you may be interested in.

 

 

Get a job fast after graduation by following these easy steps. After all, you have the skills and tools to do it! As you start off your career, learn new ways to expand your job search by identifying areas in which you can improve in. By doing so, it will help you get the right job quickly. It’s time for you to take advantage of the various tools and opportunities available to get yourself a step closer to your dream job. The following articles will guide you in the right direction with tips and tricks as you start off your career.

 

Read more

Being prepared for a job interview is essential. Along with expertise, the way you present yourself is key to determine where your career can take you. Although there is no exact formula on how to guarantee a job offer, every engineer (and other professionals for that matter) should follow these job interview tips to nail that next interview.

 

4  Essential Job Interview Tips

 

Job Interview Tips for Success

1. Educate yourself

~Research the Company- A quick search can go a long way. Along with understanding what a company does, you should look into interesting news or awards that you could inquire about that will help you stand out.

 

~Practice Questions- Search common questions within the industry and practice your answers to these. This will get your thought process in the right place, preparing you for any other interview questions that may come along.

 

~Understand the position- Relate your answers to the job you have applied for. Explain why you would be the right person for the job, and how you will excel at it. Make sure your answers are original and give examples of previous experiences as much as possible.

 

2. Plan! Plan! Plan!

~Your Outfit- First impressions matter. As small a detail as it may seem, this is your opportunity to present the best version of yourself. Dress professionally and keep it neat.

 

~What to bring– Bring a notepad, something to write with, copies of your resume, your portfolio if it makes sense, and questions for the interviewer. This shows that you are prepared, and you have an interest in the company and the job.

 

~Arrival– Be on time! Plan your route in advance, and allow yourself more than enough time to get there.

 

3. Be Yourself

~Originality is key- The interviewer wants to get to know you! The best job interview tip is to simply be yourself. After all, you want your personality to match their company culture. Not only will you enjoy going to work every day, but it will nurture your career positively.

 

4. Follow up

~Write a thank you letter– Not only is it cordial, but it will remind them of your interview and keep your name in mind. Furthermore, it shows initiative and determination to get the job. No harm can come from good manners.

We’re thrilled to announce that Grand Circus Detroit is offering a free introduction to coding workshop at Brightwing’s corporate office on Monday, October 26 – Register for free!

 

grand_circus

Workshop Details

This workshop is designed for folks who are curious about coding, but who have little to no experience. This workshop is the perfect time to learn the programming foundations needed to eventually build a website or mobile app, whether you are a business owner or aspiring software developer.

 

What Grand Circus Will cover (using JavaScript):
– Common terms used by programmers
– Data Types
– Boolean Expressions
– Conditional Statements

 

Don’t know what any of these things mean? Perfect – this class is for you. Come with a laptop and ready to learn! Space is limited so RSVP soon.

 

When & Where

Monday, October 26th; 6:00 – 9:00 PM (EDT)

Brightwing – 431 Stephenson Hwy, Troy, MI 48083. Map

 

Learn code for free

 

About Grand Circus Detroit

At Grand Circus, we’re passionate about training people for amazing careers as developers and helping local businesses grow by hiring local tech superstars. Our bootcamps serve both purposes: we give people critical skills for tech jobs while introducing them to businesses looking for talent. More than that, we’re here for the Detroit through coworking and events.

One of our favorite times of the year is upon us – it’s career fair season! This year, Brightwing plans to attend 6 IT and/or Engineering career fairs.

 

Cutting-edge, exclusive opportunities you can expect to see at the fairs include Software Development, Project Management, Big Data Analysis, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, and more! To see a complete list of our current openings, visit www.brightwingbdev.wpenginepowered.com/jobs.

 

Brightwing Career Fairs
Thursday, September 17 – Ohio Northern – Graduate/Professional School Fair (OH)

 

Tuesday, September 22 – Oakland University – Engineering/IT Career Fair (MI)

 

Thursday, October 1 – Wayne State University – College of Engineering Career Fair (MI)

 

Wednesday, October 14 – ITT Technical Institute (Richardson, TX) – Fall Career Fair (TX)

 

Friday, October 16 – Saginaw Valley State – Employment/Networking Fair (MI)

 

Monday, November 16 – Engineering Society of Detroit – Engineering/Tech Job Fair (MI)

 

Want Brightwing to visit another college/association career fair? If so, please let us know! To better prepare yourself for career fair season this year, visit our Self Improvement Tips.

Ranking the best states to live in can often lead to drawn out, subjective conclusions. It’s been done before in many different ways, and everyone likes to see their state on top. But when it comes to the best states to live in financially, MoneyRates delivered with some of the best cut-and-dry data.

 

5 financial factors were evaluated to rank the best and worst states to live in. These factors included average income, state tax rate, unemployment rate, work incident rate, and the cost of living index. Financial data changes a lot, but are you in any of the best states to live in for 2015?

 

best states to live in

 

It’s hard to argue against Texas ranking number 1 on this list. They’re emerging as tech industry leaders and they don’t even have to pay income taxes. What a deal! Are we a little biased since we do the majority of our work in Texas and Michigan? Possibly, but numbers don’t lie!

best states to live in

 

No one can take away the beauty of Hawaii and California, but those cost of living indexes are through the roof! That being said, if these are among the worst states to make a living, we’re not doing all that bad. Just five years ago, the overall unemployment rate was closer to 10%.

best (and worst) states to live in

 

Whether your state ranks among the best, worst, or somewhere in between, sometimes it just comes down to personal preference. If you can live with a high cost of living index or a salary the dips below the national average, then you probably don’t have to be part of the best states to live in to live a financially happy life. That’s my opinion. What do you think?


 

 

All computer science jobs are not created equal. That degree might qualify you for a number of different jobs in technology. But how do you know which one is the best for you? Our friends over at Computer Science Zone created an infographic to help answer that question. Which computer science job best describes your wants and needs?

 

ComputerJobs

 

Software Developer/Computer Programmer

 

What you’ll do

Research, design, implement and test software and systems

How much you’ll work
Generally, a 40-hour workweek, though you should expect long hours when project deadlines approach

Where you’ll work
Office, much of time spent alone writing code

What you’ll make
Median salary, $92,660

Biggest benefits

Job is in high demand, as the world increasingly relies on technology

Biggest drawbacks
Job is generally low-stress, though project deadlines can become intense

 

Database Administrator

 

What you’ll do
Design, code and maintain database systems to store and manage data

How much you’ll work
Generally, a 40-hour workweek, though project deadlines and after-hours crises can spring up

Where you’ll work
Office, generally for large organizations

What you’ll make
Median salary, $77,080

Biggest benefits
Generally have ability to work with lots of different types of people and of projects

Biggest drawbacks
Risk of database failure can make for high-stress job

 

Hardware Engineer

 

What you’ll do
Configure hardware of computers; improve layout and design of devices for increased efficiency

How much you’ll work
Generally, a 40-hour workweek, though project deadlines and crises can lead to night and weekend work

Where you’ll work
Factory, research facility or lab

What you’ll make
Median salary, $100,920

Biggest benefits
Typically get to work with newest technology

Biggest drawbacks
Narrow, project-based focus can make for monotonous days

 

Systems Analyst

 

What you’ll do
Design IT solutions; adapt existing systems to improve business efficiency and productivity

How much you’ll work
Generally, 40-hour workweek, though extended hours aren’t uncommon, particularly at end of projects or for consultants working with clients

Where you’ll work
Office; freelancers and consultants travel to client offices

What you’ll make
Median salary, $79,680

Biggest benefits
Good deal of flexibility to work on variety of projects

Biggest drawbacks
Can be high-stress when systems fail

 

Network Architect

 

What you’ll do
Design, build and test communication networks

How much you’ll work
Generally, 40-hour work week

Where you’ll work
Office, but often must work on-site at different buildings and offices

What you’ll make
Median salary, $91,000

Biggest benefits
Likely to see increase in job openings as companies expand use of wireless and mobile technology

Biggest drawbacks
Dozens of possible certifications can be daunting

 

Web developer

 

What you’ll do
Use software languages and other tools to create, implement and test Web applications

How much you’ll work
Full time, but hours vary widely; a quarter of Web developers are self-employed

Where you’ll work
Good chance of working from home; otherwise, office setting

What you’ll make
Median salary, $62,500

Biggest benefits
Flexible schedule

Biggest drawbacks
Project deadlines can create stress

 

Information Security Analyst

 

What you’ll do
Develop and implement security measures to protect organizations’ computer networks and systems

How much you’ll work
40-hour workweek is typical, though after-hours crises are not uncommon

Where you’ll work
Office, most likely for large company

What you’ll make
Median salary, $86,170

Biggest benefits
Job security thanks to ever-increasing cyber threats

Biggest drawbacks
Must keep on top of constantly changing attack methods

 

Systems Manager

 

What you’ll do
Plan, coordinate and direct technology-related activities in organizations

How much you’ll work
Generally, 40-hour workweek, though overtime is common

Where you’ll work
Office, for small or large companies; limited ability to work from home as manager

What you’ll make
Median salary, $120,950

Biggest benefits
Chance to influence entire company

Biggest drawbacks
After-hours crises common

 

IT Support

 

What you’ll do
Provide technical help and support to organizations

How much you’ll work
Most likely full-time, but not necessarily 9-to-5

Where you’ll work
Call center, could even work from home

What you’ll make
Median salary, $48,900

Biggest benefits
Flexible schedule

Biggest drawbacks
Must be constantly available for users

 

michigan tech talent

The amount of tech talent in Michigan has been growing immensely – Much of this growth has stemmed from the technology entrepreneurship and innovation sector.

 

Read below as Paula Sorrell, former VP at Michigan Economic Development Corporation, shares her experience with the changing entrepreneurship landscape in Michigan and changing perception nation-wide.

 

Original Post: Pure Michigan Talent Connect Newsletter

 

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.

 

michigan tech talent

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.

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 engineering

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 engineering

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.

 

 

cr4 engineering

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 engineering

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 engineering

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.

 

Code Plex engineering

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.

 

 

asme engineering

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.

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.

 

Programming Map

 

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.

 

SEE ALSO: Programming Languages That Pay the Most

Which programming languages support the most jobs in your state? Data suggests that popularity among languages don’t always coincide with employment trends.

Ever wonder which computer programming languages pay the most? Upon researching some of the most popular ones, we discovered some intriguing information.

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).

 

programming languages

 

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.

 

SEE ALSO: Programming Language Map: Job Breakdown

 

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.

 

ui/ux

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 Design refers 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 Design refers 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.


 

victor

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.

LinkedIn

 

 

 

 

scholarship opportunitiesGrand 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.

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
cover letter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Mike Gourley

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!)

LinkedIn

 

 

Look, we have all been there at some point.  We know the feeling of waking up every day with the knowledge that half of your waking hours will be spent in a place you hate. Maybe it’s the work or perhaps it’s just the people. However, what remains true is that you hate it all the same and it’s time for you to leave. Now there is nothing wrong with this. People seeking to better themselves is what makes the world go around and there is no reason you can’t be happy with your role in it. So with the limited time you have left in this job, let’s talk about what you need to start embracing now before your future without precedent comes to be.

  1. The Suck
    Military people have a phrase that is often not heard in the civilian world. That phrase is “Embrace the Suck.” People in the military have a uniquely refined ability to make the best of miserable circumstances, be it war or peacetime. So I am here to suggest that there is a certain amount of joy to be gained if you can do the same in this job you so hate. Learning to embrace the suck teaches you that you don’t have to wait before finding the little joys in life. There are indeed miserable aspects of your current job and that’s why you hate it. However, if a Marine can focus on the cold bottle of water he is drinking rather than the hot desert sun under which he is drinking it, then you can find some joy at your job while admitting some aspects of the job are less than pleasant. The truth is, your next job is likely to have a little “suck” to it as well. So you might as well learn to embrace it now for greater happiness down the road.
  2. The Experience
    It is not often true that someone decides they hate their job on one day and finds a new one the next. It is typically a process that can drag on for months if not years.  After all, people have bills to pay, and if they have families it’s often true that their kids have gotten used to eating every day and not just some. So what do you do while this miserable job experience drags on? I suggest you become a hungry connoisseur for every experience you can get. You see, maybe your boss knows your time there is limited. However, you definitely know. You know that there is a new opportunity just on the horizon, so it’s time to get ready. When you start embracing experiences for the sake of building more competence, then you makes these last days of the job work for you instead of you working for them. Embrace the experience as a path to freedom.
  3. The People
    Now this is sometimes a Catch-22 as it is entirely possible that the reason you hate your job is in fact the people with whom you work. I have come to believe that people can endure a lot if they enjoy the people with whom they endure it. However, life is almost always a relational event and learning to embrace the most difficult of people can give you an unprecedented resilience in life. Your new dream job will likely be as infested with imperfect people as the one you now hate. So when you start learning to embrace these imperfect people, your building your skillset to enjoy your future dream job at the same time you are making this current one more bearable. Moreover, you never know when a key relationship will help you down the road. We get to interact with a very precious few of the 7 billion people in this world during our lifetime. It’s best to make a rule of thumb to make each interaction count.

So there you have it. 3 things to start embracing now before you quit the job you hate. Embrace these now to prepare yourself for a future without precedent. It’s just around the corner after all.

Every manager expects their employees to work hard and do their jobs, but with with just a little nudge, you can stand out. These employees are the first ones to be considered when jobs open and it is time for annual pay increases. Here are 5 great tips and how to get started.

 

  1. Communication, more is more
    If you are new in your role or if you have been doing this job for years, the more you communicate the better off you will be. Questions help you know exactly what is expected of you and make sure you don’t have to rework anything. At the same time, it will help your boss see that you are engaged with your work and help clarify anything for the rest of your team.Try it in your next meeting, just ask one more (important) question before you walk out the door.
  2. Anticipate needs
    Communication is key, but the longer you are in your role, the more you should be able to understand what a good outcome will look like and what work needs to be done.Pick a small project, if you are fairly certain you know what is expected, go ahead and make the jump and just do it. You’ll learn very quickly if that is appreciated or if your boss would prefer that you always wait for direction.
  3. Together you are better
    As you are asking questions and anticipating your manager’s needs, they will begin to rely on you as a resource. As new ideas come up, try to give some feedback from your perspective, even if they were in the job recently, your boss will value additional feedback. This will help you to shape the work you do.
    Next time the boss has an idea, add some constructive input and see how they take it. Start slow, just add something that is possibly just an extension of their thought, if they seem to like it start to work more in.
  4. Customers are key
    Whether your customers are internal employees or clients, they are who you really work for. If your customers are happy, your boss will be too.
    Tell your boss about recent conversations with customers and ways you think your company could improve service. It will help keep them in the loop and make your life better, it is a lot more fun talking to happy customers!
  5. Be Engaged
    A recent study showed that only 29% of employees are engaged at their job. Even if you don’t love what you are doing today, the best way to get the job you want is to do the best you can at the one you have.
    What does engagement mean? It doesn’t mean you need to be a suck up or “drink the Kool-aid,” you can even do a little complaining with your co-workers. If you just do the 4 points above, you are probably already there. By being enthusiastic and taking an interest in improving your company, you will be far ahead of your peers.

 

 

Don’t let poor eating habits stand in the way of health, productivity and morale.

  1. Respect Lunchtime
    Don’t be a mealtime martyr. “I didn’t have time to eat” may sound like a badge of honor to some, but it’s problematic on at least two counts: first, it suggests poor time management skills and, sadly, it shows a basic disregard for the fact that you need to eat well to live and operate at your optimal level. Your body and brain need a robust and regular dose of nutrients to keep your decision-making abilities, alertness and focus sharp. If at all possible, block out 30 minutes on your schedule every day for lunch, and your colleagues won’t unknowingly schedule meetings during that time. There will always be exceptions, sure — just don’t let starvation be the rule.
  2. BYOL: Bring Your Own Lunch
    Even if you’re not a world-class chef, bringing your own lunch to work is the way to go. Not only is it significantly more economical (do you know how much you spend on lunch each year?), but it’s typically much healthier – plus, it’s a chance to impress your colleagues and a great way to reduce leftover spoilage in the fridge at home. If you don’t have the time or desire to cook for yourself, consider asking your partner, your kids, or even a willing and able neighbor – perhaps for a small fee. You’ll still come out ahead fiscally.
  3. It’s a work desk, not a dining table
    The Oxford English dictionary added the phrase “al desko” in 2014. Sadly, eating lunch at one’s desk is the norm at many offices, even ones that have cafeterias or ample outdoor seating (weather permitting). Eating alone in front of the computer screen is an example of multi-tasking at its worst: chances are you’re not fully enjoying your meal or chewing it properly, and you’re also not fully processing the emails or work tasks you’re trying to complete at the same time.
  4. Less, More Often
    You are not a machine, but rather a living, breathing human being. Unlike your computer, which can run for hours without a pause, you should consider taking regular breaks from your work to keep your concentration sharp and your creative juices flowing. The act of walking to the office kitchen or pantry gets you up from your desk and moving (an added health benefit if your job is sedentary). Plus, the snack will boost your energy and mood, so when you return to your desk, you’ll be ready to continue the task at hand. Just avoid the hidden sugars; opt for water or tea in place of juice, which typically comes saturated with sugar – empty calories. Nuts and whole fruits are also a great snack, depending on dietary restrictions and personal preferences. Most experts agree: eat less, more often. Spacing out your snacks in small increments keeps your energy level optimal without overwhelming your digestive system or spiking your blood sugar levels.
  5. Friday Fundays
    Although homemade lunches are ideal, it’s a good thing to get out of the office once in a while. If there’s one day a week when your workload calms down a bit (e.g. Friday) consider heading out for lunch with a coworker or your department. This will be great for team-building, and you’ll get to try a new restaurant. It’s also a great networking opportunity if you invite colleagues you may not know well, or who work in other departments: you’ll learn about their hidden talents and hobbies, you’ll hear about important company projects, job openings, promotions, and other goings on. And you may make a long-lasting friend.

Bonus Tip:
Sometimes people bring donuts to work, take one every once and a while, it won’t kill you!

Bad habits are hard to change, but make sure to carve out time regularly to reflect on your behavior — not just your work — at the office. Your reputation and employment may be at stake.

  1. Being Tardy to the Party
    Just because others are a few minutes late to the meeting, doesn’t mean you should conform. Instead, try arriving 5 minutes early — you can use the peace and quiet to clear your head and review the agenda, so that when the meeting starts you’ll be ready to roll. Consistent punctuality drastically improves an employee’s reputation — you’ll be perceived as organized, in control, responsible and reliable, everything that a professional aspires to be.
  2. Procrastinating Like a Boss… When You’re Not the Boss
    Unlike tardiness, procrastination may fly under the radar for some time, but it will bite you in the rear sooner or later — well, probably later if you’re a procrastinator. By leaving large projects or even small tasks to the very last minute, you rob yourself of the chance to edit your work or, worse yet, you don’t give your colleagues ample time to provide valuable feedback. Living life on the edge may give you a thrill in the moment, but you won’t enjoy when the deadline comes rearing its ugly head, and all you have is a half-baked, error-rich deliverable. When procrastinating on a major task, you maintain a constant unpleasant feeling in the back of your mind which can actually detract from the quality of any lesser tasks you may be doing at the moment. It’s a lose-lose scenario.
  3. Yelling Just To Be Heard
    Depending on where you work, yelling may be a commonplace occurrence or it may be totally unheard of. Either way, avoid the urge to yell at all costs. Yelling is the adult equivalent of a child throwing a tantrum. When you can’t think of a more mature way to handle a situation gone wrong, your best bet is to step away for a moment — take a walk around the office, have some tea, and take a few deep breaths. Otherwise, you risk being perceived as domineering, unprofessional, even insecure and overcompensating for something. Sadly, it only takes one incident of poor judgment that you’ll then have to carry with your for months, even years, until you find your next gig.
  4. Gossiping Harmlessly
    Sure, most people gossip to some small degree. Then there are the pros who turn it into an art form. Folks who exert so much energy worrying about the work or behavior of colleagues are wasting the company’s time and money, and are likely to become topics of gossip themselves. It’s one thing to vent to a spouse or friend outside of work, but another thing to risk your reputation within your office walls. The next time you sense an urge to say something petty about a colleague, think about how you’d feel if they found out. Or imagine how you’d feel if you discovered someone was nit-picking what you wore to the office yesterday. Think before you talk. Shift your focus by listening to one of your favorite songs (if your job allows), or work on an easy task to boost your sense of accomplishment and move on with the rest of your day.
  5. Spreading Yourself Too Thin
    Being a workaholic-martyr is not something to be proud of, though every office has a few. If you are blessed with a hectic job and a ton of work on your plate, it’s especially important to understand the power of saying “no.” If you take on too many items and spread yourself too thin, you’re doing everyone a disservice: your boss, your coworkers and business partners, your friends and family, and most of all yourself. Even if you manage to achieve some semblance of external success, you’ll be burning out inside. More than likely, though, you’ll be running from task to task like a chicken with its head cut off, while your judgment, decision-making, creativity and empathy suffer.
  6. Throwing Bodies Under the Bus
    Much can be said on this topic, but it can also be summarized briefly: don’t do it! Throwing colleagues under the bus is a recipe for disaster. It drains team morale and productivity, and places a target on your back for the future. Instead of wasting your precious energy on the blame game, refocus your thoughts on how you can improve communications and processes so the mistake doesn’t recur. You’ll be the unsung office hero, rather than the silently hated villain.

 

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.

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.