3 Ways Multitasking is Killing Your Productivity

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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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

 

5 Surefire Ways to Stress Less At Work

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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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

 

An Effective Elevator Speech Opens the Doors to New Career Opportunities

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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.

 

How to Conduct a Job Search without Alerting Your Boss

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How to Search for a New Job Without Alerting Your Boss

Making a career change to move from one company to another can sometimes be harder than looking for a job when you are unemployed. It can be difficult to conduct a job search without alerting your current boss that you are on the hunt for something new.

It is common to be employed while hunting for a new job, especially if you are looking to advance your career. Here are several strategies that you can use to avoid alerting your boss or other people in the department: 

Conduct Your Job Search When You are Off the Clock

You are more likely to get caught if you are searching for new jobs when you are at work. It can be tempting to peruse job sites when you are bored or frustrated with your current employment, but it’s not a good idea to conduct your job search when you are on the clock. In fact, many companies will consider termination if you are caught searching for a new position while you are at work. 

Wait until you get home, and take care of your job search on your own dime. You can look at job websites and turn in resumes in the evenings. If you need to handle a daytime phone call or interview, then you can do these things on your lunch break. In some cases, it might make sense to take a day off work so that you have the time to schedule several interviews in the same day.

Don’t Tell Your Co-Workers or Friends

It might be tempting to talk with a few good friends about your job search, but you are increasing the risk of your boss finding out by telling other people about your plans. Even if your friends don’t purposely tell your boss, they might accidentally spill the beans in casual conversation.

One place that you need to be cautious with sharing information is on your online social media platforms. Sharing details about your job searching efforts on Facebook or LinkedIn might result in word getting back to your boss, especially if you have lax security settings on your social media account. 

Work with a Recruiter

If you don’t have the time or ability to focus on your job search during the day, then you might find it beneficial to work with a recruiter. They can make the effort to contact businesses and organizations to discover job openings so that you can focus on your current job while the recruiter does the heavy lifting.

It can be very advantageous to find a recruiter who is experienced in your industry, because they will have industry connections to help you quickly find a job and avoid the hassle dragging out the process. 

Wait to Turn in Your 2-Week Notice

In some situations, it might be tempting to turn in your notice at work as soon as you think that you have a new job lined up. But, don’t count your chickens before they hatch. You might find yourself without a job if you turn in your resignation too early, and then find out that the other employment opportunity fell through.

2015 Job Forecast Predicts More Hires from Coast to Coast

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job forecastThe United States job forecast for 2015 is predicting its best outlook in nearly 10 years. Hiring managers and human resource professionals from coast to coast are expecting to hire more this year, and many companies will be increasing salaries. Permanent full-time and contract hires are both trending upward. A few of the many hot areas for hiring in 2015 include Engineering, Information Technology, and Math.

 

Show Me the Numbers

36% of employers plan to increase full-time hires

31% of hiring managers plan to create jobs in the hot areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math – Up from 26% from last year

46% of employers plan to hire contract workers in 2015 – Up from 42% last year

56% of these employers plan to transition their hires to full-time, permanent roles.

82% of employers plan to increase compensation for existing employees – Up from 73% last year

64% will offer higher starting salaries for new employees – Up from 49% last year

 

Trends to Expect in 2015

Education Requirements will Become More Strict
Many companies will hold employees to higher standards, requiring continued education and Master’s Degrees for Executive and Management job openings.

Work Environments will be More Collaborative
A lot of companies are implementing open space floor plans, and doing away with cubicles to easily collaborate and share ideas with employees.

More Small Businesses will be Hiring
To meet the needs of increasing market demands, small businesses are expected hire more this year. 29% of businesses with 250 or fewer employees are expected to add full-time, permanent workers. This is an encouraging statistic, as it has increased 7% from last year’s expected hires.

 

Getting Off on the Right Foot

The job forecast for 2015 is encouraging for both job seekers and employers. There isn’t a better time than now to obtain a new job. Whether it’s a full-time and permanent position, or a contract position, there are many industries that are hiring now! If you are currently in pursuit of a new opportunity in an industry on the rise, starting your job search now would be smart.

Data Source: Harris Poll – A sample of 2,192 hiring managers and HR professionals across industries.

3 Non-Traditional Networking Tips

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In today’s world, professional networking is a necessity. Whether you network to get a new job, advance your career, obtain referrals, or just to meet new people, the need to interact and connect with others is important.

Many of us like the idea of networking more than networking itself. In other words, it’s common nature to feel awkward around new people, especially when you’re attending an event that urges you to professionally connect with others.

So are there other creative ways to network at ease?

Of course! Here are three non-traditional networking tips:

Networking Tactics

Volunteer

Contributing to a cause has some obvious benefits. For one, it’s a great feeling to give back to a community or organization you care about.

There are also networking benefits that can result from volunteering. Usually, there will be like-minded people that participate at these volunteering events. It is a way to show that you are considerate of others and want to make a difference. Even if you don’t professionally network at the event or cause, you can better market yourself by adding your charitable work to your resume or portfolio.

Create an Event

Instead of waiting for others to create an event that incorporates your favorite topic of interest or hobby, why not create your own? Websites such as Eventbrite and Meetup allow you to easily create events or groups with people that are just like you! They are both free to use, and you can even charge your attendees if you want to get some cash out of the deal! Whether you choose to use social media or an event-creation website, there are many different ways to find others that are similar to you and want to connect. Friendships are often created at these events, and people enjoy doing business with friends!

Mobile Networking Applications

Most networking professionals use their phones regularly to check emails, interact with social media, and make phone calls. Of course there are common social media platforms that allow you to network (such as LinkedIn), but there are other unique applications you can use as well.

There is nothing worse than walking into a room of networkers that only talk to the handful of people they already know. Bizzabo is an application that resolves that problem. Using social media, this app allows you to interact with others before an event or conference starts. Basically, Bizzabo acts as a convenient ice-breaker that gets the conversation going.

Another useful application is called Bizz Card. This app allows you to virtually share your business card with just a swipe across the screen. An email address is all that is needed to send your contact information to other professionals and stay connected.

Let’s Make Connections

Now that you know some non-traditional networking tips, check out the Brightwing Talent Community! If you’re looking for a place to discover opportunities, look no further than Brightwing, a team of inspired professionals dedicated to rising above conventional models to find the best employment opportunities for you. Start Here!

Free Workshop: Job Search Secrets from Industry Experts

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Job Search SecretsBrightwing is teaming up with New Horizons training center to offer a FREE workshop, Job Search Secrets from Industry Experts. Sign up today, space is limited!

Learn how to use LinkedIn to it’s full potential, gain insight on resume writing and interviewing and explore the high demand areas of IT.

Friday, November 7, 2014
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (EST)

New Horizons Computer Learning Center, Livonia
14115 Farmington Rd Livonia, MI 48154
Phone (734) 525-1501

 

Agenda

9 am –  Breakfast and Networking
10 am – Resume Building, Interviewing, IT outlook and high demand areas presented by Deena Wiltsie, Brightwing
11 am –  Using LinkedIn Effectively, presentd by John Richards, LinkedIn
12 pm – Lunch and Microsoft Office Tips & Tricks

Space is limited! Register at https://nhjobsearchsecrets.eventbrite.com

10 Easy Ways to Become A Better Web Developer

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How to become a better developer

Click photo to enlarge

In an industry that has the tendency to change overnight, the most successful web developers are the ones who are always learning. This past week I had the pleasure of attending Self.Conference in Detroit. The conference was for web developers, by web developers and while some aspects were past my level of understanding (I’m just starting to learn), a common theme kept coming up: You don’t know everything, you’ll never know everything, and no one else knows everything either. In a nutshell, the most successful people are the those that continue to learn new things. If you approach your technical challenges at work or in play with the idea that intelligence can be developed (see image) and is not something that you “should already know” (static intelligence), you will overcome blocks in the road and be better equipped to take on new challenges. Ready to get started?

Here are 10 ways to challenge yourself that can teach you problem solving skills and give you the tools to succeed as a web developer:

1. Join user group communities
More likely than not, there are groups of web developers in your area that meet on a regular basis (check out meetup.com). In addition to camaraderie, user groups will allow you to pair with a mentor, be a mentor, teach you something new about skills you have, inform you of the next “hot” thing, and let you expand your mind outside of your job. This will help you grow as a professional and as a person. If there isn’t one in your area, start one. Our personal favorites are IT in the D and Great Lakes Area .Net User Group.

2. Partner code with someone new
One of the Self.conference speakers spoke about ways to push forward innovation in code, and partnering with new people or co-workers can allow you to look at a problem differently. Think about the combinations of web developers: Master and master, novice and master, and novice and novice. In every situation there is learning and challenge involved so don’t always partner with someone in your comfort zone.

3. Take a class
Again, tech moves incredibly fast and there are groups that are willing and excited to teach you what they know. A few of our favorites are New Horizons, Girl Develop IT, and Grand Circus.

4. Work with a mentor
Outside of a classroom, you can also find a mentor who will work with you one on one. If you check your ego and immerse yourself in their expertise you have the ability to master a new skill and may find a new passion.

5. Learn from mistakes you make
Making a mistake is unfortunate unless you learn why it was a mistake. Knowing how and why a system, app, program, etc. breaks is a step in the direction of mastery.

6. Attempt to learn a new language every year
Learning new skills will break you out of your rhythm and possibly give you new ideas or ways to problem solve.

7. Learn all aspects of the business
Ignorance is not always bliss. If you find yourself getting frustrated with different areas of your company, for example the business development team, figure out what makes them  tick and how they work. Like you, there are reasons for the decisions they make, knowing the process better will help you understand and even better predict client needs.

8. Attend a conference
Definitely attend a conference. In addition to building your professional network, conferences give you the opportunity to test drive new skills and forecast what is next.

9. Teach
This goes back to master partnering with a novice. Teach a novice web developer your perfected skills, and chances are that you yourself will learn something in the process.

10.  Have patience, and use repetition
The first speaker that I heard from at Self.conference spoke about using repetition and practice to perfect your craft. While you may be a Ruby on Rails ninja, there is always room for improvement.

The best way to take control over your career, other than networking and personal branding, is to make sure that you are always learning. Try out something new that interests you, or teach someone a new skill. You will never regret time spent tackling a new challenge.

Looking for a Web Developer Job? Check out all of our jobs and apply today.

 

How 5 Detroit Women Landed IT Jobs

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“Because Detroit is a baby tech community, we are helping to build a diverse IT community from the ground up. People from different backgrounds, cities, upbringings are able to get started, and land IT Jobs here.” – Erika Carlson

it jobs girl develop it grand circus

It’s no secret that Detroit is becoming a hot  scene for IT development and IT jobs of all kind. Groups such as Girl Develop IT (GDI) and Grand Circus are really working to make a community of learning to support and sustain that growth. On April 30th, GDI and Grand Circus held a Women in Tech Web Careers Panel Discussion to teach learners and practitioners of all levels how to navigate the wide variety of IT jobs available. Some attendees came to ask where they should start, some wanted to know how to transition as well as how their skills would apply to different jobs. Deena Wiltsie (Recruiting Panelist for Brightwing), Chandra Floyd (Detroit Institute of the Arts), Erika Carlson (Detroit Labs), Laura Eagin (Freelance), Nicole Rodriguez (Xperience) and Monica Wheat (Founder of Digerati Girls), spoke to the challenges and successes they have had finding IT jobs, clientele, navigating a male dominated field, and why it was all worth it.

Key takeaways :
-If you are making a complete shift in your career, even if you have been working for 20 years, don’t look down on entry level positions. They get your foot in the door and can really help you learn.
-Show how passionate you are about learning and the industry when interviewing, even if you have minimal development skills.
-Put yourself out there and opportunities will float your way.
-Job shadowing can be an incredible way to learn what you know, what you don’t and what you need to learn.
-Learning HTML makes a designer better at what they do.
-The experience that you get while problem solving is invaluable. Development is a way to help people solve their business issues or questions.
-Consistent learning is the best part!
-Communication is INCREDIBLY important on development teams.
-Make sure you have an online portfolio to showcase your work or projects.

Click on the image below, or click here to view the full story.

women in tech it jobs

 

IT Career Event: Interviewing and Job Search Skills for IT Professionals

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Michigan it jobs search Brightwing and New Horizons are teaming up to help you market your IT skills. Join us for a day of FREE workshops that are sure to make you stand out from the crowd!

Are you looking for a job in IT? Have you taken courses to further your experience? Brightwing and New Horizons are working together to make sure you are not only prepared for your tech job search, but that you are confident in yourself as well as your resume.

In addition to our breakout sessions, New Horizons will be raffling off an iPad Mini, and Brightwing will be raffling off a $300 gift card to Micro Center!

The event will be held on May 21, 2014 at the New Horizon’s Livonia Campus 14115 Farmington Rd, Livonia, MI, 48154. Event starts at 8:30 and goes until 12:30.

look for an IT job in michigan

 

9am – Sign-in & Networking

  • Coffee and light snacks will be served
  • Meet with Brightwing recruiters and representatives from New Horizons

 

9:30 am – 10:15 am – Personal Branding Workshop

  • What to wear to an interview – Get all your questions answered
  • How to effectively use social media to enhance your personal brand and tricks to help you get found. We will cover LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+

 

10:30 am – 11:15 am – Get the Most out of your Recruiter Relationship

  • How to identify a good recruiter
  • Tips to help you steer clear of bad recruiters
  • Propel your career forward by creating a life-long relationship with your recruiter

 

11:30-12:15 – Resume Writing/Interviewing Skills

  • Resume Writing: Beyond the Basics
  • Real world tips for preparing for today’s toughest interviews
  • After the interview: What to say and do to ensure you make it to step 2 and beyond

 

Looking for a job right now? Get a head start by checking out our IT jobs and applying on our website! You can also set up job alerts to make sure you never miss out on a job opportunity.

 

4 Reasons Michigan is #1 for Engineering Jobs

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Jobs in engineering- michigan

The numbers don’t lie: When it comes to engineering jobs, Michigan is #1 in the U.S. This state was built by the hands of proud engineers, and has continued to be on the cutting edge of technology ever since. There is an incredible need for professionals who can create the software and materials needed for technically connected, efficient automobiles and companies are willing to pay top dollar to beat competition. There are many reasons to move to Michigan, but if you are an engineer looking for a job, here are my top 4:

1. Michigan has the most Engineers per capita. Michigan employs more Mechanical Engineers and Industrial Engineers than any other state in the country. Electrical, Materials and Electro-Mechanical engineers are right behind as the top 20 for highest employment in the country. With the engineers-to-population ratio being more than double the U.S. average, your engineering job search would benefit from navigating the Michigan automotive networks.

2. The automotive and defense industries have top of the line and cutting edge, Michigan based R&D centers. If you are starting to look for engineering jobs in Michigan, there are a number of well known R&D facilities and headquarters. Global companies of note are:

• Chrysler • Ford • Hyundai
• Kia • GM • Nissan
• Toyota • Daimler • Honda
• Mitsubishi • GM • Nissan
• Subaru • Suzuki

3. Michigan is home to over 100,000 supplier jobs and is the #1 state for Auto Parts Suppliers. With such a robust automotive supplier network, Michigan engineers who are looking for a job have a lot companies and positions to choose from: 61 of the top 100 North American and global automotive suppliers are headquartered in Michigan.

4. Your money is worth more here. Let’s say you’re an engineering graduate of one of Michigan’s top Automotive and Engineering research universities and you are expecting to make upwards of $50,000 your first year of employment. That sounds awesome coming right out of the gate, unless you are earning that much in Chicago. The most recent studies are finding that the Michigan “brain drain” is routing many of its qualified graduates to cities like Chicago where the cost of living is 32% higher. If you are starting to look for engineering jobs for the first time, cost of living is definitely something to consider. If you don’t believe me, ask U of M Engineering.

There is a world of opportunity to grow in your engineering job in the state of Michigan whether you’re a recent graduate or a seasoned veteran. We hope that you start your engineering job search here, and if you need help or direction, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Author: Elyse L. Turner

4 Steps to a Compelling Video Resume

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Video resumes are becoming a topic of “Should you or Should you not.” When done well, and for the right industry, video resumes can really make you stand out from the crowd by showcasing not only your skills, but your personality.  In an effort to help you organize your resume into a well thought out video, I made a video of my own that breaks the process down into 4 easy steps.  To create video resumes I highly recommend using Camtasia, an inexpensive screen recording and video editing software by TechSmith. I used their software to create this video. The great thing about Camtasia is that it’s super easy to use and allows you to cut and paste video clips, giving you the ability to quickly make multiple video resumes for various employers. TechSmith even offers a free 30 day trial that can get you started. Keep in mind, a video resume won’t be appropriate in every situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Know your audience-Creative video resumes should showcase your portfolio, while more serious video resumes should showcase your professional successes. If, for example you are a graphic designer,painter, marketer, etc, keep your creative audience in mind.

2. Be concise-Write out your script and practice saying who you are, what job you are applying for, and why your skills would apply to the job. Remember that attention spans vary from person to person, and that 1:30 to 2 minutes are about as long as your video resume should be.

3. Charisma-While my segment on charisma is a caricature of what you should really be doing, your video resume needs to let your personality shine through. Paper resumes are limited to their content, where video resumes can really show who you are and what you know.  Let yourself shine!

4. Editing-For this professional video resume I used Camtasia by Techsmith which made cutting very easy and quick. If you have other video editing software, you can use that as well.

We wish you the best of luck in your job search! If you need any help, don’t hesitate to view our jobs or reach out to us.

Author: Elyse L. Turner

 

Whatever you do…. Don’t be this guy….

 

 

Are You Setting Up New Engineering Hires for Failure?

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successfully onboaring engineersIn engineering professions industry wide, a well managed onboarding program can have a measurable impact on employee retention, productivity, employment brand, product/service quality and future hiring success. For these new and highly sought after engineers, a well designed onboarding program addresses the specific information that will help them understand the company and how they fit in to the big picture.

A few tips:

1. Be sure to build in time for open and honest discussions about their interests, your company culture and expectations. This can include asking questions to reaffirm that the new hire and company are a good match.

2. Don’t overload new engineers or any new hires. The best onboarding programs limit the information and forms required on the first day or throughout the week. If you want them to retain information, be sure to spread it out over time. Placing too much pressure on new hires makes it less likely that they will make good decisions or ask pertinent questions.

3. Include fun activities that give your new engineers a chance to meet their team members an other co-workers in a comfortable setting. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to get to know people within the organization. For example, Brightwing regularly takes new hires to volunteer at Art Road, a non-profit working to bring art back into Detroit Public Schools.

4. The most effective onboarding programs include key metrics that cover new hire retention rates, new hire referrals and time to productivity. Setting clear objectives makes people accountable for producing measurable results that impact your business.

 

April Jennings

Author: April Jennings

Google

Interview Tip: Makeup Tutorial to Enhance Natural Features

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New year, new job?  Friend of Brightwing and beauty guru, Rachel Weiland, has created a makeup tutorial that is packed with interview tips. Her company, Glow of Grace, has makeup tutorials for every occasion from bridal to holiday parties and has helped us out by creating a makeup tutorial for female interviewees.

First impressions in an interview are so important, but clothing and resumes are usually the focus. An often overlooked interview tip, makeup can have an impact in both a negative and positive way. Wendy Rodewald of Yahoo Daily Makeover writes, ” I once interviewed a job candidate who was wearing so many layers of clumpy, black false lashes that they were falling into her eyes every time she blinked. Needless to say it was pretty distracting. ”

Don’t fall victim to night club inspired, interview makeup! Watch Rachel’s tutorial below, complete with interview tips for outfits, nails and hair! See all of the products used in her original post here.

More interview tips from Rachel:

You want to keep your makeup simple and tasteful. An interview is not the time to bust out your favorite smokey eye and red lip.

Interview tips

You also want your makeup to enhance your best features without being over the top. Neutral and natural with a bit of warmth is definitely the way to go.

Now that we’ve got makeup covered, let me just discuss a few other interview tips that will help you to look your best.

Hair – As long as it’s neat and clean, there aren’t too many rules to follow, but here are just a few suggestions.

  • Try to keep it out of your face so that your interviewer can see you. I’m not saying you have to wear it up or back, but if they can’t see your eyes, that probably won’t go over well.
  • If you’re wearing your hair down and you’re handy with a curling wand, a few curls always look good. Need help? Here’s a curling tutorial just for you!
  • If you are hot tool challenged, go for a simple but elegant updo like a sock bun. If you’re not familiar with styling your hair with footwear, I teach you how to get in on this magic in this tutorial.

Nails – Neat and neutral!

  • Stick to neutral colors like a pale pink. A few of my favorites are Essie’s Limo-Scene, Adore-a-ball, Vanity Fairest, and Sugar Daddy.
  • Keep them neat! It doesn’t look very professional to have a manicure that is super chipped and messy.

Outfit – BE PROFESSIONAL! Obviously your outfit will depend on the type of job you’re going for, but here a few basic interview tips for clothing:

  • If it’s too low or too high, skip it. An employer does not need to see all that.
  • An iron is your friend!! Don’t walk in to an interview looking like you just picked up your clothes from a heap on your floor.
  • For an office job, I recommend picking up business wear if you don’t already own some. It will never hurt you in life to own a nice blazer, a pair of dress pants, and some office-friendly blouses. EXPRESS & The Limited are my go-to stores for affordable business wear that is completely work appropriate, yet still stylish.

I hope that you’ve found this helpful and good luck in those interviews!

Best & Blessings,
Rachel

To check out our jobs and score an interview for yourself, click here.

 

How to Spot a Bad Recruiter before It’s Too Late

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save your careerOver the years, recruiting firms have gotten a bad rap and here’s why: There are around 17,000 staffing firms in the United States with over 35,000 operating offices. In this mix of companies there is bound to be a bad recruiter that gives us all a bad name through “shady” practices. If you choose to work with a recruiter, make sure that you are working with one who listens and helps you plot out the career YOU want, not what they want. Pay attention to red flags and avoid the following recruiters to protect your career:

 

• The Drive by Recruiter: You get a phone call, short conversation about a position, may have an interview and then NEVER hear from recruiter again.

• The Absent Mentor: They seem great up front. They talk to you, get you an interview, and a job. After that they offer little to no communication or contact. Like ever.

• The Game Player: Similar to the drive by recruiters, except after the short conversation they will blast your résumé to a ton of jobs, most of which you haven’t heard of and are in no way aligned or interested in. We will get to position/ company alignment later.

• The Pay to Play Company: You should never be charged for a recruiter. Professional, reputable and responsible firms provide all and more.

• The lazy or clueless recruiter: This recruiter won’t fill you in on a specific position or a company very well, because they don’t actually know a lot about the position or the company. If they can’t devote the time to research, they won’t devote any time to your wants and needs.

• Bait and Switch: This recruiter or company will withhold key information about a position, and tell you what you want to hear. When it comes down to an interview or placement, they will try to strong arm you into positions which you have no interest: less money, different location, etc.

Thankfully there are plenty of recruiters who want to protect your career, listen to your goals and place you with a company where you will succeed. If you look out for red flags, you will be able to separate the good from the bad.

Author: Elyse Lopez

The Top 20 Fastest Growing Careers

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Fastest growing careersThis past week Career Builder and Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) released a report detailing the fastest growing careers from 2013 to 2017 in 52 major metropolitan areas. There are several lists within the study showing the percentages of growth and loss over several industries, however the fastest growing careers are those that require a college degree or higher.

The list below shows the top 20 Fastest Growing Careers requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher. These careers have at least an 11% growth from 2013 to 2017. The majority of the occupations are either in healthcare, engineering or IT.

 

  1. Biomedical Engineers
  2. Interpreters & Translators
  3. Meeting, Convention, & Event Planners
  4. Med. Scientists, Non-epidemiologists
  5. Market research analysts & Marketing Specialists
  6. Petroleum Engineers
  7. Biochemists & Biophysicists
  8. Audiologists
  9. Physical Therapists
  10. Marriage & Family Therapists
  11. Health Educators
  12. Mental Health Counselors
  13. Healthcare Social Workers
  14. Occupational Therapists
  15. Athletic Trainers
  16. Training & Development Specialists
  17. logisticians
  18. Database Administrators
  19. Geoscientists, except Hydrologists & Geographers
  20. Software developers, Systems Software

For more information and the full study, click here.

 

What Is The Best Job For Me?

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perfect job for meLet’s get one thing straight: change is good – even if your mom, significant other or anyone else (yes, even your self-doubt) thinks otherwise. Whether you’re unhappy in your job or just plain bored, it’s probably time for a change. Unfortunately, many put off much-needed change simply because they don’t know where to begin. When it comes to changing up their job or career, many look for the obvious – more money, benefits, duties and so on. But consider this: how much happier would you be if your job fit your personality type like a glove?

 

Finding the ideal role for your personality type means that you first have to know yourself – and no, this doesn’t require a visit to the Dr. Phil show, personal psychic or life coach – it’s actually quite simple!

 

Let’s say, for example, that you are someone who naturally thrives on supporting and nurturing others, like the Advocate personality type. It’s more than just what you do – it’s who you ARE – and that’s the role you should play in each job you’re in. It doesn’t matter you work at a tech firm, veterinarian’s office or even a hot dog stand (hey – hot dogs need to be supported and nurtured, too!)

 

If, like the Advocate, you thrive on being supportive and interacting with others, the worst mistake you could make is to choose a particular job that isolates you from others, right? In the same token, if you’re a hard-core introvert, the last thing you’d want to do is take on a public-facing job – you’d likely be miserable (and prone to slamming down the phone on unruly customers – no bueno!)

 

Your perfect job will require you to spend most of your time satisfying your ideal roles – and there can be more than one. Prioritize them.

 

Here’s a few ways to find the perfect job for your personality type:

• Identify the best traits of your personality type. Take Good.Co’s free online personality assessment. In just a few questions, it will help you discover your unique personal archetype – and it will help you understand what makes you tick in the workplace.

• Self-discovery – Get comfortable and spend some time thinking about the roles you play in life – with friends, in past work, on teams, in your hobbies etc. Make note of some roles that keep showing up regardless of the situation and highlight the ones that make you feel great.

• Values – What do you care about? If you work in ways that matter to you, you’ll enjoy it more and you’ll probably be better at it. That’s a win/win, no?

When you identify what roles fit your personality type, you’ll be able to quickly identify whether a position meets those needs, bringing you one step closer to finding your dream job – and yes, making that much-needed change.

 

This blog was originally posted on Good.co’s career insights blog by Lisa Chatroop:

As Good.Co’s Social Media Marketing Manager, Lisa has spent the last five years as a blogger, community manager and social media strategist for a wide variety of clients ranging from tech startups to large corporations. An alumni of DePaul University and AIU London, Lisa currently resides in Chicago, where she grew up.

Top Programming Languages of 2013

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top programming languagesWhy should you know the top programming languages from 2013? For starters they are the skills needed for today’s high demand IT jobs industry wide.  They will also be in high demand for 2014. Companies are investing more in their internal systems, spending more money on their websites, and developing relevant mobile applications making the growth and need for software developers skyrocket. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics has projected a 30% growth in the employment of software developers by 2020. This is about twice the average growth rate for ALL occupations.

Secondly, If you aren’t a developer it is very likely that you work directly or indirectly with one to help you complete some aspect of your every day job. Knowing that these skill sets exist, and how they operate can help you more clearly communicate with your IT Department or helpdesk. Free sites like Codecademy (linked to below), can help give you this background knowledge.

Without further adieu, here are the top programming languages of 2013:

 

Author: Elyse Lopez

How to Use Networking to Find a Job

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Use networking to find a job
Using networking to find a job is so easy, that even a  seven year old could do it. When I was seven, I moved from Tucson, Arizona to Columbus, Ohio. I had no family or friends anywhere near the Midwest, and to be very honest, the thought of starting school with strangers in the winter seemed like one of the most terrifying things I would ever have to do. I was a little awkward, and a little goofy.

What’s funny about entering a room full of strangers is that the feeling of being an awkward outsider doesn’t necessarily go away with age, especially when unemployed or looking for a new job. Going to a networking event is a lot like starting at a new school especially when you are unemployed, but you don’t have to look like you aren’t sure of yourself.  Here are 5 tips on how to use networking to find a job, and look good doing it:

1. Do your research: Forget practice makes perfect. Try research makes perfect. If you know more about an event, the host group and likely attendees, you will be able to more effectively use networking to find a job or at least make great connections. Before I go to an event I look at the organization’s website and on LinkedIn profiles (a little online stalking never hurts), to make sure I am as prepared as possible. Also, because conversations go two ways, make sure you are well versed in your resume.

2. Be the first to attack!: This can seem terrifying, but because most people at networking events can be sheepish you will help someone else feel relieved. Take a deep breath, walk up to a group and introduce yourself. Not only will the confidence be attractive to potential employers, but you will be surprised how people just start asking you questions and talking to you.

3. Ask Questions If the group you approach is a bit awkward (we’ve all been there), start asking other people questions about what they do, where they work etc. Warming a group up can do wonders for a conversation. Learn more about ice breakers, questions to ask and elevator pitches in our past blog “Getting past hello.”

4. Make connections between people Now this may throw some people off, but instead of asking for a job, why not help your new networking buddies meet someone they might be able to work with? Connect them with your personal and professional contacts. Build relationships, and eventually when the stars align they will be able to help you find a job as well. If you still want to ask for a job, do it tactfully. Ask “Are there any companies that you could refer me to.”

5. Follow up  Make sure to keep in touch with the people you have met. Set up a time for coffee and connect them with who you said you would. If you do what you promised, you will likely have a great connection to start talking to at the next event at the very least. Follow through can also land you a meeting or interview with someone who is hiring.

In the end, remember that everyone is human, and most people are nervous to speak to strangers. If you are friendly, professional and helpful you may be surprised at how easy it is to use networking to find a job.

Author: Elyse Lopez

Listening: the Foundation of All Communication

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“Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice.”    William Shakespeare

There is no communication skill that is more important to your business and relationship success than listening.  If you really want to improve your communication skills and thus your success, read carefully. We’ll start with the answer and then proceed to the questions.  Here’s the answer: LISTENING.

Now, here are the questions. What is the foundation of all communication?  What communication skill were you using long before you were reading, writing or speaking?  Out of the four basic communication skills which one do you use the most? How did you do?  That wasn’t too hard was it?  That was the easiest quiz you ever scored a perfect 100.  We should be off to a great start together.

Now here are a couple of questions that may require you to think.  How much time did you spend learning to read, write and speak clearly during your years of formal education?  How much time did you invest on listening skills?  Your first answer was probably similar to mine…lots.  But what about the second question?

From first grade through high school and into college we are constantly learning and reviewing the skills of reading, writing and speaking.  But how much were you taught about listening?  Your second answer was also probably like mine.  I never had a specific course nor any detailed instruction in listening skills during all of my formal education.  Does that mean listening isn’t important? Does it prove that we don’t need to be taught how to listen?  The answers are obvious.  NO!

Top 10 reasons it's important to listen

How many can you add to this list?   There are easily 20 or more additional reasons that you could add.  Are you starting to see why listening is vital to your personal and professional life?

Research has shown we spend 70-85% of our business day communicating in one form or another.  Out of that time we usually spend 45% listening; 30% speaking; 16% reading and 9% writing.  Almost everyone believes they are good listeners. Unfortunately most of us listen at only 25% of our potential.  Can this be improved?  You bet it can!

 

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One of the biggest challenges with listening is the illusion that it is being accomplished.

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The Challenges with Listening

Have you ever had someone act as if they are listening to you?  They may even say they are listening, but you’re never quite sure until they show by their response that they understood what you said.

Here are just a few of the challenges we face in the listening process:

 

  1. Feeling time pressures
  2. Dealing with outside distractions
  3. Having a tendency to daydream
  4. Controlling emotional hot buttons
  5. Mental or physical fatigue
  6. Listening to a boring, monotone speaker
  7. Having problems with the speaker’s language or speech habits.  And the list goes on.

Here are two more specific to telephone communications: A) Not being able to see the speaker; B) Having a poor connection over the phone.  These and other hurdles can cause us to miss the message in the communication process and therefore lead to misunderstandings.  That’s what we want to avoid.

Are there solutions to these challenges?  Absolutely!  You’re in the right place to learn as you earn and listening can bolster your value in a multitude of ways.

 You can look forward to building your understanding and appreciation of this invaluable skill by watching for a continuation on this topic in future weeks.  Remember, listening is the foundation of all communication.

“Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you’d have preferred to talk.”  Doug Larson

Author: George Hendley
Instructor, Brightwing

George is a speaker, trainer and coach. Learn more about the instructor-led courses Brightwing offers. For a complete list of courses and detailed course outlines call 888-521-2478, ext. 317 or email Jenny.

Why You Shouldn’t Multitask during Conversations

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Have you ever thought of the impression that you give someone during a conversation when you’re multitasking? Next time you’re in a restaurant, look around and see how many people are clicking away on their devices and not paying attention to the person right across the table.  Between smart phones, laptops, tablets, and other digital devices in the market today, we can be reached anywhere at any time. Now, add in the fact that we have to do so much more in less time. As I started to give a lot of thought to how much I “multitask,” I decided to work on this for myself. It has made a major impact on getting things done right the first time. It’s amazing what you hear when you give your undivided attention.

Here are my TOP 3 REASONS why you shouldn’t multitask during a conversation!

1. IT IS REALLY BAD FOR BUSINESS
Despite your belief that you are superman and can do more than one thing at a time, you can’t. You’re going to miss something, and your effectiveness will suffer. I remember sitting in a weekly sales meeting a few weeks ago, and I was busy reading and answering emails on my smart phone, not paying any real attention to the conversation that was going on around the table. Even though it looked like I was participating, when it came time for my involvement, I was totally lost and embarrassed that I had to ask them to start the conversation over. So is it really bad for business? The answer is yes. You will inevitably miss part of the interaction.

2. IT IS RUDE.
The person you’re speaking with knows that you aren’t paying full attention to them, so why should they give you their undivided attention? When I deal with my clients and prospects, I have learned to leave all distractions behind. The person that I’m dealing with is someone I want to do business with. If you get distracted during a key conversation, you can kiss that opportunity goodbye. This will leave the person feeling unimportant, less empowered, and unlikely to want to deal with you and your organization. My goal is to represent myself and my organization, setting the bar high and raising their expectations on our quality of service and what they can expect from me moving forward.

3.  ITS UNPRODUCTIVE
Ironically, we multitask to save time and be more productive, but we actually miss information because we aren’t truly paying attention to the conversation.  When most of us work on our computers, we look down and miss important and powerful signals that are being sent along with the person’s words. Often, the way a person’s inflection, movement, and facial expressions speak louder than the actual words themselves, and if you don’t catch them, it could impact your decision making process.

MY CHALLENGE TO YOU
Next time you have conversation with someone do these 3 simple things:

1)      Close your laptop/minimize all screens and applications,

2)      Set your phones and smartphones on mute and put them face down,

3)      MAKE EYE CONTACT

4)      Focus on listening to what they are saying.

Try this for a week or two and see how much more you actually get out of your conversation when you’re really paying attention and not multitasking. I’ll bet you’ll be surprised that you learned something that you wouldn’t have if you had been multitasking. And if you look at that person at the end of the conversation, I’ll bet you’ll see that they are more motivated and engaged.

 

How to Bounce Back from Failure

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Let’s talk about goals. When I ran cross country in high school, I dreamed of running in the state meet at the end of the season. The reality? While senior year I was co-captain of the team, performance wise, I was mediocre at best.  Did this make me give up? No way Jose! But assessing the reality of my physical abilities helped me come back from personal set back and succeed in my own way senior year. The same thought process can be applied to our work lives as well as personal. What we learn when we do not reach our goals is experience, and while it may not be the result we wanted, can help change the game next time. Here are some tips on how to bounce back from a perceived failure in your personal or professional lives:

Just because it didn’t work out, doesn’t mean you didn’t gain anything valuable.
“Failure” gives us experience; the trick is seeing what you achieved. For example: Let’s say you learn a professional skill during a layoff period and master it. When you interview you are confident and prepared, but do not get the position for one reason or another. You didn’t reach your goal, but you did learn something entirely new that will be useful in ways you may not know yet. As Steve Jobs put it,”You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

Take an educated guess
Now that you are firmly back on your feet, eating well, and getting the proper amount of sleep, it’s time to move forward with an educated plan. Setting SMART goals (Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely) allow you to asses where you were, and where you would like to go in an organized fashion. This way, you have benchmarks and check-ins with yourself, your friends, your team and your manager to make sure you are on track with what you need/want to accomplish. You will also be able to see for yourself mid-project what is working and what is not before you’re entirely finished with the task and are able to do the best with what you know. In the end that’s all that you can do, and how others react is completely out of your control. Do not forget this.

Keep swinging that bat
Even with benchmark checking, and attitude/ behavior adjustments, we may not always succeed after we change our plan, but that doesn’t mean that we aren’t on the right track. According to an article in Forbes.com, “The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that about two-thirds of all start-ups live to see their second birthdays, and just 45% make it to their fourth. What separates the best from the rest is the strength to get back up, again and again.” This strategy holds true in all areas of our lives. For example: at work we have daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly goals we set out to accomplish. On occasion, even with careful planning, benchmarks and realistic goal setting we don’t succeed because of unforeseen challenges or the timeline was shorter than expected. But keep going. As my dad would say, “Keep swinging that bat Elyse! You’re bound to hit something!”

What are your goals? How have you bounced back? Every situation is unique, and strategies may vary, but if you give your best effort and fail it is always much greater than not trying at all.

 

From Teacher to Recruiter: How I Entirely Changed My Career

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One of our newer Sourcers/Recruiters, Rachel Harris, is a former school teacher who found herself making a switch from 12 years of teaching experience into entry level business positions. She had been a recruiter prior to starting with Brightwing, and has great advice for navigating an entire career change:

Maybe I’m a little dramatic, but I called them my “signs from God.” Over the last few years, a series of personal and professional events occurred, each providing, in my mind, more confirmation that it was time for me to seek a new career path. At that point, I’d been teaching for my entire adult life; so what does one do with a BA in English, other than teach? Honestly, I didn’t put a lot of thought into it: I just trusted that I’d find something. In hindsight, the leap-of-faith route, while it has worked out so far, probably wasn’t the best way to go. As luck would have it, though, I fell into recruiting – head first, baptism-by-fire style, at least with my first opportunity. After the company I originally recruited for closed its doors last summer, I found myself back in the job-seeker boat, but, this time, I went about the process of finding something new in a much more organized fashion.

I found that my organized job search involved asking myself a series of questions:  “What do I  want to be when I grow up?” I still don’t necessarily know the answer (and maybe I never will), “What do I like to do?” “ What am I good at?” and finally, “What would I be interested in learning more about?” When facing an entire career change, I had hoped that knowing myself would help me find a career that I would thoroughly enjoy. Feel free to apply these tactics when/ if you also decided to make such a change.

As for actually finding an opportunity in the career field you’ve chosen, that’s the big challenge.

Once you figure out what you want to be, at least for the time being, the next challenge is finding a job where you can actually do what you are setting out to do.  I had 12 years of professional experience under my belt, but no “practical” experience outside the classroom. In the eyes of hiring managers, I was entry-level all over again. It seemed like no one wanted to hear about my communication skills or presentation skills or clerical skills or… you get the idea. Applying on job boards, while it’s ultimately how I found my first post-teaching gig, doesn’t usually get you very far. I have no idea how many jobs I applied for, but I rarely got anything back. Frustrating! The key is getting your resume in front of people. The two ways that I found were the most effective were: Finding a reputable recruiter and also network like crazy.

When it’s time to actually explore job opportunities, determine what’s important to you. If job-satisfaction is your goal, be picky. Although it’s not always practical, don’t just take the first offer that’s thrown your way, just for the sake of having a J-O-B. One of my favorite questions to ask potential candidates is, “What factors will play into your decision whether to take a job or not? Do you have any must-haves or deal-breakers?” For some people it’s money; for some it’s the job itself; for some, benefits; for others, the company culture and environment. If you’ve thought these things through, it’ll help ensure a good match between yourself and your future employer.

I do miss some aspects of teaching – the students (maybe not all of them), my colleagues, my classroom, – but I’m much happier in my work than I have been in years. I’ve found a career that matches my skill set: I’m relatively organized; I like to talk a lot and listen well; I have years of experience asking and evaluating responses to questions. At the same time, it definitely pushes me out if my comfort zone.

Working through a Contract House: the Good, Bad & the Ugly

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I know that finding a job, whether through your own means or through a staffing company, can be very frustrating. I wanted to know what really makes for a pleasant experience from contractors who have been through it all with several different agencies. They described what they have experienced in the past, and what they look for in a company now. Here are a few things that you should think about before working with a staffing company:

The company reaches out to me
“It’s very important to me, and I have had the most positive experience when I am able to easily connect with my contract house. If I had to choose again, I would always choose an agency that focuses on the care and keeping of its contractors. There have been companies that I have worked for in the past that have not been reachable. If I had any issues with my paycheck, benefits or my actual contract, I would never be able to get a hold of them. The best experiences I have had are with companies who actually care about you. Not only are they available when I need them for issue resolution or for career counseling, but they reach out to me. I get taken out to lunch on occasion, the contractors at my company are treated to pizza parties and I actually know the company that I work through. I feel as though I am part of a team and not just temporary staff in a building that I sit in.”

“I worked at a company before my current position where I was in charge of employees in 5 states. Part of my performance review looked at how I cared for my employees. I needed to visit each employee twice a year and hold a gathering for them annually in addition to general career counseling or job questions. The reason I chose my current company is because they valued the face to face touch and didn’t rely solely on email and phone. I feel like I am a part of a family”

I am a person, not a commodity
“I have had experiences in the past where I had no personal relationship with my recruiter. Basically what happened is a staffing company called me out of the blue based on my skills, and left me a voicemail saying that they had submitted my resume, and secured an interview. In the meantime I hadn’t even spoken to them in the first place. What I enjoy about my experience now is that my recruiter works with me on reformatting my resume, asks me about my career goals and thoroughly prepares me for my interview, I am even walked in so that I have a support system the whole time.”

“My former employer was a joke. They had zero interest in getting to know me, to see how my job was going or to see if I needed anything. While I am thankful to have gotten a job, I was only a commodity to them. When my contract was up I did not feel any loyalty to stay with them and switched companies. Some contractors like the no touch model, but I would like to be able to speak to a person in person and not have my health benefits and paychecks come from a stranger.”

When looking for a new position, keep in mind some of these stories and don’t feel the need to settle on a company that won’t treat or represent you well.