Companies in Connected Car News (Not Only Auto Industry)

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Companies in the U.S (and beyond) are hitting new autonomous milestones every day. The competition is heavy, and so is the creativity. GM and Toyota are in the news again, but so is…Dominoes? 5 trending connected car stories this week:

 

 

GM Deal Is A Big Move In Autonomous Vehicle Quest

General Motors received quick regulatory approval of its acquisition of Cruise Automation, the three-year-old start-up that has developed a “highway autopilot” product that could accelerate GM’s quest for a fully autonomous car. Read more…

 

 

Toyota Hires Entire Staff Of Autonomous-Vehicle Firm

Toyota, looking to gain an edge in the auto industry’s race for technology talent, has recruited the staff at a small Massachusetts-based autonomous-vehicle company to work on its advanced projects. The move reflects a trend among auto industry companies, including car-hailing and other fast-growing startups, to rapidly build their research & development skills by taking over small & specialized companies. Read more…

 

 

Ford To Have Autonomous Mini Theaters For Passengers

Ford is going the extra mile with its autonomous car fleet by putting autonomous vehicle entertainment systems into its self-driving cars. Just like an in-flight movie can distract plane passengers from long, boring flights, Ford thinks movie projectors in its autonomous cars could benefit and entertain its passengers while they ride. Read more…

 
 

Baidu To Test Drive Autonomous Cars In The U.S.

The move, disclosed by Baidu’s chief scientist Andrew Ng in an interview late Tuesday, is a significant step for the company, which is trying to get ahead in the race to build autonomous cars and is now calling on the resources of its Silicon Valley tech center to advance the effort. At the same time, Baidu is advocating for better coordination with the U.S. government. Read more…

 
 

Dominos Is Trialling An Autonomous Pizza Delivery Robot

Pizza giant Domino’s has unveiled an autonomous pizza delivery robot that is being trialled in New Zealand. The vehicle’s development started in 2015 and was pushed towards commercialisation by Domino’s Australia-based skunkworks DLab. This feature has been incorporated in DRU, which according to Domino’s can dodge hurdles thanks using on-board sensors. Read more…

 

Keeping Up With Mobile Tech – Where It’s Going

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What’s happening in the world of mobile tech? Are mobile development careers revolutionizing the modern workplace? How are companies leveraging these new technologies? These are just a few of the many questions that are being asked in 2016. Here are 4 trending topics in mobile tech:

 

App Debut Will Get You Graduate Job By Playing Mobile Games

Every year soon-to-be university graduates plough through dozens of job applications in the hope that they’ll land a coveted graduate scheme. It boasts high user engagement, with over 40,000 game plays and 140,000 app sessions in the last month alone. Read more…

 

Mobile App Dev: 3 Trends That Will Shake Up Your Strategy

Industry analyst Peter Crocker outlines three emerging technology trends that will have you rethinking your organization’s mobile development strategy. Whether you’re building mobile apps for your enterprise users or for your company’s external customers, it is an iterative process. Read more…

 

The Future of Mobile Tech

Smartphone technology has advanced from luxury to the necessary in a number of years. The industry of mobile tech has boomed as a result, and 2016 is expected to see a significant increase in the number of mobile devices sold, according to technology research firm Gartner. This consistent growth of mobile tech is hardly surprising, considering it has integrated itself as a key part of our daily lives. Read more…

 

Career Roadmap: How a Mobile Developer Found His Calling

Chris Turner is now a successful mobile developer for a home automation and application development company. But his career path took some unexpected turns along the way. Read more…

How Manufacturing Jobs Can Benefit From Automation

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Let’s be honest – automation technology can be disruptive at times. Some manufacturing jobs have been taken over by robots, while others have been outsourced. But that’s not to say the industrial sector is dead, or anywhere near it. In fact, advanced technology is becoming more efficient, which lowers production costs. When production costs are down, companies are able to invest in outside specialists needed to maintain manufacturing equipment.

In a nutshell, a job in manufacturing was once a hammer and chisel until we evolved, and now we’re evolving once again. Here are some of the latest manufacturing outlook news stories:

 

Auto Tech Brings Domestic Manufacturing Jobs Home

Tech might be what’s being blamed for shrinking the number of industrial jobs, but it’s also the key to reviving the sector. Here’s why.

 

The Rise of Manufacturing Jobs in America, even with Robotics

Are robots to blame for the slow job growth in America’s manufacturing industry? No, in fact, robots may actually be helping to save jobs rather than eliminating them. Read more.

 

Manufacturing Jobs Expected To Increase Slightly In 2016

A new survey anticipates that employment in the industrial sector will rebound following a slight decrease in late 2015. Read more.

Automotive News: Sales, Robots, Top 10

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Car sales are soaring, humans are replacing robots for once, & the top automotive picks for 2016 are in!
Your bi-weekly automotive news:

 

2016 Car Sales are Off to the Races

 

U.S. gasoline prices have continued falling in February, driving demand for pickups and SUVs higher but forcing automakers to raise incentives on cars to keep inventories from piling up too much. That would result in a seasonally adjusted, annualized selling rate of 17.7 million units, up from 17.6 million in January and 16.4 million a year ago. TrueCar said it expects sales this month to climb … Read more >

 

Mercedes Replacing Robots with People on Assembly Line

Robots might be better at driving than people. They might also be better at solving a Rubik’s Cube. Turns out, though, there’s still one place in the world where humans still outshine robots: a Mercedes-Benz assembly plant. Mercedes offers so many options on its higher-end cars that the variety was overwhelming robots, forcing the brand to replace them with people. Read more >

 

10 Top Picks of 2016: Best Cars of the Year

 

Consumer Reports defines the “best” car as the one that excels in their extensive tests, as well as shines for reliability, safety, and owner satisfaction. Certainly, there are many good cars on the market today to choose from. But when a reader asks them to definitively name the best, the 10 Top Picks are their answers across popular categories. And they have the data to back it up. Top 10 Cars

 

Project Management Success – Everything You Need

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Do you have what it takes to be a successful Project Manager? Project Management requires a particular skill-set, and you must maintain a professional education in the field. That being said, it can be highly rewarding. The median annual Project Management Manager salary is $124,372, as of January 31, 2016 (salary.com).

 

Do You Have What It Takes to be a Project Manager?

Although every project is different, each requires a planned, organized approach. Do you have what it takes to be a project manager? What personality type fits best into project management? Read more…

 
 
 

20 Things Every Project Manager Should Know

Here’s a quick, handy, up-to-date list of “must-haves” for all project managers—aspiring, novices and experienced alike. Pin it to your cork board, hang it on the fridge and send it to your colleagues. Either way, use it as both a reference and reminder of how you can be on your project management “A-game.” Read more…

 
 

Beyond 40 Hours: Continuous PM Learning

It’s really important for project managers to think of themselves as students. No matter what industry you’re in, chances are that you’re constantly facing changes—or new developments—in business, and that affects your scopes, processes, resources, and plans. One minor enhancement can change everything, and you need to keep up. Read more…

 
 

How to Maintain Your PMP Certification: Dues & PDUs

PMP-certificationOnce you’ve earned your PMP certification you should know what’s required to keep it current; that means paying dues & earning professional development units. Simple Steps to Maintain PMP Certification

 
 
 

Your 2016 Job Search: 3 Trending Topics

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job search, don't just stand thereJob search can be daunting at times – Most of us have been there a time or two… or eight. Nevertheless, as an engineer, you are likely to have many options available. That being said, it’s possible that you still find yourself at a job you’re not happy with. Don’t let conformism take over your career! Here are some trending topics that cover staying motivated, cutting your job search in half, self promotion tips, and more.

 

 

Use These Tactics To Cut Your Job-Search Time In Half

Job-seekers are figuring out from harsh personal experience — the best teacher there is — that the traditional job-search machine is broken. It doesn’t work. You could literally lob applications into automated recruiting sites forever and never get a job. To get hired and especially to get a job that deserves your talents, you have to take a more proactive approach. Read more…

 

 

How To Stay Positive And Motivated While Job Searching

At the start of a job search, you may feel excited, but over time the excitement can fade. Here’s how to stay positive and motivated while job searching. Read more…

 

 

Difference Between Feeling Bored & Feeling Unhappy At Work

No one feels completely engaged at work all of the time, but if you are feeling these symptoms, it’s a clue that it’s time to take action. Read more…

Recruiting & Job Search Trends you Need to Know

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Brightwing is serving up the latest recruiting trends for job seekers and hiring managers. Don’t worry, we do the reading for you and dish out the latest news and information in the industry.

 

Jackpot: How Recruiters And Candidates Win At Salary Negotiation

Salary negotiation doesn’t have to be such a hot button topic. Learn how everyone can win in a salary negotiation. Hint: It starts with communication. Read more…

 

Can You Handle The Truth? Millennials Can.

With 36 percent of the workforce comprised of millennials, recruiters must understand what millennials want and need in order to fill more positions. Read more…

 

8 Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Interviewing a Job Candidate

To be a great leader you must be a great interviewer, since the quality of your organization depends on your ability to find and hire the right people. Save money and time by identifying great applicants the first time around. 8 Mistakes.

 

The New Way We’ll Work – Global Workplace Trends

Findings from the ADP Research Institute’s 2016 Evolution of Work study, a global look at workplace trends across 2,000 individuals in 13 countries. Read more…

 

 

 

25 Best Jobs in America Right Now

The jobs that make this list have the highest overall Glassdoor Job Score, determined by combining three key factors – number of job openings, salary and career opportunities rating. These jobs stand out across all three categories. The Top 25.

Chrysler Drive for Design Contest For High Schoolers

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Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has announced that they are bringing back their Drive for Design contest. Drive for Design was created in 2013 to creatively educate young artists about careers in automotive design. For this year’s contest, high school students (grades 10, 11, and 12) are challenged with designing a Dodge SRT Hellcat for the year 2025.

 

Winners of the contest will be awarded with great prizes, including Apple products, an all-expenses-paid trip to Detroit Autorama, a 3-week summer automotive design course at the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit, and more.

 

Drive for DesignImportant Dates:

* January 8, 2016 – Entries due via FCADriveForDesign.com

* January 15, 2016 – Winners announced

* February 26, 2016 – Winners awarded at the Detroit Autorama at Cobo Center in Detroit

 

Interested in working in the the Motor City as an Automotive Designer or Engineer? View Brightwing’s career opportunities.

The Best States to Live in Financially

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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?

 

 

Which Computer Science Jobs Are Best? [Infographic]

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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

 

Why Michigan Is Leading the Tech Talent Race

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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.

Developing Detroit: Amber Conville

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The Detroit tech scene is filled with passionate, inspirational individuals who are eager to re-develop Detroit. The city has become a huge technology hub for many tech enthusiasts and innovators.

 

That being said, Brightwing has created Developing Detroit: An interview-based blog to spotlight individuals who drive technology in the city. Discover motivations, advice, and opportunities, straight from the source of Detroit innovation.

 

Our first Developing Detroit interview is with Amber Conville, a Software Engineer who prides herself on helping other software community amateurs & professionals in-and-around Detroit.

 

amber conville

 

AMBER CONVILLE

 

Coder | Tech Group Organizer | Detroit Software Community Activist

What’s your favorite part about your involvement on the tech scene?

I think my favorite part is that once you organize the event, a bunch of like-minded people get together & learn something new. It’s always nice to hear people say, “This is really cool. I feel really inspired to work on this.”

 

Where does your inspiration to code, and collaborate with other tech professionals, stem from?

I just really like coding. I’ve always liked puzzles, and I eventually got into coding just for fun. I’ve had coding jobs for about 7 years now. It’s great.

 

Have you faced any challenges in your programming/software development career? If so, how have you dealt with these challenges?

I’ve been pretty lucky in the jobs that I’ve had so far. I’ve liked them a lot and they’ve had a lot of good mentorship opportunities.

 

What advice do you have for women who are looking to become a programmer/tech professional?

I would say join user-groups and networking groups that are dedicated to women in code. Even if you’re intimidated and don’t fully comprehend what somebody is talking about, you’ll pick up little bits  of information and you’ll meet other people who can help you. It can seem daunting at first, but that’s how you do it.

 

We’ve noticed that you’ve had a lot of involvement in Metro-Detroit’s tech-scene and software community.

What is it about Detroit that makes for a great tech environment?

Well Southeast Michigan has had a pretty amazing tech community anyways for a long time. It just seemed natural that if I wanted a group to exist, I would just make one. Lots of people who organize things are perfectly willing to help you do that here. I love it. Everybody is really excited about Detroit and about the software community. It’s perfect.

 

What’s your vision for Detroit programmers in 5-10 years from now?

Most people are hoping Detroit turns into a Silicon Valley, but I’m really not. I’m hoping that Detroit just keeps doing what it’s doing now. I think Detroit being a software city is awesome. I also think that we need lots of other industries here like art and science-type industries. I’m sure there’s a facet for software in all of those things.

 

What advice do you have for young tech enthusiasts that are looking to join the software community in Metro-Detroit?

Get out into the world. There’s a million meetups and user-groups. There’s a ton of people who are passionate about learning, teaching, and mentorship.

 

What kind of resources does the software community in Metro-Detroit have?

There’s a lot of people who want to help. I would suggest going to tech conferences too. 1DevDay – which has a lot of hard talks, is just one day where you can learn a lot, and there’s not a lot of commitment. TechWeek, SelfConference, and Grand Circus are also great resources for the software community.

 

Are there any tech startups in Detroit that really stand out to you? If so, which ones?

Detroit LabsI haven’t been paying too much to the startup scene. I’m a little biased since I used to work at Detroit Labs, but they are a really great company and they’re doing a lot of great things with their apprenticeship program. They hired about 30 people last year who had no coding background, and most of them are developers now.

 

What are the perks about working in Detroit?

There’s a lot of really great food – I like that a lot! It’s also a great place to learn, grow, and do something new and exciting.

 

Tech professionals have a lot of opportunities and options these days.

What do you look for in an employer?

I work at a company called Test Double and it has all the things I want. It’s small and everybody is on the same page as far as what they want for the company, including the founders. It’s also remote, so I don’t have to leave my house if I don’t want to. Test Double is just really good at investing in their employees. They’re also committed to helping with personal and professional goals outside of work. That’s the kind of relationship that makes for a good company.

 

What are you passionate about and where do you want to take your career?

I really like organizing things that can give opportunities to people that might not have had them anyway. I like to help make things easy, discoverable, and safe to learn.

 

What advice do you have for developers looking for work?

Developers are in demand. Walk outside basically (laughs). But honestly, using your network is the best way to do it. If you don’t know any developers or software connections, start making connections at meetups and user-groups. Also, I suggest looking for programs like the apprenticeship with Detroit Labs.

 

You’ve organized one of the first Ruby user-groups in Detroit.

What inspired you to create the Detroit.rb user-group?Detroit Ruby

This group actually used to exist. It hadn’t met in over a year before I took it over. I started doing Ruby on Rails with my job now and I really wanted to go somewhere to beef up my skills.

 

What are some of the major advantages you see with this programming language?

Rails is dead easy for doing most things that you need to do on the web. That really makes it easy for people to get into programming without too much overhead. When you’re starting you can be like BOOM.. I now have a website that has a database, can save things, and looks nice if you put CSS on it. That’s a pretty huge step when you’re new to programming.

 

What advice do you have for programmers looking to learn Ruby?

There’s some really good resources like Rails for Zombies, which is a stupid fun little thing that will teach you how to start working in Rails, and therefore Ruby. I think Why the Lucky Stiff guy is still out there too, which teaches you how to write Ruby with cartoon foxes and silliness.

 

Bonus Questions

When you’re not programming, what do you like to do in your free time?

Play a lot of videogames (laughs)

 

Is there anyone or anything you idolize in the software community?

I have a lot of people that I look up to – it’s A LOT of people. Mostly, it’s the people that I’ve worked that have taught me how to program, and to those who mentored me through tough situations and rough teams. I also look up to the people who taught me how to do user-groups and conferences.

 

Which 3 words best describe the Detroit Tech community?

Passionate | Ambitious | Vibrant

Interested in being featured or have questions about the Developing Detroit series? Contact Joe at [email protected]

Girl Develop It Ann Arbor 1-Year Anniversary Fundraiser

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Girl Develop It (GDI) Ann Arbor is celebrating it’s 1 year anniversary with a fundraising bash on Thursday, June 4th. All are welcome! The celebration honors the amazing Ann Arbor-based women in tech community that Girl It has helped to build up over the last year. Hear brief remarks from some incredible students, instructors and volunteers whose lives have been impacted by their involvement with GDI and mingle with community members who’ve supported the growth and success of Girl Develop It throughout the year.

 

GDI Ann Arbor

Thursday, June 4th 2015

6:00 – 9:00 PM

The Forge 4.0 by Pillar

 

301 E Liberty St., 7th Floor

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

DIRECTIONS





GDI Ann Arbor has grown into a community of over 900 members locally, 25 instructors, 40 volunteers and have held almost 50 events including classes, informational talks, and happy hours.
 
They have invited over 40 local, hiring companies – so there will be plenty of opportunities for networking and engaging with the Ann Arbor tech community! All proceeds from the event will go toward Girl Develop It programming and scholarships to help women, including underrepresented and unemployed women, take the group’s classes to further their careers.

Purchase your ticket today before they sell out.

 
About Girl Develop It

Girl Develop It is a nonprofit organization that exists to provide affordable and judgment-free opportunities for women interested in learning web and software development. Through in-person classes and community support, Girl Develop It helps women of diverse backgrounds achieve their technology goals and build confidence in their careers and their everyday lives. The group has chapters in 47 cities across the country. For more information on Girl Develop It visit their website, where you can get info on a chapter near you or learn how to start a chapter in your area.

 

Girl Develop It Detroit

Live in the Metro Detroit area? Check out the Detroit chapter of Girl Develop It. They offer tons of classes for people interested in learning to code or improving their coding skills.

7 Social Media Platforms for Engineering Professionals

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Who says engineers aren’t on social media? Although some engineering professionals stray away from the “kings of social media” (Twitter, Facebook, etc.), there are other popular engineering outlets that often get overlooked. We’ve compiled the top 7 social media outlets for engineers.

 

labroots 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.

Programming Language Map: Job Breakdown

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

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Programming Language Map: Job Breakdown

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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

Programming Languages that Pay the Most

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

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Programming Languages that Pay the Most

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Ever wonder which computer programming languages pay the most? According to Business Insider, the average salary for computer programmers just hit an all-time high as it approached $100,000.

 

Having knowledge in programming languages such as Objective C, Java, or .NET is proving to be highly rewarding. Upon researching some of the most popular programming languages with the TIOBE Programming Index, we discovered some intriguing results. The graph below represents the 10 highest paying programming languages to use[Quartz], with their respective popularity (as of March, 2015).

 

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

 

Deciphering UI and UX | The Basics

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In today’s professional world, the concepts of UI and UX are being used interchangeably. Understanding the difference will help companies to hire and target the right people, optimize design efforts, and help professionals make sound and optimal career-related decisions.

 

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

 

 

 

Exciting Scholarship Opportunities for Metro Detroit Developers

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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.

Cover Letter Formula to Win Over Employers [Sample]

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The full-page cover letter is becoming a thing of the past. To really get the attention and cut through all the digital noise, give your email correspondence the attention it deserves. Think of email as the new cover letter. Short and to the point always wins.

 

The Formula

1. Email Subject Lines Are King – use this as an opportunity to sell yourself. You only have a second or two. Instead of writing “Senior account manager position,” write “Senior Acct. Manager – 5 YRS Exceeding Sales Quotas – MBA”

 

2. Start with a Name Drop, if Possible – First, mention how you found out about the position if, and only if, you were referred by someone. Name dropping isn’t a bad thing, and referrals are usually preferred to blind introductions. Otherwise, don’t waste precious email real estate.

 

3. Spotlight Worthy Skillsets – It’s easy to say you have leadership skills or work well in teams, but c’mon! You can do better than that. What makes you stand out?

 

4. Bullet Point Career Wins – List your major career accomplishments to prove you have what it takes to fill the position.

 

5. End it. Short and Sweet – Thank them, and be on your way.

 

Email Cover Letter Sample
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

 

 

Are You Too Busy for Your Own Good?

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There are three types of people in this world: people who are busy, people who are not, and people who have the time to brag about how busy they are. No matter which camp you belong to, keep reading.

  • Busier Than Ever?
    The projects at work are mounting to Himalayan proportions. The list of personal errands is swelling by the minute. New family responsibilities keep popping up. If you observe the stereotypical TV sitcom family, they’re constantly in motion, going from one scheduled activity to another, from exhausting weekdays to jam-packed weekends, with nary a moment to stop and smell the roses. Everyone’s running around like headless chickens, right? Well, that’s the thing – it’s not everyone. There are people who live the slower life. It’s just that the busy bees are often ambitious type-A personalities who are very vocal about their lack of time. Or they’re type-B folks who voice their stress during moments of genuine time-crunch, and when their schedule calms down we assume that their plate is still full; we have no reason to assume otherwise. Then again, have you ever heard any of your colleagues bragging to their boss about how much free time they have? It doesn’t happen often.
  • This Is Not a Competition
    Time management is not a team competition. It’s a useful individual skill which few have truly mastered, but it’s not a game. If you try to play it, you may ultimately lose. If you spread yourself too thin by taking on too many projects in an effort to impress your boss or colleagues, you’ll end up with little time to reflect, to wonder, to nourish relationships, to develop projects, and to cultivate creativity. You may accomplish all of your tasks by working long hours and weekends, but this is not a healthy long-term strategy. By bragging about how busy you are, you are helping to perpetuate the view that this state of affairs is not only common but acceptable. The challenge is to transcend this plague of the modern workplace by either (a) managing your time effectively or (b) not complaining, even when you are swamped.
  • Consider Your Health
    In the workplace, physical and emotional health is often relegated to lower importance than work. In some offices, project deadlines are of the utmost priority and must be met at all costs, especially when executive visibility is involved. If you are extremely busy, your reputation as a hard worker (or workaholic) may grow, but in the long run your ability to deliver on all your commitments will shrivel. Retention of critical information will suffer. Organic learning will be stunted. Relationships, both personal and professional, will fall to the wayside. Self-awareness will go down the drain. If you’re overworked, your health may be compromised, which can affect your productivity, happiness, and long-term prospect at the job. In other words, by working too hard, you may be shooting yourself in the foot.
  • Would You Rather Be a Liar, or Incompetent?
    If you spend too much time bragging or even complaining about how busy you are, you are either (a) exaggerating or (b) genuinely too busy for your own good. If it’s the former, and colleagues see that you’re spending too much time on irrelevant or personal tasks (e.g. checking your phone or social media accounts), you’re putting your professional and personal reputation on the line. There’s also the possibility that you have terrible time management skills. Another employee might be able to complete tasks in half the time with higher quality. Perhaps they are aware of shortcuts, or simply able to prioritize and focus better than you. Either way, admitting that you’re swamped doesn’t look impressive to a boss. Either boost your time management skills, or . . .
  • Learn To Ask for Help, And To Say No
    Instead of spending a huge chunk of your day complaining about the never-ending pile of projects, focus on what you can accomplish. Additionally, make a commitment to say no – firmly, but politely — to additional responsibilities. If a new task is critical (everything is NOT a fire, contrary to some beliefs), be realistic and explain to your boss and/or client that something else will have to give. If you don’t communicate this, you’ll be expected to deliver everything on time, which may not be realistic. Instead of taking everything onto your own plate, hone the skill of asking for help. If you’ve been helping colleagues all along, they should be willing to lend a hand when you need it most. Don’t see this as a sign of weakness. By inviting others to help, you give people the chance to feel useful and you can strengthen relationships that way as well. You will achieve greater professional success by recognizing the contributions of others than by complaining about your incredibly, ridiculously, insanely busy workload.

Don’t Know What To Do in Your Career? Act!

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Do you often find yourself stuck in a pattern of analysis, constantly looking at hypothetical scenarios without taking action? Indecision is common problem that people face, and the inability to move forward can freeze their progress and have a negative impact on their career. One of the best things that you can do to move forward is to start taking action, even if you are only moving forward one step at a time.


Action Uncovers Possibilities
You can analyze all day long, but it will be impossible to uncover the real possibilities until you start taking action. This principle applies to all areas of your life, including your career. For example, if you are involved in a project with a team at work and you find yourself in the situation of always making suggestions but never implementing anything, then it is likely that the team will become frustrated because no forward progress will be made.

On the other hand, you can develop stronger credibility with your coworkers and managers by showing that you are willing to take action. It is important to assess the situation before moving forward, but sometimes the best analysis can’t happen until you have started taking action on the project.

Don’t Be Afraid to Fail
Many people are scared to take action because they are afraid of failure. So, they limit their progress by analyzing the situation in order to reduce the possibilities of failure. The truth is that failure is inevitable in life, and you can gain some of the best experiences by taking action to see what didn’t work.

If you start taking action, you can always make small adjustments along the way to increase the likelihood of success. Or, you might find yourself in a situation where you need to completely start over, but you have valuable insights that will make the new plan even more effective.

Taking Action Positions You as a Leader
Taking action is a key factor to help you move forward with your career, because other people will naturally follow when you are taking action. More action gives you more opportunity to improve systems, increase productivity, and achieve higher levels of success. Other people are drawn to the employees and managers that are confident in their actions, and you can come out on top if you aren’t scared to get your hands dirty.

Eliminate Regrets
When you take action, you can eliminate regrets in your life and your career. One of the worst feelings is the doubtful “what if” questions that arise when you missed a potential opportunity. Action will help you to increase the likelihood of success, and you won’t have any doubts or regrets along the way.

At the same time, action makes you an interesting person. If you don’t want to be the boring person in the office, then you need to start taking action to get people to notice what you are doing.

Sometimes getting started is the hardest part, so it is better to look at the first step instead of trying to understand every step of the process. Start moving in the right direction, and you will see that the momentum will carry you to higher levels of success.

5 Tips to Boost Your Credibility at the Office

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Success in your career is contingent on one important thing: getting people to take you seriously. If you want to move forward in your career, then you need to make sure that you are building credibility with the people that you are working with. Here are a few things that you can do to build more credibility with coworkers, your boss, and hiring managers:

 

  1. Be Aware of Your Body Language
    Your body language sends many verbal signs about confidence, or a lack of confidence. Pay attention to the way you are sitting, standing, and moving throughout the day, and be more deliberate in managing your body language.For example, if you are always slumped over in your chair and keeping your head down, then it is sending the message that you don’t want to talk to anyone and you probably don’t want to be there. On the other hand, straightening your shoulders, looking people in the eye, and holding your head a little higher shows confidence and authority.
  2. Dress for Success
    Your appearance has a strong impact on first impressions, and dressing the part shows that you are serious about your job. You don’t have to spend too much money to only wear designer clothing or stick with a specific style of clothing. But, it is important to stay well groomed and be one of the best dressed people in your company.
  3. Be a Good Listener
    People love to talk about themselves, and they want to be heard. When people are talking about themselves, it actually stimulates a portion of the brain to trigger pleasurable emotions.  If you want to make a good impression with someone, then you should ask questions and let them talk. This process will form social bonds and increase the likelihood that they will have a favorable memory of the interaction.
  4. Do Your Homework and Take Action
    It is important to know what you are talking about to add valuable insights and information to the project. The best way to provide value to the project is by researching the topic and preparing in advance, so that you show up to the meeting with good insights to share with the group. Make sure to follow through with the things that you are suggesting, you don’t want to be the person who is all talk and no action. The follow-up is even more important than the presentation of the idea.
  5. Master the Art of Public Speaking
    Whether you are sitting in an interview or presenting an idea in a board meeting, you need to have the skills to clearly and succinctly share your message with the group. Pay attention to small details, such as the intonation of your voice, how many times you use filler words like “um”, and the clarity and emotion of your words as you are speaking. Try to incorporate stories into your presentations, stories capture the attention of everyone in the room and they leave a stronger impression than boring facts and statistics.

 

By implementing these tips, you can improve your confidence in the workplace, and that confidence will naturally encourage people to take you seriously. Make sure to maintain the confidence and also stay humble at the same time, because finding the right balance will help you achieve higher levels of success in your career.