Tag Archive for: career growth

There is no better time than now to jump-start your career as an IT professional in the Metro-Detroit area. According to the Detroit Free Press, user-interface software developers and systems engineers are 2 of the hottest jobs in Michigan this year!

It’s no easy task to start or change career paths. Luckily for Detroiters, there are resources out there that allow you to develop IT and software development skills in a matter of months.

 

software developer

Take Grand Circus Detroit for instance – A proud Downtown Detroit company dedicated to producing fresh, local high-quality tech talent. They’re known for their intensive 8-week bootcamps that give students everything they need to know to start a tech career. One woman, Chandra Floyd, quit her job of 11 years to chase her dreams with Grand Circus Detroit.

Girl Develop IT is another organization that shows individuals how to master the ropes of coding and software development. They are a nonprofit organization that exists to provide affordable and accessible programs to women who want to learn web and software development through hands-on instruction. Girl Develop IT’s Michigan chapters include Detroit and Ann Arbor.

 

There are more tech opportunities than ever in the Metro-Detroit area. Whether you have a desire to become a software or web development professional – or just want to enhance your knowledge, look no further than your local tech development organizations.

If you are ready to discover a new job opportunity now, you may be in luck! Inquire about Brightwing’s information technology jobs for current openings.

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.

Time is passing you by this very minute as you read.  If you are currently reading this article, then perhaps you have some interest in creating a little more time in your day.  Now to be perfectly honest, your day is going only have 24 hours in it whether you like it or not. So don’t consider yourself a magician creating time, but a detective scavenging your day for that precious 60 minutes that might have lost its way. And more than a tip or trick, self-awareness is your map to these 60 minutes.

That Thing Only You Know

People are more self-aware than they are often given credit. Consequently, the experts believe that with the right questions, people can quickly come to a conclusion more powerful than anything they have been told. So here is where you start to find your lost 60 minutes.  Start with you analyzing your day and you being honest with yourself.

How much time do you spend doing things at work that you wouldn’t want your boss to see? This works for management as well.  How much time do you spend on something at work for which you would be embarrassed if your hard working employees were to witness?  You see, there are those that expect good stewardship of your time.  You know who those people are and you know the time spent on things that would disappoint those people.

It’s not that a little time aloof can’t be healthy from time to time.  However, if you really want to find a lost hour of the day, you have to start here as no one knows what this time looks like apart from you.  If you are unwilling to go here, then you need to question how committed you are to finding that extra hour.

The End of the Day

If you get off work at 5:00, what time do you stop working?  This is not a trick question.  Remember, we are talking about saving the day by finding an extra 60 minutes.  So if you frequently shut down at 4:45 every day, then recovering that time gets you 25% of the way there. Now this is more than just a motivational approach, but a scheduling one as well.

However, before you schedule, you have to be honest with yourself about when you quit working. You can’t ask your boss about it because you often don’t tell your boss that from 4:30 is when you start staring at the clock rather than working.  If you know this about yourself, then its time to start being smart about what you schedule for the end of the day.

If you put projects that are too large to complete at the end of the day, then you need to ask yourself if it is too tempting to just wait until the next day to start.  Moreover, if you put frivolous tasks without deadlines at the end of the day, the temptation might be to just put it off until tomorrow.  Remember, we are seeking an extra 60 minutes, not a whole day. Consider putting easy tasks with a deadline of that very day as an end of the day task.  Consequently, it forces you to put that last hour to use which otherwise would be unproductive.

So these are routes to discovering lost time for which self-awareness will be your guide. If you are unwilling to ask yourself the hard questions about your own work habits, then all the tips and tactics in the world will be of no use. Search yourself and these 60 minutes will be easier to find than you think.

Here are some common slip-ups and how to avoid them, so you can stay on the fast-track path to career success. Assuming you want to move forward in your career, avoid these common mistakes that could be sabotaging your own progress.

It is alarmingly simple to sabotage your own career. An insensitive comment, your weekend on social media, or a remark in a room full of politically correct colleagues. Any one of these situations can brand you with the scarlet letter of an untrustworthy, unstable, or poor decision-making employee. Knowing the common traps helps you to avoid them.

Here are five ways to single-handedly self-sabotage your career.

  1. Cross the Boundaries with TMI
    Too much information, or TMI, crosses workplace boundaries that should remain off limits. One of the most self-sabotaging ways to impact your career is to offer too much information. This may come in the form of a negative remark about a former boss or a co-worker who made a mistake on an important task. When you display a lack of emotional intelligence by offering too much information about someone else or yourself, your career may suffer the consequence.
  2. Mismanage Social Media
    Horror stories abound regarding social media and mistakes that have cost many their jobs. Uploading a photo from a wild weekend could go viral in the office and end up in the wrong hands. Be mindful of pictures you upload to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Avoid ranting about co-workers, your boss, or office problems. Disgruntled posts about colleagues and clients are not an act of vindication, but self-sabotage.
  3. Become Complacent with Your Skillset
    When you allow your skills to stagnate you eliminate your ability to bring something fresh to the job. It is important, especially if you want to advance in your career, to keep your skills up-to-date. People with gaps in their ongoing education are not as marketable as those who stay polished. If you plan to move up the ladder, you must keep your industry skills current.
  4. Stalk Your Mentor
    While stalking may seem like a strong word, becoming overly aligned with your boss, supervisor, or mentor can be detrimental to your career. It is important to maintain a healthy relationship with your boss, but when relationships are taken to extreme, your career may suffer. To avoid over-alignment diversify your workplace relationships and avoid becoming attached at the hip with those who mentor you.
  5. Hold a Grudge and Declare Office War
    Office conflict is inevitable. It is how you handle it that either sabotages your career or makes you a stronger individual. Rather than holding a grudge against the colleague who beat you out of the corner office, congratulate them and vow to yourself to work harder. Too often petty problems arise in the workplace and cause negative situations. No matter how hurt or angry you are, never send off that improper email or get into a verbal attack with anyone at work. It could cost you your reputation and your career.

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.

 

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 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.

Calling all tech enthusiasts! Join Brightwing as we sponsor Connections Happy Hour on Thursday, January 8th. We look forward to teaming up with Metroplex Technology Business Council (MTBC) in this beneficial networking event.

Connections gives you the opportunity to meet other tech playmakers in the Dallas area, reconnect with past partners, and discover the latest happenings in the Dallas-Fort Worth tech scene. If you are looking for a job opportunity, this may be a great place to kick-start your search.

As the largest technology trade association in Texas, MTBC’s Connections Happy Hour is an event you won’t want to miss!

Networking Event

 

Location

 

The Social House in Addison
5100 Belt Line Rd., #410
Addison, TX 75254

 

Date/Time

 

Thursday, January 8th
5:30 pm start time

 

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

 

With 2015 quickly approaching, we’ve been looking back on the past year and reminiscing. We are also looking ahead towards the new year and thefuture looks bright. Hiring trends are on the rise in 2015. About 60% of employers expect to increase hiring next year, according to a survey published by Dice Holdings. The top five states with the greatest employment growth projection include Michigan, Texas, Delaware, North Dakota and Hawaii.

So what does that mean for you? It’s time to prepare. So in between ugly-sweater parties and eggnog, spend a little time evaluating your career and your ambitions for 2015. If your New Year’s resolution is to find a new job start preparing now.

career resourcesTo get you started off on the right foot we’ve created a countdown of our most popular career advice articles:

Don’t Blow it! Thank your Interviewers, all of them

A sure fire way to blow an interview is to fail to send a thank you note. Our most popular article of the year gives sample thank you letters for different interview scenarios

5 Interpersonal Skills Every Engineer Should Have

In the thriving STEM fields, interpersonal skills are becoming increasingly important for career advancement. We list the 5 key interpersonal skills that will take you to the head of the pack.

Invest in Yourself: The 20 Best Ways to Improve Your IT Skills

There are many ways to gain new IT or technical skills, but you have to be proactive. Here are the best coding resources that we’ve found, many of which are at little to no cost.

How to Make the Best Video Resume in 4 Steps

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.

3 Non-Traditional Networking Tips

Many of us like the idea of networking more than networking itself. Here are three non-traditional networking tips to help you get a new job, advance your career, obtain referrals, or just to meet new people.

We wish you Happy Holidays and much success in 2015. If you’re career could use a kickstart, check out our current jobs.

get It jobs

Are you looking for a job in IT? Make sure that you are presenting more than just your technical skills to potential employers. In a study released April of this year, it was found that 77% of employers  believe that “soft skills (less tangible skills associated with one’s personality, such as a positive attitude) are just as important as hard skills. Sixteen percent of employers said soft skills are more important than hard skills when evaluating candidates for a job .”

Brightwing, “IT in the D” and New Horizons Computer Learning Centers have a solution to the “soft skills” problem!  We are teaming up to help you improve the way that you present yourself to potential employers in our FREE half day workshop! Attendees will learn:

The Ten Commandments of Networking – Leaders of “IT in the D” hilariously break down effective networking in 10 easy steps

Getting the most out of your recruiter relationship – When you’re a techie, it’s incredibly likely that you will be contacted by a recruiter. We can teach you how to use the experience to your advantage, and make you aware of red flags.

Resume writing and interviewing skills – Recruiting in the Detroit area for over 40 years has given Brightwing some serious perspective. We have seen everything, from awkward to heartwarming, and want to help you make the best impression.

Set yourself up for success and join us on August 14th!

REGISTER HERE

Employment Report MayToday, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics released the Employment Situation Summary for May 2014. Overall, the unemployment numbers have held at 6.3 percent, but there are increases in employment industry wide.  Here’s a quick summary:

1. Employment in temporary help services continued to trend up (+14,000) and has grown by 224,000 over the past year. This is consistent with the U.S Department of Labor’s previous reports that the contingent workforce is among the fastest growing segment of workers and the Department predicts a 23% increase by 2020. Our clients currently have numerous opportunities for contract workers, search our open jobs.

2. The total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 217,000 in May, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.3%. Employment increased in professional and business services, health care and social assistance, food services and drinking places, and transportation and warehousing.

3. The unemployment rate held at 6.3 percent in May, following a decline of 0.4 percentage point in April. The number of unemployed persons was unchanged in May at 9.8 million. Over the year, the unemployment rate and the number of unemployed persons declined by 1.2 percentage points and 1.9 million, respectively.

4. Professional and business services added 55,000 jobs in May, the same as its average monthly job gain over the prior 12 months.

5. The health care industry added 34,000 jobs over the month, twice its average monthly gain for the prior 12 months.

6. Manufacturing employment changed little over the month but has added 105,000 jobs over the past year.

7. The employment status of the civilian population 25 years and over rises significantly if the person has a Bachelor’s degree or higher.

employment rate may 2014

View the full May Employment Report.

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.

 

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….

 

 

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.

 

job interview questionsThere are so many types of job interview questions that delve into your resume, behavior and aptitude, however there are a TON of questions that potential employers can ask just about you. These are the essential job interview questions that you should be prepared to answer about yourself:
 

  1. Tell me about yourself.
  2. What are you looking for in your next position?
  3. Where do you see yourself in the next five/ten years?
  4. Why does this job interest you?
  5. What are your strengths?
  6. What are your weaknesses?
  7. What did you like best and least in your most recent job?
  8. What did you like best and least in your recent supervisor?
  9. Why do you want to leave your current company?
  10. When can you start?
  11. What salary or compensation package are you looking for?
  12. Why should we pick you?
  13. What do you have to offer us that someone else doesn’t?
  14. What are your significant accomplishments in your career?
  15. How would your previous supervisors/peers describe you?
  16. Don’t you think you are overqualified?
  17. What if you get a counteroffer?
  18. Where did you tell your employer you are today?

Not every employer will give you the third degree, but being prepared for simple job interview questions will help you avoid the deer-in-headlights affect.

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.

George Albert Opitz

Our IT friends at DetroitNet.Org  have a great radio show that streams online, every Monday and has been downloaded in every state except Alaska and Wyoming. They are entertaining, smart, and have been kind enough to include us a few times on their show “IT in the D.” On October 7th, our third showing, Brightwingers Elyse Lopez, April Jennings and George Albert Opitz made the trek down to the Russel Industrial Center. Here’s what happened…

dave

“We wrapped up our 14th episode last night, and it was solid. Everything from the history of Brightwing to hints and tips on your job search, why choosing the right recruiter to work with matters and the difference they can make, random news stories and more…this was a really great, fun time with everyone involved.”

Brightwing on DetroitNet

The informational interview or telephone interview thank you letter may be informal, but is an absolute must. Sometimes getting a meeting with a dream employer can be a challenge, and if you don’t thank them for taking the time, landing a job could be out of the question.

This thank you can be handwritten, but because it is more of a discovery meeting, sending an email on the same day as the interview is also appropriate. Here’s how you go about it:

Stand Out online to get the jobPicture this: You are on your computer applying for a position at your dream company. As you enthusiastically upload your cover letter and resume, 1,000 other applicants are applying for that same position at that exact same company.

This is the harsh reality of job hunting online. The volume of applicants is enormous, so it is your job to stand out in the cyber world. Here’s how you can make that possible.

1.)    First, visit sites such as Monster, Indeed and CareerBuilder to find an abundance of opportunities. However, to be timely, make sure to narrow your search based on your own interests.

 2.)    Post your resume to job boards frequently. Be wary of posting anonymously, though. This may decrease your chances of a recruiter calling you.

 3.)    Besides larger online tools, look on the company website and their Linkedin page to see if they are actively updating their job postings.

 4.)    Stay current on your Linkedin profile so it is easy for recruiters to track you down. Updating statuses or sharing blog posts and articles is a great way to show potential employers you are active in the corporate world.

5.)    Taking time out of your schedule to tailor your resume using key words pertaining to the position will be extremely beneficial. Try and do this on a daily basis to stay up to date on each job posting you apply to.

 6.)    New job postings may appear every day but make sure to look at postings from months prior to see if any opportunities are still available.

 7.)    Stay organized. Keep track of what companies the resume is being sent to. Do not make the mistake of sending your resume numerous times and pestering an employer.

Online job hunting is a competitive process, especially when you are one of many applying for the same position. The key is to make you and your resume look appealing by following these tips.

The world of interviewinphone interview tipsg is changing. Face to face interviews are becoming more prevalent later in the process, rather than in the beginning. Although phone interviews and in-person interviews are different in the sense of location, one cannot treat them as so. The initial telephone interview can either make or break your chances of proceeding to the next step, so full preparation and undivided attention is necessary.

  • When the employer calls you, be sure to give them a professional greeting and let them know that you were expecting the call. If you don’t sound assertive enough during the first few seconds, it can seem that you’re not interested.
  • Always confirm the appointment immediately after the greeting to verify it is still a good time for the employer or interviewer. These people usually have very full schedules, and may need to ask to reschedule. Don’t forget to thank them for the time, even if it was just to re-schedule the interview.
  • If calling from a cell phone, make sure your location will give you quality reception. Poor cell service could damage your chances of getting the next interview, simply because the employer had a hard time hearing you.
  • Make sure that the area around you is not noisy. Some noise may be inevitable depending on your current situation. If so, inform the employer as soon as you have said your hellos.
  • Having a printed resume and job description in front of you will allow more focus to be on the employer, rather than on your computer. Be wary if you decide to access these documents from your computer while on the phone. Noise travels and the employer may hear the clicks of the mouse and tapping of the keys.
  • Do not chew gum or drink loudly while on the phone with a future employer. Many phones are equipped with a mute button. If you must take a sip of water, do not be afraid to mute the call for a few seconds.
  • Never forget to thank the interviewer for the opportunity to talk! Also, the same rules apply for thank you notes after an interview. Ask the employer for their contact information so you can send them an e-mail in the near future.

Even though some may think a phone interview is less important than an in person meeting, the volume of applicants and busy schedules of employers are making telephone interviews a necessity.  The key is to treat it like you would any face to face interview. First impressions are first impressions. Be sure to impress your potential employer by following the etiquette rules above.

Author: Allison Mullen

leadership-skills-to-help-get-the-jobAccording to The Job Outlook for the College Class of 2013 by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), nearly all of the top ten bachelor degrees for hiring in the current job market involve leadership ability. These include some of the most popular degrees offered online, such as business administration and marketing management (November 2012). Furthermore, even if you are an e-learner who does not intend to pursue a direct supervisory role, “leadership” is an often cited soft skill on most prospective employers’ lists of wants for their employees.

Clearly, leadership is a new trend in hiring, and graduates about to enter the workforce must be prepared to develop and demonstrate that they have this talent. But what is meant by “leadership skills,” and how do students, especially e-learners, attain and document that they have such abilities? To help guide you, here is an explanation of what employers are looking for and ways you can show them you have leadership skills.

Leadership Defined

Most experts agree that leadership can be a bit difficult to define. Therefore, David Mielach of Business News Daily went right to the source, the leaders of business and industry, to discover, “10 Ways to Define Leadership” (27 December 2012). The answer that stands out most of all is the definition offered by business consultant, Kendra Coleman:

    Leadership is an act — a decision to take a stand, or step, in order to encourage, inspire or motivate others to move with you. What’s more, the most effective leaders do not rely on their title, or positional power, to lead. Rather, their ability to use their own personal power combined with their use of strategic influence are what make them effective” (qtd. in Mielach. 27 December 2012).

Most see leadership as the ability to take proactive, preventative, results-producing action. This has no connection to a job title or position. Rather, the group of experts Mielach interviewed sees leadership as an inner strength that inspires outward results, a sense of vision that envelops others and guides a team to further success.

There are a few additional traits that are often mentioned.

Additional Characteristics

Some additional attributes of leadership should also be kept in mind. Good leaders are:

  • Flexible with people and situations: According to author and expert trainer,
  • Ken Blanchard,  leadership involves the understanding of when to direct, coach, support, and/or delegate to co-workers as a supervisor or team member based on the context.
  • Entrepreneurial/Intrapreneurial: They have the creativity and dynamism to operate outside the box to problem solve and get things done whether you are owning and operating your own business (entrepreneur) or working within an organization (intrapreneur ).
  • Communicative: They possess the ability to get a message across to others and to guide the exchange of ideas verbally or electronically.

Note that some of these attributes are broken down separately on lists of skills employers look for in employees.

Ways to gain leadership skills

There are quite a few ways that students, online or on-ground, can gain leadership experience. You may even be doing some of these already.

  • Stand out favorably in class and obtain letters of recommendation from professors, collect relevant feedback (e.g., on assignments from faculty and other students), and save copies of your best work.
  •  Lead group projects and document what you did and why; be careful to do this in accordance with the characteristics described above rather than in a pushy way.
  •  Take specific courses related to leadership, and if possible, take some independent study classes that would allow you to work with a professor on a topic specifically related to leadership development in your field.
  • Obtain certifications related to leadership by checking what is offered by your school (e.g., See these offerings by Villanova University ) or respected external, career/employer specific programs (e.g., See the U.S. Office of Personnel Management ).
  • Participate in organizations, such as Keith Hawkins’s Real Inspiration, Inc. which provides opportunities to train and get involved in leadership from middle school through college.
  • Seek out positions of leadership in student organizations at your school. Most will list these on their websites as Aurora University does, or consider starting your own group. Some groups, such as The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) have special leadership development programs and chapters at online universities (e.g., Kaplan University).
  • Consider entry-level jobs, internships/externships, and volunteer positions in which you may develop and increasingly demonstrate leadership skills. Your department and/or school should be able to assist you with finding a suitable position.

How to document leadership for employers

Now that you understand what leadership is and have some ways to gain skills in this area, it’s also time to think about how you will demonstrate this to employers. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

  • Most application processes still rely on the traditional cover letter and resume with transcripts, though often this is presented via an online application site. Follow a
  • functional resume format that will highlight what you can do, and be sure to add a specific (sub)heading for “Leadership Skills.”
  • Online applications will often allow you to attach transcripts, additional documents, and/or electronic links. Take full advantage of these options to add scanned copies of certifications, screen shots of your work, letters of recommendation, sample projects—anything you have done or are currently involved with that shows you are a leader.
  • Software options exist that will also help you demonstrate your leadership skills to potential employers. Consider using Live Binders, Zotero, or screen capture software to assemble a professional overview of your work; then share a link with prospective employers on your resume or in your cover letter.
  • Social media is a powerful tool, and hiring managers are increasingly consulting the digital footprint of job candidates. Carefully brand yourself as an up and coming leader in your field within social media sites, such as TwitterFacebook, and LinkedIn. Share links to these sites with prospective employers within your application.

Pursuing, documenting, and demonstrating that you have leadership skills can take time; however, the knowledge that employers are increasingly looking for talent in this area, especially in some of the top career fields, should motivate you to take action. You also do not need to accomplish all of the above steps at once. Rather, try to focus on one or two ways each semester and gradually build an impressive portfolio for employers and online presence that brands you clearly as a leader.

 

Guest author Michael Keathley has been an active writer, editor and educator for over 20 years and also writes pieces for bestcollegesonline.comwhere the article was originally posted.

Please join Michael on Google+Twitter, and Facebook.

 

Russ is Famous!

Russ, at the right, with Scarlett Johanssen

Memorial Day is the holiday where we as a nation, remember those that have given their lives in the service of our Nation. While we are all enjoying our first long weekend of the summer, remember to take a few moments to think about all those who have given what Abraham Lincoln called the “last full measure of devotion.”

And there isn’t any reason why we should wait until Veterans Day to spend some time thinking about the men and women who have spent time in the service of our Nation.  According to the Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for post 9/11 Veterans sits at 10.9% compared to a 7.9% for non-Veterans.

What are some of the challenges that a Veteran faces when he or she transitions from Military life to civilian life? According to Michael Major, SPHR, the biggest challenges for Veterans transitioning from Military life to Civilian are:

*Getting people to understand how their military experience translates to civilian work
*Knowing where to begin, including how to write a resume and where to look for a job

In many cases the job a Veteran performed while in the military has a direct translation into a civilian field.  The military has Active Duty aircraft mechanics, electronic technicians, cooks, medics, administrative professionals, and construction workers.  In other cases the positions in the military do not translate to a civilian job easily.  Many hiring managers would not know the skill set that a Platoon Sergeant has, is the same as a Personnel Manager who is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the lives of 30+ Soldiers or Marines.  Nor would they understand that a Fire Control Technician is really just an Electronic Technician that specializes on a particular type of equipment. In a lot of cases a simple re-write of a resume by someone that is familiar with Military job titles or, who takes time to learn about them will yield immediate positive results

Having spent the last 18 years hiring people for a living I can attest to the fact that at least half of what we call “employability” rests in soft skills. Finding an employee that is punctual, a team player, motivated, and who can follow direction AND lead is one of the biggest challenges that we as employers face. Having spent almost 20 years in the military, I can also attest that men and women who have spent time in the Military have most definitely developed those skills.

The next time you see a resume of a veteran float across your desk, take the time to reach out and talk to him or her. Delve a little under the surface and learn what the true nature of their job is and help them translate the experience into something that’s easier for a non-veteran hiring manager to understand.

Author: Russ Dotson, Brightwing Senior Recruiter

You’ve read countless articles about the importance of investing in your employees. You know that an engaged, well-skilled employee will be more productive and contribute to the overall growth of the organization. You may also know that employees who are holistically developed and evolve within an organization have a better chance of attaining long-term success. Since you know all of the basics, here are a few facts that you may not know. A strong investment in employee training and development can produce benefits to the bottom line. It can lead to a:

24% higher profit margin
218% higher income per employee
86% higher company value
21% increase in productivity
300% reduction in employee turnover
A return per dollar invested of $6.72
(www.gazelles.com/roi.html Executive Training is a Must in Today’s Competitive Markets, by George “Bud” Arquilla III)

So why don’t organizations invest more in training? You’ve heard it a million times – “our employees are our most valuable asset,” but in reality they are tracked as costs. Training and development has great potential for returns but it’s also one of the first budgets to get cut when times are tough. Organizations must be committed to the long-term goal and it’s hard to connect revenue and profit back to intangible assets.

There are some companies out there that get it. “A comparison of organizations on Chief Learning Officer magazine’s 2012 Learning Elite and the 2012 100 Best Companies to Work For show some familiar names on both, including General Mills, Qualcomm, Accenture, Deloitte and NetApp” (Being an A-list Company Pays, by Keith Dunbar, Chief Learning Officer, February 2013).

These companies understand how learning and development can impact an organization’s overall performance beyond just employee engagement and retention. It’s important that learning leaders understand the goals of their organization and act as advocates for the development of their talent. Learning programs need to be aligned with the long term goals and direction of the organization.

“The single biggest predictor of a company’s ability to beat its direct competitors in its industry and the overall stock market was the amount the company spends on training its people” (Dr. Laurie Bassi, author of Good Company: Business Success in the Worthiness Era). So again, why invest in training? Yes of course, to improve employee productivity, retention and loyalty. But in the end, the bottom line is – to improve your organization’s competitive advantage.

 

Author: Jenny Dickey

An ancient Chinese proverb says:

 If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain.
If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees.
If you want one hundred years of prosperity, grow people.

People are THE most valuable resource.  Hopefully this is more than just another nice cliché rolled off the tongue of an executive when cornered and asked about her top priorities. Yet it is often forgotten when the “bottom line” is being discussed.  Maybe it’s time we realigned our thinking, especially in corporate America, about the bottom line. Or perhaps we should look at people as the “top line” and top priority that they are.

Leaders grow people.  This isn’t done overnight.  This priority can’t be delegated to the “V.P. of people-growing” and quickly forgotten.   Growing people is an ongoing responsibility of any and all executives, bosses, managers, supervisors and folks-in-charge.  Where does this begin?  It starts with each of us individually, and continues with all of us collectively.

“Before you are a leader, success is all about yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” – Jack Welch

All lead and all follow.  The question isn’t “do you lead”?  The question is “how well and how much”?  What is the quantity and quality of your leadership?  If just one person looks to you for direction, for decisions, for guidance, for help, for information you are leading that one.  And for that one, one hundred, one thousand or more you have an important responsibility. Right now, at this moment, you are a leader.

Leadership is a privilege and with all privileges there are accompanying responsibilities.  How do you deal with the responsibilities?  How do you steward the privileges?  You begin by growing yourself in your role as a follower.  You look out and see a need that is not being met.  You recognize a need both for yourself and others and you decide to act.  You start by learning the foundation of leadership…service.  Leadership starts when you take action, when you decide to serve.

“Leadership is not about money, fame and power; leadership is responsibility.”  – Peter Drucker

A wise farmer will study the weather patterns, the soil conditions, the growing season, the insects or other crop destroyers and numerous other details before planting the crop and expecting a rich harvest.  The smart coach will review the rules of the game, the game plan, the player’s strengths, the competition and a myriad of other details in preparing for a winning season.  Likewise, the individual wanting to increase her leadership must first make the necessary plans and preparations to develop her own leadership abilities.  This begins by learning self-leadership, which includes self-responsibility and self-discipline.

Studying the lives of many of the greatest leaders of all time, you will find that they spent many years in disciplined preparation for their most important role of leadership.  They patiently grew by following others, observing and learning from their strengths and their mistakes.  They recognize a need, sometimes in others, often times within themself and take action to meet that need.  Service is the true foundation and motivation for leadership. And service is established and expanded as one practices it.  Leaders grow people, starting with themselves.

 “Leaders strengthen credibility by demonstrating that they are not in it for themselves; instead, they have the interests of the institution, department, or team and its constituents at heart. Being a servant may not be what many leaders had in mind when they choose to take responsibility for the vision and direction of their organization or team, but serving others is the most glorious and rewarding of all leadership tasks.” – James Kouzes and Barry Posner

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.