Engineer Network Group

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Careers for Engineers

Friday, December 31, 2010

Where Do You See Yourself Five Years from Now?

No new year’s resolution question... but a silly interview question asked by most interviewers.



This is the type of question where virtually any answer can get you into trouble.
If you aim too high, you might come off as too ambitious, on the other hand... if you aim too low, you lack initiative and won’t contribute enough to cover the cost of your salary.
You must admit, this is a tricky question, but you’ve got to answer it...

Where do you see yourself in five years from now?

First, don’t break into a sweat.
Secondly... be honest.

Here’s a good answer to an uncomfortable question.

“I don’t have a specific plan! I would like to advance. However, I am flexible. I will do my current job to the best of my ability and keep my eyes open for opportunities within the organization to advance even if it means changing roles. I am prepared to learn new things and contribute to the overall success of the organization in a number of ways. The only specific within that “plan of willingness” is that the opportunity be within my ability to learn, interesting enough for me to dig in and do a good job, and the compensation increase a reasonable amount in relation to the demands of the position.” L. Bosco (Earning eight promotions in thirty-one years).

This answer can be revised to fit in with your own personality...

“In the next five years I’d like to see myself in this company, advancing to the next level or at least learning new things and taking on new responsibilities if at all possible.”

” I’m happiest when I feel that I’m an essential part of the company I work for – hopefully this one. In the next five years (and hopefully more) I plan to take advantage of whatever opportunities are available – but mostly, I want to do the best I can and know that I’m making a difference.”

Whatever you’re answers going to be, try to be yourself – even if yourself is a little nervous.

Look the interviewer(s) in the eyes, take a moment to connect, and then with as much truth and sincerity as possible make the words yours.

Work Coach Cafe


Engineering positions available on our websites:

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Resolution 2011... Find a Job.

A lot of people decide to put their job hunt on hold between Thanksgiving and New Year's...

HUGE MISTAKE !!

There are a lot of extra job openings in December.

Looking for a new opportunity during December means... you have less competition than usual, because people think it's a bad time to hunt.

These factors combine to make December one of the best times of the year to find a job.

Some of you might read this and say to yourself, "So what?   I need a break from the hunt and I'm really busy during the holidays and I'll start up again in January.

" Don't do that: You'll have more competition in January, because that's when everyone who stopped for the holidays starts up, and it's when people who make a resolution to change jobs start their hunt.

Happy hunting : ENGINEER NETWORK GROUP

Friday, December 3, 2010

ENGINEER NETWORK GROUP / RESUME / CV - USA

The "resume" (known in other countries as a "Curriculum Vitae" or "CV") is where your work or other experience is laid out in a more outline-type form. Usually accompanied by a more literary and personal cover letter, a resume should clearly show any interested employers exactly what skills they can expect from you and why they should hire you! The presentation and content of resumes and CVs varies from country to country, so take into account the following notes we have prepared for you on how to write a resume for the USA.

Do not be fooled: an American Curriculum Vitae is NOT the same as a European CV. What Europeans know as a "Curriculum Vitae" (or "CV") is called a "resume" in the US. A resume is written by anyone applying for a job. However, in America, a "Curriculum Vitae" is a longer document and is usually written only by a researcher, educator, or academic.

If you are applying for a research or academic job in the US that requests a CV, basically a CV is a lengthy document that lists all of the researcher's achievements, including his or her educational background, scientific papers and experiments, teaching experience and awards received.

PRESENTATION
Heading:

Do not include a heading; start your resume with your contact information.

Contact Information:

Relevant personal contact information at the top of the page including:

• Name
• Phone number
• Fax number
• Address
• Email address

It is recommended that you do NOT list your gender, race, religion or marital status, unless it is appropriate and relevant for the job. In America, employers are under legal obligation to be fair and to not discriminate against applicants because of their gender, race, or sexual orientation.

Though in general many employers try to be fair, some employers who fear being sued for discrimination may systematically discard any applications that mention these characteristics in an attempt to insure these qualities don't affect the first round of the application process. Clearly, this is not the case if gender or race is important or relevant to the job, as is the case with acting or other jobs in which certain characteristics are sought after.

Objective:

Some career experts recommend describing your objective in the process of your job search just below the contact information. Some recommend against including an 'objective', and some employers don't care for it either. There is no hard and fast rule about whether or not to use it. Generally, the point made in the 'objective' will be made in the cover letter (separate from the resume), so it is probably fine to omit it.

Professional Experience:
Read about how to list your work experience in two types of resumes:

• Chronological
• Functional

Whether you opt for listing your experience chronologically or functionally, it is best to fill your work experience with keywords, which highlight your past accomplishments and clearly indicate your skills. Keywords grab a human reader's attention, but are especially important now because employers may scan your resume into a database and then search for certain keywords relevant to the job.

Education:

This section should come before work experience if you are in school or have been out of school for one to three years, depending on your level of work experience and how relevant your education is to your career. If you have a high Grade Point Average (3.5 or above, equivalent to an A- or A), include it on your resume. If you attended college, list the name of the college and what you got your degree in. If you recently graduated or have taken courses highly relevant to the job for which you are applying, list those.

Certificates & Diplomas:

Courses, seminars, congresses or conferences that are relevant in relation to the position. Long or prestigious courses are also interesting. Point out a course's duration in hours. Do not write down the ones that are not relevant or recent. List these in a chronologically inverse order.

Languages:

Since this may be relevant to an international job, you should list which languages you speak and your level: advanced, intermediate or beginner. Point out if you can translate, speak, or write in each language and list any associated degrees.

Computer Skills:

Programs, applications, etc. Word processing, database, Internet, etc.

Personal Information:

At the end of the resume you should include a brief section where you can list personal information such as hobbies or interests. This can be called something like "Other Interests," or "Skills or Interests." Here you should, very succinctly, list some of your hobbies, each in no more than three words. It's great if these are relevant to your job, but if they aren't these hobbies can simply reveal something about your personality. Interviewers commonly use this section as an icebreaker and as a source for starting a more relaxed, less formal conversation.

Other things to keep in mind:•  Your resume must be short  -  one or two pages at the msot.
•  Print original copies on high quality paper  -  don't send photocopies.
•  Be neat:  take care with the presentation, design, spaces, and spelling of your resume.
•  Don't use abbreviations.  Emphasize sections and things that are important with underlines or bold types.
•  Make sure your resume is as organized as possible, so the information can be found easily.
•  You do not need to date or sign your resume.

Content:•  Make a different resume for each job you are applying to, andadapt it to best fit the position sought and the company's needs.
•  Photos are not required and are discouraged for legal reasons.  Photos indicate your race and gender, and employers do not need to know this information unless it is relevant to the job.  Do not send photos except for appropriate jobs (as a model, actor, or hostess).
•  Write your resume in third person of the singular form.
•  Emphasize your skills and achievements without lying.
•  If you have finished the military service in your country, mention it.  If not, don't mention it at all.
•  Saying your marital status is not recommended unless directly relevant.
•  Do not attach diplomas or documents unless asked to.
•  Attach a cover letter with the resume.
•  If you have studied abroad, don't forget to mention it!
•  And finally, check the whole resume again.

You can now download two resume/cv templates from our LinkedIn profile:





Link: ENG Sample CV1 
Link: ENG Sample CV2

You might find some of our previous Blog post to be very helpful...

Six Items You Should Never Put in Your Resume

Top 5 Resume Tips

Friday, November 26, 2010

Six Items You Should Never Put in Your Resume

• Your age or date of birth
• Religious or political affiliations
• Reasons why you left your last job
• Your Social Security Number
• Health restrictions or physical limitations
• Any sentence that has "do not," "cannot," or "unable"

The most common mistake made by people who attempt to put together their first resume is that they put in too much information. They want to describe everything that they have ever done from the moment of conception to the present. The resume ends up being too long, and nobody will read it.

The most important piece of information that you should retain is that your resume, no matter how well it is put together, will only get a 15 to 30 second review by the person who does the initial screening.

That person is normally someone in Human Resources whose job is to look at hundreds of resumes per day. You must create your resume in such a way that it gives all the

AGE OR DATE OF BIRTH

I repeat, you should not put your age or date of birth in a resume. In the US, an employer has no legal right to know your age. An employer can ask you only if you are over the age of 18 for insurance liability reasons or if local, state, or federal law requires that employees be over a certain age.

Therefore, if you're concerned that your age will be a factor, don't list the date you graduated from high school or the years that you received any of your degrees. I received my undergraduate degree in 1962. Can any of you guess my age?

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS OR POLITIACL AFFILIATIONS

It's generally recommended that you stay away from listing a particular type of religion or political party affiliation. However, being active in your community or church can sometimes be a positive factor in many large companies, so you should make general statements about your participation in activities that support the community. Volunteer work for a charity group would be a positive example but active support for an environmental group could raise some eyebrows.

REASONS FOR LEAVING PREVIOUS JOBS

We've become a mobile society and longevity in a position is now considered two years. People accept new jobs for many reasons. If you left your last job because of differences with your supervisor or company philosophy, I don't recommend that you put that information in your resume. The reader will probably get a negative impression of you. If you couldn't get along with your last company, you probably won't get along here.

If the job application asks you to give reasons for leaving your last job, a safe and truthful answer could be that you were offered a better position. "Better" could mean a pay raise, better working hours, better office environment, or newer equipment.

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (SSN)

The exceptions to this are federal resumes sent for civil service positions. A prospective employer can ask for your Social Security Number in an application - that is normally a requirement for employment. However, putting your SSN on a resume could lead to disaster.

You'll be sending out many resumes; you won't know who'll be reading them. It doesn't cost much money to put a small want ad in the newspaper or on an Internet employment site, and a dishonest person can run a fraudulent ad.

If someone knows your SSN, he can apply for credit cards or other important documents, such as duplicate SSN cards, with the information you normally provide on a resume. Be alert if someone other than in the civil service asks for your SSN.

INFORMANTIO ABOUT HEALTH AND DISABILITIES

The Americans with Disabilities Act has changed the way businesses in the US recruit and hire an employee. Generally, an employer has no legal right to know your health status. The only health-related questions that an employer can ask are job related.

If the job description requires that you lift 50 lbs, the employer has the legal and legitimate right to ask in the interview if you can do this. He can also state the requirement in his ad. He cannot ask you if you have back problems, diabetes, or have had a heart attack unless the job, such as airline pilot, requires perfect health.

Find out your legal rights if you live outside the US.

MARITAL STATUS

I've added marital status because this is another issue that can work against you, particularly if you're a single parent. I know some people will disagree, but single parents have the highest absentee rate in the work force.

Companies will try to avoid hiring a single parent if at all possible. However, in the US they cannot ask you your marital status or if you have children. Don't volunteer this information on the resume.

If asked this question in an interview, the proper response could be, "Can you tell me what this has to do with the position I'm applying for?" That should end the questioning on this issue if the interviewer does not want to face a lawsuit.


About the Author - Six Items You Should Never Put in Your Resume

Tony Oliva has nearly twenty years' experience writing professional resumes, and hundreds of job seekers owe their success to Tony's resumes that work. He knows what should - and what should NOT - go into a resume to capture the hiring
manager's attention.



Saturday, November 6, 2010

The Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Conversion System (JTEC)

It is said that even the most advanced solar energy driven equipment can utilize only 30% of the sun's energy that reaches the earth. However, the new Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Conversion System promises to convert 60% of the sun's energy into electrical energy. Find out more about JTEC… Brighthub

  


       
Written by: Raunek Kantharia

Engineer Network Group Member

Introduction

A more efficient way of using solar energy has now been invented by a former NASA scientist, Lonnie Johnson. The system is called the Johnson Thermoelectric Energy Conversion System, or JTEC, and it is an ambient energy conversion system that can achieve solar energy conversion rate of sixty percent using a heat engine. Basically a device for converting solar or any other fuel energy into electrical energy, JTEC is a small engine with no moving parts. It is said that only thirty percent of the solar energy is utilized by any device using solar energy. However, JTEC promises to utilize sixty percent of the solar energy to convert it into electricity.


Somewhat similar to the working of a fuel cell, the Johnson Heat Engine uses temperature difference to generate a pressure that forces ions to pass through a thin film. This method is different from the conventional way of using the pressure generated to move a mechanical system. Made by the Johnson Electro Mechanical Systems Inc., the engine’s main goal is to make alternate energy to meet future’s energy needs.

How does it Work?


It is to note that unlike any equipment using solar energy, this new heat engine doesn’t use any kind of semi-conductors or photovoltaic cells to convert solar energy to electrical energy. The engine just uses hydrogen and a source of heat, similar to one found in the internal combustion engine or solar energy.


The new heat engine is a solid state heat engine that works on the Ericsson cycle, which provides the same efficiency as that provided by the Carnot cycle for an engine operating between two different temperatures. The system uses the electrochemical potential of the hydrogen pressure that is applied throughout a membrane electrode assembly (MEA).


The arrangement of the heat engine consists of two membrane electrode assemblies, with one end of an MEA attached to a high temperature source using solar energy, and the other stack attached to a low temperature source, which is generally at room or lower temperature. The end which is at a lower temperature acts as a compressor stage whereas the other end acts as a power stage.


The working of the engine is initiated by an electric spark, which creates a pressure difference, producing a voltage across the whole stack. The voltage is mainly caused because of the difference in pressure between the two ends. The high temperature end with a higher voltage will act as a power stage and force the hydrogen at the lower temperature end to move in the opposite direction. The hydrogen will eventually pass through the proton membrane and generate a current. This whole process of hydrogen traveling from low pressure area to high pressure area, along with the pressure difference, produces the electrical charge, which can be used to drive other devices.


Application


The Johnson Ambient Heat Engine can supply power to both small electromechanical systems and also to large scale plants such as a fixed power plant. The same technology can also be applied to moving vehicles, generators, and even spacecraft. Moreover, JAHE can utilize heat from renewable energy sources such as engine exhaust, solar, fuel cells, combustion turbines, etc.

References:  Johnson officail Website


Read Raunek Kantharia's previous article:- 
Life of a Junior Engineer onboard a ship...

For Engineering Career Opportunities... visit our website: 
Engineer Network Group

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Life as a Junior Engineer Onboard a Ship…

The article describes the life of a junior marine engineer and the various tasks he has to perform on board. This article has not been written with intent to scare people by showing a different side of the professional life on board but with a purpose to depict the true nature of work at sea.

As published by:  Brighthub





Written by:  Raunek Kantharia
Engineer Network Group Member


The Common Perception

The life of a merchant navy officer or personnel on board a ship is adventurous, exciting, and extremely rewarding. A marine engineer globe trots, visits beautiful places, and meets interesting people. This is true for marine engineers working on any type of ship or vessel irrespective of the people he is working for; however it is an icing on the cake if he/she happens to be on a cruise ship of any of the top 10 cruise lines, not to mention the fun if one is on the biggest cruise ship or a futuristic ship.

One might blurt out "wow," for it sounds like a script of some Hollywood movie where the protagonist has the perfect job, the perfect money, and the perfect life. But is the life of a naval officer as picturesque as it sounds? Do all the naval officers in the hierarchy level have the same kind of exciting lifestyle? Or is there a totally different side beneath the facade that is created by the over-imagination of people or by ignorant word-of-mouth misconception? 

Grass is Greener On the Other Side


Well, the job of a marine engineer is definitely stimulating and rewarding, but with the package comes many desirable and undesirable attributes. Everything apart, it’s not at all a “Bed of roses,” as many people seem to think. Life on board is definitely not as glamorous as it seems or is perceived to be. It is tough for sure, and no one knows it better than the one who works on board. But as they say, “someone has to do the job" and so does their life goes on. All this might sound a bit over-exaggerating or over-the-top, but the fact remains that the life on board a ship is definitely way different from the life we live on land.

For now, let’s take a sneak peek at the lives of the marine engineers working on board. Let’s start from the bottommost level, the junior engineer, also known as the "jack of all trades" (definitely, master of none), who lives the toughest and the most interesting life of all the engineers on board a ship.


The initial thoughts…..

A junior marine engineer after undergoing four years of arduous education and training supposes that the main part of his career is now behind him and henceforth the only thing that remains is work and play. But things are a bit different from what he thinks. He joins a shipping company and lands on board a ship only to realize that the real struggle has just begun. He realizes that there is a stark difference between the training work he did in workshops on land and the kind of work he is supposed to do on board the ship. Probably he even had a brief idea of the "to be" life on ship but instead got a bit more than expected when he came on board. There are many incentives that come with the job of a junior marine engineer, but there are many more odd jobs that come along with it, too. Let’s get into the shoes (safety shoes!) of a junior engineer and find out what he really does on board. Kindly note that there are high chances that one might end up in a state of exhaustion or fatigue.

What Do Junior Marine Engineers Really Do?


The junior marine engineer, like all other engineers on the ship, is supposed to work with his own hands. When the ship is sailing, he is supposed to keep a watch in the engine room with either third or second engineer. He mainly assists the engineer in-charge of the watch in daily routine checks and other necessary maintenance work. After a few months of thorough familiarization of the engine room he might be asked to keep an independent watch of the engine room with the assistance of a motorman. If he is not working in shifts, he might be asked to do day work, which is like a normal eight-to-five job, not to mention the emergency hours and extra time that come along with it.

A junior engineer is always on his toes or for that matter forced to be, assisting second, third, and even fourth engineers apart from the regular watch keeping. This means that there are no definite rest hours and the working hours are also extremely flexible. Most of the work is of practical nature, inside the engine room, which requires him to wear a boiler suit all the time. Junior engineers work mainly involves dismantling, assessing, repairing, and reassembling faulty or stand-by machinery.



Junior Engineer: The “Know It All” Guy



On ships, it is mandatory that a fifth or junior engineer is well-versed with each and every system on the ship, particularly of the engine room, for his own good and probably for the good of others as well. The first thing he is expected to know is the line diagrams (famously known as line tracing) of all the pipelines in the engine room, from fuel lines to bilge lines at the back of his hand. Tracing, sketching, learning and mugging each and every pipe line is supposed to be first lesson the fifth engineer is asked to undertake when he puts his foot on board. After that the second job he is probably asked to do (especially by the chief engineer) is to keep in mind the locations of all the emergency exits, blowers, and fire extinguishers in the engine room. (Senior personnel on board ships believe that a junior engineer is more prone to accidents and often moves around like “Alice in Wonderland.")


According to a written rule, a fifth engineer can take orders only from the second engineer, but unfortunately that rule is never followed and therefore he has to take orders from all the engineers. As the fifth engineer is perfectly aware of all the pipelines on ship, he is of vital importance at the time of bunkering fuel or giving away sludge. By default, a junior engineer is expected to assist fourth engineer in the process of bunkering and sludge discharge to the shore. He is also required to do jobs involving transferring of bilges or sludge from one tank to another and keeping a check and log of all the levels of the tanks in the engine room.


The More he Knows the Better


Apart from the above mentioned duties, a fifth engineer is also required to know the starting procedures of almost all machinery like diesel generators, generator synchronization, fuel oil purifiers, fresh water generator, pumps, sewage treatment plant, boilers, refrigeration system and even the main engine. Nowadays all ships are automated and all the machinery is operated from the engine control room itself. Thus the fifth engineer is also acquainted with, and in fact the master of, starting procedures and the working of the control room console and other engine control room electronics and electrical systems.


However, this is not all, but a minuscule portion of duties he performs on board. In the next article which will be posted later this week, we will learn about a few more additional jobs that a junior engineer is expected to do, without denying of course.


Previous Blog Post: Nuclear: A Great Choice For Woman
Written by Joanne Mclntyre


You can now download the RAIL FREIGHT HANDBOOK 2010 from out FB FanPage


For Engineering Career Opportunities... visit our website:  Engineer Network Group

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Living Underground

 As I was avidly following the story of the trapped Chile miners,
I came across this article on the iafrica.com website, and just had
to share it with you...

Wild celebrations erupted on Wednesday as the first of 33 men trapped underground for 10 weeks in a collapsed Chile mine triumphantly returned to the surface in a landmark rescue operation.



A powerful light danced across the twilight sky as 31-year-old Florencio Avalos stepped from a special steel rescue cage, back above ground, and breathing in the fresh air, for the first time in 69 days.

His rescue marks the culmination of a record-breaking two-month drama, during which the 33 men awaited rescue at the bottom of the dark, dank mine with the world captivated by their daily hopes and fears.

Hundreds of relatives, who have maintained an anxious vigil in a makeshift tent city which has sprung up around the remote gold and copper mine in the northern Chile desert, cheered and wept.

Avalos, who has helped send videos to the surface chronicling the miners' battle for survival, was thrust into the glare of the world's media, with thousands of journalists having flocked to Chile to record the historic moment.

The men — 32 Chileans and one Bolivian — have now survived buried below ground longer than any other person, after becoming trapped on August 5 when the upper galleries of their copper and gold mine collapsed.


For 17 days they were all but given up for dead, before a drill probe found them and they were able to attach a note to it, announcing the extraordinary news that they were all alive and well.

They had survived by strictly rationing their food and water, and had found refuge in an emergency shelter.

Now, after a multi-million operation to drill down a rescue shaft, they are being brought out of the mine one by one in a specially-designed narrow steel cage, dubbed Phoenix to symbolize their rebirth.

Avalos, who in a twist of fate had to leave behind his brother, Renan, was to be followed by Mario Sepulveda (39), an electrical specialist, then 52-year-old Juan Illanes, and then Carlos Mamani, the only Bolivian in the group of the 33 trapped miners.

Each miner, equipped with oxygen and communications gear, will be slowly brought to the surface winched up the narrow shaft that was only completed last weekend.

Each tense ascent will take around 15 minutes as the cage climbs 622 metres — nearly the height of two Eiffel Towers stacked on top of each other.

With another 25-30 minutes needed to drop the cage down the shaft again, and a little time required to strap each miner into the contraption, a total of one hour was estimated for each man's salvation.

But Avalos was brought up to the surface more quickly than had been expected, raising the prospect that the rescue could be completed even quicker than relatives had dared to hope.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera was at the entrance of the mine to witness the miraculous rescues, which officials expect to complete by late Thursday.

Each will be greeted by up to three family members and waiting doctors before being flown to a regional hospital for at least two days of check-ups.


The men have become national heros as Chilean officials have worked feverishly to sustain them during their long wait for rescue — which some initially feared would not be before Christmas.


Food, water, oxygen, entertainment and communication lines have been dropped down to them through probe holes to help them survive the prolonged captivity in hot, dank conditions that they have described as "hell."

Many of the men are suffering from skin conditions due to the humidity, while others have chest infections and blood pressure problems.

But the men, who have dubbed themselves "the 33," have formed a closely-knit group, and there was said to have been squabbling about who should be the last to leave, with many of the men wanting to see their comrades winched to safety ahead of them.

When all the miners do make it to the surface, they will leave behind dark isolation for a blaze of publicity normally reserved for movie stars or sporting heroes.

Chilean media reports suggest the men are anticipating lucrative book and film deals that may limit what they end up saying to the waiting news media.


Watch the video of the first miner as he was brought to the surface:  YouTube

Welcome to visit the Engineer Network Group website for Engineering Jobs in Australia / Canada / New Zealand / South Africa / the UK and USA.

Friday, October 1, 2010

NUCLEAR: A Great Choice For Woman

The role of the woman in the global nuclear workforce is growing.

Focus on Nuclear talked to four woman who have established themselves at the front line of nuclear engineering and maintenance to find out how they entered the industry, where it has taken them and how a nucler power plant is a great place for a woman to work.




Written by Joanne Mclntyre

Full article Here


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Or visit our website for the latest Engineering Job Opportunities.



Friday, September 24, 2010

Job seeker do’s and don’ts

Maximizing your job search results by following
these obvious do’s and don’ts.


Adaped by ENG






DO's



1. Be Honest

Experienced recruiters and head-hunters know what to look for and they will do so thorough background checks. Do not incriminate yourself by misrepresenting your intentions, your background, your experience, or qualifications. You will be found out.

2. Ask Questions

Ask about the recruiters experience level, client base, and area of expertise.

Or read about our recruiters (Search Partners) as we like to call them on our website.

Australia / Canada / New Zealand / South Africa / UK / USA

3. Follow Up

Any recruiter wants to know that the job seeker is interested in a position. It’s okay to follow up on a job application after two weeks.

4. Be Professional

Recruiters may not make the final decision, but they are the very first point of contact or entry into a company. You should treat them as if they are a hiring manager at the company where you want to be employed. Proofread all written communication, and be sure to maintain professionalism in all interactions with a recruiter.

5. Work With Multiple Recruiters

It is good to work with more than one recruiter. However, you should keep it to 2-3 at the most, or else you'll saturate the market. When you have multiple recruiters representing you to the same client, it is a sticky situation for everyone involved. It can also make you look desperate. Again, keep your recruiters informed, and they will be more likely to work for you.

DON'TS


1. Don’t Disappear

If you decide you’re not interested in a job, let the recruiter know!

A good recruiter is not going to try to pressure you, but if you pull a disappearing act you could be "flagged", so that no other recruiters at that company, or in that network, will work with you in the future.

To decline an interview, notify the recruiter in a polite and professional way, and tie up loose ends so that the door will be left open for future positions.

2. Don’t be a Pest

Follow up is good... pestering is bad.

It’s ok to follow up one or two times a week throughout the process, if you’re awaiting feedback. This shows interest and tenacity. However, if you call ten times a day, you will appear desperate, which is bad for a job search!

3. Don’t Take it Personally

If a recruiter doesn’t call you back, follow up as noted above. If he or she still doesn’t respond, it doesn’t mean there is something wrong with you. It just means that your skill set is not a match for their current openings. Try sending an email stating that you’d like to be considered for other positions and leave it at that. Most successful recruiters cannot possibly return every candidate call or discuss every turn-down. It’s just not realistic based on the volume of candidates each recruiter is handling.

4. Never go Around a Recruiter to Their Client

This is a sure way to get blacklisted, and it almost never works in your favour. If the recruiter has already presented your information to the client, and then you contact the client, the client company now has a dilemma as to who gets credit for the candidate. This could ultimately affect your candidacy, because sometimes the simplest solution for the hiring manager who’s caught in the middle is to remove you from consideration.

You might also be interested in reading...

Top 5 Resume Tips
Double Dating and Double Crossing

Friday, September 10, 2010

Attention Age...

If you thought we are living in the information age, think again... that’s sooo five minutes ago !

We are living in the attention age.

It’s time to put the focus on yourself.

Grab the attention... be bold, be specific, be informative, just don’t go overboard.

Try and stay professional whilst “grabbing”.

We were all blessed with rare talents.
Some followed up on their s’, while others preferred not to.  
But let’s assume you did...

You are a professional person, with a good qualification, looking for your next career opportunity.

When looking for a job opportunity, you contact a recruiter, send them your CV, and expect them to do all the work, right?  WRONG !

There is something you can do while waiting for the recruiter to find you a job.

Start grabbing some attention.

There are so many sites on the web, where you can “grab”.
So many free sites !

In the previous Blog Post we focused on the LinkedIn Summary... an ideal way to focus the attention from future employers and head-hunters on your expertise.

Keep it short and sweet.

Focus the attention of the reader on your abilities.

Another attention grabber is your profile picture...

Did you know... you don’t have to be an oil painting to include your profile picture, and that a picture speaks a thousand words? Now if you were to ignore this fact, and don’t include a profile picture in your LinkedIn profile, you are missing out ! Show the people looking at your profile what you look like...
attention, attention, attention...   It’s your turn to shine !!

It might be your only chance... use it to your advantage, but remember...
LinkedIn is formal.

That doesn’t mean choler and tie, just a nice straight, look-into-the-lens type of picture.

Not the one where you where you stand on a cliff miles away from the camera, not the one where you posed as Santa under last year’s Christmas tree, and not one where you stand with other people.

It’s about YOU !!  remember.

Twitter, can also be used to grab some attention for yourself.

Why not try it... focus on your expertise.
Share your knowledge with the world.
Make people aware of what you know, they are sure to follow...

Don’t be the pitiful job seeker type with an attitude of I-don’t-get-recognized-much.

Develop AGP... Attention Grabbing Personality.

NOW is the right time.

Read more about tips for creating the perfect profile pic here

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Write a Compelling Summary for Your LinkedIn Profile.

LInkedIn user… by know you must know that the summary is possibly the most important part of your LinkedIn profile. Some people sign up for LinkedIn, load a profile picture, slap on their website’s URL and add a couple of lines about what they do for a living. However, you’re missing the point. You are not doing enough to “sell” yourself. Having a LinkedIn profile is all about expanding your business and your network. Your summary is a vital catalyst for you to achieve your goals using this popular social network.


Let me share 5 tips on how to write an engaging summary for your LinkedIn profile.

1. “Sell” yourself…

Put your best foot forward – Pile on all your unique selling points in your summary and get people hooked on to you as a talented professional. Without overdoing it, list your expertise. Tell people who you are, what you are capable of doing, and for how long have you been doing it. If you’re looking for a new opportunity, include it in your summary. But don’t forget to mention what qualities you can offer.

2. Be super interesting…

Try not to be boring. This should be your elevator pitch. Remember… NO big words, NO jargon, NO phrases that sounds like an automatic mission statement generator. You are talking to real people. Humor is appreciated only when used tastefully.

3. Use attention-grabbing words…

Challenge: 
(I love a challenge and will rise to the occasion to make any endeavor a success)
Creativity: 
(I’ve been told that creativity is one of my best traits)
Inspiration: 
(I find inspiration in the simplest of things - everyday things, all around me)
Love: 
(The most popular and powerful word to use)-(I love live, and it love’s me back…)

4. Do some keywords research on the job/s you want

“There are many reasons why people create LinkedIn profiles, but one of the major reasons is due to career advancement. You should ideally have an idea what jobs you would like to apply for, and then create your profile to match the job’s requirements”.

A good idea is to do a search on the company you want to work for - see what the company is after and jot down relevant keywords throughout your profile.

5. You’re writing a summary, NOT a biography…

Josue Sierra said; “write in the first person rather than the third. Writing in the third person can make you look arrogant and pompous”. Never a good idea.



Thanks to DeoBlogThis is a revised version.

Check our website for Career Opportunities within the Engineering Industry.

Monday, August 23, 2010

So many job tips… but these 4 stands out.

Thank you to: Careerbuilder.com



Scan the oldies but goodies.

When visiting job boards, many job hunters make the mistake of limiting their search to positions posted in the last few days. A position posted one month ago might still be open, especially if it requires hard-to-find skills. Plus, with most job seekers focusing on recent postings, you may be competing with fewer candidates. A dated job advertisement doesn't reflect the quality of the company or the potential desirability of the position.

Spell well.

Completing employment applications online is convenient but potentially costly if you're not careful. Be mindful of your spelling and grammar when typing information directly onto online forms. Typos are no less problematic on screen than on paper. In a poll by our company, employers cited typos and grammatical errors as the most common mistakes job seekers make on their résumés.

Tread carefully.

There's a time and a place for everything. With that old adage in mind, be careful of when and where you do your online job hunting. Using your company's computer and Internet connection to look for a new position is a bad idea. Employers have the right to monitor the sites you visit and the e-mails you send. So, resist the temptation to hunt for a new job at the office if you want to keep the one you have for the time being.

Follow up!

When job hunting online, it's critical that you follow up with prospective employers after applying for a position. More than a few résumés have gotten lost in cyberspace. If you've submitted your application and haven't heard back from the company, make a call or send an e-mail to verify that the résumé was received and to reassert your interest in the position. Don't worry; you're not going to annoy the employer. Eighty-two percent of executives polled by our company said job seekers should contact hiring managers within two weeks of submitting application materials.

While the Internet has revolutionized the way job seekers connect with prospective employers, an online job hunt shouldn't be the only strategy you use to find a new position. The best searches combine a variety of approaches, including exploring the services offered by recruiting and staffing firms, touching base with members of your professional network, and participating in industry events where you can hobnob with hiring managers.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

More Than 48% of Industries Experienced a Quarterly Gain in Jobs in Second Quarter

Onrec wrote...

Beyond.com, Inc., today released its Second Quarter 2010 Career Trend Analysis Report, which revealed more than 48 percent of industries experienced a quarterly percentage gain in online jobs posted, signifying a healthier economy leading into the second half of the year.


The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the unemployment rate was unchanged in the month of July, holding at 9.5 percent. However, Beyond.com’s data indicates the job market is showing slow and steady signs of a recovery and hard-hitting sectors such as retail and travel are beginning to expand once again.

According to Beyond.com quarterly report, which gathers information across thousands of top-tier industry and local career sites, more than 73 percent of employers were looking for full-time employees, an increase of 12 percent from the previous quarter. Healthcare and Medical represented the largest percentage gain in overall jobs posted (5.57 percent), followed by Sales and Sales Management with 2.24 percent.

Jobs continued to grow into July, increasing by 1.17 percent over June. In July, entry level positions showed the largest increase of 39 percent and Merchandising, Purchasing and Retail jobs representing the largest jump among industries with an increase of 137 percent. Customer Service had the next largest increase (77 percent) and Travel, Hospitality and Restaurant following behind (41 percent). This is a positive sign to see, especially since some of these industries had dropped during the previous quarter.

“We are excited to see job numbers continuing to grow and hard-hitting sectors beginning to rebound,” said Rich Milgram, CEO of Beyond.com, Inc. “In June, we spoke to hundreds of HR managers during an industry conference and were excited to hear about their plans to hire in the months to come. We expect to report slow and steady job growth into next quarter.”

Thursday, August 12, 2010

HOW TO ANSWER THESE TRICKY INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

With complements:  Zoho4

Why should we hire you?


Here’s the chance to really sell yourself. You need to briefly and succinctly lay out your strengths, qualifications and what you can bring to the table. Be careful not to answer this question too generically, however. Nearly everyone says they are hardworking and motivated. Set yourself apart by telling the interviewer about qualities that are unique to you.

Why do you want to work here?

This is one tool interviewers use to see if you have done your homework. You should never attend an interview unless you know about the company, its direction and the industry in which it plays. If you have done your research, this question gives you an opportunity to show initiative and demonstrate how your experience and qualifications match the company’s needs.

Why did you leave your last job?

Even if your last job ended badly, be careful about being negative in answering this question. Be as diplomatic as possible. If you do point out negative aspects of your last job, find some positives to mention as well. Complaining endlessly about your last company will not say much for your attitude.

Describe a problem situation and how you solved it.

Sometimes it is hard to come up with a response to this request, particularly if you are coming straight from college and do not have professional experience. Interviewers want to see that you can think critically and develop solutions, regardless of what kind of issue you faced. Even if your problem was not having enough time to study, describe the steps you took to prioritize your schedule. This will demonstrate that you are responsible and can think through situations on your own.

What are your salary expectations?

This is one of the hardest questions, particularly for those with little experience. The first thing to do before going to your interview is to research the salary range in your field to get an idea of what you should be making. Steer clear of discussing salary specifics before receiving a job offer. Let the interviewer know that you will be open to discussing fair compensation when the time comes. If pressed for a more specific answer, always give a range, rather than a specific number.

Tell me about yourself.

While this query seems like a piece of cake, it is difficult to answer because it is so broad. The important thing to know is that the interviewer typically does not want to know about your hometown or what you do on the weekends. He or she is trying to figure you out professionally. Pick a couple of points about yourself, your professional experience and your career goals and stick to those points. Wrap up your answer by bringing up your desire to be a part of the company. If you have a solid response prepared for this question, it can lead your conversation in a direction that allows you to elaborate on your qualifications.

Check back regularly fo more interview tips, or visit our website for the latest engineering job oppotunities.
Or connect with us on LinkedIn

Monday, August 9, 2010

Technology... My advantage. One Pager / Video Resume

2 Online search tips I wanted to share with you... After all we are living in a digital world, use it to your advantage.


One Pager:

Instead of simply posting your resume on a Web site, take it one step further and design an easily-navigable Web / One Pager site or online portfolio where recruiters can view your body of work, read about your goals and obtain contact information.

Tow examples:  Louis Botes / Karin Botes

Video resume:

One more way to stand out to employers, is by making your own video resume. This can also be added to your online portfolio / website. To be intended as supplements - not replacement for - your traditional resume. Video resumes allow job seekers to showcase a little bit of their personalities and highlight one or two points of interest on their resume.

Most of all... enjoy this new opportunity to express and present yourself to your next employer.

Read more about us at: http://www.engineernetworkgroup.com/ / http://www.engsearchrecruit.com/

Revised and written by Stefanie / ENG-ESP Marketing

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Winners and Losers in the Job Race

Indeed.com studies the jobless rate and the number of jobs posted in 50 metropolitan areas. This data has been updated as of July 2010. Miami and Detroit remains the worst with a ratio of 1 job for each8 unemployed individuals.

New York comes in at the best with a ration of 1:1, along with it's neighbors, DC and Baltimore. 

Now if we could match those seekers and jobs perfectly our job would be done.

Big loosers on the list are Rochester NY and New Orleans.

To see the complete list of 50 metropolitan areas, click here.

To see the job postings per capita as calculated by indeed.com click here.

This article was written by theinterviewpro

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Is the BLUE bird driving you nuts?

A single tweet -- or a few each day -- could change your career path. This is the emphatic advice of several finance career coaches, some even say 30 strategic tweets per day, will get you noticed.

At a time when social media has become the online branding for any company, its crucial to be a part of the hub, to know what it’s all about, and to take an active part in one of the easiest, free marketing tools available.

BELOW A FEW TIPS ON HOW TO ... “market yourself / company” on Twitter.

You have to have a Twitter account to start off with...
Put a star on your forehead, if you already have one!, but take it off if you do not use your Twitter account regularly.

FIRST STEP:  Find and follow up to 500 targeted prospects/customers.

HOW:

When on LinkedIn, you will notice some of your contacts already using Twitter... follow them.

Go onto the Search option within Twitter - put in a key word related to your business, and up pops hundreds of possible people/organizations to follow.

THE TWEETING PROCESS:

You only have 140 characters to work with... that is not much.
Being a talkative person like me... it was difficult in the beginning.

BE CREATIVE:
Start using Hash Tags(#) in front of key word... this will get you noticed.

Remember to keep it real... Include a link to follow up on your Tweets.

RT (Re-Tweet) regularly = interaction with the people in you network.
This shows that you are interested in them.
They will take notice, and start Re-Tweeting your Tweets, therefore passing your message on to their followers.
It’s called sharing.

A good example of a Hash Tag Tweet...

I want to advertise a position for a  Transformer Design Engineer who will be based in New Zealand.

Remember (only 140 Characters).

Hash Tags / Hash Tags / Has Tags.

IT WILL LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THIS:

#Jobs #Transformer Design #Engineer #NZ – (my link) = send

By suing TweetDeck (And I strongly recommend it): http://www.tweetdeck.com/

You will be able to see your Birdie, Tweeting in all the right places. This tweet will not only reach your followers.  (But also Job seekers / People interested in Transformers / Engineers / People in New Zealand), and all,   because of good use of Hash Tags in front of key word.

I do hope this will help you in your next Tweet Experience.

TIME: Where am I going to get the time to Tweet?

I must admit... firstly I did not know anything about Tweeting. It seemed like a useless thing to do, and a time- waster, watching a few Tweeters sending their birdies out on a successful spree... and an always-up-for-a- challenge attitude... I just could not get a thing as simple as Twitter stand in my way

I now have drawn up a time schedule:
Before I start with my formal day to day job activities – I Tweet at least 10 interesting Tweets, after lunch, a another 10, and just before packing up for the day (or even at night) I Tweet a further 10 Tweets.
Interesting things that happened within the Engineering Industry, New Jobs, or anything worth reading.
Doing it this way, is fun... and that’s what it’s supposed... FUN.
Seeing people taking notice of your Tweets, reacting to your Tweets, RT on your Tweets, and to see your followers grow... that’s the most fun.

Did it cost me anything ... NO... and that’s rich!

LASTLY:  Always remember your manners.

Thank the people who start following you, by sending them a direct message (right hand side).

And before I forget: Make your Twitter page interesting...
Looks are important.
Do not forget to write your Bio.
People visiting your Twitter Page for the first time would like to know what you do, before following.

Give them the information.
Don’t waste a potential followers time... you don’t want your time to be wasted either.

Happy Tweeting.
Stefanie Kruyswijk