The HeadHuntress Blog

Check Me Out!

I was recently published in Mass High Tech on the topic of Technology and Recruiting – for those of you looking for more of me, check out the article – oh and in case you’re wondering if its any good – a nice quote from Mike, a very talented Sys Admin from my network (Thanks Mike!!):

“I wanted to send you a quick note about your guest column in this week’s MHT. You wrote a great article and I agree that personal contact remains a key factor in maintaining or expanding connections. I am sure this is why you are so successful!”

Tech Bubble?? - Comedy Break!

All work no play? No way - enjoy this video poking at new technology - much as we love our Facebook and LinkedIn and the all knowing, can't live without you, Google - of course.

One and Done

It’s a good thing - holding out for the right opportunity. You don’t settle and you end up giving yourself a high five because you did wait for the one that felt right. So, if it doesn’t feel right, hit the pause button before you sign that offer and see if there is another opportunity to explore.

Signs you’ve landed in the right role:

1.      No regrets – You come in, day one, ready to go, excited – sky’s the limit.

2.      That feeling doesn’t change after day two…

3.      or three.

4.      You don’t wish you asked for more money, or more vacation time.

5.      After the first month – you still see yourself there in a few years, productive and on a strong growth tract.

6.      You wake up Monday looking forward to heading in, and the commute doesn’t change your mind.

7.      You like the people you work with, even on that occasional Monday where, you know what; you just wanted one more day to that great weekend.

8.      No one quit in your first week and looked at you like you wouldn’t last longer than a month.

9.      Your boss rides that line between, happy to have you on board and “oh thank god you’re here” well enough that you are not concerned that you're missing something.

10.  Your instincts aren’t telling you otherwise.

The right job is the only job to have - gone are the days we have to plod along in an unsatisfying work environment - there is, despite the economy riding the times like a rollercoaster - a great deal of new activity in the information technology sector - Development and Infrastructure, Product Management, QA, Professional Services - all have openings to explore.

Of course, this means you have to connect with me - so put down the Miller Lite and send me an email. Then finish your beer, cause I am not calling you until Monday.

Be good, and enjoy the rest of your weekend - while the sun is actually out....for once.

JT

Have You Checked Out.....

In my work I often come across new resources and associations or niche sites - I bumped into these two recently:

ITGigs and Beyond.com

I would be interested in hearing from you if you have experience with these sites - Let me know what you think!

JT

Going For It

I went to the game last night - Red Sox - Bud Roof Deck - Box 111, Row 1, Seat 1. Now, a lesser person might let the whole #1 thing go to her head - and - I am such a lesser person. Yes I am.

It was a great game, highlights? Manny coming on the field after becoming the third Sox player to hit 500 homeruns; The sixth inning - where we took the lead....and the eighth inning - when a man ran out onto the field, sending three Fenway security guards into nosedives trying to catch him...listening to 38,000 people roar with laughter is a very good time.

What makes us risk it all for such small moments? Knowing the crowd will cheer you on? Or that your buddies will bail you out with the collection they took up before you jumped the fence and went for it?

All I know is, I get it. It may be absolutely rah-diculous, but that took gumption and secretly you love him for going for it.

Habits of a Successful Job Hunter

1. Optimally you’re currently employed – gives you a platform to negotiate from that doesn’t exist otherwise.

2. Unless you have no other choice – have care with your longevity. The trend over the last ten years has shown a steady decrease in the length of time a candidate remains with his/her company – not a good trend. Ten years may not be the norm any longer – but 1.5 shouldn’t be either.

3. Especially noted in IT resumes – listing every technology you’ve ever touched – a turn off. Highlight your strongest skills – and if you must list C++ even if you haven’t programmed in the language in over four years, parse it out clearly:

          Top Skills: Java, J2EE, Linux

Touched: C++ (4 years ago – 6 years total experience), SCRUM (in previous role for three projects over six months)

4. If you have a degree, place it front and center – especially in tech – experience can out weigh the degree preference – still, most clients initially request a degree. So, if you have it – highlight it. This includes certifications like MCSE and CCNP.

5. Obviously I’m going to highlight engaging a recruiter – find one you can partner with – they’re out there. There’s a ton of recruiters who will call when they have something and fergetcha when they don’t – and you’ll get fifty calls a day in this market – often for roles that don’t even come close to matching your background – so get strategic. Pick one or two who specialize in what you do – if another recruiter calls with an opportunity, share it with your recruiter – you miss nothing and you deepen the relationship with someone you trust to help you find that next challenge. Let your recruiter know what companies interest you – give them the opportunity to help you open a door – the more you collaborate the harder a good recruiter will work for you.

6. Be honest about compensation – combining your base, bonus, what you received in reimbursements, and your 401k matching into one big fat base fools no one. If you are looking for higher than a 5-10% increase in your next role – be prepared to back it up with a good strong why. It’s been done successfully, make sure you prepare.

7. Social Networking – LinkedIn, Facebook, Plaxo, Meetup.com – find an online or social networking venue that works for you. Create a profile, answer questions, make requests. Built a community with one or more of these portals – they have high success rates and are increasingly popular – providing access to a community of professionals you might otherwise not have access to.

8. Posting. Posting is a whole separate topic. To touch on it – Two pet peeves: One, if you’re going confidential – make sure you insert your resume confidentially – you look pretty silly posting confidentially only to have a recruiter – in-house or not – click on the link and see all your information. Two, specify your citizenship. If you are a citizen, you do not require sponsorship – if you require sponsorship, make that clear – saves time and frustration on both ends – digging for any pertinent information is a waste of time and doesn’t win you that phone call you’re waiting for.

9. Indeed.com – fabulous resource – Go play.

10. Spell your stuff – I don’t care if your job is 100% programming – spell check that resume. Careless resume, careless code.

JT

CareerBuilder Survey Results

CareerBuilder.com released the results of its annual Interview Mistakes survey of more than 3,000 hiring managers and HR professionals. Apparently it’s not as uncommon as one might think to fall asleep, bring your mom, or go to the bathroom and never come back. However, here are a few of the most unusual things candidates have done in interviews:

• Candidate answered cell phone and asked the interviewer to leave her own office because it was a “private” conversation. 
• Candidate told the interviewer he wouldn’t be able to stay with the job long because he thought he might get an inheritance if his uncle died – and his uncle wasn’t “looking too good.”
• Candidate said she could not provide a writing sample because all of her writing had been for the CIA and it was “classified.”
• When applicant was offered food before the interview, he declined saying he didn’t want to line his stomach with grease before going out drinking.
• A candidate for an accounting position said she was a “people person” not a “numbers person.”
• Candidate flushed the toilet while talking to interviewer during phone interview.

51% of hiring managers cited dressing inappropriately as the most detrimental mistake a candidate can make in an interview.  Speaking negatively about a current or previous employer came in second (49%) and appearing disinterested ranked third (48%). Other mistakes included appearing arrogant (44%), not providing specific answers (30%) and not asking good questions (29%).

Seriously, hit the mute button if you must GO during an phone interview. Hilarious - JT

Five Secrets of Successful Job Hunters

Winter is almost over, hang tight! If you can make it through the oh, it's 19 degrees, oh wait, no, no, it's 51 degrees....It's like tug of war out there. Not to mention drivers on the road - they are such an indicator aren't they - curious to know whether the "natives are restless"? Watch how we drive....I wonder if there's a study out there that monitors driving habits in late February, early March...I bet there's a difference....more aggression - if that's possible for Bostonians. Curious.

While we ponder that, the dollar may be tanking against the Euro (hitting an all time low – fun stuff), and your house may not be worth the foundation it’s sitting on – but IT in Boston? The opportunities are abundant. If you're in IT and your are looking - this is the market to do it in - if you are in IT and have client facing skills - you are in a HOT market - take a look around - IT is moving in the client facing direction...if you've already garnered the experience, put it to use, if you haven't - get there.

.Net, Java, C++, Datawarehousing – these are the current hot trends. If you have these skill sets, touch base with me - I'd love to hear your thoughts on the market, and your experiences interviewing.

Also, bumped into this article on Yahoo HotJobs – check it out – Five Secrets of Successful Job Hunters.

Talk with you soon! JT

Excellent Article on Blogging

Hi there!

I know we have all the signs of heading toward a recession - but IT isn't listening. So far, we've avoided the downturn - and, since we seem to go in seven year cycles, it looks like we're good to go for another couple of years anyway. So keep your eyes open, ears to the ground (maybe not literally) and stay tuned - this market still has plenty of opportunities to present you.

In that vein - this article was shared with me today - I thought you would find it fascinating.

How Blogs Are Changing the Recruiting Landscape - written by Sarah Needleman from the WTJ.

Enjoy! JT

No BlackBerry at the Dinner Table, Thank You.

Hi, My name is Jennifer and I am a workaholic. Okay, I jest, where perhaps I shouldn't. I love my work, I'm lucky to be able to say that. Because I love it, I have a great deal of true satisfaction in what I do. That's the reward. It does come with an awareness of the need to create time outside of my work. I love my family, love spending time with them, love laughing with them, love sharing a meal together. So how do I take two things I love dearly, and balance it out? Well that isn't a new question is it? Neither is setting boundaries. But it IS an on-going question, with as many answers as perspectives. So what's my plan?

I'll start with no Blackberry at the table. You laugh - Last time, dinner with my son - I had it within arms reach - My son left the table for a second to grab his own phone and sent me a text message - "Mom, turn off your phone". Oops. Next time, I'm turning it off before he catches me.

The bottomline? Even if you love your work, you've got to love yourself and your family enough, to put it on hold when it's important. Whether a meal, or if your son needs a little one-on-one Mom time, figuring out in each moment what your priorities are - makes life a little more rewarding, and a little less one-sided.

JT