In a good interview, there are a lot of reasons you get the job because of what you said and did. You can also get the job because of what you do not say and do! Follow these tips for a successful interview and make sure you don't make the same mistakes that have hindered so many for a chance to earn a livelihood.
1. Don't ask about time off and salary up front! Wait to find out about salary when they bring it up and wait to hear about perks once they present the compensation package to you. Asking about medical benefits is acceptable though.
2. Don't ask about what the company does! You should've researched that info so don't waste their time (and yours)! I once worked with a hiring manager that grilled candidates about the company and the current state of the company and industry. He wanted to make sure he only had passionate people working on his team.
3. Don't get too casual. I once had a job interview with a highly respected insurance company that I felt real cozy in because I knew the human resources professional. Well, one slip up and it cost me big time. I accidentally used an explicit word because we got a little personal between each other. Later the hiring manager told me I did not get the job due to that fact. Casual only gets you to a place where you lose focus on what you're doing there in the first place. Unfortunately, that's when things may come out of your mouth that shouldn't unless you're with your buddies at happy hour.
4. Don't bash your previous or current employer! It can show that you aren't very loyal and that you don't respect those that aren't on your current radar screen. Hiring managers don't want you to do that to them in case you leave and they certainly don't want anyone who uses and abuses to get ahead. Just because you aren't happy with your previous employer does not mean you have the right to express your true feelings about it to a stranger.
5. Always dress one level up! Just because you might be a tradesman and your job dictates you wear jeans and a shirt to work does not mean you should be wearing that to your interview! Wear one outfit above the job you are interviewing for so in this case, the tradesman would wear a collared shirt and slacks. A salesperson would wear a suit and tie.
Stay positive and show that you really want the job throughout the interview. Asking about salary and perks shows that you don't care about anything else. Research the company before you go. Don't speak negatively about anything, especially your previous jobs. Dress to impress. Practice these simple acts and watch the offers start rolling in!
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Monday, April 11, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Surefire Resume Killers That Will Murder Your Career
As a former human resources recruiter with over 10 years experience, I would commonly go through hundreds of resumes for any one particular position. And while it became tedious to sift through the same inadequate pieces of paper over and over, there was always a diamond in the rough.
A resume that stands out can create a sense of urgency for a recruiter to present it to the hiring manager without even calling the candidate first. Of course, that isn't the reality, because we do have to pause and track down the one with the "golden eggsume." Recruiters investigate all candidates to see if they really do match up with the opening.
Now you're asking, "what did that person have on his or her resume to make them stand out?" Simple... they can do the job and the resume reflects that. As much as I would like to just spend time on top candidates, I still want to help the rest of the fold, should they ask why they didn't get chosen. With that, I give you five surefire resume killers that can become deal breakers, in no particular order.
Get Rid of the Fluff - People tend to use too many adjectives (i.e., "fast learner", "hard working") when describing themselves or their experience. Do not be one of those people! Anyone can say they are a "team player". These descriptions are subjective and cannot be proven. We also don't need to know how you helped Bill get to work for a week when his van broke down.
It Isn't a Novel - You do not need to write a paragraph for each job description. I once had a candidate send me a summary of his work experience, as opposed to a nicely formatted section including employment dates, employer, location and title. My hiring manager told me it had to be cleaned up before he would even review it, so I passed the memo along to the candidate and apparently he was too lazy (or offended) to make any edits. Even though he was a fit for our opening, it was on to the next candidate!
Lack of Depth - Write tangible descriptions relating to your skills and duties. Provide numbers or results you produced and quantify the statement with that information. Anything is better than broad statements. They are annoying and a major turn-off for HR people and managers. Data and numbers showcasing your ability to impact the bottom line is what they want to see. So find out how you were able to increase revenue or decrease expenditures for your previous employers and make it known on your resume.
One Title, One Resume - Tailor your resume to the job you are attempting to land and market yourself specifically for this job. Hiring managers are focused on what they need and expect your resume to be geared towards that need. If you are interested in multiple job titles, create multiple versions of your resume. Make sure they are based on the company's job descriptions/titles you apply to and tailor them towards those openings.
Not Enough Buzzwords - Use words from the job posting to customize your resume each time you send it out. If the job posting says "project management," use that same term in your resume as it relates to your experience. Most recruiters are not experts on every single facet of every single opening, so they constantly are seeking out information from actual candidates to further their knowledge about the openings. With that said, try to help them out and put buzzwords onto your resume so they can see that you actually have comparable skills to that job posting. Plus, when recruiters search databases to find your resumes, most of the time they use those same buzzwords.
A superior resume displays your marketable or transferable skills and experience and "pre-sells" you. Not to only gain an interview, but make it so that when you walk in, the interviewer's reaction is: "I've read your resume, and I'm really looking forward to meeting with you." A superior resume puts you ahead of the ever-increasing competition, so you can be confident that you get noticed over the hundreds of other people applying.
A resume that stands out can create a sense of urgency for a recruiter to present it to the hiring manager without even calling the candidate first. Of course, that isn't the reality, because we do have to pause and track down the one with the "golden eggsume." Recruiters investigate all candidates to see if they really do match up with the opening.
Now you're asking, "what did that person have on his or her resume to make them stand out?" Simple... they can do the job and the resume reflects that. As much as I would like to just spend time on top candidates, I still want to help the rest of the fold, should they ask why they didn't get chosen. With that, I give you five surefire resume killers that can become deal breakers, in no particular order.
Get Rid of the Fluff - People tend to use too many adjectives (i.e., "fast learner", "hard working") when describing themselves or their experience. Do not be one of those people! Anyone can say they are a "team player". These descriptions are subjective and cannot be proven. We also don't need to know how you helped Bill get to work for a week when his van broke down.
It Isn't a Novel - You do not need to write a paragraph for each job description. I once had a candidate send me a summary of his work experience, as opposed to a nicely formatted section including employment dates, employer, location and title. My hiring manager told me it had to be cleaned up before he would even review it, so I passed the memo along to the candidate and apparently he was too lazy (or offended) to make any edits. Even though he was a fit for our opening, it was on to the next candidate!
Lack of Depth - Write tangible descriptions relating to your skills and duties. Provide numbers or results you produced and quantify the statement with that information. Anything is better than broad statements. They are annoying and a major turn-off for HR people and managers. Data and numbers showcasing your ability to impact the bottom line is what they want to see. So find out how you were able to increase revenue or decrease expenditures for your previous employers and make it known on your resume.
One Title, One Resume - Tailor your resume to the job you are attempting to land and market yourself specifically for this job. Hiring managers are focused on what they need and expect your resume to be geared towards that need. If you are interested in multiple job titles, create multiple versions of your resume. Make sure they are based on the company's job descriptions/titles you apply to and tailor them towards those openings.
Not Enough Buzzwords - Use words from the job posting to customize your resume each time you send it out. If the job posting says "project management," use that same term in your resume as it relates to your experience. Most recruiters are not experts on every single facet of every single opening, so they constantly are seeking out information from actual candidates to further their knowledge about the openings. With that said, try to help them out and put buzzwords onto your resume so they can see that you actually have comparable skills to that job posting. Plus, when recruiters search databases to find your resumes, most of the time they use those same buzzwords.
A superior resume displays your marketable or transferable skills and experience and "pre-sells" you. Not to only gain an interview, but make it so that when you walk in, the interviewer's reaction is: "I've read your resume, and I'm really looking forward to meeting with you." A superior resume puts you ahead of the ever-increasing competition, so you can be confident that you get noticed over the hundreds of other people applying.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Seeking 2 Engineers for Raleigh, NC
JOB 1: Substation Automation Proposal Engineer in Raleigh, NC
Typical duties/responsibilities:
• Plan and prepare substation automation proposal packages using the best competitive solution comprising of products and services, plus products from other manufacturers in an efficient and timely manner as demanded by the bidding/specification deadlines.
• Review and analyze customer specifications and data from other departments to compile information for bids and prepare proposals is responsive to customer requirements
• Utilize EDMS (Electronic Document Management System) for generation of all Proposals and storage of all technical and pricing data generated in the process of generating proposals.
• Prepare cost estimates for new bids, contract changes and requests for quotations utilizing basic engineering data, drawings, customer specifications and related information, and summarize total cost estimates.
• Develop or assist in the development of domestic business documents such as commercial agreements, pricing spreadsheets, risk analysis and mitigation worksheets, cash flow information.
• Document internal and external product transfer prices and maintain the marketing and quoting database to optimize efficiency of the bid preparation processes.
• Record all negotiation results from suppliers and customers and upon receipt of order participate in project management 'hand-over' meetings to ensure that all technical and commercial objectives are understood by the project management or order handling personnel.
Position Qualifications:
• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering
• Three years relevant engineering experience in electrical power systems or industrial automation systems domain
• Ability to communicate effectively, act decisively and communicate the importance of changes in the marketplace.
• Strong communication skills are required to complement your ability to direct the preparation of routine and non-routine proposals. The ability to work independently on projects must be blended with the ability to manage and work well with others (sales, engineering, management, vendors) to create proposals that meet the customers expectations.
• Broad knowledge of diverse operations and ability to independently resolve complex problems.
• Previous experience with SCADA, Substation Automation and HMI bid preparation, system architecture designs, product selection detectors is a plus.
Desired competencies:
• Knowledgeable of major electrical power and industrial system applications
• Knowledge of generating, transmission and distribution utilities, large industrials with “utility” requirements, electrical consultants, EPC's and OEM’s.
• Excellent technical English writing skills.
• Successfully worked in large matrix organizations, a team player in local group and able to work across country boundaries
• Knowledge of the MV/HV/EHV Power System Protection, Utility Communications and Substation Automation systems business and customers in the USA
• Detailed knowledge of protection relays, utility communications equipment, substation automation systems and related products is preferable.
• Knowledge of Internal companies and procedures would be an asset
• Software skills and the ability to utilize organized database environments are a strong plus; Microsoft Office and Visio Expert
• Candidate should be well organized, self motivated, detail oriented.
• Ability to understand and interpreted power system protection single line diagrams.
• Working knowledge with AutoCAD and ability to create electrical drawings is a plus.
Equal Opportunity Employer: MJW Careers is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.
JOB 2: Senior Protection and Control Engineer (Protection and Control Engineer III)
Typical duties/responsibilities:
• Design of electrical protection and control systems for generation, transmission and distribution systems with emphasis on project costs and quality.
• Development of complete engineering design packages for protective relaying and communications systems, including AC one-line and three-line diagrams, DC schematics, logic and functional diagrams, panel layouts, interconnection diagrams, relaying equipment specifications and bill of materials.
• Performing relaying and power system analysis including system short circuit and relay coordination analysis
• Review drawings and other technical documentation for conformance to specifications.
• Resolve protection and control design issues as identified by project engineer and manager.
• Travel to project site as required including, but not limited to, customer kick-off meetings.
• Support the execution of project site control and protection activities including commissioning.
• Able to effectively perform project management analysis techniques for standard projects by preparing and updating a project schedule
• Supervises or coordinates the work of drafters and/or designers.
• Assist the Substation Automation Engineering Manager in meeting department goals.
Position Qualifications:
• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering; Master of Science preferred
• Registered Professional Engineering preferred
• Minimum of eight years relevant protection and control engineering experience in electrical power systems or industrial automation systems domain
• Ability to communicate effectively and act decisively
• Ability to document work performed and track progress of project, including administration of warranty items.
• Foresight to anticipate problems and recognize opportunities for cost-effectively improving operations.
• Independently plans and conducts work requiring judgment in the evaluation, selection, and adaptation or modification of standard techniques, procedures and criteria.
• Has a solid understanding of a variety of protective relaying concepts, practices, and procedures
Desired competencies:
• Knowledgeable of major electrical power and industrial system applications
• Excellent understanding with the design of electrical control and protection systems for generation, transmission and distribution systems
• Knowledge of SCADA and communication systems related to protection and control.
• Knowledge of Microsoft tools, AutoCAD and other discipline software like Aspen and/or SKM products.
• Knowledge of ANSI standards
• Comprehends the benefits of modern Substation Automation communication standards and protocols (e.g. IEC 61850, DNP 3.0)
• Understands protective relay devices and remote terminal units
• Successfully worked in large matrix organizations and able to work across country boundaries
Required Travel – 0 - 5%
Equal Opportunity Employer: MJW Careers is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.
Please contact MATT WARZEL if you or someone you know can fit the bill!
216-246-9900
warzel@mjwcareers.com
Typical duties/responsibilities:
• Plan and prepare substation automation proposal packages using the best competitive solution comprising of products and services, plus products from other manufacturers in an efficient and timely manner as demanded by the bidding/specification deadlines.
• Review and analyze customer specifications and data from other departments to compile information for bids and prepare proposals is responsive to customer requirements
• Utilize EDMS (Electronic Document Management System) for generation of all Proposals and storage of all technical and pricing data generated in the process of generating proposals.
• Prepare cost estimates for new bids, contract changes and requests for quotations utilizing basic engineering data, drawings, customer specifications and related information, and summarize total cost estimates.
• Develop or assist in the development of domestic business documents such as commercial agreements, pricing spreadsheets, risk analysis and mitigation worksheets, cash flow information.
• Document internal and external product transfer prices and maintain the marketing and quoting database to optimize efficiency of the bid preparation processes.
• Record all negotiation results from suppliers and customers and upon receipt of order participate in project management 'hand-over' meetings to ensure that all technical and commercial objectives are understood by the project management or order handling personnel.
Position Qualifications:
• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering
• Three years relevant engineering experience in electrical power systems or industrial automation systems domain
• Ability to communicate effectively, act decisively and communicate the importance of changes in the marketplace.
• Strong communication skills are required to complement your ability to direct the preparation of routine and non-routine proposals. The ability to work independently on projects must be blended with the ability to manage and work well with others (sales, engineering, management, vendors) to create proposals that meet the customers expectations.
• Broad knowledge of diverse operations and ability to independently resolve complex problems.
• Previous experience with SCADA, Substation Automation and HMI bid preparation, system architecture designs, product selection detectors is a plus.
Desired competencies:
• Knowledgeable of major electrical power and industrial system applications
• Knowledge of generating, transmission and distribution utilities, large industrials with “utility” requirements, electrical consultants, EPC's and OEM’s.
• Excellent technical English writing skills.
• Successfully worked in large matrix organizations, a team player in local group and able to work across country boundaries
• Knowledge of the MV/HV/EHV Power System Protection, Utility Communications and Substation Automation systems business and customers in the USA
• Detailed knowledge of protection relays, utility communications equipment, substation automation systems and related products is preferable.
• Knowledge of Internal companies and procedures would be an asset
• Software skills and the ability to utilize organized database environments are a strong plus; Microsoft Office and Visio Expert
• Candidate should be well organized, self motivated, detail oriented.
• Ability to understand and interpreted power system protection single line diagrams.
• Working knowledge with AutoCAD and ability to create electrical drawings is a plus.
Equal Opportunity Employer: MJW Careers is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.
JOB 2: Senior Protection and Control Engineer (Protection and Control Engineer III)
Typical duties/responsibilities:
• Design of electrical protection and control systems for generation, transmission and distribution systems with emphasis on project costs and quality.
• Development of complete engineering design packages for protective relaying and communications systems, including AC one-line and three-line diagrams, DC schematics, logic and functional diagrams, panel layouts, interconnection diagrams, relaying equipment specifications and bill of materials.
• Performing relaying and power system analysis including system short circuit and relay coordination analysis
• Review drawings and other technical documentation for conformance to specifications.
• Resolve protection and control design issues as identified by project engineer and manager.
• Travel to project site as required including, but not limited to, customer kick-off meetings.
• Support the execution of project site control and protection activities including commissioning.
• Able to effectively perform project management analysis techniques for standard projects by preparing and updating a project schedule
• Supervises or coordinates the work of drafters and/or designers.
• Assist the Substation Automation Engineering Manager in meeting department goals.
Position Qualifications:
• Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering; Master of Science preferred
• Registered Professional Engineering preferred
• Minimum of eight years relevant protection and control engineering experience in electrical power systems or industrial automation systems domain
• Ability to communicate effectively and act decisively
• Ability to document work performed and track progress of project, including administration of warranty items.
• Foresight to anticipate problems and recognize opportunities for cost-effectively improving operations.
• Independently plans and conducts work requiring judgment in the evaluation, selection, and adaptation or modification of standard techniques, procedures and criteria.
• Has a solid understanding of a variety of protective relaying concepts, practices, and procedures
Desired competencies:
• Knowledgeable of major electrical power and industrial system applications
• Excellent understanding with the design of electrical control and protection systems for generation, transmission and distribution systems
• Knowledge of SCADA and communication systems related to protection and control.
• Knowledge of Microsoft tools, AutoCAD and other discipline software like Aspen and/or SKM products.
• Knowledge of ANSI standards
• Comprehends the benefits of modern Substation Automation communication standards and protocols (e.g. IEC 61850, DNP 3.0)
• Understands protective relay devices and remote terminal units
• Successfully worked in large matrix organizations and able to work across country boundaries
Required Travel – 0 - 5%
Equal Opportunity Employer: MJW Careers is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer and is committed to providing equal employment to all without regard to age, ancestry, color, creed, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation or belief, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.
Please contact MATT WARZEL if you or someone you know can fit the bill!
216-246-9900
warzel@mjwcareers.com
Friday, January 1, 2010
JobStickers Career Mixer Information
Front Street Brewery & MJW Careers present the first ever JobStickers Career Mixer
Date: February 3, 2010
Time: 5:30 PM
Place: Front Street Brewery
Location: 9 North Front St., Wilmington, NC 28401
Our JobStickers Career Mixers are about connecting job seekers with recruiters and hiring managers. At the mixer, you'll be given a color-coded name tag that identifies you as a job seeker of a specific industry – or a recruiter or hiring manager of a direct-hire company – so you can network with the people that matter to you!
Job Seekers! Aside from the imbibing and fun that every mixer brings, recruiters and hiring managers will be on-hand to learn a little bit more about what you do. So make sure you bring LOTS of resumes to hand out to prospective employers!
Recruiters and Hiring Managers! Support the local community by attending this career mixer! We are looking for folks to assist us with job search tips, interview techniques, and industry job trends. Help out your fellow colleagues, while making valuable candidate contacts! To attend, contact Matt Warzel @ 216-246-9900.
Visit us on the web:
www.jobstickers.com
www.mjwcareers.com
Date: February 3, 2010
Time: 5:30 PM
Place: Front Street Brewery
Location: 9 North Front St., Wilmington, NC 28401
Our JobStickers Career Mixers are about connecting job seekers with recruiters and hiring managers. At the mixer, you'll be given a color-coded name tag that identifies you as a job seeker of a specific industry – or a recruiter or hiring manager of a direct-hire company – so you can network with the people that matter to you!
Job Seekers! Aside from the imbibing and fun that every mixer brings, recruiters and hiring managers will be on-hand to learn a little bit more about what you do. So make sure you bring LOTS of resumes to hand out to prospective employers!
Recruiters and Hiring Managers! Support the local community by attending this career mixer! We are looking for folks to assist us with job search tips, interview techniques, and industry job trends. Help out your fellow colleagues, while making valuable candidate contacts! To attend, contact Matt Warzel @ 216-246-9900.
Visit us on the web:
www.jobstickers.com
www.mjwcareers.com
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