Monthly Archives: July 2017

3 LinkedIn Groups for IT Professionals

It’s no secret that LinkedIn can be an effective tool for job seekers. However, in order to make LinkedIn work for you, it’s important to get involved in groups. LinkedIn groups are designed for professionals to share information and ideas with one other. Groups are typically open to hiring managers and recruiters, as well, and those professionals watch discussions looking to see what type of talent rises to the top in discussions.

If you are an information technology professional looking to get started with LinkedIn groups. We’ve discovered three that will be worth your while:

Chief Information Officer (CIO) Network – Though the title of the group suggest limited membership, the Chief Information Officer Network is for anyone in an IT leadership position. There are over 120,000 members who engage in discussions surrounding leadership advice, career advice, project direction, and various other topics of interest to tech leaders. This is an excellent group for rising tech talent to showcase their expertise and connect with CIOs, managers, and directors.

IT Specialist Enterprise Network – This group boasts close to 150,000 IT specialists who are tasked with meeting user needs on a daily basis. Users engage in discussions around issues that impact operations, user satisfaction, and productivity. The group is active, giving IT pros plenty of chances to make new connections and showcase expertise.

The Enterprise Architecture Network – This group is for anyone interested in sharing information and learning about IT operations management. Members in the Enterprise Architecture Network range from CIOs and CTOs, to IT strategists, information architects, and analysts. Topics include project management, operations, virtualization, wireless tech, and more.

Group Etiquette Tips

If you’ve never participated in a LinkedIn group, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Listen first – Before starting your own topic of discussion, get your feet wet by contributing to recent conversations. This will help you understand the tone, atmosphere, and dynamics of the group.
Do not sell, never spam – People use LinkedIn groups to seek advice, give advice, and make real connections. They don’t want to be sold to and they certainly do not wish to be spammed. If someone asks a question about a vendor or supplier, reply in a private message (called InMail) to that person.
Always be courteous – Never demean someone’s opinion, even if you vehemently disagree with them. Be kind and respectful, and treat others as you’d want to be treated. Always remember – there are hiring managers watching you.

If you’re looking to get a leg up on your competition in the IT job market, LinkedIn groups are a great place to start. It can also be extremely beneficial to connect with a professional recruiter. The Prevalent Group is a nationally recognized recruitment agency that works with IT professionals and specialists looking for new opportunities. We work with some of the most dynamic companies in the country, who are always looking for new IT talent. If you are an IT professional looking to take your career to the next level, contact us today.

3 LinkedIn Groups for Engineers

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 40 to 70 percent of workers owe their current positions to networking. While in-person networking is always useful, more and more engineers are relying on social networking to help them get their foot in the door with new employers.

LinkedIn groups are a great place to connect with other engineers and be seen by hiring managers. Many recruiters actively browse LinkedIn looking for new talent on a regular basis, and the network has earned a solid reputation for successfully connecting employers and engineers.

Move Beyond Your Profile

It’s not enough to simply have a LinkedIn profile. For engineers actively looking to grow in their careers, participation in groups is essential. Many professional groups allow recruiters to join, as well, and discussions can be a great place to showcase your expertise for those who are scouting for talent. We’ve scoured the network and pulled three groups (plus one bonus group) for computer, mechanical, and electrical engineers.

Computer Engineers – The High Performance Computing group is extremely active, touting over 9,000 members who work in the field. Most of the members of this group are engineers and researchers, but there are also a healthy number of IT professionals, consultants, and tech educators on the forum, as well.

Electrical Engineers – The Electrical Power Engineers group is unique in that it allows for discussions to be held in smaller, dedicated subgroups. This keeps conversations focused and allows networkers to be strategic in their group interactions. Members in this group hail from all over the globe, and membership is open to entry level and senior engineers, alike.

Bonus Group: The Electrical Engineer and Instrumentation group connects entry-level engineers and other professionals in the oil and gas industry. This board is very popular with recruiters and includes many job postings as well as discussions among professionals.

Mechanical Engineers – The Mechanical Engineers Network group is a place for professionals at all levels to connect with one another, and for recruiters to connect with talent from the US and Canada. There are over 80,000 members, though not all members are active in the forum. In order to stand out, new members should try to contribute regularly to the most recent and most active discussions.

Engineering is a competitive field and it can be difficult for professionals to manage their current positon while staying focused on all of the social and professional networking that must occur in order to develop a strong network.

That’s where a professional recruiter can help. The Prevalent Group is a nationally recognized engineering recruitment agency that works with electrical, civil, mechanical, chemical, and field service engineers at all stages of their careers. We have cultivated a strong network of organizations across the country who are always looking for new engineering talent. If you are a professional engineer looking to take your career to the next level, contact us today.

How To (Secretly) Search for a Job While Still Employed

Searching for a job while employed full-time can be tricky. You have to walk a thin line between furthering your career while remaining respectful to your current employer. In order to land your dream job without burning bridges, you must conduct your job search ethically, but without being detected.

The First Rule of Job Hunt is Don’t Talk about Job Hunt

If you don’t want your boss to discover your job search, don’t talk about it with anyone at work. Or at the local diner. Or anywhere but the confines of your own home. If you talk about your search, your secret is sure to get out.

Never Do Job Search Tasks on Company Time

Though it may be tempting, you should never, ever hop on a job bard at work, and you should certainly never send out search-related emails from your company email address. Nothing you do on the company internet is private, and your odds of being caught are quite high.

Schedule Interviews During Off Hours

It is perfectly acceptable to ask potential employers to schedule interviews after normal business hours. They will appreciate the respect you are showing your current employer by not taking time off the clock to conduct your job search. If the potential employer can’t accommodate a late afternoon or early morning interview, suggest your lunch hour.

Be Honest with Potential Employers

The people who interview you will ask if your current employer is aware of your job search. Honesty is the best policy. Explain you’re keeping the search confidential and ask that they contact previous employers for a reference. Honesty should not rule you out as a potential candidate. Lying, however, will. If a potential employer calls your current boss for a reference check, you’ll be in a very sticky situation all around.

Partner with a Recruiter

A recruiter can do much of the legwork for you during your job search. They locate open positions, schedule interviews, and do some advance work with the hiring manager. This allows you to remain focused on your current job. You won’t be tempted to check job boards or make phone calls on company time. They also have the inside track on positions that align with your skills and goals, so you don’t waste time on interviews for jobs that aren’t a right fit.

Conducting a job search while employed full time can be a bit of a juggling act. But it keeps you in a position where you won’t be tempted to take the first offer that comes along just to keep the bills paid. As long as you conduct your search quietly and with the help of a professional recruiter, you can conduct your search without tipping off your current boss.

The Prevalent Group is a nationally recognized management and executive placement and recruitment company. We place execs in sales, marketing, engineering, technology and more. If you are looking for new opportunities in these fields, contact us today.

How to Prep for an Engineering Phone Interview

A telephone interview is an important step in the hiring process, both for the organization and the candidate. It helps the hiring team narrow the field of qualified prospects, and it also gives the candidate a first look at how the company functions. The questions will not be as in-depth during a phone interview as they are during a face-to-face scenario, but they are still critical for the selection process, and engineers should always prepare well for a telephone screen.

Research the Organization

While you probably conducted some research into your target company before applying, it can be helpful to go back and review your research, and to dive a little deeper. Take some time to study the company website to gain a better understanding of the organization’s size and structure. Visit LinkedIn and get to know the names and accomplishments of some of the key players, and it can be helpful to read up on the person who will be conducting your interview, as well.

Prepare a List of Questions

Compile a list of questions that will give you critical information about whether or not the job and the company will be a good fit. You might want to ask about their training and onboarding program for new engineers, what the opportunities for advancement look like, whether or not the company provides professional development opportunities, etc.

Be Ready the Day of the Interview

Always be on time and ready to go in a quiet area so that there will be no background noise to distract you or the interviewer. Be clear about who is calling whom, and if you are expected to make the call, dial in a minute or two before the appointed interview time.

Have your list of questions ready when the interviewer calls. Print out a copy of your resume for yourself, or bring a copy up on your laptop or tablet. Have a pen and a piece of paper handy to take notes along the way.

Tips for the Interview

Some guidelines to follow as you make your way through the telephone interview:

Sound interested and enthusiastic.
Be definitive and succinct in your answers.
Ask open-ended questions.
Be prepared to answer open-ended questions.
Be sure to use the interviewers name in your conversation.
Always ask what the timeline and next steps will be.
Thank the interviewer and express your continued interest, if you indeed have continued interest in the position.

A great way to ensure that you are prepared for phone and in-person interviews is to work with a professional engineering recruiting agency. A recruiter will have the inside track on just what the hiring manager is looking for, and can help get you adequately prepared for the hiring process. The Prevalent Group is a nationally recognized engineering recruitment company. We have strong relationships with top-tier organizations, and we work with engineering talent at all levels. If you are looking for new opportunities in electrical, civil, mechanical, or software engineering, contact us today.