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What You Should And Shouldn’t Ask As You Start Your Job

The first days and weeks on a job are the most critical when it comes to establishing a positive perception, learning the ropes, and building trust among your colleagues. It will be important to ask questions along the way, but it’s equally important to know what not to say as you start your new job.

Questions for Your Boss

In order to have a good working relationship with your new supervisor, you’ll need to get a feel for the type of manager you’re working with. It is also essential to be clear about your exact responsibilities on the job. It is appropriate to ask your new boss questions like:

How often do you prefer to receive project updates?
Do you like those updates to be made via email, telephone, or face-to-face?
What are your goals for my first month?
How will you measure my success in that first month?
How does this position fit into the “big picture” of the organization?
If I get stuck, who on the team is easily approachable for help?

Questions for Co-workers

Current employees can be wary of a new team member. They may wonder if you will upset the rhythm of the office, if you’ll get along with everyone, or even if you’ll upstage them. You’ll want to get to know your new colleagues and build a rapport by asking questions that show genuine interest in who they are and what they do. You might ask:

Tell me about your experience working on (project that you are assigned to).
What types of projects do you head up?
Do my responsibilities overlap with yours? In what ways?
What types of qualities do you like to see in your teammates?
What can I do to assist you and the team in achieving our goals?

What Not to Say

While it is important to ask questions as a new employee, you don’t want to be seen as needy or slow to learn. Asking too many questions, or asking the wrong types of questions can start you off on the wrong foot with your new colleagues. Avoid the following:

Don’t ask the same person the same question more than once. Keep a notebook and write things down.
Don’t bother people if they look extremely busy, unless it’s an absolute emergency.
Don’t ask your co-workers what happened to the person who held your job before.
Don’t ask how often you get to leave early, or if your boss cares if you show up late. It shows a lack of motivation.
Don’t ask anyone out on a date.
Don’t ask anyone how much they are paid.
Don’t turn down lunch invitations in your first few weeks. Be approachable and friendly at all times.

Always remember that your first few days and weeks on the job are going to be stressful. You will probably make some mistakes. Don’t be hard on yourself if you hit a few snags along the way. Prepare yourself, ask questions, and do your best. There is always the next day to start over and get it right.

If you are looking for job search guidance, contact The Prevalent Group today. We are a nationally recognized management and executive placement company that works with experienced professionals in sales, marketing, engineering, technology and more. We look forward to working with you.

Summer Is Over And School Is In

Remember when September was exciting? When it meant a fresh start, new friendships, and opportunities to learn new things? Without “back-to-school” excitement, most adults don’t look forward to fall season the way they once did.

However, it’s always important to keep learning. Expanding your skills and knowledge base will make you more valuable to your current employer and more marketable to future employers. According to the American Psychological Association, learning can also help you increase your job satisfaction and reduce stress. There are many ways that you can go “back to school” on the job this September.

Enroll in a Class

Visit the websites of your local colleges, universities, community colleges, and adult education centers. You don’t have to enroll in a degree program, but you may find a class or two that not only interests you, but will help you stay on the cutting edge of your field.

Sign Up for a Conference

Conferences are great places to network and to learn. Research conferences in your area of expertise, and when you find one that interests you, approach your boss to see if the company would be willing to sponsor your registration fee. They may be willing to pay for part of the fee or all of the fee, depending upon the conference and the skills you can bring back to the organization.

Start a Lunch-and-Learn Program

If your workplace doesn’t have a lunch-and-learn program, talk to your boss about getting one started. You may find that company leadership hops right on board. Lunch-and-learn sessions are events that give employees the opportunity to learn something new over their lunch break. To get things started, tap experts from within the company from different departments. For example, you may ask the marketing director to speak about social media. Lunch-and-learn sessions can be used for personal enrichment or to help employees grow their skills.

Get a Library Card

Do you have a list of books related to your field that you’ve been meaning to read? If you don’t already have one, sign up for a library card and start borrowing books for free. If you learn just one new skill or useful piece of information, you’ll be ahead of the game.

Volunteer for New Projects

A great way to learn is to simply do something. If you’ve been itching to try new things, volunteer for projects that might be slightly out of your comfort zone. Use those projects to not only expand your skill set, but to make professional connections with new co-workers as well.

If you’re looking for new career opportunities this fall, contact The Prevalent Group. We are a nationally recognized management and executive placement and recruitment company that works with experienced managers and executives in sales, marketing, engineering, technology and more. We can connect you with positions that will challenge you, expand your horizons, and help you reach your long-term career goals.

How To Transition And Apply For Senior-Level Jobs

Job seekers looking to take their careers to the next level must tailor their resumes accordingly. Junior-level and middle-management positions require significantly different skill sets than senior-level positions. Upper managers must exhibit leadership skills and be able to showcase their ability to get results. Therefore, in order to transition and apply for senior-level jobs, candidates must build a performance-based resume that not only paints a picture of technical success, but one that also shows a history of strong leadership.

Here are some tips for making the transition:

Think like a senior leader:

Before you can take the next step in your career, you must change your mindset. In your current position, begin to think like a leader. Can you volunteer to head up new projects? What steps can you personally take to improve the performance of your entire team? If you think like a senior manager, it can have a positive effect not only on your job search, but your performance as well.

Identify your most valuable skill sets:

What makes you a successful leader? Do you take the reins without asking? Perhaps you are able to quickly take projects in a new direction without pushing back against leadership. Do you find that your team comes to you with questions about specific skills? Identify your strengths and be sure they are highlighted on your resume.

Don’t tell, show:

A resume should not be a laundry list of job titles, responsibilities, and awards. You must sell yourself through specific examples. Don’t simply say you led a team. Instead, cite examples of the steps you took to improve specific team metrics or the processes you implemented to exceed company goals.

Be open to new possibilities:

If you’ve only ever worked at a large corporation, open yourself up to positions at smaller companies where there are more opportunities to wear different hats and take on advanced projects.

Partner with a recruiter:

Making the transition to senior management can be a challenge for some candidates. If you find yourself stuck, it can be valuable to partner with a professional recruiter who can work with you directly to help you modify your resume, and who can coach you on how to interview for senior positions. Recruiters also have a line on jobs that may not be advertised to the public, and they can match you with positions and organizations that align with your unique strengths and goals.

If you are looking to take the next step in your career, we’d love to talk to you. At The Prevalent Group we are always seeking relationships with experienced professionals who have the skills and the ability to deliver results. As a nationally recognized management and executive placement recruitment company, we place executives in sales, marketing, engineering, technology and more. If you are looking for new opportunities in these fields, visit our job board to scan our current openings, and then contact us to learn more. We look forward to connecting you with your next job.

Effective Nonverbal Communication in an Interview

In a job interview, the answers you give to specific questions are an important part of landing the job. Your answers are not the only criteria that interviewers use to evaluate you, however. Nonverbal communication is just as important as verbal communication. If you can give off the right nonverbal cues, you’ll have a much better chance of impressing the hiring team.

Here are five tips to help you give off the right signals at your next interview:

1. Make Eye Contact

Eye contact is an essential form of nonverbal communication. Strong eye contact demonstrates confidence and can help build rapport with the interviewer. Eye contact should be natural, however. Don’t overcorrect and land in staring territory, which can be uncomfortable.

2. Use Correct Posture

Nobody likes a slouch – especially in an interview setting. Be sure to sit tall, with your back straight, shoulders back, and head high. This will communicate confidence as well as trustworthiness.

3. Smile!

Smiles are contagious. If you smile brightly at your interviewers, it will help them relax, and will set a positive tone for the meeting. Smiling also portrays a positive attitude, which every employer is looking for.

4. Watch Your Hands

Hand gestures are sometimes important for emphasis, but be careful not to talk too much with your hands. Gestures can be distracting, and you don’t want to take your interviewer’s attention away from the content of your answers. Keep your hands on the conference room table, gently folded, or if you’re not seated at a table, fold them in your lap.

5. Tone of Voice

Voice tone is a form of nonverbal communication, and is especially important during phone interviews, as this is the only way the interviewer can get a sense of your personality. Monotone talking can make you seem unexcited. On the other hand, speaking up, speaking clearly, and changing to the tone of your voice to match your emphasis can help engage the interviewer in what you’re saying.

It can be difficult to gage your own nonverbal communication style. An excellent way to prepare for interviews and perfect your nonverbal communication is to partner with a professional recruiter. Recruiters can help prepare you for interviews by working with you to perfect your posture, eye contact, hand gestures, and voice tone so that you’ll send the right messages to hiring managers.

If you are an information technology professional or engineer in Chicago who is seeking new opportunities for career growth, contact The Prevalent Group today. Our team of recruiters can help you locate electrical engineering positions in Chicago that align with your skills, qualifications, and your long-term career goals.

What to Look For In an IT Job Offer

When you receive a written job offer from an employer, it can be tempting to accept right away, especially given the competitiveness of today’s IT job market. However, you should never accept a job offer without receiving an offer letter in writing. Job offers can tell you a lot about a potential employer and can give you a good idea of just how valuable your position is with the company.

Here is what to look for in an IT job offer:

Job Titles

It is critical to be clear of your job title so that you know what is expected of you and where you fit in to the larger picture. Your offer letter should also include the names and job titles of your immediate supervisors. Review the titles and be sure that everything makes sense. If, for example, you thought you were applying for a senior developer position and your job title lacks the word “senior,” or labels you a “junior,” you will need to have a conversation with the hiring manager (and receive a new offer) before accepting.

Salary Information

Before accepting an offer, you must understand what your base pay will be and how often you will receive a paycheck. If bonuses were discussed during the interview process, an explanation of the bonus structure should also be included in the letter. Always be sure to ask about the timing of salary reviews, as well.

Health Benefits

Before accepting an offer, find out about the health and dental plan offered by the organization, if any. Also ask for a statement of costs. You’ll want to know how much you are expected to contribute to the health plan, and how much the employer covers. In most cases you will be ineligible for health benefits for several weeks, so be sure to find out how long you must wait to enroll in the plan.

Sick Days, Personal Days, and Vacation Pay and Policies

Before accepting an offer, it’s important to see, in writing, the company’s polices surrounding sick days, personal days, floating holidays, and vacation days. Every company is unique, so never make assumptions about these important policies. You can also use vacation time as a point of negotiation if you are offered less time than you have at your current position.

Start Date

Your start date should be stated in your offer letter, as well. If you are currently employed, the start date should give you enough time to give your organization two weeks’ notice. For managers, or for those employees on a contract, four weeks could be required. It is acceptable to negotiate your start date to help you make a smooth transition into your new career.

If you are an IT professional seeking new opportunities for professional growth, contact The Prevalent Group today. Our team of recruiters can help you locate information technology jobs in Chicago that will help you achieve your long-term career goals.

How to Explain Short-Term and Temporary Employment on Your Resume

It is not uncommon in this post-recession environment for job seekers to accept short-term employment, temporary jobs, and other types of contract work in their chosen field. When it comes to listing those jobs on a resume, however, many candidates fumble. They are not sure how to list short-term jobs in a way that won’t make them vulnerable to sloppy resume screeners or employers who may view temporary employment as a negative.

What is the best way to address short-term jobs, and how can you use your resume to clearly illustrate their relevance for the position you’re currently seeking?

Never Omit
Many job seekers find themselves tempted to leave temporary work off of their resume, viewing it as a placeholder. Omitting contract work, however, leaves holes in your resume, and you never want to leave gaps in your work history when you were, in fact, working.
Include The Name of Your Recruiting Agency
This is especially important if you worked with a firm on more than one assignment. You may have completed a year’s worth (or more) of temporary jobs for a single recruiter. Reputable firms will be known in their niche, and a long history of successful short-term work for a single recruiting agency can work in your favor.
Include the length of each assignment
Showing employers a solid start and end date for each assignment that you accepted while working with a staffing agency shows that you have versatility and flexibility, and that you’re able to learn and adapt quickly to new situations.
Include relevant details
For each temporary job, be sure to list specific accomplishments. You can describe professional teams that you were included on, the goals of the projects you worked on, and specific ways in which you contributed to the success of each project. Documenting your accomplishments will show that you were committed to the organization, even though your tenure may have been brief.
Ask your recruiter for advice
Before finalizing your resume, seek the advice of your recruiter. They will be able to help you identify the most relevant details to include, and they can help you frame your experience in a way that will be seen as a positive when seeking a permanent, full-time position.

For job search guidance and advice on how to leverage your temporary experience to land a permanent position, contact The Prevalent Group today. We are a nationally recognized management and executive placement and recruitment company that works with experienced managers and executives in sales, marketing, engineering, technology and more. We look forward to working with you.

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.