Tag Archives: Engineering Job search

How To Handle Being Let Go From An Engineering Position

Being let go from a job is never easy, no matter the circumstances. Even so, it is a situation that engineers can handle if they take a strategic approach to getting back into the workforce quickly.  The faster you take action, the more likely your chances of getting back in the saddle without disrupting your life or your career goals.

Accept the Situation

It is easy to become mired down in fear, anger, and shame after being let go from an engineering job – even if you were laid off due to cutbacks or closings. Instead of getting caught in a cycle of negativity, accept the situation for what it is. Give yourself a day or two to feel your negative feelings, but the faster you accept the circumstances, the better – both for your job search and your mental health.  Layoffs are common in this post-recession economy, and people get fired from jobs every day. A job loss does not have to prevent you from reaching your goals.

Reframe the Loss as an Opportunity

In some cases, a job loss can be a long-term blessing. Perhaps your old company did not offer engineers a clear career path. Perhaps they had frozen raises or cut benefits. Treat your loss as an opportunity for growth. Make a list of your career goals. Now that you are unemployed, you have the time and energy to focus your search on companies that will help you advance in your career.

Get Down to Work

Searching for a job is a job in itself. Refresh your resume and start making a list of your target jobs and organizations. Start applying for openings and making connections with hiring managers immediately.  Know that your days will be eaten up with job-search activities, and you likely won’t land a job right out of the gate. However, the work can be a good distraction from any lingering feelings of depression or negativity you may be feeling.

Make Personal Contacts

While looking on job boards and LinkedIn can be a good use of your time, don’t forget to network. Reach out to old colleagues and supervisors to see if they know of any openings at their current organizations. Attend industry networking events and get out in front of as many people as possible. The social interaction will also be good to help keep your mind busy.

Connect with an Engineering Recruiter

Recruiters who work with engineers can be an extremely valuable resource for you if you’ve just lost your job. Research companies that focus their energy in your field, so that you can find a recruiter who understands industry market trends. Recruiters can help take some of the legwork and pressure off of you, and they likely have contacts at some of your target employers.

If you are an engineer who has recently been let go, or you are looking for new opportunities, the recruiters at The Prevalent Group would love to talk to you. We are always on the lookout for experienced professionals who have the skills and the ability to deliver results for our client organizations.  As a nationally recognized engineering recruitment  recruitment company, we place engineers in a variety of disciplines with some of the most innovative firms in the country. We encourage you to visit our job board to scan our current openings, and then contact us to learn more. We look forward to helping you get back to work.

Four Tips To Leaving A Positive Impression During An Engineering Interview

When you land an engineering interview, it’s clear that your resume made a great first impression. In order to land the job, however, you must make a lasting positive impression on your interviewer. So what can you do to help increase your chances of getting a call back?

Be On Time

If you’re late to the interview, the hiring manager will remember it after you leave. Leave much earlier than you think you need to – you never know if you’ll hit traffic. If you arrive more than ten minutes early, sit in your car and go over your notes about the employer. Be sure to enter the building and check in ten minutes before the interview is scheduled to begin.

Be Prepared

An unprepared interviewee will always leave a bad impression. Do your homework and learn as much as you can about the company you’re interviewing with. You should also do some practice interviews ahead of time so that you’re prepared with answers to questions that require specific examples of your successes.

Exude Confidence

You may be as nervous as a cat in a dog pound, but don’t let it show. Good preparation can go a long way in helping you feel confident. Remember, this is not the time to downplay your career achievements. This is your time to shine. Where else but an interview will you get to boast about yourself to someone who will actually listen?

Be sure that your appearance shows confidence, as well. Break out your best power suit – even if you know the work environment is casual.  Career experts tell you to dress for the job you want, and nowhere is that more important than the interview.

Always Behave Professionally

You never, ever know what type of relationship your interviewer has with others in the industry. Do not speak ill of your supervisors, coworkers, or your employers. Even if the interviewer doesn’t personally know the people you’re talking about, speaking poorly about past employers makes you look bad. Always be respectful when asked about previous employers, no matter how tempting it may be to take the low road.

Friendly will always win you points over standoffishness. Be warm and positive, and engage in a bit of small talk before the interview starts. Do not ask inappropriate personal questions of the interviewer, however. Remember, you are in a professional interview, not a cocktail party.

Bonus Tip: Say Thank you and Follow Up

Always end the interview by asking about next steps. If you fail to ask about those steps, it shows disinterest. Keep thank you notes and stamps in the car. Write a thank you card immediately and drop it in the mail on your way home. Many people choose to send thank you emails, and while there is nothing wrong with that, a handwritten note will make a bigger impression than a digital correspondence.  Be sure to keep in touch with the hiring manager, but do not be a pest. Badgering will leave a negative impression.

In order to leave an interview with a positive impression, you have to do more than just show up and answer questions. Look the part, arrive on time, be prepared, and conduct yourself in a professional manner, and you’ll be sure to leave a lasting, positive mark.

If you are an engineer in the Northern Illinois area seeking new career opportunities, contact The Prevalent Group today. Our team of recruiters can help you locate  engineering jobs in Illinois that align with your long-term career goals, and we can work with you to help perfect your interviewing skills to ensure that you always leave a positive impression on hiring managers.