With a very aggressive job market for Software Engineers, it is easy for a candidate to confuse interviews, companies, jobs, etc.  Here’s a series of questions that we ask our candidates after they complete interviews from us that we hope you find it a useful tool.

Immediate questions to answer after the interview

1)      First impression of the interview, how did the interview go?

2)      How did you do in the interview?

3)      How long were you there?

4)      Who did you meet? (Names and Title)

5)      What did you talk with those people about?  What questions did they ask you?

6)      How did you handle the questions?

7)      How did they describe the job to you?

8)      What questions did you ask them?

9)      What technical questions did they ask you specifically and who asked you those questions?

10)   How did you leave things off when you left?

11)   What do you think of the job, people, company, technology?

12)   If they are interested in bringing you back for another interview, would you be interested in going back for another interview?

13)   What questions do you still have about the job, the company, the team, the technology, the future?

14)   Do you want the job? What did you like specially about the position

Comparison Time:

Activity: Keep a List/Spreadsheet.  Activity can mean interviews, places you’ve sent your resume to, friends who you’ve given your resume to, etc.

Past, Present, Future (Not yet schedules, but companies that you are interested in and have received some level of response)

What other positions have you interview for past and present? What are the interviews do you have scheduled?  What other companies are you waiting to hear back from?

Rank: What’s your #1 Job and why?  What’s your #2 and why? Etc.

1)      How do the new jobs compare to your current role or the prospect of staying on the Market?

2)      Compare:  $, Location, Technology, Growth path, Team, Company, Role

Process:  

1)      How many interviews have you had with each company?

2)      What needs to happen to schedule another interview?

3)      What needs to happen to make an offer?

4)      Do you have your references?

5)      Will you pass a background check, drug test, pre-employment test?

6)      Have you spoken to your significant other about your new job opportunities?  How would a new job affect your life? (Benefits,  Working Hours, Commute Time and Cost)

Offer:  More is always better, but:

1)      What is your ideal offer?

2)       How are you going to negotiate with the client to get to that number? 

3)      What is acceptable? 

4)      What will you definitely turn down? 

Link to the article is here:http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/01/26/can-you-snag-a-tech-job-with-training-alone/?section=magazines_fortune

Enjoy!

Resume Template:

Name

Address

Contact Information

Objective: To keep your resume to 1, max 2 pages

Technical Skills:

-          Languages- Should be your strongest to weakest, but relevant

-          Databases- If you post a technology, you are considering yourself an expert for your level

-          Other- Areas of interests

Experience:

Date- Present, Name of Company, Title

-          Verb, Length of this section dependent upon your tenure

-          Verb, Should be accomplishments only

-          Verb, Under sell on your resume, over sell in the interview

-          Verb, Maximum of 4 lines per most recent job

Date- Date, Name of Company, Title

-          Verb, Should only be the relevant skills that you acquired that are applicable to new job

-          Verb, Just speak of the things you are most proud of

-          Verb, Eliminate periods, for these are not sentences

Date- Date, Name of Company, Title

-          Verb, less than what you wrote for the most recent 2 positions

-          Verb, Keep going back to when you graduated from College or Relevant experience

Date-Date, Name of Company, Title

Education:

-          College, Date of Graduation

-          Major or Degree, GPA (If above 3.0)

Certifications:

No Hobbies: They are not cool, rather strange

Look at all the room that is still left on this page

Amazing!

It is okay to have different versions of your resume, just be consistent.

1) Introduction Call- When we call a candidate or send them an email for the 1st time, we want to make it clear that the reason why we want to meet you is to best represent you to our clients.  It’s not a fashion show!

2) Interview at Talener- Our goal is to get you out of our office in 30 minutes and get you back to your job without taking up more than your lunch hour.  Who can’t afford to miss 1 lunch?

3) Use Social Networks to communicate effectively with you.  Whether you like Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Texting, IM, let us know and we’ll get our message to you.  Email was cool in 2001, but not anymore.  Take advantage of our team that is always available to you.

4) Your resume- We know what people are looking for.  Use our resume guide and make it impossible for a Manager/Human Resources Department to disqualify you.  Under sell on paper and over-perform in the interview.  Resumes get you disqualified, not hired.

5) Phone Interview with clients- We know they are nothing more than a way to weed out the weak, so we’ll better prepare you to make the most of that 20 minute call.

6) Preparing you for your Interview- something that we do extremely well.  Our clients want to hire through us.  We have a ton of knowledge that we are ready to share with you.

7) Feedback- You want it, you need it.  We’ll get it and give it to you in a timely manner.

Getting you the Best Offer- Not very easy.  You want us to negotiate every aspect of the offer: Salary, Bonus, Review, Vacation, etc.  Nothing is off limits.  Every offer is negotiable.  We’re here to help make that happen.

Talener believes that we have more to offer a candidate.  Contact us to get into a new job/contract in 2012 ASAP!  We’re waiting for you.

Navigating a job change can be a stressful and hectic time.  In an effort to help ease some of your stress and help you plan your switch more effectively, we here at Talener have put together a list of things to keep in mind/consider when changing jobs.

Last week we covered Location, Location, Location and Compensation.  This week we are looking at Technology and Growth:

Technology –Is the technology the same or similar to the technology you are working with now or is it something completely new and exciting?  Will you have to take additional certifications or learn a new programming language or methodology?  How well equipped are you to make those sorts of transitions? Does the new company pay for training/tuition reimbursement? All of these are things to consider when making a switch.

Growth – Is there opportunity to learn from and grow within the team?  If so, how much?  Will you be the junior person on the team with an opportunity to move up the ranks within or are you the senior person on the team with the responsibility to train junior people?  Know where you are coming in so you know what is expected from you and how you can move within the organization. Make sure you are asking questions about both of these things as they will impact how competitive you are in the office place as well as how you continue to bring value to the team you are joining. 

Stay tuned next week for two more tips on what to keep in mind when you are leaving a job and be sure to check back in with us tomorrow when we are posting the link the the Livestream Q&A we did last Thursday and will hopefully have a post from our fearless leader about Interviewing 101. Have a great day!

Navigating a job change can be a stressful and hectic time.  In an effort to help ease some of your stress and help you plan your switch more effectively, we here at Talener have put together a list of things to keep in mind/consider when changing jobs.

1.  Location, location, location! – Is the potential job closer to your house or farther away?  Will you using public transportation, and if so, is it the same you currently use or a line you are unfamiliar with?  Be sure to test the commute at the times you would actually be doing it in order to be sure that it is a good commute for you.  What takes you 15 minutes mid morning, mid afternoon or after 6:00pm may take you an hour longer at peak/rush hours, so it’s worth the time to make sure you wouldn’t be forced to leave the house much earlier or return much later.

2.  Compensation – Remember that your compensation is made of more than just your salary, it is composed of your salary, benefits (including paid time off), and bonuses (if your company gives bonuses) among other things.  When deciding whether or not to accept a new offer, compare apples to apples in order to get an accurate picture of what you would be moving to.  If you are getting a $5,000 raise, but are moving from a company that covers your medical and dental benefits 100% to one that requires you to pay 20% of your deductibles, then that may not actually be a raise, it may end up costing you money in the end.  Luckily, the reverse is also true – if you are offered the same salary at a company that pays 100% of your benefits, and your current company requires you to pay 20% of the deductibles, that can result in more money in your pocket as long as the insurance plans are similar.  Feel free to ask to see the details on their insurance plans to be sure there would be no loss or reduction in coverage.  Also, remember that unless your bonus is guaranteed (very rare!), you can only factor in bonus money that you have already been paid as most other bonuses are discretionary and there is always a chance they may not be paid at all or may be lower than you anticipated.

1. Stay tuned next week for Part II of Two for Tuesday: Things to Keep in Mind When Changing Jobs.  If you have any questions about this or any other items dealing with changing jobs or looking for new ones, please make sure to join us this Thursday, November 17th at 5PM on our Facebook page for a live Q&A.

   Please RSVP now to ensure a spot: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2334259834

   And join our FB page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Talener-Group/130014800351250

If you have any questions about this or any other items dealing with changing jobs or looking for new ones, please make sure to join us this Thursday, November 17th at 5PM on our Facebook page for a live Q&A.

Please RSVP now to ensure a spot: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2334259834

 And join our FB page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Talener-Group/130014800351250

Agencies work urgent jobs. – “Urgent” in this case means it is a real job that is an immediate need for a company; not a position that they would like to       have, but will only fill when they find the right person or mix of skills or the stars align in the perfect way.  Working through Talener ensures that the job is real and they are looking to fill it in a timely manner and that the validity of the opportunity has been vetted before you take time off work or away from other aspects of your job search to go on an interview.

Agencies work with high paying customers. – What this means for you is that the companies we work with are in a better position to provide better benefits, higher salaries, etc.  In our experience, a company is not going to pay an agency fee and then turn around and refuse to pay top talent what they are worth.  In addition to that, working through Talener gives you a middle man in the negotiations that can help take some of the stress out of getting a company to match or beat your current bonus structure or benefit package, etc.

Agencies work with Top-Funded Start-Ups. – Everyone loves the idea of getting in on the ground level of a start up, but often what makes the difference between a start up that barely scrapes through its first year and a start-up that is poised to take the market by storm is its initial funding.  When Talener is working with start ups, we talk to them about their funding (Are they on their first round or second round?  Who is funding them?), how their product is developing, and if the monetization of their product is going as they’d hope.   These are many of the same questions potential investors would ask, and we ask them because when we place people at these sorts of start ups, those candidates are making an investment in that company’s future and we want to make sure that we guide everyone toward the right match.

Tap into the Agency’s Network. – You hear it over and over again in life “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”  While that may not always be the case, unless you have a large network, an Agency can give you a direct line into hiring managers and companies that you might have trouble accessing under regular circumstances.  When you apply to a job on line, what happens to your resume and cover letter?  If you are lucky, you get an automated response, but many times, your submission disappears into the unknown.  A direct line to the hiring manager side steps that frustration and gives you an advocate who can talk up your skills and your fit for a particular job.

Overall, I would say that a major plus of working with an agency is that as a job seeker, you spend so much time trying to get through screenings and resume reviews and portfolio reviews without ever being able to talk to the person who makes the final decision.  Many times candidates who may be the perfect fit for the job are screened out by other people before the hiring manager ever sees their stuff because they are missing this certain skill or the HR person didn’t feel they were a fit for the company.  An agency in general, and Talener specifically, can be an advocate for you in this process to help you get around the laundry list of “must haves/nice to haves” to what the job actually entails.  Meeting with you ensures that we can let our hiring managers know who you are as a person – not just an anonymous list of skills and projects – and what you are looking for from a job and from life in general.   An Agency can match people with people as opposed to people with a list of requirements.

If you have any questions about the process here at Talener or would like further information, please feel free to reach out to us via email or the comments section below.

Have a great day!

1.   Companies are looking for someone who is excited about the company.  There have been a lot of articles and studies published recently showing that people who are more engaged in their company and the environment are more productive, they provide better customer service, and they tend to be more loyal over time.  Given those positives, it is understandable why a company is more eager to hire someone who is already excited about what they are doing.

2.   Companies are looking for someone who has a proven track record of following through on the things/projects they’ve started.  This can include graduating in 4 years from college, with a solid GPA and/or a history of working for a company for at least 2 years at a time.  I know in this job market, longevity might not be as important now, but when this bubble bursts it will be paramount, so we recommend that you plan to shore up and build up your resume now when it might be a little easier.

3.  Companies are looking for someone who is coming out of a similar or like environment.  Start-Ups are more preferential to other candidates coming out of a start-up, etc.  Banking from Banking, etc

4.  Companies are looking for someone who is comfortable with themselves, confident, positive, happy and focused. Employees who are positive and comfortable with themselves create a fantastic environment for other people as well and can help attract other good, positive and creative people.

5.  Companies are looking for someone who is likable.

There are many other factors that may go into a company’s hiring decision, but these are certainly some of the most important intangible factors.  Let us know if your company has special things that they look for or if you have any comments or questions!

Have a great day!

1. Social Networking is about engaging in the conversation

One of the most important rules to follow when promoting yourself on Social Media is to not become a one-sided venue. There is almost nothing people complain about more on Facebook and Twitter than the people that repeatedly jam their inbox or wall with their incessant daily self-promotion while never interacting or commenting on what others are doing. It’s the same rule for real life interaction; no one likes the guy that comes to the party and tells you all the specs on his new Prius without letting anyone else get a word in. Social networking and business relationships are based on an even and consistent back and forth where both parties are equally engaged in what the other has to offer and this is definitely something that applies to Social Media. These conversations are what builds networking opportunities and creates rapport for a potential business relationship.

2. T.M.I. and Social Media

One of the most important aspects of Social Media is determining what type of content is appropriate to reveal about yourself.  Facebook and Twitter have become the go-to examples for people replaying every bit of minutia in their day, but when you’re using these same platforms to engage in business relationships, it’s really important to understand where to draw the line. Not that you shouldn’t be real and authentic in how you portray yourself in Social Media, but that also doesn’t mean it’s beneficial to let everyone know everything. The same rules exist in real-life interactions and can be easily applied to the virtual landscape, except the only difference is everyone can see your Facebook wall. If you have an awkward moment or scenario at a cocktail party, it usually only lasts as long as the evening. On Facebook and Twitter, these faux pas are permanently ingrained in the perpetual stream of data associated with your name. The most important thing to remember is that your digital life stays with you forever and there’s nothing like having a potential employer Googling you only to find out exactly how intoxicated you can get when you are supposed to be portraying yourself as a professional. It’s so important to maintain a sense of exactly what is socially appropriate to post online.

3. Outlining a strategy and following through with it.

When it comes to Social Media, there are so many options and platforms that it’s easy to get lost amongst them. Which is why it’s crucial to come up with a solid game plan or strategy when it comes to promoting yourself. An important aspect in determining your strategy is creating a social networking schedule and following through with it. Just like any other aspect of a growing business, it’s important to allot a certain amount of time each week dedicated to your online presence. It becomes much easier for employers to engage without guessing as to when you’ll pop back up. Social Media has the potential to become completely chaotic, which is even more of a reason to create a specific model and structure for your own social networking and promotion.

1.)    Read Articles, Blog posts, etc.:  Besides keeping you on top of what is going on in your industry (or the industry you hope to move into), this will allow you to bring valuable, current events and information into your conversation during your interviews as well as helping you become a resource to manager and coworkers once you are hired.  The ability to stay on top of current events and trending topics in any market is a value added skill to any junior level person.

2.)    Immerse yourself in the company’s competitors, clients, etc:  When you are interviewing, being familiar with what the company does, who their biggest clients are and what their niche or reputation in the marketplace is shows prospective employers that you are interested in them and gives you a leg up on other candidates for the job by giving you more to talk about and engage them with during your interview.  Once you have been offered the job, this can help make the learning curve shorter. 

3.)    Network, Network, Network: While looking for a new role, go to MeetUps, reach out to people in your industry on linked in, and talk to everyone you know about what you want to do.  You never know if the person you end up watching football with on Sunday at a sports bar or a friend’s party is the person who is looking to hire or whose company is a perfect fit for you.  Once you have scored your new job, do not let this skill go to waste.  Participate in and attend company events like softball or volleyball games, volunteer days, and other things that will increase your visibility within other groups or teams and with those in higher management.

4.)    Be Willing to Work Longer Hours:  Now that you have scored your awesome new job, someone is going to have to teach and train you.   Your new team or senior people in the team will have more time before or after hours to spend with you to answer your questions and get you up to speed.  Observe those on your team and adapt accordingly – are they all in at 7:00am so they can get work done before the markets open or before everyone else comes in and starts asking them questions?  Is your whole team coming in at 10:00am, but staying until 7:00pm or 8:00pm?  At least until you are trained and/or have a well defined role on the team, work around their schedules to ask questions, get further training, or request guidance.

There are many other ways to set yourself apart, but these are a few key items that we have seen a lot of success with recently.  Are there things that have worked for you that are not on this list?  Questions? Clarifications?    Leave a comment or shoot us an email and let us know!

Have a great day!