My dad has worked for the State of Iowa since 1960 (although he retired in 2001, he still contracts part time). Can you imagine 52 years with the same employer? His first job was as a child welfare worker. As he worked his way up he managed case workers, and eventually was promoted to lead the Child Welfare Division of the Iowa Department of Human Services. *Side bar: they had to send a case worker to our house when he was the CPS chief because of my shenanigans - great dinner party story.
But I digress - by the time he retired he was the #2 guy over the largest state organization in Iowa, serving the last decade as the public sector version of a COO in an organization with a 3-4 Billion (with a B) dollar budget. He worked hard, sacrificed, and was rewarded with a fulfilling career spanning five decades. My how the world has changed. Today your employer (even if its the government) will not carry your career cradle to grave. Your career stability will come from you, not your employer.
I'm not saying you won't have to work hard & sacrifice. You will. I'm not saying you won't have a fulfilling career. Because you can. What I am saying is you should always be looking for potential opportunities. The average Gen X / Y / Millennial will likely have a new employer every 4-5 years over the course of a career.
Expanding your network has never been easier. Rather than turn this into a '"How To" on networking and developing relationships the take away is this - if you are not networking you are stunting your career growth. Fortunately in the IT world there are dozens of places to start connecting. There are dozens of organizations where you can connect to IT Professionals in Kansas City. An aggregate list can be found here along with a calendar of events.
Who you know will have a big impact on what kind of opportunities will present themselves in the future. That means you need to network now. Don't wait until your company has a bad quarter and you become the latest RIF casualty.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Rock Star Ninja Warlock from Mars?
If you read my last post you know the market for top talent is tight. To attract that talent means I spend a lot of word-smith time authoring job descriptions. Part of the challenge I face as a recruiter is when we get clients asking for resources it can be hard to accurately paint a picture of the job from the description provided. Maybe I'm wrong, but descriptions like the following are so generic I don't see them as something that will get a top flight software engineer to reach out.
As a Java Developer, you will be enhancing systems created using the following technologies: J2EE 1.5, Java Server Pages, Java Servlets, Struts, Javascript, HTML and XML.
SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
I've been authoring and editing job descriptions for years, and am always experimenting with different styles. Yesterday it seems I crossed the line from informative / creative to lame. At least that's what I'm starting to sense from the audience I'm trying to reach.
Based on the feedback I've gotten so far, and on some other things I've been reading, this description I wrote is lame. And that's cool with me - I'd rather make mistakes trying to make something happen than be like everyone else. After talking to a few people I trust and respect, and going through this thread from a developer forum, I make this solemn pledge - no more job postings for a "Rock Star Ninja Warlock from Mars" (unless I need to hire Charlie Sheen at some point).
Which brings me back to what's important in a job description. If I was looking for a job I'd want the posting to 'pitch' me a bit. Give me a little flavor of what I could expect doing the job and what the company thinks is important. Of course I'd want some qualifications, but if your description leads me to believe you aren't interested in hiring me because I don't have X amount of years of experience, or specific hands-on expertise with some obscure piece of software you happen to be using (even though its EXACTLY like something I use every day) I'm going to be turned off.
So my question to you is what do YOU want to see when you read a job description. In general, what types of things spark your interest and what turns you off?
As a Java Developer, you will be enhancing systems created using the following technologies: J2EE 1.5, Java Server Pages, Java Servlets, Struts, Javascript, HTML and XML.
SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:
- The ideal candidate must have atleast 3 years’ experience with Java development
- The ideal candidate must be well versed with J2EE, JavaScript and JSP
- The ideal candidate must be well versed with Unit testing.
- The ideal candidate must have experience working within the Oracle or SQL environment
- Experience with JDBC or ODBC
- Experience with UNIX
- Experience with stored procedures, CGI, Access
- Experience with MVC, web services, SOAP, and xml
- Experience using Jbuilder or Eclipse
I've been authoring and editing job descriptions for years, and am always experimenting with different styles. Yesterday it seems I crossed the line from informative / creative to lame. At least that's what I'm starting to sense from the audience I'm trying to reach.
Based on the feedback I've gotten so far, and on some other things I've been reading, this description I wrote is lame. And that's cool with me - I'd rather make mistakes trying to make something happen than be like everyone else. After talking to a few people I trust and respect, and going through this thread from a developer forum, I make this solemn pledge - no more job postings for a "Rock Star Ninja Warlock from Mars" (unless I need to hire Charlie Sheen at some point).
Which brings me back to what's important in a job description. If I was looking for a job I'd want the posting to 'pitch' me a bit. Give me a little flavor of what I could expect doing the job and what the company thinks is important. Of course I'd want some qualifications, but if your description leads me to believe you aren't interested in hiring me because I don't have X amount of years of experience, or specific hands-on expertise with some obscure piece of software you happen to be using (even though its EXACTLY like something I use every day) I'm going to be turned off.
So my question to you is what do YOU want to see when you read a job description. In general, what types of things spark your interest and what turns you off?
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Yet another .NET Developer needed.....
If you are a good .NET developer I suspect your inbox and voice mail have been blowing up for weeks (if not months). It seems like every Microsoft shop in the city needs a developer. And while employers are certainly feeling the pain of a drained resource market, it also seems there's finally people out there ready (or close to ready) to make a change.
I read an article this week at Network World that projects 54% of 'disgruntled' IT workers will seek new employment. It didn't say what made them 'disgruntled', but it goes on to say that 41% of IT employees feel they have been left behind in their jobs because of the poor economy.
Market demand for software engineers in general has been increasing since Q3 of 2010 and certainly all indications are it will continue to grow in 2012. Currently unemployment in the IT sector is 2.7% according to Network World (a full 3% points below what's considered "full employment"). The question is if we still have 9% unemployment why is the IT sector so robust?
In my opinion this supply/demand imbalance is a combination of factors related to how business operates and how people make decisions. It started in late 2008 / 2009 when the job market crashed. Companies are in business to make profit. The single biggest cost to a business is their employees, so when profits start to wane employers reduce their workforce. For the first time in their history, some companies that had prided themselves on providing a stable employment platform suddenly had to swallow that pride in the name of survival. The press hit the panic button, unemployment soared to nearly double-digits and all of a sudden there was a tempest in the employment teapot. The days of working for a single employer for 25 years and retiring with a nice pension were over.
When it became obvious the economy was not going to recover quickly a new term arrived that the New York Times called "The New Normal". Their story from the summer of 2010 references the Great Depression. Employers either by choice or necessity, simply had to do more with less. That means new initiatives were put on hold and the people left in the organization were 'taxed to the max' (you Tower of Power fans will get that reference). Real or not, the perception was the employer was taking advantage of the economic situation and the employee's only alternative was to join the ranks of job seekers who were taking an average of 250+ days to secure employment. Not exactly the type of "low risk" environment that is conducive to considering a change of employers. So here we are in 2012 where overall unemployment still hovers around 9%. There's still a perception that making the wrong move could result in a prolonged period of unemployment.
Reality (at least in the IT world) is there are more opportunities than people looking. Which is why I think Ms Marsan at Network World is spot-on. I've been optimistic about the market for well over a year and a half. Organizations that generally do not use agencies are calling us for help. A skilled software developer is like the hot Christmas gift that is sold the minute it hits the shelf. There's a hoard of HR and recruiters at the front of "Engineers are Us" waiting for the Black Friday sale to start.
Companies can see blue sky through the clouds. Banks are loaning money again. Software has a shelf-life, you can't run your .NET 2.0 applications forever. They're ready to replace the COTS system that is 7 versions old running on green screens (which still exist). Projects that have been on hold for months (or even years) need to get done. Now. That means hiring analysts, managers, engineers, testers, and anyone else necessary to deliver and support these systems.
So take heart IT professionals. Demand is high. Employers are getting very creative to attract and retain top talent. There's even a small company in South Carolina that will give you a $50,000 cash bonus on your five year anniversary. The market needs you when you're ready.
I read an article this week at Network World that projects 54% of 'disgruntled' IT workers will seek new employment. It didn't say what made them 'disgruntled', but it goes on to say that 41% of IT employees feel they have been left behind in their jobs because of the poor economy.
Market demand for software engineers in general has been increasing since Q3 of 2010 and certainly all indications are it will continue to grow in 2012. Currently unemployment in the IT sector is 2.7% according to Network World (a full 3% points below what's considered "full employment"). The question is if we still have 9% unemployment why is the IT sector so robust?
In my opinion this supply/demand imbalance is a combination of factors related to how business operates and how people make decisions. It started in late 2008 / 2009 when the job market crashed. Companies are in business to make profit. The single biggest cost to a business is their employees, so when profits start to wane employers reduce their workforce. For the first time in their history, some companies that had prided themselves on providing a stable employment platform suddenly had to swallow that pride in the name of survival. The press hit the panic button, unemployment soared to nearly double-digits and all of a sudden there was a tempest in the employment teapot. The days of working for a single employer for 25 years and retiring with a nice pension were over.
When it became obvious the economy was not going to recover quickly a new term arrived that the New York Times called "The New Normal". Their story from the summer of 2010 references the Great Depression. Employers either by choice or necessity, simply had to do more with less. That means new initiatives were put on hold and the people left in the organization were 'taxed to the max' (you Tower of Power fans will get that reference). Real or not, the perception was the employer was taking advantage of the economic situation and the employee's only alternative was to join the ranks of job seekers who were taking an average of 250+ days to secure employment. Not exactly the type of "low risk" environment that is conducive to considering a change of employers. So here we are in 2012 where overall unemployment still hovers around 9%. There's still a perception that making the wrong move could result in a prolonged period of unemployment.
Reality (at least in the IT world) is there are more opportunities than people looking. Which is why I think Ms Marsan at Network World is spot-on. I've been optimistic about the market for well over a year and a half. Organizations that generally do not use agencies are calling us for help. A skilled software developer is like the hot Christmas gift that is sold the minute it hits the shelf. There's a hoard of HR and recruiters at the front of "Engineers are Us" waiting for the Black Friday sale to start.
Companies can see blue sky through the clouds. Banks are loaning money again. Software has a shelf-life, you can't run your .NET 2.0 applications forever. They're ready to replace the COTS system that is 7 versions old running on green screens (which still exist). Projects that have been on hold for months (or even years) need to get done. Now. That means hiring analysts, managers, engineers, testers, and anyone else necessary to deliver and support these systems.
So take heart IT professionals. Demand is high. Employers are getting very creative to attract and retain top talent. There's even a small company in South Carolina that will give you a $50,000 cash bonus on your five year anniversary. The market needs you when you're ready.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Time to make the Donuts
That time of year is always predictably unpredictable. There's been years where the only email coming across my inbox is SPAM. Other years we've had more business than we can handle. The good news is this year leaned more to the latter. Our job order list grew, we had people interviewing for jobs right up to the last minute and we had a decent run of placements this year.
I asked my recruiting team to develop a list of goals for 2012. I think Kim nailed it when she sent me a picture of her kids with a goal of making sure they were cared for when she was at work. I like having people that keep life and work in perspective. Its all good here at RiverPoint.
I need another blog!
I already am a fairly regular blogger over at ThatJobGuydotcom. That blog is dedicated to teaching people how they can conduct an effective job search. However, with the new year I thought it would be a good idea to start doing a more RiverPoint specific blog, so here I am, doing yet another blog.
The plan is to put up my thoughts on the IT Staffing business in general, share ideas on what we're doing to run an efficient business, and maybe even share some stories about the goings-on here at RiverPoint. Hopefully there will be some people stopping by and enjoying what I have to offer. Even if the analytics stay flat it will be a good archive for our staff to utilize.
So welcome to the RiverPoint Recruiting Desk. Stop by and check us out from time to time.
The plan is to put up my thoughts on the IT Staffing business in general, share ideas on what we're doing to run an efficient business, and maybe even share some stories about the goings-on here at RiverPoint. Hopefully there will be some people stopping by and enjoying what I have to offer. Even if the analytics stay flat it will be a good archive for our staff to utilize.
So welcome to the RiverPoint Recruiting Desk. Stop by and check us out from time to time.
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