Candidate Newsletter - March 2008

In this Issue:

Topic of the Month: "Spring Forward!"
How to Win on An Interview
Article: Your Resume Too Cluttered?
Ask the Construction Career Doctor!
This Issue's Cartoon!

Topic of the Month: Spring Forward!

Spring is just around the corner. In some warm weather states, grass is turning green and flowers are blooming. Opening Day and the Masters are mere weeks away. Spring has traditionally been a time for change and rejuvenation, and that is especially true in the engineering industry.

It is fascinating to see how many new candidates post their information on EngineeringDesignJobs.com this time of year. Those professionals are anticipating change, as well – in compensation, location, career direction. Often, the only action that can accomplish those goals is to change the company where one works.

It is a legitimate concern for engineering professionals who want to pursue a career move to wonder how they can get their name in front of the hiring authorities who might help them effect this hugely important change. If a VP or a Division Manager or an HR person has a few minutes to review a stack of resumes, how do you get your resume to stand out?

The answer to this question in the pre-Internet era was marked by gimmicks: colored paper, flashy print and bold graphics could catch someone’s eye. A picture of your family (dog included) could bring a human element to your resume. I even had my resume delivered with flowers once. It turns out the hiring authority, Kim, was a man and not a woman and didn’t appreciate the gesture (No. I didn’t get the job).

But then, as now, a solid, smart approach works best: a well-prepared document can sell you as the best candidate for a job; make the resume easy to read and outline your history with information that the hirer needs to know.

To achieve a resume that is clean and attractive, cut away the extra weight. Do not write a narrative autobiography in long paragraphs: it will not be read and hides the dates, facts and concrete numbers that define the successes of your career. In other words, make sure the person who reviews your resume cannot miss the fact that on your last project, you came in two weeks ahead of schedule or saved the company $50,000.

What else qualifies as dead weight? A candidate’s height and weight and overall health can land a candidate a job in the NFL or NBA, but being a 6’4” does not make a Project Manager inherently more valuable than the shorter candidates unless a lot of company records and drawings are kept on very high shelves. I have seen candidates list low GPAs (don’t brag about graduating with a 2.0 GPA) and 12-step programs and mention sour divorces. These are not strategically sound moves.

So here is what is important in a resume:

• Your employers and the position(s) held with those employers
• Date of employment with most recent first
• How you made money for your employer, how you saved your employer money, and what problems you solved for your employer
• A job list including the job and location, what positions answered to you, and to whom you answered and your scope of responsibility for the job. (Example for a Project Manager: Responsible for full scope of project including P&L. Supervised 6 employees and workforce of 150 on Fossil Plant. Reported to VP of engineering.)
• Your education and relevant updates or training programs

It should be put into an orderly bullet-pointed outline. The most recent 10 years of experience are usually weighed more heavily than previous experiences. Doughnut rely on Spell Check because their night be some words that aren’t caught by a computer that the human eye would catch immediately. An English professor once told me to read my document backwards so I was forced to read each word independent of the others.

This same English professor told me to keep writing brief and to the point, so I’ll conclude now.

Good luck in your endeavors and your job search. Keep in mind that EngineeringDesignJobs.com’s career center has many more helpful tips about resume writing and the interview process at http://www.engineeringdesignjobs.com/careercenter.cfm.

Article by:
Dave Noyes
Regional Account Executive, Southeast
EngineeringDesignJobs.com

How to Win on An Interview

EngineeringDesignJobs.com has served as a conduit to thousands of candidates venturing out for many interviews with hundreds of client companies. From those appointments and the feedback we get from the stories candidates tell, we have gathered some general wisdom that may help you when that opportunity comes along to speak with a company which might present an opportunity to advance your career. Read on and see if some of the following reminders can be of service next time you venture out for that all-important interview.

When you prepare for a job interview, there are ways you can assure yourself of success. Know as much as you can about the company with whom you’re interviewing. Prepare yourself for every possible question about the job, and know what you can and cannot do. Research the company, and make a list of questions you want to ask about it as well as the position and current projects. Strengthen your confidence by reflecting on your past accomplishments and what made them a success.

• Be on time, be well-dressed, be clean and tidy, show you want to be there.
• Smile!
• Be polite.
• Sit upright.
• Make a positive, energetic first impression: remember, there’s the first one minute of an interview, and then there’s everything else.
• If an interviewer offers to take you to lunch, eat light and don’t drink – even if the interviewer orders a beer or wine.
• Have a business conversation, not a job interview.
• Be able to account for your ability to MAKE MONEY, SAVE MONEY, and SOLVE PROBLEMS! Before you arrive at the interview, review how your recent efforts have benefited your previous company or companies, especially in terms of profits and savings.
• There’s only reason to go on an interview – to get an offer!
• Every interview question can be interpreted as “What can you do for me?”
• Always use numbers – be specific in how much time you saved, and how much money you made.
• Be prepared to discuss how your strengths would be an asset to the new company. Be ready to discuss your career plans and a timetable to implement them.
• Show interest in the position – tell the interviewing team that you would like the job!

Article: Your Resume Too Cluttered?

The most common mistake among many jobseekers is not updating their resume in the correct way. All too frequently, those in search of a new job pull out their most recent resume and simply add details of their latest position.

This easy to fall into habit makes for a very long and boring read for hiring managers. If you don't edit or delete obsolete information, your resume can very easily become cluttered and long-winded. Here are a few tips that will help keep your potential employer awake and interested while evaluating your qualifications and experiences. » Read Full Article

EngineeringDesignJobs has helped thousands of job seekers all across America find employment. Our award-winning job board and resume database is endorsed by various top national associations (see Partners) as their preferred partner of online recruiting representing over 50,000 contractors and design firms. For more information or assistance with your account, please email us at: info@engineeringdesignjobs.com.

Happy Searching,
The EngineeringDesignJobs Team