Simply Hired Blog

6 Tips to Make a Great Impression in an Interview

Interviews can be daunting, but you can rock them with a little preparation and practice! Not sure how to make a great impression in an interview? Impress your future employer with these interview tips:

Prepare for the interview – Never walk into an interview without first doing your research about the company and position. This includes knowing what the company does and how they do it, recent news/press, and information about their competitors. Not knowing about the company is a turn-off for most interviewers.

Dress well – The moment you walk into the room, your interviewer is going to start making judgments about you, and the best way to impress them is to pay attention to your appearance. This means dressing professionally and being well-groomed and having impeccable hygiene.

Arrive on time – Even if you have a good excuse, your interviewer won't think as highly of you if you're late. Plan to arrive 10 minutes early. If you get to the building sooner than that, use that extra time to prepare for interview questions in the car—arriving more than 10 minutes early may make your interviewer feel rushed.

Act confident – Although being interviewed might be on your top ten list of most intimidating moments along with public speaking and skydiving, try your best to emit confidence! A couple ways to feign confidence is to smile, stand/sit up tall, make eye contact with the interviewer, have a firm handshake, and respond to those interview questions with enthusiasm.

Ask intelligent questions – By asking intelligent questions (and not questions you could find out from a quick Google search), you'll not only impress the interviewer with your interest but also set yourself apart from the competition. Such questions may include:

• Why is this position open? (Find out why the previous person left or if it’s a new role in a growing company)
• What traits or experience would a person need to be successful in this role?
• What are the top goals for the person you hire in this role?
• What's your management style (or the management style of the hiring manager)?
• What would you change about… the company, culture, department, etc.?
• What are the next steps in this process?

Say "Thanks" – As your mother might say, "Mind your manners!" At the end of your interview, don't forget to thank your interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. The next day, send a personal "thank you" note to each person you met with via email. It'll set you apart from the crowd.

With these tips, you'll make the best possible impression for any interview. Good luck in your job search and rock those interviews!

Do you have tips for making a good impression? Comment below!

Hot Tech Jobs of 2011

By Kimberly Bohinick

The competition continues for today's most popular technology jobs. One thing you don’t have to sweat though, is guessing what employers are looking for in top candidates. Kimberly Bohinick, Kforce Market Director, identifies some of the hottest tech jobs of 2011 and what skills are needed for each.

Desktop Support/Help Desk Analyst
Why it’s hot: As companies begin to recover from the recession, computer upgrades and hardware refreshes are becoming critical. For almost any business investing in technology, desktop support staff, or help desk analysts, may be required to provide technical and customer service skills to assist in these projects. As employers search for these specialists, professionals in demand will likely include those who have supported a large number of end users during a project roll-out. These companies may also look for details on the types of operating systems the professional has experience with and additional hardware skills.
Experience: Hardware certifications such as A+ preferred, experience with current technology and project roll outs
Salary Range: $32,000 - $64,000

Java/.NET Developer
Why it's hot: As technology driven organizations launch new projects in 2011, there is increased potential for new coding and development activities. For global organizations, Java developers will likely be in high demand. Additionally, organizations using Microsoft based applications will likely need .NET developers to step into consulting opportunities.
Experience: 5+ years experience coding methodologies and applications
Salary Range: $65,000 - $114,000

Mobile Application Developer
Why it's hot: It's no secret that smartphones and tablet computers have gained popularity within the past few years. Many organizations on the cutting edge of technology want their products or service available online through a mobile application. Professionals with 1-2 years of experience in this field will likely be very marketable candidates. However, since this position has just emerged in the past few years, more employers are considering professionals with coding and other application development experience for these positions. Bohinick says employers will likely want to know what piece of the development stage the professional had experience in, and how that may be able to translate to mobile application development.
Experience: Coding or application development experience
Salary Range: $110,000 - $200,000

Project Manager
Why it's hot: As budgets decreased during the recession, so did the number of projects. In 2011, as organizations reinstate funding for various projects, project managers are now back in demand. Depending on the size and scope of the project, large organizations and project management offices will be looking for professionals with experience in discipline methodologies and structured projects.
Experience: Bachelor's degree, PMP certification preferred
Salary Range: $80,000 - $100,000

Quality Assurance Testers
Why it's hot: In the past, organizations outsourced quality assurance testers, likely due to cost-cutting measures. However, Bohinick says more organizations are now realizing that it’s important to have QA resources onshore. These professionals may be expected to have strong scripting skills with experience in writing and executing test scripts and potentially automated testing tools, as well as up-to-date knowledge on current technologies being used within that particular organization.
Experience:  1+ year experience testing, Certifications on automated tools such as QTP
Salary Range: $50,000 - $65,000

Reporting/Data Warehouse Developers
Why it's hot: Staffing specialists have recently seen a growing need from public firms and healthcare organizations to hire professionals who have the ability to gather and report data for business intelligence. From extracting data to compiling a report of the findings, organizations may look for candidates with experience in SQL development or database administration. Bohinick suggest that those professional applying for positions in this area list their specific experience with Microsoft data warehousing applications (SSRS/SSAS/SSIS).
Experience:  2+ years experience with reporting/data warehousing, SQL development
Salary Range: $85,000 - $100,000+

SharePoint Application Developer
Why it's hot: Gone are the days of paper files and rolodexes. SharePoint now offers a way for businesses to manage and organize content and documents, and Bohinick says professionals who can deliver this service, are typically placed in a position in less than a week. Hiring managers will likely look for professionals who have worked in a large environment and have experience with custom development or developing projects from scratch.
Experience: 5+ years working as a developer, C#/.NET development experience
Salary Range: $95,000 - $115,000

 

Kimberly Bohinick is a market director for Kforce Inc. in Tampa, FL. She oversees a team of staffing specialists who attract and recruit top talent for Technology and Finance and Accounting organizations in the Tampa Bay area.

Connect with Kforce: LinkedIn I Facebook I Twitter I YouTube

Relocating For A Job? Navigate the cost of moving with this infographic

By Natalie Grigson and Melissa Reese

When the going gets tough the tough get going, and these days, it seems as though there's a lot of going… going on. It is no secret that the US economy is in a bit of a sticky spot, and the stickiness varies from state to state and even city to city. So all over the country, people have taken to relocating. People are relocating within their current companies; others are relocating for new job offers or opportunities in other areas; and still others are picking up their roots, simply to try their luck looking for a job in a new place.

Whatever the reason, moving is expensive, particularly if you're going long distance. Often times it comes down to furniture: Should you sell or donate it, and eliminate much of the cost of moving? Or is it worth the cost of moving it across country?

To answer this, we decided to do a bit of a cost comparison. In this infographic, we compare the costs of moving from Austin, Texas to L.A. and Austin to New York City with different moving scenarios.

Obviously each moving situation is unique. First of all, you're probably not moving from Austin to L.A. or New York (but a happy coincidence if you are!) and there are also tons of other factors to consider in a move. Will your company be paying for any of the costs? If so, it might be worth it to bring along your favorite furniture. If not, it still might be worth it, but you’d need to make sure that your new job, whatever it may be, will pay enough to make up the cost of moving. (For a list of other things you might want to consider, take a look at the list at the end!)

In the end, we found that in moving to either city, it was really more economical to just get rid of as much stuff as possible in this hypothetical situation. And it was hypothetically cathartic too, of course!

You may not be going from Austin to New York or L.A., but this infographic is a great jumping off point if you're thinking about moving yourself.

 
(Click the above image for a larger view of the infogrpahic)

 

IF YOU DECIDE TO SELL YOUR FURNITURE…
You'll still need to pack your clothes and smaller possessions. Let’s estimate it’s around 500 lbs.
So you can
1)    Fly and check your bags up to the maximum amount (150 lbs), and then ship the rest. This shipping calculator can help you estimate the cost of shipping.
2)    Fly or drive and ship all of your stuff, or
3)    You can drive and pack your car to the gills

IF YOU DECIDE TO KEEP YOUR FURNITURE...
You have several options, some, where you drive your own stuff, and others where you don't. Let's assume you need to move 1 person and 2 rooms' worth of furniture. Some companies quote prices by space and others by weight. If you’re having trouble estimating the weight of your possessions, use this handy weight calculator.
1)    You can rent a trailer and pull it behind your own car.
2)    You can hire movers to haul your stuff for you, and either drive or fly to your destination.
3)    You can rent a moving truck and make the drive yourself, or
4)    You can rent a moveable storage unit and have a company move your stuff (this includes 1-month storage) and then either fly or drive to your destination.

CONCLUSIONS, based on these two hypothetical moves

• Moving to a high-density city, like New York, is more expensive than a city that has more accessible road transportation (like L.A.)
• Companies vary on prices, so it's important to price shop. One company might be cheaper for one city, but more expensive for another.
• It's much more expensive to hire movers, whether a unit or a truck, and about a third of the cost or less to rent a truck to drive.
• The fastest way to reduce moving costs is to move less stuff.

COMMON ADVICE

• Use reputable movers and pay for the insurance coverage. Not to sound like a downer or anything, but always assume the worst will happen to your stuff, because moving accidents are quite common. So prepare for the worst: theft, damage, and costs that exceed quotes. You can read reviews and avoid scams using MovingScam.com.
• Weight plays a bigger factor than distance when moving. If you don't need something, get rid of it! If you need to cut costs, get rid of stuff you don't need.
• If you're renting a moving truck, make sure you check tires! Many rental trucks are old and not maintained really well. Again, prepare yourself for the worst!
• Quotes are more expensive when your starting city has a higher cost of living. It will likely cost you more to move from New York to Austin than the other way around!
• Always keep your valuables on your person, in your car, in the cab of your truck, or in your carry-on. Do not let them out of sight.
• Using smaller moving companies may allow you some negotiating room (though be careful that the small company has a good reputation!) Negotiable prices are not a guarantee, but they're not unheard of. You might as well give it a shot!
• Because every moving experience is different (yet inherently the same) people have a lot of advice to share. Here are two really great and thorough discussion threads of people's cross-country moving experiences.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER

• Will your company pay for any of the relocation costs?
• How many people are you moving? Are you moving a family with lots of furniture?  Upgrading a rental truck to accommodate a family of four plus a family car is nearly the same price as a single person with a car. More furniture and more people help justify the cost of professional movers.
• Do you have a job lined up when you get there? What's the likely increase in salary vs. the cost of moving? How long will it take you to make of the difference? Are you prepared for the lag? You might want to check out the difference in the cost of living in cities with this calculator.
• Where do you WANT to be? Great article on taking the big move here!
• Will you have to pay for storage at all? (Usually costs around $200 per month!)
• Do you have any big/unusual items that you will need to move? Find affordable movers for these items at UShip.com.

Are you relocating? Share with us how you are planning your move.

SOURCES 
1. U-Haul (rental)
2. Penske (rental)
3. U-Pack (truck for hire)
4. ReloCube (units)
5. PODs (units)
6. Mayflower (truck for hire)
7. AA.com (flight and baggage quotes)
8. In calculating our costs we assumed: $3.50/gallon for gas; 20mpg efficiency; $80 for one night lodging. These may vary by location, date, and vehicle.

 

Natalie Grigson and Melissa Reese are bloggers for www.MangoMoney.com/blog, the official community for Mango Financial. MangoMoney is committed to educating and entertaining consumers on everything from living frugally to current economic events. Mango Financial, Inc. is an innovative consumer financial services company that seeks to empower underserved customers in the U.S. to achieve their financial goals. Mango offers services and products, such as their reloadable prepaid card, both in retail and online at www.MangoMoney.com.

What Technology Recruiters Look For at Each Career Level

By Andrew Moberg

Entry Level Candidates

Entry level candidates are commonly defined as those professionals with four years of working experience or less. Our recruiters surveyed say the best candidates in this category should have a bachelor’s degree and ideally technical certifications relevant to their specific field, such as A+, MSCE, CCNA/CCNP, or Oracle Professional. However, if you don’t have a degree, Moberg says you should be prepared to explain what experience you have to compensate, whether it’s an internship or skills learned from a previous position.

If you are looking for your first job in the technology field, just over 90 percent of recruiters said the majority of jobs available at the entry level can include work in desktop support, help desk, or administration. These positions may provide the necessary experience you will need throughout your technology career and may also help you land your next job opportunity.

"Our clients will always need desktop and administrative people," says Moberg. "If you are getting into a large enterprise organization this is a great way to get your foot in the door."

Mid-Level Candidates

Once you are ready to take the next step in your career, recruiters will expect you to have between five and seven years experience. An overwhelming 83 percent of our recruiters surveyed also say experience with enterprise level clients is important at the mid-career level, no matter what size company you want to work for in the future.

"Enterprise level companies want proof that you are able to work with a larger infrastructure and complex organization," says Moberg. Candidates with enterprise level experience are also a hot commodity for smaller companies who want to grow their business.

While it is important to have experience with a large organization or infrastructure, recruiters typically look for that experience without gaps of unemployment. Before the recession, recruiters would likely overlook candidates who went without a job for months at a time. In 2011 though, recruiters now say they are more forgiving.

"We take unemployment gaps into consideration, but people still need to be able to show a constant career course," says Moberg. "At this point you are likely an expert at something, so you have to be able to take 60 seconds to brag about yourself and tell the recruiter why they should consider you, over others in the running for the same job."

If you have been without a job for three months or more, Moberg says it’s important to get back into the game. Be flexible on your commute or willing to take a salary cut, but also let your recruiter know your career goals for getting back on the path to success.

Senior Level Candidates

With seven or more years of experience, most recruiters would classify you as a senior level candidate. Recruiters surveyed not only expect senior level candidates to be an expert in their certifications, but these candidates should also have extensive experience in the software development life-cycle.

"They should have been a part of the design, analysis, development, and testing at this point," says Moberg. "They should be able to talk to the business owners and the tech guys who speak in code."

Additionally, senior level candidates should be comfortable with social media platforms more than any other career level. Fifty-five percent of Kforce recruiters said they actively look for information on experience, past employment, and referrals on social media sites. At this level, recruiters use LinkedIn as a way to qualify which candidates are the best fit for a job, but Moberg says candidates can also use social media to their own advantage.

"For example, they can go on the Java webpage on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter and get the latest news on different technologies and keep their skills up-to-date," adds Moberg. While a senior level candidate may not have experience with a particular version of software, this can show a recruiter or employer that the candidate is knowledgeable on the latest updates, even if they have been out of work for an extended period of time.

 

Andrew Moberg is an Online Sourcing Manager for Kforce Inc., a professional staffing and solutions firm providing flexible and permanent staffing solutions in the skill areas of technology, finance & accounting and health and life sciences. Andrew is responsible for the development, implementation and administration of the Firm’s talent identification programs.

Connect with Kforce: LinkedIn I Facebook I Twitter I YouTube

What Technology Recruiters Look For

By Andrew Moberg

The secret is out! After surveying dozens of Kforce recruiters in our Tampa based National Recruiting Center (NRC), we narrowed down the top tips technology professionals can use to get noticed. From entry level to seasoned professionals, we asked our technology recruiters questions on how they search for candidates and what they look for on resumes, online profiles and job applications.

When it comes to your resume or application, recruiters want to quickly find the most current information on your background and experience. Especially in the technology field, an online resume is a must.

An average of 46 percent of our recruiters surveyed say they use social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to source candidates and view profiles of potential candidates. By updating your experience and contact information on these sites you can provide a recruiter with a fast and easy way to find your most up-to-date information. "With a quick glance on social media sites like LinkedIn, we can usually see what the candidate has been doing for the last year," says Andrew Moberg, NRC Manager of Online Sourcing.

Moberg suggests using combinations of verbs and nouns to describe what you do and what types of software you are using on social media sites and job applications. For example, don't just mention you have experience with QA, instead specify that you have experience in testing web based applications or reporting platforms.

Applying keywords and verbs help recruiters better identify and search for your skills. Moberg says the bottom line for candidates is to have enough information on your resume, online profile or job application to show a recruiter who you are, and most importantly what you are capable of accomplishing.

Moving Forward

No matter what stage you are at in your technology career, 67 percent of Kforce recruiters agree that keeping in touch with your recruiter is essential. Whether you check in once a week or just drop a line to inform them that you completed your latest certification, staying in touch is the key to maintaining a good relationship with your recruiter.

Additionally, when your recruiter reaches out to you with new job opportunities that you could be a good fit for, inform them of your availability. Know the exact details of when your current contract end date is, and whether the contract has the potential to be extended so that you can plan for alternatives. If you are willing to start work right away, make sure you truly are available. Remember to take family vacations or paid-time off into mind before telling your recruiter your optimal start date.

In the end, our technology recruiters agree that all employers want the same thing from potential candidates at every level -- someone who can walk in the door and have the skills necessary to perform the job on the first day. By updating your online resume, using keywords to describe your experience, and staying in touch with your recruiter you can easily become more informed on what opportunities you may qualify for. With the secrets behind what Kforce technology recruiters look for, we hope you will be able to stand out in the crowd and help your recruiter zero in on the right job for you.

In our next post, you can find out what technology recruiters look for at each career level.

 

Andrew Moberg is an Online Sourcing Manager for Kforce Inc., a professional staffing and solutions firm providing flexible and permanent staffing solutions in the skill areas of technology, finance & accounting and health and life sciences. Andrew is responsible for the development, implementation and administration of the Firm’s talent identification programs.

Connect with Kforce: LinkedIn I Facebook I Twitter I YouTube