Office Manager Mistakes as Learned From History’s Leaders

Leading a department or a team of workers is not an easy task, and many managers often inadvertently make mistakes that can disrupt the positive flow of an office. History has shown us the benefit of great leaders, and mimicking their methods is a great idea, but not every person who has been in power has gone about leading in the right way.

There are several leaders whose mistakes managers can learn from and avoid at all costs. Read more…

Tips for Technical Interviews and Coding Tests

The other day, I sat down to lunch with some of our Search Executives and, after a bit of small talk, we started discussing the ways that candidates approach technical interviews. One recruiter, without naming the company or the two programmers involved, gave an example of two drastically different ways to approach a preliminary coding test.

In this scenario, programmers had to prove their coding proficiency with the Python programming language. Each finalist’s portfolio was packed with examples of successful and complex Python projects. Unfortunately, there was only need for one person, so they would either have to distinguish themselves as the forerunner in the technical interview or look for another opportunity elsewhere.

Here’s how it all panned out. Read more…

Steal This Idea: The Arguments For and Against Software Patents

Since the 1960s software engineers, lawyers, and academics have been arguing over the pros and cons of software patents, and to this day no resolution has been reached as to how to legally secure intellectual property rights of formulated lines of code. With the inception of mobile applications utilized by smart phone and tablets – made by software giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Motorola – patent-eligibility once again finds itself center stage in nationwide and international debate. Read more…

The Summer Job Search: The Secrets of Getting Hired

Conditions may differ around the country but there’s no doubt about it: temperatures are definitely on the rise, heavy winter coats are finally being mothballed, and summer is almost here! You may be tempted to put your job search on hiatus in favor of grilling, picnicking, biking, swimming, vacationing, or any number of other things that bring you out into the beautiful summer weather. By all means, make time for those activities but don’t neglect your job search until autumn. You may miss out on a great window of opportunity. Read more…

Is Emotional Intelligence Important in Information Technology?

Everyone’s familiar with the old computer nerd stereotype: the code monkey with his eyes glued to the screen, tapping away at his keyboard, and awkwardly avoiding interaction with anyone else in the office.

But as the IT field becomes evermore ubiquitous in every workplace, this stereotype has become grossly outdated. And while even the best IT folks may geek out over the hottest new tech releases, the truth is that the emotional intelligence – the capacity to both identify and regulate emotions in yourself and others – is an increasingly important trait for those in Information Technology. Read more…

Job Skills You Didn’t Know You Had

One of the primary interview objectives of hiring mangers is to learn what skills you possess and how they relate to the job in which you are applying for. Elaborating on your qualifications is a must, but many job seekers leave out important skills that can set them apart from the pack. The trouble is that job seekers do not even know that they have a variety of experiences that can help them prove their worth to a company, and they don’t even have to be industry related.

After you have made it clear that you have met the basic requirements for the job, you can further help your chances by highlighting additional skills rooted in unrelated work/life experiences. These hidden skills can make you more a more unique and attractive candidate for any position, and can range from: Read more…

The Importance of Writing Skills to Your Career

Whether you are working in or looking to break into the Information Technology industry, possessing excellent writing skills is important. But with so much focus on math and sciences in college it is easy to brush off English courses, and most universities only require math and science majors to take one or two classes. However there are not many jobs in any industry that do not require good writing skills, and poor skills may even leave you at a disadvantage when searching for employment.

Why are writing skills even necessary?

If you have ever struggled to write a cover letter, resume, or anything related to your career you should know the importance of good writing. Every career path requires its workers to write notes, memos, emails, and reports, all of which require good writing skills to effectively communicate a certain set of ideas. Poor writing skills can be a red flag to employers that you are not fit for management positions, and are often read as signs of lower intelligence. Read more…

Use It or Lose It: How to Keep Your Job Skills Sharp!

Writing a resume, though not always fun, can be enlightening for job seekers. It can help us recognize which skills are razor sharp and which are choked up by rust. Think of your skills as a faucet controlling the flow of water into a sink. When a talent is regularly used, your output flows quickly and cleanly. When a talent sits idle for a while, your output can sputter to a start with a slow, yellow tinted flow before getting back to that 100% effort. Read more…

Cover Letters and Resumes for the Digital Age

So you’ve finished tailoring your cover letter to a particular company and position and now you are ready to email it to a potential employer, but you’re not exactly sure how to go about it. It isn’t like folding a piece of paper in thirds and stamping an envelope. The digital age may have changed how we send resumes, but there are still guidelines that you can follow to help your chances at impressing a hiring manager in the digital age.

Fix your email address

It’s shocking how many people still make this mistake, so it must be said. Hiring managers will open resumes from Yourname@website.com. Resumes from BeerChugger@website.com will get your application sent to the trash. Keep your work and social life separate. Read more…

Making a good first impression during the interview

Most people imagine the job interview starts and stops when you enter and exit the interviewer’s office. In actuality, it can extend far beyond that and include more people than you even expect. Any person that you interact with once you enter the building can help to decide your fate, so it is always a good idea to generate a good first impression with everyone you meet.

The Receptionist:

As the first person you meet on your journey through the office, the receptionist is key to your winning job interview strategy. Important information can flow through this person to every key decision maker in the company. That in mind, everything you do or say before your interview can make it back to your interviewer. Read more…