eTECH Resources » IT Recruitment Agencies – Staffing, Placement & Recruiting for Jobs in IT, Technical Recruiting, PC, Computer Jobs, ITJOBS, Information Technology Jobs – Sacramento, Bay Area, California CA

Reminder to Candidates and Hiring Managers: The World Is Small and Circular

etech — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:02:53 +0000

That old saying, “what goes around, comes around” is so very true. It’s important that both candidate and hiring manager recognize that the world is small and circular. Meaning, that the person you are meeting regardless of what side of the table they are sitting on may be someone you need to work with, sell to, collaborate with in the future.

Burning a bridge during the interview process can have the potential to come back with a negative impact down the road. Let’s face it, not all interviews go as planned, but respectful interactions, leave the door open for the possibility of future opportunities to interact and who knows, there may be some great business deals yet to come!

There Is Nothing Worse Than “Radio Silence”

etech — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:02:31 +0000

Having been a recruiter for more than 20 years, I can tell all of you Hiring Managers out there, feedback on candidates is necessary and appreciated.

A job description gives only a portion of information to a recruiter when they are tasked with finding the “right person for the job”. There is nothing more frustrating to a recruiter and a candidate when a hiring manager has gone “Radio Silent”.

The interview process can become very stagnet when feedback is not shared. Open communication regarding candidates is key to gaining traction on a search. Calibration on candidates and follow-up on interivews can drive the process to a close much faster and more effectively when all parties understand where a candidate stands in the selection process.

Why Shouldn’t You Embellish Your Experience?

etech — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:01:55 +0000

The majority of people when looking for a job will pad their resume with experience or skills that they don’t necessarily have. Job seekers want to give themselves an edge on the competition and with today’s economy, there’s a lot of competition.

The problem with padding a resume is that sometimes it can bite you in the back-side. For instance, hiring manager’s looking for a particular technical skill set (i.e. 5 years of C++ and Linux) don’t want to waste time with someone who is only “familiar” or “knowledgeable” in these technologies, they want someone who has hands-on development experience so they hit the ground running when hired for the project or position.

In the same regard, embellishing your resume by using “key words” for experience you don’t have may get you an initial conversation but savvy recruiters and hiring managers will figure out pretty quickly whether or not you have the expertise they need for you to perform the job and the interview will likely come to an end pretty quickly.

Be honest when presenting your technical skills and your job search will be a lot more productive and most likely more successful.

What Technology Recruiters Look For

etech — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:01:04 +0000

Did you know that COMPANIES OFTEN USE A RECRUITING FIRM TO FILL POSITIONS THAT ARE NOT POSTED?

The JOB MARKET is tightening AND NOW MORE THAN EVER IT RECRUITING firms ARE BEING RETAINED BY COMPANIES TO ASSIT IN FINDING TOP TALENT.

With recruiters participating in nearly 30-40% of all new hires, a recruiter can be your new best friend during your job search.

TECHNOLOGY RECRUITERS AGREE THAT ALL EMPLOYERS WANT THE SAME THING — SOMEONE WHO CAN WALK IN THE DOOR AND HAVE THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO PERFORM THE JOB ON THE FIRST DAY.

OUR JOB IS TO HIRE TOP TALENT and our success is measured by your success. Here are some surefire waysto stand out amongst your peers through the recruiter’s eyes.

CLEARLY COMMUNICATE your CAREER GOALS. This will allow your personal recruiter to MATCH COMPANIES with similar GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS.

IN THE TECHNOLOGY FIELD, AN ONLINE RESUME IS A MUST. RECRUITERS WANT TO QUICKLY FIND THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION ON YOUR BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE. With the advances in social media, on line resumes allow you to update your background instantaneously. RECRUITERS RELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES SUCH AS LINKEDIN, FACEBOOK, AND TWITTER TO VIEW PROFILES OF POTENTIAL CANDIDATES

So what do we look for? TECHNOLOGY RECRUITERS SUCH AS MYSELF SEARCH FOR CANDIDATES THAT DEMONSTRATE THE BEST CORE COMPETENCIES such as:

HIGHLY INTELLIGENT
EXCELLENT WORK ETHIC
A TRACK RECORD OF IMPRESSIVE SUCCESS
PEER/LEADERSHIP SKILLS
PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS
INITIATIVE
SOLID COMMUNICATION SKILLS
INTEREST IN THE COMPANY
READINESS & COMMITMENT
CONFIDENCE & ATTITUDE
HUMILITY
FOCUS TO WIN

WHEN REVIEWING RESUMES, ONLINE PROFILES AND JOB APPLICATIONS WE LOOK FOR:

GOOD WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS
CLEAR AND WELL-ORGANIZED INFORMATION
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE
TECHICAL PROWESS/DEPTH
LEADERSHIP BY INFLUENCE
COLLABORATION/TEAMWORK

You should 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.

USE A COMBINATION OF VERBS AND NOUNS TO DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT TYPES OF SOFTWARE YOU ARE USING. 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.

NO MATTER WHAT STAGE YOU ARE AT IN YOUR TECHNOLOGY CAREER, RECRUITERS AGREE THAT 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.

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 ETECH RESOURCE TECHNOLOGY RECRUITERS LOOK FOR, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO STAND OUT IN THE CROWD AND HELP YOUR RECRUITER ZERO IN ON THE RIGHT JOB FOR YOU.

IN CLOSING REMEMBER THAT RECRUITERS ARE THERE TO HELP YOU. WE ARE YOUR CAREER ADVOCATE. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP YOU FIND A POSITION THAT ADDS VALUE TO YOUR CAREER.

How NOT to Receive and Loose an Offer in 48 Hours

etech — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:59:22 +0000

When looking for a job the last thing you want to do is burn bridges, especially with your recruiter. Your recruiter’s goal is to ensure your job search success. Whether you decide to acceptor reject a job offer, it’s extremely important to keep these common (but sometimes forgotten) courtesies in mind.

Here are 10 do’s and don’ts to help you KEEP that job offer:

#1 – Don’t Lie: Honesty is the best policy. Honesty and humility are qualities that serve you well in the workplace. Both recruiters and employers are looking for people they can trust. Even a small “lie” on your resume can have negative and damaging results.

#2– Do Negotiate Salary Upfront: Most people wouldn’t put salary negotiation high on their lists of desirable activities. Working with your recruiter on a fair salary based on your individual level of skills will increase your opportunities for a proper job match. Remember that salaries differ by geographic region, position, and company. Secondary salary negotiations can raise a flag of future employee unhappiness.

#3- Do Research Salaries in Your Field: Your recruiter will negotiate a fair and equitable deal on your behalf. However, you should be prepared by doing your own research such as reviewing recent salary surveys, talking to others working in your field, and if needed contacting your trade or professional association to find out what other people are paid for doing the same work.

#4 – Do Be Flexible: When going through a salary negotiation you aren’t likely to get the exact amount of money you want. You will probably have to compromise. The trick is to figure out how much you are willing to compromise and what you will do if your boss doesn’t offer you a salary you find acceptable.

#5 – Do Consider the Entire Compensation Package: It’s important to consider your potential salary, benefits, perks, and work environment – not just your paycheck.

#6 – Don’t Go Dark on Your Recruiter: It’s important to stay in touch with your recruiter and keep the lines of communication open. Recruiters appreciate feedback from candidates throughout the job search process. A resume only shares so much; informing your recruiter on why one job is more intriguing helps identify additional opportunities.

#7 – Do Be Fair and Courteous: If you have multiple offers on the table, communicate this information with your recruiter. Employers may be able “sweeten” the pot in a competitive market to hire top talent

#8- Be Grateful! The proper way to accept a job offer is with grace and gratitude. The most formal way to accept a job offer is in writing. That’s the best way to receive a job offer and also the best way to accept it. See if you can get a letter that is offering you the position, spelling out your salary and benefits and then sign that letter or provide some kind of acknowledgement in writing to let the employer know you have accepted the position.

#9- Do Ask For Time: It is perfectly acceptable to ask your recruiter for some time to think the job offer over, but be sure not to take too long. It’s unprofessional to keep people hanging. Before saying “yes” ensure that yes isn’t later going to turn into a “no”.

#10 Be Careful: Remember …. Candidates, Recruiters and Hiring Managers are all connected. Although you may decide to decline the particular offer, don’t risk losing a future offer by your actions today. You never know who you may work with, sell to, or collaborate with in the future.

7 Words That Make Your Resume Irresistible!

etech — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:08:16 +0000

Make no mistake about it, writing an effective resume has to be a highly individualized matter, since no two people are alike. Nevertheless, it is such a constricted and standardized format, that we resume writers find ourselves adopting certain phrases or words that each of us tends to prefer and that in fact help our clients get jobs. Every resume writer has his or her own list. Here is mine:

1. “$3,000,000” (vs. “$3M”) – To a skimmer’s eye, “$3M” looks like three dollars. If you are dealing with big numbers and write out all the zeros, the employer’s eye will find it anywhere on the page, no matter how fast they are skimming through your resume.

2. “Created a database for…” (vs. “Developed a database for…”) – “Developed” is an overused and nondescriptive word. Often databases, procedures, lists, or whatever other job activity you are writing about is something you actually put together (even if you used a standard software program to do it, for example). “Created” is closer to the truth and is certainly much more impressive on your resume.

3. “Applied xyz methods…” (vs. “Learned xyz methods….”) – Many job seekers list important skills or knowledge that they learned on a job on their resume. But that isn’t going to impress a potential employer. The potential employer wants to know if you actually used those skills. How and where you learned them is immaterial

4. “College courses include…” (vs. “Took courses in….” or “3 years of college”) – If you went to college years ago and did not complete your degree, you look like an underachiever on your resume. Starting with “College courses include…” sends the message that you are a high school graduate who went to school to take courses (not just get a degree) or that you have been motivated to keep your education ongoing.

5. “All…” as in, “All human resources responsibilities in the office…” (vs., for example, “Human resources responsibilities include all functions…”) – Sometimes a key word isn’t what you’d think. “All” is a great key word to start a descriptive item in your resume. “All” instantly paints a picture of comprehensive responsibilities and a more rather than less important role.

6. “References available upon request” (vs. nothing) – Now, I know that many experts do not consider this phrase necessary because they believe that most readers assume that you will have references. But I’m not so sure. Unfortunately, there are potential employers out there (hopefully not too many) who may conclude that if you do not say anything about references, it must mean that you don’t have any, and therefore they can throw out your resume and have one less to read. So, keep it in.

7. “Value to an organization:“… (vs. “Career Summary”) – Who cares what your career summary is? In my humble opinion and extensive experience, deep down inside the first thing a potential employer really wants to know is if you can help their bottom line. Otherwise, I don’t really think they’re that interested in reading yet another career summary on a resume.

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7 Phone Interview Tips That Will Make You Shine!

etech — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:04:55 +0000

Interview questions are tough – the phone interview makes them tougher.

In some cases, telephone interviews are a way for employers to “pre-screen” possible job candidates before they are granted an in-person interview. In other cases, employers will conduct the full interview over the phone. Whether you are required to go through a pre-screening or have already been given the interview, you must be more prepared than you would be for an in-person interview, even if you are allowed to interview in your PJ’s. Below are some telephone interview tips to keep in mind so your next phone interview is a success.

Telephone Interview Tips

1. Use a landline. You don’t want to risk having problems with cell phone service. It is irritating for employers to conduct interviews if the call breaks up frequently or is dropped completely. If you don’t have a land line at home, just make sure you are in an area with as much cell phone service as possible. Do what you can so the process runs as smooth as possible.

2. Keep your materials handy. In fact, lay everything out in front of you. This includes your resume, notes about your career objective (even if it isn’t included in your original cover letter it’s a good idea to have this out depending on the questions he will ask you), a pen and pad of paper for note-taking and anything else you think may be helpful during your interview. Because you won’t have to schlep into an office, you can have anything out in front of you to aid with your success.

3. Steer clear of distractions. Find a quiet place to interview and stay there! There shouldn’t be any noise in the background to distract you or your potential employer. However, it is understandable that this can be tricky if you have young children at home who need your attention. When you set up your interview appointment, try to schedule it for as precise a time or window as possible. That way, you are able to avoid possible distractions (ex.: your phone interview is between 4 and 4:30, so no one can have company over during that time, the kids are fed and occupied or a sitter will watch them, if need be.)

4. Speak slowly and clearly. When you speak to people face-to-face, you are able to understand what they are saying more clearly because you can see their mouth move. So in a way, you are reading their lips! Neither you nor your potential employer will be able to do this over the phone of course, so speak clearly and a little bit more slowly than you would if you were talking to this person in person. If you can’t hear him, drop hints that he isn’t speaking clearly or loud enough by politely asking him to repeat himself. If this makes you uncomfortable at all you can always blame it on your phone: “I’m really sorry, it’s hard to hear you, the volume on my phone just won’t go up!”

5. Remember – you can’t be seen. That means that anything you say cannot be interpreted by your body language. Beware of jokes or sarcastic remarks that would have been harmless had he seen your facial expression. Maintain your professionalism; stay on target with the interview topics and focus on the key information about you that will get you hired.

6. No eating, drinking or chewing gum! This is self-explanatory. But, we humans are creatures of habit and might pop a potato chip in our mouths at just the wrong moment. However, when I say no eating or drinking I mean during the phone interview. You should eat beforehand to get your brain going so you can focus.

7. Prepare questions ahead of time. Just like in a personal interview, prepare a few questions to ask your potential employer at the end of your phone interview. Some examples are: “What does a typical day look like for an employee with this job?” “What are some skills I would need to develop in order to excel in the position I’m applying for?” “What software/equipment would I be using?” Remember – do not ask about salary or benefits until the employer has brought it up. Fortunately, it can be less intimidating interviewing over the phone with these telephone interview tips and you may even feel more confident that you’ll do well. Great! As long as you are fully prepared and take the necessary precautions, there is no reason why you shouldn’t have a successful phone interview.

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Hello world!

etech — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 08:44:37 +0000

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!