Tag Archives: hiring managers

Blogging about Technical Recruiting Companies

You had a rough day at the IT recruiting office.  Then you come home and are greeted by the blinding light of your laptop.  You open WordPress and immediately pour your heart out about the unfair raise other technical recruiters were rewarded while you were overlooked.  Or perhaps you go on a rant about the upcoming corporate layoffs or the latest gossip from the IT staffing rumor mill.  After about twenty minutes, you finally feel relief as you press publish and close your screen.

A number of IT recruiters enjoy blogging.  It’s a social media outlet that not only allows you to vent your frustrations, but it also lets your friends and followers get a peek at your daily life and thoughts.  However, this is where it becomes dangerous.  Without filters, you are setting yourself up to be stung.  Before you write your next post about the latest events at IT recruiting firms, here are reasons you should reconsider your topic.

Reminds You of Negativity

Unless you live in a world where everything goes right all the time, you are most likely blogging about the negative aspects of your life.  No one wants to hear about others’ misery, so stop yourself and do not give into the temptation.  Misery loves company, so the only followers you will have are those who do not enjoy their IT jobs as well.  If you do not enjoy your career, stop wasting both yours and your employer’s time.  Start looking for new opportunities.

By publicly announcing your faults with your current position, you are betraying your IT recruiting company.  Take your issues to your manager before you post them on the internet.  Things could get sticky if a coworker or supervisor discovers your blog.

Expose Company Secrets

Most hiring managers of IT staffing companies have their employees sign a form that reiterates their privacy policy.  Confidential leaked information is often from internal sources.  Before you begin to write about the rumored layoffs, company restructuring, or IT job interviews, get your fact straight.  Or better yet, do not write about it at all.

You most likely spend more time at your company than you do with your friends or family on weekly basis.  Do not burn bridges by violating their trust.  Protect your company and yourself by keeping tight lips about confidential matters.

Privacy Violation 

Imagine stumbling upon a co-worker’s blog and discovering they had written about you.  It feels as though you are on a secret camera show or someone is spying on you.  Suddenly, you feel violated.  No one enjoys that feeling.  Do not subject others to that position.

If it would make you feel uncomfortable that another co-worker wrote about you, do not do it to your peers.  Make sure anyone mentioned in your blog is aware so it does not come as a surprise either. 

Blogging is supposed to be fun and an excellent way to keep in touch with others about your life and experiences.  Do not extend your office hours by incessantly posting about work topics! 

IT Recruiting Advice: Write Your Thoughts Down!

In the IT staffing industry, there are peaks of booming activity, which is great for technical recruiters and IT consultants.  But is there so much activity that IT headhunters have a habit of forgetting what needs to be done or letting tasks slip through the cracks?  Technical recruiting companies might be so busy, that you begin to forget simple procedures or have trouble grasping ideas and concepts.  Before the problem progresses, the IT recruiters of AVID Technical Resources have a simple solution: keep a notebook handy and write things down!

Less Stressful

Mentally creating a list of all the things IT staffing companies need to do is not helpful and often will make employees and hiring managers more stressed out.  Having a tangible reminder of what needs to be accomplished will help you to see where IT recruiting firms have flexibility, as well as what will take priority in order of tasks.  Also, by writing down thoughts and ideas, technical recruiters will not be drawing blanks later when they need the info the most.

Improved Understanding

You may find that you remembered the information after you wrote it down, and then think perhaps you do not need to take notes.  To jot down notes is to think about the material twice, which will help to grasp a better concept of the information and improve your memory.  By writing down material, you will be able to evaluate key facts and points and use them to your advantage at a later time.  Before you give up taking notes, remember how it helped to reinforce detail.  You might not have remembered otherwise.

More on Task

By gathering your thoughts, ideas, and tasks on paper, you are mentally preparing to complete a task and put your brain to work.  Half the battle with procrastination is just getting a plan started.  By writing things down, you might find you are more willing and ready to complete tasks, meet deadlines, and exceed expectations.

The brain can only retain so much information.  Avoid overloading yourself by putting outstanding tasks and ideas on paper.  Eventually, you will wonder how you survived without a handy notebook!

IT Recruiters Take Mental Health Days!

Have you ever felt so overwhelmed at IT staffing firms that you just could not stay on task nor did you care to finish your IT recruiting work?  You may have been lashing out at family members, candidates, and friends, losing sleep, or simply not caring about any of your interests that were important to you.  These are telltale indicators that you are in dire need of a mental health day.  Before technical recruiters begin to feel guilt about playing hooky for one day, here are some reasons it may actually improve their performance.

Fizzle Out

Eventually, you will burn yourself out if you continuously work without taking a break to recharge your batteries.  Soon, you will not begin to care about your performance and quality of output at technical recruiting companies.  This fizzle could overflow from IT staffing work into your personal life, affecting activities you once took interest in or putting unnecessary stress on relationships.  Put a stop to the problem before it begins by cutting yourself some slack.  You will return to IT recruiting firms feeling better prepared and ready to take on lingering tasks.

Tackle Other Projects

If you have been neglecting your own work or taking a break from your personal activities, use this time wisely to catch up in other areas.  By doing things you enjoy or crossing off tasks on your to do list, you will be diverting your attention away from tedious office work and feedback from hiring managers while refocusing your attitude.  You may actually be stressed from not accomplishing your own tasks!

Silence is Golden

Turn off your cell phone and computer while warning others ahead of time.  Provide an alternative contact in the event of an emergency at IT recruiting companies.  You might feel that you are being lazy, but this mental health day is your own holiday in recognition of your hard work and dedication.  Live it up!

IT professionals often feel that they must finish as many tasks in as little time as possible.  This is when stress peaks are at their greatest.  While it is admirable to meet and exceed expectations, go at a workable pace or create a schedule rather than struggling to meet unrealistic deadlines or taking on more work than necessary.  You may find you are better at staying at task and accomplishing work by setting goals than charging through project after project.

Is the Grass Always Greener with the Other IT Jobs?

Do you find that you hate your current job and wish you never left your prior position?  Are you always on the prowl for new, better IT recruiting opportunities?  Stop yourself right in your tracks.  If you are constantly seeking new roles without the proper research, you will be in this situation more often than necessary.  Before you initiate the job search process again, here are some reasons you might want to rethink another move.

Ignoring the Positive

By continuously seeking other roles, prospective candidates are putting aside the positive aspects that drew them to this current position.  Rather than focusing on all the things they dislike about their job, zone in on the pieces they do enjoy.  IT consultants should talk to their IT staffing companies about expanding their role to incorporate more of these key features while eliminating or improving the bothersome tasks.

Ignoring the Negatives

Put down the rose tinted glasses and closely examine this new opportunity.  As there are with most jobs, there may be drawbacks that one does not see at first glance.  After reviewing, if candidates still feel confident about the role, devise a list of questions to ask hiring managers and IT recruiting companies to uncover any downsides.  When technical recruiters have the key points for their candidate, the candidate may find this job is actually more troublesome than their current role.

Too Much Effort or Not Enough?

All the effort you are putting into finding a better career might be better used at current employers or technical recruiting companies.  By exemplifying your drive to create a solid career path, you will show hiring managers and IT recruiters that you are not only dedicated to your current company, but that you are a valuable asset to the team!

You should not have to sacrifice your happiness at a job that is not right for you.  Instead of always looking for a new opportunity, try to find what it is that you want and then pursue your IT staffing goals!

IT Recruiting Companies Debate: K Cups or Ground Coffee

Quantity

Are you brewing for the entire IT staffing office or just yourself?  If you are brewing coffee at smaller quantities, you will want to go with the Keurig.  The K cup machine provides the option to brew one cup without holding up the coffee machine for other technical recruiters.  Coffee drip machines are made to brew larger cups of coffee which can lead to waste if it is not consumed.  If IT professionals and hiring managers are looking to make a big brew at once, look to the coffee drip machine to satisfy your needs.

Quality

This is up for debate and varies by coffee drinker.  Some say that ground coffee is superior to K cup coffee because of its storage capacity where as K cups can become stale relatively fast.  Then there are the countless options when using K cups and its variety of flavors.  An IT recruiter can purchase a variety pack which allows them to experriment with different flavors and choose which they like best.  Typically with ground coffee, a technical recruiter must by a bag and test their options.

Convenience

Brewing a cup of coffee by drip machine seems to be outdated and time consuming as our society expects less and less in terms of time commitment.  IT staffing companies want everything fast and immediately available with as little work as possible.  The Keurig machine offers a single cup of coffee in about one minute and little to no clean up.  Drip machines can take several minutes to brew and requires routine maintenance and clean up.

Environmental and Cost Concerns

The average price per standard K cup is about fifty cents, which can be costly where as standard coffee ground is about half the price per cup.  K cup packaging is non-recyclable, but you can purchase a reusable filter to cut down on waste.  The benefit of using the reusable filter is you can cut down on spending by buying coffee grounds, too!

Neither is necessarily better, but it seems the IT recruiters of AVID Technical Resources could not function without their K cup machine!

Gum—IT Staffing Industry Necessity

An IT staffing sales representative is preparing for a meeting with one of his clients.  Before he leaves the technical recruiting company, he checks his bag to ensure he has plenty of AVID Technical Resources brochures, pens, and a folder with his notes and paperwork.  There is something missing…then he remembers.  He reaches into his desk drawer and pulls out a fresh pack of gum.

Ice Breaker

Since a young age, gum has been banned in schools and professional environments, but what caused this so-called taboo?  Gum can actually be used as an advantage to break the ice when starting a meeting.  Offer other IT professionals a piece of gum and see if they are receptive to your gesture.  Another tip might be to choose a less common gum or obscure flavor to make small talk in the beginning of the meeting.  Though some might not be comfortable with this approach, it can help the client remember you and set you apart from competing IT recruiting companies.

Freshens Breath

Almost every technical recruiter has had the experience of going to speak to someone and wanting to do an immediate one-eighty.  Halitosis, or bad breath, is a common, embarrassing hygiene offender.  Take a piece of gum yourself and then offer other IT recruiters or hiring managers a piece.  This will avoid potential awkwardness while subtly hinting that their breath needs to be refreshed.

Helps Memory

Though it has not been prove why, gum helps to sharpen your memory when first chewed.  When approaching a complex matter or designing a procedure, pop a fresh piece of gum in your mouth to improve performance.  If it does not help with work, it will certainly help your breath!

Before you begin bringing gum with your to all your client meetings, check with your IT recruiting manager to be sure that it is appropriate and in compliance with your IT recruiting company.

Technical Recruiters, Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

Life is too short to sleep away nights and mornings, but if you do not get enough sleep you could be ending your life too soon.  IT headhunters often pride themselves on lack of sleep and view those who indulge in the recommended eight hours as lazy or incompetent.  Before you shave off that extra hour of sleep a night, think of the consequences listed below.  You may be doing more harm than good!

Physical Effects

IT recruiters who sleep less than the recommended seven to eight hours per night make take a hit in the waist line as they eat more during the hours they are awake.  They also are more prone to diseases and conditions such as diabetes, obesity, stroke, and heart attacks.  One hour less per night for a year adds up to three hundred and sixty five hours, which is more than two weeks worth of missed sleep!  Your immune system is bound to take a hit if you are neglecting adequate rest, which will affect your performance at IT staffing companies.

Mental

Ever have a poor night of sleep and can hardly think the next morning?  This is because your brain relies on sleep to retain memory and perform cognitive skills such as creating ideas, judgments, and rational decision making.  Your ability to respond and focus will be significantly affected, which is not only a concern at IT recruiting firms, but also a safety hazard.  Put the brain on hold and give it a rest!

Emotional

Anyone who has ever experienced lack of sleep can relate to the feeling of over sensitivity and moodiness.  You may become more irritable and pessimistic which not only affects your mood, but also affects hiring managers and IT professionals around you.  Stress from poor sleep habits unintentionally hurts relationships and can cause arguments that should have been avoided.  Rather than becoming cross with others, take priority of your needs and give yourself a well rested night.  You may return to the IT staffing office feeling like a new technical recruiter!

It takes about a week to adjust to a new sleep schedule, so make the commitment and the rest should take care of itself!

IT Recruiting: Interviewing When You are Employed

Whether you’re bored with a current role, looking for a new challenge, or simply disliking your position, you might be on the prowl for new IT jobs.  A common concern for these IT professionals is how to interview when they are already employed.  The IT recruiters of AVID Technical Resources can provide some helpful insights to those who are fortunate enough to have a position, but are seeking new opportunities.

Flexible

If given the chance, interview after or before work.  Interviewing outside of office hours will help ease nerves, especially first thing in the morning, while allowing you to complete your responsibilities with your current employer.  If do not have much flexibility, try interviewing with IT staffing firms during your lunch hour.  Make hiring managers and technical recruiters aware that there may be a time constraint.

Take a Personal Day

Take a personal day and try scheduling as many interviews as you can in one day.  Most IT staffing companies allow their employees days off for appointments and personal matters.  In fact, if you do not use them, you may lose them! Be mindful to not overbook yourself, though.  If you schedule too many IT job interviews in one day, you may lose track of your thoughts or run into schedule conflicts.

Do’s and Don’ts

When searching for a new job, never use your company’s resources to your advantage.  Avoid taking calls from IT headhunters in the office or responding to emails on your work email address.  If you must take a call, make sure it is in private and on your own line.  Provide your notice in a timely manner according to your company’s policy.  Tie all lose ends and complete your work.  Basically, your goal is to leave on good terms!

IT Recruiting: Do You Take Horoscopes Seriously?

Maybe it’s during the morning commute, or sitting down to coffee and a bagel for breakfast, perhaps it’s an after work guilty pleasure.  A number of IT professionals admit they read their daily horoscope.  Take it with a grain of salt or words of wisdom, horoscopes may actually be advising technical recruiters, hiring managers, and prospective candidates to make better decisions and improve performance.  Before passing the next opportunity to read your fortune, here are some reasons horoscopes may actually benefit you.

May Inspire

After reading that there will be changes in your life, actively seek and pursue new IT staffing opportunities.  The horoscope could motivate you to add spice to your routine or drop cumbersome tasks that stress you out.  If it were not for the astrology section, you may have not closed on that last placement!

Avoid Conflict

The astrology section could also help irritable IT headhunters to avoid conflict at technical recruiting companies.  When there is a horoscope saying to turn the other cheek, a technical recruiter may think twice about sending a sassy response or having the last word.  It seems when there is an impending disagreement brought to our attention, we will try to steer away.  The horoscope will keep IT staffing firms sound and on their toes in case of a clash.

Cannot Predict the Future

Are you in a worse situation after reading these predictions?  Most likely not!  So have some fun with these forecasts.  No one knows for sure how accurate these readings are, so share them with your fellow IT recruiters in an email when exchanging resumes or post some encouraging thoughts around technical recruiting offices.  While some may not believe the authenticity of horoscopes, they can change our behavior for the better!

IT Recruiting Companies: Building Your Own Brand

Technical recruiters not only work within IT staffing firms, they also work for themselves.  Their hard work, inner passion, and drive are reflected in the quality of their work and results.  How can they replace the label of IT headhunters and make it one of their own?  Read on for some tips to develop a unique IT recruiting brand.

Passion

Find what you enjoy most about the IT staffing industry and take advantage of it. Take that aspect and perfect it to make the process more enjoyable.  Research your areas of weakness for improvement and set realistic and attainable goals by building your skills.  If IT professionals are not passionate about their work, hiring managers and IT recruiters will notice.

Define Yourself

Think of how you perceive yourself, and then how others view you.  If you are extremely organized, make that your thing.  If you are always prompt with meetings, phone calls, or emails, others will take note and look to you in terms of responsibility.  Keep a clean, professional appearance and demeanor because what it can take you far.

Stand Out

Do something differently than the competition or your peers to stand out at IT staffing companies.  Getting people to talk about what separates you from others is buzz marketing.  It’s the best kind of promotion because it is free advertisement!  Tangibly get your name out there as well, be it through resumes or business cards, and find a tag line.  The more exposure an IT headhunter has, the more opportunities will arise.

Try to avoid getting ahead of yourself and stay loyal to your commitments.  Backing out of your agreements or failure to meet expectations can set you two steps backward and give you a hard reputation to shake!