4 Simple Tips for Networking Success
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman You never know when a chance encounter will yield exciting new career opportunities. Just ask Rafic Cheboub. The structural engineer, who’s been contracting since 2004, referred his son Omar to Joe Salvucci, after he met the chairman of PEAK Technical Staffing USA at a holiday party. When he was ready to change… Read more »
Red Hot Engineering Jobs for 2015 and Beyond
By: Mike Iandoli Historically, engineering had four major disciplines: mechanical, chemical, civil and electrical. However, in recent years, the number of disciplines, sub-branches and interdisciplinary roles has increased dramatically as the engineering profession tackles new global challenges. Given the burgeoning opportunities in emerging fields such as bioengineering/biomedical, nanotechnology, alternative energy and water, there may never be… Read more »
44% of Complex Technical Projects Fail – 5 Tips for Success
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman The latest research from the Project Management Institute (PMI) is hard to swallow: 44 percent of technical projects fail. Dominic Lepore, CEO and founder of Terrapin Consulting, has figured out why the failure rate is so high. The former systems engineer studied the results of web initiatives for the Healthcare.gov rollout. He… Read more »
Convince Your Project Manager to Give You More Responsibility
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Maybe you’d like to tackle a difficult project, move into testing or work with stakeholders; so, how can you convince your project manager to give you a shot? It probably goes without saying that you need to master your current duties before you even think about asking your project manager for more… Read more »
Aligning Your Line-of-Sight
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Line-of-sight refers to employees having a greater visibility on how they are contributing to your organization’s success. Moreover, connecting contract engineers, as well as employees, to a project’s mission and your firm’s business strategy increases engagement and the likelihood of success. In fact, Gallup’s 2013 State of the American Workplace report states… Read more »
How to Engineer a Productive Relationship with a Recruiter
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Navigating the market for contract professionals can be tricky, so why go it alone? Adopt a team approach by developing an effective working relationship with an experienced and capable engineering recruiter. Recruiters function as talent search agents for engineering firms and businesses that need a speedy injection of expertise. While they network… Read more »
How to Engineer a Just-in-Time Talent Pool
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Imagine having a group of experienced engineers at the ready. A collection of qualified professionals with diverse skills who are willing to start work at a moment’s notice. It’s not a fantasy. Project-oriented organizations across the country are stealing a page from manufacturing’s playbook. Their leaders are thinking outside the box to… Read more »
3 Tips for Following Up after an Engineering Job Interview
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Your skills fit the job description to a T and you really hit it off with the engineering manager. But you interviewed a week ago and you haven’t heard a peep. Should you assume that you weren’t selected, or should you follow up? According to Boyer Management, a talent optimization and performance… Read more »
Workforce Planning Tips for Engineering Managers
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman For many businesses, the ebb and flow of the number and size of engineering projects makes it difficult for managers to predict future needs for engineering talent. But to workforce forecasting experts like Brian Wilkerson, managing director of Revolution Advisors LLC, unpredictable projects and workloads make it all the more critical to… Read more »
How Successful Contract Engineers Dominate Technical Interviews
By: Leslie Stevens-Huffman Preparation and practice can help you survive a technical interview, and coming up with the right answers can even help you land a contract engineering assignment. But what happens when several candidates know their stuff? Will you still prevail? There’s a fine line between dominating a technical interview and simply surviving it.… Read more »