By Gina Storey, Senior Technical Recruiter at EdgeLink

A trusted relationship between an IT recruiter and a candidate is coveted in our business from both perspectives. You don’t have to be looking for a new job to have a relationship with a recruiter. Any relationship requires effort to maintain, but being connected with a good recruiter definitely has its rewards…

Your recruiter hears a lot about the IT business, both good and bad. He gets it from the perspective of the candidate and the client.

A recruiter can provide insight into the market with regard to new trends, companies, pay rates, and job function. Once you have a relationship with a recruiter, he knows you and understands your talents, so if and when it does come time for you to consider making a change, you don’t have to go through all the work of searching for a reliable recruiter and vetting them.

A professional IT recruiter who is invested in his trade is well-connected to the technology community and will take a great sense of pride in being a good steward for you in your job search. You can be sure you will be “in the know” as to current events and news.

If you have friends who are looking for work, you can help them by recommending them to a recruiter whom you know and trust. A good recruiter’s door is always open for a call or email asking for help, guidance or advice. Everyone needs a compassionate ear some time.

Now, from my perspective:  I have been a recruiter in IT Staffing for almost 5 years and I have come to treasure my relationships with candidates that I have worked to build over time.  Some of these people I’ve placed in jobs more than once; some I have never placed at all; most fall somewhere in between. These are people that I know I can call when I need insight about a new technology or when I need a job description explained in lay-terms. My contacts refer their friends and colleagues to me, knowing they will be in good hands. I am always proactively keeping my ears and eyes open for companies that could be a good match so that when I receive a call from a candidate in need, I already know where to begin the recruiting process. I, too, have needed a compassionate ear and I know who I can call when I need a quick emotional “pick-me-up” — that means the world to me.

The end result here is a genuine and valuable professional relationship that has no preconceived notions, built on trust and communication.`

By Brett Henry, Technical Recruiter, Edgelink Contract Services.

I started working at EdgeLink, an IT staffing firm, just over one year ago. I had no prior recruiting experience and my only involvement with technology was through my own personal use of the internet, iPhone, TV and Facebook. I always believed that I was savvy on a computer and could navigate myself through just about any problem that I encountered. But after just one day at EdgeLink, my head started spinning and I quickly realized that I really didn’t know anything at all. Up until that point, my technical vocabulary was limited to “website, PDF, Word, Excel, Email, and Text.”  But now, Java was no longer just coffee. Flash wasn’t just the thing my Aunt couldn’t figure out how to work on her camera during family photos. AJAX was no longer short for my morning bowl of Apple Jacks. My world was turned upside down and I had to adjust quickly. With time, patience, persistence, and the help of many software engineers and our excellent team here at EdgeLink, I finally figured out what was going on and how all of the random acronyms and technical mumbo jumbo fit together.

Now that I have settled in and am one year into the job, I wanted to share what I’ve learned about recruiting and offer some tips that can help make your job search more efficient and enjoyable:

Network, Network, Network! – When that doesn’t work, network some more. When you are looking for work, you must reach out to everyone you know and let them know what you are looking for. (For more tips on networking, read my post on “10 Steps to Networking Success.”)

Use a Recruiter – Recruiters can provide guidance, support, and another set of eyes on the job market for you. When the perfect job opens up, you will want a recruiter that already knows your career goals, interests, and skillset to speed up the submittal process.

Attitude and Effort – Stay positive in your job search even when things look glum. The perfect opportunity is right around the corner and hiring managers will pick up on your positive attitude.

Clean up your Resume – Your resume is your one chance to make a great first impression. It is good to have one master resume, but you should tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying for. Your recruiter can provide assistance with this and can also send you sample resumes to help you with formatting.

Interview Tips – Once you have applied for a position, the hiring manager has had a chance to view you’re your resume online profile and has built a basic impression of you based on this information. An interview opportunity is the time for you to separate yourself from the competition:

• When you have a phone interview, try standing up during the call. This will help raise your energy level and it will come through on the other end of the phone. (Also, visit Shannon Malcom Peters’ great article about how to prepare for a phone Interview.)
• Show your enthusiasm for the position and company
• Answer the question that was asked and keep your answers detailed but concise and to the point–Too often, we let our nerves get the best of us and we ramble on and on without effectively answering the question that was asked.
• Be prepared to ask questions. Engage the hiring authority and get them talking about their background, the company, how success is measured, etc.
• If you want the job, make sure they know it.

Be Honest – Be up front about your goals, motivating factors, and interests.

I still can’t code, set up routers and switches, or fix your system, but at least I have figured out how to help a candidate find a job that matches her skill-set, career goals and interests. Good luck!

By Mitch Stokes, Technical Recruiter.

It was a cold February day in the state of Colorado. The sun was shining brightly, but not enough to protect us from the piercing chill in the air. A good thousand people gathered for something crazy, something special and something colder than any of us could wrap our minds around.  As we stared upon the frozen waters of the Chatfield Reservoir, a buzz was circulating; an energy which combined excitement, nervousness and a peculiar sense of adventure. A Chic-Fil-A cow graciously bounced around the stadium, local sports mascots were dressed in outrageous costumes. Our group stood ready; poised to suffer, quite possibly, the coldest experience of our lives.

February 11, 2012 was clearly no ordinary day. Three brave participants of the EdgeLink team, armed in their team gear and hot coffee mugs in hand, were determined to conquer this cold, cold reservoir. We took pictures and talked of what lay ahead of us. However, as time inched forward, so did we—in the line leading to the frozen waters. We slowly proceeded forward to the 10 x 10 hole which was drilled around the miles of ice. Finally, it was time to take the plunge and we were as ready as we were ever going to be. We looked at each other, looked at the water, looked back at each other and JUMPED into the frigid water! The cold hit us like a pack of Denver Bronco linebackers but it didn’t stop us from proceeding with a quick splash war followed by a quick departure. We had done it—We successfully took the plunge! And we were FREEZIN’!  But “freezin’ for a reason”…

We were participants in the Colorado Special Olympics Polar Plunge—a unique opportunity to support Special Olympics Colorado athletes by taking a flying leap into the frigid waters of a Colorado lake. All proceeds collected by plungers benefit the more than 11,000 Special Olympics athletes across the state of Colorado. In three years, plunges have raised nearly $300,000 for Special Olympics Colorado. Anyone with a little guts and a warm heart wanting to support Special Olympics Colorado athletes were encouraged to participate—and we obliged.

Special Olympics is an unprecedented global movement which, through quality sports training and competition, improves the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and, in turn, the lives of everyone they touch. Special Olympics empowers people with intellectual disabilities to realize their full potential and develop their skills through year-round sports training and competition.  As a result, Special Olympics athletes become fulfilled and productive members of their families and the communities in which they live.

Today, Special Olympics stands a leader in the field of intellectual disability and has sharpened the focus of its mission as a sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities, and more importantly, a champion for social change. Children and adults who participate in Special Olympics events exhibit boundless courage and enthusiasm. In their pursuits, they not only discover new abilities and talents but “their voices” as well.

The EdgeLink team was delighted to participate in this wonderful event and to support this awesome organization. The Special Olympics oath is, “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”  These are certainly words we could all live by and benefit from.

Resources:

Learn more about Special Olympics volunteer opportunities

Get involved next year’s Special Olympics Colorado Polar Plunge

Riding the Crowdfunding Wave

by Mark Schacter, Manager, Direct-Hire Services at EdgeLink

I admit it. As a recruiter, I am fascinated with start-ups. In my 14+ years of recruiting experience I have had the pleasure of working with many start-ups. Some have made it to IPO stage, some were acquired by brand-name companies and others, well, weren’t as fortunate. Such is the life of a start-up.

Besides the necessity of having a viable concept and market demand, the lack of funding is often the death knell for company’s success. Over the past decade we’ve seen an increasing number unconventional investors come up with some creative ways to find and fund new start-ups. Efforts like Y Combinator, Kickstarter, AngeList and an endless supply of local business accelerators have seeded start-ups that might never have caught the attention of traditional VC resources. Success stories Pinterest, Dropbox, Reddit, Tik Tok, countless game development companies, short films and music projects owe their success to these innovative funding venues.

The recent “Crowdfunding” legislation (H.R. 3606 and S.1791) now making its way through congress looks to be the next big thing in start-up funding. With overwhelming bi-partisan support this legislation would almost surely become law. This new law would allow start-ups to raise funding by essentially “going public” from day one. Of course certain restrictions do apply.

Consider the impact this could have on the U.S. economy by opening the floodgate for innovation. Investor will have a whole new market of investment opportunities and more start-ups mean enormous potential for job creation. This is a win, win, win idea that should be put into play as soon as possible.

If you’ve been pondering the idea of your own start-up, another funding option for getting your venture off the ground should soon be available. This is a great time to be an entrepreneur!

4 cool events you should know about. 

5 tips to make them work best for you.

Networking. Ugh. The very word conjures up images of sports jacketed dweebs pressing business cards into each others’ sweaty palms in a cheesy hotel ballroom. You might think that, if you want to stay busy doing what you love (or you need to add talent to your own business), that’s the bullet you’ll have to bite. Not so. A few organizations in the Portland and Denver/Boulder tech sectors have figured how to make networking so fun and easy you won’t even know you’re doing it. It won’t feel like work—unless you consider hoisting a pint of beer to be work.

Unlike those stuffy hotel events, the scene at these tech sector events is casual and unpretentious. Located at interesting eateries or taprooms, they encourage attendees to ease naturally into productive conversation. Of course, there’s a very coherent method at work. Not only is it easier to meet people, but those individuals are more likely to let their guard down, allowing you to see how well they’ll play with your team. Another plus: you can usually get in at a low cost—often just the price of a beverage. The trick is to make room for serendipity. Keep your eyes open and you might also find a running partner (or a date!) right along with a paying gig.

Four must-attend events:

Read on to learn about four networking events taking place in November. Each one is carefully crafted to put you in the same room with other like-minded people and get you talking.

Ever notice how fragmented the tech community can be? We decided to do something about it. Portland’s New Tech Society, brings together a diverse group of technologists from a variety of backgrounds and industries to “imbibe, collaborate, rinse and repeat” at a local bar. Its next event takes place Thursday, November 10th at The Thirsty Lion Pub. Event Details.

Since its beginnings in 1999, PDXMindShare has evolved into one of Portland’s premier get-togethers for technology professionals. For that reason, we decided to sponsor its November meeting! Drop by BRIX Tavern on November 16 and meet some of Portland’s savviest tech geeks! Event Details.

Boulder Denver New Tech meets each first and third Thursday of every month. Five presenters are given five minutes to demo a tech project they’ve been working on, followed by five minutes of audience Q&A. Time is set aside for networking before and after the event. Event Details.

Smile! It’s Monday! So goes the rallying cry of Mobile Monday.  This 10-year-old global community with chapters in Boulder and Denver connects developers and other professionals in the mobile industry for networking and to share ideas. Event Details.

How to get the most from your experience:

Google the phrase “networking tips and tricks” and you’ll get over 500,000 hits. Our advice? Skip all that and keep these basic guidelines in mind:

Expect a little. Offer a lot. Instead of jumping into the action to get leads, why not try giving them? As you move about the room, you might be able to connect two people who haven’t met, but should. When you help other people connect and get to know each other, they’ll do the same for you.

Cut the jargon. You’re going to meet people with a variety of job titles and skill sets, so be sure to talk in plain English. When you first meet, be ready to describe what you do in the simplest terms possible. (You might even want to practice on, say, your mom.)

Listen. When someone is talking to you, maintain eye contact and avoid the urge to scan the room no matter how dull he or she might be, because you never know how that person could help you later on. Ask open-ended questions—especially those that make use of the words “Why?” or “How?”— and then pay attention. You might learn more than you thought possible.

Know your limits. Alcohol often flows freely (or at least cheaply) at these events, so be careful. Have a good time, but remember that your next boss or partner might be in the room too.

Most importantly, have fun. Keep an open mind. Prepare to be amazed at the magic that can happen over a pint of beer and a friendly chat.

Tech professionals flock to cities like Portland, Boulder and Denver, not just for the job opportunities, but also for the beer, bikes and year-round outdoor recreation. Since our professional life and social life overlap anyway, why not make it official? Catch one of these cool networking events and have a good time getting to know people just like you.