Written on February 20, 2012 at 10:07 pm, by Lianna
Whether you are out of work and in need of a paycheck, or even if you’re currently employed but looking for a new challenge, the latest edge in job searching is utilization of social media. It’s always smart to have a variety of resources at your disposal, but these days, social media is definitely something useful to have in your toolbox. Most people already have one or more accounts, though, which makes it a simple matter to start gearing that activity toward a job search.
Finding a job is essentially about networking – it’s about who you know. This ties in well with social media, since it is also about connecting with people. Most social media platforms are designed to make interaction faster and easier, especially through the increasing availability of mobile devices. It’s even easier to get in touch with new contacts or friends of friends.
One big issue is that there are so many social media sites that it can get very overwhelming. A common piece of advice is to pick a few and concentrate on those. As long as you’re active on some of the biggest sites, you don’t need to have a profile for every network out there. We suggest at least the big three: LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
LinkedIn – If you’re not on other social media sites, be active on LinkedIn. It was designed specifically for professional networking. Several recent articles have stated that recruiters currently use LinkedIn more than other social networks for finding candidates. Experts suggest joining groups to maximize the job search potential.
Twitter – This is a good way to find out what’s going on in a particular industry or with a certain company. Many organizations (including Chameleon Technologies) make a point of posting job openings on a regular basis. Twitter is all about interacting – sharing, asking questions, responding – in order to connect with influential contacts.
Facebook – Depending on how much you use Facebook, it may give employers a better look at you in terms of cultural fit, which can be just as important as other qualifications. It is also handy as a true networking tool to spread the word about your job search.
YouTube – Posting a ‘video resume’ is another creative option for getting your name – and face – out there. Just be careful to stand out in a good way!
Regardless of which platform you use, the same recommendations apply. Make sure to keep your information as up-to-date as possible. Be proactive – don’t just wait around for someone to find you. Keep your public profiles appropriate to your desired profession. These tools can be valuable for most industries and they are particularly relevant with IT jobs. So get out there and get social!
Written on January 11, 2012 at 6:39 pm, by Lianna
Most of the effort that goes into interviews typically happens beforehand; researching the prospective company, reviewing possible questions, figuring out the right outfit to wear, and so on. There is also considerable effort taken during the interview to make the right impression, but what about afterward? Many people don’t realize how important a follow-up can be, especially in the form of a thank-you note.
Though it may seem like a minor detail, sending a thank-you could help you stand apart from other applicants and consequently get you a job offer. It not only emphasizes your interest in the job, it also demonstrates a high level of professionalism and etiquette. Besides being a courteous gesture of appreciation, a thank-you note or letter can be useful in supplying additional information, addressing any concerns, or it can be way of scheduling a future appointment.
The rules of thank-you notes are simple and few. Keep it brief. Make sure to personalize it and address the specific person or people who conducted the interview. Cards and typed letters are the more traditional methods, but emails are also now acceptable, especially if time is a critical factor. Send a thank-you no later than one to two days after the interview.
There are a wide variety of letter samples on the internet, so if letter-writing isn’t your strength, it’s relatively easy to find some ideas. Most importantly, treat it like any other business correspondence and always send some kind of thank-you after every job interview. It’s another way to make a connection with a hiring manager, and even if you don’t get the job you were applying for, it helps to pave the way for possible future opportunities.
Written on December 15, 2011 at 10:53 pm, by Lianna
How do you send a fun holiday message to as many of your clients and contacts as possible without generating any paper waste? Film a video or create an electronic greeting! This year, we wanted to utilize social media and remain environmentally conscious, so we made a short video clip of our entire internal staff to wish everyone a joyous holiday season.
We have had a great year here at Chameleon, and we’re very excited for 2012! Our team will continue to grow in the coming year, and we are all looking forward to working with even more top talent and other local businesses. Happy holidays to all, and best wishes for the new year!
Written on December 7, 2011 at 8:27 pm, by melissa
Once a quarter, Chameleon recognizes an employee for their outstanding performance. This quarter we are happy to announce that Lianna Kenworthy is our award winner. Lianna has gone above and beyond in her role and she’s also been instrumental in our social media strategy, database training and reporting, as well as contributing to a variety of other complicated projects. Outside of her contributions to our team, Lianna is absolutely wonderful to work with! She is a true professional with a strong ability to learn new information quickly and add immediate value. She is highly respected by her co-workers for her willingness to help anyone at any time with any project she can.
Thank you for all your hard work, Lianna! You are a Chameleon All-Star!!
Written on November 2, 2011 at 9:53 pm, by Lianna
As a full-service staffing and consulting firm, Chameleon Technologies offers a wide range of services, including permanent and contract staffing, consulting, project-based solutions, and managed services. This allows us the flexibility to satisfy any of our clients’ needs. Today, however, we will focus specifically on the two basics: permanent and contract placement. What do each of these choices mean for the prospective employee? Is one type of employment better than the other? The short answer is: not really. Both situations have their own pros and cons, and it’s up to the individual to decide which is going to work best.
Permanent
Just the word “permanent” implies a sense of security and stability, and that is often what people cite as the greatest advantage of a direct hire. Of course, as many people have found out in the past few years, even permanent jobs can end abruptly. And if a long-term job becomes less satisfying over the years, it can be much more difficult to get out of. Still, some employees thrive more in an environment where they know they are going to stay in one place. Permanent hirees can also have more opportunities to grow and develop their skills within one company, and companies are more likely to invest in career development. Pay may not start out very great, but it’s steady and there is usually a full benefits package to go along with it.
Contract
Contract assignments are very common in the IT field, yet there are many job seekers who aren’t interested in this type of employment. Some people assume that all contract work is short-term and temporary, though that is not always true. A project-based contract may only last for a few months, or even weeks, but some contracts can be continually extended and last for years. Other jobs may only start out as contracts and later develop into permanent employment. The main benefit of contract work is that most contractors (also known as consultants) tend to receive higher wages, since hiring costs are lower. Contracts can also offer more flexibility and a wider variety of opportunities. Even though it may be necessary to move from job to job more often, it is sometimes easier to stay employed through contracting, especially in a tough economy. In general, most contractors do not receive benefits, but a good firm such as Chameleon will provide comprehensive benefits for their consultants.
It’s important to carefully consider all of the options and look beyond the common perceptions (and misperceptions) of contract versus permanent. Most often, deciding on the right job is a complex array of decisions, especially if there is more than one opportunity. It’s a little like trying to decide whether to rent or buy. Each choice has its own set of advantages and disadvantages – it just depends on the specific situation and the needs of the individuals involved.
Written on October 11, 2011 at 8:21 pm, by Lianna
This month’s profiled client is one of the fastest-growing companies in the mobile phone industry. They are a recognized pioneer in smartphones and are continually building on a list of industry firsts. Their philosophy is based on integrity, innovation, and execution. If you want to be a part of a passionate team who design cutting edge technology products and have fun while doing it, this is the place for you!
Here are some of our client’s current openings:
- Software Design Engineer – Responsible for working on the cutting-edge user interface tool chain that has set our client apart from the competition. Build complex software that must be elegantly designed, cleanly written, and efficient when executing. Requires 5+ years of experience designing, coding, and debugging complex software solutions; 2+ years of consumer device software experience; 2+ years of developing rich user interfaces with advanced frameworks and tools.
- Programmer Writer – Responsible for creating SDK/API and related technical documentation for mobile devices as well as maintaining administration of the website where the SDK/API documentation is hosted. Requires experience with technologies such as XML, XSLT, HTML, CSS, and scripting languages; programming experience (Java and/or C++); 3+ years experience authoring SDK/API developer documentation.
- ETL/ELT Developer/Engineer – Responsible for working with data warehousing and business intelligence teams for successful delivery of their reporting requirements. Requires working knowledge of ETL tools; 5+ years experience in ETL/data warehouse development; experience with Java, SQL query writing, and Unix/Linux; BS/MS degree in computer science/engineering or equivalent.
If you are interested in working for this company or are qualified for one of these positions, send us your resume! You can also check out our job listings page to stay updated on the most recent opportunities.
Written on October 4, 2011 at 7:12 pm, by Lianna
Here at Chameleon Technologies, we take pride in being able to place highly-qualified candidates with successful businesses in the Pacific Northwest. We have a refined method that allows us to find just the right fit for employers and job-seekers alike. How do we do it? Well, we can’t give away all of our secrets, but here is a little insight into the general process.
Clients
The first thing we need is a job to fill. Our business development team is responsible for creating and maintaining relationships with hiring managers from around the region. They assess every detail of the client’s needs and monitor open positions throughout every step of the process.
Candidates
Once a job order is open, our recruiting team takes on the task of finding eligible candidates. They use many different tools and resources – both internal and external – to review potential applicants. They make a point of meeting each candidate in person and only after thorough screening do they submit someone for a position.
Placement
When a candidate has passed our screening process, the account manager submits their information to the client. At this point, the client’s hiring manager will decide whether or not to request an interview, and should the interview process go well, they will submit an offer back to us. If the candidate accepts the offer, the placement is made and the job is filled. Throughout all of this, both the recruiter and the account manager are involved in making sure everyone’s needs are met.
Written on September 21, 2011 at 9:22 pm, by melissa
It’s time once again to recognize one of our employees for their outstanding job performance. This quarter’s All-Star Award goes to Mohamed Ramadin. Our client considers him to be a great asset, and so do we.
Mohamed’s supervisor has nothing but good things to say about him. Among the many compliments, he shared that Mohamed’s “knowledge, skill and flexibility have allowed for confidence in the decisions made by management to assign him to any team or task him with any effort.”
Besides always having a positive attitude, Mohamed has been instrumental in helping his team save time and deliver quality customer service. He strives to assist others and contribute not just to his team’s success, but to the success of the entire company.
Thanks for all of your effort, Mohamed! Congratulations on being our Third Quarter Chameleon All-Star!
Written on September 19, 2011 at 8:02 pm, by melissa
Writing a cover letter may not be something you look forward to, especially if you’re sending your resume to a lot of different places. In today’s economy, however, it is always a good idea to accompany every resume with a letter – even if the prospective employer doesn’t require it. A cover letter is usually how you will make your first impression and it can help you to stand out from other candidates. You want to stand out in a good way, though, so keep these pointers in mind when you’re writing.
What to Include
Besides all of the basic letter-writing nuts and bolts, there are a few key points you should make sure to include. Explain why you are interested in this particular job at this particular company. Most employers don’t just want someone who is qualified – they want to make sure the new employee is going to thrive and complement the rest of the team. Highlight your qualifications and call attention to any unique skills you have that might set you apart from the competition. Make sure to say something about how you plan to follow up – let the employer know that you’re serious about pursuing this position.
Make it Good
Just like with resume writing or any other business correspondence, a cover letter should never have any spelling or obvious grammar mistakes. Have someone else proofread if this is something you tend to struggle with. There are many sample formats available on online, but regardless of which format you use, make sure it is clean and easy to read. Try to write naturally and avoid being overly formal if that’s not how you are in person – you want to sound professional, of course, but you also want to give your letter a personal touch. Above all, be concise and try to keep it to one page.
Cover letters are another tool that you can use to promote yourself and get noticed by employers. It’s your chance to show that you’re more than just the list of dates and facts on your resume. So go that extra mile if you haven’t already; it could make all the difference!
Written on September 9, 2011 at 9:26 pm, by melissa
Most people have experienced what is known as the mid-afternoon slump – the time after lunch but before the end of the day when energy levels drop and it suddenly seems extra difficult to stay focused on work. So what is the best way to power through the grogginess and keep work productivity high? We did a little research to find out what is effective in our own office and also to get some ideas about what other people do. Not everyone is likely to be able to take advantage of all of these ideas, but it’s good to have some options available for the next time the slump hits you.
Our Results
Here at Chameleon, the most popular energy-boosting methods seem to revolve around caffeine or food. Coffee runs are common, and snacks are always on hand. A few people also recommend energy drinks for the more difficult bouts of drowsiness. The second most popular suggestion is exercise, especially in combination with food (such as walking to the coffee shop or grocery store). Other ideas include taking a quick power nap or taking a break to have a brief conversation.
Additional Thoughts
Our external research produced a lot of similar suggestions – go for a walk, eat a healthy snack, do some stretches, etc. However, we did find some other interesting techniques, such as listening to music (work appropriate, of course). Some people also try to organize their entire workday around the slump, making sure to schedule more energy-intensive projects for earlier in the morning. Even if there is not a lot of exercise involved, just getting outside and (if you can find it) getting some sunlight is another conventional idea. If you want to do something a little more productive, though, try cleaning and organizing your workspace. You’ll be that much more efficient when you’re back on task.
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