missrecruiter

Tip for Linked In

2010-02-11T10:20:00.000-08:00

Ever notice when you check to see who’s viewed your profile you get the nebulous “someone in the staffing and recruiting industry has viewed your profile”? Want to be just as unidentifiable? Click on Settings in the upper right corner of your Linkedin page, scroll to “Profile Views”. Once you’ve clicked on “Profile Views”, select the option that appeals to you. You can reveal your name and title, be anonymous with just a general description of your industry, or request that no information be released to the profilee.

How cool is this trick? I learned it from the AIRS newsletter this month, which I found through someone I follow on Twitter. Love me some Twitter!

Miss Recruiter

Resume Tips

2010-02-04T07:02:00.000-08:00

Being a recruiter, I see ALL kinds of resumes - many formats, colors, flavors and many of them are baaaad. Please allow me to give you some tips on how to best format your resume for ease of reading (for the recruiter) and so that your resume can navigate applicant tracking systems (which are notoriously counterintuitive and buggy) more easily. I hope this helps!

1. Keep your resume simple. Skip fancy formatting that's hard to change or requires you to use the space bar repeatedly in order to keep columns in line. Advanced formatting often gets jumbled once scanned or uploaded to applicant systems, so just stick to the simplest format possible - it mostly looks better that way anyway! Those templates that many word processing programs provide are the WORST - avoid them.

2. Be sure to note any social networking handles that are professionally appropriate. This does NOT include Facebook, but does include your Linked In profile, any professional blogs you might keep, or professional-related Twitter accounts. This shows that you're keeping up with today's technology, which is attractive to most companies/ recruiters.

3. Don't worry about spacing your resume perfectly to fit on one page - just take the space you need to describe your background and experience. Recruiters rarely print resumes anymore anyway, so it's less of an issue than it used to be. However, don't let your resume become too long! I don't know about others, but I start to lose interest after so many pages...

I could go ON and ON, but these are a few tips that I think are most important for putting together a good-looking resume. Comment if you have any other questions or input!

Miss Recruiter

Do You Twitter?

2010-01-12T10:35:00.000-08:00

Follow me @meredithatdell

What does Twitter allow me to do?

1. Search for conversations about technologies for which I'm recruiting - these are the geeks I'm targeting! (http://search.twitter.com/)

2. Announce job postings and share job-related information with followers

3. Get up to the minute information about relevant HR topics (hiring trends, legislative bills passing, etc.)

4. Speak on the same wavelength as the techies I'm trying to recruit
5. Exercise my humor muscle and amuse the general public from time to time

Apparently, 2010 will see more than 18 million adults over the age of 18 using Twitter. If you're not, you're out of the loop! And recruiters, it's our job to be IN the loop... so fellow recruiters, jump in, the water's warm!

Miss Recruiter

AustinRecruiters

2009-12-14T13:46:00.000-08:00

Hello all! I have volunteered to be the new moderator for AustinRecruiters, an Austin-based recruiter networking group on Yahoo! I'd love to see this group become a great resource for corporate and staffing recruiters here in Austin for networking, communicating events, receiving support, sharing job postings, and generally connecting with other recruiters in the biz.

For more information, please get in touch. Meanwhile, you're cordially invited to join our networking group:

Miss Recruiter

Expanding Search to Dallas!

2009-11-19T11:03:00.001-08:00

Miss Recruiter is expanding the search for C# architects to DALLAS, Texas. See below for job description; please note we're looking for VERY senior level developers!

Looking forward to any recommendations you might have.

MR

Recruiting .NET developers in Austin

2009-11-03T08:32:00.001-08:00

Dell is hiring! Global Services Software Development (GSSD) is looking for a Software Engineer Consultant to work in the Image Management Suite of software. Image Management is focused on developing and deploying software allowing customers to Capture, Deploy and Restore their O/S images. The work is challenging and incorporates a mix of new feature delivery to Dell customers and building industry leading software.

Responsibilities:

· Contribute to the design and architecture of new or re-engineered software.

· Prepare written software specifications for complex products from architectural diagrams and documents.

· Develop and review design, functional, technical, and/or user documentation, as needed..

· Develop, test, and integrate code for new or existing software of significant complexity.

· Prepare accurate project status documentation for management.

· Contribute to resource, schedule, and cost sizing for software development projects of medium complexity.

· Design and Architect Software

Education/Experience:

BS/BA degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics or related disciplines or equivalent work experience required

A minimum of 5 years work experience is required

Technical:

Proficient in C# 3.0 and/or 3.5

Proficient in .NET

Experience with SQL Server

Scripting language experience

Working knowledge of operating system fundamentals

Programming Virtualization environments and Cloud-base computing (preferred but not required)

Window Services experience is a plus

Test driven development experience is a plus

*We're also open to superstar Java developers that are interested in learning .NET!*

About Dell:

Collaboration. Individual drive. A passion for technology. That's what success sounds like at Dell. It's this dedication to finding unique solutions that has given rise to many of our energy-smart, green initiatives. Sound like something you can get behind? Join our team, and you'll work in a dynamic environment with other motivated, talented individuals who care about protecting our planet. Plus, you'll get the mentoring, support and training you need to succeed on your own terms.

Contact me at mhall@startupstaffing.com to apply or refer superstar candidates. No third parties, please.

Miss Recruiter

Confrontation 101

2009-10-10T05:11:00.001-07:00

Not that I'm advocating being a confrontational pain in the neck at the office, but after 10+ years in the corporate workplace, I have found that much of the drama that occurs in the office could have been avoided with a good, direct conversation among coworkers. (This also applies to friendships, family relationships, and marriage!)

When I first started my career in recruiting, I had an amazing mentor and manager, who taught me so much about giving and receiving feedback. It has stuck with me through all the years and, I think, made me a better communicator in all aspects of my life (of course I still have some work to do - it will always be a work in progress). I found this awesome article about communication this week and thought I'd share it with you all. There are some great instructions on how to have that dreaded, but VERY necessary and helpful conversation with people in your life - work-related or not. I hope you find it helpful!

Miss Recruiter

------------------
Confrontation for Sissies
By Judith Stone

No simmering fuses. No verbal bombshells. Judith Stone discovers
a three-step plan that takes the fear (and the fight) out of
confrontations.

You say you hate confrontation, that you'd rather have oral surgerywithout anesthesia than a tough, cards-on-the-table talk with a colleague, spouse, or friend? Have we got a plan for you.

What's that? You say you love confrontation, that you may even be a little too eager to open up a can of weapons-gradewhup-ass—but that, come to think of it, these big blow-ups aregetting you approximately nowhere? Have we got a plan for you.And it's the same one. Developed by corporate coach Esther Jeles, this fresh approach to conflict resolution has been road-tested by hundreds of participants in the workshops she holds for businesses interested in improving communication and increasing productivity.

"Confrontation isn't about telling someone off or setting them straight," says Jeles, founder and CEO of Aylet, a Chicago-based consulting firm. "Confrontation is looking at issues and solving
problems." You can participate, or you can let things happen to you, Jeles notes. "You can only affect the outcome directly if you speak up," she says. "Nothing ever changes for the better unless opposing parties come together and discuss the situation and solutions." Most important, a healthy confrontation can be a chance for you to help people feel better about themselves, she says. "And to be proud of your own behavior."

Confrontation? A mental health tool, a community builder, a force for kindness? The word definitely has a bad rep, even though it emerged from the mildest of roots, the Latin for "together" and "forehead"; initially it meant simply "to come face-to-face." Jeles urges a return to the collaborative image conjured by the word's origins—putting our heads together to reach a common goal. The term she uses for this kind of encounter is carefrontation. Reframing the definition creates an instant attitude shift in her clients, Jeles says, especially after she helps them realize that they're already champs at healthy confrontations. "We've all had hundreds of them!" Jeles says. "But we tend to remember only the confrontations that got ugly, and to call the successful ones something else."

What did we intuitively do right in the non-ugly encounters? Some version, Jeles says, of the three core steps that she recommends:

1. Prepare with care.

Before you confront another person, have a long talk with yourself and try the following.
Define the problem, separating the practical issues ("I stayed up all night finishing a report because a colleague didn't turn in her share of the research") from the emotions they evoke ("I'm furious with her for sticking me with extra work!").

Engage in what Jeles calls self-witnessing. "That means asking yourself: 'What does this situation remind me of? How have I handled such issues in the past? What's my pattern?'" For example, the woman stuck writing the report might realize that what she does, over and over, is bite her tongue even when she sees disaster looming, because she dreads conflict. "Maybe she'll notice that the situation reminds her of her relationship with her sister," Jeles says. "Maybe the family pattern was that she was always stuck holding the bag and cleaning up after her sister. When she sees the pattern, she can change it."

Practice expressing the problem in a clear, calm way, without blaming the other person. "Don't throw in everything you've held in for a year," she says. "That wouldn't be a carefrontation; it would be an assault."

2. Offer an invitation to talk.

There's no single surefire opener, Jeles says. "But a couple I've seen work well are 'I sense there's
something you want to talk to me about. If now isn't the time, I'm ready whenever you are,' or 'I've got some suggestions that I think can really help you.'" People might feel suspicious at first, interpreting "I think I can help" as code for "I'm preparing to attack." Eventually, though, Jeles says, "they're grateful, because they're floundering."

3. Practice no-blame talking and listening.

Present the thoughts you collected in the preparation stage, being careful not to blame or accuse. "I might say, 'I know I may not have all the information, but here's what I think is happening.' After that, you can ask, 'What do you think is happening?' And then you listen." You're not listening, Jeles points out, if you're preparing your next verbal volley—"reloading," she calls it. One time-honored way of keeping yourself from reloading is reflecting back to the other person: "So let me make sure I understand what you said...."

If the confrontation is taking place at work, Jeles stresses, leave your emotions out of the discussion. Suggest solutions that focus on tasks and goals instead of the person's faults. "Get right to what I call www.com: Who does What by When Communication. That's 99 percent of the communication required in corporate America," says Jeles. "Focusing on productivity instead of blame—fixing the plan, not the person —shifts the mood from threatening to uplifting." Set a time for meeting again to check in with each other about how the new plan is working.

If the confrontation is taking place off the job—friend to friend, spouse to spouse, or parent to child—then you do need to express your emotions clearly, but calmly. "So you might say to a teenager, 'Last night when you didn't come home when you said you would, I felt disappointed and angry, but mostly I was afraid something bad had happened to you. Have you ever had that feeling?' Then ask what was going on with her." The focus should be on understanding each other's feelings and thought processes.

A common cause of conflict both at work and at home, according to Jeles, is not discussing a problem as soon as it comes up. "I don't leave it for a month, I don't leave it for a week, I don't let 15 things go by—I confront every issue one at a time, as it comes up, or as soon as I notice a pattern. Then I find out what the other person is thinking." And if the relationship is one fraught with conflict? "I tell all my clients, it doesn't matter what the history is, you've got to start new somewhere." Begin using carefrontation steps every time the smallest thing comes up, Jeles says. "That creates very different results than waiting until you're just about ready to pop your balloon."

Once you redefine confrontation and learn to do it better, Jeles promises, you'll no longer be tortured by the rule-flouting teen, the shirking colleague, the belittling boss, the secret-spilling friend, or the Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Doormat. The more you practice, she says, the easier it gets to give good carefrontation, and to receive it.

From the May 2008 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

Performance Engineers - C, C++, iSCSI, RAID

2009-09-28T10:33:00.001-07:00

Startup Staffing is working to fill key positions for our client, a major multinational electronics corporation with offices in Nashua, NH. We are seeking a seasoned Performance Engineer to ensure that our client's storage solutions continue to excel in the industry. The candidate must have a successful track record of working in at least two of the following areas: storage performance, systems engineering, operating systems, and networking.

Responsibilities:

Benchmarking activities to prove performance of storage solutions, including ESRP, Oracle, TPC.
Deep dive into the source code to identify and resolve complex performance issues. Operation and extensions of automated performance regression suites.
Definition of performance objectives and goals both short and long term.
Performance testing of existing product solutions and products in development.
Communication internally and externally on performance metrics, benchmarking activities, and performance issues. Address any customer performance issues escalated to engineering
Communicate with sales and marketing on questions related to performance.

Requirements:
A BSCS with 4+ years working in the areas of performance, storage, or networking is required
Independent, hard working, creative, focused, and organized.
Must be willing to question the status quo and look for ways to increase product performance.
Must be product focused, willing to work on tight schedules, and produce tangible results.
Ability to program in C/C++. Solid understanding of disk drives, cache technology, RAID.
Familiar with industry standard performance tools such as iometer.
Excellent understanding of the software development process, software design, data flow and bottlenecks.
Ability to work on multiple projects concurrently.
Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
Other Desired Skills:
Experience with test automation
Experience with TCP/IP and iSCSI

If interested in having an exploratory conversation regarding this position, please apply via email with a copy of your updated resume as a Word document and let me know a convenient time to contact you. Otherwise, I would greatly appreciate any referrals you might have.

Miss Recruiter
mhall@startupstaffing.com

Desperately Seeking SCSI Software Engineer...

2009-09-10T12:58:00.001-07:00

Startup Staffing is working to fill key positions for our client, a major multinational electronics corporation with offices in Nashua, NH. We are seeking a software engineer experienced in SCSI standards. The ideal candidate will have excellent problem solving and design skills. Attention to detail, and a customer focus to development is a must. The candidate must have a successful track record in working in at least two of the following areas; any SCSI protocol development, iSCSI, Fibre Channel, TCP/IP or Ethernet protocol development, distributed system programming, any network file system development, or operating system programming.

Responsibilities:

* Analyze/debug difficult problems, engineer solutions, communicate/review solutions, and deliver solutions
* Consult with internal organizations regarding operation of subsystems
* Help define test cases for features and regressions
* Communicate project status/resolution with management
* Development software enhancements to accelerate problem resolution.

Requirements:

* A BSCS with 4+ years working in the areas of storage and/or networking is required
* Strong C/C++ programming skills
* Experience with SCSI standards
* Independent, hard working, creative, focused, and organized
* Must be able to work on more than one project at a time

Other Desired Skills:

* Experience with storage systems
* Experience with test equipment/software

If interested in having an exploratory conversation regarding this position, please apply with a copy of your updated resume as an attachment. I would also greatly appreciate any referrals you might have.

Miss Recruiter
mhall@startupstaffing.com

Seeking Embedded Software Developers!

2009-08-10T16:33:00.000-07:00

Startup Staffing is working to fill key positions for our client, a major multinational electronics corporation with offices in Nashua, NH. We are seeking a high-energy, experienced, embedded software engineer to join a team developing the industry's most manageable storage solutions. The successful candidate will have proven senior-level technical skills -- providing direction for self and for others; working with senior staff to plan and size individual tasks; prioritizing and designing new features; and producing high-quality, well-tested code.

Qualifications

This individual must have 5 or more years of software development experience in C/C++ on NetBSD, Linux, or similar platform; preferably within an embedded system. Particular emphasis will be placed on experience in building and delivering stable, serviceable solutions within an entrepreneurial environment. In addition, the candidate should have the exemplary communications skills needed to interact effectively with members of the various technical teams within our engineering organization. Finally, the candidate must be conversant in the problems and concepts behind distributed system management. In particular, s/he must have knowledge of several of the following:

SNMP agents and architectures
Network protocols
Database management
Enterprise management platforms/applications (HP Open View, Microsoft MMC)
Data modeling
Object-oriented design
Web-based management technologies
3rd party management toolkits (Epilogue, Rapid Logic)
IPC/RPC
Storage management concepts and standards

If interested in having an exploratory conversation regarding this position, please email me a copy of your updated resume as a Word document and let me know a convenient time to contact you. Otherwise, I would greatly appreciate any referrals you might have.

Meredith Hall
Recruiting Consultant
Startup Staffing Group
mhall@startupstaffing.com

Hardware Engineers

2009-08-03T14:40:00.001-07:00

Seeking a sustaining engineer in the network hardware space in Nashua, NH:

Key duties:

Help with the design verification of new products.
Fault analysis on field returns.
Determine root cause and solutions for bugs found in our lab or the field.
Qualify new components.
Qualify ECOs.
Manufacturing support.

BSEE or MSEE
10+ years experience as a hardware sustaining engineer.
Proficient with high speed scopes.
Good lab debug skills.
Experience with Mentor DxDesigner schematic capture tool desirable.
Direct experience with networking and/or storage a plus.

Also seeking a hardware designer for the same client in Nashua:

Key duties:

Help define and design the next generation modules for the Dell Equallogic PS Series storage array.
Extensive experience with high speed Digital design.
Experience with high speed microprocessor design.
Determine optimal terminations for high speed signals.
Define the layout rules for all high speed signals.
Simulate high speed signals to determine layout rules and validate that design will work.
Timing analysis.
Design reviews.
Layout reviews.
Measurements of high speed signals as part of design validation.

BSEE or MSEE
10+ years experience as a hardware engineer.
Experience with very high speed signals (> 6GHz).
Good lab debug skills.
Experience with Mentor DxDesigner schematic capture tool desirable.
Direct experience with networking and/or storage a plus.

To inquire further, please email me at mhall@startupstaffing.com.

Thanks! Miss Recruiter

Get Java Jobs!

2009-07-29T07:17:00.001-07:00

Recruiters seeking Java folks - I highly recommend checking out Get Java Jobs:

http://www.getjavajobs.com/employers/registration.php

It's a free place to post your reqs and they have an awesome Twitter following, which will bring even more exposure to your postings. Also, on August 6th, they're having an "email job fair", which will email out all their postings to their registered job seekers, so if you have your free posting done before that date, you'll get even more exposure to your postings.

Recruiting pals, take advantage!

Miss Recruiter

Seeking Java UI Swing Developer

2009-07-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

Startup Staffing is working to fill key positions for our client, a major multinational electronics corporation with offices in Nashua, NH. We are seeking an experienced software engineer to help our client develop their award-winning storage management user interface. The successful candidate will have proven technical skills - employing new technologies to solve difficult problems; working with senior staff to plan and size individual projects; prioritizing and designing enhancements; and producing high-quality, well-tested code. In this role, the individual will be responsible for delivering new features and functionality in this Java-based storage management user interface.

The successful candidate must have a track record of delivering commercially available software using Java. They should be able to demonstrate proficiency in design, coding, and software architecture for this environment. Particular emphasis will be placed on experience in building and delivering stable, serviceable solutions in an independent fashion. The candidate should have the exemplary communications skills needed to interact effectively with members of the various technical teams within the engineering organization.

This individual must have 5 or more years of software development experience in Java, preferably in the context of network, device, or system management. Additionally, the candidate MUST have the following:

Experience with Java Swing UI components
Strong object-oriented design skills (OOD/OOP)
Proven experience with multithreading, sockets and network programming
Knowledge of common web technologies, such as HTTP, XML, XSL and SOAP

Optionally, the following skills and knowledge will be useful:

Storage management concepts and standards
iSCSI and networking
SNMP applications
VMware Development
J2EE technologies (JDBC, JMS, servlets, etc)
Development experience with Java frameworks (Spring, Hibernate, etc)
C++, C#, .NET

If interested in having an exploratory conversation regarding this position, please send me a copy of your updated resume as a Word document and let me know a convenient time to contact you. Otherwise, I would greatly appreciate any referrals you might have.

Miss Recruiter
mhall@startupstaffing.com

New Mac Book Pro

2009-07-22T09:42:00.000-07:00

Fresh off the boat from Shanghai - my spanking new Mac Book Pro. Huan ying diàn nǎo!

Miss Recruiter

Don't Be That Guy!

2009-07-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

Note - great friend Petri Darby, PR Genius, is quoted in this article. Second, be sure not to say stupid stuff like this or you'll be posted to the Recruiters Hall of Shame forever and surely blacklisted in your town! (I mean, who *hasn't* been drunk from the night before at a job interview at one point or another, but you're not supposed to fess up to it!!) ;)

Miss Recruiter

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/07/22/cb.you.said.what.interview/index.html

43 weird things said in job interviews

Story Highlights
Hiring managers reveal some of the really weird answers heard in job interviews
"My parents told me I need to get a job so that is why I'm here."
Left my last job because "I have a problem with authority."
"I get angry easily and I went to jail for domestic violence. But I won't get mad at you."

Rachel Zupek
CareerBuilder.com writer

"I'm not wanted in this state."

"How many young women work here?"

"I didn't steal it; I just borrowed it."

"You touch somebody and they call it sexual harassment!"

"I've never heard such a stupid question."

Believe it or not, the above statements weren't overhead in bars or random conversations -- they were said in job interviews. Watch man sing his resume to get an interview »

Maybe you were nervous, you thought the employer would appreciate your honesty, or maybe you just have no boundaries. Whatever the reason, you can be certain that you shouldn't tell an interviewer that it's probably best if they don't do a background check on you. (And yes, the hiring manager remembered you said that.)

We asked hiring managers to share the craziest things they've heard from applicants in an interview. Some are laugh-out-loud hysterical, others are jaw dropping -- the majority are both. To be sure, they will relieve anyone who has ever said something unfortunate at a job interview -- and simply amuse the rest of you.

Hiring managers shared these 43 memorable interview responses:

Why did you leave your last job?

"I have a problem with authority." - Carrie Rocha, COO of HousingLink

Tell us about a problem you had with a co-worker and how you resolved it

"The resolution was we were both fired."- Jason Shindler, CEO, Curvine Web Solutions

What kind of computer software have you used?

"Computers? Are those the black boxes that sit on the floor next to the desks? My boss has one of those. He uses it. I don't have one. He just gives me my schedule and I follow it." - Greg Szymanski, director of human resources, Geonerco Management, Inc

What are your hobbies and interests?

"[He said] 'Well, as you can see, I'm a young, virile man and I'm single -- if you ladies know what I'm saying.' Then he looked at one of the fair-haired board members and said, 'I particularly like blondes.'" - Petri R.J. Darby, president, darbyDarnit Public Relations

Why should we hire you?

"I would be a great asset to the events team because I party all the time." - Bill McGowan, founder, Clarity Media Group

Do you have any questions?

"If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be?" - Megan Garnett, Articulate Leadership Team, Articulate Communications Inc.

"What do you want me to do if I cannot walk to work if it's raining? Can you pick me up?" - Christine Pechstein, career coach

"I was a Chamber of Commerce Executive once hiring a secretary. [The candidate asked] 'What does a Chamber of Commerce do?'" - Mary Kurek, Mary Kurek, Inc. Visibility Consulting

"Can we wrap this up fairly quickly? I have someplace I have to go." - Bruce Campbell, vice president of marketing, Clare Computer Solutions

"What is your company's policy on Monday absences?" - Campbell

"If this doesn't work out can I call you to go out sometime?" - Christine Bolzan, founder of Graduate Career Coaching

"How big do the bonuses really get once you make associate? I hear it's some serious cash." - Bolzan

"[The candidate asked,] 'Can my dad call you to talk about the job and the training program? He is really upset I'm not going to medical school and wants someone to explain the Wall Street path to him.' The dad did call. Then that dad's friends called and I ended up doing a conference call with a group of concerned parents ... long story." - Bolzan

"If I get an offer, how long do I have before I have to take the drug test?" - Bolzan

"When you do background checks on candidates, do things like public drunkenness arrests come up?" - Bolzan

"Can I get a tour of the breast pumping room? I heard you have a great one here and while I don't plan on having children for at least 10 or 12 years, I will definitely breast feed and would want to use that room."- Bolzan

"So, how much do they pay you for doing these interviews?" -- Jodi R.R. Smith, Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting

Why are you leaving your current job?

"Because I (expletive) my pants every time I enter the building." - Abbe Mortimore, Human Resources Manager, True Textiles, Inc.

"I was fired from my last job because they were forcing me to attend anger management classes." - Smith

Why are you looking for a job?

"Cigarettes are getting more expensive, so I need another job." - Pechstein

"My parents told me I need to get a job so that is why I'm here." - McGowan

Why do you want to work for us?

"Just for the benefits." - Jennifer Juergens, JJ Communications

"My old boss didn't like me, so one day, I just left and never came back. And here I am!" - Matt Cowall, communications manager, Appia Communications

"I saw the job posted on Twitter and thought, why not?" - Rebecca Gertsmark Oren, Communications Director at The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity

What are your assets? (as in strengths)

"Well, I do own a bike." - Pam Venné, principal, The Venné Group

What are your weaknesses?

"I get angry easily and I went to jail for domestic violence. But I won't get mad at you." - Pechstein

"I had a job candidate tell me that she often oversleeps and has trouble getting out of bed in the morning." - Linda Yaffe, certified executive coach

"I am an alcoholic and do not deserve this job." - Deb Bailey, owner, Power Women Magazine & Radio Show

"I'm really not a big learner. You know ... some people love learning and are always picking up new things, but that's just not me. I'd much rather work at a place where the job is pretty stagnant and doesn't change a lot." -- Michaele Charles, Voice Communications

When have you demonstrated leadership skills?

"Well my best example would be in the world of online video gaming. I pretty much run the show; it takes a lot to do that." - Rachel Croce

Is there anything else I should know about you?

"You should probably know I mud wrestle on the weekends." - Venne

When can you start?

"I need to check with my mom on that one." - Bolzan

Use three adjectives to describe yourself

"I hate questions like this." - Katrina Meistering, manager of outreach, National Fatherhood Initiative

Tell of a time you made a mistake and how you dealt with it

"I stole some equipment from my old job, and I had to pay for its replacement." - Meistering

Have you submitted your two weeks' notice to your current employer?

"What is two weeks' notice? I've never quit a job before, I've always been fired." - Meistering

Random responses

"One guy [said] 'it would probably be best' if I didn't run a background check on him. Of course, I did, and learned all about his long, sordid past of law-breaking. Our client actually offered him a job as a staff accountant, but quickly retracted the offer when I had to tell them all about his recent arrest for a meth lab in his basement." - Charles

"[A] guy said he did not have a mailing address, as he was living in a gypsy camp at the airport." -- Sandra L. Flippo, SPHR

"I went into the lobby to pick up a candidate. As he stood up, his trousers fell to the floor! [He said] 'Oh, my gosh -- they told me I needed a suit for the interview. I've got no money -- so I borrowed this thing. It's too big!'" - Beth Ross, executive and career coach

"Wow -- I'm not used to wearing dress shoes! My feet are killing me. Can I show you these bloody blisters?" - Bolzan

"May I have a cup of coffee? I think I may still be a little drunk from last night." - Smith

(During a telephone call to schedule the interview) "Can we meet next month? I am currently incarcerated."- Smith

"[A candidate] was asked whether he could advocate impartially on behalf of the various universities he would be representing since he had attended one of them. He responded, 'Well, I don't like to poop where I eat, but I thought my education sucked, so I certainly wouldn't put that school above the others.'" - Darby

Twitter

2009-07-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

I have joined the masses!! Let's try out this Twitter thing and see if I can locate some stellar candidates for my client. Follow me!

http://twitter.com/merihall OR @merihall

Miss Recruiter

AWESOME ARTICLE

2009-07-20T09:55:00.000-07:00

Have you ever received one of those emails that promises riches while working from home in your PJs, and wondered if it was too good to be true? I'm going to bite the bullet and say that about 95% of the time, it is definitely NO GOOD. A person that's been out of work for a long time or really just praying for a sign of life out there could really be at risk of being taken for a ride. Read more below about this topic to avoid being scammed yourself...

Miss Recruiter

http://www.therecruiterslounge.com/2009/07/17/how-to-spot-fake-job-ads/

----------------------------------------------

If you’ve ever posted your resume on sites such as Monster, CareerBuilder, HotJobs, or Craigslist, you’ve probably received emails in response to your resume, no matter how highly targeted your resume was written, or at the other end of the spectrum, how badly it was written.

In fact, sometimes it doesn’t even have to be a resume! I had a recent blog post where I outlined some of the biggest mistakes in posting your resume on Craigslist. I decided to also post that as an article in the RESUMES section of Atlanta Craigslist, since that was where I got my inspiration for the article and wanted to help those people who were making those specific mistakes.

This was an article, not a resume, so I was a little surprised (or was I?) when I started receiving emails “responding to my resume on Craigslist”. Craigslist does try to fight fraud by including the following in every email sent through their system:

** CRAIGSLIST ADVISORY — AVOID SCAMS BY DEALING LOCALLY
** Avoid: wiring money, cross-border deals, work-at-home
** Beware: cashier checks, money orders, escrow, shipping
** More Info: http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams.html

So here’s what happens. Some companies search through resumes posted online, not because they are seeking candidates for “legitimate” jobs, but to build their email lists and also for recruiting purposes for Network Marketing and MLM business opportunities. Many of the Network Marketing and MLM opportunities are, in fact, legitimate, but not exactly what most people are seeking when they post their resumes.

I’ll address the latter one first. If you get an invitation to a meeting about a “business opportunity”, to “get in on the ground floor” or something similar, it’s likely to be a network marketing or MLM opportunity. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, provided of course that the opportunity is a good fit with your goals, skills, and desires. What I don’t like is the ones who are vague about the “opportunity” and don’t tell you what company it’s for or anything in advance of the meeting. In my opinion, being up front about an opportunity is crucial. It gives the person a chance to look into the opportunity further before investing, spending, or wasting their time (depending on their viewpoint and the opportunity) traveling to a meeting and sitting in a packed (or nearly-empty) conference room in a cheap hotel with other people who were led to the meeting by the same purposely vague invitation method.

Worse are the scammers who prey on the desperation of frustrated job seekers who are at the point where they’re open to ANY opportunity that comes along. These often include “work-from-home” opportunities and money transfer opportunities.

First, a disclaimer: these are actual responses I’ve personally received, and while I have changed the company names and other contact info, I cannot absolutely guarantee that the “job opportunities” below are not actually legitimate opportunities and assume no liability whatsoever. That being said, each one I’m including in this post has at least one major thing about the ad that, to me, looks like it is fishy at best; an outright scam at worst. The point of this post is to encourage you to exercise your own critical thinking as part of your job search so that you don’t fall victim to one or more of the many scams out there, and don’t waste your time by pursuing fake opportunities that are designed to part you from your money.

Exhibit “A”:

After reviewing your resume at XYZ website (site name changed) we are sure you fit our requirements for a financial manager position.

My name is Rip Meoff (Name changed) and I am working in Money Transfer Ripoff Opportunity Inc. (Company name changed)

It’s a large company, headquartered in the USA. Main field of our business is financial services, including escrow services provided for customers of online auctions.

Position we offer is part-time, with flexible schedule. You are to spend 2-3 hours on average a day (except Saturday and Sunday, no tasks during weekends) working at home.

We require: Internet access and e-mail availability.

Money Transfer Ripoff Opportunity Inc. covers all expenses, no need to invest your own money!

After we sign the contract, you’ll be employed for a month of a trial period. During this timeframe, you’ll receive all the necessary instructions and training from your supervisor. One week before the trial ends, supervisor will be making his/her decision regarding the employee. Termination of contract can be recommended.

During the trial period you’ll be paid 2.3k$ a month. Also you’ll keep 8% from every money transfer processed. Total income, considering the current volume of clients, will be up to $4500 per month. After you successfully pass the Trial Period, base salary will be increased up to $3000 per month. Furthermore, you may ask for extra hours or even a full time job.

If you are interested in this job offer or would like to learn more, please forward your filled form to our e-mail: GiveMeAccessToYourBankAccountSoWeCanRipYouOff@stealmymoney.com (email address changed)

==============FORM===FORM================

First name:_______________________

Last name:_____________

Country of residence:_____________________

Contact phone:____________________

Preferred call time:____________________

==============FORM===FORM================

We promise to reply promptly!

We found your resume at (name of site where you posted your resume). This letter confirms that your resume has been duly processed and your skills completely meet our requirements for the Financial Manager vacancy.

Regards,

Rip Meoff, Chief Ripoff Artist

My take:

Obviously, this looks and smells like a rip-off. As the old saying goes, if it looks like a duck, and smells like a duck, it’s probably a duck.
It’s EXTREMELY unlikely that the resume of anyone but a Financial Manager would “completely meet our requirements” for a real, legitimate Financial Manager job opportunity.
Another tipoff: the sender asks you to send information that they should already have from your resume (clue #1) to a gmail, yahoo, hotmail, or other non-corporate address (clue #2). Now a gmail or other free account doesn’t necessarily mean the opportunity isn’t legitimate – many hiring managers choose to keep the company confidential until the talk or meet with you, for various reasons (such as looking for a replacement for an existing key employee who doesn’t know they’re going to get axed).
This type of response is often from companies that either have acronyms for names (though, again, this is not a true test of the validity of the job – IBM, CBS, ABC, and many other real, solid companies use acronyms as company names) or some legitimate-sounding name that sounds like either a name you’ve heard or one you might have heard. Common words used in these company names (though, again, this isn’t a true test of legitimacy) are National, American, Federal, Global, and other words that sound big, strong, or important.

Exhibit “B”:

Your resume was reviewed and passed on to our office. Your experience as (your most recent job title) was of interest. If you are still seeking a professional or executive career in the Business Development sector or other fields, with pay between $60,000 and $500,000, please update your information here…(link to their site)

Regards,

My Take:

Firstly, I hadn’t posted an actual resume!
Secondly, the sender didn’t include any real information about the “job opportunity” and the pay range listed is so wide that my internal scam detector alarm went off so loudly that my house nearly started shaking.
The link wasn’t actually directly to their site – it went to some link with a long series of numbers and letters after the beginning of the URL – obviously a tracking link so they’d know you visited the site even if you didn’t enter your information once you got there.
The only clue they provide about the type of position is “professional or executive career in the Business Development sector or other fields.” One can get a little more vague than that, but not by much.
No company name, no recruiter name.

Exhibit “C”:

Dear Jobseeker,

After viewing your resume on (job site), we have decided to contact you regarding an offer. We are looking for a Representative in the United States.

The Representative will work closely with our Financial Department to manage and process payment orders and to serve as the key conduit for those requirements.

§ § Representative will be tasked to receiving payments, processing these transactions and keep records as well as making the necessary money transfers

§ § Opportunity to work at home: maximum one hour each business day

Requirements :

§ § Attention to detail and organized, with good communication skills both verbal and written

§ § US citizen or permanent residence/green card holder

§ § Clean criminal record

Benefits:

§ § Attractive bonuses and commissions with each order

§ § No contact with our clients

Salary and commissions:

§ § Guaranteed commissions totaling up to $6000.00 every month + $1,600.00 basis monthly salary + 10% commission from every processed order

Please let me know if you are interested.

Hiring Department

My Take:

Again, Payment Processing positions are EXTREMELY likely to be scams designed to get you to give your bank account details so that the scammers can steal money from you.
“Representative” is too vague – Account Representative, Marketing Representative, and so on are much more common in the real world.
“Representative” is more commonly used in client-facing positions – after all, a “representative” is representing their company, and if there’s “no contact with our clients,” what’s the point in calling you a “representative”?
“Guaranteed commissions” ?? BIG red flag.
“totaling up to $6000.00 every month” – “up to” is purposely vague and designed to stimulate your greed gland, make you salivate and respond to them. If they do guarantee commissions in the first place, how much do they actually guarantee? This sounds really fishy to me – especially with a “maximum of one hour each business day.”
Guaranteed commissions, plus a monthly salary PLUS 10% commission from every order? So you’re getting 2 commissions? One guaranteed and one based on each order? Even fishier.
Bad grammar, e.g. “Representative will be tasked to receiving payments,” is another clue, though bad grammar and spelling are so prevalent that misspelled words and grammar mistakes alone aren’t a true indication of the validity of an opportunity, but excessive mistakes can be a tipoff.

Exhibit “D”:

Hello

We currently have a position available.

If you are intrested (sic) in taking the job please contact (email address) for further information.

Thank you

(name of company)

My Take:

Send this one straight to your trashcan!

They don’t say anything about what kind of job.
Though you can’t see it because I removed the email address and company name, it was a free email account and the address didn’t match the name of the company – it was a company with an acronym in the name, and the email address had a slightly different acronym.

I do hope this helps all you job seekers out there. There are lots of great opportunities out there, including some legitimate “work-at-home” opportunities, but also a lot of bad people who will do anything to steal your money, your identity, or whatever they can get their slimy little paws on. Or in the case of “work-at-home” scams, they’ll steal your time, labor, and effort for their gain, not yours.

It’s a jungle out there – know how to spot the snakes and you’ll have a better chance of not getting bitten.

To your success,

David B. Wright
Author, Get A Job! Your Guide to Making Successful Career Moves
www.thegetajobbook.com

Back to Work!

2009-05-27T13:05:00.000-07:00

After getting laid off at Cisco while 8 months pregnant, moving to Texas shortly thereafter, and having my son 9 days after that big move... it's time to get back to work!! I've waited to really make sure I was ready to return to Corporate America, and it's definitely time. I'm looking forward to bad coffee, long meetings, coworker hi jinx, rush hour traffic, and... adult conversation!

It's certainly going to be a challenge finding a job in a new city (gotta get out there and NETWORK) and learning how to being a full time recruiter and mom at the same time, but I'm ready for the challenge. I had a conversation with Baby P and he has given his blessing to go forth and place people... Cool kid.

Any leads in the Austin, Texas area for staffing and recruiting opportunities would be much appreciated!

Miss Recruiter

Interview Much? Great Advice!

2009-03-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

Your Career: Why wasn't I hired?

You can ask for feedback, but you won’t always get it

By Eve Tahmincioglu

Mary Ortega of Wilmington, Del., has been on 40 interviews for marketing and public relations jobs in the last 10 months.

Before interviewing, she always researches the company and the people she’ll be meeting. She dons a nice suit and comfortable high-heeled shoes. She’s also driven from Washington, D.C., to New York on more than one occasion for job interviews.

Even though she has yet to land a gig, that’s not what’s frustrating her most. She’s angry because she rarely gets constructive feedback or even a phone call on why she wasn’t chosen.

Ortega, 43, usually gets a brief e-mail such as this one she received on March 13:

At this time we have decided to move forward with other candidates whose experience more closely matches our requirements.

“No one seems to have the balls to pick up the phone anymore,” she says. “Have we become a passive-aggressive society?”

There’s nothing more frustrating than putting the time and energy into a face-to-face interview, only to get little to no information on why you didn’t get a job. Unfortunately, this is becoming commonplace throughout the work world, as more and more hiring managers opt to ditch civility and do little to follow-up with desperate job applicants.

There’s a host of reasons why.

Companies are so fearful of lawsuits they want to limit the amount of information they give candidates after they’ve decided not to hire them so as not to make a slip and say something that can be taken as discriminatory.

Many human resource personnel and managers are also too busy to take the time to provide a self-help session for job seekers who are looking for advice on what not to do next time.

And still others just don’t want to have to talk to someone they’ve rejected, opting to use e-mail as a safe haven from a rejected candidate’s wrath or disappointment.

No feedback, group rejections
Ryan R. Miner didn't even get an e-mail after he interviewed on Feb. 20 for a scheduler position for a California congressman.

“I interviewed with his chief of staff and it went very smooth,” says Miner, 23, who’s an unpaid intern for a Maryland TV station, WHAG. “She said, ‘When the congressman returns next week, I will sit down with him and go over all applicants, and figure out who we want to talk to next.’”

That was more than a month ago, and Miner hasn’t even gotten a rejection e-mail.

“I would like to know what they thought I could have done better in the interview or did they think I was not qualified,” he says.

Often these rejection e-mails aren’t even personalized.

Recently, social networking group Twitter Inc. interviewed applicants for a business project manager position the firm had open and mistakenly sent out rejection e-mails en masse.

The e-mail went out to more than 180 people, and every recipient could see everyone else’s e-mail address, making it clear that no e-mail was personalized.

The faux pas ended up on the Web site TechCrunch, which included the actual e-mail:

During the course of our recruiting efforts, we come across many fine candidates such as you, and we carefully evaluate each candidate’s background and interests against our projected workloads and staffing needs. Although we are impressed with your background, the hiring committee has decided to move forward with a different candidate.

We will keep your information on file for six months in case future opportunities arise.

Twitter immediately apologized for the screw up, but it got me wondering why the firm felt it necessary to send out a form letter instead of being more personal.

“Regarding feedback after an interview. I'd say that's a case-by-case basis,” says Twitter co-founder Biz Stone.

Sometimes, he adds, the applicant takes the initiative.

“Candidates will send me a personal e-mail or an invitation to join their network on LinkedIn,” he says. “We're talking with very talented folks, so I think it's useful to stay connected even if they don't wind up joining Twitter — they may be a fit down the road.”

Realizing many of these e-mails are indeed generic may make many of you cringe, but there are ways to figure out why you were not chosen.

Let’s start out with some of the reasons hiring managers say people don’t end up getting a job.

Spherion Corp, a recruitment and staffing firm, surveyed hiring managers and found the top reasons candidate don’t get hired include: not enough experience; the wrong skill mix; another candidate has better experience or skills; or the candidate was looking for more money than the position paid, according to Rebecca Callahan, senior vice president of Spherion’s Recruitment Process Outsourcing division.

Because of the economy, she adds, many job openings end up being withdrawn during or after the interview process for lack of funding.

If you work with a recruiter, it’s easier for them to get the poop on why you got the heave ho because the hiring managers may be more comfortable telling a middle man or woman instead of you, says Waffles Pi Natush, president of The Barrett Group.

You should send a follow-up e-mail or make a call to the hiring manager after a canned rejection and try to get more information. But being overly persistent won’t get you anywhere and may even hurt your chances for a future job with the company, recruiters say.

Other ways to get feedback
If you get nowhere with the hiring managers, Natush actually suggests you try and contact the person who got the gig instead of you.

That’s easy to figure out given all the social networking sites out there. You can just search for the company and position, or even go to the company Web site. Depending on the position, the person’s name and contact information may be right on the site.

“Call the person that got the job,” he says. “You’ll have a networking contact with a person in a position that interests you, and that person may have left a similar position or has been interviewing in different places.”

Be genuine and wait until your anger over not getting the job subsides. You don’t want to come off as a spurned candidate, he says.

For Andrea Tobor of San Francisco, it wasn’t about being spurned. She wanted to know why after four interviews with a marketing firm and rave reviews from everyone she met, she got a voice mail left on her answering machine at midnight from the hiring manager that she didn’t get the job.

She eventually got someone in human resources to fess up. Turns out, one of the senior vice president she interviewed with thought she was after her job, she says.

After looking into 200 jobs, landing 25 interviews and having little to show for it, Tobor, 59, decided to launch her own business consultancy called Radical Partnering in December.

“I saw the writing on the wall,” she says.

Sometimes, however, you might get more truth than you bargained for.

Ortega from Wilmington pushed the issue after receiving yet another e-mail rejection with few details after interviewing, and surprisingly one of the managers gave it to her straight in follow-up e-mail:

“No hidden agendas. Everybody thought you did well and you were well thought of. Except, the interview did not go well with Scott? And that killed it. He thought you were nervous and did not do a good job of answering questions. Just keep up the good work and you'll be ready for the next opportunity.”

“It was my fifth interview at the company,” she says, still stinging from what Scott, a senior vice president at the firm, felt about her. “This one really hurt.”

Eve Tahmincioglu writes the weekly "Your Career" column for msnbc.com and chronicles workplace issues in her blog CareerDiva.net.

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29796678/

Make the most of being jobless!

2008-12-15T08:52:00.000-08:00

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/12/15/cb.jobless.experience/index.html?iref=werecommend

* Story Highlights

* Job loss is devastating so take a week or so to mourn, expert says

* Always look for new ways to expand your network while unemployed

* Take a class to learn a new skill, find an internship, learn a new language

* Eighty-one percent of employers view volunteering as relevant work experience

By Rachel Zupek

CareerBuilder.com writer

When Martin P.* was laid off from his job as a marketing vice president, he embarked on a two-year job search and still came up short.

Brian Smith recently experienced a 51-week lapse between steady employments. Lisa Wetherby was out of work 17 long months before finding full-time work and Domenick DeMarco has been unemployed for 10 months to date.

That's a long time to be out of work. So what exactly does one do during that time off?

"Do something, anything, especially something new or something [you've] not had time to do in the past," urges Laura George, author of "Excuse Me, Your Job is Waiting." "Doing something enjoyable gets brain cells firing, creates a new paradigm, brings in new people and improves morale and overall well-being."

What you don't do is treat your unemployment as a vacation.

"In the big picture, it's critical that you don't utilize your flexible time circumstances to procure a coach potato license," says Nicholas Nigro, author of "No Job? No Prob!" "You've got to be active -- both physically and mentally -- to apply your ample free time to the best of your advantage."

It's hard, however, for job seekers to use anything to their advantage, especially when the bleak economy makes them feel like they're up against the world -- or at least millions of other people.

Competition in the work force is fiercer than ever before, with 9.5 million jobless people in the United States and only 3.3 million job openings at the end of August 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Despite these grim facts, there is light at the end of the proverbial unemployment tunnel.

"No one can dispute that the absence of a job and a corresponding income stream is a potentially alarming scenario," Nigro says. "If you firmly believe that your current joblessness is merely a glitch in your abiding life expedition, your new outlook will noticeably brighten."

So desolate job seekers, the good news is that even with these tough times, things will get better and you will survive. Here's how you can make the most of your unemployment:

Step No. 1: Take care of logistics. When you're laid off, there are several unpleasant -- albeit necessary -- issues to tackle. Before anything else, apply for unemployment benefits, resolve severance concerns, figure out your health-care coverage and assess your financial situation.

Step No. 2: Mourn. Job loss is devastating. In fact, after the death of someone close to you and divorce, it's one of the biggest losses you suffer. Not only have you lost your job; you've lost routine, money, pride and perhaps most importantly, a sense of purpose.

Understandably, a little moping is allowed, says Jodi R. R. Smith, president of Mannersmith, an etiquette consulting firm. A week of bad daytime TV and junk food is about right; then it's time to dust off and find some balance, she says.

Step No. 3: Make good use of your time. With eight extra hours in your day and not much coming up in your job search, there are countless things you can do to improve yourself, personally and professionally. Here are some ideas:

• Create your own jobs. Suddenly being jobless throws a lot of people into a schedule-free day, says Lynette Radio. As consultants who are sometimes between assignments, she and her husband tackle projects around the house like painting or putting in new floors.

"It keeps us busy and on a schedule," she says. "Structure is what you need most at this point to not only feel professional, but not fall into a cycle of self-pity."

• Don't limit yourself. If you can't get a job in the industry you want, find a creative way to be a provider -- not just a worker -- in the industry you're interested in, says Vicki Kunkel, author of "Instant Appeal: The 8 Primal Factors That Create Blockbuster Success."

"Don't limit yourself to finding a job in the industry you've worked in for the past 15 or 20 years. A layoff is a good time to look at what really matters to you, what you love to do or what you've always wanted to try."

• Reassess your life. Joblessness allows you to reconsider your work situation, as well as other aspects of your life.

"Ironically, unemployment also provides time to truly get it right in terms of work/life balance," says Paula Santonocito, a business journalist specializing in employment issues. "There are no more excuses for avoiding an exercise routine or getting enough sleep."

Such positive lifestyle habits have a positive impact on your job search, she says.

• Learn a new language. Spend 30 minutes every day learning a foreign language, suggests Jill Keto, author of "Don't Get Caught with Your Skirt Down: A Practical Girl's Recession Guide."

"Job skills of people with U.S. experience are in high demand in emerging economies around the world," Keto says. With a foreign language under your belt, you'll be in an excellent position to climb the ranks when the U.S. economy rebounds.

• Look for an internship. If you're interested in a career transition, an internship allows you to learn from a company in a different industry.

"Make yourself available for a learning opportunity, at a cut rate to the employer," says Lauren Milligan, founder of consulting firm ResuMAYDAY.com. "Seeking out this nontraditional type of situation will show initiative and confidence." And, if you do a great job, you'll be on the short list for a full-time position.

• Network, network, network. Always look for new ways to expand your network and utilize the one you already have. You can do so by getting involved with relevant professional associations, says Colette Ellis, a career and stress management coach for InStep Consulting.

"Find opportunities to take on leadership roles to increase your visibility within the industry," she says. You can also join committees that are working on strategic projects for the association.

• Re-invent yourself. Reinvention is simply re-examining yourself, taking what you've learned over time and evaluating what makes you tick, says Sean Simpson, communications director for Express Employment Professionals.

"Reconnect with what gets you excited," he says. "Once you have figured out what your passions are, match them to your skills and experience you have gained over the years. This will help you determine what jobs best utilize your strengths and which choices are most suitable for you."

• Set up a buddy system. "Find a friend, former colleague or a neighbor-someone with a positive attitude that you can chat with regularly to keep you going," says Cheri Paulson, senior vice president and director of operations with Keystone Associates, a career management company. "Set up small groups for support but make sure that it is an encouraging tone because you don't need to be around negative people."

• Take a class. Is there a skill that you lack or that might have previously held you back from advancement opportunities? In your free time, take a class that leads to professional credentials or technical proficiencies, Milligan says. It's an easy way to beef up your résumé and make yourself more marketable.

• Volunteer. Eighty-one percent of employers view volunteering as relevant work experience, according to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey. Roxanne Ravenel, a job-search coach, says volunteering gives people a sense of purpose and empowerment, which is critical to the self-esteem of job hunters who feel powerless after weeks or months of a fruitless job search.

"Volunteering gives job hunters the opportunity to meet decision-makers in their community to which they wouldn't otherwise have access," Ravenel says. Decision-makers get to see the job seeker in action, which helps them envision working with that person full time.

*Last name withheld.

Time Out

2008-12-05T17:17:00.000-08:00

Well, the contract with Cisco has ended unexpectedly, so I'm heading out on maternity leave to give birth to my first baby in February 2009. I'll be back online, and into recruiting around summertime 2009. Until then, hang in there in this scary economy and wish me luck!!!

Miss Recruiter

Cisco

2008-09-14T13:06:00.000-07:00

I have accepted a new role and started at Cisco's headquarters in San Jose. Thanks to everyone who has supported and encouraged my search for a new professional home!

Miss Recruiter

Miss Recruiter's 2nd Anniversary

2008-08-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

August 23rd marks the 2nd anniversary of my illustrious (not so much) recruiting blog, and I'm thrilled!! Thanks to those of you that pay attention to my random musings about mispronunciations of recruiting terms, silly videos, thoughts on how to be a responsibly green recruiter, and such. It's been fun!! Stay tuned for more...

Miss Recruiter

Seeking a New Gig

2008-07-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

I know, there are a million recruiters out there looking for work, but here are the top ten reasons to hire me as your new contract or full-time recruiter:

1. I know my stuff. Period.
2. At Affymetrix, I have closed 35 reqs in 5 months.
2. I have tons of energy!
3. I am pretty darn fun to work with, if I do say so myself...
4. People say I have a really great "phone voice".
5. I'm a networking pro.
6. I may be somewhat new to town, but I have networks in Texas, Research Triangle Park, Denver, and San Diego.
7. My significant other has been a recruiter in Silicon Valley for almost 10 years and knows everyone in town!
8. My mother was an English professor, and I have excellent grammar and writing skills. :)
9. I have a cool blog.
10. I have a really cute dog? I'm running out of reasons...

If you have interest in viewing my resume, feel free to contact me at meredithmanchack at yahoo dot com.

Thanks! Miss Recruiter

Miss Recruiter for President!

2008-07-15T17:18:00.000-07:00

Click for video...

Geeky Biotech Humor

2008-06-13T11:09:00.000-07:00

Boolean vs. Boullion

2008-06-09T09:40:00.000-07:00

I was in some sourcing training a couple of weeks ago, put on by a popular search engine, and could NOT take the trainer seriously because she kept calling 'boolean' (boo-lee-an) 'bouillon' (bull-yon), as in soup stock.

(On a non-recruiting-related note, 'nuclear' is not (nook-yul-er), it's (noo-klee-er)!)

Fellow recruiting pals... don't be that guy. It's BOO-LEE-AN.

Miss Recruiter

Cool Recruiting Tool...

2008-05-20T11:05:00.000-07:00

And actually just a fun tool, in general. Have you ever seen a resume, business card, or Linked In profile and thought... "hmmm, I wonder what gender that person is..."? Well, fret not - this is the tool for you!

Check this out - it's a gender guessing tool: http://www.gpeters.com/names/baby-names.php?name=teel

Here's what it says about my name:

It's a girl!
Based on popular usage, it is 2.377 times more common for Meredith to be a girl's name.
The popularity of Meredith is: 4.914 (where 0 = extremely rare, 6 = super popular)

Here's what it says about Sheridan's name:

It's a boy!
Based on popular usage, it is 1.634 times more common for Sheridan to be a boy's name.
The popularity of Sheridan is: 4.765 (where 0 = extremely rare, 6 = super popular)

RIGHT-O. So obviously the tool works, even for a somewhat androgynous name like Sheridan.

Try it sometime! Miss Recruiter

Green Recruiting

2008-04-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

So people that have worked alongside me *know* that I'm all about having as paperless of an office as possible. I never print resumes, unless I have to take one into a face-to-face interview with a candidate, and I usually police the printer to enforce this practice with my colleagues, too! (Just kidding... sort of.) Seriously, it is unnecessary to print out all the resumes of candidates for our reqs - that is so wasteful. And when colleagues give me documents, or candidates fax (Stone Ages, hello!) resumes to me, I freeze... I *know* what to do with electronic documents - but I have absolutely NO idea what to do with hard copies! Technically I do, but I'm stubborn about wanting a paperless office, so I just refuse to create a paper storage system in my cube.

As the daughter of a chemical engineer in the pulp and paper industry, who financed my childhood and most of college, I should probably keep my mouth shut about conserving paper products... however, my concern for the earth's resources, including TREES, beautiful trees!, comes first.

One trend I happened to notice at a couple of the job fairs I have attended lately and really like, is that candidates brought me resumes that were double-side printed. How great is that? First of all, it tickled my green bone, and second, the practice stood out to me as pretty progressive thinking. Hopefully in about a year or so, this is old news, but for now, I'm singing the praises of this practice, and asking all of those candidates out there to please consider this practice when printing your resumes for job fairs. Better yet - how about double-side printing on recycled paper... Now that's an idea!

And for the love of trees, recruiter friends, please stop printing resumes. I promise if you give it a shot, you'll get used to reading them on the screen.... Please consider it?

Miss Recruiter, aka Tree Hugger

VP, Molecular Diagnostics

2008-04-17T16:51:00.000-07:00

Affymetrix (AFFX) is a pioneer in creating breakthrough tools that are driving the genomic revolution. The vision, innovation, and devotion of Affymetrix employees help us empower scientists around the world to alleviate human suffering. It is not just the sheer power of GeneChip® technology that inspires us; it is the potential for it to help people.

The culture at Affymetrix is based on core values of innovation, excellence and integrity. Our employees create a highly energized, team-oriented work environment. We are an employer committed to supporting the aspirations and achievements of our employees and offer our employees a comprehensive, competitive program of benefits and a corporate culture based on core values of innovation, excellence and integrity.

VP, MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS

This individual acts as the leader and driver responsible for Affymetrix’s success in the molecular diagnostics market, and reports to SVP and Chief Marketing Officer.

Direct and matrix responsibilities include:

•Develop and lead the execution of the strategy, business plan, roadmap and executive dashboard for Affymetrix in the molecular diagnostics market

•Drive diagnostic partner programs, including securing target design wins, supporting partner development, executing commercialization programs, and business development of new and expanded partnerships

•Create high impact molecular diagnostics marketing programs including portfolio management, market & customer requirements, marketing programs, and sales support activities for partner and Affymetrix-branded products. Shared responsibility for product management with product management team

•Lead clinical services laboratory commercialization activities

•Drive lab test menu development leading to regulatory approvals as appropriate

•Manage technical support team handling priority diagnostic customers

•Define and deliver outstanding customer support required by clinical laboratories

•Team with regulatory affairs to ensure compliance with evolving regulatory standards.

•Serve as business lead for regulatory strategy development and actively participate in FDA meetings

•Extensive cross-organization teaming and leadership with Academic and Pharma market segment managers for synergy of continuous customer marketing from clinical research to mdx and product marketing managers to ensure mdx input to product development

•Develop high-performing team and outstanding business & people managers

•Serve as Affymetrix corporate spokesperson within the mdx industry

The following are key attributes required for the selection process:

•Minimum of 12+ years related experience in diagnostics and clinically-oriented research environment, preferably in the fields of product management, strategic marketing, sales, business development, project management, and/or clinical research

•Minimum of BS in life sciences required

•Advanced degree (MBA or PhD) with experience in molecular diagnostics industry preferred •Sales experience is a plus

•Exceptional ability to define, drive and commercialize new markets and new category products

•Outstanding communication skills inside and outside organization

•Highly effective cross-functional manager and influencer – able to work within a matrixed organization to achieve business outcomes across organization boundaries.

•High learning agility and strong self-starter and driver

To pursue this rewarding career opportunity with Affymetrix, please apply on our corporate website to requisition 3687(http://www.affymetrix.com/corporate/careers/careers.jsp).

**Affymetrix is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our commitment to a diverse workforce is demonstrated through all aspects of our hiring and employment practices.**

Affymetrix - My New Employer

2008-02-28T14:05:00.000-08:00

Affymetrix was just named one of the World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies. In the March 2008 issue, Fast Company Magazine ranked Affymetrix 13th, right alongside leading innovative brands like Google, Apple and Facebook. Affymetrix is the only life sciences company on the list and is ranked in front of companies like Disney, IBM and Boeing.

http://www.fastcompany.com/multimedia/slideshows/content/fast50_08.html?page=38

“Imagine going in for a half-hour doctor's visit and coming out with a treatment plan tailored to your unique genetic blueprint. That's the vision at Santa Clara, California-based Affymetrix, which makes lab tests that scan tissue samples for variations in thousands of genes…Now the race is on to develop tests for genetic predisposition to heart disease and the most common types of cancer.”

I'm excited to be a part of this innovative biotechnology organization and am busy assimilating myself to the company. If anyone has any suggestions on good places to network within the biotech industry, helpful associations or users groups that might be useful in my recruiting efforts, I welcome the input!

Mer

Recruiter Haikus

2008-02-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

Complements of Jack Perkins and Garrett Browning, respectively, of the SFrecruiters Yahoo! group. Hilarious! Miss Recruiter

Offer extended
Candidate ready to start
I love candidate

Offer extended
Candidate accepts counter
Maybe I kill him

Candidate’s wife tough
She has say in the matter
Frustrating woman

Search is going great
New contract recruiter starts
All my time wasted

Contract recruiter
Very territorial
Gone after three months

------------------

Contingency call:
“We are very different!”
Pigeons in the square.

Contingency call:
“We have perfect candidates!”
Carried on the breeze.

Contingency call:
“Do you like the candidate?”
Wild flowers blooming.

Update On The Job Search

2008-01-29T12:10:00.000-08:00

OK, so Sheridan (my amazingly talented and handsome rock star recruiter boyfriend) and I decided that it's time to take the leap, so it looks like I'm moving up to San Jose to pursue my personal and professional endeavours! With that, we are in the process of signing a lease for a gorgeous place in downtown San Jose and I should be up there in mid to late February.

So please amend the prior post to note that my job search is now SOLELY based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I'm seeking permanent/ full-time recruiting opportunities as well as contract and temporary projects in the technical and corporate recruiting space. If you have interest in speaking in regard to my background and experience, I welcome all inquiries. Again, I can be reached at meredithmanchack at YAHOO dot com and my resume is located here: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/res/555906282.html.

Thanks! Miss Recruiter

Seeking Contract Recruiting Opportunities

2008-01-23T10:09:00.000-08:00

Due to an unforeseen hiring freeze at my current employer, I am now seeking new contract recruiting opportunities in the San Diego area. I am a seasoned technical recruiter with over 8 years of experience in the recruiting field. At Fair Isaac, I have been recruiting software engineers, technical project managers and BSAs, networking folks, and other technical professionals. Throughout my career I have recruited for all types of professionals, including financial, sales, hardware and telecom engineers, and biotech and clinical professionals.

Please forward along any recruiting inquiries to meredithmanchack at yahoo dot com. I look forward to discussing further how I can help your team grow it's engineering and technical teams!

Miss Recruiter

Job Searching Through the Holidays?

2007-12-13T14:04:00.000-08:00

I know that everyone thinks that employers don't hire throughout the holidays, but let me tell you how WRONG that is! I've been a recruiter for over 8 years now, and every year I expect for business to slow down during the holidays and EVERY YEAR I'm surprised. Maybe next year I'll remind myself of this blog post...

So for those of you that are seeking work - now is a great time to submit resumes for review, get hiring managers and recruiters on the phone, and set roots in place for your job search. Right now, I'm posting positions on job boards with the intentions of coming back January 3rd and having some great candidates from whom to choose!

And meanwhile, I have placed two engineers *this week* - so don't let anyone tell you that companies don't hire during the holidays - it's simply not true!

Happy holidays and good luck with your job searches!

Miss Recruiter

Plaxo

2007-11-29T09:55:00.000-08:00

So I just got invited to a networking tool called Plaxo - http://www.plaxo.com/. I'm not quite sure what to expect from this - is it a networking tool, information storing site, potential recruiting tool? If anyone out there has any information to share about your experience with Plaxo, I'd love to hear it!!

Miss Recruiter

Mission Statement

2007-11-16T12:51:00.000-08:00

I will take action to improve my skills as an HR professional to improve processes and efficacy for hiring and provide value to the staffing process for my client while using my innate client focus and keen perceptivity of human behavior in order to hire quality technical professionals. Eventually, I will successfully become a top independent recruiting professional in California and nationwide.

------------------------

I went to a professional development event this morning and we went through an exercise to determine our future professional goals and mission statement; this is what I created. Whatcha think?

Miss Recruiter

Wherefore Art Thou, .NET Architect???

2007-10-31T14:24:00.000-07:00

Fair Isaac Corporation is looking for Senior Software Engineer and Architect in NORCROSS, GEORGIA that has hands-on experience with the .NET platform, has demonstrated leadership abilities and a proven track record of successfully delivering enterprise-grade ecommerce solutions. This position will be involved in multiple aspects of the development process and must have the skills and desire to play a variety of roles and communicate effectively with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities:

•Provide senior-level application architectural leadership within a fast paced organization following a variant of the Unified Process (OpenUP). This will involve early-phase requirement assessments, prototyping, level-of-effort estimation, and Technical Designs that lead to the production of application architectures that maximize processing efficiency, security and component reuse.
•Provide senior-level technical leadership to teams of application engineers. Will champion new solutions and approaches and guide successful technical adoption through mentoring, instruction, and by actively participating in software development projects.
•Be involved with hands-on development of proof-of-concepts and prototypes during the elaboration phase and actual development of the product during the construction phase.
•Collaborate with business associates at multiple levels to gain in-depth information of critical success factors, to translate complex technical solutions into easily understood business terms, and to provide intelligent analysis of various prospective solutions including cost/benefit/risk analysis.
•Collaborate with technical associates at multiple levels and occasionally with clients or partners in an effort to gain in-depth understanding of technical requirements and priorities and to build successful lasting relationships.

Experience/Qualifications :

• Senior-level Microsoft technical depth and design pattern knowledge
• Bachelors degree or higher in computer science or related discipline
• Motivated individual with proven track record of on-time delivery
• 10+ years of increasing responsibilities in software development
• 5+ years in senior architect role or equivalent
• Experience developing secure ecommerce projects
• Experience in designing Service Oriented Architectures
• Experience deploying composite applications leveraging reusable components
• Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills
• Extensive experience in detailed software design, coding, unit testing, integration, documentation, and build management following a structured development methodology• Deep knowledge of Microsoft .NET framework
• Experience with relational database development using MS SQL server, stored procedures and competencies in data modeling and database design
• Experience with XML, XSL, XSLT, and Web Service Standards, i.e. WS-*
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to communicate at technical and non-technical levels
• Thorough understanding of basic Internet protocols such as HTTP, SMTP, SOAP, POP, SSL• Versatility in handling multiple projects and re-prioritizations

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct architectural experience and deep understanding of Microsoft BizTalk or equivalent workflow process engine.
• Financial, mortgage, insurance or collections & recovery industry background
• Experience dealing with offshore teams
• Experience with playing the Architect role in the Unified Process
• Experience with multiple platforms and technologies
• Deep understanding of cryptography and securing customer data
• Deep understanding of Web Application and Network Security standards and best practices, able to demonstrate common hacking techniques
• Familiarity with operational requirements of ASP solutions business models; experience bringing software to 7x24 execution environments and embedding various system health monitors and activity status notification mechanisms
• Microsoft certificationPeople are our most important asset and what makes us successful.

Please apply today on-line to requisition number 3228 at http://www.fairisaac.com/.

Fair Isaac is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Really Geeky Birthday Cake

2007-10-26T20:34:00.000-07:00

I just came across this funny birthday cake on the LA Java Users Group and thought I'd share it with you. This is the perfect party accessory for your favorite computer dork! :)

Enjoy! Miss Recruiter

Fair Isaac - MarCom Analyst (Internal Communications)

2007-10-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

Working for FAIR ISAAC will be the best decision you’ll ever make.Fair Isaac’s powerful and intelligent software helps companies make better decisions every day.Discover the benefits of working for Fair Isaac:

•New direction, growth and advancement opportunities

•Excellent compensation and benefits package (featuring: one week of vacation accrual upon hire, most benefit plan eligibility begins on 1st day of employment, flexible work schedules, 401k with company match, excellent tuition reimbursement plan)

•Dynamic and energetic environment

•Global company

•Innovative and diverse products and technology touching many different industries

•Commitment to teamwork, offering challenges and the opportunity to innovate

Consider joining other talented individuals where your contributions make an impact in the role of Lead Analyst within our ITO business unit, located in our Minneapolis office.

The Lead Analyst will primarily take direction from the Director of Business Unit Operations and will have overall responsibility for developing, implementing and managing the internal communications plan across the Integrated Technology Organization (ITO) business unit. This unit is comprised of the software development, product support and IT groups within Fair Isaac.

Major areas of responsibility:

•Develop and implement communications strategy
•Develop and deliver written ITO-related communications to a global employee audience ranging from individual contributors to executives in both formal and informal settings
•Develop and maintain strong relationships with ITO managers to understand and support business needs across the business unit
•Develop and maintain an understanding of key processes, disciplines and organizations across Fair Isaac and within the ITO to effectively communicate with end-users and management
•Deliver written communications often under tight timelines and deadlines (i.e. “point-in-time” communications such as critical notifications, one time outage and deployment messages)
•Act as consultative support to assist ITO leadership and teams in determining best practices for communications and to provide a clear understanding of standard operating procedures
•Ensure ITO intranet web pages are accurate and provide necessary and appropriate information, messaging and branding
•Create process to facilitate communication requests from multiple managers and teams
•Develop methods for communicating key performance indicators to our business constituents and contribute to scorecard efforts to provide appropriate detail on improvements
•Lead and assist in efforts to uncover information such as research, surveys and reports that will aid us in understanding the needs of our employees
•Understand the needs of the intended audience and tailor communications as appropriate
•Deliver clear, effective messages that elicit appropriate client reaction/action
•Deliver regular, reoccurring communications such as monthly Core Values updates, weekly key initiatives communications
•Utilize understanding of basic information technology concepts in order to communicate messages through appropriate media
•Facilitate meetings to drive forward the ITO communication plan
•Prepare presentations for ITO leadership regarding the ITO communication plan

Requirements:
•Bachelor’s degree in business, journalism, marketing communications or related discipline or equivalent work experience.
•5+ years experience in professional communications (3+ years experience within an IT or SW development organization/function)
•Excellent verbal/written communication skills and presentation abilities
•Proficiency with various communications tools including SharePoint
•Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills
•Ability to work with all levels of management within a matrix-management structure

Preferred Qualifications:
•Demonstrated project management skills
•Prior experience with project-related and change-readiness communications
•Demonstrated problem analysis and solution recommendation capabilities

People are our most important asset and what makes us successful. With you, we can make a difference in the markets we serve. Apply today on-line to requisition number 3316 at http://www.fairisaac.com/.

FI is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Laid Off? So What?

2007-10-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

I think all of us have been laid off at some point. Here are some tips on how to approach discussing such events at your next job interview... Miss Recruiter

How to Explain a Layoff at Every Stage of the Job Search

By Margaret Steen

Layoffs may now be routine in corporate America, but if you're unlucky enough to be left holding a pink slip, you probably have lots of worries. Among them: How will I explain this during future job hunts?

It's true that your layoff and the gap on your resume will probably come up, not just during the initial job search right after the layoff, but also during future job hunts. But it doesn't have to derail your search. The key, experts say, is to be honest about the layoff but to focus your communication with potential employers on what you can do for their company, rather than on your past. And when the layoff comes up, make sure you talk about what you accomplished during your time off.

Here's how to achieve these goals at all stages of the job hunt, in writing and in person:

Resumes and Cover Letters. Most career experts say you shouldn't mention a layoff at all in a cover letter.

"A cover letter is strictly to market yourself," says Marianne Adoradio, a career counselor in Silicon Valley. "'Here's what you're looking for, here's what I bring.'"

On a resume, you shouldn't say you were laid off, but you should try to account for any substantial amount of time you were out of work. Never try to bridge the gap between two jobs by using the wrong beginning or ending dates. Instead, focus on what you accomplished while you were out of work. Did you take a class? Do consulting work? Work as a volunteer?

On the whole, the less said in writing about a layoff, the better.

"Paper is two-dimensional," says John Haag, a career counselor at the University of Denver Career Center. "Face to face is a whole lot better."

Networking and Interviews. Face-to-face communication is critical, both in informal conversations with people while networking and in formal job interviews. This is where questions about your layoff will likely come up, and you need to be prepared with two answers: one about why you left your job, and one about what you did during the time you were unemployed.

"If it's the first time it happened to you, it's going to feel awful," says Libby Pannwitt, a career counselor and principal of Work Life Design Group in San Carlos, California. "You need to get over it and find the right words to talk about it wherein there were no bad guys."

The best strategy, Pannwitt says, is to craft a very short, matter-of-fact phrase: "I left in the layoff of 2002," for example.

In an informal networking conversation, discuss the layoff only if asked. Haag says the conversation will get off to a bad start if you open with, "I'm looking for work, I've been laid off." Instead, begin by asking intelligent questions and making a good impression on the other person.

"When it does come time for the person to ask you some questions, be forthright," Haag says. And don't use a "half-apologetic tone," he says. By that time you will have impressed your listeners with your interest in their work, and they won't care whether you were laid off.

Finally, be certain you're answering the right question. For example, Pannwitt says, if an interviewer asks "Why do you want to work here," your answer should be about how much you like the company and the job, not that you need work because you were laid off. "That isn't going to make the employer feel very good."

Recruiter Roundtable: Fashion, Grooming Tips

2007-10-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

Recruiter Roundtable: Fashion, Grooming Tips
Yahoo! HotJobs

The Recruiter Roundtable is a monthly feature that collects career and job-seeking advice from a group of recruiting experts throughout the United States. The question we put before our panel this month is:

What is the one piece of fashion and/or grooming advice you wish more candidates would heed before going on an interview?

Get the Details Right

The night before the interview, lay out your wardrobe to make sure everything fits, is free of wrinkles and is current with today's styles. Also take the time to polish your shoes. While this may sound minor, showing up with scuffed shoes may signal to the employer you lack attention to detail. Finally, remember that the interview is not your time to make a fashion statement, so avoid tight clothing, limit your jewelry, and go easy on fragrances. The interview is your opportunity to show hiring managers how talented you are, and maintaining proper appearance will ensure they focus on your abilities rather than your attire.

-- DeLynn Senna, executive director of North American permanent placement services, Robert Half International

Accessorize With Mints

I wish more candidates would take a strong breath mint before their interviews. It may sound silly, but you would be surprised how distracting bad breath can be during an interview! Gum also works, but remember to discard your gum BEFORE the interview.

-- Bob Hancock, independent staffing consultant

What Are Your Revealing?

Look in the mirror: If too much is showing, don't wear it! While low-cut blouses or shirts are in fashion, most are inappropriate for the workplace, including the initial interview. The interviewer could possibly be distracted by the inappropriateness of the candidate's attire and therefore not focused 100% on the interview. This is unfortunate for both parties; the candidate may not be getting the positive reaction to answers they want, and the interviewer may be less apt to probe for the information they need to make a solid hiring decision.

-- Joelle Thies, staffing specialist recruiter, Wells Fargo

The Smell of Success Is Scent-Free

If your perfume or cologne enters the room before you do, chances are your scent may be interfering with your chances of landing the job. You'll see subtle signs from the interviewer -- he'll lean away from you, she'll wrinkle her nose or open a window. If someone on the interview team has allergies or asthma, and if you're meeting with them in a small room, your strong scent will be just the excuse they need to leave the room quickly, without them getting a chance to hear the details about the brilliant marketing campaign you developed at your last company.
The focus during the interview -- and afterward when the interview team gets together to discuss your interview -- should be on your accomplishments, abilities, and why you're the right person for the job. So keep it scent-free.

-- Cheryl Ferguson, recruiter, The Recruiter's Studio

How NOT to Interview for a New Position

2007-08-31T09:41:00.000-07:00

Seeking New Contract Opportunities

2007-08-10T13:47:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Blue Oasis Technologies is moving in a new direction, and my recruiting services are no longer necessary. I'm seeking new professional opportunities, particularly in the area of contract recruiting projects. After some time off, I plan to return to work in late September or early October 2007.

I possess over 8 years of technical recruiting experience, primarily in the telecommunications and engineering space. My current recruiting focus is software engineering and most niches within the IT space. In addition to these areas of expertise, I have also recruited biotech, financial, electronics, sales, and civil engineering professionals throughout her career. I am currently seeking contract and permanent technical recruiting roles and will be available for interviews immediately.

If anyone has any interesting opportunities for me to review, please get in touch at meredithmanchack AT yahoo DOT com. Thanks, in advance, for your consideration of my candidature.

Miss Recruiter

QA Engineer

2007-08-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is currently seeking a full-time, permanent resource to join the staff of our client. We are seeking an energetic, sharp, well-spoken individual to join a team of stellar engineers at a small, venture-backed startup in La Jolla. In addition to learning valuable skills in QA and perhaps launching a successful career in software QA, the successful candidate will be exposed to new tools such as Ruby on Rails and other cutting edge technologies.

*Participates in the creation, preparation, and conduct of quality assurance reviews and the development and execution of test plans and test scripts.
*Works with clients to establish and maintain a consistent test methodology and to resolve general questions during the testing process.
*Analyzes, tests, and certifies application-specific software and performs ambiguity reviews of business requirements and functional specification documents.
*Uses functional knowledge of applications to provide technical assistance in identifying, evaluating, and resolving basic test problems.
*Logs, tracks, and verifies resolution of software and specification defects.
*Documents all phases of QA process.

Required Experience:

*We're open to recent college grads with 1-3 years of test experience.
*Great communicators with excellent multi-tasking ability as well as strong work ethics is a must.
*Web application skills preferable and we are open to training individuals.

If interested in pursuing this exciting opportunity, please APPLY NOW!

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Java Developer

2007-08-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is a software development company in San Diego, California that provides outsourced solutions to technology companies, as well as recruiting of qualified consultants and placement of permanent employees in the areas of software development, DBAs and database development, QA, project management, and network/ internet security professionals.

We are currently recruiting for a Senior Java Developer to perform a consulting project with our client company. Responsibilities include:

Duties:

* Creates user information solutions by developing, implementing, and maintaining Java based components and interfaces.

* Defines site objectives by analyzing user requirements; envisioning system features and functionality.

* Designs and develops user interfaces to internet/intranet applications by setting expectations and features priorities throughout development life cycle; determining design methodologies and tool sets; completing programming using languages and software products; designing and conducting tests.

* Recommends system solutions by comparing advantages and disadvantages of custom development and purchase alternatives.

* Integrates applications by designing database architecture and server scripting; studying and establishing connectivity with network systems, search engines, and information servers.

* Creates multimedia applications by using authoring tools.

* Completes applications development by coordinating requirements, schedules, and activities; contributing to team meetings; troubleshooting development and production problems across multiple environments and operating platforms.

* Supports users by developing documentation and assistance tools.

* Updates job knowledge by researching new internet/intranet technologies and software products; participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.

* Enhances organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.

To be considered for this consulting project, please APPLY NOW at careers at blueoasistech dot com. Thanks!

Miss Recruiter

RoR Developer

2007-07-26T12:19:00.001-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is seeking a Ruby on Rails Developer for our client in the north San Diego area. This is a permanent, full-time opportunity with a local venture-backed startup. Our client is seeking a SUPERSTAR in MySQL, PHP, Apache, CSS and most importantly, Ruby on Rails. The winning candidate will be a part of great, small group of engineers in a startup environment that utilizes cutting edge technology!

RESPONSIBLITIES:

•Programming on Linux, using a mixture of Ruby on Rails, Perl, and PHP.
•Help build internal and customer-facing web-based applications to manage network.
•Design, build, and enhance: content management, scheduling, reporting, analytics and content distribution infrastructure.
• Provide web-based access to above systems for both internal and external use with an appropriate access control model across system.
• Involved in the system end-to-end: requirements definition, data modeling, network and database infrastructure, website development, and more.

REQUIREMENTS:

• MUST KNOW: Ruby on Rails
• 4+ years as Web Applications engineer.
• 3+ years in database design and data modeling (MySQL focus preferred)

PREFERRED:

• Cross-browser knowledge and experience.
• Perl, PHP.
• Experience with the following industries: advertising, interactive entertainment, media, or retail.
• BS or MS in Computer Science.

If you wish to be considered for this exciting opportunity, please apply now at careers at blueoasistech dot com. Thank you!

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Applications Developer - C#, ASP.NET

2007-07-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is currently seeking a software developer for a full-time, permanent with a financial services firm in downtown San Diego. This role will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and integration applications for the firm.

Job Duties:

•Participate as a key developer on projects initiatives for portfolio management and trading.
•Evaluate and scope system enhancement requests.
•Participate in the analysis and design of new features with other application developers.
•Write technical specifications based on business requirements.
•Enhance and integrate internally developed and purchased applications.
•Perform thorough unit tests of application changes.
•Provide a high degree of communication with business analysts, developers and management on project and task status.

Qualifications:

•MS SQL \Server database knowledge.
•Familiar with Microsoft Reporting Services
•Knowledge of C#, ASP.NET.
•BA/BS degree in Computer Science or related technical field.
•Systems building experience.
•Excellent teamwork skills.
•Dependable and focused on quality.
•Good oral and written communication skills.
•Ability to work in a fast paced, changing environment.
•Knowledge and experience in institutional investments preferable.
•UNIX, Java, HTML, XML, Sharepoint and Perl skills a plus.

To be considered for this role with our client company, please apply now!

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Google Job Search Tips

2007-07-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for a new job, check out this cool video on tips for finding job openings outside the large job boards. You'll find more internal job postings and openings that are harder to find with just a little bit of work. If you're serious about finding a new job, this method will help you unearth more opportunities to pursue!

I hope you find this helpful. Miss Recruiter

Resume Help

2007-07-06T16:20:00.000-07:00

As a recruiter, I see some pretty tragic resumes. At one job, our recruiting team had a resume wall of shame - those with photos on them, that listed silly personal habits, suggestive email addresses, and more. I mean seriously, I've seen it ALL!

It is a personal interest of mine to rid the world of crappy resumes, one job seeker at a time!!! I personally think that the simplest format is always the best - it's able to get scanned through applicant tracking systems easily, and flows more easily for recruiters that fly through resumes (like me). Trust me, a good resume will take you much further, even with the same experience, skills, personality, or *whatever*, than one that reads or flows poorly!!

In the quest to enlighten my good readers and for future friends/ colleagues/ acquaintances that need assistance with putting together a resume, I have developed a simple template that might get you started. This easy format allows one to just add the content of your professional experience, and VOILA!

For those non-technical types, just negate the TOOLS, HARDWARE, and OS sections, but for you techies - laying out your experience in these sections is very helpful for recruiters. However, don't forget to list which tools you used in each position - that's very important!

And a new don'ts for building the perfect resume:

Never use the first person, e.g. I, me, myself, in your resume.
No photos!
Be sparing and choosy if you choose your personal interests, and if you do, list it LAST on the resume (I actually got my first job out of college because of something personal I listed on my resume, so I'm careful to coach against it, but honestly, I always look at personal interests and think "who cares?")
No personal information like age, marital status, parental status, etc.
Don't leave huge gaps in your resume; if there are gaps in your employment, perhaps adding in a line regarding your purpose for the gap would be helpful (such as personal sabbatical, medical leave, went back to school, etc.)
DO NOT list an unprofessional email address - misskitty1981@yahoo is totally unacceptable. Create a new one for your job search if your primary address is similar to the aforementioned.
Don't lie about your professional and educational achievements!

I hope you find this helpful, and if you have any input/ questions/ feedback regarding my template, I welcome it.

Good luck and happy job hunting! Miss Recruiter

Name

Address

City, State Zip

Mobile Number

Email Address

Website/ Blog address

OBJECTIVE

What kind of position are you seeking, what industry do you want to target, which professional skills do you want to utilize in your next job?

EXPERTISE

(Example) Perl, MySQL, Linux, Apache, Mason, XML, XSL, HTML, JavaScript, Java, MS C++, ASP, 8086 Assembly, Fortran, COBOL, network firewall and hack-proof server installation and configuration, and automatic mass website building.

Specialty: Web applications development for e-commerce businesses.

EXPERIENCE

Company – City, State TAB Month, Year – Month, Year

Title/Position

•Responsibilities, experience, and skills/ tools used; repeat as necessary

Company – City, State TAB Month, Year – Month, Year

Title/Position

•Responsibilities, experience, and skills/ tools used; repeat as necessary

*Repeat employers as necessary

EDUCATION / AFFILIATIONS / CERTIFICATIONS/ AWARDS

•College Name, Year - Degree

•Feel free to expand on classes taken which contribute to your repertoire of skills

•You might want to add organizations in which you participating

•Only add your GPA if it's about about a 3.2 or higher (that's my personal opinion)

*Repeat schools as necessary, including study abroad experiences

•School, Education institution, Vendor, Year

• Certification or other info on education/training

•Adapt as needed for security clearances, etc

TOOLS EXPERIENCE

•List of applications and software tools experience if applicable – usually most appropriate for developers, DBAs, QA candidates. Project managers might list MS project, etc. Management positions may or may not find this applicable

•Put logically associated software on a separate bullet – like all QA tools on one, Project management tools on another, etc.

HARDWARE EXPERIENCE

•List of hardware experience if applicable – usually appropriate for systems engineers, systems administrators, network/security administrator candidates

•Put logically associated hardware on a separate bullet – like all network type systems on one, servers on another – or maybe firewalls utilized on one, Network scanners on another, etc.

OPERATING SYSTEM EXPERIENCE

•List of OS’s used if applicable for technical candidates – usually not needed for managers, etc.

PUBLICATIONS

•If applicable.

Happy Birthday, America!

2007-07-03T16:09:00.000-07:00

I hope all of you and your families have a wonderful Fourth of July celebration. Be safe and have a great time!

Meanwhile, does anyone know any intermediate to advanced QA consultants that are looking for new career opportunities? Blue Oasis Technologies will pay referral bonuses for any candidates that we're able to hire - please inquire for further details.

Again, happy July 4th!

Miss Recruiter

Seeking Business Systems Analyst

2007-06-20T11:42:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is currently recruiting for a Business Systems Analyst for a major client of ours. This 6 month contract opportunity is likely to be extended for the candidate doing an exceptional job. This role entails solving organizational information problems and requirements by analyzing requirements, performing process improvement, systems analysis, working with the project management and development teams to ensure the best standard practices for IT operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

* Determines operational objectives by studying business functions; gathering information; evaluating output requirements and formats.
* Designs new computer programs by analyzing requirements; constructing workflow charts and diagrams; studying system capabilities; writing specifications.
* Improves systems by studying current practices; designing modifications.
* Recommends controls by identifying problems; writing improved procedures.
* Defines project requirements by identifying project milestones, phases, and elements; forming project team; establishing project budget.
* Monitors project progress by tracking activity; resolving problems; publishing progress reports; recommending actions.
* Maintains system protocols by writing and updating procedures.
* Provides references for users by writing and maintaining user documentation; providing help desk support; training users.
* Maintains user confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
* Prepares technical reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends.
* Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; benchmarking state-of-the-art practices; participating in professional societies.
* Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

Software Design, Software Documentation, Software Development Process, Software Requirements, Analyzing Information, Teamwork, Software Maintenance, Written Communication, Promoting Process Improvement, Project Management

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor of Science Degree in CS or technical area preferred

To be considered for this opportunity with a stellar company in north San Diego, please apply now at careers AT blueoasistech DOT com. Thanks!

Blue Oasis Technologies in an Equal Opportunity Employer.

ASP.NET Developers - Please Apply ASAP!

2007-06-20T11:08:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is seeking an ASP.NET consultant for a major client of ours in the north San Diego area. This project should last about 6 months, but has a high likelihood of extension. We would like to review resumes of candidates with 3+ years of experience with ASP.NET; senior candidates will also be considered.

Blue Oasis Technologies is a software development company in San Diego, California that provides outsourced solutions to technology companies, as well as recruiting of qualified consultants and placement of permanent employees in the areas of software development, DBAs and database development, QA, project management, and network/ internet security professionals.

If you wish to be considered for this opportunity, please APPLY NOW!

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Software QA Engineers

2007-06-18T15:50:00.001-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies currently has 3 contract openings for Software QA Testers - 2 are contract positions for intermediate to advanced QA consultants, and one is a permanent, full-time placement with our client, for a junior level engineer. These resources will be responsible for evaluating software by planning and executing performance and functional tests.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Determines test objectives and standards by studying software requirements; writing test cycle plans, test cases, and test scripts.
* Meets test objectives by determining testing methods, cycles, phases, and conditions; setting up testing environment and equipment.
* Identifies software capability and reliability by conducting functional, system, and performance tests.
* Resolves testing problems by modifying testing methods during tests; conferring with management to revise test objectives and standards.
* Completes tests by training and directing testers.
* Maintains testing database by developing defect tracking and regression testing information requirements; designing information system; enters test outcomes; secures data.
* Reports test outcomes by collecting, analyzing, interpreting, summarizing, and displaying data; recommending software changes.
* Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
* Maintains test environment by developing test environement; enforcing and complying with procedures, rules, and regulations.
* Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Automated Testing, Developing Standards, Black Box Testing, White Box Testing, Reporting Research Results, Software Debugging, Software Testing, Software Quality Assurance Process, Attention to Detail, Process Improvement

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

BS Computer Science or related field

Should you be interested and qualified for the aforementioned opportunities with Blue Oasis Technologies, please APPLY NOW at careers at blueoasistech dot com.

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Software Engineers - Java, C, C++, HTML, SQL

2007-06-13T11:11:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is recruiting for Software Engineers for a major technical company in San Diego. We are seeking individuals with 3-10+ years of experience in the following areas: C++, Java, HTML, JavaScript, SML, SQL, and application servers. For the higher end openings, experience with mentoring others, leading groups, and participating in the hiring of team members will also be included.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Designs and maintains the company’s software products according to design specifications.
Modifies existing software to enhance system and meet customer’s future needs.
Provides technical support to end-user. Troubleshoots, identifies and resolves problems.
Proposes resource requirements and detailed schedules for completion of assigned projects.
Assist quality control test designer in designing and reviewing test plans for the software.
Participates in team-oriented documentation, design, review and implementation of new software features and resolve existing problems.

EDUCATION & REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent experience with a proven ability to support and develop software programs.
Proven ability to read and understand technical specification documents, advanced software systems, and write clear technical documentation.
Demonstrated ability to follow and apply standard procedures on advanced software engineering tasks with a thorough knowledge of Windows, Windows NT and UNIX operating systems and one of the following languages: JAVA, HTML, HTTP, Javascript, or XML
Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
Ability to organize and schedule work phases. May work independently or as a member of a project team.
Good interpersonal and analytical skills.
Professional demeanor.

To be considered for these full-time, permanent positions with our client, please apply immediately via monster.com or directly at careers at blueoasistech dot com.

Seeking Another SQL Developer!

2007-06-13T11:10:00.001-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is seeking a SQL development consultant for a major player in the financial services industry. This contract will last 3 months with a possible extension.

Duties/Responsibilities:

SQL Server development, stored procedure creation, assistance with datawarehousing ETL processes, reporting development
Enhance and maintain SQL Analysis Services OLAP Cubes.

Required Expertise:

Microsoft SQL Server development and administration including stored procedures
Knowledge of SQL Server Reporting Services design and administration.
Knowledge of .NET is a plus
Financial Services background is a plus.
Strong communication skills.
Self starter, self motivated individual

Preferred Expertise:

SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services or related reporting development/publishing tools (Actuate, Crystal, etc)
SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services or related OLAP experience
Datawarehousing/ETL/Business Intelligence experience

To be considered for this opportunity, please apply immediately!

Blue Oasis is an Equal Opportunity Employer and offers generous outside referral bonuses if you can recommend a candidate whom we hire... please inquire about details with Miss Recruiter!

Senior Product Manager - Full-time, Term Opening

2007-06-13T11:09:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is currently seeking a Senior Product Manager for a full-time, permanent requisition for our client in San Diego. This role will be involved in the full life cycle of product development - planning through implementation. This role includes managing the creation of business plans, ensuring profitability goals, product planning and positioning, and ensuring customer readiness. This leader will manage cross-functional teams and to ensure successful development, release, and enhancement of products, as well as driving product driven P&L.

This position does require up to 30% travel. It also requires a proven track record in bringing new products to market as well as evolving existing products via multiple product release cycles. The winning candidate will a strong leader with great team building/ playing skills, and possess a very strong business acumen and decision-making ability. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, as well as superior analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities:

Manage the entire product life cycle from strategic planning to tactical activities
Specify market requirements for current and future products by conducting market research supported by on-going visits to customers and non-customers
Drive the development, positioning and go-to-market plan for information capture products
Conduct competitive analysis and ongoing competitive and market landscape tracking activities
Determine appropriate pricing, promotion and placement for the products and manage cross-functional teams (sales, operations, marketing, professional services, etc.) in the execution of these programs
Work closely with development, operations, professional services and marketing teams to plan and execute the product management strategy and programs
Evaluate system requirements for existing and new solutions
Evaluate potential third party solutions and work with vendors
Coordinate with marketing in creating or updating of marketing materials (white papers, articles, technical presentations, proposals, self running demos, etc), ensuring foundation positioning and messaging are appropriately integrated.
Meet and present to industry analysts on features and capabilities
Provide training for sales, presales and implementation staff for releases
Other duties as assigned

Education and Other Requirements:

Undergraduate degree in engineering or computer science with equivalent business experience, MBA preferred
6+ years enterprise product management experience for a software or service technology company.
Product management experience with Information/Document Capture, Content Management (ECM) or Scanning Services products is a definite plus

To be considered for this great opportunity with a reputable technology company, please apply immediately via monster.com or directly at careers at blueoasistech dot com.

Blue Oasis is an Equal Opportunity Employer and offers generous outside referral bonuses if you can recommend a candidate whom we hire... please inquire about details with Miss Recruiter!

Miss Recruiter's Guide to Your Job Search

2007-05-30T17:02:00.000-07:00

I just put this together today for a friend, and think that most professionals can use this as a guide to your job search. If anyone has input or suggestions regarding this list, please contact me at mmanchack at blueoasistech dot com.

Step One – Planning and Preparation

Do you want to live and work in another city?
Determine your career path – you want to get into consulting, management, etc?
Identify potential yellow flags (regarding yourself, the company, AND making a professional move) and determine how to approach them
Determine unique selling points about yourself
Determine industry/ companies that interest you
Determine who your references are going to be and alert them that you’re looking
Is it important to be able to telecommute? Work in an office?
Think about issues such as your preferred company size, corporate culture, management style, employee empowerment, and other issues of importance to you

Step Two – Resume and Cover Letters

No personal pronouns – I, me, we
It’s best to personalize your cover letter to each position you’re pursuing; it’s helpful to display knowledge of the company
Same with the resume – for different jobs, make sure to refresh your resume to ensure required qualifications are highlighted
Never say anything negative in your cover letter, and figure out a way to spin your challenges or complaints with prior jobs
Cover letter should only be one page and not rehash resume, but add valuable and critical points
Make sure resume includes a section of ‘key accomplishments’ or ‘summary of qualifications’
Show resume drafts to as many people as possible -- family, professors, career experts, former employers, etc. -- and ask for their feedback.
In the cover letter, don’t forget to request an interview!

Step Three – Job Search Options

Online:

The most effective way to find job postings is to visit the websites of the companies you’re targeting – check there first!
Make sure to search job boards as well as post your resume there (take your address off, but keep email address, city/ zip, and phone number)
Use search agents on job boards – they email you openings daily that match your qualifications

*Indeed.com is the BEST for this purpose – it collects postings from many different sites and emails them to you daily

Good job boards to post your resume:

Monster

Career Builder

Executive sites, like theladders.com

Craigslist.org in the city you want to target

Yahoo Hot Jobs

Jobing.com

FlipDog.com

CareerShop.com

Don’t forget to look for industry or skill-specific job sites, as well
Look at user groups on Google, MSN, and Yahoo to see if there are any e-groups that might help you in your search

Networking:

Gather key list of contacts within industry to touch base
Look at organizations that might facilitate your job search
Networking events – industry specific events, young professionals groups, alumni association meetings, etc.
Get in touch with your career services group from schools and let them know you’re looking for leads

Step Four – Interviewing

Research company you’re visiting thoroughly
Prepare questions that arose during step one regarding culture, benefits, etc.
Prepare answers to the questions you think you might be asked
Obviously, wear a suit every single interview, no matter their dress code
Be aware that you might be subjected to a behavioral interview, not just a conversation about your technical skills
Prepare a closing that expresses your desire to pursue the opportunity further, and that inquires about the next steps of the process

Step Five - Follow up and Management of Search

Of course, send thank you notes after every interview, even if you don’t plan to pursue the opportunity
Develop system for keeping track of my contacts, interviews, and other job-search activities (spreadsheet, notebook, folder in Explorer, etc.)
Make sure to keep your networking contact informed regarding the status of your search, if anything changes
If you don’t hear back from a recruiter or hiring manager, call them to follow up – be proactive!

C/ C++/ Java Developer

2007-05-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is currently seeking a C/ C++ developer for a 5 month project with a major employer in Rancho Bernardo. The position entails enhancing an existing product written in JAVA to expand its GUI capabilities and to participate in the testing of the overall product. It is important to have JAVA and C/C++ coding experience along with experience with developing application level software for Windows 2003 and Linux systems.

Responsibilities:

Involvement in the analysis, design, programming, and modifications for software products and/or customer applications.

Writing code and completes programming, testing, and debugging of applications.

Finalizing forms, procedures, and documentation needed for installation and maintenance of application programs.

Interfacing with marketing and customers to add new or custom features to company products.

May use a wide range of disciplines such as distributed networking and databases, communications, and multiprocessing applications.

May be involved in the development/support of BIOS, drivers or system software and tools such as ICE, soft-ICE, and kernel debugger.

Requirements:

Requires background in software engineering including analysis, design, implementation and verification.

Degree in computer science, and 2 to 4 years related experience.

Requires familiarity with many of these technologies: DOS/Windows, OS/2, 32-bit Windows Programming, OLE Automation and OLE Control, Win32 Windows Device Drivers, Windows NT, C++, Assembler, GUI, Java, Java Script, HTML, DHTML, Active Server Pages, OLE DB, DCOM, and ActiveX.

To apply for this exciting consulting project, please apply now!

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Junior QA Engineer

2007-05-14T17:29:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is currently seeking a junior level QA test engineer that will help test web-based applications being developed in a small, venture-backed client based in La Jolla. We are seeking a sharp individual that has interest in growing with a company and is seeking a junior engineering position. One year of applicable experience is desired, but new grads may be considered.

If you are interested and qualified in this type of role or know someone that might be, please get in touch at mmanchack at blueoasistech dot com.

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SQL Developers - Apply Here!!

2007-05-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is currently seeking 3 SQL developers for 6 month consulting projects with a major financial services company in Carmel Valley.

We are seeking TWO intermediate SQL developers with an understanding of Data Warehousing, ETL and stored procedure development. Experience in the financial services industry is preferred.

The third developer will be require OLAP experience to assist the database development team. This opportunity requires Business Intelligence experience along with the relevant OLAP cube and ETL processes.

If you are qualified for the aforementioned opportunities, or know someone that is, please apply immediately, or get in touch with Miss Recruiter to discuss these openings further. I can be reached at careers at blueoasistech dot com.

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Seeking ColdFusion Developers

2007-05-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is seeking several ColdFusion developers for a project with a major publicly-held corporation in Carlsbad. Development skills using ColdFusion in a Fusebox framework is necessary. The project should last about 3-6 months, but has a high likelihood of extension.

Blue Oasis Technologies is a software development company in San Diego, California that provides outsourced solutions to technology companies, as well as recruiting of qualified consultants and placement of permanent employees in the areas of software development, DBAs and database development, QA, project management, and network/ internet security professionals.

If this opportunity is of interest to you, please apply immediately at careers@blueoasistech.com or via Monster.com.

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Turn Your Passion Into Action!

2007-05-08T15:20:00.000-07:00

Are you doing what you love to do? Follow these 10 steps to discover your life's purpose and learn how to turn your passion into action!

The Oprah Winfrey Show: "What Should I Do with My Life?"

The one big question most of us ask ourselves is "What should I do with my life?" For most people, it's very difficult to answer. Use these simple suggestions from people who have successfully answered this question and are now living the life of their dreams. Be inspired to pursue your dreams and discover the impact you are meant to have on the world!

Ten Steps to Discovering Your Passion

1. Listen to your inner voice. It takes practice to hear your true desires. Your passion will often come as a whisper or serendipitous event that reminds you of what's important and what makes you happy.

2. Recognize crisis. Does your job feel like a grind? Are you spending your free time on something you love? Take an opportunity to appraise your happiness. One of the keys to living a purposeful life is seeing that you feel unfulfilled.

3. Dwell in possibilities. Your passions could lead you in a lot of different directions to find fulfillment. Explore your life and unearth all of the things that bring you joy.

4. Tune out the voice of the world. Make the strongest voice in your life your own. Finding your purpose could mean going against the advice of close friends and family. Take a leap of faith and trust in your dreams.

5. Decide what kind of person you want to be. Rather than concentrating on what you want to do, think in terms of what kind of person you want to be. Let that guide your choices.

6. Bring your heart to your work. It takes passion and courage to find a profession that you love. Spending the time to discover that job is time well spent—it could make all the difference in your life!

7. Trust transformation. Hard times are a natural part of life. Don't be afraid to change because of your experiences. Instead, let them shape and steer your course.

8. Have no regrets. According to the experts, it's easy to regret the time you've spent being unhappy or unfulfilled. Realize that during that time, you developed the skills you need to succeed!

9. Take the first step. Destiny can't help you until you are willing to step out of your comfort zone. Get prepared to make changes in your life … and start making them!

10. Be patient. Finding your life purpose won't happen overnight. In every life, there's a fast road and a slow road. Most of us take the slow road! Keep your commitment and take small steps to make it happen.

Java Developer - Contract to Hire

2007-05-02T16:41:00.000-07:00

Responsibilities:

Assist with enterprise Java development for our site analytics platform.
Design and implement new Java components, modules, and subsystems using the latest technologies including Adobe Flex 2.
Deploy systems on a J2EE application server utilizing Service Oriented Architecture.
Assist with application configuration tasks on a UNIX, Linux, and Windows platform.
Work in a team of 4.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in technology field
2+ years experience in Java development
Experience with J2EE, JDBC, and object orientation required
J2EE application server knowledgeable
2+ years experience in SQL and relational databases
Open to learning Adobe Flex 2
Optional: Sun Certified Programmer or Developer
Optional: Experience with Oracle and PL/SQL

If you are interested in finding out more about this great opportunity with a solid, established San Diego, California software company, please apply to Miss Recruiter at careers AT blueoasistech DOT com. Thanks!

Current Openings

2007-04-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is currently recruiting for the following openings:

C# and .NET development consultants

IT Project Managers (PMP certification preferred) - financial or telecom experience

IC Program Manager - IC experienced required, telecom experience preferred *HIRED* - no longer available

Systems Ops Analyst - SQL client tools, batch processing, IIS, analysis

Java/ J2EE Architects - EJB, J2EE5, Tibco, etc.

Action Script/ Flash Developer

Web Applications Developer - MySQL, PHP, Apache, CSS, and Ruby

If you are interested in the aforementioned roles, please get in touch so we can discuss your availability and compensation requirements immediately. If you can refer candidates that are placed in any of the openings listed below, Blue Oasis Technologies will provide a generous referral bonus, based upon the level of the candidate's abilities and skills.

Blue Oasis Technologies is a software development company that provides outsourced solutions to technology companies, as well as recruiting of qualified consultants and placement of permanent employees in the areas of software development, DBAs and database development, QA, project management, and network/ internet security professionals.

careers at blueoasistech dot com

New Consulting Project - IT Engineer

2007-04-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

IT Engineer - Java Web/Middleware Developer

Role:

Responsible for the design, development, testing, deployment and maintenance of programs supporting the Customer Documentum and Supplier Documentum applications

Work closely with the systems analyst to understand and assist in the development of the functional requirements.

Work closely with the systems analyst and technical lead to prototype sections of the application

Skills/Experience:

This resource should have high capability and experience in architecting and building Java centric solutions.

This resource will have direct experience with the following toolsets and technologies: Java, Web Technologies (JSP, Servlets, HTML, Struts, JSF…), XML, XSLT, JDBC, PL/SQL, Log4J

Additional Skills:

This resource should have direct experience with some of the following toolsets and technologies:Eclipse, JDeveloper, Tibco BW, Tibco EMS, Oracle BPEL, JUnit, Web Services, Ant, Unix, Oracle AS, Oracle DB, JProbe, JMS

Education Requirements:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Management Information Systems.

To please future employer, say 'thank you'

2007-04-02T11:12:00.000-07:00

Common courtesy can clinch candidate-company connection

By Eve Tahmincioglu

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17871801/

So you were able to land an interview and you have a feeling it went quite well. Now what?

You go home and wait for the phone to ring? No! Get cracking on those thank-you notes!

You might be thinking I sound like a throwback from the workplace dark ages for even suggesting such a thing, but actually thank-you notes can still play an important role when you’re trying to land the job you want.

It’s hard to find solid statistics on how many job applicants send thank-you notes these days, but most surveys estimate the number is well under 40 percent. This despite the fact that when asked, most hiring managers say they expect a note of gratitude post interview.

“It’s a lost art,” laments Angela Barfield, a manager for CBIZ Human Capital Services and a headhunter with 25 years of experience who has seen the prevalence of thank-you notes slowly diminish in the past 10 years. But a note just could clinch the job for you. “It’s polite and nice,” Barfield says.

Right now, Barfield is in the process of trying to place a high-level manager at a manufacturing company. The candidate she sent made major points among the higher-ups at the firm because he e-mailed two thank-you notes within 24 hours after his interview, one to the top executive he interviewed with and one to the administrative assistant who scheduled the interviews for him.

“The response to those e-mails was so strong, and people were so grateful that someone took the time to do that,” she explains.

Here are excerpts from those letters:

This one was sent to the senior manager:

"I truly enjoyed the chance to speak with you yesterday. It made a frenetic visit well worth my time and travel! You were able to give me that perspective and vision piece that had been missing. It would be a real pleasure to join your team and I do remain very interested in the opportunity to play such a key role in the growth and development of XYZ company. I look forward to hearing what the next steps may be."

This one was sent to the administrative assistant:

"Thank you for greeting me yesterday and arranging for my visit. The time was brief but I did leave with a better idea of the company and a bit of insight into this specific role — Director of Marketing, Clinical Devices. You seem to have a great team of passionate and happy folks there and I remain interested in the chance to join the team. Please give me an idea of feedback you have received, when you get a chance."

Barfield believes the letters solidified the positive feelings the staff had about the candidate and set him apart from the rest of the pack. “Everyone’s response was, ‘This person is professional and classy so let’s move forward with this guy,’ ” she says.

So go ahead, have an Emily Post moment. It might get you the gig.

Here’s a question regarding thank-you notes from a reader:

I had an interview last week, the committee informed me that they would make a decision within a week, I wanted to send a thank-you note but unsure on the proper method. Snail mail or e-mail? I wanted to stand out among my competitors, yet act in a respectable manner. Another question I have: When you interview with a committee do you send a thank-you note to everyone or just the main member of the committee and ask them to pass the words of gratitude to others?
C.S., Denver

I would always send a thank-you note via snail mail. But since you know time is of the essence you might want to drop the note off with the person at the front desk so they get it in time. (Keep in mind, while a handwritten note is always ideal, but if your handwriting stinks use a typewriter.)

If dropping it off is not an option, then go ahead and e-mail your thank-you note. Better a cyber-note than nothing.

As for who to send it to, if the group was three people or smaller I would send each person a note. Make sure the longest note goes to the head decision maker. If the group included more than three people, I would only send a note to the key players, the ones you talked to most or spoke to individually. And don’t suggest that the person pass the note around, says Barfield. If they want to distribute the note they will.

Also, don’t go thank-you note crazy. Even though the individual Barfield is trying to place sent a letter to the administrative assistant, that doesn’t mean you should start sending out thank- yous to everyone including the janitor. Just make sure the person that holds the main decision-making power gets your message of gratitude.

Are you a Web Apps Developer? Know One?

2007-03-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

Miss Recruiter is desperately seeking a sharp web applications developer for a permanent, full-time opportunity with a local venture-backed startup. This group is located in UTC and is seeking a SUPERSTAR in MySQL, PHP, Apache, and CSS; any exposure to Ruby on Rails is a big plus.

If you are interested and qualified in this type of role or know someone that might be, please get in touch at mmanchack at blueoasistech dot com.

Thanks!!

Seeking .NET and C# Developers

2007-03-28T10:59:00.001-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is currently seeking software developers with Microsoft technologies experience, including .NET and C# for projects with several of our clients.

If you have this experience, please get in touch with Blue Oasis Technologies. Or if you can refer a candidate that we are able to place, we do offer referral bonuses! Contact Meredith at mmanchack at blueoasistech dot com for more details.

Thanks! Miss Recruiter

ClearCase Consultant

2007-03-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies has an urgent consulting opportunity with a North County client for a 3-5 week project. Our client is currently using PVCS 6.8 and upgrading to IBM ClearCase in the coming weeks. This consultant will be responsible for helping with this implementation, which may include updating scripts so that existing systems can communicate with the Rational tools.

Required experience:

PVCS Tracker administration
ClearCase administration
3rd party implementation and integration experience
Project engineering experience

If you are qualified and interested in this unique opportunity in North County San Diego, please apply at careers@blueoasistech.com immediately.

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Seeking Java/ EJB Architect

2007-03-14T17:03:00.000-07:00

Java Engineer

Blue Oasis Technologies is seeking a highly talented, experienced, and self-motivated Java programming guru capable of writing high quality, high performing software components in a web environment to fill a temporary, full-time position as an independent contractor. This person should be a self-starter and a strong team contributor. This person should be strongly committed to putting quality first in every effort and by nature be an over achiever.

Job Responsibilities:

 Responsible for assisting the team architects with the design, development and implementation of J2EE framework components.

 Responsible for assisting in the training and pair programming with junior members of the engineering team in relation to J2EE framework components

 Responsible for contributing to and maintaining engineering best practices for software archtiecture, code reuse, testability, application integration, performance, reliability, security and maintainability.

 This position requires the employee to be on site.

Required Expertise:

 Expert level Java J2EE development experience (4+ years of J2EE applications, 2+ years as a J2EE architect)

 Substantial development experience across the entire project life-cycle in medium to large J2ee projects (someone who has been there and done that)

 Solid knowledge of and experience with J2EE design patterns

 Solid knowledge of and experience with Object Oriented analysis and design techniques

 Solid knowledge of and expertise with key software engineering concepts such as “Unit Testing”, “Agile Development”, “Refactoring”, etc.

In depth experience with the following technologies:

 EJB3

 RDBMS

 XML

 Web Services

 JMS

 Highly motivated, resourceful and efficient individual

 Team player that can collaborate in a team environment and communicate effectively

Preferred Expertise:

 JEE5

 Jboss AS 4.x

 Hibernate 3.x

 JAAS

 Maven 2.x

 JMX

 XSLT

 J2EE application deployment and release management

If this opportunity is of interest to you, please apply at careers@blueoasistech.com. Or you know of someone that might be the right fit for this opportunity, please pass along this description for review.

Oracle Apps Server Administrator- 10gAS

2007-02-27T16:01:00.000-08:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is currently recruiting an Oracle Apps Server Administratorfor a long term consulting project with a major telecommunications company in Sorrento Valley. This opportunity has a possibility of being converted to a permanent position for the right candidate.

Responsibilities:

Application Administrator will be responsible for implementing the 10gAS stack as required by business initiatives/projects
Will install/configure/maintain the different components as required
Will be required to troubleshoot issues with Apache, Perl, OID/SSO, Directory Synchonization, BPEL etc
Implement monitoring for each of the components of the stack
Provide on-call support as part of the pager rotation and respond to critical situations
Assist developers in building code migration work flows
Support deployment and configuration of J2EE

Required skills and experience:

Must have strong hands on experience in 9iAs and 10gAS suite of products for at least 3-4 years, Specific products of interest are OID, SSO, BPEL, Discoverer, HTTP server, Portal Layer, Directory Synchronization with AD, Novell's eDirectory.
Preferred experience in integrating with Oracle's E Business Suite
Must have overall understanding of the network, OS layers as required to support the 10gAS suite.
Should have strong experience on supporting the software on Solaris 8,10 and Linux.
Experience in the following technologies would be considered a plus - Apache HTTP Servers, Tomcat, JBoss, and WebSphere Application Servers, PHP, Perl, MySQL, FTP, SSL Encryption, Web Statistics and Analytics, Wikis, Blogs, Forums, RSS, and Web Content Management Systems.
Experience with Web Search technologies including Verity UltraSeek and the Google Search Appliance is a plus

Preferred Skills

Programming in Java, Perl, PHP, SQL
Experience in different web standards as related to deployment of Portals i.e. JSR-168, JSR-170, WSRP etc

Education Requirements - Minimum bachelor's in Computer Science/Engineering

If you are interested and qualify for this challenging consulting project, please apply immediately at mmanchack at blueoasistech dot com.

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Spring Forward Group - Check It Out!

2007-02-27T13:31:00.000-08:00

I'm excited and proud to share with you the brand new website of my professional mentor, Diane Craver. Diane is the Founder and Owner of SPRING FORWARD GROUP in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Diane was my first recruiting manager and taught me everything she knows (well, probably not everything), but has been my trainer and mentor for about 7 years. She's an inspiring and intelligent leader with creative ideas and great business savvy. I am lucky to also call her a great friend.

If you ever have a need for an executive coach, I highly recommend you get in touch with Diane.

And please check out her website at www.springforwardgroup.com

Miss Recruiter

Seeking .NET and C# Developers

2007-02-27T13:25:00.000-08:00

Seeking Senior IT Project Management Consultant

2007-02-27T13:24:00.000-08:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is currently recruiting for a long term consulting project with a major client in the financial services industry. This role will be one of two Project Managers working on a large IT Trading Implementation project, working along side the Program Manager for this effort. The project should last approximately 8 months with a possible extension and will start shortly. The project includes replacing and implementing a 3rd party trade solution for asset management which would include inputs, outputs, reporting, core 3rd party solution configuration and implementation.

Requirements:

*5+ years of solid Project Management experience (not management, but actually managing IT Software Development and 3rd Party Implementation projects; not hardware project management)
*PMP preferred
*MS Project Server 2003 experience
*Microsoft OS, SQL Server, .NET, Actuate exposure
*Financial industry experience a plus

If you feel that you are qualified for this opportunity and are interested in pursuing this exciting project opportunity, please apply directly at careers@blueoasistech.com with a copy of your resume. Thanks, in advance, for your consideration!

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Java/ EJB Architects

2007-02-08T14:41:00.000-08:00

Blue Oasis Technologies has a full-time, permanent opportunity with a client in Sorrento Valley. We are seeking individuals with the following skills:

•Expert level Java J2EE development experience (4+ years of J2EE applications, 2+ years as a J2EE architect)including JSP's, Servlets, Enterprise Java Beans (EJB), and and Web Services (SOAP/WSDL) and XML
•Substantial development experience across the entire project life-cycle in medium to large J2ee projects (someone who has been there and done that)
•Solid knowledge of and experience with J2EE design patterns
•Solid knowledge of and experience with Object Oriented analysis and design techniques
•Solid knowledge of and expertise with key software engineering concepts such as “Unit Testing”, “Agile Development”, “Refactoring”, etc.

In depth experience with the following technologies:

•RDBMS
•Web Services
•JMS

Preferred Expertise:

•JEE5
•Jboss AS 4.x
•Hibernate 3.x
•JAAS
•Maven 2.x
•JMX
•XSLT
•J2EE application deployment and release management
•Open source development environments

If you have skills that might qualify you this opportunity, and are a highly motivated team player ready to take your career to the next level, please submit your resume at careers@blueoasistech.com

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Are you an ISO9001 Consultant? Know One?

2007-01-25T12:10:00.000-08:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is seeking an ISO9001 consultant to help us with a project servicing a huge intranet project. This individual will be assessing processes and procedures for ISO9001 compliance and making improvements to ensure compliance. A seasoned and professional manager familiar with the SDLC is required, as well as experience with this kind of project in past experience.

If this project interests you, or you know someone that might fit this role, please contact Meredith Manchack, Technical Resources Director at Blue Oasis Technologies via email. Don't forget - Blue Oasis Technologies offers referral bonuses of $500 - $2000, depending on the length and scope of the project. Please keep us in mind for any colleagues that fit the needs of our clients.

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Seeking a QA Consultant

2007-01-25T10:25:00.000-08:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is seeking a Software QA Consultant for a major financial institution in Carmel Valley for a 6 month contract, which is likely to extend longer. Tools used onsite are WinRunner and Quick Test Pro, and experience with SQL is required, Experience in the financial industry is also desired.. 5-7 of years is the minimum amount of experience required for this role. Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related subject is preferred.

If you wish to be considered for this exciting opportunity, please apply at careers at blueoasistech dot com Thanks!

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Market Yourself!

2007-01-25T10:23:00.000-08:00

Develop Your Personal Brand
By Mark Sanborn

Having a good professional reputation is an obvious key to success, but many people don't take the time to nurture it. Or they don't know how. I find it helpful to think about a reputation as a personal brand. Developing your own unique brand is considered not a luxury but an essential for future employability and success.

I work with corporate clients in the area of brand development, and I've identified the DNA that makes up a good brand. This DNA, the basis which guides the development of a brand, also applies to individuals as well as to products and organizations.

DNA is, coincidentally, an acronym. To get you started on your journey of ongoing individual brand development, contemplate these three concepts, which form a similar acronym:

Dependability

A good brand is consistent. With a good brand, there are never any unpleasant surprises. You can count on a brand to help you quickly sort through an unlimited list of options to identify "a sure thing." In the old days, there was a sales adage that went something like this: "Nobody ever got in trouble for purchasing IBM." If you aren't old enough to recall exactly what that meant, it alluded to the fact that IBM was not always the "best" or "most innovative" or "most anything" for that matter, but it was a dependable brand.

When applied to you, the question becomes: What can others -- your customers, employer, and colleagues -- depend on you for? What kind of "sure thing" are you exactly?

Whatever you decide distinguishes you in the marketplace of talent, make sure consistency is the bedrock of your brand.

Novelty

OK, so what makes you different? It's not enough to be as dependable as everyone or anyone else. Brands always have substantive identifiable differences -- perceptually if not in fact -- in the mind of the marketplace.

Being a generalist isn't a bad thing, but being a generalist without any discernible specialized skills, abilities, or talents isn't a great thing, either.

What makes you different (or better)? While weird may work for celebrities, it is seldom a desirable attribute for the world of commerce. For a difference to be valuable to the brand, it must be valuable to the customer.

Attitude

This is the most nebulous part of a brand. It is more than a combination of novelty and dependability. I call it the brand's predisposition to the world. It is about the vibe a brand puts out. It's about the demeanor and flavor and orientation.

Attitude is how the brand -- "you, inc." or "organization, inc." -- presents itself to the world. I believe that all brands have a boldness about them. Even if a brand is quiet, dependable, and safe, those attributes are expressed to the marketplace boldly and definitively.

What is your attitude? Have you considered it and identified it? Is the attitude of your brand something that draws others to it, or puts them off?

DNA. Dependability. Novelty. Attitude.

As a first step toward marketing yourself better, take some time soon to write out the DNA of your brand.

For more ideas about personal branding, check out the book "The Brand You 50" by business guru Tom Peters. This handy little book presents 50 specific ideas you can use for distinguishing yourself as an employee or potential employee.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mark Sanborn, CSP, CPAE, is the president of Sanborn & Associates, Inc., an idea studio for leadership development, and the author of "You Don't Need a Title To Be a Leader: How Anyone, Anywhere Can Make a Positive Difference" (Currency). Visit his web sites at www.MarkSanborn.com or www.YouDontNeedaTitle.com.

Account Executive with Blue Oasis Technologies

2007-01-22T15:45:00.001-08:00

Blue Oasis Technologies, Inc. is a software engineering and technical services firm. We provide technology solutions and resources to help companies solve their business problems, which includes project outsourcing and technical recruiting services. We are committed to providing our clients outstanding technology consulting services in an ethical, personal, and responsive manner.

We are looking for an experienced sales professional to work with us as an Account Executive. In this role, your primary responsibility will be to penetrate San Diego area companies and generate new sales. Overall, the goal for this position is to establish and maintain lasting relationships, work with our consultants and recruiting team to pursue and close deals, as well as provide ongoing support to the clients.

Key responsibilities include:

* Development and execution of sales/marketing campaigns.
* Business development and sales through sales visits, cold calls, field canvassing, and prospecting. Consistency in sales approach is key!
* Identifying unique business opportunities and executing targeted sales plan to win/close deal.
* Participation in industry networking opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
* Locating or proposing potential business deals by contacting potential partners; discovering and exploring opportunities.
* Screening potential business deals by analyzing market strategies, deal requirements, potential, and financials; evaluating options; resolving internal priorities; recommending equity investments.
* Developing negotiating strategies and positions by studying integration of new venture with company strategies and operations; examining risks and potentials; estimating partners' needs and goals.
* Closing new business deals by coordinating requirements; developing and negotiating contracts; integrating contract requirements with business operations

Background and Qualifications:

* 3+ years of sales experience with proven track record for achieving objectives.
* 2+ years cold calling / prospecting experience.
* Superior verbal and written communication skills - innate ability to connect and communicate effectively with prospects and clients.
* Education: Bachelor’s Degree preferred
* Proficient with standard office software applications (Word, Excel, Outlook); familiarity with Goldmine database software is helpful
* Aggressive, ethical, and motivated self-starter with ability to work in an unstructured environment.
* Previous experience selling technology solutions and/ or staffing solutions to Fortune 500 companies highly preferred.

Compensation structure is a modest base salary with an uncapped commission that rewards hard work. For a sharp and hard working professional, the sky is the limit in this role!

For immediate consideration for this unique opportunity, please submit resume and cover letter to Meredith Manchack, Technical Resources Director, at careers@blueoasistech.com.

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Ruby on Rails Developer

2007-01-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is seeking a Ruby on Rails Developer for our client in the north San Diego area. Our client is a mobile technology startup that just received updated funding and is growing their development team - the winning candidate will be a part of great, small group of engineers in a startup environment.

POSITION SUMMARY: This position is a Web Engineer providing both front- and back-end web-centric tools for distributed mobile network. This position is responsible for critical components including content management and message scheduling, message/content distribution, system monitoring, and reporting.

RESPONSIBLITIES:
•Programming on Linux, using a mixture of Ruby on Rails, Perl, and PHP.
•Help build internal and customer-facing web-based applications to manage network.
•Design, build, and enhance: content management, scheduling, reporting, analytics and content distribution infrastructure.
• Provide web-based access to above systems for both internal and external use with an appropriate access control model across system.
• Involved in the system end-to-end: requirements definition, data modeling, network and database infrastructure, website development, and more.

REQUIREMENTS:

• MUST KNOW: Ruby on Rails
• 4+ years as Web Applications engineer.
• 3+ years in database design and data modeling (MySQL focus preferred)
• Network administration and programming in UNIX/Linux environments. • Multi-level security database design.

PREFERRED:

• Cross-browser knowledge and experience.
• Perl, PHP.
• Browser-based client design, including embedded server-side and client-side scripting.
• Experience with the following industries: advertising, interactive entertainment, media, or retail.
• BS or MS in Computer Science.

If you wish to be considered for this exciting opportunity, please apply at careers@blueoasistech.com and note that you saw this posting on the Miss Recruiter blog. Thanks!

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Seeking Oracle 10g Consultants

2007-01-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

I am currently seeking a consultant who can help us with a project with a partner of Blue Oasis Technologies in Riverside County, California.

Our partner provides network infrastructure services (hardware related) to clients in the public sector, and needs our help with the software part of an installation project. We are seeking an individual who can install and configure Oracle 10g, as well as work with the team to make sure everyone is knowledgeable and trained on the product. To sum it up, we need a seasoned consultant that can help install, configure, and train on Oracle 10g.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please get back to me with an idea of your availability and salary expectations, so that we can talk further. Please submit your resume to mmanchack at blueoasistech dot com.

Thanks!! Miss Recruiter

Welcome To 2007!

2007-01-02T14:39:00.000-08:00

Resolve to be good to yourself in 2007

By Kathy Gurchiek, HR News Magazine

A new year brings with it the idea of fresh starts and another chance to change things up at work as well as at home.

“There’s no better time to re-evaluate goals, set new ambitions and change up some work habits so that 2007 can be an outstanding year, professionally,” said Ray Roe, president of employment and HR services firm Adecco North America, in a press release.

Some simple resolutions to consider:

• Rest up. Take your full vacation to recharge your batteries and return to work a more productive employee.

• Aim to improve at least one of your skills. Read a book in your field, attend a lecture or seminar, work on certification, take advantage of your employer’s tuition reimbursement program, or find a mentor or coach.

• Reconnect with co-workers. Take time while getting your morning cup of coffee or waiting for the elevator to say “hello” and catch up in person. Attend employer-sponsored events.

• Rejuvenate. Take your full lunch break, drink more water, eat more fruit, take a 30-minute walk, get some sleep and take advantage of wellness programs

• Realize that you can’t always do it all and ask for help when necessary. Also, make sure your employer is aware of the situation rather than waiting to deliver a late or incomplete assignment.

• Make and retain professional connections. Join a professional organization or renew your membership, take up golf, or attend a conference.

• Try to unplug from the office, such as by easing up on your BlackBerry.

• Re-evaluate your career path. Think about whether you’re on target with your goals.

• Start planning for retirement.

“The key to succeeding in your resolution, whether it is related to career, health or personal finance, is to set specific objectives and reasonable deadlines for achieving them,” Challenger, Gray & Christmas outplacement consultancy CEO John Challenger said in a press release.

“Instead of making it your goal to find a new job, focus on the smaller steps needed to get that job. For instance, resolve to join a professional association or find other ways to meet 10 new people in your field,” he advised, noting it’s important to focus on things you can control and act on personally.

“Resolving to get a promotion requires your employer to take action. Resolving to keep your supervisor regularly updated on your accomplishments and joining a workplace committee are actions that you can take that will help position you for a promotion,” he pointed out.

Continuing their education is on the minds of some HR professionals planning their 2007 resolutions.

“My New Year’s resolution is to sit for the GMAT [graduate management admissions test] exam in March, in preparation for starting an MBA program the following year,” says Rebecca Heyman, PHR, human capital consultant at TriNet, an outsourcing firm.

“I spend a lot of my time working with C-level contacts at TriNet’s customers, and it’s become increasingly clear to me that the HR path is continuing to rise up to meet the executive suite,” she said in an e-mail, noting that she’s trying to understand her customers’ businesses better from a strategic level by “striving to beef up my business background and education.”

Cathy Henesey, SPHR, manager of talent acquisition at Trane/American Standard—a manufacturer of residential and commercial heating and air conditioning products—is resolving to “network more across company divisions to share best practices and learn different approaches to common solutions, continue educational classes to learn about my company’s industry, [and] implement an HR Dashboard with key metrics that affect the bottom line.”

She urges other HR professionals to resolve to develop themselves through more education.

“We spend so much time on developing others, but are you really taking the time to develop yourself?” she said in an e-mail to HR News. All HR professionals, she noted, “should attend continuing education classes, seminars, conventions and work toward certification.”

She also suggests committing to network more with other HR professionals, “not just attend [Society for Human Resource Management] meetings and sit next to friends you know, but really reach out to new HR professionals and really share best practices and tools that make you successful.”

Organizing their offices is the most popular RH department resolution for 2007—specifically, reducing paperwork—among HR professionals responding to an online poll Halogen Software conducted Nov. 27-Dec. 15 with its customer base.

Twelve percent indicated that was their top work-related resolution, followed by 5 percent who want to improve performance appraisals and 5 percent who want to improve training for themselves and others in their organizations.

Those looking for work-related resolutions also may want to consider:

• Making disaster planning a priority.

• Making sure all required state and federal posters are up.

• Making sure that in states where the minimum wage increased, affected employees are receiving the new minimum wage.

• Widening understanding of diversity at your organization, such as by implementing Disability Mentoring Day.

• Limiting the use of Social Security numbers to forms required by the government, such as income tax forms, to help protect employees’ identities.

• Promoting wellness programs that are comprehensive and long term.

• Making sure annual performance evaluations are completed on time in 2007.

No matter what your resolutions, “lots of small steps result in great leaps,” Adecco’s Roe pointed out. “Taking a few minutes each day to review your goals or plans for the day can help you stay on track with your ambitions, be it getting a promotion [or] raise or finding that perfect new job or career.”

Kathy Gurchiek is associate editor for HR News.

Seeking Senior SAP Professional

2006-12-01T17:22:00.000-08:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is a software development company founded 2001 San Diego by software engineers. We provide outsourced solutions to technology companies, as well as recruiting of qualified consultants and placement of permanent employees in the areas of software development, DBAs and database development, QA, project management, and network/ internet security professionals. We are currently recruiting for an SAP professional for one our clients, a major public employer in North County San Diego. We are seeking someone that specifically has SAP financials experience that can help our client identify best practices, requirements analysis, implementation plans and design.

This is a permanent, full-time opportunity. To be considered for this opportunity, please send your resume, contact information, and salary history to Meredith Manchack, Technical Resources Director, at careers@blueoasistech.com.

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Two Career Opportunities

2006-11-28T17:50:00.000-08:00

Blue Oasis Technologies is seeking a Senior Software QA Engineer for a 6 month consulting project with a major financial corporation in Carmel Valley.

We are seeking a senior QA automation consultant to develop test scripts for automated testing of proprietary applications developed in-house. Tools used onsite are WinRunner and Quick Test Pro. 5 - 7 years experience is the minimum amount required for this role. Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related subject is preferred.

For more information or to apply for this urgent requisition with our client, please send a copy of your resume to Meredith Manchack, Technical Resources Director, at careers@blueoasistech.com . Thank you!

Blue Oasis Technologies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

---------------------------------------------------------------

A personal friend of mine is also recruiting for the following position. If you have interest, please contact me at mmanchack at blueoasistech dot com and I'll put you in touch with the hiring manager. New grads or those looking to get a career off the ground in tech sales - this is a great opportunity!! Thanks, Miss Recruiter

Account Executive

Major San Diego software company is looking for an experienced Inside Sales Professional to sell products and services to national business accounts.

As an Account Executive, your purpose is to exceed personal sales goals by renewing all key accounts and looking for up sell opportunities within these existing accounts. This is a challenging, career oriented position with typical first year earnings between $30k-$40k depending on experience and ability.

Responsibilities include:

Look for synergy potential in all major accounts
Maintain 80% renewal rate
Up sell into existing accounts
Maintain a pipeline equal to 3x your monthly goal
Acquire 50 new clients yearly
Prebook all renewals a month in advance
Update monthly pipeline spreadsheet daily
Meet 100% of your assigned goal
Pass 5-10 Accounts per year to field sales
Make 60-100 outbound calls to clients and prospects per day
Enter accurate and complete notes in Avenue/Contact database

Requirements:

2+ years of sales experience required (in any field - retail, tech, etc.)
Sales experience in telecommunications, media, banking, healthcare or retail a plus
AAS degree
BS/BS degree preferred
Knowledge of PCs and MS Office required
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Experience or coursework in marketing applications helpful
Ability to work quickly and accurately under pressure

Preparing for Your Interviews - Helpful Tips

2006-11-09T15:03:00.000-08:00

What If Your Interview Is Tomorrow?
Adapted from Monster Careers: Interviewing
by Doug Hardy

Even if you have less than a day before your job interview, you can outshine the competition with a little preparation. The following four tasks will take you about four hours (plus five minutes) to complete, and you'll walk into the interview confident you'll be successful.

Conduct Basic Interview Research

1. Find out as much as you can about the interview. Call the person who scheduled your appointment and ask:

Who will you be talking to?
Will you meet the manager you'd work for, or will you just talk to HR?
What are the interviewer's expectations?
What's the dress code?

2. Dress better than suggested. Most times, it's best for men to wear a suit and women to wear a professional business outfit. You'd be amazed how many candidates show up looking like they're going to class, not presenting a professional demeanor.

3. Get directions to the office. Plan to leave early. Keep a phone number to call if you get stuck on the bus or in traffic. If you arrive late and stressed, the interview will not go well.

4. If you don't have a detailed job description, ask for one.

That's a five-minute phone call.

Learn About the Company Online

Do some fast Web research, which will give you something to talk about in addition to the job description. Go to the employer's Web site, or search the Web for information such as:

How big is the company in terms of annual sales or employees?
What does the company say about its products or services?
What recent news (such as a new product, a press release, an interview with the CEO) can you discuss?
If the company is public, the boilerplate at the bottom of its press releases will tell you a lot.

Basic research should take you about an hour.

Think of Some Stories

Write down and memorize three achievement stories. Tell about times you've really felt proud of an achievement at work or school. These stories demonstrate all those hard-to-measure qualities like judgment, initiative, teamwork or leadership. Wherever possible, quantify what you've done, e.g., "increased sales by 20 percent," "cut customer call waiting time in half," "streamlined delivery so that most customers had their job done in two days."

By the way, nonwork achievement stories are good too; if you volunteer for the local food pantry, write down a time you overcame a big challenge or a crisis there.

Achievement stories make you memorable, which is what you want. There's an exercise in Monster Careers: Interviewing called "Mastering the Freestyle Interview," which helps you develop these stories into compelling sales points.

Take the time you need -- at least three hours on this task.

Pick Your Outfit, and Go to Bed Early

Lay out your interview outfit the night before, get a good night's rest, and always get an early start. The last thing you want is to arrive at the interview flustered and panicked because you couldn't find a parking spot.

Blue Oasis Technologies Referral Policy

2006-11-02T15:09:00.000-08:00

Blue Oasis Technologies, Inc. is always looking to further extend our talentbase of professionals to service our clients needs. Our experience has proven that referrals of a friend or colleague typically are excellent contributors and provide our clients with a very high level of quality and satisfaction.

If you refer a candidate who is placed in a position or refer and facilitate business opportunities for Blue Oasis, we are willing to compensate up to $2000, depending on the magnitude of the project or placement. For more information and specific regulations, be sure to get in touch!

Miss Recruiter

HOT CANDIDATES 10.27.06

2006-10-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

Hi! This week I have several candidates who are available immediately and seeking new opportunities.

JB - Applications Development Consultant - ASP.Net, C#, Sql Server (consulting only)

MM - Senior Technical Writer (consulting or perm) AP - Senior QA Software Engineer (consulting only)

DM - Senior Siebel Consultant (consulting or perm)

BG - Senior Product Manager, Software (consulting or perm)

AK - Senior Business Systems Analyst (consulting or perm)

AB - Software Test Engineer (perm only)

AD - Senior J2EE Consultant/ Developer (consulting or perm)

BW - BSME with design and program mgmt exp (consulting or perm)

Please let me know if you have interest in speaking with any of these individuals and I will submit their resumes for review.

Thanks! Meredith

Are You 'Linked In'?

2006-10-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

If you're not, you should be! Linked In is a fantastic tool for:

Networking
Seeking Jobs
Posting Jobs (for recruiters and HR professionals)
Getting back in touch with former colleagues and hiring managers
Promoting your company

... and so much more! Each new contact can expand your network of connections by several thousand names. All you need to do is create your own profile on the site and invite your friends and business connections to link with you (you need to know their email address).

Check out Linked In today at www.linkedin.com and feel free to invite me to your network at mmanchack at blueoasistech dot com! Or if you have questions regarding this free tool, please get in touch and I'll provide you with answers.

Miss Recruiter

Seeking QA Engineers

2006-10-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies, Inc currently has an urgent requirement for a Software QA Tester with one of our clients in the Carmel Valley area. This consulting opportunity is due to last 6 months and is set to begin immediately.

SUMMARY

*Tests and approves all new and modified software programs, including in house developed products in various languages and off the shelf products customized for internal applications.

*Ensures that software or hardware products meet defined requirements and function according to specifications.

*Assists in defining QA requirements, documents procedures, and ensures quality practices are adhered to.

*May serve as a point of contact on assigned projects, working closely with Software Integrators, project management, business departments, and the QA team to communicate issues and/or changes and to meet targeted project plan dates.

*Ensures that all parties affecting our operating environment follow a consistent, quality process.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

*Test software programs in an accepted QA environment and compares to available documentation, including design review documentation, installation SOPs, Change and Release Notes, Business use cases, System use cases etc., and recommend and or update necessary documentation

*Identify, analyze, and document SCRs/defects, potential errors, and inconsistencies in software program functions, outputs, UI screens, and content

*Other duties may be assigned.

If you would like to learn more about this position, please apply immediately at careers@blueoasistech.com.

SEEKING SENIOR JAVA DEVELOPERS

2006-08-23T15:22:00.000-07:00

Blue Oasis Technologies, Inc currently has an urgent requirement for Java Architects/Developers both for straight contract positions as well as contract-to-hire positions. We are in need of both intermediate to senior level candidates to support applications that tend to be data analytics based, allowing very large clients to access data within their large data warehouse.

Front End:
The current environment is JSP and Struts based development -- future technical direction will include JSF. Also, some aspects of the project will require advanced Javascript and DOM based DHTML including AJAX.

Back End:
Significant usage of EJB's and DAO's. Database interaction ranges from simple SQL to interaction with stored procedurs (though actual stored procedures will be written by DBA's) There will be some Web Services work -- liely using AXIS. Future technical direction will be using Spring.

If you would like to learn more about this position, please apply immediately at careers at blueoasistech dot com or contact Meredith Manchack, Technical Resources Director via this blog. This is an urgent requirement to start very quickly and has the potential to be long-term as well as roll over to a permanent position.

WELCOME TO MY BLOG

2006-08-23T14:22:00.000-07:00

Hi guys! I'm a recruiter with Blue Oasis Technologies in San Diego, California.

Blue Oasis Technologies is a software development and technology services company that provides outsourced project development, technology consulting services and the placement of highly skilled, technical contractors and permanent placements. Our client list includes Sempra Energy, NCR, Qualcomm, and SAIC, where we deliver innovative technology solutions and qualified IT professionals.

If you are a technical candidate seeking work here in San Diego and you have experience in the areas listed below, please get in touch and let's talk about how I can help you with your job search. If you're in charge of hiring for your team or company, please get in touch with me to find out how I can help you find software professionals who have been screened and qualified by Blue Oasis technologists.

Software Engineering
Microsoft Technologies - .NET, C#, VB, C++, ASP
J2EE Platforms and Development - WebLogic, IBM WebSphere, Java, JavaScript, Struts, etc.
Embedded Application Development - C/C++, RTOS, BSP, Device Drivers
Database Architectures and Administration - Oracle, MS SQL Server, Sybase, SAP
Business Analysis and Project Management - MS Project, OMM
Security and Networking Infrastructure - Firewalls, Audits, LAN, WAN, MS Exchange, ITIL

Please reach me via mmanchack at blueoasistech dot com if you have questions or feedback regarding any of the aforementioned.

Meredith Manchack
Technical Resources Director
Blue Oasis Technologies
San Diego, California

missrecruiter

Tip for Linked In

Resume Tips

Do You Twitter?

AustinRecruiters

Subscribe to AustinRecruiter

Expanding Search to Dallas!

Recruiting .NET developers in Austin

Confrontation 101

Performance Engineers - C, C++, iSCSI, RAID

Desperately Seeking SCSI Software Engineer...

Seeking Embedded Software Developers!

Hardware Engineers

Get Java Jobs!

Seeking Java UI Swing Developer

New Mac Book Pro

Don't Be That Guy!

43 weird things said in job interviews

Twitter

AWESOME ARTICLE

Back to Work!

Interview Much? Great Advice!

Make the most of being jobless!

Time Out

Cisco

Miss Recruiter's 2nd Anniversary

Seeking a New Gig

Miss Recruiter for President!

Geeky Biotech Humor

Boolean vs. Boullion

Cool Recruiting Tool...

Green Recruiting

VP, Molecular Diagnostics

Affymetrix - My New Employer

Recruiter Haikus

Update On The Job Search

Seeking Contract Recruiting Opportunities

Job Searching Through the Holidays?

Plaxo

Mission Statement

Wherefore Art Thou, .NET Architect???

Really Geeky Birthday Cake

Fair Isaac - MarCom Analyst (Internal Communications)

Laid Off? So What?

Recruiter Roundtable: Fashion, Grooming Tips

How NOT to Interview for a New Position

Seeking New Contract Opportunities

QA Engineer

Java Developer

RoR Developer

Applications Developer - C#, ASP.NET

Google Job Search Tips

Resume Help

Happy Birthday, America!

Seeking Business Systems Analyst

ASP.NET Developers - Please Apply ASAP!

Software QA Engineers

Software Engineers - Java, C, C++, HTML, SQL

Seeking Another SQL Developer!

Senior Product Manager - Full-time, Term Opening

Miss Recruiter's Guide to Your Job Search

C/ C++/ Java Developer

Junior QA Engineer

SQL Developers - Apply Here!!

Seeking ColdFusion Developers

Turn Your Passion Into Action!

Java Developer - Contract to Hire

Current Openings

New Consulting Project - IT Engineer

To please future employer, say 'thank you'

Are you a Web Apps Developer? Know One?

Seeking .NET and C# Developers

ClearCase Consultant

Seeking Java/ EJB Architect

Oracle Apps Server Administrator- 10gAS

Spring Forward Group - Check It Out!

Seeking .NET and C# Developers

Seeking Senior IT Project Management Consultant

Java/ EJB Architects

Are you an ISO9001 Consultant? Know One?