Greater Minneapolis: A Great Place to Live and Work
Remember the “Why We’re Here: Twin Cities” video that spread around the internet last winter? Seems each winter Minnesotans want to be reminded of the great reasons to live here, and prove to the rest of the country that there’s more to us than just the snow. (Which is suspiciously missing from the video below, as well as our winter so far.)
The video below highlights some of advantages the Greater Minneapolis area has to offer as well as beautiful aerial shots of MN landmarks. Here’s a few of the job market facts shared in the video:
- Fourth top job market in the U.S. according to Forbes. (Also according to Forbes, Mpls is the best city to find employment.)
- Home of the highest per capita concentration of Fortune 500 company headquarters.
- One of the 10 best cities for young professionals. Forbes
- Greater MSP ranked #5 among “Best Cities for Business.” MarketWatch, 2010
Posted in About the Twin Cities, Job and Industry News | Leave a comment
“If you were a Microsoft Office program, which one would you be?”
There’s nothing like an odd interview question to throw you off your game during an interview. You’ve prepared for all the normal questions. You’re ready to share your accomplishments with your prospective employer, but then you’re asked something like the above. What do you do?
US employment website, Glassdoor, recently compiled their annual list of oddball interview questions from actual interviews. Rusty Rueff, careers and workplace expert for Glassdoor, said surprising questions can be an effective way to gauge a candidate’s character.
“There’s a bit of pressure to find how you think on your feet, trying to test that a little bit,” he told the BBC. “But more importantly, they’re trying to get at how someone thinks, how they solve the problem.”
You can’t exactly prepare for a question like: “Would Mahatma Gandhi have made a good software engineer?” But if you are ever asked something like this, or the other 24 on the list, stay calm. Take a minute to think, and then answer with confidence.
Check out practical ways to prepare for your interview at ESP’s Resource Center.
Posted in Job and Industry News | 1 CommentBuzzwords: to use or not to use
Last week, LinkedIn announced the most overused buzzwords on profiles in 2011. As reported by CNN, Nicole Williams, LinkedIn’s connection director, instructs job seekers to “Banish buzzwords from your profile. Use language that illustrates your unique professional accomplishments and experiences. Give concrete examples of results you’ve achieved whenever possible and reference attributes that are specific to you.”
While the common use of these buzzwords means that they don’t necessarily help a résumé stand out, job postings are still calling for dynamic (#10) individuals, with strong communication skills (#9). Usually these postings ask for highly motivated (#6) individuals, who are organized (#2) and have a track record (#5) of effective (#3) or creative (#1) problem solving (#8). So, should job seekers really ditch all these terms, just because they are used a lot? I don’t think so.
As long as HR is asking for people with these skills, your résumé should show you have them (assuming you DO have them, of course). Why should job seekers risk not having their résumé get past the screening because they’ve left out the buzzwords HR requested in the job description?
But job seekers should listen to the second half of Williams’ advice: give concrete examples. Don’t just throw as many buzzwords into your résumé or on your profile as possible; instead think about the ones that are accurate and relevant to the job and in addition, be sure to use specific language that illustrates your accomplishments and strengths. As is always the case, if you really want a job, take the extra time to tailor your résumé (and your LinkedIn profile if necessary) to the specific position(s) you want.
LinkedIn’s 2011 list of overused buzzwords
- Creative
- Organizational
- Effective
- Extensive experience
- Track record
- Motivated
- Innovative
- Problem solving
- Communication skills
- Dynamic
Interested in more résumé advice from ESP? Check out our latest newsletter article for candidates and find out 5 tips for getting your résumé out of the ‘no’ pile.
Posted in Job and Industry News | Leave a commentMinneapolis is the Healthiest City in America
Yet another reason to live in MN–you’ll be among the healthiest in the nation according to Forbes.
“Minneapolis residents breathe clean air, prioritize exercise and keep their weight down, supported by a city that was among the first to add bike trails and ban smoking in public places.”
IT Jobs Aplenty, but not Enough Skilled Workers
Yesterday, Kare11 stopped by to talk with us about the IT Market. IT is one of the job markets currently doing well in a still struggling economy, but with a shortage of skilled workers it is hard to fill those jobs. Ken Wheeler, one of ESP’s Directors of Recruiting and Account Management, talks about the problem, and why the IT market is likely to stay strong at 1:35 in the clip below.
Posted in About ESP, Job and Industry News | Leave a commentESP is the 12th Fastest Growing Private Company in the Twin Cities
The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal announced its 2011 Fast 50 companies Thursday night, and ESP is 12th on the list. The Fast 50 are the fastest-growing private companies in the Twin Cities, based on revenue growth over the last three years.
Among other things, we attribute our success to the dedicated, talented and knowledgeable in-house employees at ESP and the diversely skilled IT professionals with whom we have the opportunity to work.
Members of ESP's staff accept Fast 50 award Thursday night.
Congratulations to ESP, and thank you to our clients and IT Pros for making us one of the Fast 50.
-Bob Hildreth
Posted in About ESP, Job and Industry News | Leave a commentHappy Birthday to Us
Every year, I get REALLY excited about my birthday. It’s not about getting gifts (although I do like those!) or about blowing out the candles on my cake (although I still always make a wish!). I get excited because it’s a day that celebrates another year of life. Whether that year was filled with successes, misfortunes, significant events, or just a lot of dull days, I made it through another year, and that’s something to celebrate. My birthday is still 77 days away, but this isn’t just a random reflection; ESP happened to turn 43 on Saturday and we have a lot to celebrate!
Our staff took a few minutes this morning to celebrate ESP's 43rd Birthday
Since last October, we…
Placed a lot of IT professionals in great permanent jobs AND had 63 new IT consultants start in contract or contract-to-hire positions.
Ranked 12th in the Minneapolis/St. Paul’s Fast 50 and ranked 4th in Executive Search Firms.
Revamped our website, and launched a quarterly newsletter to our clients and IT pros. (We have another one coming soon!)
Added to our recruiting and in-office staff with 4 new hires.
Increased our client base, so we are now finding great IT pros for even more Minnesota companies, while continuing to find great matches for the clients we already work with.
Celebrated with our IT consultants, on a dinner cruise on the Mississippi River on a perfect summer evening.
So congratulations to ESP for making it through another year. If you think of it, wish ESP a happy birthday this week! No gifts, please.
–AnnaLisa
Posted in About ESP | Leave a commentBest Office Space: What to Consider
ESP’s lease with the 701 building is up next year, and this time around it means we’re moving. While there is some excitement about a new location, we’ll be sad to leave this home of over 20 years. As we’ve started the process of looking for a new downtown location and space planning for those locations, we’ve become aware of a number of office space trends and begun some careful thinking on which trends we want to follow and which we want to ignore.
White Noise: One of the first concerns is how to soundproof for noise in a new space. Although, noise can be a problem in any work place, it is a particular concern for ESP as we spend a lot time on the phone with our clients, consultants, and candidates. This can obviously be distracting. One proposed solution is white noise machines. White noise can block out the sound of typing and other small annoying sounds when things are quiet, and dull the impact of conversations/phone calls. But is it just replacing one distraction with another? Some studies have shown white noise machines to be a distraction in itself—stop that incessant buzzing!—and even to cause stress and have negative effects on the brain. Do white noise machines really increase productivity?
Standing while you work: Individual work spaces introduce other health considerations. Recent studies have claimed that sitting at a desk all day could kill you… or at least cause some health problems. Standing-height desks have grown in popularity as an alternative to sitting all day. Studies claim standing decreases the risk of heart attack and may lessen back problems. But as I recall my days of working retail, standing all day can put a strain on your body as well. The truth is, doing anything all day every day can have negative health effects. Whether you have a sitting or standing desk, it is important to vary your routine and posture. The ideal is a height adjustable desk that will allow employees to stand for a few hours, then sit for a while, and then possibly stand again. But unless this can be done quickly and easily, how many of us would take the time to adjust our desk height during the course of the day, or the week?
Taking it one step further are treadmill desks. These would most often be used as a shared work station, rather than as an individual desk setup. Walking while working, especially at mid-day or during the afternoon slump, would likely increase productivity but these workstations are not cheap.
Touch Down Stations: Another consideration as we plan our new space is the increased mobility cloud technology provides. We’re completely cloud based—our files, email, CRM and phone system—which makes working outside the office easier than ever. In the coming years it is possible we’ll have employees who work almost entirely from home. But suppose they need to come into the office for the day, or would like to work in office one day a week? What should we provide for these employees? The solution seems to be hoteling/touch-down stations. These stations are set up for a laptop to just plugin and let the employee work. As we plan our space, setting aside some space for touch-downs seems like a no-brainer.
What do you think? What would you like you in your work space? Do you like white noise machines? Are they effective or annoying? Would you use a standing desk? Would you switch back and forth if you had the option? If you work outside the office, would you want a space to touch down in if you decided to work in the office once in a while or would you feel like you were visiting in someone else’s space?
Posted in About ESP, Job and Industry News | 2 CommentsThe counteroffer is back and badder than ever
It’s a hot market for IT consultants and direct hire candidates, which means the counteroffer is back in full force. Companies are hiring again and qualified IT professionals are in high demand, often receiving several competitive offers. When one of these technology professionals resigns from her current company, the company realizes what they are about to lose and desperately (or sometimes only halfheartedly) tries to keep the employee on.
When you’ve reached the point of a counteroffer, you’re already in a lose/lose situation for employer and employee. The employee has decided he no longer wants to work for his company or in his role. If the employer doesn’t recognize this, they should. Now is not the time to re-negotiate.
As an employee: should you take a counteroffer?
As someone who has searched for and accepted a new role, you’ve already put in the effort to obtain a better job. Most likely, money wasn’t the only reason you were looking, and you’ll be happier if you stick to your decision. Keep this in mind:
Your company has made you a counteroffer because they don’t want to lose you—but did they recognize this risk before you told them you were leaving? What makes you worth more today, than yesterday?
No matter what they say, they are not considering your needs and career growth; they are protecting themselves from the time and resources they would lose, in losing you. It’s cheaper for them to offer you a raise now, and then never raise your salary again, then to have to spend time and money looking for your replacement.
Or, they may just want to put your exit on their timeline. What’s to say they won’t look for your replacement once they’ve made the counteroffer, no longer viewing you as a loyal employee? They can buy themselves some time by keeping you. Meanwhile, you lose the new position and will need to start over again in your search if that employer lets you go.
As an employer: should you make a counteroffer?
As an employer who has received a letter of resignation, why would you try to keep this employee? Sure, in the immediate future, retaining this employee is your cheapest option. But…
You already know the employee is half way out the door. Most likely her dissatisfaction is with more than just salary; while money and new perks may help you hang onto the employee for a while, in a few months she will probably look for something new again.
By making a counteroffer, you’re setting a precedent that may cause other employees to threaten to leave in hopes of a counteroffer in return.
If you are thinking about buying yourself some time–think about the impression that gives to the rest of your employees. If they get wind of what’s happened (you counteroffered and then let an employee go once you found his replacement), they will probably trust and respect you less, and may actually start to look for new roles themselves.
How do you minimize the risk of an employee leaving? With the high demand for technology professionals, it is important that managers ensure their employees are earning a competitive wage, and are satisfied in their work and environment. You can’t guarantee an employee won’t look for other work, but it is a good idea to think about ways to minimize the threat.
The bottom line is that a counteroffer is never a good thing for an employee or employer. As a company, cut your losses and move on. As an employee, take the new, better job you were looking for and enjoy it.
Posted in Job and Industry News | Leave a commentMN ranks in top 20% for Business
Minnesota has received several acknowledgments lately as a great place to work and build a career, including Forbes ranking in March, which named Minneapolis the best city to find employment.
Within the last week, Minnesota and the metro area ranked high again on lists from CNBC and Forbes. CNBC’s Top States for Business ranked Minnesota the 7th-best state for business based on measures of competitiveness. Minnesota ranked high in quality of life (8th), education (10th), and infrastructure and transportation (15th). Minnesota ranked 8th last year.
In a ranking of the 200 largest U.S. metro areas, Forbes ranked Minneapolis/St. Paul 34th and Duluth 89th for The Best Places for Business and Careers. Once again, education is a primary factor in Minnesota’s rankings. Minneapolis/St. Paul climbed 23 spots from last year.
Posted in About the Twin Cities, Job and Industry News | Leave a comment ← Older posts
