Culture should always be considered when you are thinking about applying with a company, especially in our current economy and job market. As a Senior Consultant for the Idaho Department of Labor I have planned, organized and implemented several employer panels. We bring employers into the local office before regular business hours and allow our employees to ask them questions about their hiring process and how applicants can best impress them. (The benefit to employers is that we have a better understanding of their business so we can refer the most qualified applicants to them and help fill their open positions.) Many of these employers have put a strong emphasis on fitting into the culture, but one employer went as far to say that if he had an applicant that really fit in with the culture of his business, but he didn’t have a position for them at the time, he would create one! Employers really value an employee who is happy, does great work and will stick around. One thing that makes an employee happy is feeling like they fit in. Which leads me to inform you, it’s ok to ask about culture in your interview, if it isn’t obvious on their website or through your own findings.

There are 3 different things that can help define a company’s culture. The first thing I want to talk about is the staff. When I company hires employees they typically look for people who they think would fit in to the culture they have created or want to move towards. As a job seeker you should take a look at the type of people working within your target company to see if they are the type of people you could spend a lot of time with. (In one year you spend approximately 2,064 hours working!) Even make an attempt to get to know some of them better if you have the opportunity. This should be able to give you some ideas about who they hire and what they expect from their employees.

The next factor in developing a culture is training. If employees are well trained and feel comfortable with what is expected of them they have more time to focus on the culture. Ask questions about the training program that a company offers to new hires. Make sure they will provide you with adequate training to do the job. Over time all this will boost moral and encourage growth, which can be a part of the culture of a company.

The last and probably the most important step in establishing a good culture is Leadership. There are so many different leadership styles and each one will have a different affect on the way policies are handled and in turn the attitudes of the employees. Good leaders produce a good culture whether it’s a high level of professionalism or a wacky and fun environment. Make sure that you find out who your direct boss would be. If it’s not the interviewer ask for a chance to meet with that person and give yourself the chance to evaluate if you could work well with that person. Ask questions about management style, expectations of employees, and observe how they communicate. This will give you a huge insight into the culture of the company.

If you’re still not sure about whether or not you would fit into the culture don’t be shy about expressing your concerns to the employer after they have made a job offer. Make sure you know exactly what you want from an employer and look for companies that match your personality. For more information on culture check out the following sites:
quintcareers.com
job-search.suite101.com
talentculture.com This site also has links to several others that have great tips!

The first is, quality vs. quantity.  There are many individuals out there who have huge networks.  This may be effective for some, but many of us can’t keep up with that many people.  The point of networking is to build relationships, and when you add even 3 new people to your network a day, it’s hard to build strong working relationships.  Take LinkedIn for example, I had one gentleman send me a request to connect.  I accepted, but sent him a message back asking for more information about what he does.  I wanted to get to know him and his business better, but I was a bit put off by the reply I received.  He told me “my profile sums it up.”  His profile did include some information about his personal life, family, etc.  which is great, but after reading it, I still  didn’t understand exactly what [kind of work]he did .  I can take some of the blame here because I didn’t ask specific questions, but he also didn’t offer to clarify anything when I questioned him about his career.  This is a situation where I felt like the person was just adding me to their network as another number.  I didn’t feel like he wanted to build a professional relationship, or that he actually valued me as a connection.

This may not have been his mindset or his intention, but sometimes we are so comfortable and familiar with what we do, that we don’t stop to think that others who aren’t in our industry don’t understand the terminology.  But, no matter how you decide to present yourself on a profile, if someone shows an interest in you , you should be open to sharing your knowledge, expertise and other details of what you do.  I decided a while back that I would rather have a smaller group of good quality connections than be an individual with 5,000+ connections when I don’t really know anything about half of them.

The next thing to consider is that your attitude is key.  Have you ever been around a person who always seems to see the negative side of things, or is always putting others down?  We typically don’t enjoy their company.  When you are communicating online with text only, it’s much easier to misconstrue the attitude or message.  You have to be that much more cautious about the words you choose.  Don’t bash on others who don’t share your opinion, and don’t assume the worst of people.

Now I realize that you have to be realistic and it’s not always sunshine and rainbows, but don’t let yourself be seen as the “Debbie Downer” in your social group.  Make sure that your contributions are positive and productive to the group.  If you’re going to speak negatively about something, have a proposed solution, don’t just complain.

My last point is this; it is important to have conversations with people.  Again, the point of networking  is to build relationships.   If we were friends and every time you saw me you just told me a story, or made a comment about something and then walked away, there would be no conversation and no relationship building.  Eventually I would just ignore, or avoid, you because I get nothing out of it.  When you are submitting content online it should be something that starts a conversation.  It’s not about promoting yourself, and your products, but rather showing the value you have to offer through a discussion or conversation.  Marketing and advertising online is the most successful when it is subtle, so be involved, but be discrete about promoting yourself or your services and make networking work for you!

Overqualified doesn’t always connect to the specific job that you applied for.  You might be applying for an Administrative Assistant position, but have a Bachelors Degree in History.  You need to know what you want to do, and then work towards that.  If you are applying for something different than your degree or past experience then you need to show the employer that you really want to do this and you are passionate about it.  You could go in and apply for a job simply because you know you could do it, but if you’re not passionate about it someone else who is passionate about it will most likely get the position instead of you.

This brings me to my second point, one of the main concerns that employers have with “overqualified” applicants is that they will take a better job and move on when the economy picks up.  Whether or not this is true for you, it’s your responsibility to show the employer your interest in the job they have available right now.  If you are looking for a specific position long term, try to find a company that you can grow with.  If you can demonstrate that you want a career with their company then they are much more willing to take a chance on you for the lower level position.

Begin by researching the company and knowing what kinds of promotions are possible, and in what time frame.  When an employer asks you where you see yourself in 5 years, talk about the position you’d like to be in at that company.  If you’ve researched the company and position it shouldn’t be too difficult to have an impressive answer for this question.

And finally, if you are an older individual there may be a concern from the employer that you want to retire in the next couple of years.  The employer will not come right out and ask about your retirement plans, so it is up to you to address this concern.  It is perfectly acceptable to let the employer know that you have no intentions of retiring anytime soon.  Point out the many advantages of hiring an “experienced worker.”  If they question why you are looking for something lower level than you did previously, you can let them know that although you are perfectly capable and enjoyed what you did before, you’re looking for a change of pace.

Sometimes overqualified is just a state of mind.  It’s how much you expect to make, or what you think of yourself.  One employer that I spoke to said it best, “There is no over or under qualified.  Don’t think that.  It’s a new direction, and the best don’t think they are overqualified” (Brandon Wright, President of Ultra Clean).  Some other employers may disagree, but they recommend that you be prepared to answer their questions and show why you are the best fit for the job.  Overqualified or not.

There are so many job seekers that make this same mistake.  Sometimes you are so focused on what you want the employer to know about your qualifications that you forget to listen to what they are actually asking.  I’m sure that at least once or twice in my life I have been guilty of this as well.  Or maybe you were listening, but you didn’t actually understand the question.  Again, I’ve made this mistake several times.  So how do we avoid embarrassing ourselves, or worse, not getting a job because we never really answered the questions that were posed to us?

Listen – The obvious answer.  I know this seems like a really simple concept, but sometimes we just need to be reminded.  Keep in mind, that as much as you’d like to think so, the interview is not about you.  It’s about the employer and what you can do for them!  Listen to their needs and show them how you can meet those needs and solve their problems.

Rephrase the Question – I often ask the question back in my own words to make sure I understand what the interviewer is asking me.  Now I wouldn’t recommend doing this for every single question. That would be exhausting. Do this in situations where there is a question you are not confident about answering.  It’s better to rephrase the question in your own words rather than asking them to repeat it because chances are if you didn’t understand it the first time, you won’t understand it the second time either.

Keep Your Answers Short – If you are going the wrong direction with your answer it’s easier to keep it short and let the interviewer get you back on track.  If you are going the right direction, then the interviewer has the opportunity to ask you for more details.

Ask if You Answered Accordingly – Sometimes it’s not a bad idea to start your answer with something like “Stop me if I’m misunderstanding the question” or follow up your answer with something like  “Did I answer that correctly?” or “Was that the direction you were going with that question?”  This way you are making sure you did not miss the mark.

Active listening could be the difference between a job offer and another “practice interview.”  Remember, when you go into an interview it’s about showing the employer that you can meet their needs.  If you don’t listen you can’t understand their needs.  And if you don’t understand their needs you can’t accurately show them how you can meet those needs.  Next time you go to a job interview be prepared to talk about your skills and experience, but remember, listen carefully.  The employer will tell you what they are looking for and then you can get the job using their criteria instead of your own.  Good Luck!

Our Marketing Sales Representatives develop strategic relationships with 150-250 independent agents to create, build and further their Progressive book of business. Selling primarily to existing accounts means you spend more time with strategic account planning and less time in waiting rooms or on the road. You will enjoy a competitive salary, remote office with a laptop, expenses, cell phone and a company car. We
offer comprehensive, flexible benefits, including: medical, dental, vision, life, tuition assistance and a 401(k) plan. We’re looking for top sales talent who are driven, have passion for connecting with customers and have a proven track record of high performance and solution-based sales strategies.
 
Primary Job Responsibilities:
- Cultivate relationships with agents and provide training on Progressive products and technology to maximize results through creative sales strategies and account prospecting.
- Plan territory routes to maximize sales outcomes.
- Prioritize and manage multiple relationships and responsibilities.
- Resolve agent issues and act as a liaison with the agent and the company.
 
Knowledge and Skills:
- Recent business-to-business sales experience; two to five years of outside sales experience, including a proven ability to effectively manage strategic priorities with routine execution of tactical sales responsibilities.
- Excellent communication, organization and interpersonal skills;
-Strong PC skills (MS Office).
- Willingness to relocate for future career advancement opportunities.
 
Preferred
- Bachelor’s degree.

This is a home-based position, with 50% travel, and a Monday through Friday schedule.
 
At Progressive, status quo won’t cut it. Our leaders want results and you’ll have the chance to make significant contributions in a company that has taken the insurance world by storm. Our company is full of opportunity and promise. Consider the strength of your new employer as one of the country’s largest auto insurance companies. You’ll be surrounded by smart, driven people like yourself, who combine innovation and analysis to achieve industry-leading results and recognition, such as the BusinessWeek50 and the distinction of being one of America’s Most Admired Companies, according to Fortune.
 Visit us at jobs.progressive.com and share your personality with a company that will value your unique contributions.
 
Apply:   http://bit.ly/cfZSrL

Electrical Engineer:
PKG designs and fabricates user interface devices.  These range from simple membrane switches to complex assemblies including injection molded bezels, touchscreens, pc assemblies and all software required to drive them.  We are looking for an experienced design engineer ( EE ) that can step in and contribute quickly.  This engineer would be responsible for board design, design qualification, software and firmware, test setup, manufacturability, etc. required for a successful release of our newest products.  At PKG, exciting things are happening and we are looking for a motivated, skilled person to join our growing engineering team.

Qualifications:

Education:
BSEE degree.

Skills Required:
-Strong initiative and ability get the job done with minimal supervision.
-Ability to perform complete printed circuit assembly design in Altium Designer.
-Ability to create firmware and software in conjunction with hardware design.
-Strong communication and presentation skills.
-Ability to be creative and resourceful in finding solutions to design challenges.
-Capable of handling multiple assignments and responsibilities.
-Experience with 8, 16, and 32 bit microcontrollers
-Proficient in developing embedded, real time applications
-Able to develop test software to support manufacturing testing capabilities
-Proficient in C and C++
-Experience in various communication protocols especially SPI, I2C, RS485, etc.
-MS Office skills: Excel, Word, Project, Power Point, etc.
-Strong team skills.  This includes working with others effectively, being a positive influence on team members, working through issues proactively with others, sharing progress and status freely.
-Ability to help set and manage all elements of electrical design schedule including design, procurement, assembly, and manufacture.

Skills Preferred:
-Familiar with Medical, Avionics or Industrial products
-Manufacturing Engineering experience.
-10 years product design experience in a similar field and management.

Pay- DOE

To Apply:
Submit resume to both e-mail addresses:
tgrinsteiner@pkguis.com
jbedsole@pkguis.com

Mechanical Engineers:
PKG designs and fabricates user interfaces.  These range from simple membrane switches to complex assemblies including injection molded bezels, touchscreens, pc assemblies and all software required to drive them.  We are looking for an experienced design engineer (ME) that can step in and contribute quickly.  This engineer would be responsible for all 3D part design, 2D drawings, design qualification, test setup, manufacturability, etc. required for a successful release of our newest products.  At PKG, exciting things are happening and we are looking for a motivated, skilled person to join our growing engineering team.

Qualifications:

Education:
BSME or ten years experience designing and documenting complex assemblies for manufacturing.

Skills Required:
•Strong initiative and ability get the job done with minimal supervision.
•Ability to perform complete product mechanical design in Solidworks.
•Ability to perform complete design analysis on products being developed.  This to include complete statistical analysis of the product part fabrication and assembly performance.
•Strong communication and presentation skills.
•Ability to be creative and resourceful in finding solutions to design challenges.
•Capable of handling multiple assignments and responsibilities.
•MS Office skills: Excel, Word, Project, Power Point, etc.
•Strong team skills.  This includes working with others effectively, being a positive influence on team members, working through issues proactively with others, sharing progress and status freely.
•Ability to help set and manage all elements of mechanical design schedule including design, procurement, assembly, and manufacture.

Skills Preferred:
•Familiar with Medical, Avionics or Industrial products
•Manufacturing Engineering experience.
•10 years product design experience in a similar field.
•Injection molding, Machining, or some type of part fabrication experience.
•Project Management experience.

Pay- DOE

To Apply:
Submit resume to both e-mail addresses:
tgrinsteiner@pkguis.com
jbedsole@pkguis.com
For more Idaho Jobs check out our web site at:
https://labor.idaho.gov/idahoworks/es/jobsearch/default.aspx

I guess the real question is which Masters program should I be looking into?  I have my Bachelor of Science in Communication/Public Relations with an emphasis on Advertising (I know it’s a mouthful), but I have mostly worked in Marketing and would like to continue that direction.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with the differences between Marketing and Advertising, think of it like this.  If Marketing is an entire pie, Advertising is just one slice of the pie.

So, lets just say that I have decided to go for it and get the Masters, do I want to keep it more generic and go for an MBA or should I be more specific and look for a Master Marketing program?  I know that I love the Marketing field and would love to further my career in that area, but I don’t know if the specific degree will “limit” me too much for future job possibilities.

I also need to consider the time it will take.  I loved school when I was working on my Bachelors degree, but I was a full-time student and only worked part-time.  Now I work full-time and have a family.  I know I could probably take one class at a time, but I just wonder if that would take too long.  I would want to get it done as quickly as possible, but not at the expense of never seeing my family, or that my current job would suffer.

I know I just started this blog, but if there is anyone out there reading it, I would love to hear your thoughts.  Bring it on, the good, the bad and the ugly.