In preparation for a job interview you most likely spend a majority of your time thinking about one thing; questions. While many job seekers study, practice and research questions that interviewers typically ask and how to best respond, many don’t spend any time at all on the other questions that matter. The ones that the interviewee should be asking.

Joanna Riley Weidenmiller recently wrote an article for Simply Hired’s blog that highlights the top seven questions that you, a job seeker, should ask before applying to any company:

What is this company? Weidenmiller writes that you need to explore the company and take a look around it’s website, mission statement, executive staff and find out what the company is all about.

Are there customers involved? Why would this matter? Firstly, if you’re asked in an interview it adds clout to know the company’s customer base and possibly the strengths and weaknesses as expressed by their clientel. Secondly, if you get the job, you’ll be working with them!

Who’s the competition?

Researching a company’s competitors tells you a lot. You can learn about the prospective company’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as what areas they may be striving to improve or grow. This is good material for your interview! As Weidenmiller also points out, you may want to apply to the competitor instead!

Why is the company special? If you can’t answer in one sentence why the company is special do you want to work for them?

What are the company’s employees like? Employees are an extension of a company and as such, typically are a great telltale indication of how a business is run. Are the employees happy? Check up on their website, social media, etc. and find out!

Can you fill out gaps in their company? Weidenmiller suggests that you ask yourself not only what position you’ll be filling but what gaps you can fill by bringing your experience to the table.

Do you know your names? This goes not only addressing your cover letters but also for when you interview. Be sure to do your research and find out who is creating the job postings and who is responsible for receiving and reviewing the resumes. Personalize your cover letters, your follow up phone calls and all other correspondence.

These are just a few of the questions that you’ll need to be asking yourself when applying for jobs. Job searching is a strenuous and time consuming venture so be sure that you ask yourself the hard questions and find out if a company is truly a good mach. By doing your research you’ll save yourself time and energy down the road. If you feel as though you may need some assistance finding the right fit for an employer don’t hesitate to get in contact with us. Happy job hunting.

Anyone in the predictive maintenance and reliability engineering fields can know how difficult the first face-to-face interview can be. You’ve made it through the rounds of call backs and phone screens and now you’ve landed the interview. If you’re nervous and anxious to begin with, knowing what to say and what not to say during your interview can be a struggle.

Often times the most stressful portion of the interview isn’t the interview at all but those minutes that lead up to the interview. Making small talk is expected – and shows that you have the ability to interact and converse well with others – which may be a valuable asset in your position. While I’m all for small talk – all too often the conversation meanders leaving both you and the interviewer and an odd or awkward juncture.  An article by Anita Bruzzese of 45Things.com, a career advice site, highlights the major topics of conversation to avoid while making small talk:

The bad weather – This topic is old – too old. It’s almost better to say nothing at all. When you complain about the weather in an attempt to fill some of the dead silence the interviewer will hear one thing – complaining.

The fact that you’re tired – sure you may be tired but c’mon, really? If you say that you’re tired the employer, or interviewer, will draw conclusions about why you’re always tired.

What you like about ________ (fill in the blank with a compliment).  Save your compliments and keep them to yourself. The truth is – these interviewers have heard everything.  Giving a compliment early on can come off as schmoozing, or worse, fake.

How you’d love refreshment – Bruzzese stresses not to ask for something unless it’s offered. Let’s keep in mind – you’re here for the interview not the cup old day-old coffee!

It’s easy for us to all resort to these ‘safe’ feeling pockets of conversation when there’s a awkward pause or silence – but don’t! Stick to what’s at hand – the interview and keep the chitchat job-related and on-topic. If you avoid these conversation pitfalls you’ll be calmer and also have a clear mind to answer questions.

If you’d like more advice or think that NextUp Careers can help your predictive maintenance job search, please contact us!

Okay — so we all know that there’s a staggering amount of web apps out there. It’s almost overwhelming when you think of how nearly every facet of our lives has an app built around it. Although the five following apps were origionally compiled into the story 5 More handy Web Apps to Save You Time At Work for those who have jobs, let’s bend this a little further for those of you who are job searching still.

As a reliability engineering or mainatenance professional you may not think that these apps hold any value for you but think again!

1.) Print Friendly – it’s exactly what it sounds like. I use this app constantly and it’s a huge time saver. Have you ever needed to print out a web page but it ends up being a mess and a ton of extra pages? Those days are long gone with Print Friendly. Imagine you need to print out the pages of a propsective emplployer’s website to do some research. Enter the webpage URL and presto! You’re now job hunting — in eco friendly style!

2.) Vector Magic – this one isn’t free but once you use it you’ll understand why. This app saves me a ton of time and grey hairs when working with images, converting any graphic into a vector asset with a snap of your fingers. You could potentially use this app to enhance images within your portfolio, LinkedIN profile, or resume.

3.) Dummy Image - if you’ve ever updated a profile for an online database or completed an online profile for any job board you know how tricky it can be to select the right corresponding professional image if asked for one. This app gives you stock image place holders in a plethora of different sizes. Say goodbye to lost images on your harddrive — just use Dummy Image!

4.) Simply Noise - the dog’s barking, the phone’s rinking … is that a kid screaming in the background? Getting some peace and quiet at home to do the work that’s necessary for job hunting can be frustrating. Although one would think home would the be quiettest place for job hunting, it’s often the oposite. Use Simply Noise to drown out the clamor with calming  white noise. My favorite is the ‘brown noise’.

5.) Showmewhatswrong.com – this app has to be one of hte most useful and user friendly apps that I’ve used in a long time.  We all have computer meltdowns when you’d rather loose an apendage than that document you’ve been working on for 186 hours. First — don’t panic. Firstly — always save your applications, resumes, and any other job-related documents that you’ve been compiling. Secondly - If you run into a problem though that you can’t fix try recording your problem first with showmewhatswrong.com and sending it off to your tech-savy friend for help. This program records on-screen actions and then fires off the video to an e-mail recipient free of charge. Awesome!

Use these apps and more to streamline your job hunt. If you have any apps that you use for job search that you’d like to know post them here!

Here at Nextup Careers we blog a lot about the interview process. Well, of course we do! It’s our job to provide you useful information that can help you with your job search in the predictive maintenance and reliability engineering fields. That’s why, with summer on the way, we thought it might be timely to remind you that the heat is on for qualified positions. For some, summer may mean wind-down time, beaches, and SPF 30. For you, the job hunter, summer really should be a time to revamp your career search tactics.

It can be difficult to pry yourself away from the fun when the temps are warm but remember – while others are having fun and not concentrating on the job search – companies still need to hire qualified employees. While everyone is having a grand time relaxing, this is the perfect time to excell and truly spend some time working on yourself.

So – now I will ask the question. Where will you be when the amazing job opening of your dreams comes available? You’ll be ready to apply, ready to interview, and ready to get the job! Here are a few tips that can help ensure that you’re on A game this summer:

1.)    Polish up your resume: Make sure it sparkles. There’s no reason why you can’t take time while your job searching to make your resume perfect. Yes, job hunting is a full time career but your resume is your capstone – the most important part. Career counselors are typically slower during the summer months so if you need help with your resume, do it now!

2.)    Do some reading: Make it count. We’re not talking beach reads. Do some professional reading that you’ve always wanted to do. This may be a corporate newsletter, an awesome book written by a leader in your profession or a blog about your industry.

3.)    Make solid connections: If you’re 100 percent of your job search time behind the computer that’s your first problem. You need to get out and about and make some connections. Summer is a great time for this. Think of each event and social gathering that you go to as a place to meet one new person.

“It’s often advised that looking for work should be treated like a full-time job—that job-seekers should literally devote eight hours a day, five days a week to their job searches.” Unfortunately, devotion alone does not translate to success. Landing the ideal job means doing much, much more…

Lost in the job search discussion are the methods that candidates use. Michael Farr, author of “The Quick Resume & Cover Letter Book,” suggests that job seekers create a daily schedule that keeps them on task and accountable throughout the job search process. While necessary, successful job seekers go above and beyond this call to action. They use personal contacts, school career planning and placement offices, direct contact with employers, professional associations, and internships in addition to trusted standbys, the internet and classified ads. Internet may provide a breadth of possibilities, but in the search for the perfect one, other resources MUST be used!

I speak from personal experience when I say that the internet isn’t the only solution. Looking back, I now realize that I skipped on many of the resources made available to me through my college and professional network. I, instead, opted to use CareerBuilder and Monster, both of which do a commendable job as career service providers. However, by limiting myself to these avenues, I spent months missing out on potential opportunities. What I found with these sites was similar to what many others experience applying to job; only a few get approved while the remaining applicants get shuffled to the bottom.

We’ve said it before here but I’ll say it again, make your job search your job! Pick yourself up and make a weekly schedule to keep yourself on pace. To help track progress, try meeting with a career advisor or even checking in with a friend or colleague to gauge your success. As I did, you’ll notice the turnaround will be immediate.

Not only will the resources you reach out to help with your resume and cover letter, they can use their clout to contact business leaders in the local community, effectually moving your resume from the bottom of the pile to the top of the consideration pool.

Searching for a job can be a tumultuous experience. Being successful doesn’t require a 40 hour a week commitment to the search, it requires a combination of responsible accountability and best practices. Don’t limit yourself to one or two avenues. Open yourself to any opportunities that come your way and take advantage of every single resource possible.

Have you been successful in your job search? Help others and share your experience with us today!

On Anita Bruzzese’s webiste, 45 Things, she recently wrote a blog, 4 Tips for Doing Well in a Surprise Phone Interview, that should be a must-read for anyone who is actively interviewing for positions.

If you’re job searching in the reliability engineering or predictive maintenance field you’re most likely familiar with the first phone interview. If successful, this will lead to an in-person interview, and sometimes, a follow-up phone call afterwards. In our age of technology, it’s easier, faster, and more economical for employers and recruiters to pick up the phone to screen potential candidates. For this reason, its important to prepare yourself for the surprise interview  phone call;  what Bruzzese says is the ‘ambush call’.

First of all – answer the phone and don’t avoid the call. Regardless of what you’re doing – fixing a flat tire, tying to feed the kids, at the gym (you get the idea) – you need to pick up the phone. Job recruiters are busy people, as are you, and the more available you make yourself, the better.  With that said, if you’re in a loud, noisy environment, ask the caller if you can call back in five minutes and find a good place to talk, Bruzzese advises.

Secondly – always be prepared. Treat job searching like your job. You’re always prepared at work so take the same care with your job search and ensure you’re always ready for an interview—even when you’re not on the clock.  Carry a copy of your resume with you at all times. Be sure to have easily accessible the names of the companies you’ve been applying to, including any pertinent contacts.

Thirdly – take a breather. Collect yourself and take a moment to gather your thoughts. Keep an even tone and inflection in your voice. Ensure that your not speaking too quickly and that you answer all questions completely.

Lastly – always envision yourself in a professional environment. Yes, you might be at home lounging on the sofa but don’t act that way. Be sure that you are professional, courteous and answer the interview question as such.

If you need more information on your job hunt in the predictive maintenance or reliability engineering field, take a look at our other helpful related blogs, Getting Past the Phone Interview , Following up on a Resume Submission or contact us directly,

So, how’s your resume looking these days? OK, be honest. Don’t go easy on yourself.

Alison Green wrote an awesome article recently, 10 Mistakes You’re Making on Your Resume  that will tell you right now what you need to do to improve your resume, and your chances of getting hired. Regardless if you’re in the reliability engineering or predictive and industrial maintenance fields, this post can help you!

I whittled down what I thought to be the top five pieces of advice out of the article, but feel free to take a look at the story in its entirety. Thanks again to Alison Green for the great article!

List not job duties and accomplishments

This is by far one of my favorite pieces of advice. Think about it from the standpoint of the employer who is hiring you. Don’t answer just what you did. Answer what did you accomplish that went beyond the mundane day-to-day tasks and projects? Excite your reader!

Leave the subjective descriptions out

Green is dead on with this one. Removing any subjective traits will strengthen your resume and make it all about the facts. A prospective employer will read “Skillfully facilitated successful leadership meetings” and will dismiss the task because it reads as a self-assessment and not a job function.

Don’t leave out volunteer work

Don’t be timid to add your volunteer work to your resume. Often times it shows that a candidate is well-rounded and has a commitment to his or her community. Final word, if it’s relevant experience – add it to your resume. If it’s unrelated – leave it off.

Clarity over Creativity

It’s good to be confident and creative with a resume, but keep it within reason. Don’t go too crazy with the design of the resume and don’t let your desire to stand out from the crowd get in the way with functionality, Green states. Remember – they care about your qualifications.

Don’t forget a cover letter

Having hired individuals before, I can attest that the most important aspect to a resume is a polished, eloquent and thoughtful cover letter. The cover letter is the place to amp up yourself and your resume. Many employers will look at the cover letter as a testament to your writing and communication skills so take your time. If you need help – use your network to have friends read, reread and edit your cover letter if needed.

The final point, in my own opinion, is the most important. Remember – your resume is an evolving and ever changing document that needs to best represent and convey your talent to a prospective employer, so make it great!

Here at NextUp Careers we bring you some of the greatest articles, news and tips that we find for reliability engineers and predictive and industrial maintenance professionals. For more information on how NextUp can help you find the right job please contact us now.

We’re seeing an alarming number of personal websites cropping up across the web and it makes one wonder – are they effective while job hunting?

The question begs to be asked – does someone who has a website solely to aid job hunting get more bites on a resume or application to a job than someone who doesn’t?

A New York Times article asks this question in Your Resume, for All to See, an article written by Patricia R. Olsen.

If you’re unemployed – having a personal website can do a great deal to help your job hunt. For example, sites like About.me have revolutionized how individuals not only share information, but form their identity by creating trendy, artsy one-page websites dedicated to all info about – you guessed it – them.

On the other side,  Olsen does bring up the downsides to these sites and putting yourself out there for everyone to see. What if you’re job hunting while employed? Well, Kim Isaacs, director of Resume Power, a resume-writing service firm in PA, states that if an employer finds out that you are job hunting or seeking a new position you could be dismissed immediately.

A benefit of the personal website – it doesn’t limit one in the ways thatLinkedIndoes. For anyone who has a LinkedIn profile, you may have felt the pressure to attempt to define and describe your past positions in format that many find rigid.

Another bonus of having a personal website is that you can post, if you wish, your resume for all to see. With the ever-changing versions of software, Olsen points out that it’s a great idea to post your resume in several different versions – Word, plain text, and PDF for example. If you’re into analytics – you can set up your website with Google Analytics to track views, clicks, and downloads.

Beware though – anything that you post in your resume can be viewed online such as your contact information and address. In the article, Isaac states that many people are omitting their street address and personal phone numbers instead opting for post office boxes and Google Voice phone numbers. Also – be sure that any information you share is strictly professional.

Overall – personal websites will ease access to what you want employers to know about you. The easier you make it for a potential employer to contact you the greater your chances are for a call back. Read the full article to ensure that you take into account all of the pros and cons of a personal website and as always — don’t post something you wouldn’ want your current, or future employer to see!

Recently a favorite of ours, Quick Sprout, posted the article, You’re the reason who you don’t have a job, by Neil Patel. Patel writes great blog posts on everything and anything that you could possibly need to know.

Although it can be very difficult and trying at times, to find a job in reliability engineering or predictive and industrial maintenance fields, there are simple steps you can take to boost your job hunt strategy.  

Patel argues that you if you are looking around and pondering the reason you don’t have a job, STOP. Get out of your own way, Patel writes, and follow a few of these seemingly intuitive tips that many job seekers over look:

1.)     Create a good resume: If you cannot make the one-page resume work, then don’t make it more than two, Patel writes. It may come across as trying too hard. I couldn’t agree more. If your credentials are solid, they should speak for themselves. Even though we’ve mentioned it a million times on our blog, be sure to spell check and recheck everything. Read your resume outloud to find errors.

2.)      Be personal: There’s nothing worse than passing in a cookie-cutter cover letter or sending an automated e-mail. Patel makes the point that if a candidate can’t spend more than a minute personalizing your cover letter and resume, how can he trust them with his customers? Touché.

3.)     Do your homework: A little bit of research goes a long way. Make sure that you know what the company is looking for in their position, and tailor yourself to that. “Typically, no one is looking for a jack-of-all-trades because we know it doesn’t exist,” writes Patel.

4.)     Be on time: I think that anyone who is ambitious and career oriented gets why this is important and truly, no explanation on this on­­e should be needed

5.)     Don’t lie: While this point in Patel’s article may seem like an obvious, nonsensical point, it’s one that needs to be made. “The biggest mistake you can make is to lie during an interview,” Patel writes. Lies not only can get you into hot water, it demeans the intelligence of the person interviewing you.

6.)     Follow up: We’ve written whole blog topics on this one point because in many ways, it’s equally as important as the interview. If you follow up it shows interest and that you are genuine. This goes both ways, if you accept the position or not.

And lastly, if you happen to need any help with your job hunt in the reliability engineering or predictive maintenance fields, remember that NextUp Careers can help you! Create an account and start today!

Sometimes when you’re in an interview you get thrown a question that truly requires that you bring out your trusty shovel and start digging. Although I’m not a proponent of telling people to fudge answers to questions, sometimes it’s absolutely necessary.

Glassdoor recently released its Top 25 Oddball Interview Questions of 2010 which was humorous to read, to say the least. Some of these questions really are farther beyond my scope of knowledge such as the question asked by Deloitte,  “How many ridges [are there] around a quarter.” Hmm, you’ve got me on that one.

What about the question asked by Capital One, “Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 how weird you are.”? Well, if you’re honest, and weird to boot, this one may be difficult to answer.

Either way, a lot of these questions demand that the interviewee thinks outside of the box, be creative, inventive, resourceful and intelligent. So, read through the list and have fun with posting some of your answers.

Let’s just hope you don’t find yourself in an interview where you must calculate the number of traffic lights in Manhattan (without your smartphone!).