Frustrated at work? Have you gotten all you can out of your current position? Do you typically have urges to strangle your boss and hang him/her by his/her feet in a dark, damp dungeon in Wisconsin?
If any of those reign true, it’s time to start looking for a new job. Luckily, you’re in Chicago — a city with a diverse economy represented by over 15 industries and a new startup launching almost every day of the year. We talked to four powerhouse businesses that work in emerging tech industries about how you can score that great next job.
Emmi Solutions makes the very personal process of having medical care more positively personal. The company uses multimedia (primarily video) to communicate conditions and procedures to patients and their family.
Sharon Ray, Vice President of Human Resources, gave us her tips:
Be honest
On the flipside, we value the openness to express what you don’t know but are willing to learn, don’t dance around questions hoping you can hide a lack of qualifications.
Be excited
An industrious and positive attitude…enthusiasm goes a long way in healthcare technology because there are many opportunities to innovate but hurdles will arise so being able to retain your passion is important.
Know why you want to work in healthcare
Being able to understand all the changes that the healthcare industry is undergoing and clearly articulating why you find health-technology interesting, what you would bring to the table and being able to discuss how you would apply your skillset to the evolving industry.
Even some of the most famous CEO’s (including Tony Hsieh of Zappos) say they’ve made million dollar hiring mistakes. It happens — but with Hirewell, managing growth and procuring the right talent isn’t a pain point. They take care in understanding each candidate within their system and each business they’re doing placement for.
Matthew Massucci, co-founder of Hirewell, gave us his tips:
Start Networking Now. Don't wait until you NEED to find a job.
- Get to know people at organizations that are of interest to you. Get involved in the community and attend at least 1 networking event per quarter.
- When a recruiter calls or connects on Linkedin, have a conversation. Learn what the market wants — and see how your skills match up.
- When it comes time to look for a new job, make sure your resume gets in front of the hiring manager. Blindly sending out resumes will not get you very far. Sending through a connection or a recruiter with a strong relationship ensures that you get feedback.
Make yourself Marketable.
- Try to gain desirable skills/experience in your current role. Take on new projects that will help you get your dream job. It's much easier gaining new or increased responsibility in your current than trying to get that in a new job.
- If you can't get the necessary experience in your current job, explore training classes (but do your due diligence).
- If you are between jobs, consider taking on freelance/consulting projects to get a foot in the door and prove yourself.
Once you get your foot in the door, nail the Interview!
- Understand the interview process and be ready for every step
- Research the company, the role, and the interviewers
- Sell yourself and how you can make a major impact
DigitasLBi offers marketing and technology solutions for brands looking to progress from "now" to "what's next". They bring companies into the digital age with a variety of technical and storytellng mediums like app development, event planning and video. DigitasLBi has run large campaigns for international brands like Sprint, Whirlpool and MillerCoors.
Here's what Jamie Gribin, DigitasLBi’s Vice President and Director of Recruiting for Chicago and the San Francisco Region Lead, had to say:
Know Your Story
Be able to articulately share your personal story and sell it in an intelligent, concise way. It doesn’t matter if you were an art history or a psychology major, we are interested in your smarts and how you think about brands and consumers. If we can learn things from you, we are going to want you in a brainstorming session with us.
Bring the New, Be Fearless
As a company that prides itself on showing our clients what’s next, our candidates have to bring that same innovative thinking to their interview. Be able to talk about social trends, emerging technologies, the most popular new apps, or the latest wearables and why you love (or hate) them. Stay on top of the industry and let us know where you think it’s going. We want thought-leaders, and no idea is too big to propose. Don’t be shy.
Play Well With Others
Those group projects don’t stop after you graduate from college. One of the most important traits that make someone successful at DigitasLBi is being able to work well in a group. This is a highly collaborative environment, and we want people that can not only get the job done, but that can have a little fun while doing it. Let us know that you can bring interesting insights to the project, but are also looking forward to learning what others can bring as well. Being able to convey that you aren’t solely about personal successes, but about helping achieve the overall goal, is the mark of a true team-player and leader.
cleverbridge is an e-commerce solution partner that ensures clients don’t need to compromise speed to market with platform customization. From check-outs to billing models, they build flexible e-commerce infrastructure that supports companies as they grow in revenue and expand into new markets. cleverbridge is also a leader in cloud technology.
Cindy Maturo, cleverbridge’s HR Specialist, gave us her tips:
Include a Cover Letter with your resume
A detailed cover letter can really set you apart from other candidates. The cover letter can be a story about your life & why you are interested in working for cleverbridge and reasons why you should be hired. It also shows that the candidate put some thought into their resume submission.
Have an affinity for technology
I love it when candidates will put a paragraph on their resume of why they are looking at an e-commerce firm. It is very important that we hire people that feel passionate about technology and want to be part of the growing field of e-commerce.
Know our business
I love to hear when a candidate has read articles & blog posts about cleverbridge and is excited to join a company that has our culture.
It is important to hear why the culture of cleverbridge fits into their career path.
