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What Engineering & Science Students Need In Summer Jobs

What Engineering & Science Students Need In Summer Jobs
Summer Jobs are Important to a career

Summer Jobs are Important to a career


Today is the first day of spring and engineering & science students should be at the height of their search for summer jobs. To help these students to find the best opportunities. Here are some tips on what students should seek in their summer jobs search: 

A Chance to Apply Technical Skills: One of the biggest turnoffs of summer jobs is when employers have interns spend days and days organizing the file room. Ask the employer if you will get a chance to technical work especially if allows a chance to work on the latest software. Computer skills are high on an employer's list when they are looking to hire new grads.Summer jobs can enhance your knowledge and skills.

See "Real World" Application: Some civil engineering students have told me that they don't like getting dirty. Here my answer to them: The more you learn in the dirt, the better the design in the office. Some concepts are better understood if you see them put together in the field. The same concept applies to science majors. Sometimes the lab does not always mimic real life. If the employers is not going to offer a chance to see some real world work it may not be the right opportunity.

Learn Project Management Skills: Every engineering & science project is done according to a budget and timeline. Engineering & science students should look for opportunities to understand the role of project management in their chosen career field. 

Opportunities to Network: Believe it or not, summer jobs are great networking opportunities for future employment. There are thousands of stories of students landing good jobs because of their performance on summer jobs. Plus, the quality of the summer jobs on your resume can have an influence on a hiring manager's decision.

When Should Engineering & Science Students Start Looking for Summer Jobs? 

The best time to start is looking for summer jobs is the fall semester before the summer. I know some people will not agree but here is my rationale. It is always a good idea to start building your network early because forward thinking employers make the time to visit college campuses throughout the year and talk to professors about promising students. If you want to get ahead in the career game it is best to strike early, strike hard and strike often. Thanks for reading

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Natural Gas Cyber Attack Confirms $14 Billion Investment In Cyber Security Jobs

 My goal is to make the job seeking public aware that problems like cyber attacks can  lead  to job opportunities. Links are provided to allow the reader to read the original information.

Cyber Attack : A Real Threat To Infrastructure

In March of 2012 Pike Research, a marketing and research firm issued a report“Smart Grid Cyber Security” where they discussed the $14 Billion investment needed in smart grid cyber security in the utilities sector. Here is a quote from that report that should widen your perspective on why this level of investment is needed:

“As some technologies, such as smart metering, near a decade of thought and deployment, the approach to cyber security has become more thoughtful. One thing, unfortunately, has not changed: cyber security is still way behind the attackers.”- Pike Research Senior Analyst Bob Lockhart

Natural Gas Pipeline Cyber Attack Shows Problems & Opportunity

In May 2012, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)  revealed  that hackers have made a concerted effort to attack natural gas supply controls systems. ABCNews and FOXDC  both reported  the attackers allegedly used social media, e-mail and other websites to target employees and lure them into divulging passwords to critical systems and sensitive information. My regular readers know that I have written about the emergence and importance of cyber security jobs before but now I want to reinforce how these jobs are more critical than ever. Here is why:

  •  It has been widely reported that utility companies may not have all of people and resources needed to avert future cyber attacks. 
  • Hackers are using more sophisticated methods to attack infrastructure related systems.
  • As the smart grid build out continues, security will be a constant need

To get ahead of this threat, government agencies such as the FBI, DOD, technology, utility and energy companies are positioning themselves to hire hundreds (if not thousands) of computer security analysts and engineers. Some major colleges and universities like University of Maryland -Baltimore County (UMBC) have developed specific degree programs which are recognized by top employers.

 What You Need to Do

If you are an IT professional or job seeker here are some tips that could help your career:

  1. Find out more information on the CISSP certification, job skills and training you need to qualify for these opportunities
  2. Find out which colleges and universities offer degrees and classes for this field
  3. Subscribe to credible resources which provide the latest information on industry trends
  4. Attend conferences and networking groups to meet other professionals who can open doors to the “Hidden Job Market”
Thanks for reading. We look forward to your comments.

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Hot Job Alert:Energy Siting & Licensing Project Manager

Locations :Washington DC, Kansas City MO, Denver CO and Portland OR

Hinton Human Capital, an emerging leader in executive search in Green, Environmental and Infrastructure industries is now searching for a Energy Siting & Licensing Project Manager for a national engineering consulting firm. Ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of demonstrated experience in environmental consulting plus the following skills and abilities:

  • A “Seller/Doer” track record of business development, client & project management and technical accomplishments in siting, licensing and permitting practice for electric transmission lines, natural gas pipelines and other energy facilities (both traditional and renewable) in the Mid West, Mountain States and Northwest US.
  • Ability to build and maintain relationships clients, regulators and stake holders
  • Knowledge of Federal Permitting such as FERC, NEPA & CCN
  • Oversee and lead project teams in all phases of the execution and delivery of energy and utility projects including data collection, right of way studies and environmental assessments
  • Experience managing the overall delivery of projects including; project planning and controls, financial management, change management, risk management, and contract/subcontract management

 Requirements

  • BS Degree in Engineering, Environmental Science or Environmental Planning
  • Master’s degree in Environmental Planning, Science, or Engineering preferred
  • Registrations such as AICP, PE or CES are preferred

 

 Apply Now

 

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4 Lessons Peyton Manning Can Teach Green & Environmental Job Seekers

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Like every other NFL fan, I was sad to see Peyton Manning leave the Indianapolis Colts. It was the somber end of an era for Colts fans and a joyous beginning for his next team. As I listened to Peyton’s speech, I realized that he is now a job seeker who has to find the right team that will fit his goals and talents.  It is an odd thing to think that a multi-millionaire star athlete is looking for a job but it is true. So my thoughts turned to some lessons we could learn from this football great.

Over the years of listening to sports talk radio; watching  Peyton’s games and watching ESPN, I have heard many superlatives describing Peyton as a person and a quarterback. Here are some quotes from famous people and stories about Peyton Manning  that teach lessons that job seekers can incorporate in their job searches.

Be better prepared than everyone else

Famous microbiologist, Louis Pasteur, once said “Chance favors the prepared mind”.   Tales of how Peyton prepares for a game have reached mythical proportions. He would study film and watch games of opponents until he could anticipate their defensive tendencies in situations.

Job seekers should be prepared for their interviews by thoroughly studying the company, job description and how their experience can meet the employer’s needs.

Don’t afraid to learn to new skills and strategies

Futurist Alvin Toffler said ” the illiterate of the 21st century are [........] those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn“. One story told of Peyton Manning is during the last games of the Colts’  Super Bowl season, he played quarterback for the scout team in practice. To prepare for those practices, he learned their opponent’s entire offense and then executed to it perfection.

Job seekers should make learning new job skills and job search strategies a priority during their search. I know some training maybe outside of your budget but volunteering can bring  learning and networking opportunities together.

Always write down ideas and develop them

Another great quote to remember is ” A short pencil is better than a long memory”.  Coaches and teammates who were interviewed during March 7th said that Peyton constantly wrote down ideas on a legal pad during film sessions and practice. Then at team meetings, he would present the ideas he believed would enhance their chances of winning .

New ideas can become a source of income or new job opportunities  if they are fully developed. There are thousands of stories of job seekers turning their ideas into successful businesses. Take time to work through your ideas because they may be great opportunities.

Use all forms of communication to reach your objective

Watching Peyton Manning in game is a great study in communication. He uses all methods of communication at his disposal-  his voice, hand signals and  body motions, to get his point across to his teammates.

Job seekers who do not use networking, social media and other forms of communication in their job search are not maximizing their chances to find a new job opportunity. One good thing to do is to make at least one new personal contact per day that can move your resume into one of your target companies. A hand carried resume always gets read by a hiring manager.

Thanks for reading

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Hot Job Alert: Environmental Sales/Account Manager-Alabama

Hinton Human Capital, an emerging leader in executive search in Green, Environmental and Infrastructure industries is now searching for a Sales/Account Manager for a national environmental contractor in Birmingham, Alabama. The ideal candidate will have at least 5-10 years of sales experience plus the following skills and abilities:

Job Description

  • Demonstrated track record of selling services to local government agencies, industrial/manufacturing companies and utilities within a sales territory.
  • Experience selling environmental services such as disaster recovery/emergency response, decontamination, environmental lab services, environmental cleanup, heavy equipment and tank cleaning services is preferred
  • Ability to develop relationships which garner repeat business through professional organizations and networking.
  • Ability to work closely with internal staff in responding to RFPs, formulating proposals and presentations.
  • Assisting other sales staff with business development.

Qualifications

  • BS degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering or Science is required
  • Knowledge of the Alabama (Montgomery, Birmingham, Decatur Markets) is required
  • Experience using sale tools such as CRM, other databases and websites to generate leads

 

Apply Now

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