1101 North Market Street

Suite 125

Milwaukee, WI 53202

And, there’s a new Post Office Box Too:

PO Box 511088

Milwaukee, WI 53203-0181

The phone number stays the same.

Thanks for being part of The Waterstone Group; make sure to update your Waterstone Group contact information!

If you’ve searched the regular job boards, you probably know the answer to that question: very, very seldom.

Usually the positions offered on these vehicles don’t utilize your specific talents or engineering expertise. Often the company or position doesn’t present the challenge you’re seeking. There’s a good reason for this.

All too often, the best engineering jobs for you don’t get posted on the regular job boards.

In today’s market, demand for the very best engineers is high, especially when a position requires a special skill set. How do employers qualify the best engineers for specialized positions? Over the years, employers (and employees!) have experienced directly what common sense suggests: Companies seldom just toss out a public “help wanted” and hope that the truly best qualified engineer shows up at the right moment.

The best employment opportunities -– the ones that will propel your career forward – are not broadly and obviously advertised. That’s why we call them “hidden.”

The Waterstone Group will help you discover them. That’s because our professionals have collectively decades of strong experience that’s recognized and relied on by the top engineering firms. The decision makers trust us to recommend engineers who have the right skills and the right professional profile for their company.

The hidden job market is, in one sense, easy to understand. But the process of entering it is demanding. With our vast experience in helping companies fill top engineering positions in the Milwaukee, Green Bay and Sheboygan markets, The Waterstone Group is the gateway to the hidden engineering job market.

In preparing for a successful interview, the job seeker should be ready to ask the employer good questions as well as answer them. We believe that a good question from a job seeker shows genuine interest in the company and opens up opportunities for further discussion. Show familiarity with the company by avoiding questions that can be answered easily from information on the company’s website, so your questions during the interview will be meaningful.

Here are some sample questions you may want to ask during your interview for an engineering position:

• What would a typical work week look like 90 days from now?
• How would you describe the company’s organizational culture?
• Is there a specific job description?
• For the past 5 to 10 years how often has this position been filled?
• What are the most important responsibilities you expect for this position?
• What are some of the key challenges that need to be addressed?
• Why is this position available?
• What systems/programs/software will be required for this position?
• Can we discuss short-term and long-term goals and priorities for this position?
• What qualifications are you looking for in this position?

Waterstone’s team helps you achieve the engineering position that makes the most of your talents in the Milwaukee, Sheboygan, and Green Bay markets. Matching you with companies looking for accomplished professionals is our job, and we dedicate our complete attention to it. Through tips and advice from our experienced team, we’ll make sure you’re prepared for your engineering interview.

The Waterstone Group recognized the advantages of contract work early on and we’ve led thousands of talented technical professionals to the best contract and direct positions at the best companies around.  Though less confident technical people may shun contract work in the name of job stability, the reality is that contract employment may afford better
stability than direct employment because contract employees work for firms that have deep relationships with numerous companies, which means more opportunity for employees.  Plus, the nature of contract work keeps technical skills sharp and varied.  That’s always an advantage!

As the marketplace changes and contract employment continues to grow in prominence and desirability, there’s a contact that doesn’t ; The Waterstone Group.

You win by matching up your individual skills and preferences with the right technical position at the best companies in Milwaukee, Sheboygan and Green Bay, and The Waterstone Group is the best company to work with.  Talk to a Waterstone professional and you’ll find that we provide you the best possible resource for maximizing your career.

In our highly competitive economy, strong branding is essential. When people buy detergent, do they just pick any old bottle? No, most people lean toward a particular brand. When employers look for the best choices for their positions, they can see brands in candidates as well – strong and weak, attractive and questionable. So here’s some solid advice from the Waterstone Group on branding yourself for a strong, attractive online presence.

For starters, don’t just spew numbers and engineering jargon that might not read clearly or present you coherently. Infographics are an easy, direct way of getting your message across in a manner that’s accessible to readers. Sites like Re.vu or Vizualize.me make it easy to introduce yourself in a clear, appealing way.

Splash pages help viewers easily access your specific professional assets. They contain info and links to your various websites or social platforms. Having those all in one place is not only convenient, but it ensures that viewers know that you exist on multiple platforms instead of having them search endlessly for you on Google. Thanks to their comprehensiveness and versatility, splash pages serve as the easiest method of sharing. (About.me is a good place to make your first splash page.)

Blogging has its perks, too. Make a Tumblr or WordPress about your professional story so that viewers know who you are as a person and a potential employee. By documenting yourself as a professional, employers will see you take your profession seriously. Just make sure you’re never too off-topic when keeping up a blog.

But just because you have all these useful branding media doesn’t mean employers will see it. Learn to share your information wisely, not over-doing it or under-doing it.

Waterstone’s dedication to linking engineering professionals with companies seeking skilled employees goes above and beyond traditional recruiting. We’ll work with you – in person, over the phone, or online — to give you tips and tools you can use to make the most of your unique brand when companies are looking for fresh talent.

]]> http://www.waterstonegroup.net/blog/solid-advice-from-waterstone-branding-yourself-online/feed/ 0 http://www.waterstonegroup.net/blog/preparing-for-a-video-interview-milwaukee/ http://www.waterstonegroup.net/blog/preparing-for-a-video-interview-milwaukee/#comments Wed, 05 Sep 2012 14:21:00 +0000 Waterstone Man http://www.waterstonegroup.net/blog/?p=190 Last week we examined the role of social media in today’s employment market, focusing on LinkedIn. This week our topic is a job search method that’s also worth looking at: the video interview, which is quickly becoming a popular way for companies to get a feel for prospective employees.

What can you do to help prepare yourself for a video interview? Is there a certain etiquette one must follow? Waterstone has a few tips for your next video interview.

Pick the Right Location: This can be a tricky decision. Stay away from public areas, as well as parts of your home that may be especially loud (such as the side of a house or an apartment facing the street). Make sure the place is well lit, preferably with natural light, to ensure that your interviewer can see your face. Finally, make sure there aren’t items or pictures in the room that may be distracting to you or the interviewer.

Test It Out: The worst potential; problems in a video interview are technology-related. Take time before the interview to familiarize yourself with the video program, ensuring that you know what to do when using it during the interview. If you know that your laptop or computer has had issues in the past, work with a technology professional beforehand to make sure those issues are resolved before your interview. It’s also a good idea to have a back-up system available.

Dress Properly: Just because it’s a video interview doesn’t mean you should dress down. Dress as though you were meeting the interviewer face-to-face. And don’t assume you only need to dress from the waist up; video interviewees standing up have been embarrassed in the past.

Be Professional: Be confident. Sit up straight and make direct eye contact with the camera. And make sure that you’re heard. Speak up, but don’t pop the interviewer’s eardrums.

Waterstone’s team of professional staffers helps you attain the engineering position you’ve been waiting for. Matching you with companies looking for new talent is our job, and we dedicate our complete attention to it. Through tips and advice from our experienced team, we’ll make sure you’re prepared for challenges like video interviews.

Since the Internet’s introduction to the public in the early ‘90s, human interaction has required a new and significant electronic dimension. Websites like Facebook, Twitter, and the business world’s LinkedIn now help people across the globe connect in ways as varied as a friendly Skype session or a video conference with your boss.

The importance of networking sites has grown tremendously over the 21st century. Today hardly anyone does a serious job search without first checking out online employment postings. The crucial electronic version of the old, paper résumè seem almost obsolete. Most employers now search for new employees online. The leading site aiding those employers and their potential new employees is LinkedIn, which as of June 2012 boasts over 175 million users.

Is LinkedIn a good vehicle for your employment goals? Is there some better way for you to make a professional impact online?

If you’re old enough, you can remember the era when mailing résumès was the center of a job search. That form of job searching has been largely eclipsed by the more immediate and dynamic medium of LinkedIn. LinkedIn is more than just your résumè on a screen; it is a means of giving potential employers ready access to who you really are and where your strengths lie. In an age where one must grab the attention of the employer as quickly as possible, LinkedIn has provided the space and wherewithal for skilled employees to show themselves as both a worker and a personality. Employers are using LinkedIn to look at specifics, so when creating or editing your profile, ensure that it is concise but includes necessary specifics. Give employers a reason to look longer at your page by showing what is unique about you, by positioning yourself outside the pool filled with many peers. Present any awards or accolades near the beginning, though not boastfully. (You don’t want to come off as arrogant.)

No blog post can properly express how important a site like LinkedIn is, but this networking giant should not be ignored. Its growth over the past half decade has shown that employers are now trusting the Internet with key personal processes. So if you do have a profile, keep it up-to-date and professional. If you don’t have one, it might put your job search at a disadvantage.

Waterstone’s team of technical staffers can help skilled engineers in the Green Bay, Sheboygan, and Milwaukee markets find the position that’s right for them. Networking is key in this process, and our dedication to helping your name reach employers is our top priority -– face-to-face, over the mail, by phone, or online.

Know where your peers stand: Often, those who network lightly are most likely not seeing the real picture. That is, there is a lack of comparison between them and their peers, something which may prove useful when competing for a particular position. Knowing what your peers are doing can give you a better idea of where you place amongst people in your field.

Internal development: When people think of networking, they often think of it as a means of staying in contact with people outside of your company. However, this shouldn’t solely be the case considering that many of the people one should be networking with are right under their nose. Moving up the latter takes more than personal drive–it takes connections. And connecting with those around you at work can prove to be vital when interviews for that new position you’ve been wanting open up. Learn from your peers at your company and use their experience to help you propel yourself to that next level.

Support: Networking is not only key to helping you land a new job or make some useful connections, but it’s also a way to help you talk things through with people who know where you’re coming from. Whether you need to vent or talk about your field, networking and making connections can give you peace of mind.

We at Waterstone help to connect you with companies seeking new talent. Networking is a tool we use to help match you with a job within the technical engineering field. Serving Green Bay, Sheboygan, and Milwaukee, Waterstone aims to make successful partnerships.

One of the most overlooked aspects of an engineering career, or any career for that matter, is setting goals for yourself. Through goals, you’ll be able to hold yourself to a particular standard, ensuring that you’re never off the mark. Furthermore, it gives you something to aim for; as opposed to looking straight, you’ll look up.

When it comes to networking, some people often find themselves in a polarizing bind: you either just hand out a couple of a business cards and leave, or you overly sell yourself. You have to find a happy middle where you exchange business cards, but also follow up with those networks via lunch or a phone conversation that blends both friendliness and business.

Sometimes it’s hard to get that extra push or guidance to your next goal, but with the help of a mentor, it can take loads off your stress. Many companies nowadays offer mentoring programs, though you might have to do some digging around in Human Resources for that. These mentors are often a part (or were a part) of the company itself, and will guide you with the help of their prior experiences.

At Waterstone, our mission is to help match engineering talent with companies that are in search of it. Through our Stones of Wisdom and professional outlook, we aim to bridge talyented engineers throughout Milwaukee, Sheboygan, and Green Bay to new and exciting companies.

Wisconsinites are hardworking, fun-loving people. From the docks of Green Bay to the office buildings of Milwaukee, this state is as hard working as it is hard playing.

When people think of engineers, the image of a hard worker usually comes to mind first. They often see the glasses-wearing, fun-challenged ‘nerds’ portrayed by some ‘80s movies. That image isn’t just dated, it’s flat wrong. Being an engineer might be one of the coolest professions out there. As an engineer, your job is essentially to be as creative as possible.

Outsiders often pigeonhole engineering as a career calling on little creativity and much technical skill. And while being well educated and technically savvy is certainly a necessity, engineering also requires healthy exercise of the brain’s inventive and experimental muscles.

As PhillyBurbs.com writer Rachel Rotteveel states, “Engineers invent, design and create almost every piece of technology we use today.” That iPhone you’re holding? Designed by a team of engineers. The car that got you to work today? Created by a team of engineers.

The engineering field is not limited to making bridges or buildings, or any narrowly defined expertise. Rather, it’s a wide array of possibilities that allows engineers to enjoy creative discretion while they’re working hard.

But the creative aspect is only half of the profession’s appeal. Despite the recent recession and wavering job market, the engineering sector has remained one of our economy’s strongest. Moreover, it has also become one of the most lucrative job sectors in America, with mid-career salaries entering easily into the $100k area, according to a recent AOL Jobs article. Engineering is one of the most professionally useful degrees in the country. The general perception of the field needs to be reexamined, because engineering provides a place for creativity, thoughtfulness, and financial security.

Waterstone’s team is deep in experience and knowledge of the engineering field, and our goal is to help engineering careers reach their maximum potential throughout key Wisconsin markets. There’s no doubt that engineering is one of the more important professional sectors in the emerging world economy. Let us help you take the next step in making the most of your engineering career.