MISSO IT Hiring Trends & Interview Tips 2009 by James Del Monte CPC, CERS JDA Professional Services, Inc.

Agenda Overview of JDA Current Trends Future Trends Taking Personal Inventory Packaging Your Skills Selling Yourself 101 The Hard Questions Questions

“... Almost 100% of a manager’s success comes from hiring and retaining good people. Good people don’t make the difference - they are the difference“ - James Del Monte - CERS

What JDA Does... JDA Professional Services, Inc. is a Houston-based IT staffing firm specializing in the recruitment of strategic-technical to executive-level professionals. We provide staffing solutions through full-time, contract, and project-based placements. Since 1981, we have been helping companies build great IT departments while helping IT professionals find the right career opportunities. Full-Time Staffing Contract / Temporary Staffing Special Projects Staffing JDA

Leadership Industry/Business knowledge Networking Opportunities Friendship Value of a Professional Organization

Networking for Success On going process - not an event Stay in touch over the long haul Give first before you ask in return Add value first

Law of Supply and Demand The demand for skilled professionals peaked 4Q07 and bottomed out 3Q 09. The current cycle indicates that we are in recovery. In Houston good people are still hard to find. Labor Surplus vs. Skill Shortage Q01 4Q04 4Q99 Demand Peaked Supply Demand 1989 Demand Bottomed 3Q03 Demand Bottomed 4Q07 Demand Peaked

Employment Index

Unemployment Among IT Professionals below National Average 9.5% or Texas 8.5% Occupation 2Q:09 Unemployment rate Computer and information systems managers6.3% Computer support specialists7.5 Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers8.0 Computer programmers3.4 Computer scientists and systems analysts6.4 Computer software engineers5.0 Database administrators3.6 Network and computer systems administrators7.2 Network systems and data communications analysts4.2 Source: unpublished tabulations of Current Population Survey data furnished by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Market Shift The job market has shifted from a Job Seeker’s Market to an Employers Market - to a Combination Market. – Good People are hard to find. Candidate Position Candidate

CIO Survey Houston CIO’s or IT Executives Surveyed 27% Hiring Entry Level in % Hiring Interns or Part-Time Students

Generation Perception Strengths Connected Networking with others Multi-tasking Team players – collective action Structured workers Complex problem solving Traditional values Desire to succeed Tech savvy Heroic spirit Tenacious Weaknesses Catered to Work habits Attention span Immediate gratification Need for feedback 80% turn over first year Grade inflation / abilities No independent responsibility Unrealistic expectation Lack of patience Inexperience in life skills

Gen Y 74% of employers say Gen Y workers expect to be paid more 61% say Gen Y workers expect to have flexible schedules 56% say Gen Y workers expect to be promoted within the year 50% say Gen Y workers expect to have more vacation or personal time 37% say Gen Y workers expect to have access to state-of-the-art technology Bingham consulting professionals 2008

4 Generations > 46 Depression WWII Baby Boomers Generation X Generation Y or millennial

How Work Gets Done Off-shoring Out-sourcing

True or False The person with the highest GPA gets the interview? The person with the best skills gets the job? The best interviewer gets the job? The person that’s the best fit gets the job? Most interviewers are not professional interviewers and are uncomfortable? Good preparation is key to a successful interview? It is better to have experience than to know someone?

Selling Yourself “It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have one and not be prepared.” – Whitney Young JR

#1 Suggestion by IT Executives Learn the Business Your biggest asset? = ability to make money – this will take constant training and upgrading – invest both time and money in oneself. You have to INVEST in your biggest asset! Think ROI.

Skills CIO’s Look For Personal Inventory Business/Functional Project Management Communication - written and oral Presentation Problem Solving Critical Thinking Leadership Organization Skills Time Management Attention to Detail Learning Ability Flexibility Identify Examples For Each

What Makes a Successful Employee Showing up on time – ready to work Attitude - positive optimistic Aptitude being able to learn Ability being able to perform Doing what it takes Plays well with others A faithful employee is as refreshing as a cool day in the hot summertime. Proverbs 26 13

Strengths & Weaknesses List your top three Give an example of each Why would this matter to me

Types of Interviews Biographical – resume verification. Functional – what do you do? Accomplishment – what have you done? Behavioral – tell me about a time?

Tell me about yourself? Product Definition 30 second introduction  2 line summary of experience  2 lines of career highlights  2 lines of what you want to do next

Interview Structure Tips & Techniques Ask not what your company can do for you but what you can do for your company Prepare  Research  Know Yourself  Why You Meet & Greet Seek to Understand  Identify issues Sell Yourself  Solve the problem Hard Questions  Money Closing  Asking for it

The Money Question $$ The market sets the price $$ Ask and you shall receive

Besides money what is important to you? First review and history for increases Promotions and career path First assignment Training and certifications Bonuses and incentives Benefit package – cost and coverage Flexibility Location Telecommuting Access to management Total Package

Compensation Package Components Base salary Signing bonus Group bonus Project bonus Hot skill bonus Clothing bonus Travel bonus Early reviews Expense account Company car Stock or stock options Retirement plans 401k Titles Office space Parking – bus passes van pools Flexible scheduling Telecommuting Equipment Training/tuition Out of town trips Extra/early vacation Family days Day care

Asking for the job –closing the deal Summary statement What is the next step Will you be making me an offer I am interested in working for you Is there any reason why you won’t be making me an offer Moving the Interview Forward

Who’s Hiring Interns & Entry Level List in the works

Advice from CIO’s Develop your personal network Specific technology can be learned as needed In the fast changing technology, knowledge, ability, skills and habits are all combined to make a career Make sure that all strategic plans are tied to a technology plan Have personal integrity, be humble, be frank and honest Get technical, stay intellectual and put in more than you take out while you are in a career building mode. Look for mentors to help you improve. Be aggressive in ways to help the business (don’t just wait for someone to give you work). Half of everything you know today will be obsolete in three years. Maintain a healthy balance between self, family and work. Laugh a lot and eat your vegetables.

“ May you live in interesting times” - Confucius

Questions ??????

Favorite Speaker Pick your favorite number from 1-9 Multiply that number by 3 Then add 3 to that number Then multiply that total by 3 You’ll get a 2 digit or a 3 digit number Add the digits. Now, use your answer to find your role model

Favorite Speaker 1. Barack Obama 2. DR Parks 3. Oprah Winfrey 4. Colin Powell 5. Bill Gates 6. W Bush 7. Jon Stewart 8. Helen Clark 9. James Del Monte 10. Einstein

701 North Post Oak Road Suite 610 Houston, Texas Phone: Contract and Full-time Staffing Information Technology Staffing Specialists Consulting and Special Projects