Chemical Engineer Job Search Tips

March 4th, 2016 by Staff

Chemical engineer job searches, like most engineering jobs are plagued with many irrelevant search results. Chemical engineering is a complex professional field. Your job search should be for skills, not just generic job titles. In chemical engineering, which is a particularly diverse field, the job title of itself is almost unworkable as a search term. You may find yourself searching everything but what you’re looking for.

Searching for Chemical Engineering Jobs Online

These very highly technical jobs can include things nobody but chemical engineers could understand, and there, fortunately, is the way out of the search problem. If you’re a polymer specialist, or have some other particular area of expertise, the job descriptions and essential criteria will do the searching for you. These terms don’t occur in other jobs except occasional academic jobs, and you may be interested in those, too.

Any unique search terms which relate directly to your preferred job options will do, as long as it’s job related. “Polymer”, for example, is a little too common, but “polymerization” isn’t. You could include characteristics of your work, or particular areas of interest.

Get more helpful information at http://www.cvtips.com/job-search/chemical-engineer-job-search-tips.html


Getting ready for the big interview? Do you know the answers?

February 25th, 2016 by Staff

50 Most Common Interview Questions

When it comes to the interview process, research and preparation for the interview can often times determine your chances of making it to the next step. One of the best ways to get ready for a job interview is to practice your responses to any and all interview questions – even the downright weird.

To help you get started, Glassdoor sifted through tens of thousands of interview reviews to find out some of the most common interview questions candidates get asked during recent interviews. So, if you have a job interview lined up, practice in front of a mirror or ask a friend or family member to listen to your answers to the following questions so you’ll be ready to put your best foot forward.

Most Common Interview Questions

  1. What are your strengths?
  2. What are your weaknesses?
  3. Why are you interested in working for [insert company name here]?
  4. Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?
  5. Why do you want to leave your current company?
  6. Why was there a gap in your employment between [insert date] and [insert date]?
  7. What can you offer us that someone else can not?
  8. What are three things your former manager would like you to improve on?
  9. Are you willing to relocate?
  10. Are you willing to travel?

Read more at  https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/common-interview-questions/


Value is in the eye of the beholder…what does your resume say?

April 3rd, 2014 by Staff

 

Defining Your Value Proposition?
{Click on the title above to read the original article on Careerrocketeer.}

A newly coined term that has become ubiquitous over the past decade in the Job Search sphere is Value Proposition. You’ll read and hear about it in association with networking, writing a resume and conducting an interview. The first step in defining your Value Proposition is also where many go wrong; they fail to understand that value, just like beauty, is in the eyes of the beholder. To find your true value you must first know what people need and want from you more so than concentrating on what you have to offer.

IN A RESUME: In many new style resumes you will find various sections titled Value Proposition. Some include a text box listing highly desired skills and keywords under the section heading of Value Proposition. Some resumes include a section where they expound on valuable character traits an employer desires and title this section Value Proposition. Some resumes will list relevant achievements and accomplishments and this area is called Value Proposition. All three approaches can be successful in a resume as long as you know what the employer values most and where and how to visually place it in the resume for maximum effect.

IN AN INTERVIEW: Here too value is in knowing what the employer needs and values most in this hire and addressing that point above all others.

For instance: Company A looking to hire a new Sales Manager might consider long established customer relationships in their field as the most important value in a new hire. Company B in the same field might consider the ability to build and lead a team from scratch as the most valuable asset in a new hire. Company C also in this field might value the ability to change the existing culture and sales process as the most valuable asset in a new hire. Finally Company D in this same field might consider the ability to set goals and monitor revenues and budgets as the most valuable factor in a new hire.

As a seasoned Sales Manager who excels at all of the qualities listed above you need to know the importance each of the employers places on each skill and ability and how much and when to emphasize each during an interview so you are offering the employer maximum value for their specific need. If you focus your Value Proposition in the interview on the wrong values the company will view you as a highly qualified candidate but not the one we need to hire at this time.

IN NETWORKING: This is where I will often cut against conventional opinions. I feel your Value Proposition is molded around what you can offer to others and not about what they can do for you. For instance, when you’re participating in a 1-2 minute round robin networking event with 10 other people, 9 of them will tell you about themselves and I propose you spend your time telling the other 9 people what it is you can do to help them.

The same holds true when you make a new contact. Don’t start off telling them what you need from them or what you can offer someone they might know. Start off by telling them what the value in knowing you is for them. It can be your willingness to introduce them to others, your willingness to share nonproprietary business information, your willingness to help them on a task or project they are having difficulty with. This is a real Value Proposition they will remember you for.

This same wisdom holds true when you propose to connect on LinkedIn. Tell the person why you can be a valuable contact for them and invite them to use you, reciprocity is a given but they will be more receptive knowing the connection is a 2-way street.


Six Sigma Introductory Training Offer Extended

September 24th, 2012 by admin

Are you Six Sigma certified?

The very popular introductory Six Sigma White Belt course that was launched earlier this year is now extended through the summer of 2012. The course offers an overview of Six Sigma as a way to familiarize the individual with basic principles. The certification program consists of 4 Six Sigma PDF lessons, a Flash Video, and a Flash quiz. Upon successful completion of the quiz (16 out of 18 questions must be answered correctly), a printable “White Belt Certification” is available for download.

“There has been an overwhelming response to this certification!” stated Craig Setter, CEO of Aveta Business Institute. “The free White Belt Program is meant to be an introduction to the Six Sigma Methodology with no strings attached or monetary commitments; a chance for prospective students to see what the methodology is all about and how an online certification course might work.”

Once familiar with the basics, most students continue on with the higher popular levels of Six Sigma certification. All higher levels of Lean Six Sigma certification, including Yellow Belt, Green Belt, and Black Belt, are also offered by Six Sigma Online through online, self-paced training.

This complimentary White Belt Training and Certification, which has been available on a trial basis since February 2012, can be found at www.sixsigmaonline.org.


Resources for Chemical Engineers

July 13th, 2012 by admin

Did you know that the AIChe offers free back issues of its monthly magazine to association members? Each issue of CEP is packed with practical information you can apply to current or future projects. Read about technological advances in the chemical process and related industries. Get monthly updates on business news and get advice on how to improve your career. Gain insight on technical issues like safety, environmental management, fluids and solids handling, reactions and separations, information technology, and more. CEP is written and edited by chemical engineering professionals for chemical engineering professionals.

AIChE members have free online access to CEP, including archived issues back to January 2001 —  Follow this link to access back issues.