HCSS Career Center

HCSS Career Center

Archives for June 2017

Career Change is Possible When the Right Company Supports You

Blog, Development

Like many college students, I changed my major path during my university career.

I was a pharmacy student who realized one semester in, after studying and working in a pharmacy, that it wasn’t what I wanted in a career. I took some time off to decide what I did want in a career, and web development caught my attention. It offers a lot of creative freedom to allow me to build something from scratch to a final product and showcase what I have made.

The transition to a computer science major was not always smooth sailing. Unlike people who have been coding their whole life, I was still very new to the field, and I had so much more to learn. Since pharmacy and computer science are two polar opposite fields, it felt as if I even had to relearn how I learn things. Computer science emphasizes problem solving and hands-on experience instead of memorization, which took some getting used to.

When I saw a job posting from HCSS looking for interns, I was very excited to apply. Instead of focusing on the number of years of experience potential hires have, the company focuses more on the candidate’s ability and willingness to learn. I landed a position at HCSS as a data analyst intern for BidHistory.com, and after the product was discontinued, instead of losing my job, the company offered me a position in the product management team. Since then, I have gained many valuable skills, such as website development, SQL, and much more. I also received lots of guidance and support from fellow HCSS employees, which helped me greatly.

A year later, I transitioned into the software development intern position, and even as an intern I got to work on actual product software. I started on smaller bugs and slowly gained enough knowledge to fix bigger problems and add features. I enjoy the work that I do, and my coworkers are fun and amazing! I get to contribute to great products and have a positive impact on the company.

It has been two years since I changed my career path, and the experience has been quite a pleasant journey. I plan to stay at HCSS after I graduate because of the great experience I had here as an intern. Everyone is always ready to jump in and help me learn when I am having any problems, and I’m never afraid to ask questions because I know that I will always learn something new from my coworkers. HCSS has allowed me to step into the world of software development, and it is truly a great place to work because of the awesome people, beautiful facilities, and great benefits.

5 Things I Have Learned Working at HCSS (An Intern’s Perspective)

Blog, Interns

1. Talk to people; they’ll talk back.

They really will. There are no cold shoulders here at HCSS. I have not encountered one cold person, which shows that HCSS employs a really awesome group of individuals. If you want to meet people, say hi to them. Ask them odd questions, like, “What is your favorite song to dance to?” or “What was the last midnight snack you ate?”

Even if you don’t know the person super well, still ask because:

• All people are important and no one is a waste of time.

• In 3 seconds you can achieve a different level of depth.

• It keeps you on your toes so you don’t become an automated robot whose day always seems to be going ‘okay’ or ‘fine’ or ‘good.’

2. Sore? Take the slide.

The slide is not only fun to ride down but also really convenient when your legs are sore from company-sponsored strength training or bootcamp or just working out in general. And the slide leads rights to my office pod so it works out really well. I am living large. But not too large. Appreciation is key.

3. Working hard or hardly working?

Contrary to popular belief, office perks like ping pong tables, workout classes, team sports, a stocked kitchen, basketball, full locker rooms, and hoverboards actually promote productivity and high-quality work. I can’t imagine a workplace without these components — partly because this is my first professional workplace experience (and boy is the bar set high), but mainly because I have noticed the outcome of investing in these amenities. For instance, all of these things develop an engaging community within the company, which leads to more cohesive teamwork and an overall more positive work environment, which boosts productivity. And by encouraging movement, blood circulates better through the body, which sharpens the mind and stimulates creativity, also boosting productivity. Who knew ping pong tables and basketball courts had such a positive impact on work environment?

4. Running isn’t as bad as it seems.

I hate(d) running before working at HCSS. I don’t know if it’s because it seems to be a cardio favorite around here or because I really don’t like it and want to get better at it or because HCSS has facilities that allow for an early morning run before work that makes it more appealing, but since coming here, I have actually really enjoyed the sport. I think my mindset has changed. I no longer perceive it as a death sentence but rather as a opportunity to work hard to get better at something, instead of just automatically accepting defeat and moving on. This builds character. Running builds character.

5. True success comes from pure intentions.

HCSS encourages the Socratic question of “Why?” especially in regards to the reasons HCSS operates the way it does. From discussions that have stemmed from this question, I have found a very admirable idea that I really like and think should be every company’s mindset: True success comes from pure intentions. This can be applied to all areas of life. HCSS is focused on providing the best customer service in the industry. They are here to serve their customers. Monetary profit is a byproduct and not the main focus. They take pride in the quality of their work and the satisfaction of their customers. They didn’t come into the game aiming to make more money and dominate the field, they came because they saw a need that hadn’t been fulfilled, and they wanted to provide this service in the best way. They continue to grow and attain success because their intentions remain pure.

Career Fair SWAG

Blog, Talent

While I’m not giving you a free clicky pen or a drawstring bag, I am about to provide you with the best piece of recruiting SWAG you will get all summer — knowledge.  Below, I have broken down the essentials to nailing your next appearance at your local career fair.

S – Study

Let’s think about what happens 99 percent of the time at a career fair. You show up to the booth and then wait in line to shake the hand of the recruiter at the booth. You leave your résumé, walk away, and think to yourself, “I really hope they remember me.” I hate to be the bearer of unfortunate news, but you just did exactly what the other 100-plus candidates did, and it’s not likely that the recruiter will remember you from any of them.

The best way to make a great first impression and separate yourself from the crowd is to do your research (AKA Study up) on the company and their current openings. It shows you cared enough to do actual work by researching and then applying what you learned. It also potentially gives you access to an actual, personal conversation instead of being one of 100 handshakes. Which would you rather get?

Let’s do some quick scene study:

YOU:
“What do you guys do and do you have any openings for my skills?

ALSO YOU:
Oh, by the way, here is my résumé.”

RECRUITER:
(In a robotic monotone voice)
“Thanks for the résumé. We’ll keep it on file. We’re a software company who creates software for construction companies. Thanks for stopping by. Make sure you apply online. Bye!”

**END SCENE**

Not the most dynamic scene, right? You didn’t make a real impression, and the recruiter in this scene probably said the exact same thing to you that he’s said 100 times to 100 different people that day.

Now let’s look at this scene:

YOU:
“I saw that you guys are a great company and conveniently located right down the street from my favorite restaurant. Also, I’m really interested in the marketing position you have open. Here is my résumé with my latest project at the top. Do you think my skills and experience would fit with that particular role?”

RECRUITER:
(Mind blown)
 “As a matter of fact, I do think your résumé matches up with what we’re looking for. Would you mind stepping to the side and telling me more about what you’ve been working on?”

**END SCENE**

Which scene would you prefer – the first, or the second? Obviously you want the second one — duh. I’d choose that every day of the week.  There is a dramatic difference with only just a small amount of effort applied!

As recruiters, we are all guilty of robotically reciting the same bit over and over again. So when you walk up prepared and we finally get to have a conversation, our brains become engaged and we are much more likely to recall that conversation and, in turn, you. A little bit of work will go a long way.

W – Wake up early

Want to know how a career fair works from an insider’s perspective? The recruiters show up early in the morning to set up, go get some bagels or muffins from the continental breakfast, snag a cup of coffee to go, and walk back to our booth and wait. We then proceed to check LinkedIn on our phones and make some tweets announcing that we are at the career fair. Then it happens — the whole reason why we came! A candidate walks up! We stand up, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed with literally as much enthusiasm we are going to have all day. If you show up early, you are getting every recruiter in that room at their peak, before the long day takes its toll.

SIDE NOTE:  As a candidate, pay attention the next time you go to a career fair. There will eventually be a point where those behind the booths will start sitting down. At that point, your chances of being remembered go down as well. That is a sign that Mr. or Ms. Recruiter is now starting the process of checking out. They have been on their feet all day, and they are counting the minutes until the fair is over.  

Last thing on this point: do not be that person that sees a company packing up and approaches them.  You might as well put your résumé in the trash – at this point the recruiters are not in a place to accept résumés anymore. And you are now running the risk of being seen as late and preventing them from leaving. Do yourself a favor – show up early!

A – Appearance

Don’t judge a book by its cover. It sounds nice in theory, but let’s be honest – we all judge books, movies, and products by their covers. Walking through a career fair is no exception.   

Before I go any further, I am not saying that if you do not have a suit and tie, you are straight out of luck.  What I am saying, however, is that whatever you do wear, make sure it reflects how great you are and is not distracting. You want us talking to you and remembering your résumé and your attitude, not your wrinkled tie or coffee-stained shirt.  

Think of this as a pseudo-blind audition. Dress for the part you are looking to play. You would not dress in athletic shorts and a student organization t-shirt if you were auditioning for the part of “trendy business analyst” or “suave sales professional.” You would wear something to impress the casting agent, and something that is appropriate for the character you are looking to play.  

Recruiters and casting agents alike are less likely to fault you for overdressing than they are to fault you for underdressing.

G – Good Follow-up

Like I mentioned above, recruiters are likely to interact with more than 100 candidates at a large career fair. That means you can do everything right and still slip through the cracks. When we get back to the office, we are coming back to a day’s worth of catch-up work. Unfortunately, one of the last things on our mind is unpacking our career fair bag. Where do you think your résumé is? It is in that bag! And while this bag situation is not always the case, it is good for you to follow up on your career fair conversation every time.

Whether you formally apply online or send an informal email, staying in front of the recruiter is critical.  Before you walk away from the career fair booth, you want to try and make sure you get either a business card or our contact information. Not all follow-up is good, and everything is better in moderation, so make sure you give it a few days before you panic. And once you do email, I would encourage you to leave it at that. You do not want to blur the line between diligent and annoying.  

HCS Career Fair

So there you have it: the best career fair SWAG you will receive this summer! If you can remember these four keys to success, I guarantee you will start receiving more calls and having better/more productive career fair conversations.  

Happy hunting!

Have a question or a comment?  Reach out anytime to the Talent Acquistion team at recruiting@hcss.com.

Footer

About

We’re giving construction a little tech shakeup! Our software solutions have been helping construction companies work smarter since 1986. Today, we’re the known industry leader, serving thousands of contractors across the nation. We’re always growing and looking for more talent as we continue to innovate, refine, and expand our products, year after year.

Connect

Contact