As in the past, companies survive because of the abilities of their employees, and their ability to change with the evolving world of interviewing and hiring quality employees.

Here are 5 tips to help ease the anxiety of digital interviews:

1. Do your research and gather information and questions prior to your first interview.  This is a great way to show your dedication and abilities to the employer.  We suggest researching the company before the interview and get to know their culture and values.  This will assist you with any questions and you will be best prepared to share your thoughts on why you are a great fit for the hiring company. Read over the job description and be aware of the companies’ expectations should they offer you the position.  In short, be prepared.
2. Be presentable.  Even though your interview is being performed online, we suggest that you present yourself as if you were sitting across from the CEO of the hiring company. Taking pride in your appearance and making a good first impressions is an integral part and shows your respect for the interviewing process. Dress to impress.
3. Check your computer connections prior to your scheduled interview.  This is an integral step that many overlook. Employers want to feel that you are reliable and have the ability to stay prepared during your work day.  Being late to an interview because your connections are not ready, will not show well in your favor.  Be proactive.
4. Know your setting.  A setting can play a major role for your interview.  Be aware of your surroundings and how they will represent you during an interview. We suggest pre-planning a location where you will not have any interruptions. Please make sure you have a quiet area with no distractions, such as pets, children etc. This is an important step and should be taken into the upmost consideration. Focus forward, this shows your dedication on making a good impression.
5. Breathe.  Take a step back and look what you have already accomplished.  Know that you are skilled in what you do.  Be yourself.

As we know, an interview is the first step to opening the door for future opportunities within the company. A good first impression is a great first step towards success and the possibility of a wonderful opportunity and a job offer. Don’t let the stress overwhelm you and hold your confidence, after all, you are great at what you do and have the ability to offer great things if given the opportunity. Stay positive and confident.  

The post The World of Virtual Interviews appeared first on Protech Solutions.

However, before they can go secure the role that brings them the proverbial wish list which they have created, it is important for the candidate to practice some mental strengthening exercises that will increase their likelihood of nailing the interview and getting that exciting call that their potential employer wants to onboard them.

Still in body and still in mind.  While this seems counterintuitive to productivity, the cumulative effect of this daily exercise will lead to a calmer mental state.  Having a calming and confident presence can make a lasting impression.  Calming music, ambient lighting, and breathing exercises may help you be completely still and ensure you are using this self-care so you can have your sense of Zen intact when you need it most!

Positive Thinking.  Cultivating and channeling the mind to accomplish positive outcomes takes daily mental repetition.  If a candidate remains hyperaware how they project, this can lead to how they are perceived by the decision maker, they are more likely to illicit the type of response they desire from their audience.  Some painstaking, but worthwhile ways of getting into a more positive frame of mind is to take personal inventory of the day, every day.

Identify Negative Thoughts and Patters. Anything perceived as a negative can be turned into a positive if someone is willing to do what it takes to create the win.  If it can be fixed, fix it, no matter what that involves.  If it can’t be fixed, learn from it so it doesn’t happen again.  Anticipate, and take action.  A series of wins will carry momentum and with each day, the losses will be fewer.

Create a mental rolodex of the positives of the day and make the time to express thanks for each win.  They all matter.  Seek to create more the following day.  Make it a competition with yourself.  They say attitude is everything, and this is one of the traits that is most controllable by just using the mental strengthening exercise of reflection and introspection.

You CAN get that dream role – TODAY! You have been sharpening your blade, mentally.  Any rejections have been analyzed and mentally reconciled.  Any grievances of the past are the opportunities of today.  If you embrace and apply these simple, easy to apply tools, you may have won the battle before even joining that Zoom meeting or stepping foot into the interview room!

Despite the overwhelming tragedy of Covid-19, there are even some silver linings to be found.  The most evident and profound positives is arguably the shift in the workforce and how employers are deploying new approaches and benefits to attract qualified employees.  By employers placing an emphasis on a long-needed reevaluation and inevitable pivot on how to create a highly productive work environment, while also balancing their employees having a deeper inner sense of satisfactiJanon in their work life

The post The Importance of Mental Strengthening During a Pandemic appeared first on Protech Solutions.

Here are some useful tips on building a referral network for career growth:

• Join a business networking group: Groups like the Chamber of Commerce, BNI, and Toastmasters can offer excellent opportunities to meet other professionals both within and outside your chosen field. Work toward establishing a strong network of partners who will mutually support their respective goals and efforts.
• Expand your network through existing contacts: Connect with individuals that you may not be able to reach directly – in other words, connect with your contacts’ contacts.
• Make yourself visible: Attend as many pertinent social and/or business gatherings as possibly. Consider charitable, not-for-profit, and community service groups as well.
• Diversify: Do not restrict your networking efforts to people within your industry or field. Create a diverse network of contacts with which you can share ideas and opinions and exchange valuable professional information.
• Develop an online network: Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and SlideShare offer a wide range of opportunities to connect with professionals within and outside your industry. Keep in mind, however, that social media is not a substitute for real-world, face-to-face networking.
• Prepare an ‘elevator pitch’: Not more than 30 seconds in length, this should offer a powerful yet concise introduction that will make another individual want to connect with you. Include your name, business, geographical location, and area(s) of specialization. Make it unique and interesting (no bragging, please!). Remember to ask others to share their information as well – this will help open networking or connecting opportunities with people you may meet briefly in elevators, hallways, hotel lobbies, on airplanes, etc.
• Be open to possibilities: Try to accommodate unplanned networking events into your schedule if/when possible. Opportunities can present themselves in many different ways so always be willing and prepared to adjust on short notice. Always have your business cards on hand.
• Create a positive image: Become known in professional circles as a positive or upbeat person. Your optimism will attract and encourage other individuals to connect with you. Avoid voicing subjective opinions and criticisms. Remain objective in your assessments of other people or situations.
• Follow up: Whether it is a referral, an introduction, or a task you promised to complete, always follow up in a timely manner. You want to appear both professional and reliable. Building trust and confidence is critical to earning job referrals.
• Choose your network carefully: You may often be defined by the company you keep. Target the groups and industry connections that are most relevant to your personal and professional objectives.

Be creative in finding ways to expand your network. Take the initiative to contact/connect with others and to contribute to your network with optimism and value. Exhibiting a strong willingness and commitment to personal growth and success will be evident to employers and recruiters alike.

Protech Solutions specializes in executive talent management and business recruitment solutions. Contact us to find out more about how you can become part of our executive network.

The post Business Networking For Career Growth appeared first on Protech Solutions.

Here are 10 social media networking tips for executives:

• Focus: Although there are numerous social media options available, it is not mandatory to have a presence on all platforms. If you are looking for a new job, it is recommended that you engage social media networks that are commonly used by employers and recruiters alike. LinkedIn, SlideShare, Facebook, and Twitter are the most popular networks.
• Observe: Social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook have millions of subscribers who use these networks very effectively. By observing the approaches and practices of some of the most prolific and successful users, you can acquire valuable insight that can be applied to your own online business networking.
• Contribute: Add valuable content to third-party blogs, article sites, or industry forums. When readers find your content to be meaningful and insightful, they may choose to connect with you and perhaps “follow” your contributions. Establish your leadership by providing opinions and commentary on current issues and trends in your industry.
• Avoid bragging or embellishing: Highlight your accomplishments within your profile and ensure that they can be substantiated when necessary.
• Follow: Follow the thought leaders and experts within your industry, and create online professional relationships by sharing your knowledge, opinions, and experiences.
• Research yourself on Google: determine the information that potential employers and recruiters can easily discover about you through an online search. Bonus Tip: You can establish a Google alert to notify you whenever someone conducts a new search.
• Full your complete profile: It is helpful to share your professional profile with general audiences or with a select group of peers or professionals, provided that the profile is has all of the relevant details – timeline gaps, notably in your work experience, can raise questions or concerns from an employer or a recruiter.
• Protect and preserve your online reputation: Be mindful of the type of information that you share online. Your professional profile and accomplishments can be tarnished by inappropriate or off-colour photos, statements, status updates, etc.
• Maintain professional standards: Be polite, open-minded, and offer value. Insightful comments can generate subsequent dialogue or conversations that could eventually lead to rewarding relationships.
• Referrals: Social media forums offer extensive opportunities to connect with your peers and contemporaries, as well as potential clients, potential employers, advocates, etc. This network of professional contacts can also create numerous referral opportunities. Be willing to refer others within your network – with the caveat that you only support those individuals that you know well enough to endorse comfortably and confidently.

Your online presence is akin to an electronic resume. Recruiters and prospective employers are now more inclined to search online for candidates with the requisite career paths and accomplishments. It is critical, therefore, to have an extensive and powerful online network.

Protech Solutions specializes in talent management and recruitment solutions. Contact us to find out more about how you can become part of our executive network.

The post Social Media Networking Tips For Executives appeared first on Protech Solutions.

Protech Solutions is a service-oriented company with clients in the Engineering, Mass Transit, Aerospace and Defence industries. Our success stems from a total alignment with the specific needs of these clients.

Here’s how we achieve this:

• Deep understanding of client needs: We study the client company very closely, following the progress of their ongoing projects. In turn, this provides a thorough understanding of their personnel-related requirements as well as their corporate culture. A site visit is customarily requested to give our team a first-hand assessment of the work environment.
• Industry experience: Many of our recruiting professionals also have an engineering background. This helps us to quickly assess skill sets and reduces our turnaround time. It also contributes to a seamless and satisfying recruitment process.
• Extensive network of professionals: Since we cater specifically to engineering and manufacturing, we have direct access to an extensive database of highly skilled professionals. Permanent staff, contract hires or project-based employees; no matter which avenue you choose to pursue, we have the resources to fulfill your needs.
• Ability to find the right match: Having professional recruiters on our team with the relevant industry background(s) assures our clients that we can handle the recruitment process efficiently and effectively!

We would be pleased to support your efforts to build and strengthen your service-oriented business. Contact us today.

The post How to Build a Service-Oriented Business appeared first on Protech Solutions.

The status associated with a university education influences many parents to steer their children in that direction. Unfortunately, many students ‘drop out’ because they are just not inclined to continue in their ‘chosen’ field. Others drift from one program to another trying to find ‘a good fit’, and some ultimately end up where they perhaps should have gone in the first place – to a vocational or technical school.

HR experts, however, are of the opinion that the traditional ‘prestige factor’ of a university degree may be fading. Practical, job-oriented training provided by trade school programs, coupled with an increasing demand for skilled trades professionals, seems to offer enhanced career opportunities – and better remuneration. Many university graduates unfortunately realize this after-the-fact.

Choosing the right education stream is even more critical today, as hundreds of applicants may be competing for a single position, and the need to distinguish/differentiate yourself is paramount – and significantly more challenging.

Consider the Advantages of Become a Skilled Trades Professional in Canada

• Increased job/career opportunities – research suggests that, over the next 20 years, up to 40% of new jobs will be in skilled trades
• Better pay – skilled professionals earn higher-than-average incomes
• Be your own boss – a number of skilled professionals gravitate toward entrepreneurship and become successful business owners

Many myths exist about pursuing a technical education. One such myth is that individuals who enrol in technical/vocational schools only do so because they could not gain admission into university. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, those who choose to pursue a technical/trade pathway have probably found their niche and are more likely to be employed faster. A 2010 StatsCan survey revealed that students from a college or trade school are more likely to find employment following graduation than those trying to enter the workforce with a bachelor’s degree from a university.

This is not to say that everyone should abandon the idea of obtaining a university degree. The message here is to consider all of the critical factors – personal interests, abilities, and the current/projected job market – in order make the right decision for yourself and your future.

Share your thoughts about the demand for skilled professionals in Canada.

The post Demand for Skilled Professionals in Canada appeared first on Protech Solutions.