Friday, November 29, 2019

When, Why, and How to Follow Up on a Job Application

When, Why, and How to Follow Up on a Job Application When, Why, and How to Follow Up on a Job Application Its common knowledge a job seeker should follow up after an interview, but did you know it can be extremely helpful to follow up on your job application, too? It can be nerve-wracking to be the first one to establish contact after the faceless online job application process, but standing out from other candidates early on makes a huge difference. Knowing how to follow up on a job application increases your chances of getting hired.How do I submit the best online job application?Dont apply to multiple jobs at the same company all at once or apply for the same ort multiple times. It creates the perception youre just mass applying and might not be qualified for any of the roles.Apply with an ATS-friendly resume. If you havent heard back, your resume might have ended up in application limbo. Make sure your resume is optimized for applicant tracking systems with our resume comparison tool?How do I find the right partie?One of the hardest parts of following up during the application process is figuring out who to follow up with. Its common to reach a recruiter before a hiring manager and thats fine corporate recruiters have the connections to move you forward in the interview process.Check your networkIf you have connections at the company, reach out to them. Ask about the company and its culture, if they know much about the role or team youre interested in, and find out if they can give you a personal introduction to the point of contact for the role youre interested in.Check the applicationIts rare to see an application that lists contact information anymore. A lot of the time a job description will at least list a team or department or even the title that the role reports to.Examples of reports to mentions from real job postings.Check the websiteparte of thoroughly learning about the company is reading over their website. Use that research to look over staff pages and find appropriate contacts. Narrow it down to one or two people.Check LinkedInLinkedIn is a great place for company research. Go to the companys page and select see all employees on LinkedIn. From here you can also see if you have any connections that already work at the company.You can also use LinkedIns search with the company name and keywords associated with the role, team, or department. Learn how to use LinkedIns search operators to refine your search even further.How long should I wait to follow up on a job application?Usually theres a reason why it can take a little while to hear back from a company. Theres a lot of moving pieces in the hiring process and open roles change quickly. Recruiters usually wont follow up immediately so that their company doesnt seem desperate. If a candidate isnt a fit, some recruiters find it rude to rapidly reject their applications.Lizbeth Hernandez, Jobscans internal recruiter, says that Anything between 5 to 7 days is a good time per iod to reach out to me, and notes that her own reply time to candidates varies depending on geschftsleben needs.After youve followed up initially, follow up a second time, about a week later. Dont repeat what you did the first time try reaching out at a different time of the day and day of the week, with a new format and subject.How often should I follow up on a job application?One or two communications, spaced about a week apart, is enough. Megan Spurr, Senior Group Lead Social Media Manager for Microsoft (Xbox Social AI) and hiring manager warns, When I see the same applicants name in my inbox , I feel like they might be a little more needy than I am looking in a candidate.You might feel annoying when following up but its okay to follow up on an application submitted online as long as youre respectful, polite, and considerate throughout the process. Dont spam your contact or reach out to everyone associated with the company.Should I follow up by phone or email?You might be tempte d to call the companys front desk and directly ask for the manager of the department. But in faulen times when most communication is done digitally and phone calls are often scheduled out-of-the-blue calls do more harm than good.Hernandez finds unscheduled phone calls distracting Id be really caught off guard if anybody reached out to me via phone. I might be working on one thing, so I have to shift gears at a moments notice. Im not in the best state to answer it.Email is the best method of reaching out to follow up, because you can demonstrate how interested you are in the role but also be respectful of your contacts time.Its also best for you as Spurr says, Its the best way for me to group my tasks and make sure that I sort things to completeNever follow up on a job application in person unannounced. Its invasive and aggressive, especially early in the application process.How do I write a follow-up email for a job application?Reaching out to a potential employer can be intimidati ng, but it doesnt have to be complicated.Be polite, empathic, and friendly. As an in-house recruiter, Hernandez says, These will be people well be working with. Aggressive or rude communication moves me away from them.Personalize your communications. Dont sound formulaic or like youre working from a script or template. Heres a few examples of how to start the conversationI applied for position online but also wanted to personally connect and introduce myself.Im checking on the status of my application because Im really interested in company and excited about position.Ive been looking for a role that fits me at company for awhile, so I was so excited to apply for role. Id love to discuss more about how my experience can help company with position and/or company goals further.I applied for position and was wondering if theres anything else on my end that I can provide.I wanted to make sure you received my application because my background is a great match for what youre looking for in the position.The most important thing is to make it clear that youre excited about the role as well as interested and educated about the company.I am more interested in the candidates that tell me why they are interested in the role, rather than a general Please look at my resume and let me know if you have any questions communication, advises Spurr.Hernandez agrees, I dont like Hey, I applied. Its not cognizant or thoughtful.Use what you learn about the companys culture during your research to align your communication tone.How do I stand out when following up?In this early stage theres a lot you can do to demonstrate your value and stand out from other applicants.Do your research on the company, their values, and their product or services. Being able to speak fluently about areas where youre a great fit and what you like about the company demonstrates your excitement for the role. Most companies want eager evangelists, not just warm bodies.Do the work for them. Tie together your e xperience with the needs of the role. Hone your pitch into a brief but informative snippet. Make sure its straightforward and clear how youre a fit for the role, using direct experience where you can.If youre not sure where to start, in a roundabout way you can even ask your contact. Spurr says, The candidates that have stood out to me asked me what they might be able to do to move into a position like this.Demonstrations of your skills will make you stand out, especially if youre generous with them. Hernandez relates a story where a designer candidate reached out to her. Hed taken the time to look over the Jobscan website and offered to platzset up a phone call to give her some professional redesign suggestions, free of charge. He offered to do that even before I reached out to interview him, Hernandez says. It definitely made him stand out a lot.Following up early in the application process might be a scary idea. But dont let that stop you from making a difference, standing out, and ingratiating yourself with a potential employer before any other candidate even steps foot into an interview.How to follow up on a job applicationUse the job description, the company website, and LinkedIn to determine the right point of contact.Follow up about a week after your original application. If you dont hear back, follow up a week later.Follow up on your application with a friendly and polite email.Make a good impression by being informed about the company, connecting your experience to the jobs needs, and providing a demonstration of your skills.Related TopicsAddressing a Cover Letter When You Dont Know the Hiring Managers NameHow to Research a Company Before an InterviewSick of Re-Entering Your Info After Uploading Your Resume?

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Papers Sought for Special Journal Issue on Microscale Mechanis...

Papers Sought for Special Journal Issue on Microscale Mechanis... Papers Sought for Special Journal Issue on Microscale Mechanis... Papers Sought for Special Journal Issue on Microscale Mechanisms and RobotsFeb. 24, 2017 The ASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics is currently soliciting technical papers for a special issue that will focus on microscale mechanisms and robots. Papers for this special journal issue, which is expected to be published online this summer, should be submitted by April 10. The idea of microrobots with capabilities similar to their insect counterparts has captivated the robotics and microsystems communities for mora than 20 years. Survivors after an earthquake could be found faster if robotic bugs could target the efforts of first responders. Robotic surgery can be enhanced by injected robots or robotic systems at the end of a catheter. Ants and termites build impressive structures and microrobots could be used to manufacture large structures in a similar f ashion.Building microrobots is a long-term challenge that will require a number of scientific and technical advances. For example, because microscale mechanisms are required to interface with the world, microactuators might be required to drive these mechanisms, and microscale sensors and controllers will be necessary depending on the application. Impressive demonstrations to date of this technology include flying robots the size of a bee, microscale magnetic hetze for medical applications, compliant mechanism design at small scales, and terrestrial robots the size of ants. However, there is still much work to be done to solve these numerous challenges. This special issue of the Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics is intended to be a collection of papers that address the challenges inherent in the mechanics, design, fabrication, and application of microscale mechanisms and microrobots. Approaches can focus on microscale mechanisms, including design, fabrication, novel materials, and modeling. Papers can also focus on relevant subcomponents of a microrobotic system, but should address some aspect of the mechanics or design of these subcomponents. In addition, papers that address integration of these components into mechanical systems at small scales or include lessons learned in both modeling and/or applications are welcome.The guest editors for the special issue on Microscale Mechanisms and Robots are Sarah Bergbreiter, Associate Professor at the University of Maryland Larry Howell, Professor and Associate Dean at Brigham Young University and Robert J. Wood, the Charles River Professor of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University.Papers should be submitted electronically by April 10 through For more information on the ASME Journal of Mechanisms and Robotics, visit http//mechanismsrobotics.asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/journal.aspx. To learn more about the ASME Journals Program, visit http//asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/journals.aspx.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Getting an Information Technology Job at Uber

Getting an Information Technology Job at UberGetting an Information Technology Job at UberNot surprisingly, Uber- the company that upended the hired-vehicle industry with its revolutionary push a button and get a car business model- offers plenty of career opportunities for information technology (IT) types. Getting a position with this transportation innovator isnt a speedy ride, however. Uber at a Glance Travis Kalanick and Garrett Camp founded UberCab in 2009, as a limo time-sharing service. The following year, Uber debuted the app that customers use to order and pay for a car- and the company quickly took off. In 2011, it changed its name to Uber Technologies Inc., and in 2012, it broadened its offerings with less-expensive vehicles. It remains a private company. Headquarters San Francisco, California Services UberX (known as UberPop in Europe), UberXL, UberSelect (known as UberPlus in some markets) UberPOOL, and UberBLACK (Black Car) Current locations 404 cities around the w orld (selected services are offered at different locations) Company valuation $62 billion (as of 2018) Ubers Company Culture Uber encourages its employees to make bold bets, as the website puts it, to keep the company moving forward. They must take innovative and creative risks come up with a bright idea, and someone will pay attention, the firm promises. Many past and present staffers reviewing Uber on Glassdoor mention the fast pace, collaboration opportunities, and innovative solutions. Moreover, autonomy and influence over product direction are highlights of Ubers work environment for techies. As the company has grown, office politics and work-life balance are among the disadvantages workers mention. The company makes it clear that employees need to do whatever it takes to get things done. So employees should expect to work nights, weekends, and holidays at times. Types of Jobs at Uber Employees work toward a common goal of changing the way the world operates- at least i n terms of traveling from point A to point B. Since Ubers success depends on how customers react to its service, behavioral data must be constantly accumulated and analyzed. Ubers careers page often lists numerous tech positions for Data scientistsData engineersSoftware engineersFront-end and back-end software engineersDevOps engineers Technologies at the forefront of required skills include Python, Java, NodeJS, Spark, Storm, Riak, PostgresSQL, and mySQL. Uber has taken recruitment mobile with its Code on the Road game in locations where a lot of people work in tech. Those booking trips receive a notification from the Uber app to play. During their Uber ride, potential talent can show off their coding skills via the game. Those who perform well receive an offer to explore further opportunities with the company. Landing a Job at Uber Candidates who have gone through the recruitment process report multiple stages of interviews and tests. A telephone screening kicks things off. Be sides the standard background questions, coding and algorithmic skills come under the punktlicht its not unusual to do a coding test while on the phone. Coding projects are sometimes sent via email. If a candidate impresses Uber, multiple on-site interviews follow. Applicants typically face questions on design, algorithms, and data structure. When it comes to managerial positions, applicants have to demonstrate analytical skills through an online test that weighs answers differently for specific markets and positions. Even though the recruitment process can be drawn out, its not the most difficult. Glassdoor rates interview difficulty for software engineering positions as average (3.2 out of 5). Candidates report mostly positive (49 percent) or neutral (23 percent) interview experiences. The majority of applicants approach Uber online. Salaries and Benefits According to PayScale, Uber Technologies pays its employees 14 percent above market. Heres how a couple of other tech posit ions with the company fare based on limited reporting data The salary range of a software engineer is $66,000 to $162,000 after bonuses. Thats a median salary of around $103,000. By comparison, the U.S. average is $79,000. Data scientists at Uber earn between $109,000 and $220,000. The U.S. average stands at around $93,000. Employee numbers reported to Glassdoor set average salaries for a software engineer and a data scientist at $131,000 and $149,000, respectively. Benefits and perks at Uber include Health, vision, and dental insurancePerformance bonusesStock optionsFlexible work hoursPaid holidays and unlimited vacationCasual dress and atmosphereGym or health club membershipFree nonalcoholic drinks