Elite IT Services Business Blog

Back to the Basics

By Rob Hubert

Everyone who knows me also knows that I have a passion for football. It's the ultimate chess match and game of strategy and execution. You may also know that I coached pee-wee football at one time in my life.  For three years I had the blessing of coaching five, six and seven year olds. I myself being a student and always trying to gain an edge and knowledge began to search for information to help my team. That's when I found an audio cassette of a speech given by Lou Holtz, the former division one head football coach.

IT Strategy Blows Like the Wind but Core Values Persist

By: Rob Hubert

Imagine this, you are in a meeting with your boss and another team discussing the goals of a project that is about to start. You already have a full work load and you don't agree with the decisions that management has made about the project. You are feeling resistance towards the work and resentment for the impact that management decisions will have on you. You sit there with your arms crossed and ton of knowledge in your head that is relevant to the success of the project.

The Most Succesful IT Resume Format

 By Rob Hubert

Can you look at my resume and provide me with some feedback? I get asked this question several times per week. I have found a format preference that has worked very well for my candidates and I'll be happy to provide that for you here. But more importantly job seekers spend too much time perfecting their resumes and not making contact with potential employers. The "Resume Rule of 5" states that if you ask 5 people for advice on our resume you'll get 6 or more opinions. Your resume is only a tool to assist you in attaining in-person interviews.

Are IT Certifications a Waste of Your Time and Money?

My favorite Information Week author Marianne Kolbasuk McGee release a new article last week titled, "In Growing Job Market, IT Pros Get More for the Soft Skills"  Here's an excerpt.

"One report concludes that employers are now paying higher premiums for non certified tech skills--areas like enterprise applications, e-commerce, and process management--than those paid for certified skills. That research comes from Foote Partners, which has done in-depth quarterly employer surveys of employers for eight years".

Isn't that interesting, the report indicates that tech skills areas that don't have certification programs are higher paying than positions that do have certifications available. It's been my experience that most certified professionals acquire their certification using their own time and their own money. It looks like the investment is not paying off the way it was anticipated. So many people have acquired certifications (especially Microsoft Certifications) that the value of the certification has been diminished. I know for a fact that my clients are not impressed by certifications. But they are impressed by Personal Leadership, Solution Oriented Mindsets, Excellent Communication Skills, Aptitude and Passion. There's more to the article including some statistics on job growth in specific IT categories. Read More.

The Power of an Informational Interview

By: Rob Hubert

A friend recently shared this story:  My friend Jon referred Larry to me. Larry called and asked to meet with me for an "Informational Interview". I was reluctant at first, but I knew Jon wouldn't give my name out to someone that he didn't trust. Larry came to my office to meet and I was quite surprised by the rapport that we built. I was able to give Larry some leads, but nothing became of them. I did however stay in touch with him. He landed a new management job that was similar to his old job and he thanked me for helping him (even though I didn't think that I really helped). Nine months later, much to my surprise, my company began having financial difficulties and I was released. After a couple of months of an unsuccessful job search, I remembered Larry. I called him up and told him my situation and he invited me to his office to meet with him. Long story short, Larry is now my boss.

Everyone knows that Networking is one of the keys to continued career success and to a successful job search. One of the most common tools of networking is the Informational Interview. An Informational Interview is a formal, yet relaxed information exchange between two people with an interest to help each other. This may come in the form of sharing contacts from each others network to help achieve an objective (i.e. like finding a job). From a job search perspective, the idea is based on the simple fact that people don't hire resumes, they hire people.

Twelve Causes and Cures for Procrastination

By: Rob Hubert

Anyone who runs a blog knows that blogging comes in fits and starts, especially if your plate is already full. From my perspective the same thing applies to anything that you commit to. That's why a blog post on procrastination can be of value. Procrastination is a form of resistance that can creep up on you and sabotage your goals. A fellow blogger and friend of mine John Place wrote a post for his blog titled "11 Causes and Cures for Procrastination". I was going to read it earlier in the year but I kept deferring it. Here's an excerpt:

And in the midst of all this chaos, we convince ourselves that none of our varied obligations is so pressing as to require our time right now. In other words, procrastination’s short-term benefit is a feeling of control and peace. We tell ourselves, “I’ll do the laundry tomorrow. Right now, my life is right as rain, and I’m taking a break, thank you very much.”

John identifies eleven common reasons for procrastination and I'm adding number twelve.

Join Me at the VB Users Group This Wednesday, August 15th @ 7pm

By: Rob Hubert

This Wednesday night, I will be speaking at the VB Users Group Meeting. The meeting is at the Microsoft office, 3 City Place, Creve Coeur, MO 63141, Suite 1100. Elite IT Services is the sponsor and we are providing Pizza and giving away an IPOD Nano as a door prize.

My talk starts at 7pm and I'll be speaking about How to Love Your Career Regardless of Where you Work. According to the Gallup Organization, nearly 60% of all employees are not engaged in their current role and 14% are actively disengaged in their jobs. This type of career dissatisfaction is running rapid in the workplace and it may be higher among Information Technology Professionals. The amazing part is that it doesn’t have to be this way. In this interactive discussion, I will share 7 ways to break out of career apathy and set you on a path of fulfilling and rewarding growth. You will also learn three career secrets that thousands of other IT Professionals have used successfully to gain raises, promotions and recognition. Don’t miss this session; it could be the one you need to give you the edge in your career.

I hope to see you there.

A Humbling Experience with My Own Advice

By: Rob Hubert

About four months ago Sandi was really excited to receive a gift of four hundred "No Complaint" bracelets for the Connections to Success entry level women's conference. She gave me a bracelet and I eagerly accepted the challenge to not complain for three weeks. The "No Complaint" bracelet came from a church in Kansas City, See the News story on MSNBC. The goal is to wear the bracelet for 21 consecutive days without complaining and each time you complain you have to switch the bracelet from one wrist to the other.

If You Don't Plan Your Own Career Someone Else Will

By: Rob Hubert

Have you seen the Cadillac Escalade commerical with fomer NY Giants running back Tiki Barber driving around New York City talking about Opportunity? Tiki says, "One of the great things I've been able to do in my life is seize opportunities", "Opportunities are seldom perfect, but I've learned if your not ready for them they may not come again". What happens if you apply that same idea to your career? What are you doing right now to prepare for the next opportunity that comes your way?

New Compensation Package!

By Sandi Hubert

Elite IT Services is adding two new benefits to the Compensation Package for our employees.  We are paying all full-time employees time and a half for Overtime effective July 1.  This is over and above the Fair Labor Standards Act directed by the Department of Labor requirement of employees with pay at $27.63 or below receiving time and a half pay for hours worked over 40 hours.  We're opening this up and allowing all of our employees eligibility for Time and a Half pay for approved overtime hours.  In addition, we are adding a 6 Paid Holiday Schedule to our Compensation Package to enhance our marketability as a key IT competitor in the marketplace.  The holidays include: Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Memorial Day.