Be Ready for Your Next Interview by Preparing for Behavioral Based Interviewing Questions

Behavioral-Based Interviewing: Preparing for a Successful Interview  Behavioral-Based Interview Prep Questions The majority of employers seek individuals who: Display enthusiasm for the company, its mission, and its people. Believe that they can do the job and have well-matched skills. Are coachable and strive to make an immediate contribution. Employers also factor in chemistry, personality match,…

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Be Prepared for Your Next Interview by Using the STAR Method

Behavioral-Based Interviewing Using the STAR Model: Be Prepared For Your Next Interview by Following These Simple Steps To have the most meaningful exchange of information during an interview, you must be skilled in behavioral-based interviewing techniques. More importantly, you must be sure that you are skilled in answering behavioral questions using the STAR model. STAR…

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Manufacturing Engineering “All-Star” #64012

“People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.” — Andrew Carnegie I think that Andrew Carnegie’s quote fits this “All-Star” as experienced manufacturing engineers are motivated by solving problems or improving manufacturing processes.  Mediocrity doesn’t cut in on the production floor. This Manufacturing Engineer…

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Manufacturing Engineering Project Management “All-Star”#63423

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” — Martin Luther King, Jr. MLK Jr’s quote fits this Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Project Management “All-Star” well because in any manufacturing project leadership role, you stand in the…

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Machining Engineering Leadership “All-Star” #63361

“Timing, perseverance, and ten years of trying will eventually make you look like an overnight success.”  Biz Stone Biz Stone’s quote made me think of this week’s manufacturing engineering “all-star.”  He is a manufacturing engineering specialist who has “honed” his expertise in precision machining of engineered components over the course of his career. Over that time,…

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Mechanical Project Engineering “All-Star” #60102

“Control your own destiny or someone else will.”–Jack Welch I agree with Jack Welch that if you’re not controlling your own destiny, someone else will.  I learned the hard way back in 2010 before starting M-Works Search. This week, I’m highlighting an engineering “All-Star” who is currently in transition.  He decided to take his career…

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Electrical Engineering “All-Star” #63038

“Growth and comfort do not co-exist.” –Ginni Rometty Unless you’re pushing and challenging yourself in anything you do, you’ll never get better.  The same applies to engineering as the best engineers are motivated by and are constantly seeking out difficult problems to solve.  Engineering “All-Stars” are not comfortable unless they are being challenged by difficult…

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Industrial Product Management “All-Star”

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”  Steve Jobs Thankfully, Steve Jobs wasn’t living someone else’s life or we wouldn’t have the iPhone or have had the Mac.Steve’s quote was timely for me to share, as we’re highlighting an Industrial Product Management “All-Star” candidate this week.  I wouldn’t expect him…

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Chemical and Automation Engineering “All-Stars”

Belated Happy Labor Day Week! Manufacturing would not “work” without engineers both on the factory floor and in the engineering office.  This Labor Day week, M-Works Search is proud to pay tribute to the contributions and achievements made by the American engineer. In view of this Labor Day spirit, I’m highlighting two engineering “All-Stars” who…

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Manufacturing Engineering “All-Star”

“The only way around is through.”  Robert Frost In this case, I would say that tackling a problem “head on” is more appropriate.  So when Frost says that the only way around is through it, he really means to tackle the problem “head on.”  That’s what engineering “All-Stars” do regularly.  They don’t beat around the…

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Sales Engineering “All-Star” Candidate, Automation Systems, #62567

“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.”  Vidal Sassoon I didn’t realize that Vidal Sassoon grew up in extreme poverty in London spending 7 years of his childhood in an orphanage.  He learned about work firsthand doing odd jobs in London during World War II before apprenticing as a hairdresser. …

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Product Engineering “All-Star” Candidate, #62477

“Success is often achieved by those who don’t know that failure is inevitable.”  Coco Chanel I normally don’t feature quotes from French fashion designers.  Yet, when I read Coco’s quote, it resonated with me as many times an engineering “All-Star” must overcome challenges and insurmountable hurdles on a regular basis.  The engineering “All-Star” will apply…

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Operations Leadership & Manufacturing Engineering “All-Stars” #38551, #61075

“I knew that if I failed, I wouldn’t regret that.  But I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying.”  Jeff Bezos If Bezos didn’t try to launch Amazon.com in 1995, he wouldn’t have been named the world’s wealthiest individual by Forbes in 2021.  M-Works Search Engineering “All-Stars” try as well.  Many times…

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Sales Engineering “All-Star” Candidate, #44992

“The first one gets the oyster, the second gets the shell.”  -Andrew Carnegie This quote jumped out when I was reviewing quotes last weekend.  In a nutshell, or oyster shell, it’s Andrew Carnegie’s take on “the early bird gets the worm adage.” No different from oysters or birds, the top sales professionals typically get the orders. …

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Plastics Engineering “All-Star” Candidate #62013

“We all need people who give us feedback.  That’s how we improve.”  Bill Gates As an engineering recruiter, I seek feedback during every discussion whether I’m speaking to a manufacturing client or an engineering candidate.    As a search consultant, I need and improve with feedback.  Without any feedback, I can’t provide the best service…

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Engineering “All-Star” Candidates Electrical, Mechanical, and After-Market Service

“You miss 100 percent of the shots that you never take.”  Wayne GretzkyEngineering “All-Stars” take shots.  The best take a lot of them.  They know that they’re not going to score every time but that by taking shots, they’re able to “build a better mousetrap”, solve a problem, or do something better.  This week, I’m…

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Process & Design Engineering “All-Star” Candidates #60779 & #62027

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”  ConfuciusEngineers don’t necessarily fall but are always trying to identify solutions to challenging or complex problems.  They sometimes “fall” but engineering “All-Stars” always end up rising by finding solutions to those problems. This week, I am highlighting two engineering “All-Stars”…

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Engineering “All-Star” Candidates, Plastics, Engines, and Ovens

“America was not build on fear.  America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.”  Harry S. TrumanWhat do plastics, engines and ovens have to do with Harry’s quote?  It’s quite simple in that it takes an engineering “All-Star” “to do the job at hand.”  Whether it requires…

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Embedded Engineering “All-Star” Candidate, #61923

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  Franklin D. RooseveltPresident Roosevelt’s quote is timeless.  It’s only human nature to have fear of change or new things. This week’s Embedded Engineering “All-Star” candidate however didn’t have fear of new things.  He started in a custom embedded systems development team running acceptance tests using LabVIEW.  This…

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Manufacturing Engineering “All-Star” Candidate, Custom Machinery, #61870

“Lost time is never found again.”  Ben FranklinBen’s quote is spot on and maybe even more relevant in today’s world.  It’s easy to lose time as we’re all faced with so many types of day-to-day distractions.  Lost time is never found again neither at home nor in a manufacturing plant.  That’s why it’s so important to have…

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Electrical Project Engineering “All-Star”-Custom Automation Systems #61859

“Nothing ever comes to one that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.”  Booker T. WashingtonI agree with Booker T. Washington and love this quote which is timeless.  He’s spot on.  Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy but is the result of hard work. The engineering “All-Stars” I connect with every week get this. …

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Conducting Performance Reviews When Your Team is Remote

Workplace dynamics have changed drastically over the last few months. From minimal personal interaction to increased reliance on communication technology, the word “office” has taken on a whole new meaning. As the year-end approaches, this leaves many companies wondering about the best way to conduct performance reviews. How can you evaluate your remote employees accurately,…

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Manage the Work, Not the People

As millions of Americans now work remotely, managers unaccustomed to supervising employees from afar face new challenges in leading and evaluating their team’s performance. Traditional management styles prior to this new World of Work emphasized the need to manage employees effectively to get the best results. Today, however, the emphasis has shifted to managing the…

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Electrical Controls Engineering “All-Star” #61611

“One man practicing sportsmanship is better than 100 teaching it.”  —Knute Rockne Finding this week’s quote was timely as I drove through South Bend, Indiana last week.  Even if you’re not a fan of Notre Dame football, it’s hard not to agree with Knute.   Yet, sportsmanship not only applies to football but to the workplace…

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Mechanical Engineering “All-Star”, Precision Components #61531

“I never worry about action, but only about inaction.”  Winston Churchill Like Sir Winston Churchill, when talking to engineering professionals, I never worry about action, but only inaction.  That’s because Engineering “All-Stars” are all about action and the actions that they take every day to solve a problem, develop a new product or improve upon…

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Engineering Management “All-Star”, Precision Components #41488

“I never worry about action, but only about inaction.”  Winston Churchill Like Sir Winston Churchill, when talking to engineering professionals, I never worry about action, but only inaction.  That’s because Engineering “All-Stars” are all about action and the actions that they take every day to solve a problem, develop a new product or improve upon…

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Electrical Controls Engineering “All-Star”, Machinery #61534

“Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.” Earlier in my career, I had the experience of working with people who “sucked the happiness out of me.”  It made for a miserable day or week when working with these persons.  Thankfully, my career progressed where the persons with…

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Four Ways to Strengthen Your Personal Brand

Your personal brand has a significant impact on your career. However, many people overlook how they represent themselves online. While there are millions of professionals “on” platforms like LinkedIn, many neglect to proactively build their reputation and leverage it to boost and support their careers. So, how can you actively develop your brand and use…

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Manufacturing Engineering “All-Star”, Aerospace #61393

Since 1894, we’ve celebrated Labor Day as an official Federal Holiday where we honor the contributions of the American worker.  Labor Day has taken on a greater meaning for me this year as an opportunity to be especially thankful for those essential workers who have continued working and contributing during the pandemic.  Many did their…

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Mechanical Design Engineering “All-Star”, Automotive Components #55449

Since 1894, we’ve celebrated Labor Day as an official Federal Holiday where we honor the contributions of the American worker.  Labor Day has taken on a greater meaning for me this year as an opportunity to be especially thankful for those essential workers who have continued working and contributing during the pandemic.  Many did their…

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Manufacturing Engineering “All-Star” #45271

“Throw me to the wolves and I will return leading the pack.” This week’s Manufacturing Engineering “All-Star” was thrown to the wolves and ended up leading the pack within his manufacturing organization. As a junior manufacturing engineer, this “All-Star” was literally thrown into the welding and fabrication team.  To learn the ropes and become comfortable…

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Starting a New Remote Job During the Pandemic

If you’re starting a new job during the ongoing pandemic, it is likely that you won’t have the customary onboarding experience of even six months ago. Instead of spending a day or two in orientation, meeting your co-workers, picking up your laptop and being taken out to lunch, your introduction to your new job will…

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Why Interim Staffing Makes Even More Sense During Times of Crisis

A brief review of the history of interim staffing throws light on the evolution of the industry. Three “black swan” events were major disruptors that contributed to the thriving business it is today, according to Tim Ozier, Sr. Director of Sales at MRINetwork: Y2K in 1999.  “I guess this wasn’t a true ‘black swan’ event…

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Electrical Controls Engineering “All-Star”, Vehicle Controls #46669

“Be so good they can’t ignore you.” For many persons, it’s easy to “fly under the radar” in an organization.  In today’s COVID-19 work from home environment, it may be even easier as it’s easy to hide as we lack the day to day personal and human interaction we experience in a non-remote office oriented…

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Manufacturing Engineering, “All-Star” Candidate, Injection and Blow Molding #61295

“Pain makes people change.” This week’s manufacturing engineering “All-Star” candidate well understands our Motivational Monday quote that “pain makes people change.”  In a manufacturing environment any production issues typically create a lot of pain.  He currently works in a high volume injection and blow molding production facility.  He was feeling a manufacturing related pain in one…

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Mechanical Engineering “All-Star” Candidate, Injection Molded Automotive Parts #61371

“I can and I will, watch me! This quote made me think of all the talented, up and coming, early career engineering “All-Stars” I connect with and interview every day and every week. They exhibit the “I can and I will” do something even if I don’t know how attitude. I will because I will learn how to do something that will…

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Controls Engineering “All-Star” Candidate, Process Controls #61347

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”  Albert Einstein I can relate to this quote as anytime I try something new, I seem to learn by making a lot of mistakes.  Fortunately or unfortunately for that matter, I have been spending more time doing home improvement projects since the start of…

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Effective Leadership in Times of Crisis

The coronavirus pandemic has placed heavy burdens on business leaders. The sheer size of the outbreak and its unpredictability generate fear among employees and make it challenging for executives to respond effectively. But during a crisis like COVID-19, people look to their leaders for direction and compassion; they need to have confidence in their ability to…

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The Job Interview in a Time of COVID-19

As meeting in close quarters in now viewed as too risky, many employers are canceling all face-to-face interviews.  Large global employers, such as Google, LinkedIn, Amazon and Facebook, for example, have completely eliminated in-person job interviews for the foreseeable future to protect both employers and candidates. Upcoming college graduates are also greatly impacted, as demonstrated by accounting…

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Avoiding Burnout While Working from Home During the Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, the lines between work and non-work are blurring. Because the shift to WFH came about so suddenly, employees were forced into this situation without adequate preparation – or any choice in the matter. Most were not equipped to maintain healthy boundaries between their professional and personal lives. Faced with…

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Project Engineering “All-Star” Candidate, Injection Molding, #61274

“In the middle of every difficulty, lies opportunity.”  Albert Einstein My son likes Albert Einstein so this week our “Motivation Monday” social media post featured another Albert Einstein quote.  I agreed to go with it because I know that from my experience at SK Hand Tool Corporation, every day in manufacturing brought new difficulties and…

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An Unexpected Benefit of COVID-19: The Formation of Life-Long Career Skills

The past months of pandemic-induced disruption to decades-long work processes have allowed large segments of the white-collar workforce to learn valuable new skills from the WFH experience. The University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism’s Center for Third Space Thinking suggests that remote employees were thrust into a crisis management experiment, that when successfully…

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Production Management “All-Star” Candidate, Fabrication & Assembly, #60932

“Your health account, your bank account, they’re the same thing.  The more you put in, the more you can take out.  Exercise is king and nutrition is queen.  Together you have a kingdom.”  Jack LaLanne, aka the “Godfather of Fitness” Even though I’m an avid runner and marathoner, this week’s motivational quote is not destined…

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How to get a job in a new industry with no experience

If you are among the millions of people who have lost their jobs during the pandemic, you may also be in doubt about whether your company – or even your industry – will rebound. It may be time for you to consider whether you should switch your job search to a new, more promising sector….

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Working Remotely Won’t Disappear Even After the Coronavirus Does

Only 3.6 percent of US white-collar employees worked from home half-time or more in 2018 according to Global Workplace Analytics estimates. New data is not yet available, but virtually everyone reading this article has anecdotal evidence, earned through hours of peering into a home-monitor-delivered Zoom meeting with a dozen or so colleagues all squinting back in…

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Product Engineering “All-Star” Candidate, Machinery, #58476

“Losers quit when they fail.  Winners fail until they succeed.” This week’s motivational quote made me think about the winners I speak to every day and every week.  They are all “winners” as they are all engineers with a diverse range of backgrounds and work experience.  How could they not be winners?  The best engineers…

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Manufacturing Engineering “All Star”, Sheet Metal Fabrication & Assembly, #61233

“To be the best, you must be able to handle the worst.” I like this motivational quote as it made me think of the talented engineers that I speak to regularly.  The best engineers will often tell me that they love solving problems and the day to day challenges they regularly confront in a fast…

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How Managers New to Interviewing Can Prepare for Candidate Job Interview and Fight Your Nerves

When it comes to interviewing, there is often the assumption that hiring managers know how to interview candidates in a meaningful way that provides clarity around applicants’ experience and overall fit with open roles. However, depending on their experience interviewing, managers can be just as nervous as candidates. After all, hiring managers are human too….

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Controls Engineering “All-Star”, Custom Machinery #57666

“If not now, when? Unfortunately, I don’t have the answer to that question as the coronavirus crisis has touched all of us. Yet, I do know that by the time the economy rebounds, this electrical controls engineering “All-Star” will likely be off-market. This electrical engineering “All-Star” can help you take a custom machinery engineering project…

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Manufacturing Engineering “All-Star”, Contract CNC Programmer #61167

“Tough times don’t last, tough people do.” Saying that we are in the middle of tough times is a huge understatement.  Looking back at the great depression, things were tough but not virtually stopped as they are today.  The coronavirus crisis and the local measures taken have impacted more persons and organizations on both the…

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Ghosting: One thing you should never do after accepting a job offer or interview invitation

Ghosting is a surprising new trend that has become much more prevalent during the recruitment process in recent years. More and more candidates are going through the interview process with an employer, giving every indication they’re interested in the company and then they’ve vanished without a trace. In fact, the 2019 MRINetwork Recruitment Trends Study revealed about 31%…

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Applications Engineering “All-Star”-Engineered-To-Order Machinery (61034)

Albert Einstein said, “In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity. Don’t wait for opportunity. Create it.” Like you, we are all in the middle of great difficulty due to the disruptions created by the coronavirus. Yet, I have not put things on hold while waiting for the economy to turn around. I have been working…

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Successfully Managing Your Workforce From Home

April 15, 2020 As the coronavirus pandemic continues and it’s unclear how long we’ll be working remotely, it’s important that business leaders have strategies in mind to effectively manage their employees from home. This includes maintaining morale, inspiring strong communication, and offering resources to help employees succeed under remote work conditions. Here are some tips…

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Interviewing From Home? Here’s Advice on How to Ace Your Video Job Interview

April 14, 2020 As the coronavirus continues to affect the world, those who are job hunting need to prepare for a dramatically different interviewing environment. Instead of going into an office and meeting with people face-to-face, you should expect to conduct video job interviews for the foreseeable future. It’s best, therefore, to have an understanding…

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3 Tips for Interviewing Candidates Remotely

April 7, 2020 As the coronavirus pandemic continues to decimate the world, those in human resources must tailor the way they conduct the interview process for job candidates. Instead of a phone screen or phone interview to start recruiting followed by in-person interviews, candidates should expect it all to be conducted virtually. For employers making…

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Mechanical Engineering “All-Star” Contractor (58241)

Do you need a short term engineering staffing solution to help you work toward meeting your long term goals?  We can help as M-Works Search exclusively helps manufacturers build their engineering teams and will work to find you the right engineering candidate to meet your temporary, part-time, or contract to hire engineering needs. We’ve recently recruited an…

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Mechanical Engineering “All-Star” Contractor (60642)

Do you need a short term engineering staffing solution to help you work toward meeting your long term goals?  We can help as M-Works Search exclusively helps manufacturers build their engineering teams and will work to find you the right engineering candidate to meet your temporary, part-time, or contract to hire engineering needs. We’ve recently…

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Manufacturing Engineer, Machining #60804

Regardless of your school affiliation or preference, we recruit engineers from the top local and national engineering programs.  This week, we’re highlighting an engineering “all-star” we’ve recruited from Notre Dame University. This Mechanical Engineer has almost 5 years of Manufacturing Engineering experience within a CNC machining setting. He’s got broad based manufacturing engineering experience which…

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Mechanical Product Engineer, Industrial Products #60667

Regardless of your school affiliation or preference, we recruit engineers from the top local and national engineering programs.  This week, we’re highlighting an engineering “all-star” we’ve recruited from Purdue University in West Lafayette. This Product Engineer has 6 years of full-spectrum mechanical product engineering experience.  He’s skilled at taking a product request from customer specification…

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Quality Engineering Team Lead-Product Validation & Testing #60534

Need help in your quality engineering department?   If so, then please give me a call or send an email to schedule a brief conversation to discuss the quality engineering “all-star” that I recently recruited.  I’m working with a “quality engineer” who has broad expertise in product testing and validation. A summary of this engineer’s background…

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How to Build a Meaningful Relationship with a Recruiter in Your Industry

To help you find a job in your industry, and especially if it’s in a niche role, having a strong working relationship with a recruiter can be crucial. After all, recruiters have key partnerships with companies and the organizations they represent. If you reach out to them, are personable and demonstrate your capabilities, the recruiter…

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