Here are some of the positions now available with this client:

• Senior Perl Developer: We are looking for a senior or principal Perl developer, a technologist with drive and initiative, to work in the design and creation of new components for a growing call advertising network. Must have 7+ years experience in software development with diverse programming languages including C++, Ruby, Java, Scala; Perl preferred (willingness to code in Perl required).
• Software Engineers: If you love to code, are passionate about frequently delivering value to the customer, want to help create new ground breaking products, and are not afraid to take risks, we would like to hear from you! As a Software Engineer, you will work in a highly collaborative Agile development methodology, with teammates that share the same passion and curiosity about software architecture, design, process, and coding practices.

Don’t forget, we also offer referral bonuses, so if you have a friend or family member who would be perfect for one of these opportunities, send them our way!

Power down

The first, and one of the simplest, things to do is to make sure to turn off lights when not in use. This should be a no-brainer. We are lucky to have some huge windows to let in natural light, but we try to make use of smaller floor lamps rather than having the overhead fluorescents on all the time. In some areas, we even remove a few of the bulbs that we don’t need. We also make it a policy to turn off monitors and power down other electronics, as well as to unplug non-essentials like extra lamps and heaters.

Use less, waste less

In addition to saving energy, we do our best to reduce our waste output. In an office like ours, that means trying to use less paper. Utilizing double-sided printing, re-using old pages as scratch paper, and converting to more electronic documents are all easy and cost-effective methods. We recycle as much as we can, too, including electronics and other office supplies. One other way to reduce consumption is to keep a precise inventory of supplies – there is greater potential for buying unneeded supplies when you don’t know what you already have.

There are so many different ways for a business to be more sustainable these days that it can be overwhelming – even if you have been at it for a while. The thing to remember, though, is that every little bit does count, so even the smallest efforts are important. Create a plan that fits your budget and focus on doing whatever is feasible. Measure your efforts as you would with any goal-oriented project. Green resources will undoubtedly become cheaper and more easily accessible, so those bigger modifications may not be as far off as you think!

Here is what Wade and Brian’s manager had to say about their excellent work:

“Wade Yamauchi and Brian Engle are important members of the writing team in the Microsoft Security Response Center group. Both of them contribute to the everyday tasks of managing, scheduling, writing, revising, and localizing advisories and bulletins.

Recently, they went above and beyond to help out on the MBAS SharePoint Library and bulletin search projects to improve the process of gathering data from many product teams, creating automated bulletin drafts that are closer to the final product, enabling better and earlier tech reviews for accuracy and reduction in localization costs, and ensuring data accuracy for past and future bulletins. A little bit of work goes a long way in shipping better bulletins, improving efficiency, and reducing costs. Thank you to Brian and Wade for helping to create an excellent and productive team.”

Congratulations to Wade and Brian on receiving the first Chameleon All-Star Awards of 2012! We’re glad to have you both on the team!

Finding a job is essentially about networking – it’s about who you know. This ties in well with social media, since it is also about connecting with people. Most social media platforms are designed to make interaction faster and easier, especially through the increasing availability of mobile devices. It’s even easier to get in touch with new contacts or friends of friends.

One big issue is that there are so many social media sites that it can get very overwhelming. A common piece of advice is to pick a few and concentrate on those. As long as you’re active on some of the biggest sites, you don’t need to have a profile for every network out there. We suggest at least the big three: LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

LinkedIn – If you’re not on other social media sites, be active on LinkedIn. It was designed specifically for professional networking. Several recent articles have stated that recruiters currently use LinkedIn more than other social networks for finding candidates. Experts suggest joining groups to maximize the job search potential.

Twitter – This is a good way to find out what’s going on in a particular industry or with a certain company. Many organizations (including Chameleon Technologies) make a point of posting job openings on a regular basis. Twitter is all about interacting – sharing, asking questions, responding – in order to connect with influential contacts.

Facebook – Depending on how much you use Facebook, it may give employers a better look at you in terms of cultural fit, which can be just as important as other qualifications. It is also handy as a true networking tool to spread the word about your job search.

YouTube – Posting a ‘video resume’ is another creative option for getting your name – and face – out there. Just be careful to stand out in a good way!

Regardless of which platform you use, the same recommendations apply. Make sure to keep your information as up-to-date as possible. Be proactive – don’t just wait around for someone to find you. Keep your public profiles appropriate to your desired profession. These tools can be valuable for most industries and they are particularly relevant with IT jobs. So get out there and get social!

Though it may seem like a minor detail, sending a thank-you could help you stand apart from other applicants and consequently get you a job offer. It not only emphasizes your interest in the job, it also demonstrates a high level of professionalism and etiquette.  Besides being a courteous gesture of appreciation, a thank-you note or letter can be useful in supplying additional information, addressing any concerns, or it can be way of scheduling a future appointment.

The rules of thank-you notes are simple and few. Keep it brief. Make sure to personalize it and address the specific person or people who conducted the interview. Cards and typed letters are the more traditional methods, but emails are also now acceptable, especially if time is a critical factor. Send a thank-you no later than one to two days after the interview.

There are a wide variety of letter samples on the internet, so if letter-writing isn’t your strength, it’s relatively easy to find some ideas. Most importantly, treat it like any other business correspondence and always send some kind of thank-you after every job interview. It’s another way to make a connection with a hiring manager, and even if you don’t get the job you were applying for, it helps to pave the way for possible future opportunities.

We have had a great year here at Chameleon, and we’re very excited for 2012! Our team will continue to grow in the coming year, and we are all looking forward to working with even more top talent and other local businesses. Happy holidays to all, and best wishes for the new year!

Thank you for all your hard work, Lianna!  You are a Chameleon All-Star!!

Permanent

Just the word “permanent” implies a sense of security and stability, and that is often what people cite as the greatest advantage of a direct hire. Of course, as many people have found out in the past few years, even permanent jobs can end abruptly. And if a long-term job becomes less satisfying over the years, it can be much more difficult to get out of.  Still, some employees thrive more in an environment where they know they are going to stay in one place. Permanent hirees can also have more opportunities to grow and develop their skills within one company, and companies are more likely to invest in career development. Pay may not start out very great, but it’s steady and there is usually a full benefits package to go along with it.

Contract

Contract assignments are very common in the IT field, yet there are many job seekers who aren’t interested in this type of employment. Some people assume that all contract work is short-term and temporary, though that is not always true. A project-based contract may only last for a few months, or even weeks, but some contracts can be continually extended and last for years. Other jobs may only start out as contracts and later develop into permanent employment. The main benefit of contract work is that most contractors (also known as consultants) tend to receive higher wages, since hiring costs are lower. Contracts can also offer more flexibility and a wider variety of opportunities. Even though it may be necessary to move from job to job more often, it is sometimes easier to stay employed through contracting, especially in a tough economy. In general, most contractors do not receive benefits, but a good firm such as Chameleon will provide comprehensive benefits for their consultants.

It’s important to carefully consider all of the options and look beyond the common perceptions (and misperceptions) of contract versus permanent. Most often, deciding on the right job is a complex array of decisions, especially if there is more than one opportunity. It’s a little like trying to decide whether to rent or buy. Each choice has its own set of advantages and disadvantages – it just depends on the specific situation and the needs of the individuals involved.

Here are some of our client’s current openings:

• Software Design Engineer – Responsible for working on the cutting-edge user interface tool chain that has set our client apart from the competition. Build complex software that must be elegantly designed, cleanly written, and efficient when executing. Requires 5+ years of experience designing, coding, and debugging complex software solutions; 2+ years of consumer device software experience; 2+ years of developing rich user interfaces with advanced frameworks and tools.
• Programmer Writer – Responsible for creating SDK/API and related technical documentation for mobile devices as well as maintaining administration of the website where the SDK/API documentation is hosted. Requires experience with technologies such as XML, XSLT, HTML, CSS, and scripting languages; programming experience (Java and/or C++); 3+ years experience authoring SDK/API developer documentation.
• ETL/ELT Developer/Engineer – Responsible for working with data warehousing and business intelligence teams for successful delivery of their reporting requirements. Requires working knowledge of ETL tools; 5+ years experience in ETL/data warehouse development; experience with Java, SQL query writing, and Unix/Linux; BS/MS degree in computer science/engineering or equivalent.

If you are interested in working for this company or are qualified for one of these positions, send us your resume! You can also check out our job listings page to stay updated on the most recent opportunities.

Clients

The first thing we need is a job to fill. Our business development team is responsible for creating and maintaining relationships with hiring managers from around the region. They assess every detail of the client’s needs and monitor open positions throughout every step of the process.

Candidates

Once a job order is open, our recruiting team takes on the task of finding eligible candidates. They use many different tools and resources – both internal and external – to review potential applicants. They make a point of meeting each candidate in person and only after thorough screening do they submit someone for a position.

Placement

When a candidate has passed our screening process, the account manager submits their information to the client. At this point, the client’s hiring manager will decide whether or not to request an interview, and should the interview process go well, they will submit an offer back to us. If the candidate accepts the offer, the placement is made and the job is filled. Throughout all of this, both the recruiter and the account manager are involved in making sure everyone’s needs are met.