Cloud computing can easily provide IT professionals with some key benefits. Cloud computing allows for a virtual cloud of information and resources to be made available to those who have access to it. In short, instead of storing items in a computer hard drive or in an intranet, the information is kept in a cloud where it can be accessed by anyone that needs to do so from virtually any location. There are both good and bad aspects to this as it applies to the IT professional.

The Pros of Cloud Computing

The benefits of cloud computing are significant. There is no doubt that this type of computing method will continue to grow and expand, and therefore become even more important. However, there are currently numerous benefits to consider.

• The remote access of data makes cloud computing perfectly suited for the IT industry. With it, professionals can easily gather information they need for client or customer needs anywhere.

• The immense amount of storage space makes cloud computing an essential for those in the industry who are responsible for large amounts of data. In short, this makes the entire framework accessible, without having to store it in a large hard drive.

• With cloud computing, comes expert management without the stress. Managing data and applications through the remote access of cloud computing makes this one of the best solutions to increase productivity and to reduce overlaps.

The key thing to remember, though, is that cloud computing is still just developing. It is likely to change rapidly in the future.

The Cons of Cloud Computing

What could be wrong with this system for storing data? There are some negative aspects or risks to using this method within the IT industry.

• There is a level of confidentiality risk. Though methods of security are improving, there remains a risk that information or resources will end up in the wrong hands.

• Integrity of the data could also be at risk.  In the IT industry, it is easy for mistakes to occur. The only way to avoid this is to have built in methods to reducing the risks.

• Availability could be a factor as well. The data may or may not be accessible to some individuals. Should there be a lockout of the information, this could leave the IT professional unable to access information it needs or that is vitally important.

Cloud computing is a powerful tool that will continue to grow and change. Its implementation can increase productivity and help to reduce the overall management of hard-line applications. However, there are risks to using it that every company needs to take into consideration.  Security is likely to be the biggest factor that needs to be addressed to implement this application. As it changes and grows, it is likely to become far more effective to run overall.

Find out if a cloud computing model will work for your business with web staffing solutions from Venteon.

Is your project management process not going the way it needs to go? For those who are looking at their current situation and wondering what can be done, it pays to learn where the weakness is first. Though you may know where the problems lie, until you find proof of the problem and then establish a plan for improving the situation, you will not find any improvement in this process.

In the engineering field, without the right project management process and technical staff being in place, your business will fail. However, without having a functioning and accurately working system, you are setting yourself up to fail just as much.

Project Management Defined

Having a project management process in place allows you to ensure any project coming into your business is properly managed from start to finish. These are your clients and this is your bread and butter. Without the help and guidance from trained professionals to guide the project from beginning to end, you may not even bother sending out bids on such projects. In short, you need the right people to do the job and a way to manage the process.

Establish a Project Management Process

The first step is to ensure the currently established system is working for you, and if it is not doing so, to find ways to make it work. It is a good idea to look for specific areas of concern. Where is the hold up? What is not working within the current system?

Here are some things to take into consideration.

·    Does everyone know the process and understand the role they play in it? Sometimes, a communication breakdown can be the biggest problem.

·    Do you have the right staff on hand for that type of project? If the project scope is unique or different, consider turning to a staffing agency to find the top quality engineering staff you need. This offers a short-term solution for the project’s management.

·    Find out where breakdowns are happening by talking to each person involved in the process. What struggles and concerns do they have? What limitations do they face?

·    Monitor the progress on your own. Sometimes, seeing things in action can help you to see where the underlying problem or concern is and to make near-immediate changes as they happen.

·    Do not get too overwhelmed or be set on doing things one way. Be willing to make changes as you need to. This can keep things in line going forward. Being flexible is a key component to success.

There are times when the project management process will not go the way you want it to. Your success depends on your willingness and ability to change and grow with the process as your company changes. For more tips on managing your projects, and having the specialized staff to handle each role, be sure to get in touch with Venteon today.

New accounting technology is about to become a factor for accounting and finance companies. For accountants, there may not be anything better than paper and pencil, but today’s world is demanding more of an Internet-based solution. Customers, clients, employers and associates are demanding it too.  Yet, many accounting applications and methods are paper-based. Even the first non-paper based software programs are sorely lacking in their ability to give users the diverse amount of information they need.

What’s Changing?

Finance and accounting companies and associates will need to push harder to get into modern-day software and services. Some experts are telling those in the industry to just start over. Don’t try to upgrade what you have – invest in rethought, reengineered products that can really enhance the way you do business. Some of the new accounting software products to look for include those that do the following:

• Monitor production and track inventory more efficiently
• Issue invoices and track them in a comprehensive tool
• Report production stats and other details in a matter of seconds rather than hours
• Calculate taxes, even complicated formulas, with excellent accuracy and near-immediate results
• Create on target, instant reports detailing, down to the minute, labor projections and reporting

There is also the need to stop doing what is no longer worthwhile to do. For those in the finance and accounting industry, this means no longer creating long, detailed reports by hand that can be done in moments through these higher powered systems. It also means no longer printing documents, but sharing them in a cloud or through an Internet-based link. Not only do the method of reporting and the type of reporting need to change, but communication and access to information does as well.

Speed is becoming the big name in the game. The process of recording transactions in a ledger, documenting invoices by hand and creating reports over a period of time is no longer enough. Though these practices and principles remain the same, what doesn’t work is the length of time it takes to get those reports in the hands of those who need them. New accounting products need to be fast, accurate and readily available in the blink of an eye. The lightening fast speed of the Internet is making it more demanding than ever that accountants have answers right away.

For those in the industry that do not make the change, it is possible that the accounting strategies they are using will fall to the wayside. In fact, some companies are slicing into accounting departments as a way of reducing overall costs. When there are powerful software tools that can do the same job, many employers are forced to make these decisions. Some experts warn that those who do not take steps to make changes could be out of their job sooner than they think.

A good performance management system needs to go beyond the once-a-year performance appraisal that involves merely filling out a form. Supervisors and managers need to provide employee feedback all year long. Although performance appraisals are typically tied to salary increases, the true goal of a superior performance management system is focused on employee development and organization improvement over the long term. When done successfully, a solid performance management process can give a company a competitive edge.

Not a Once-A-Year Glance

All too often, performance management is done as a low-priority task when compared to other business tasks of an organization. It’s often a once-a-year “glance” instead of a detailed review. When focus is placed on improving the performance management process instead, bottom line business results can be significantly improved.

For that reason, an exceptional management process for performance development doesn’t happen overnight or in a week. It needs to be carefully planned and designed before it is implemented for managers to use in evaluating employees.

The performance appraisal form isn’t just a necessary evil in conducting an employee’s performance evaluation. Nor should it only be reviewed once a year. Rather, the completed performance appraisal form should be a tool to support an ongoing performance management process. It can help serve as a reminder that performance management should be happening the entire year.

In other words, the performance appraisal is the total of a total performance management system. It’s not the be-all or end-all. It doesn’t have a beginning or an end, but represents a continuous tool that is used to not only improve an employee’s performance, but the organization’s success as well.

A successful performance management system enables good communication about performance between a supervisor and employees. Performance management isn’t a one-way street with feedback going in one direction. Rather, it should be two-way communications that occur continuously throughout the year.

Employees Need to Take Responsibility

Employees need to know that they have a responsibility and accountability in the performance management process. To that end, they should be prepared to give their honest assessment and feedback about their past, current, and future performance. In addition, they should be a knowing participant in their plans for improvement and goals for the coming years.

Supervisors and managements should be observant of development and coaching opportunities throughout the year to improve the overall performance management process.

Practical Tips

One of the best ways to ensure that your performance management process is a year-long process, instead of an annual paperwork task, is to create a performance management checklist. The checklist should contain action steps for interim performance discussion meetings, pre-planning performance appraisals, performance appraisal meetings, post-appraisal meeting follow-ups, goal setting and goal achievement.

A year-round performance management system is the true driver of both employee and organization success.

Industrial/Manufacturing Engineer

• 8 years of experience as an industrial/ manufacturing engineer.
• Bachelors of Science: Mechanical Engineering Technology, from Michigan Technical University, Masters of Science: Engineering Management, from Oakland University.
• Developed and supported assembly processes from initial concept to facility implementation.
• Designed, built, and implemented workstation layouts for safety and efficiency. Maintained Process Documentation for reference (PFMEA, Process Flow, & Standard Operations).
• Time study and GD&T Certified.

Designer

• Over 20 years experience in the automotive industry.
• Most recent CAD package is UGNX 7.5
• Design Engineer and most recent experience in injection molded Fascias.
• Experience in body panel design and has worked to resolve different packaging issues.

Senior Account Manager: Air Filtration

• Formal education
• Automotive Sales Agent  heavy experience and Air, Cabin Air Filtration, Oil and Fuel Filtration products with key account responsibility to OE’s, Tier 1 Suppliers and Aftermarket
• Product and market knowledge; knows the industry well and he is well positioned to speak to your customer’s engineering community on automotive air filtration, including Cabin Air Filtration.

Project/Program Manager

• Design and development of interior plastic trim and closures.
• Interface with Supplier, purchasing, studio, manufacturing, tooling, conceptual.
• Program Engineering – close out panels, chromed plastic end caps, rear door bolsters, cluster bezels, “B” pillars,    quarter panels – GM Truck programs.
• Follow up tool review.
• Project Manager – tracking program timing and milestones, coordinate project workload, exterior wheel liner housings, quarter panel, “A” and “B” pillars – GM Sedan, Coupe, Convertible programs.
• Project Engineering – Chrysler Interior Trim – including product design, product testing, advanced manufacturing, program timing and milestones, deliverables.
• Interior and Exterior integration.

When it comes to filling jobs, some positions are harder to fill than others. Unfortunately, it’s even more important to get the right person for these “harder to fill” jobs than for more common positions where candidates and applicants abound. Even in a challenging job market, there are some jobs where it seems nearly impossible to find the perfect candidate.

You should never settle for an unacceptable candidate just because you need to fill a seat. That being said, what do you do when you really can’t afford to offer the moon to someone who is highly qualified for the job? How do you maintain a negotiating edge when you know the job is going to be difficult to fill?

Think Outside the Box

Sometimes, it’s better to look at the set of skills a candidate has rather than the specific job titles, degree, or experience the candidate has in a particular position. Shift your thinking just a little bit and seek out candidates that have a complementary set of skills that would fit within the scope of the job you’re trying to fill.

Consult a Professional Recruiter

Believe it or not, there are recruiters who specialize in the engineering and high-tech industries. If you have a hard to fill engineering position, chances are that this is a position that other businesses have a hard time filling as well.

A good recruiting agency or firm is going to know what these harder to fill positions are, and they will know if anyone in their system would be a good match for your company. More importantly, the recruiter is likely to be able to send you a selection of names you may have never found on your own. Now you’ve gone from an occasional candidate to a list of names that give you a little more bargaining room.

Be Creative with Benefits

Benefits packages are all the rage today. One of the most popular benefits you can offer is flexibility with work hours. It doesn’t even have to be offering additional days off. Today’s engineers are more diverse than ever before.

It could be that the engineer in question would like the option of working later or earlier in the day. It could be that the idea of working four, 10-hour days is more appealing to them than the traditional 8-hours a day, five days per week.

A little creativity in the offer can make a world of difference to many candidates – even over higher paying offers in the market. Another popular benefit is casual attire. While that’s not appropriate for all businesses, more and more workplaces are beginning to offer that as a major perk.

The bottom line is that you’re only as limited as you allow yourself to be when hiring new recruits. Some positions are harder to fill than others, but if you start thinking creatively instead, you could have more than your fill of candidates.

The iPad is one of the most important technological advancements in recent years. This simple device has the ability to transform the way people do business, interact, communicate and even learn. In the IT field itself, the iPad has become a powerful tool that provides effective methods for enhancing productivity and for ensuring businesses run as effectively as possible.

How will the use of this tablet computer change the way people learn and interact?

Learning Goes Mobile

As a small-sized computer, the iPad is a powerhouse when it comes to taking it with you. You can take the iPad anywhere and use virtually all of its applications wherever you are. Link to a hotspot or use the 3G services available and you can use all of the apps the way you want to. This includes all of the learning applications available today.

Various Learning Methods for All Ages

Like the computer before it, the iPad has the ability to teach any topic in any learning fashion, anytime and any way. That is what makes it so powerful.

• Students can take college courses right on their iPad, perhaps on their way to and from work each day.
• Workers in a manufacturing plant can take courses for an hour a day, during work shifts, to increase safety training or to meet safety guidelines. They do not need to leave the building to do so.
• Businesses can encourage new hires to use these tablet computers to learn the software used within the business.
• Schools use iPads to increase the ability of students to research and develop their own opinions in real time. This connection to the real world in a handheld device (with proper monitoring) encourages a new level of understanding.

The iPad plays a role in improving education. Yet, it goes farther than this. IT itself is changing as a direct result of the success of this device. Other manufacturers are following suit. Many are developing applications that allow for students or other users to use the iPad. For example, the IT field is seeing an increased demand from businesses to develop applications that allow business websites, blogs and other services to be easily accessed and used from an iPad.

The demand for the iPad has made it the go-to IT source for businesses, students and individuals who want greater communication. Those who are unable to go back to school can use it to learn the skills necessary to achieve their goals. It does virtually everything. The investment of one’s money into an iPad is easily justified because it is relatively inexpensive when compared to a laptop or desktop computer. And, it’s mobile. By making education easier to obtain, the iPad has allowed many more people to get back to learning.

Today’s job search can feel like a full-time job in and of itself. In many circles it’s suggested that you treat it as if it were exactly that. That being said, there are wise and not-so-wise ways to handle your job search. Handling your job search right from the start can mean the difference between weeks of unemployment and months of unemployment. In today’s job market; that difference can feel like a lifetime. That’s why it’s so important to have someone on your side, such as a staffing agency, to act as an advocate for you in your job search.

Here are five reasons why it’s advantageous to partner with a staffing agency in order to land your next job.

1)    Resources. Staffing agencies have access to job listings that aren’t widely known. In fact, many companies don’t advertise in traditional methods at all. They simply turn to staffing agencies in order to pre-screen potential candidates.
2)    Relationships. Staffing agencies don’t advertise all of the jobs they have available either. Some of them are new and some of them they hold close to the vest and only share with highly-qualified job seekers. In other words, you must have a relationship with the staffing agency to even hear about these positions. Not only can you develop a relationship with the staffing agency but they also often establish relationships with the companies they actively recruit for. This means that even if you’ve been turned down for a position with this company before they can help you get another opportunity to interview with the company and help you prepare for the interview for a better shot at success this time around.
3)    Industry Specific. Not all staffing agencies are industry specific but there are many that are. This is helpful to you because you’re dealing with people who understand the industry they are recruiting for and aren’t simple human resource employees that are “guessing” you’ll be a good fit for the company.
4)    Cost. It generally costs you nothing to use these services. Most of the time the fee is a percentage of your first year’s salary that is paid by the employer – provided that you remain employed for a specified amount of time.
5)    Negotiating power. You can enjoy a little additional negotiating power with potential employers with the staffing agency acting as your advocate. Make no mistake. Their salaries are paid by the companies doing the hiring so they aren’t often going to go above and beyond but they can negotiate a little more aggressively, especially if they are convinced that you would be an ideal fit for a particular company, than you would be able to do on your own.

Staffing agencies aren’t always the perfect answer but most of the time they are a good solution for people looking for a new job in today’s highly competitive job market. The odds are good that you would enjoy many benefits from this particular partnership.

Business Analysts
• Bachelor’s Degreed
• 2-8 yrs of Business Analysis experience including formulating and defining system scope, analyzing business/user needs, writing and executing test plans.
• Experienced with traditional applications, web and mobile development/Quality Assurance.

Project Managers
• Traditional as well as Digital/Technical with Marketing/Advertising Industry experience.
• PMP certified, experienced with Agile Methodologies, traditional application, web and mobile projects. 

Mobile Application Developers
• Experienced developers with Android, Blackberry and iOS technologies.
• Experience with Objective C, CSS3, HTML5 etc.

Web Developers
• Developers with 2- 7 yrs of experience
• Net, C#, PHP, CSS, HTML, etc.

A contract workforce can greatly improve your IT staffing needs. As a business owner or hiring manager, it is not always necessary to bring on full time staff to manage a small problem. The entire process of hiring an employee is long and complicated. If you just need to tune up or update your IT technology, you do not need to hire a full team of employees. Rather, you may be able to get the results you need from a specialized contract workforce.

Why IT Contract Staffing Works

Contract workforce employees, or temporary workers, come in, do the job and are gone. There is no long term incentive to worry about managing. There are no high cost employee benefits to worry about during the process. However, there are some key benefits to hiring these professionals over others for your IT needs.

• Hire an IT professional on contract to come in and update systems, as they need them. Updates are something many businesses put off because they take time and labor away from the tasks. Keep your staff busy and have a pro handle the upgrades required.
• Do you need to manage those safety breaches or handle those software problems? If your business does not need a full time IT professional but just someone to come in when it is necessary, turn to contract workers instead of hiring someone. It could cost you less than hiring an IT company to do the work.
• Installation of new equipment, software or other IT tools is often necessary. When you need to make a significant move to expand or to build on your current network, bring on a professional to help with the transition. This can be especially helpful when it comes to training of employees with new systems.

The key in using contract workforce is getting a team you trust. Ensure you can come back to the same team members whenever you need them. This can help to increase the overall successes you will have with using the company. Once they know the IT structure that is in your business then they can handle the concerns or needs that you have faster and within your budget.

If you do not need full time IT but you need to make changes to keep your systems working at the top of the IT industry, use contract workforce to get you to that point. What you may find is that these professionals can do the job and even offer all of the benefits of a full time professional (from managing those IT problems to offering advice on how, when and why to upgrade.) Do not overlook the value of temporary employees within the IT sector. This is especially valuable for any business that does not have a large IT footprint to manage in the first place.