Estrella Diaz’s Post

How Many of Us Wear More Than One Hat? In today’s modern times, we sometimes actually have more than one main expectation from our employer at work. Even though the job posting listed certain responsibilities at the time of hire, there are sometimes more requirements involved. For example, a given job description for an IT Engineer might list “Designing Routing Networks”. Of course there are various other duties that go along with the design of routing networks, but these duties can also involve an overlap of other activities as well. After the Engineer submits his design for field implementation, he may also Project Manage the design. And during and after the project management phase, he may also perform the Quality Assurance portion of the overall project. And guess what? In this example, he is actually wearing 3 hats! Although there is a dedicated PM and a dedicated QA Engineer, our original IT Engineer is actually “taking the lion’s share” of duties of the project personnel involved. Is this fair? He’s only compensated for the salary of an IT Engineer. I think there is a fine line between “going the extra mile” and “getting run over”. What do you think?

“Thelma, you ask a lot of questions!” Yep! I get that a lot from people. You see, I thrive working with people from diverse professional backgrounds. In my administrative roles, I’ve had the chance to interact with many different professionals and it has been a blessing! In my first ever administrative role, for every job that came to my desk, I would ask questions to gain a better understanding. “What does this legal term mean?” to our legal officer, when drafting correspondence. “What is this, and what does it do?” to artisans like electricians and HVAC technicians, while processing their invoices for payment. “What material is this made from, and why use this instead of that?” to the paint production manager. The funny thing is, even though they sometimes grumbled at my endless questions, they were always willing to chat and share their knowledge. Asking questions has helped me in building connections and learning from different fields. And let me tell you, it’s paid off in some pretty unexpected ways. A few years ago, while attending a job interview, after being asked the ‘expected’ questions, I was asked a question about how much diesel I thought the office would consume in a month! Yup!! Didn’t see that one coming. I almost panicked. Luckily, I remembered my conversations with Aminu, the generator technician at my former job and quickly applied it to the question. Even the stern interviewer seemed impressed for the first time since I walked in. That is just one of many scenarios. Sure, Google is great and all, but there’s something different about getting real life answers from people who are in those fields. So, my advice? Never stop asking questions, my darlings. Whether for personal or professional growth, have those conversations. Be open to learning. Be curious. Let your inquisitiveness turn into insightful knowledge. You never know when it’ll come in handy! Wishing you all a lovely week! #knowledge #learn #sharpminds #curiosity #growth #success

Curious what a #generalcontractor really does? In this video, I break down the key responsibilities, risks, and skills that make a GC successful. 🛠️ Whether you’re looking to become a GC or hire one, find out what sets a great GC apart. https://linktw.in/OoLvNM 👷♂️#generalcontractor #contractortips

If you’re an owner/operator, you’re eternally torn between...   Building your sales pipeline, and performing the work you already have.   Recently, we worked with a contractor who was in this exact position. Her bandwidth was maxed out, and despite steady revenue numbers, growth had stalled.   She had an epiphany: to scale, she needed to split her duties. As a smaller residential contractor, running the business involved everything from pre-con, bid out, permitting, inspection walks, engineering & architectural sign-offs,...etc etc.. alongside BD efforts. No one sells like the owner, right? 😉   After a few hours of diagnostic meetings, we built a job description for a Director of Construction, and launched the search. We closed it out in under a month.   Now, with a dedicated operational leader in place to focus on delivery, she's free to focus on implementing new systems, processes, and technologies, and, most importantly, working with customers—her passion and strength. The result? They are positioned for growth … and as an owner she now gets to focus in on her zone of genius.   Remember, the cost of delegation can be minimal compared to the growth it enables. Build your bench, make your mark. . . . #hiring #construction #recruiting #bybmym

Good opportunity

https://lnkd.in/g2NWyv4m If this is the job my coworker was advertising, that is hilarious. This is the position that was hemorrhaging employees when I was there. Within a four month window, two coworkers were promoted from my department to this position. Within months of the promotion, both outright quit. Likely due to what I suspect was unreasonable workload. If my memory is correct, an ex coworker in this exact position, told me that they were trying to get people to move from break fix Systems Infrastructure to Project Infrastructure. That same ex coworker told me that there weren't many takers. That's assuming there were any takers. If you are skilled enough to take on this role, you would likely be better off looking elsewhere. You will likely get paid better, treated better, if not both. This is especially applicable if you aren't in the Oklahoma City location. I haven't even mentioned the amount of employees that quit within my last year there. I believe it was close to seven, if not higher.

You know, sometimes adverts should be written a little bit more honestly. Less of the buzz words and more of the reality... Happy Friday. **Spoof Advert** for Multi Skilled Engineers I’m currently representing a manufacturing business, who’re proudly rocking the middle ground with a solid 5 out of 10 on the industry scale. If you're a Multi Skilled Engineer who rates themselves a 6 out of 10 – congratulations, you're already ahead of the curve! We're on the hunt for someone just like you, someone who can add that extra sprinkle of pizzazz to our moderately average team. Responsibilities: As our chosen one with above-average prowess, you'll be responsible for: Performing routine maintenance tasks that are so average they might just redefine normal. Diagnosing and fixing mechanical, electrical, and plumbing issues with a flair that says, "I could do this in my sleep, but that would be too exciting." Executing preventive maintenance to keep things running smoothly, or at least as smoothly as our 5 out of 10 rating allows. Collaborating with the team to tackle challenges that are a bit more thrilling than watching paint dry. Assisting in projects to elevate us from our cosy 5 to a daring 6 – a leap that will be talked about in average business history. Maintaining records that are so meticulous they might make your calculator yawn. Requirements: To join our slightly above-average team, you should have: Proven experience as a Multi Skilled Engineer – extra points if you've fixed something while balancing a coffee in one hand. Problem-solving skills that make Sherlock Holmes seem a tad dramatic. Commitment to safety protocols because average shouldn’t mean reckless. Exceptional communication skills – we have a keen interest in understanding you perfectly. Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities, because let’s face it, averages can be unpredictable too. Qualifications: Minimum of 5 years of experience, but who's counting? Relevant technical qualifications or certifications. Impress us with the most average ones you've got. Familiarity with [specific technologies or tools relevant to the industry], because knowing the ropes is so 5 out of 10. Company Culture: At this business, we celebrate the beauty of mediocrity and seek an engineer who can add a touch of class to our middle-of-the-road existence. If you think you can handle the excitement of being slightly above average, we want to hear from you. How to Apply: Send your resume and cover letter to joebloggs@recruitment.com. Make it mildly interesting – we don’t want to get too carried away. Application Deadline: NOW This company is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in equal opportunities for everyone, including those who excel at being just a bit better than average.

We’ve been seeing more and more demand for strong System Design skills from Senior Engineers. Infact, from talking to hiring managers about their recent hiring experiences, the common theme is that almost every Senior Engineer they meet is failing the Sys Design aspect of the interview. At this point, if you can’t showcase that kind of skill set in the interview process, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be graded as a Mid level, no matter how much experience you have. So - if you’re on the hunt for a new role at that Senior level, especially if you’re trying to push for the upper end of what’s achievable comp wise…. Make sure you can smash it out of the park from a Sys Design perspective, because that’s the person who’s going to get the job.

Think your resume is enough to land your next construction gig? Think again. In this field, “Lead Superintendent” can mean anything from managing a critical data center build to overseeing a luxury residential project. A resume doesn’t capture those differences. But your portfolio does. A strong portfolio shows exactly what you’ve done and the regulations you have experience with. It’s where you highlight your best projects and demonstrate your ability to handle complexity. If you’re early in your career, start building that portfolio now. Document your work, focus on the details, and attach it to your resume. When the next opportunity comes up, your portfolio will set you apart.

We’re interviewing! The Pipeline: Strategies