By: Paulina Kostecki

​If you are a business professional and don’t already have a profile on LinkedIn, it’s time to create one! LinkedIn is a great tool to use for networking and also for showcasing yourself to become discovered and noticed by potential employers. Check out the top 10 rules for your LinkedIn profile below:

1. Use a professional headshot for your profile picture
LinkedIn profiles with professional headshots get 14 times more profile views, according to DMR Business Statistics. With more than 146 million LinkedIn users in the U.S., having a professional headshot could be the key to your next career move.

2. Write using first person view point
It’s always important to remember that LinkedIn is a social platform. Therefore, it is important to remember that you are there to be social. Writing in first person point of view keeps readers closer and makes you seem more sociable. Third person can alienate the readers of your profile.

3. Show off your academic AND professional achievements
I think this is a critical component of any young professionals LinkedIn profile. It reminds me of that old adage of a young professional being told during an interview, “I can’t hire you unless you have work experience,” and the young professional responding with, “but how do I get work experience if you don’t hire me.” Unfortunately, this conversation still happens on a daily basis. Rounding out your LinkedIn profile with your academic and professional achievements is a great way to show that you have the drive and skills needed for a firm to take a chance on you. They may see that you are a perfect cultural fit, even if you don’t have a ton of experience.

4. Add projects, volunteer experiences, and languages
Adding projects, volunteer experiences and languages shows your depth of knowledge and experience outside the collegiate environment. Again, it is an opportunity to show that you have worldly experience even if you don’t have direct work experience.

5. Keep your page updated
LinkedIn is not a one and done experience. Make sure you update your profile after you’ve completed an internship, studied abroad, completed a cool project or done something that a new employer may be interested in learning about.

6. Avoid using cliché words
Need I say more. This one is self-explanatory. Keep it professional.

7. Make connections!
Just like other social platforms, connections are important because it is truly virtual networking. Connections allow you to see other people that may be connected to your first level connections. These first level connections can be a gateway to new introductions with other people. Take time to connect to anyone in the company you are interning at or within your college or university. Connect with professors, peers, and anyone that has been influential in your life.

8. Add endorsements to showcase your skills
You can add a maximum of 50 skills to your profile. They're a simple and effective way of building your professional brand and engaging your network. Once you've added a skill to your profile, your skills can be validated by 1st-degree connections to reinforce their weighting.

9. Use spellcheck to check for typos
Again, make sure you are error free. There is no reason you should have any typos in your profile.

10. Put time into your profile to make it unique
There are plenty of people that put their own unique spin on their profile. There is nothing wrong with setting yourself apart from your peers or competition. Just remember to keep it professional and have fun.

Follow these quick tips and you’ll have yourself a professional and good-looking LinkedIn profile. Employers will be able to easily see your professional life outlined. For LinkedIn advice or questions, leave a comment below! 

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​About Paulina:
Paulina Kostecki is an intern at OpTech this summer working in the Marketing Department. Paulina will complete her last year at Oakland University this fall and brings readers a unique perspective in her writing – speaking candidly about the ups and downs of bridging from college life to a corporate career. She shares her thoughts and experiences every Tuesday to help fellow students or young professionals seamlessly navigate through this transition, quite possibly one of the most daunting and invigorating experiences of a young person’s life. 

By: Paulina Kostecki

Being an intern comes with a lot of pressure. You always want to be sure that you’re giving off a good impression, learning the most from your experience, and being the best co-worker you can be. Below you’ll find the five questions I ask myself at work to ensure I’m being a proactive intern:

Will I regret not speaking up?
The most important thing I have learned as a college student thus far is that confidence IS key. During my first internship, my evaluation from my supervisor said that I lacked confidence. Because of this, I missed out on the chance to stand out from the other interns and make myself heard. Being an intern is very intimidating and of course it’s hard to be confident at all times, but the less confident you are, the more chances you miss to stand out and impress your co-workers. If you find yourself always staying shy and timid at work, train yourself to slowly but surely start making your voice heard by giving useful feedback or even by asking useful questions.

Am I getting the most out of the experience?
Sometimes in the workplace, you can set a precedent or create bad habits that may go unnoticed. Bad habits can be anything from using your phone too often to being unorganized. Bad habits make it hard to get the full learning experience from your job or internship. My advice to you would be to put your phone away, go to meetings even if they sound boring, make reminders or agendas for yourself, and always take advantage of any opportunity your supervisor offers you. There is nothing worse than looking back at the day or looking back at your internship and regretting not taking advantage of the small things that would’ve enhanced your learning experience.

Should I change my attitude?
Everyone at work loves to blame their bad attitude on “a long day at work” or “a bad day at the office.” Don’t do this. Please. Remind yourself that your attitude is your choice. When something bad happens at work and it gets you down in the dumps, remember the 3-minute rule. One minute to feel bad for yourself, one minute to be angry about it, and one minute to reflect on it. When the 3 minutes are up, be better than you were before and tell yourself that your day isn’t ruined because of one bad incident.

Can I name all of my co-workers without looking at the phone list?
This sounds like a silly question, but it’s actually one of the best ones to ask yourself. Test yourself to see if you can name all of your co-workers. By this I don’t mean to name every single person at your company, but just the people you directly work with or even all of the people in your department. If you can’t name everyone, it might mean that you could try being a bit more social. If you can name everyone, test yourself to name a fun fact about everyone. I think it’s important to know your co-workers because you never know what kind of connections you might stumble upon and networking is always a great tool to use in the work place.

Am I giving more than I’m receiving?
As an intern, your supervisor will usually go out of their way to give you tasks, take you to meetings or networking opportunities, and make sure you’re enjoying your internship. Other co-workers and people from your department will also probably try to help you in some way. Because of these things, it’s important to always be sure you’re making an effort to help anyone that helps you. Stay late to complete a task that someone asks you to do or offer help to your supervisor when they have a lot to do. Even the smallest help can go a long way and leave a lasting impression.
 
Take a minute to step back and reflect. Start asking yourself these questions at work and I guarantee you’ll find ways to improve your professional life. 


​About Paulina:
Paulina Kostecki is an intern at OpTech this summer working in the Marketing Department. Paulina will complete her last year at Oakland University this fall and brings readers a unique perspective in her writing – speaking candidly about the ups and downs of bridging from college life to a corporate career. She shares her thoughts and experiences every Tuesday to help fellow students or young professionals seamlessly navigate through this transition, quite possibly one of the most daunting and invigorating experiences of a young person’s life. 

By: Paulina Kostecki

A new career is more than just a paycheck – it’s a lifestyle, a fresh start, and a commitment. Of course, most people find it stressful to make the jump into a new career and may even find that the job isn’t what they thought it would be. However, the simple truth of a new job is that it’s what you make of it.
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When you’re in this new environment, the hardest part might be getting used to the new pace of the office. Let’s face it, not all workplaces are as exciting and fast-paced as they are in movies, so it’s easy for us all to be negative and think that we’re not working “cool” jobs. The best way to conquer this negativity is to stop comparing your job to other people’s jobs. If you give off a positive attitude at work, then your job will suddenly become one of the “cool” jobs.
 
Having a number of new co-workers is another aspect that might take some time and effort to adjust to. You’ll find that 9/10 times, your co-workers become more than just acquaintances at work, but they’ll soon become the people you turn to for help and support. Because of this, having that same positive attitude in the office is crucial. You might find it hard to stay positive when a co-worker isn’t cooperating, but it is important to always remind yourself that you are in a PROFESSIONAL setting and must not engage in any behavior that could put your job at risk. 
 
The new environment, pace, and co-workers are all nothing to be afraid of when you’re starting a new job and they all become comfortable with time. Your new job will only be as amazing as you make it, so it’s really important to have a positive attitude and a positive outlook.

​About Paulina:
Paulina Kostecki is an intern at OpTech this summer working in the Marketing Department. Paulina will complete her last year at Oakland University this fall and brings readers a unique perspective in her writing – speaking candidly about the ups and downs of bridging from college life to a corporate career. She shares her thoughts and experiences every Tuesday to help fellow students or young professionals seamlessly navigate through this transition, quite possibly one of the most daunting and invigorating experiences of a young person’s life. 

By: Paulina Kostecki

When the recruiter from your dream job calls you for an in-person interview, do you want to be prepared? Of course! This step in the job hunt process is crucial because it’s your chance to set yourself apart from the other candidates that got called for the interview as well. In fact, this is the deciding factor of whether or not you will be extended a job offer. Below are 5 ways to nail your job interview:

1. Customize your resume
In today’s job market resumes tend to be repetitive and they lack uniqueness, which is why it is so easy for your resume to go unnoticed. To avoid this, the first change you can make to your resume is to add experiences that you have that other candidates probably do not. For example, having unique volunteer experience or unique scholarships on your resume can really help. Also, go the extra mile and invest in professional paper, rather than the typical printer paper. Finally, include descriptions of your previous jobs with paragraph format instead of bullet points. This small change to your resume surely makes your resume stand out, while also showcasing your previous work experiences.

2. Dress to impress
This step seems like common sense but it often is not done properly. Dressing to impress at your interview will not only make you feel more confident, but it will also show that you are professional and that you care about getting the job offer. For males, this means dressing in a suit, suit jacket, tie, and dress shoes. Also, don’t forget the BLACK socks. For females, this means dressing in a blouse, blazer, and either dress pants or a skirt. If you choose to wear high heels, make sure that you are comfortable walking in them. Finally, men should make sure they have properly groomed their facial hair and both men and women should make sure their fingernails are clean.

3. Research the company
Another common step that seems so small, but actually makes a big difference and will make you stand out from the other candidates. Prior to your scheduled interview, you should do a little homework about the company. This means more than just googling the company name and name of the CEO. When researching the company, you should visit the official company website and read about the company, the location, the benefits, the services they offer, and the company culture. If you mention these aspects of the company during your interview, the recruiter will be impressed and it will show that you have a strong interest in the company and in working there.

4. Have a question or two prepared
At the end of the interview, you will be asked if you have any questions for them. There are usually no wrong questions to ask, but DO NOT say you have no questions. Instead, have a question in mind. Your question should be honest, but still professional and show that you are highly interested in the company. Great questions usually involve the job projection at their company and if they are a growing company or not. Also, a recruiter once told me that they love when candidates ask about their own personal growth in the company because it shows the candidate wants to hear a little bit about them.

5. Remain on your best behavior
​From the time you start driving to the interview until the time you return home from the interview, you must be on your best behavior. This means while you’re walking or driving through the parking lot, entering the lobby, or talking to the receptionist, you must be in your professional and respectful mode. One thing that can really make you stand out from other candidates is the first impression of you in the lobby, which is why it is important to be friendly and professional. Don’t be playing with your phone, being obnoxious, or talking inappropriately.
 
Well, there you have it! Following these key steps during your job interview process are sure to land you the offer from the company of your dreams.
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OpTech can help you find your dream job. An award winning firm. Forbes ranked OpTech number 56 of 250 nationwide last month for Best Professional Recruiting Firms in 2017.

To see a list of all job opportunities available at OpTech, click on the link below.

OpTech is pleased to announce that OpTech’s VP of Operations, Angelique Rodriguez-Edge, will be attending the June 2018 Young American Leaders Program (YALP) put on by Harvard Business School (HBS) this week. Angelique was nominated and selected from a highly competitive pool of candidates for this exclusive program.
 
Angelique and other selected leaders from across the nation will convene at HBS. For three intense days, they will learn about the best practices for cross-sector collaborations from across the country and around the globe. This program hopes to develop leaders and bring insight into where American cities stand today, while also exploring opportunities to improve cities’ standing. These improvements will involve workforce skills, K-12 education, infrastructure, and economic development.
 
“Angelique has been an instrumental leader in our firm’s growth and has a unique talent of bringing people together to support our growth objectives. I have no doubt that she will be able to apply what she has learned at HBS with the end goal of further propelling the growth of Metro Detroit,” said Ronia Kruse, President and CEO of OpTech when asked about Angelique’s opportunity.
 
After the session, each team will be encouraged to stay connected to each other, to YALP, and to future cohorts and apply what they have learned in their home city. Over time, their goal is to develop a cadre of young leaders who are able and eager to help their communities thrive.

The spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and kicking in Michigan and Northwest Ohio — and we couldn’t be happier to be a part of all the action! Ronia Kruse, President and CEO of OpTech was recently announced as a finalist in the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Michigan and Northwest Ohio Awards program.

As the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs, Entrepreneur Of The Year has been at the forefront of identifying game‑changing business leaders for more than 32 years. The program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs as Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company, John Mackey of Whole Foods Market Inc., Pierre Omidyar of eBay, Inc., Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn Corporation and Mindy Grossman of HSN, Inc.

We’re honored to have Ronia recognized among so many other notable business luminaries in Michigan and Northwest Ohio. Learn more about the Entrepreneur Of The Year Michigan and Northwest Ohio program and follow our journey   https://go.ey.com/2HTjVik to the awards!

Ronia Kruse, President and CEO of OpTech, is an inspiration to so many women. Ronia is among one of the few female CEOs that has successfully grown her award-winning business over the last 20 years in the world of Tech. For those that know Ronia, she is as down-to-earth as they come, often checking in with her staff and asking them real questions that impact them on a daily basis. She believes in her people and encourages them to stretch and grow.  

Ronia was recently interviewed for a local publication about her success and some of the advice she has for aspiring entrepreneurs. Here is what she had to say. 

What motivates you? 
Ronia: "I have always been motivating to help people, even from an early age. I believe that there are opportunities to help people in every aspect of our lives. At OpTech, I truly believe that our firm is only as good as the people we hire, nurture and help to grow. My staff are the reason we are so successful, and I believe wholeheartedly in helping them grow professionally and in their careers, offering them training, mentorship, and work-life balance. I also believe in helping people within the communities we serve. We focus our energy on helping young children, women, and the homeless, to name a few."

What advice do you have for an aspiring entrepreneur?
"If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, never give up on your dream. When you have a moment of uncertainty, draw on your passion and your resources. Look within. The world needs you. Pause, breathe, but don’t give up.  You’ve got this!"

What are some of the biggest challenges and opportunities your company will face in 2018? 
"Digital disruption and customer centricity will continue to be buzz words in today’s marketplace as technology adoption flourishes; new delivery models are implemented; and evolving expectations to bring more value to customers becomes the norm. Among all of these changes, OpTech sees great opportunities to remain focused on the customer (always) while adding value to their specific needs, evolving to meet the demands of a constantly changing technological environment."   

What are ways your company gives back to the community? 
"OpTech’s core culture is to give back to the communities we serve. We focus on education for the less fortunate, feeding and housing the homeless and overall advancing equality and diversity in everything we do. Recently OpTech partnered with Humble Design and sponsored two families coming out of homelessness. Our sponsorship included cleaning and furnishing a home for these families and providing them with items that will make their holiday unforgettable."  

Where's your favorite place to eat?
"My mother’s home. My mother is an amazing cook. She has been cooking authentic middle eastern (Jordanian specialties) food since she was a very young girl.  Unfortunately, he culinary skills skipped a generation.  I am hoping that I can capture her recipes that took her a lifetime to perfect."

To learn more about Ronia, click here.



 

This year, OpTech will donate our time and money to campaigns that focus on bringing hope to people in need. We will focus on education for the less fortunate, feeding and housing the homeless and overall advancing equality and diversity in everything we do.
 
In lieu of a corporate holiday party this December, we will start with a cause, that we are so proud to support, called Humble Design. OpTech will sponsor a family coming out of homelessness. Our sponsorship will include cleaning and furnishing a home for this family and providing them with items that will make their holiday unforgettable.
 
About Humble Design
Humble Design was founded in 2009 and is a non-profit that partners with local area homeless and abuse shelters to identify families that are emerging from shelters and into low-income housing. Many of these families are victims of abuse and have left behind all of their personal items upon escaping and entering an emergency shelter. Most have no beds, books, toys or furniture to call their own. By sponsoring a family, OpTech will turn their empty house into a clean, dignified and welcoming home, allowing them more time, effort and resources to focus on education, home life, employment and building a better future.