When we think about landmark buildings, especially those in the city of New York, we have to include the One World Trade Center building, standing at 1,776 feet tall, crowning it the tallest building in the western hemisphere, taking the claim from Chicago’s Willis Tower. Just last month, the television network PBS launched a series called Super Skyscrapers, featuring One World Trade Center as the first towering building in the four-week series. The building will be complete and open to the public sometime this year.

Construction of One World Trade Center

The construction of this skyscraper started on April 27th, 2006, developed by The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP. Structural engineers who worked on the project include WSP Cantor Seinuk, Schlaich Bergermann und Partner, and the MEP engineer is Jaros Baum & Bolles.

Skidmore, Owings and Merrill designed the tower with the environment in mind. The tower will have a fuel cell that will generate 4.8 million watts to power its various systems and will also use waste steam for electricity. It will also feature a rainwater collection system and recycling scheme for its cooling systems. The construction process itself has been earth-friendly and uses recycled content building materials including sustainably-harvested wood. The construction from the site has also been recycled. Once the building is complete, it is expected to receive a Gold Certification by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

The engineers and architects also designed the building with structural integrity and ease of evacuation in mind. The building has a reinforced, window-less base that will be able to withstand a truck bomb. The walls are three feet thick reinforced concrete for all stairwells, elevator shafts, risers, and sprinkler systems and emergency staircases were built to be extremely wide so that as many people as possible could exit as safely as possible. Additionally, there are dedicated stairwells exclusively for emergency teams and the ventilation system will be equipped with biological and chemical filters.

Once finished, the One World Trade Center will boast the following statistics:

• Designed to be the safest commercial structure in the world and the premier commercial business address in New York.
• 3 Million square feet of office space on 71 office floors, a grand public lobby, and an observation deck offering unparalleled views of the city.
• 71 Elevators, with a top speed of 10.16 m/s
• 91 floors above ground, and 5 floors below ground.
• A rooftop observation deck at 1,362 feet with a glass parapet extending to 1,368 feet, the exact height of the Twin Towers.

Engineering Search Partners, along with most New Yorkers and Americans alike, are looking forward to seeing the completion of this great building. All organizations involved have created a new icon in the New York City skyline, one that the city and rest of the country are proud to recognize.

Photo via Wikipedia.

Many career experts agree that getting involved in professional organizations goes a long way toward making important connections that could benefit your job search. There are professional organizations for almost every profession, including many national, state and regional chapters. An association allows you to connect with other like-minded individuals, and could offer experiences that you may have otherwise missed out on. Here are some important benefits of joining a professional association.

Build Your Network

The size and quality of your Network will equal your Net Worth!

This is probably the most obvious reason to join a professional network, but it’s one of the most important! Creating professional relationships is the cornerstone of joining any network, usually with the goal of connecting with someone that can offer a synergistic relationship. It’s wise to also connect with these same people on social media sites like LinkedIn, and if you have worked with them, do them the favor of leaving a recommendation (most people will reciprocate and leave you one in return).

Take Control of Your Career

Many professional organizations have additional career resources, such as private job posting boards, or offer assistance in career marketing documents such as resumes or cover letters. Other benefits may include seminars, training or certification programs tailored to your particular profession, and by taking part in any of these, it shows a potential employer that you are dedicated to staying connected to your particular profession.

 Competitive Edge

Often, members of a professional association gain access to news specific to their industry as well as other developments affecting their profession. Association newsletters, LinkedIn Groups or seminars are a great way to stay current on the latest trends and news in your industry.

Professional Associations for Engineers

For structural engineers, there are a number of options for professional involvement. Organizations like the Structural Engineering Institute, National Council of Structural Engineers Associations, American Concrete Association, American Institute of Steel Construction, Council of American Structural Engineers.

If you aren’t already involved in professional associations for your industry, these are great reasons to start! Engineering Search Partners is proud to be a part of SEI-Georgia, and SEAoG.

Have you ever said to someone, “You have to try this place, they have the best coffee!” Or “the best Caesar salad,” or “the best atmosphere.” As an engineer, have you ever said, “Wow, this is one of the most impressive structures I’ve ever seen?”

Recently, we spied a special report article on Engineering-News Record.com, an online resource for construction, building and engineering news that shared some of the best projects in 2013 ranked by a panel of independent industry leaders, including three safety experts. The projects were selected after months of meticulous judging as the best examples of design and construction excellence among completed projects in the United States between July 2012 and June 2013. The process began with independent panels of judges selecting winners in 20 categories for each of ENR’s 10 regional editions. Then, these top regional projects were selected for the national competition, with the winners of these categories chosen based on their teamwork, safety, innovation, quality and success in overcoming challenges.

As an extra honor, ENR’s editorial staff selected one standout project, a Seattle office building called the Bullitt Center selected as the winner for the Green Project, as Editor’s Choice. This ultra-sustainable green building is built to satisfy its own energy, water and waste needs in a revenue-producing environment. The center also serves as Bullitt’s living laboratory to further the Bullitt Foundation’s mission of elevating environmental awareness.

Engineering Search Partner‘s personal favorite of all the projects on ENR’s best of list was the Phyllis J. Tilley Memorial Pedestrian Bridge, located in Fort Worth, Texas. This bridge is America’s first steel-arch and stress-ribbon bridge, and serves as a connection from the city’s central business area with the arts district and its largest and oldest park. The bridge measures at 366 feet and is 12 feet, 9 inches wide, and was built to withstand more than 12 feet of flood waters, as the area is sensitive to flooding.

Amazing projects like these remind us of the creative problem-solving skills that make an engineer great. Which of these engineering marvels is your favorite, and why? Share with us by leaving a comment below!

Photo via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Engineering Search Partners is excited to announce that we will be attending this year’s Structure’s Congress in Boston, Massachusetts April 3-5, 2014. The conference this year will be held at the Sheraton Boston Hotel and Hynes Convention Center, and will be a great opportunity for all kinds of engineers to meet and build relationships.

More About the 2014 Structure’s Conference 

The Structure’s Congress is held by the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and expects more than 1,200 attendees. This year’s Congress has a number of exciting events for engineers, including more than 120 sessions, keynote speakers Ioanni (Yannis) Miaoulis, Ph.D., President and Director of the Boston Museum of Science and Tim Love, AIA, Utile Architecture and Planning, pre-conference seminars to earn additional PDHs, and more.

About the American Society of Civil Engineers

Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) represents more than 145,000 members worldwide and is America’s oldest national engineering society. Thanks to their active members and staff, the ASCE is the world’s largest publisher of civil engineering content in the world, and is also a leading provider of technical and professional conferences and continuing education.

Having a LinkedIn profile is one of the most helpful things a candidate can do when searching for a new job. If you’re new to LinkedIn, or think that you could use a few pointers on updating your profile, never fear. Focusing on a handful of main fixes can help position you to be at the forefront of hiring managers and recruiters on the Internet. This week on the Engineering Search Partners blog, we’ve compiled some of the best LinkedIn profile suggestions to help any job hunter further their career goals.

Top 5 Ways to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile

• Get a Close-Up. Do you have a professional-looking head shot accompanying your profile? A photo gives recruiters and hiring managers an idea of what to expect if they call you in for an interview, and it’s your first opportunity to make a good impression. Avoid any of the following: using a blurry photo, using a mobile selfie (self-portrait), a photo that’s clearly been cropped, or a photo that seems like it could be inappropriate for business use. Grab a close friend or relative and ask them take a quick photo of you in your best shirt, and this should suffice.
• Master Your Headline. Your headline should not be your job title alone. Many LinkedIn members take advantage of this section use this section for keywords that are highly searchable and that paint an accurate picture of who they are and what they’re capable of.
• Make Sure Your Profile is Complete. This might sound like obvious advice, but making sure that all pieces and parts of your profile are filled out is important. Use the summary area to clearly present who you are, what you have to offer and what your goals are. This is where you shine!
• Take Advantage of Groups. If you’re unfamiliar with LinkedIn Groups, they are a wonderful way to network. Demonstrate your social skills (after all, LinkedIn is a social site) by connecting with like-minded individuals who are interested in the same areas you are. It could be the missing link to making a great connection for a job lead.
• Ask for Recommendations. Having recommendations on your profile allows other to speak on behalf of the caliber of your work. If you’re unsure about asking for recommendations, a general rule is to offer to write one for someone else. Generally, they’ll be more than happy to return the favor. Former supervisors and colleagues make for the best recommendations, but don’t hesitate to reach out to newer connections, too.

Following these basic tips will help make you a more promising candidate and will set you apart from the other profiles on LinkedIn. If you’re an avid user of LinkedIn, what other suggestions would you recommend to someone using it to find their next job? Share with us by leaving a comment below! And while you’re on LinkedIn, we invite you to connect with Pat Batchelor and follow the Engineering Search Partners page!

If you have ever attempted to spearhead a job search solo, you know that in the unforeseen job market, it can be a full-time job in and of itself. Positioning yourself with a recruiter you can trust is advantageous to your job search, because if you build a good relationship, they will be more likely to align you with a perfect fit in your job search.

Here are five ways having a recruiter on your side is helpful: 

1. They are connected and can make a simple introduction.

2. They are connected on LinkedIn and by connecting with a few recruiters, your LinkedIn Network will grow rapidly….making more Hiring Managers “Visible” in your Network.

3. They are specialized and know a Niche Profession in the Market… (Find a Recruiter that specializes in your profession, such as Civil Engineering, IT, Structural Engineering).

4. They can help you manage your Salary Expectations and give you Salary Ranges.

5. They just may be your New Best Friend and encourage you along the way in your job search.

At Engineering Search Partners, we prep both our candidates and hiring managers with the goal of helping them both have the best interview possible. This ensures that the candidate is able to provide an impressive first impression and it helps the hiring manager better evaluate and recruit the candidate.

If you’re interested in partnering with a recruiter for your next engineering job search, don’t hesitate to contact Engineering Search Partners so we can help you take the Next Step in your Career.

 Photo Credit.

When it comes to finding the perfect fit for a particular job, hiring managers and recruiters should ideally work together to build a strategic partnership. Both parties need to be on board when looking for ideal candidates. Creating a symbiotic relationship not only helps both the hiring manager and the recruiter, but it ultimately helps the candidate as well!

10 Reasons Hiring Managers Should Hug Their Recruiters* 

1. They’ll make the most important thing you need to do easier.
2. They’ll save you time during the hiring process.
3. They’ll help you define the job.
4. They’ll help you raise the talent level of your department.
5. They’ll help make you more productive.
6. They’ll minimize the need to waste your time trying to motivate the unmotivated.
7. They’ll prevent the hiring of 90-day wonders.
8. They’ll help you achieve all of your department goals.
9. They’ll help you become a better manager.
10. They’ll help you get promoted faster.

Relax, Be Calm, Call your Recruiter!

*The Adler Group, a company known for creating performance-based hiring, uses a process that includes four phases: sourcing, recruiting, interviewing and closing. Their CEO Lou Adler is a frequent blogger on the social networking site LinkedIn. We found one of his most recent articles called “10 Reasons Hiring Managers Should Hug Their Recruiters” and enjoyed the article so much that we wanted to share a snippet here on our blog.  Click Here for a Link to the Original Post.

When it comes to a symbiotic relationship, Engineering Search Partners is dedicated to working with hiring managers to find the right candidate for your needs. Don’t hesitate to contact us so we can start the process of finding your perfect candidate.

Photo via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Hello and a warm welcome to the Engineering Search Partners blog.  Engineering Search Partners, Inc. is a recruiting firm that specializes in the engineering recruiting of structural, electrical and forensic engineers. Our founder, Pat Batchelor, has 25 years of Engineering Consulting and  Recruiting experience and has worked extensively with executives at all levels, with particular strengths in the civil, structural, electrical and forensic engineering sectors.

How is Engineering Search Partners Different?

We know engineering, and we specialize in helping firms locate and hire the strongest engineers on the market with our five-step method, which includes:

• Defining the Need

• Sourcing

• Qualifying

• Interviewing and Screening

• Hiring

Our goal with this blog is to connect you with important information regarding job markets for structural, electrical and forensic engineers.

Finding Talented, Qualified Engineers to meet your Company’s Talent Needs is our Specialty.

If you’re interested in seeing how Engineering Search Partners can help you find those “HARD to FIND” Engineers,  don’t hesitate to contact us. In addition to our weekly blog, we invite you to connect with us on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter!