1. Get comfortable: Your workspace matters. Having the right setup where you spend most of your time every day is important. If you need a standing desk or monitor arms to help you feel more comfortable, make a case to your boss. If your office is always cold, bring a blanket from home. Focus on what’s fixable and will make you more comfortable.
2. Do one thing at a time: Multitasking is a sure way to increase stress. Focusing on one task at a time can not only help reduce your mental stress, it can make you more effective and productive, lowering your stress further as you see your to-do list shorten.
3. Curate your playlists: Whether it’s music for the drive home or a playlist to keep you energized at work, music has the power to reduce stress and increase focus.
4. Avoid conflict: No one wants to deal with drama at the workplace. Keep everything professional and stress-free by avoiding gossip, not engaging in political or religious discussions, and keeping relationships friendly, professional, and platonic.
5. Stay organized: Disorganization increases stress. Having a place for everything – from paperwork to in-progress projects – can increase your mental and emotional energy by not having to track things down. Keeping your work computer, desk, and file cabinets organized and clean can help save your sanity at work.
6. Take breaks: It’s okay to step away from your desk or take a walk after a meeting. Getting some fresh air or taking a water break can keep stress levels low and improve mindfulness.
7. Focus on clear communication: If you need to ask a question for clarification, ask. If you are unclear on expectations, get more information. People’s stress can increase when communication is absent or unclear, so make sure you get as much information on projects and expectations as possible.

Work stress can happen, but it doesn’t have to be a day-to-day struggle. Mindfully managing your stress at the office can help you enjoy your days more and increase the quality of your work output and work relationships.

If you’re looking for a change because your job seems to be high stress with no end in sight, get in touch today. We can help you find a position that might help you gain a little more peace of mind.

The post 7 Ways to reduce Your Stress at Work appeared first on Open Systems Inc..

In most cases, a candidate will do very little evaluation on a prospective employer beyond some moderate research to prepare for an interview. However, in limiting their research, a candidate may be preventing themselves from making fully informed career decisions. Instead, a candidate should view a prospective employer as they do any unknown entity, and conduct a well thought out evaluation before making any decisions.

Evaluation Steps for Candidates

Contact Your Network

Contacting first and second-degree connections can be an excellent way to find either current or former employees of a prospective employer. Utilizing this approach, a candidate can get first-hand information directly from people familiar with a potential employer.

Review the Company’s Website Carefully

The second place to go for information on a prospective employer is their website. However, when doing this research, go beyond the superficial. Don’t gloss over their site but take an in-depth look. Study the biographies of company officers, current, and past work projects, and company blogs. Gather information and take notes in preparation for your next step, more in-depth research.

Research their Clients and Subcontractors, along with their Top Competitors

With your research gathered from a prospective employer’s website, it’s time to add more sources. Head to sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor to research company officers, clients, and subcontractors.

While looking at a prospective employer’s overall business, it’s essential to include top competitors. Evaluating competitors allows a candidate to better gauge the actual market of their potential employer. This information can help a candidate feel assured that they are making a sound decision.

Use Social Media

When researching a prospective employer, social media is an invaluable resource. In a social media search, look not only at an employer’s official accounts but also to platforms run by current and former employees (found via LinkedIn). When browsing the official accounts of a prospective employer, how do they interact with followers and what is the tone of their comments? Are they respectful, cold, or superficial? Concerning accounts run by current or former employees, zero in on reviews, complaints, and workplace concerns. However, keep in mind to not read too much into negative reviews by former employees since these can be biased and come from a place of resentment.

Contact a Professional Recruiter

The best way to get honest, in-depth information on a prospective employer is to contact a recruiter. A professional recruiter knows industry employers in their market. A recruiter can best gauge if a potential employer is a good match for a candidate and may even be able to connect a candidate with a current employee of a prospective employer.

Moving Forward

For candidates to make informed career decisions, it is essential that candidates research, review, and evaluate all prospective employers. By doing in-depth research, a candidate can begin a relationship with a potential employer with their eyes open. If a candidate still has questions regarding a prospective employer, it’s best to reach out to a professional recruiter. At Open Systems, we have the market knowledge and industry connections to help our candidates succeed in their job searches. Contact us today to learn more.

The post How Should Candidates Evaluate Prospective Employers? appeared first on Open Systems Inc..

The Top Tech Skills

When looking at the most desired tech skills by recruiters and employers, there are a few trends that stand out. The first is the importance of new tech in the marketplace. Practice areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data are really starting to take hold. At the same time, while new tech areas are emerging, more established practice areas such as Cloud and Security are continuing to grow and evolve.

It’s all about the data: Big Data Experience

Data is king in 2018. Companies have always had to deal with vast amounts of data but until recently were unable to easily put their data to work for them. Now, with Business Intelligence (BI) and Business Analytics (BA), organizations are harnessing their data and using the information to make predictions about the future and enhance their bottom lines.

Hiring managers are looking for professionals who have experience with both BI and BA as well as experience with data mining, modeling, and visual analytics.

Security: the vital and essential business requirement

Security is at the forefront of the minds of business leaders in 2018. No company is safe from a cyber-attack whether you are a corporate giant or a small business. Because of this, employers are looking for professionals with strong security backgrounds. Sought after skill sets include offensive and defensive security, vulnerability assessment, and incident response. Tech professionals can enhance their security bona fides through certifications such as the CISSP (Certified Information Security Systems Professional) and the CISM (Certified Information Security Manager).

Artificial Intelligence (AI): Taking the Impossible and Making It Possible

AI is becoming an essential part of emerging technology. Once a purely theoretical idea, AI is now becoming a vital business tool. Businesses are using AI and AI driven tools to improve many business functions. These functional areas include human resources and business strategy (BI and BA). Professionals should be familiar with data analytics, coding, and machine learning.

Everything is in the Cloud

Everywhere you go today, everyone talks about the Cloud. As more companies move to a cloud-first strategy, changes in cloud platforms are occurring rapidly. Most of these changes are to support AI and machine learning. Hiring managers are looking for professionals with cloud skills such as applications design, devops, and security architecture.

Moving Forward

2018 will be a year of significant advancements in the tech industry. Professionals who keep an eye on current trends can better position themselves for the market and their future. If a tech professional is uncertain how these current market trends affect them, they should reach out to a professional recruiter. At Open Systems, we leverage our up-to-date industry knowledge to help our candidates plan for the future. Contact us today to start your career moving forward.

The post Top Tech Skills That Employers are Hiring for Now! appeared first on Open Systems Inc..

What are the top IT certifications?

When looking at the top IT certifications it’s important to remember that certifications are not only time consuming to obtain, they are also expensive, so before making the commitment to earn one, make sure you are making a sound investment.

The Top 6 IT Certifications for 2018

1. Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)

Average Salary: $127,507

2. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

Average Salary: $122,448

3. AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

Average Salary: $119,085

4. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Average Salary: $118,179

5. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

Average Salary: $110,634

6. Project Management Professional (PMP)

Average Salary: $105,324

The Industry Trends for the Top 6 IT Certifications: It’s All About Security and Risk 

When looking at the top six IT Certifications, it’s not hard to spot a trend: Security and risk management is in high demand, and it’s no wonder why. With headlines detailing the latest breaches of company and personal data, security spending is at the highest level in history. Furthermore, it is fair to say this trend will continue in the years ahead. Thus, IT certifications in information security would be a good investment.

Another trend that can be found on the list is the emphasis placed on management as the PMP certification appears in the top six. While not an IT certification itself, it does hold high value for employers since it speaks to a candidate having knowledge of fundamental project management principles.

How Do I Know if a Certification is Right for Me?

Looking at trends is useful, but one should make sure a certification aligns with their career objectives. For example, a PMP, while a great certification, may not provide immediate benefit for a junior IT professional. However, a more senior IT professional may benefit greatly from a PMP certification as they look to move into a management position.

Something else you must consider is that many of the listed certifications require professionals to have a minimum number of years of work experience. For example, the CISM and CISSP both require candidates to possess at least five years of work experience in the area covered by the certification. This criterion may rule out these certifications for most junior IT professionals.

Moving Forward

When in doubt about what certification may be best for you and your career, it’s best to contact an industry expert, a professional recruiter. A recruiter will be able to advise you on the best certification for your current situation and for your future.

The post Will a Certification Earn You More Money in Your IT Role? appeared first on Open Systems Inc..

The Must Ask IoT Questions

When considering IoT inclusion in your environment, you must consider the following questions.

What ways can you utilize IoT in your organization?

Before deploying IoT technology, it is best to get an idea of how it can influence your business. Look at current IoT trends to see where it might best fit in your organization. Furthermore, a key item to consider is how it can impact employee productivity. Finally, make sure you’re also considering future use potential. This helps ensure that the focus remains on the business aspects of IoT and not just the technological points.

What are the biggest risks associated with your use of IoT?

The use of IoT can create some specific vulnerabilities, most importantly security. It is critical to consider the security impacts of IoT and update your company information security plans to accommodate it.

Can your network handle the additional workload?

This question directly correlates to scale. How many devices are connected to your network now and how many do you foresee being connected in the future? Will you need to upgrade and grow your network to fully support the use of IoT devices and the higher data transmission requirements that that comes with it?

Advice from Industry Experts for Business Leaders

McKinsey & Company, in a series of videos, spoke with industry experts regarding IoT. These experts provided insightful advice for business leaders. For example, Renee DiResta, VP of business development at Haven states “identify your differentiators. What are you doing? What is your plan? How do you plug into the ecosystem? There’s a much higher bar for impressing a customer at this point then there was five years ago.” Additionally, Jon Bruner, editor-at-large of O’Reilly Media states “think very freely. Imagine something, and then find the right people to execute it. It doesn’t take a lot of resources anymore to start dealing with this stuff. It just takes a couple of really smart people.”

Moving Forward

IoT is an exploding area of technology today. Business leaders and industry professionals are just starting to gauge IoT’s impact on business and operations. If an organization is uncertain of its use and implementation of IoT its best to consult a professional solutions expert. Additionally, a proven solutions provider will be able to offer guidance and create a strategy to tackle IoT challenges for both the near term and years ahead.

The post Are You Asking the Right Questions Regarding Internet of Things (IoT)? appeared first on Open Systems Inc..

The Top 5 Programming Languages

1. Java

Over two decades old, Java is still a dominant language. Java is the underlying platform for all Android apps, accounting for much of its modern popularity. Java is reportedly used by 90% of the Fortune 500. However, it appears Java may be experiencing a decline in demand in 2018 as the number of job postings for Java has decreased from 2017.

2. Python

The popularity of Python has been growing rapidly over the last five years. It’s most significant portion of growth comes from an increase in the number of Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects that include data mining and other scientific computing applications that utilize Python.

3. JavaScript

One of the older languages, JavaScript is still a favorite. Currently, over 80% of developers use JavaScript. Furthermore, 95% of websites utilize it as well. Due to its popularity in website development, this language is critical for web developers.

4. C++

C++ is a general-purpose language used by many large companies, especially with enterprise software. A highly versatile language, C++ powers both Google Chrome and Microsoft Windows as well as the backend of Amazon.com.

5. C#

C# is designed to run on the Microsoft. NET platform so, it is behind many web-based enterprise software platforms. It’s also widely used by game developers and has applications in mobile environments as well.

Programming Languages of Honorable Mention

While not in the top five, languages such as Swift, R, and PHP are also highly relevant and have their place in the programming language ecosystem.

Swift

Swift was developed by Apple in 2014 to run on their iOS-based devices. It is open source, user-friendly, and easy to learn. Considering the worldwide popularity of Apple products, it can be a valuable skill if you’re looking to expand your horizons.

R

An open source programming language, R is primarily used in data science and machine learning. R is widely used, including by companies like Facebook, Google, Trulia, and the National Weather Service.

PHP

The oldest language on the list, PHP is still widely used in server-side scripting for websites. It also forms the basis of many custom created languages such as ‘Hack’ from Facebook.

Planning Ahead

When considering expanding your programming skill set, it’s important to know which languages are used in your practice area. Additionally, it is helpful to know which languages are most in demand. When in doubt, it’s best to consult a professional recruiter who can provide you with advice and guidance on where to focus your efforts.

The post 5 Programming Languages to Make You a Better Web Developer appeared first on Open Systems Inc..

Soft Skills for 2018

Recruiters will be looking for candidates who excel in communication and cross-team functionality. While these soft skills aren’t an area where certifications can demonstrate expertise (with the possible exception of the Program Management Professional (PMP) certification), candidates can provide relevant examples of these soft skills when interviewing.

Communication

The skills to interface and interact with others will always be necessary, no matter the industry. Those candidates who can effectively and efficiently communicate ideas and processes will stand out. Not only must a candidate express ideas well, but they must also listen.

Cross-Team Functionality

In today’s tech industry, much work is done across an entire organization. Now more than ever, tech professionals are engaging with divisions outside the IT department. Tech professionals who have some basic familiarity with other business disciplines like HR, marketing, finance, and operations are highly valued.

Technical Skills for 2018

For 2018 and beyond, employers are looking for high tech skills that range from AI, Cloud, and SaaS to unique programming languages. These skills can be demonstrated with certifications but, in many cases, hands-on experience is also required.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is all the rage in 2018. Experience with data analytics, machine learning, coding, mobile app development, and innovation are critical. For example, in Silicon Valley, currently, there is an intense “arms battle” for top “engineering talent with a focus on AI and machine learning.”

Cyber Security

Following another year of high profile breaches, security will stay front and center for 2018. Candidates that are well versed in information security principles and protocols are in high demand. Knowledge of network security, firewalls, and penetration testing are key. In this area, certifications such as the CISSP and CISM are useful. Also, the area of offensive security is becoming a more significant part of the practice. As such, one of the most sought-after certifications is the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP). The expected employer search rate for OSCP professionals in 2018 is expected at 34%.

Cloud Computing and SaaS

Cloud computing and software as a service (SaaS) will continue their growth into 2018. Jeremy Williams from Vyudu, of the Forbes Technology Council, states that “virtualization skills in Amazon AWS, Microsoft Hyper-V, and VMware for private cloud hosting will, without a doubt, help you stand out from the crowd. Experience with DevOps, containers, the entire cloud stack, and IPv6 will also benefit your chances for a top job tremendously.”

Programming Knowledge

Popular programming languages are influenced by the latest trending frameworks and platforms. For example, Spark is an open source cluster computing platform that is used by industry leaders such as Netflix and eBay. Languages such as Java, Scala, Python, and R are used on the Spark platform. R is an open source programming language that supports statistical work and is used extensively in the areas of data mining.

Coding and Engineering Experience

Experience with engineering principles and hands-on experience with coding is crucial going into 2018. According to Chalmers Brown, from Due, of the Forbes Technology Council “an engineering mind and coding skills are now essential for the high-tech industry. Everything is about new ways to build and use products and services that are more intuitive.”

Mobile Application Development

The demand for mobile application development in 2018 will continue to rise. Scott Stiner, of UM Technologies, states that “successful developers should be fluent in multiple programming languages including Java, HTML5, Objective-C, C++, C#, Python, and Swift. Also, app developers with UX and UI design skills can offer much more value for project management.”

Moving Forward

As job seekers find themselves preparing for 2018 and possible job searches in the new year, it’s best to consult a professional recruiter. Furthermore, a professional recruiter can use their expertise and connections to help guide a potential candidate and provide advice on how to best present the top skills a candidate possesses.

The post Here Are The Top Skills Companies Are Looking For in 2018 appeared first on Open Systems Inc..

Ensure Salary and Benefits Are Competitive

To retain top talent, employers must provide pay and benefits that are competitive. In some cases, it may require employers to go a little beyond what they usually would. However, in the long run, this investment will pay off. For example, when coming up with a compensation package, factor what finding, hiring, and training a new employee will cost. How much will a recruiter run? Will much productivity time be lost training a new hire?

Provide Educational and Training Opportunities

Keeping a top performer at the top of their skills is an investment in them that also pays dividends for your organization. While training can take away from work hours, it can pay for itself down the road. Typically, allowing opportunities for education and training makes the top performer feel valued and appreciated. This leads them to stay with the company longer and incentivizes them to work harder.

Make Sure Work Is Recognized

Often the work of elite performers can go unnoticed; this is a classic case of “the squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Make sure that good work is always acknowledged. Spot bonuses or awards can be a good way to achieve this. Even something as simple as an email saying “job well done” to a top performer goes a long way.

Ensure Work Stays Challenging

If a top performer keeps delivering on time and above expectations, it may be time to tweak the strategy for that employee. It is all too easy to want to keep in place employees who are doing a job well. However, too much time in any job can easily lead to burn out and boredom. If an employee doesn’t feel challenged in their current role, it can cause them to start looking for other, more exciting opportunities.

Make Sure Mentoring is in Place

While it may not seem a top performer needs mentoring, it can be a useful tool for both the employee and the organization. Mentoring not only helps the employee to grow but also helps keep them connected to the firm. This connection will decrease the risk of the employee not feeling attached or valued.

Ensure the Top Performer Sees a Future In Your Organization

Finally, the main reason an employee leaves an employer is the lack of a future. The best way to fight against this is to make sure that your top performer sees a path of progression within the firm. Providing a clear career path with goals and objectives clearly outlined makes it more likely that your top performers will stick around.

Moving Forward

Retaining top performers is a vital part of running any business. If you need help in recruiting top talent or in developing strategies for retaining top talent, its best to reach out to the professionals at Open Systems.

The post How Much Are You Actually Focusing On Your Top Performers? appeared first on Open Systems Inc..

More and more organizations are turning to ERP systems to assist in the growth and reach of their businesses. The ERP market size is expected to exceed $49 billion dollars by 2020. This cements ERPs worth and value to the business community. Looking ahead, growth rates of ERP will be between 6.9% to 7.2% in the coming years. 

Since ERP systems are becoming crucial assets, it’s important that an organization’s ERP system is functioning at peak efficiency. Thus, providing the most return on investment (RoI). The best way to ensure RoI on an ERP system is to avoid common mistakes that can take a great system and turn it into a costly headache.

The Top 5 ERP Mistakes to Avoid

Per a CIO.com article here are the top 5 ERP mistakes to avoid.

Mistake Number 1: Not doing careful requirements gathering

It’s critical that processes that will be controlled by an ERP system are the right processes for an organization. Specifically, automating inefficient and outdated procedures will merely highlight the deficiencies that much more.

Mistake Number 2: Not Including End-users in the decision-making process

Many times, when ERP systems are being developed, actual end users are not being brought into the conversation early enough. Oftentimes, the designers of the ERP system won’t have the first-hand knowledge that users have, and simple tweaks can increase user productivity. Feedback should be elicited from end users early in the process to obtain buy-in and stave off potential user disruption.

Mistake Number 3: Poorly Executed Implementation

Implementation can be a very challenging time. Implementation must be well thought out and, where possible, phased in gradually so as not to overwhelm users and disrupt productivity. A gradual phase-in also allows problems to be identified early and with much less impact.

Mistake Number 3: Not properly budgeting for technology staff or outside support services

Not having staff within your organization who are well trained in aspects of your ERP system can cause many issues. If an in-house staff isn’t an option, make sure that you have at the ready consultants or solutions providers who can assist with any issues that occur during not only the implementation phase of your system but for the entire lifetime of your ERP system.

Mistake Number 4: Not thinking about how your entire organization will interact with your ERP system

Today, many organizations live and breathe on mobile devices and apps. Furthermore, these devices and apps allow them to conduct business while on the go. In this regard, the way these mobile devices and apps are used and how they will interact with an organization’s ERP system must be considered. ERP systems must be tested for compatibility with favored mobile devices and solutions need to be identified if there are any compatibility issues.

Mistake Number 5: Not having a Maintenance Plan

Many IT executives get so focused on the ‘end goal’ of implementing an ERP system, that they forget to think about the long-term impact of such a system; making sure there is a schedule in place for updates, testing, and enhancements are key. This ensures having a fully functioning ERP system at the ready, 24/7/365. Without regular, scheduled maintenance, these systems can lose efficiency and can suffer major deficiencies, especially in the areas of security.

Prevention is Key

The best measure against ERP mistakes is to ensure an organization’s system has been designed thoughtfully. Secondly, an implementation must be well planned and executed. Lastly, the job isn’t over once implementation is complete. A system needs careful guidance and maintenance to reach its full potential. The best way to prevent mistakes at all critical junctures is to seek the guidance and assistance of professional solutions providers to reduce the chance of lost productivity and to prevent headaches along the way.

The post Common ERP Mistakes You Need to Avoid! appeared first on Open Systems Inc..

Question 1: What is your current security infrastructure? 

In many recent headline-generating attacks (Sony for example), it was reported that hackers were inside of these networks undetected for weeks and months. While common, this scope of infiltration can be limited through the use of effective security tools and monitoring. Finding hackers as soon as they breach your network allows damage to be minimized.

Question 2: Have you had an independent, 3^rd party penetration test done?

Conducting independent, 3^rd party penetration test (pen test)  can be a real eye-opener. These tests allow organizations to see where their vulnerabilities are and address them (hopefully) before hackers can exploit them.

Question 3: Do you have a diverse and well-trained Info Sec Team?

One of the best ways to prepare for cyber attack is to make sure that you have a good in-house team to address Information Security. If an in-house team isn’t in the budget, it’s best to have qualified managed service providers or security consultants on retainer. Having the assistance of experts is vital in the development of security and incident response plans, and you’ll need someone to reach out to in the event of a confirmed breach.

Question 4: Are you looking at third-party risk?

Third party risk is becoming a huge part of an organization’s security program. Corporations both large and small are investing heavily in this new area of information security. Though even if you have a gold star security program, that doesn’t mean that your third-party partners do. Ensuring that all corporate partners and subcontractors who have access to your data or your network are engaging in good security practices is crucial.

Question 5: Do you have an incident response plan in place if hackers do get in?

History has shown that a well-motivated attacker can always get in. Making sure that you have a process in place to identify, remediate, and learn from an attack is key to preventing future attacks. This plan should include contacts for both state and federal law enforcement should your organization find itself the victim of ransomware or theft of sensitive customer information (personal data or financial information) or intellectual property.

Question 6: Do you make employees participate in yearly information security training?

Many of the largest hacks in recent news cycles have been as a result of successful phishing attacks. Training employees to identify potential social engineering or phishing efforts is crucial to prevent attacks. Making sure that employees receive yearly training which covers the most up to date information is vital. They are your first line of defense in the great cyber battle.

Moving Forward

To help ensure that your organization has the best defense to cyber attack, it’s best to contact a professional solutions provider. They can assist you with safeguarding your data and networks from the menacing hands of hackers.

 

The post Is Your Data Safe From Cyber Attacks? appeared first on Open Systems Inc..