We currently have a client in Norcross that is looking for a mid level Java Engineer to join their team on a permanent basis.

I have included more information below – if you are a Java Developer with 3+ years of experience and are interested in making a career move please let me know. Additionally, as always, if you have any friends looking we also offer a $600 referral fee if you recommend anyone that we place.

For more information please contact Drake Gordon at 404-897-5152 or send your resume directly to dgordon@anteogroup.com.

Thanks!

Software Engineer – Java Thin Client

Our client is the leading provider of information management solutions to the healthcare community.  We currently have openings for forward-thinking, team-oriented Software Engineer for our Java Client Team eager to contribute to the design, development, and release of our next generation of enterprise grade technology solutions.  Candidates must be creative, highly motivated, responsible, and have a passion for solving complex, technical problems. 

Responsibilities:

• Model, design, and develop the web component of complex, n-tiered distributed software applications
• Provide accurate work estimates and manage your efforts across multiple lines of work
• Evaluate technical design options based on effort, time, cost, and functionality
• Research and prototype innovative solutions using emerging and/or mature technologies

Required skills /experience:

• 3+ years – Web Design & Development
• 3+ years – Java / JSP
• 3+ years – HTML / DHTML / CSS
• AJAX & Javascript
• Java Server Faces (JSF)
• JBoss (or multiple equivalent application servers)
• Web Services / XML
• Hibernate
• Oracle / SQL experience
• Knowledge of current software engineering best practices
• Experience with full-lifecycle software development and production support
• Experience with at least one application server (JBoss, WebLogic, WebSphere, etc.) and similar or related web technologies (Tomcat, Spring, Struts, etc.)

Despite brutal evening traffic and rain showers, the folks at AQAA still know how to have a good time. Last night, the annual AQAA Vendor Fair took place at Divine Event in Dunwoody with a fantastic crowd, food and drinks. Anteo Group was a proud sponsor of the event with free goodies for all!

At the event we enjoyed mingling with some of Atlanta’s top QA talent and checking out the latest tools, products, and training for Quality Assurance professionals. We especially enjoyed drawing for the Anteo Group raffle – our lovely winner Joanne (pictured below) walked away with an American Express gift card and an Anteo Group gift basket.

A big thank you to Nel Nash-Hooks (President of AQAA), Dianne Walker (VP of AQAA) and  Charlene Woolley (Board Member of AQAA) for organizing such a great event.

Missed the AQAA Vendor Fair, but still want to get involved with the Atlanta QA Community? Join us, at next month’s AQAA November Meeting. Anteo Group is sponsoring dinner and Donna Simmons, author of “The Ten Commandments of Software Testing” is the guest speaker. For more information about next month’s meeting – check out  http://www.aqaa.org/index.php

Anteo Group has an award winning Quality Assurance and Testing Practice that provides a wide range of services to deliver software excellence and ensuring products of the highest quality. Our Practice is backed by proven methodologies, which incorporate testing approaches, templates and examples of testing scenarios for all software applications. We are always looking for skilled Quality Assurance and Testing professional to work with our terrific clients. We would like for you to consider being part of our team! Give us a call at 404-897-5152 or send an email to recruiter@anteogroup.com

I was recently out to dinner with friends and over queso (liquid cheese is my kryptonite) we discussed the horror and joys of interviewing (as a quick background, I have a friend who is looking for a new position and has run the gauntlet of embarrassing interviews). While the entire discussion was riveting, one question stood out to me, ‘is it easier to tell someone your strengths or to talk to them about your weaknesses?’

I will be the first to admit, divulging my weaknesses isn’t my favorite thing to do – I am Super Woman, the only thing that stops me is a bowl of queso. Don’t get me wrong, I know I am not perfect (by any means) but to voice your weaknesses to a group of peers is much different from personally recognizing them. I believe people are constantly evolving, adapting to new situations, and will forever have areas to improve upon; it’s human nature (shout out to Madonna and MJ). So I got to thinking (as always) – as an employer or potential employer, do you care more about a candidate’s weaknesses or do you focus more on that person’s strengths? And more importantly, as a manager, do you place greater emphasis on improving people’s weaknesses or magnifying their strengths, creating the SuperMan, Incredible Hulk, Spider Man combination of that particular area of awesome?

As much as I would like to claim neutral on this topic, to promote healthy debate and since I do truly believe it, I think the focus should be improving upon our strengths and those traits that amplify our strengths. As the great Peter Drucker said, “A person can only perform from strength. One cannot build performance on weakness.”

Harvard Business Review offers two very relevant articles on this topic. The first article, ‘How to Make Yourself Indispensable’, is written by John H. Zenger (CEO), Joseph R. Folkman (President), and Scott K. Edinger (Executive Vice President) of Zenger Folkman, a leadership development consultancy. They are also the authors of The Inspiring Leader (McGraw-Hill, 2009). For this article and accompanying presentation, they studied 250,000 360-degree surveys of 30,000 leaders to identify skill combinations that result in higher performance. The result is a very interesting article that I encourage each of you to take the time to read – http://hbr.org/2011/10/making-yourself-indispensable/ar/1.  A few highlights that I took to heart:

• To move from good to much better, you need to engage in the business equivalent of cross-training. If you’re technically adept, for instance, delving even more deeply into technical manuals won’t get you nearly as far as honing a complementary skill such as communication, which will make your expertise more apparent and accessible to your coworkers.
• As a practical matter, cross-training for leadership skills is clear-cut: (1) Identify your strengths. (2) Choose a strength to focus on according to its importance to the organization and how passionately you feel about it. (3) Select a complementary behavior you’d like to enhance. (4) Develop it in a linear way.
• The challenge is not to replace bad leaders with good ones; it is to turn hardworking, capable executives who are reasonably good at their jobs into outstanding leaders with distinctive strengths.

The second is a presentation that focuses on ‘How to Improve Your Strengths’ which gives a great overview of core strengths and ways to improve up on them – http://hbr.org/web/slideshows/how-to-improve-your-strengths/1-slide.

At the end of the day, I don’t think there is a secret formula for creating great leaders or employees. I do believe, however, that as long as you have an organization full of people who push past simply being great and strive for being outstanding, you have a recipe for success.

Kelley Hafer is a Business Development Manager at Anteo Group. You can reach her at khafer@anteogroup.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Ask Questions
If you don’t understand a concept or task, ask someone to explain it for you.  When you are just starting a new position, consider it a blank check to be slightly obnoxious in how many questions you ask.  No one is going to get upset about an over-inquisitive newbie; they will get upset over a lack of knowledge three months into the job.

Accept Every Invitation
Whether it’s a lunch invite or joining someone when they are grabbing coffee, take every opportunity to spend time with your new team outside of the office.  As important as it is that your presentations are perfect and you maintain a professional attitude, connecting with your co-workers outside of the office will allow you to connect better within the office.  Learning about common interests or extracurricular activities will allow you to connect on deeper levels than just being the person who shares a workspace.

Take “No” Out of Your Vocabulary
As a new employee, you are at the bottom of the totem pole.  When small bits of work arise; helping stock the break room, cleaning up after an event or moving a heavy box, always offer your assistance.  A great way to show your value to longer tenured employees is to be willing to help out doing menial tasks.  Sure, it won’t help you gain clients or build the business, but it will show your willingness to put your nose to the grindstone and work hard.

Be Yourself
Don’t be afraid to express your opinion.  If you want to keep a Frankenstein doll on your desk because it brings you good luck, go for it.  If every morning you eat yogurt with a cut up banana mixed in, eat away.  For all you know, there might be three other people in the office that do the same.  Don’t change your habits because you feel you won’t be accepted for the little things that make up your daily routine.  It is not hard to notice when a coworker is uncomfortable so do the things that make you happy.

Alexander Harris a member of Anteo Group’s Senior Recruiting Team. Get to know more about him here or email him at aharris@anteogroup.com

AJUG was standing room only last night for the inside scoop on Java 7! Presenter, Donald Smith, was not only funny, but insightful on the functions and improvements of our favorite language. The long awaited Java 7 was also toasted and discussed at our usual place of pre-AJUG fun (La Botana Tex Mex) with beers and tacos galore. Looking forward to seeing what shops in town move to Java 7 and who holds out for Java 8. We’d also like to give a shout out and best wishes to long time AJUG Board Member Burr Sutter on his new adventures in Charlotte, NC and we’d also like to extend a big welcome to Burk Hufnagel,  joining the Board of AJUG this month.

As always, if you are interested in hearing what is going on in the Atlanta Java Market, Atlanta Java positions that are open, or just want to say hello to a friendly Anteo Recruiter – give us a shout! Find your favorite Anteo Recruiter HERE.