Wednesday, October 27, 2010
I have been busy since my last post. While I was working on those Phase I ESAs that came in more have kept coming in. I have finished a few more, and now I have one today in Asheville, and tomorrow in Lumberton. The environmental market has definitely been picking up. All of my contacts have been saying the same thing and have been very busy, especially with the Phase I ESAs. It looks like the environmental market may be starting to come back into full swing.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Update from AEG Charleston.
I have bee enjoying the AEG session in Charleston this week. I have renewed old and existing aquaintances and made some new ones. I will be attending a remediation seminar this afternoon, and there are a couple of other interesting technical seminars tomorrow. I have attended several lectures so far one on the state of the goeology and engineering geology profession and another on licensing for professional geologists. I also managed to finish up writing a Phase I ESA while I was here and picked up a couple more.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
AEG Meeting- Charleston
It has been a busy few months. I have been doing a lot of Phase I ESAa lately. It has been good being busy, every time I finish one I get a call for another environmental assessment. Most have been here in North Carolina, but I also got hired to do ones in Nashville, TN and Alabama. My most recent one is right here in Monroe, NC.
I also recently returned to NJ to visit my family and to take an Underground Storage Tank (UST) course to keep Me New Jersey License. NJ recently started a new license, so mine will be able to do less in the future so I will probably let it lapse and get the new license when mine expires in 3 years.
Later this week I am going to the Association of Engineering & Environmental Geologists (AEG) annual meeting in Charleston, SC. This will be a good opportunity to meet with other geology and environmental professionals from throughout the Carolina's and the US. It will also be a good learning opportunity to keep up on current topics while getting the CE credits I need to keep up with my Professional Geologist licenses.
Brian Olin, PG
http://sites.google.com/site/brianolinnc/
I also recently returned to NJ to visit my family and to take an Underground Storage Tank (UST) course to keep Me New Jersey License. NJ recently started a new license, so mine will be able to do less in the future so I will probably let it lapse and get the new license when mine expires in 3 years.
Later this week I am going to the Association of Engineering & Environmental Geologists (AEG) annual meeting in Charleston, SC. This will be a good opportunity to meet with other geology and environmental professionals from throughout the Carolina's and the US. It will also be a good learning opportunity to keep up on current topics while getting the CE credits I need to keep up with my Professional Geologist licenses.
Brian Olin, PG
http://sites.google.com/site/brianolinnc/
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Resume Jungle
I had been thinking about this recently and an article spurred me to write about this in my blog. Many job seekers have undoubtedly been overwhelmed by dealing with their resume, how to prepare it and the resume black hole. Having been searching myself I have read many articles on resumes, and even checked out a few of the free resume critiques I have been offered. I thought I would share my experience on the matter for those out there whom have been overwhelmed.
Most of you have read articles and probably found them to be contradictory at times. While certain things are consistent others conflict, so which is right? There is the old way, the new way, and many variations. Also many articles focus on sales or marketing resumes since someone whom works in the recruiting field is ultimately a salesman. Advice for technical resumes is often limited or written by someone whom does not seem to understand the differences of a technical or scientific field.
The answer is: it depends. The person reading your resume will determine what is right. If it is a recruiter or a large corporation with an HR department, a more modern form with keywords keyed to the job position is probably the way to go. If it is a smaller or mid size company and the resume is going directly to the technical person who is going to be hiring you, a more traditional approach will make sense. That person doesn't care about the newest trends and has probably been in the field for years and is used to a more traditional resume, they also want one that gives them a true description of what you do and might not care about keywords since they will understand what skills are part of specific tasks. Also there will not be any screening or computerized parsing that will eliminate your resume if it doesn't have the right keywords. So in short try to know whom you are sending it to before deciding which format is best, also know your skills and trust yourself in what is relevant.
The free critiques are worthless, they are done by professional resume writers who want you to hire them to write your resume they will give you tips and you try them and rewrite and another critique of your rewritten resume recommends you do the opposite and go back to what you had. So if you decide you want a critique, be prepared to pay someone who writes resumes. You will have to decide if this is worth it for you prices can vary and you get what you pay for, but more money does not guarantee your dream job. Before hiring someone make sure you know what you are getting, do they specialize in your field of expertise? what does it cost and what do you get? will you get multiple versions? will they include a rewrite if it is not working after a certain amount of time? These are all questions you should ask, know one can guarantee a resume will get you a job if they do they are lying. Some offer money back guarantees make sure you get all the details if they do.
Another trend is "action" words and focusing on accomplishments and not a list of job tasks. While this is true it is easy to overdo this. The person reviewing your resume needs to know what task you did at your job when you are in a technical field such as science or engineering, this will tell them if you have the background skills they need for the position. Accomplishments and skills are a trend that does make your resume stand out and should be incorporated into a technical resume. Overdoing it will make your resume seem all flash and no substance to a knowledgeable technical person. So pick a few key accomplishments that also showcase your technical or other skills specifically relevant to the position you are interested in. As for the action words this is contradictory based on some of the articles I read. This trend started several years ago and some say to do it others say that some hiring people are seeing through them for what they are. So use action words but use them with caution. Watch for Cliche words like spearheaded, many articles use this as an example of types of words to use but others warn you that this is a word that potential employers see through as just words. Words like this must be used with care and are more useful for marketing or business executives. A technical resume should be careful about these words as a knowledgeable technical person will see through flimsy action words as trying to hide skills that are lacking.
Good luck with your search, and try different resumes and have your contacts review it and give you feedback. Finally, if you are an experienced person don't be afraid to go over one page, but you should generally try to keep it under 2. If you find it difficult have 2 versions, a summary resume and a full resume which you can indicate you can provide in the summary version if they are interested in a more detailed description of your skills. If nothing else this gives you an opportunity for a follow-up. Also in the email age if you are emailing your resume directly it could be lost in a spam filter as some will automatically block any attachments form an unknown person. Have your resume in several formats Word and PDF are the essential formats. Try to follow up to make sure that they got the resume and it doesn't end up in the black hole. Put your cover letter in the body of the email so they can read it with out having to open any attachments. If you are unsure if they received it or it is lost through the spam filter send it again without an attachment and include a link to an online version of your resume. Many sites such as Box and Google let you store documents online that you can control access to. Once you get it to them and get past the spam filter they can add you to their allowed list if they are interested and can then request the Word or PDF version of your resume.
Here is the article I read that made me decide to write this since it was one of the few useful resume articles I have seen in a while:
http://internsover40.blogspot.com/2010/06/are-you-confused-as-what-type-of-resume_27.html?goback=%2Egde_2026078_member_23470048
Most of you have read articles and probably found them to be contradictory at times. While certain things are consistent others conflict, so which is right? There is the old way, the new way, and many variations. Also many articles focus on sales or marketing resumes since someone whom works in the recruiting field is ultimately a salesman. Advice for technical resumes is often limited or written by someone whom does not seem to understand the differences of a technical or scientific field.
The answer is: it depends. The person reading your resume will determine what is right. If it is a recruiter or a large corporation with an HR department, a more modern form with keywords keyed to the job position is probably the way to go. If it is a smaller or mid size company and the resume is going directly to the technical person who is going to be hiring you, a more traditional approach will make sense. That person doesn't care about the newest trends and has probably been in the field for years and is used to a more traditional resume, they also want one that gives them a true description of what you do and might not care about keywords since they will understand what skills are part of specific tasks. Also there will not be any screening or computerized parsing that will eliminate your resume if it doesn't have the right keywords. So in short try to know whom you are sending it to before deciding which format is best, also know your skills and trust yourself in what is relevant.
The free critiques are worthless, they are done by professional resume writers who want you to hire them to write your resume they will give you tips and you try them and rewrite and another critique of your rewritten resume recommends you do the opposite and go back to what you had. So if you decide you want a critique, be prepared to pay someone who writes resumes. You will have to decide if this is worth it for you prices can vary and you get what you pay for, but more money does not guarantee your dream job. Before hiring someone make sure you know what you are getting, do they specialize in your field of expertise? what does it cost and what do you get? will you get multiple versions? will they include a rewrite if it is not working after a certain amount of time? These are all questions you should ask, know one can guarantee a resume will get you a job if they do they are lying. Some offer money back guarantees make sure you get all the details if they do.
Another trend is "action" words and focusing on accomplishments and not a list of job tasks. While this is true it is easy to overdo this. The person reviewing your resume needs to know what task you did at your job when you are in a technical field such as science or engineering, this will tell them if you have the background skills they need for the position. Accomplishments and skills are a trend that does make your resume stand out and should be incorporated into a technical resume. Overdoing it will make your resume seem all flash and no substance to a knowledgeable technical person. So pick a few key accomplishments that also showcase your technical or other skills specifically relevant to the position you are interested in. As for the action words this is contradictory based on some of the articles I read. This trend started several years ago and some say to do it others say that some hiring people are seeing through them for what they are. So use action words but use them with caution. Watch for Cliche words like spearheaded, many articles use this as an example of types of words to use but others warn you that this is a word that potential employers see through as just words. Words like this must be used with care and are more useful for marketing or business executives. A technical resume should be careful about these words as a knowledgeable technical person will see through flimsy action words as trying to hide skills that are lacking.
Good luck with your search, and try different resumes and have your contacts review it and give you feedback. Finally, if you are an experienced person don't be afraid to go over one page, but you should generally try to keep it under 2. If you find it difficult have 2 versions, a summary resume and a full resume which you can indicate you can provide in the summary version if they are interested in a more detailed description of your skills. If nothing else this gives you an opportunity for a follow-up. Also in the email age if you are emailing your resume directly it could be lost in a spam filter as some will automatically block any attachments form an unknown person. Have your resume in several formats Word and PDF are the essential formats. Try to follow up to make sure that they got the resume and it doesn't end up in the black hole. Put your cover letter in the body of the email so they can read it with out having to open any attachments. If you are unsure if they received it or it is lost through the spam filter send it again without an attachment and include a link to an online version of your resume. Many sites such as Box and Google let you store documents online that you can control access to. Once you get it to them and get past the spam filter they can add you to their allowed list if they are interested and can then request the Word or PDF version of your resume.
Here is the article I read that made me decide to write this since it was one of the few useful resume articles I have seen in a while:
http://internsover40.blogspot.com/2010/06/are-you-confused-as-what-type-of-resume_27.html?goback=%2Egde_2026078_member_23470048
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Welcome- updates on independent environmental consulting
Welcome to my new readers from www.getgeologyjobs.com. I periodically update this about once per month, not daily. I try to only post things if I have something worthwhile to say. I have been keeping busy with some independent consulting jobs, there seems to have been an increase in these which may be a sign that environmental firms will be hiring soon, I have seen some that are, but there are still others that are continuing to let people go so it is hard to say for certain when and how sharply an hiring will start. I have done a few Phase I's recently and several others have reported a recent uptick and an increase in turnaround times which indicates they are becoming more of a priority which is a sign of possible growth in the commercial real estate market. I also have been writing a few remedial reports for projects for one of my former co-workers who is overwhelmed with projects from another firm that has a backlog of these reports. This and the Phase I uptick is why I think we may soon see some environmental consulting firms hiring. These reports have been taking a fair amount of time, as this firm unfortunately has poor record keeping and it has been a challenge finding the information needed to complete the reports. Hopefully this experience will emphasize to them the need for good record keeping in the future.
I also recently attended an interesting conference in Raleigh by Regenesis on some of their remedial technologies including chemical oxidation (ISCO) and bio remediation. While it was not anything that I was not familiar with I found it to be a good summary, and was an insightful update on recent developments. I also met a few consultants who expressed an interest in SampleServe my well sampling company that specializes in well sampling with included web based report generation including all table, figures, and graphs for a low fixed price per well. I am off to a Green Energy Fair today, and hope to have another update soon.
I also recently attended an interesting conference in Raleigh by Regenesis on some of their remedial technologies including chemical oxidation (ISCO) and bio remediation. While it was not anything that I was not familiar with I found it to be a good summary, and was an insightful update on recent developments. I also met a few consultants who expressed an interest in SampleServe my well sampling company that specializes in well sampling with included web based report generation including all table, figures, and graphs for a low fixed price per well. I am off to a Green Energy Fair today, and hope to have another update soon.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
$1,200,000 in Grants to Cleanup and Revitalize Communities in North Carolina
Here is a news release I found interesting from the EPA:
Contact Information: Kara Belle, (404) 562-8322, belle.kara@epa.gov
(ATLANTA – April 21, 2010) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding two communities in North Carolina with $1,200,000 in brownfields grants to help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, turning them from problem properties to productive community use. Brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. The communities in North Carolina receiving brownfields assessment grants include:
City of Charlotte
Wayne County
City of Whiteville
City of Wilson
In the Southeast, 30 communities have been selected to receive brownfields grants to assess, cleanup and redevelop properties. Nationally, 40 states, four tribes and one U.S. Territory will share more than $78 million in brownfields grants. In total, EPA is selecting 304 grants through the Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants programs:
· 188 assessment grants, totaling $42.56 million, will conduct site assessment and planning for cleanup at one or more brownfields sites as part of a community-wide effort.
· 17 revolving loan fund grants, totaling $17 million, will provide loans and subgrants for communities to begin cleanup activities at brownfields sites. Revolving loan funds are generally used to provide low interest loans for brownfields cleanups.
· 99 cleanup grants, totaling $19.36 million, will provide funding for grant recipients to carryout cleanup activities at brownfield sites they own.
Since the beginning of the brownfields program in 1995, EPA has awarded 1,702 assessment grants totaling $401 million, 262 revolving loan fund grants totaling more than $256.7 million, and 655 cleanup grants totaling $129.4 million. As part of Administrator Jackson’s commitment to this program, the 2011 proposed budget includes an increase to $215 million for brownfields with a focus on planning, cleanup, job training and redevelopment.
In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed. The brownfields law expanded the definition of what is considered a brownfield, so communities may now focus on mine-scarred lands, sites contaminated by petroleum, or sites contaminated as a result of manufacturing and distribution of illegal drugs (e.g. meth labs).
More information on the FY 2010 grant recipients: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
More information on EPA’s brownfields program: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
Brownfields success stories: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/success/index.htm
My LinkedIn Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brianolin
Contact Information: Kara Belle, (404) 562-8322, belle.kara@epa.gov
(ATLANTA – April 21, 2010) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding two communities in North Carolina with $1,200,000 in brownfields grants to help revitalize former industrial and commercial sites, turning them from problem properties to productive community use. Brownfields are sites where expansion, redevelopment, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. The communities in North Carolina receiving brownfields assessment grants include:
City of Charlotte
Wayne County
City of Whiteville
City of Wilson
In the Southeast, 30 communities have been selected to receive brownfields grants to assess, cleanup and redevelop properties. Nationally, 40 states, four tribes and one U.S. Territory will share more than $78 million in brownfields grants. In total, EPA is selecting 304 grants through the Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grants programs:
· 188 assessment grants, totaling $42.56 million, will conduct site assessment and planning for cleanup at one or more brownfields sites as part of a community-wide effort.
· 17 revolving loan fund grants, totaling $17 million, will provide loans and subgrants for communities to begin cleanup activities at brownfields sites. Revolving loan funds are generally used to provide low interest loans for brownfields cleanups.
· 99 cleanup grants, totaling $19.36 million, will provide funding for grant recipients to carryout cleanup activities at brownfield sites they own.
Since the beginning of the brownfields program in 1995, EPA has awarded 1,702 assessment grants totaling $401 million, 262 revolving loan fund grants totaling more than $256.7 million, and 655 cleanup grants totaling $129.4 million. As part of Administrator Jackson’s commitment to this program, the 2011 proposed budget includes an increase to $215 million for brownfields with a focus on planning, cleanup, job training and redevelopment.
In 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act was passed. The brownfields law expanded the definition of what is considered a brownfield, so communities may now focus on mine-scarred lands, sites contaminated by petroleum, or sites contaminated as a result of manufacturing and distribution of illegal drugs (e.g. meth labs).
More information on the FY 2010 grant recipients: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
More information on EPA’s brownfields program: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
Brownfields success stories: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/success/index.htm
My LinkedIn Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/brianolin
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Meetings and Progress
The new year is off to a good atart. I have seen more job listings in the environmental field and there has been an increase in Phase I ESA activity based on what I and several indicated. This is often the precursor of future environmetnalwork. I have completed a Phase I ESA and am in the process of doing another while I continue to search for a permanent opportunity and try to get SampleServe going. I recently attended the AEG Carolinas meeting and there are several other upcoming meetings. A few people expressed interest in SampleServe and I have been working on arranging meetings with them and marketting our services to them. It is a difficult proposition, environmental companies have traditionally done sampling in house and making them realize that they can make more money by outsourcing it to us can be diffcult. Also, many companies have reduced staff and don't want to give any work away as they need it all to keep the existing staff busy and they don't want to cut anyone else if they don't have to. A few people have indicated that they have been busy lately so I hope this provides opportunity. For environmental companies not ready to add staff but having to much work for their current staff SampleServe will be a viable alternative and once they see the advantages of outsourcing well sampling such as increased staff productivity and increased profits I am sure they will continue with SampleServe. This may also lead to more firms starting to hire.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/brianolin
http://www.linkedin.com/in/brianolin
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