Techead Talk:

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Fri, 29 Apr 2011 23:27:21 -0400

You are cordially invited to the Grand Opening of our new...

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:15:32 -0400

You are cordially invited to the Grand Opening of our new WordPress blog!

Tumblr has been great fun. Please follow us to our new blogging home!

Dreamweaver for Designers

Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:44:27 -0400

Dreamweaver for Designers:

TECHEAD introduces our newest type of training, specialized Workflow Training.

Beyond the Paycheck This article from the LA Times claims that you are more likely to be...

Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:15:00 -0400

Beyond the Paycheck

This article from the LA Times claims that you are more likely to be satisfied when you find meaning and pleasure within your job than when you soley perceive receiving a paycheck as your only reward.

Since we no longer have to hunt for shelter and food, we have stored up that energy which shifts to other areas in our life. Still ingrained in each of us is the ancestral urge to link effort and purpose.

In several recent studies, social scientists have zeroed in on why paychecks alone can’t explain the link between work and well-being. The evidence shows that people can find meaning in seemingly insignificant jobs and that even trivial tasks make us far happier than no tasks at all.

“We become very dedicated to things it would be hard to be dedicated to if we were perfectly rational,” says behavioral scientist Dan Ariely, author of “The Upside of Irrationality,” published in June. “It turns out you can give people lots of meaning in lots of ways, even small ones.”

People consider work of just about any kind to be better than no work at all, and it improves their mental health in most cases.

So tell us what you think. Are you satisfied just bringing a paycheck home or do you find yourself happier when you get to see the fruits of your labor?

Let us help you put that energy towards a new opportunity; register with us and we’ll work with you on finding a new job that takes you higher. www.techead.com/staffing

Light bathes vintage masonry on TECHEAD’s administrative...

Tue, 12 Oct 2010 08:05:18 -0400

Light bathes vintage masonry on TECHEAD’s administrative second floor. This alcove demonstrates what a thoughtful designer can do to transform a regular space into a unique experience.

The sky’s the limit. What will you do to day to make it better than yesteday?

Each month we will begin showcasing our Talented, Hardworking Team so you can get an inside view on...

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:47:00 -0400

Each month we will begin showcasing our Talented, Hardworking Team so you can get an inside view on who we have working behind the scenes for you!

An internal employee will be awarded as our “Terrific Techead Talent” (or TTT) which is decided on by votes from fellow teammates/co-workers for their outstanding contribution for going above and beyond in the workplace!

Our TTT for the month of October is none other than our fabulous Recruiter, Stephanie Lowery. Coming from over 13 years of Recruiting for Finance, Sales, Customer Service, and HR positions; ranging from working with the big guys, the large fortune 500 Companies, to the small yet powerful non-profit/family-owned businesses, she has established herself as a Sharp and Successful Recruiting Professional. We are honored to have this stellar lady on our team.

Recruiting for TECHEAD since July 2010, Stephanie says, “I enjoy that TECHEAD is a minority owned business that has been in existence for over 20 years and continues to grow and expand, which is an atmosphere that I certainly can and have prospered in. My gratitude goes out to everyone in the office, who did or did not vote for me. We all put forth great effort daily and each one of my co-workers are certainly more than worthy of the title TTT! —-TTT to me is Terrific Techead Team.”

Stephanie is a fine representation of the bright and knowledgeable staff you will be working with when you do business with TECHEAD. We congratulate Stephanie on a job well done and we hope that she inspires you to live every day “Terrifically!”

“It is an HONOR to be almost the last to join the team, and the first to “WIN”! What an accomplishment!”

Have you overlooked Contract Work in your job search? What about if we told you that most of our...

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 10:46:50 -0400

Have you overlooked Contract Work in your job search?

What about if we told you that most of our Contractors get their contracts renewed in advance of their ending date? Or how about the possibility that your position will turn into a Permanent hire? Whether you’re stuck in a job that leaves you unfulfilled or you’re one of the many still unemployed, while you are waiting for that Permanent position to come along you could be overlooking numerous job matches that will utilize your skills and build up your resume in the interim.

Leaving Contract work out is leaving Solid Experience and Income out as well. When you use TECHEAD to help you find hidden openings, you always have a friendly and knowledgeable Recruiter on your side backing you up. We want you to stay employed just as much as you need to stay employed! We diligently look for ways to keep that contract going while continually sourcing for open positions to place you in long before the contract ends.

The Top Five Benefits of being a Contractor:

1. A Short term gig can become a Long term gig.

2. A Temporary assignment can help you get your foot in the door of a company or organization.

3. A Temporary assignment lets you find your likes and dislikes.

4. You can get GREAT experience in a new field that may guide you to a new career path.

5. Your Temporary agency already has a lot of contacts that you might not have, helping you find that perfect job!

We take the Con out of Contract work! With all of the Pros of being a Contractor there is no reason to let unemployment play a part in your Professional life.

In-between careers and looking for a temporary job? Out of work and looking for that long-term great opportunity? Employed and looking for something different? There’s a pretty good chance we have a position for you.

We cover all sides of the spectrum; from new grads to seasoned professionals, we are here to be your gateway to better opportunities. Saving you time, energy and resources; we staff Top Talent for companies all across the Mid-Atlantic.

If you’ve never given it a shot, why not try something new? Take the scary out of job searching and apply with us online. Your resume will get sent straight to a recruiter who will contact you with any openings that are a fit. We’re here all week, every week so take that step and connect with us today.

The October 30th Blue Moon Wicked 10K at Virginia Beach...

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 10:20:00 -0400

The October 30th Blue Moon Wicked 10K at Virginia Beach Oceanfront is coming up fast! Runners will converge upon the Virginia Beach Oceanfront in all manner of regalia to participate in the epic fund run and a weekend of revelry. All proceeds from the race go to support homeless children and families in Hampton Roads.

TECHEAD’s Director of Training Sean Cooke will make his victory run in the Wicked 10K. The race marks an important personal achievement on his ongoing path to better health and fitness. By the way, word of his health plan is getting around! Check out this recent article from The Richmond Times-Dispatch for more information on the nuts and bolts of his health regimen.

We’re so proud of Sean. At 10K time, our dear Director will speed down his boardwalk (yes, his boardwalk - Virginia Beach’s beloved seawall dolphin motif was part of Sean’s high school design portfolio) and prove that good, old-fashioned discipline still works.

So, we’d like to tell you about the shoes.

In late July Sean dashed in to TECHEAD and announced that he was going to buy shoes. Not just any shoes, but eat-my-dust Nike running shoes with vicious tread that melts pavement and passersby as you tear down the street at mach 10. Awesome shoes. The Nikes were both a reward and a necessary purchase for weeks of progress working up to a multi-mile run and training for October’s race.

Not that Sean had never personally owned sneakers. “In fact, I did have running shoes to start with,” he snickers. “They were the ones I’d worn in high school. They were full of holes, and under my bed.” With a three mile run every morning, however, they didn’t last long.

Sean initially chose running for many reasons. Past experience with fitness plans at health clubs have done little to motivate him, and even less to trim his waistline. He needed something he could easily integrate into the course of his day that would help make results. “Running is also a cheap solution,” he says. “It’s just you and the road. You have shoes, you run out the door, and that’s it.” To sum up, he assessed the goals for his training, planned accordingly and took strategic action.

Maintaining progress toward his goal requires Sean to have laser focus, perseverance, and the right tools. It was only after these components were put to work together in a plan that they yielded amazing results. In the art world designers might call this overall effect “gestalt,” or an organized whole entity that is more than its individual parts. This perspective on physical training can be applied to creative training, as well.
At TECHEAD, we know training works best when students have a personal plan for their creative development and the drive to make their knowledge work for them long after they leave the classroom. If you’re thinking about taking a class, or want to continue your training in the best way possible, here are a few Sean-inspired tips to help you along your way:

Set reasonable goals. What do you want to accomplish with your creative software training? Are you a beginner interested in the entire Adobe Suite, or advanced training that will make your portfolio shine?
Be flexible. It’s going to hurt. Don’t shy away from making necessary changes in practice and lifestyle to produce quantifiable results. You might try keeping a journal, or some way to record your progress, or at the very least, dating your practice projects to mark your increasing aptitudes.
Practice, Practice, Practice! As Sean has reflected, getting too caught up in your vision of the future can do more to hinder than help your progress. Once you have completed a TECHEAD course, seek out ways to constantly building your practical expertise. Don’t be afraid to bring in a piece of work and ask specific questions in class. Examining good design is a great way to stay inspired. If you get stuck after class, give us a call. We love software!
Challenge Yourself. Do not plateau! Let’s say six months from now you’ve taken several TECHEAD courses and have built some good design muscle. That’s the time to reassess your progress. Determine what new skills will assist you in producing your best work yet. If you are training for work, consider what products and projects you are likely encounter within the next year, and prepare to meet them ahead of time. Then, charge ahead without fear!
Get the right tools. Sure, the office may have CS3 or CS4, but earlier this year we celebrated the birth of Adobe CS5. However, the limited time we have in our busy lives and careers to do our best requires that we equip ourselves at the right time. Having your own software may be a step in the right direction that you cannot ignore. We recommend reading up before purchasing, and Of course, we’re here to answer questions along your way.

Most importantly, keep at it! Do not get discouraged, and do not run out of steam. Give yourself time to plan an appropriate attack, and go for it! Chances are that in a few months you will recognize big changes in your design aesthetic, application knowledge and overall work ethic. You’ll feel better about yourself, and your portfolio.

And by the way - good luck! We know you can do it!

Great TECHEAD training courses are in the works for next...

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 12:02:54 -0400

Great TECHEAD training courses are in the works for next week!

We invite you to stay current. This fall, do your small business or online portfolio a favor and invest in the longevity of your web presence or career with training at TECHEAD. Our instructors provide an ideal learning environment in which students can quickly learn new concepts to incorporate into their daily creative work – and all in a day or two for a great price!

You delightful over-achievers should keep watch for future combo classes. Two days of all out, full throttle, double Adobe action to get you the know-how you need to succeed. When the smoke clears, you stand victorious, creative and supercharged with the power of design – yes!

In the meantime, next week we are pleased to bring back our exciting Adobe Flash CS4: ActionScript 3.0 (October 12-14) with the phenomenal Lou Barber! Lou was featured as a presenter at this summer’s Adobe MAX in Los Angeles, and promises a great lineup of tips and strategies to help you overcome design hurdles and bound fearlessly into to your next project. Plus, it’s filling up fast, but it’s not too late to reserve your space in our October 26-27 xHTML/CSS! You can learn the tools necessary to create beautiful websites to showcase your savvy online creativity in style, and set yourself apart from the CMS herd.

We encourage you to think over your options – and you have great options with TECHEAD training! Visit our schedule of courses and find the best fit for you. We hope you’ll join us!

How Suite!

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 11:49:12 -0400

Proudly brought to you by Shockoe.com, Suite Tips is a great mobile application for busy designers and students alike! Based on Mr. Cooke’s Little Brown Book, by top Adobe instructor Sean Cooke, the guide is a mini treasure trove of 100% certified, high quality know-how brought to you in easily accessible video tutorial and text formats.

We encourage you avid users to test drive this application and submit questions for the Shockoe.com team to answer in tutorial form. Instructors may also submit their own unique software shortcuts and strategies to be included in the application.

Check out more at www.suite-tips.com!

Techead is...

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:54:39 -0400

Don’t forget to RSVP for the upcoming OCTOBER RAUG! We...

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 12:21:21 -0400

Don’t forget to RSVP for the upcoming OCTOBER RAUG!

We invite you to join Sean Cooke and explore the world of interactive InDesign CS5! See amazing demos, meet the RAUG community, and bring a business card for the chance to win our November CS5 giveaway

This month’s meeting takes place at Artworks (320 Hull Street) from 6-8 PM.

We hope to see you there!

Job Openings for the week of Sept 27th

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:56:00 -0400

Please click to view the job description for submittal process.

Underwriter

Business Analyst

Communications Manager

Assistant Controller

Still looking for that perfect fit? Submit your resume here for future opportunities. We have new openings every week!

Ah, Fall. The air is crisp, pumpkins adorn front porches, and...

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 15:51:32 -0400

Ah, Fall. The air is crisp, pumpkins adorn front porches, and the kids are back in school. Hey - school sounds pretty good!

Seats are disappearing fast in our Fall class lineup! We have several great opportunities for students new to the Adobe Creative Suite in the basics of Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator and CS5 Flash Catalyst. We are pleased to offer advanced training in these and other programs for students ready for more complex design work. And once you’re secure in your graphic design skills, why not pick up a web design course to apply them?

We recommend everyone tone up their web design muscles with the October 26-27 xHTML/CSS design course. Students will spend two days learning how to structure and design web pages for any purpose, and never again feel fettered to the constraints of commercial content management systems. Upon completing the course, you’ll know CSS syntax cold, and be able to tell the difference between an image element and external style. Too cool!

Questions? Please visit TECHEAD Training for more information, and give us a call at 1-804-782-6971 to schedule your class.

COUNTDOWN TO ADOBE MAX! TECHEAD is esteemed to announce...

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 13:13:00 -0400

COUNTDOWN TO ADOBE MAX!

TECHEAD is esteemed to announce that our very own Flash Instructor, Lou Barber, has earned the prestigious distinction of being a named a presenter at this year’s Adobe MAX!

From October 23-27, Los Angeles will be host to some of the world’s top creative minds. MAX is a veritable paradise for developers, graphic artists and business professionals with a heart for the future of digital media. Attendees will be amazed and delighted by events and speakers prepared to share their industry knowledge and creative know-how.

Interested in cheering on Lou? For registration and more information, please check out http://max.adobe.com/!

Check out this week’s HOTTEST job openings. All are immediate needs so don’t wait up;...

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:02:54 -0400

Check out this week’s HOTTEST job openings. All are immediate needs so don’t wait up; get that resume to us fast for consideration!

All resumes should be sent to Carol Greer at carol.greer@techead.com

Click on the job title to view the full class description.

.Net Developer *Direct-Hire*
Web Development Consultant *Direct-Hire*
Web/Portal Technologies Consultant *Direct-Hire*
Mid Level Web Developer: Forensic Advantage *Direct-Hire*
Lawson Programmer/Analyst *Direct-Hire*
Multimedia Art Director

Lunch break! We invite you to enjoy this downloadable maze...

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:05:00 -0400

Lunch break! We invite you to enjoy this downloadable maze while you dig into that amazing salad. Also, what are you working on today to make tomorrow’s work better? We bet you or a colleague could benefit from training up on today’s best graphics design software.

Don’t get lost in the maze of options - check out our online Fall class schedule, and give us a call to learn more about our course offerings and options for specialized training!

In the world of staffing we have dozens of metaphors to describe...

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 08:22:00 -0400

In the world of staffing we have dozens of metaphors to describe The Resume. A resume is a snapshot of your life and work, a paper handshake, a digital passport to the chance for a better job. However, newcomers to job hunting often burn through the applications process in such a fervor that they miss important things that could make or break a potential job offer.

We decided to ask our TECHEAD recruiters what really makes a resume shine, and for some tips for folks new to the game. The results are interesting! Check out their answers for inspiration and encouragement.

What makes a resume or CV stand out, to you?

Believe it or not, using spell check, and good formatting! Don’t trust the computer to make you look good on paper! You won’t believe the number of resumes we receive where the applicant clearly used spell check and grammar check, but didn’t read through the document to ensure the computer made the right choices. Do yourself a favor: read the document yourself for clarity, and then for grammar.

Any advice to people attempting to break into the job market?

Network, network, network! Take part in social meet-up events for your specialty in your community, and get to know the city where you work. It may land you a job offer, and you’ll make great connections and friends!

What sort of experience should future creative/IT candidates be trying to get now, to assure potential eligibility for TECHEAD placements?

Know yourself. Look at your expertise level, and apply accordingly. Folks without a track record in a given field, perhaps those just leaving college, would do well to look into junior level positions.

And how about some advice for people submitting portfolios electronically? Any words of wisdom?

Just a few- and it’s really simple: whatever you do, make sure your links work!

…So, sit down, take a deep breath, and read through that resume again. Trust us, it’s the little things that count!

Come on IN- Linkedin Live Richmond is back! LinkedIn Live...

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 08:17:08 -0400

Come on IN- Linkedin Live Richmond is back!

LinkedIn Live Richmond invites you to Live, Work, and Play at Virginia’s Second LinkedIn Live event on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 from 5-8pm at Legend Brewing.

This event is not to be missed. Come out and meet the great minds of the Mid-Atlantic business community to network and enjoy amazing food - and hurry! Tickets are selling fast! It’s only $5 to register online, and a mere $20 at the door.

We hope to see you at Linkedin Live Richmond!

Wicked Healthy: The Sean Cooke Chronicles As Americans we have a...

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 09:43:44 -0400

Wicked Healthy: The Sean Cooke Chronicles

As Americans we have a bipolar response to body mass. We are directed to explore Xtreme Instant Health via miracle pills, but not to give up our venti-sized, triple-decker meals. We pander to willowy supermodels and adore organic food…by eating eay too much of it. We know we should be healthy, but we’ve got a death grip on our silverware. In short - we know we want to be healthy but we’ve forgotten how to get there. And the holidays are right around the corner. Those little chocolate candies will come dancing in the door October 31st - oh, the horror!

At TECHEAD, we’re looking forward to Halloween for a different reason. You’ll recall from earlier blog posts that we’re sponsoring a runner in the Blue Moon Wicked 10K, a fund run to assist the homeless children of Hampton Roads. However, we’ll also get to share in the results of one man’s simple commitment to himself to cut out the whitenoise and be healthy. Yup - a good old fashioned success story.

Our Director of Training, Sean Cooke, will be running in the 10K as the latest step along a path to weight loss and better health. So far he’s been at it for eight months straight, and has lost over fifty pounds. Ask what his secret is and you’ll get a shrug and his trademark grin. “The secret is to keep to keep it current,” says Sean. “Ask yourself- what am I doing today that will help me reach my goal?” It’s so simple you’ll wonder if he’s telling the truth.

It was back at the start of this year that Sean and his family decided to take action. Realizing they could save money and live a healthier lifestyle, the Cookes launched phase one: stop eating sugar. This led to an eventual decrease in many foods that were just plain unnecessary. By March 2010, Sean had completely cut sugar out of his diet. He no longer drinks soda and is not susceptible to the “sugar trap” of Koolaid. Sean is proud to report that he’s eaten no cake since the last batch of 2009 family birthdays.

Since the initial decision to embark on the weight loss plan, it has been easier to let the sugary foods go. Sean cautions you to go easy on yourself- don’t punish yourself with unrealistic expectations. “Gradual change is required to stick with your goal, or else it’s a shock that will make you lose focus.” This is why, contrary to branded weight loss strategies, Sean didn’t plan a “Before and After” photo to record his transition. For him, it’s just as easy to live in the future of your idea as it is to dwell on the past. “Just try to do better today than yesterday,” he says. “It’s all about pacing yourself.”

Keep reading, folks. With just over a month until the race we’ll be chronicling Sean Cooke’s transition from hearty hellion to Raging Runner. We’ll also share his strategies for encouraging health consciousness within your family, and how his choice to run for this goal has made a positive impact on everyone he knows. Next up: Sean is tearing up the pavement every morning - with his son in tow! How does he do it!?

In the meantime, cheer on Sean’s work by donating to Team Techead and the Wicked 10K!