Article By AL.com – JAN 2020 – Post-holiday months are perennial hiring spikes across all industries. If you are hitting the job market in STEM, you may not need to look far from home. If you’re beginning your job search in the South, the aerospace and defense industry offers exciting and meaningful careers. Huntsville, Alabama, is home to more aerospace engineers than any other metro area in the United States. Even though there is a national shortage of STEM workers looming with long-term economic implications, it’s necessary to put your best foot forward as you compete for the most desirable jobs in the field. Read on for advice on how to lift off your career in Huntsville, with advice from an insider.
Career stability, work-life balance, and a low cost of living keeps Huntsville on the map for top talent. Huntsville’s home values are 3.3% below the national average, but the numbers look even better when compared to other tech cities. The average apartment in Cupertino, California, is $3,178 per month; in Huntsville, it’s $950; and the San Jose, California, area average commute is 38 minutes, while in Huntsville, it’s around 20. Cummings Research Park is home to over 300 aerospace and defense companies that fulfill around $5 billion per year in government contracts involving rapidly evolving defense technologies and updates for existing systems. These companies compete for business and talent. You may be thinking that it’s best to look for work where there is less competition or where you will stand out, but that logic does not hold up. According to an annual Smart Asset survey, in every metro area where STEM workers make up more than 12% of the workforce, the average pay is higher than $80,000 annually. Seventeen percent of the workforce in Huntsville is STEM, and the average STEM pay is $83,870 per year.
1. Research
Your first phase in applying for jobs is researching companies to make sure they are a good fit.
How long have they been in business?
You may prefer to work with a well-established company or be on the ground floor of a new endeavor. According to Arlee Holmes, Corporate Communications Manager for Intuitive Research and Technology (INTUITIVE), Cummings Research Park has basically been at full occupancy since the 1980s. Some companies have been in business in one form or another since the Space Race while others are, at this very moment, forming contingent on contracts. “INTUITIVE was formed 20 years ago when two defense engineering veterans developed a strong vision of a company that was built to anticipate industry and customer needs rather than to assemble employees to chase contracts; we’ve grown from two to 450 employees in that time,” said Holmes. “In Huntsville, you will find diverse stories of how and why companies were formed.”
How do they structure their work hours?
Some companies have you accumulate more hours on certain days to take off Fridays or every other Friday. Depending on your role, it may be feasible to structure your work week; then again, you may prefer the certainty of traditional hours. “We are project-centric in defining our work schedules, and often give employees the flexibility to help define their schedules to meet the needs of the individual, the customer and the project,” said Holmes
What is their specialty?
Although it may seem like all aerospace and defense companies do the same thing, some may focus on traditional systems engineering, while others have expertise in evolving fields and emerging technologies such as, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, or cyber security. “In our experience, canidates often choose INTUITIVE because they know they’ll be mentored by industry experts, whether it’s in machine learning, software engineering, or hypersonic weapon systems,” said Holmes. “They see this as a way to make a difference and master the technologies of the future.” She added, “If you want to work on/with the latest technologies, then you should find a company that invests in such technologies and encourages such practices.”
What on-campus amenities do they offer?
Because the defense world is high-security, many companies have added perks on-site to make the work environment more convenient. “I’d expect that many companies, like ours, have added gym space, scheduled group fitness such as yoga, and have begun offering healthy eating options for employees who might otherwise be required to be at their desks during the work day,” said Holmes. “At INTUITIVE, we focus on a ‘Work Well – Live Well’ approach and we talk a lot about the concept of well-being.”
What is the company culture?
Before you prepare your resume and rehearse for an interview, it is important to know how a company sees itself among competitors. “We are very much defined by a ‘Swiss Army knife hiring approach,’” said Holmes, “meaning that employees are expected to actively chart their professional course and seek out new complementary skills.” It is up to you to decide what kind of work culture you will thrive in: relatively collaborative and flexible or independent and structured. If professional development and career growth opportunities are important to you, then you might want to consider a company that invests in its employees. Therefore, researching companies and asking questions is so important.
Beyond the work itself, you may want to know what the company does to give back to the community. You don’t have to be a detective to answer the questions above. Many defense companies have this type of information listed on their websites or on their social media platforms. “It is a great idea to familiarize yourself with a prospective company’s community outreach and charitable efforts. You will find it much more rewarding to work for a company whose values align with your own personal values.” said Holmes.
2. Resume/Cover Letter
Once you have decided on some “good fit” companies, it’s time to connect yourself with their relevant job postings. “In the defense industry, a generic resume is not usually enough,” said Sonya Tolliver, HR Manager at INTUITIVE. You’ll want to reorder your skills and experience in a way that highlights your preparedness for the role. “Use language that seems relevant to the posting and make it clear to see how your accomplishments relate to what we are looking for,” she continued. Here are do’s and don’ts for a resume:
Do list all academic achievements that are relevant and would be nationally recognized, but
Don’t include academic notes that are not relevant such as high school graduation dates
Do create bullet points, active phrasing and emphasize key words, but
Don’t stylize your resume with multiple fonts and colors—Tolliver says this can hurt you as the resume is uploaded in an electronic system
Do use more than one page if you need it, but
Don’t include oversize subheadings or use overly wordy descriptions simply to make it longer. “A longer resume is not an inherent advantage, and you need a good reason to add a page,” said Tolliver.
Do include examples of soft skills you possess that are called for in the job posting, but
Don’t just claim leadership expertise or a strong work ethic without seating it in experience
Don’t list your birthday or include a photograph: defense companies are serious about avoiding elements that can introduce unconscious bias
Cover Letter
“The resume is our interest more so than the cover letter,” said Tolliver, “so the key with a cover letter would be brevity: tell us why you are interested in this company and quickly highlight what will make you a valuable employee, without duplicating what we will see in your resume.”
3. The Interview
Having done company research and built a tailored resume, you are well on your way to making a good first impression. Be able to talk through your resume and your understanding of the company information you’ve found. Use your family and friends as a sounding board for practicing interviews.
Next, you’ll want to prepare for the kind of questions you’re likely to face. According to Tolliver, “Every company is different; along with basic skill questions, we’ll want to know what kind of team employee you will be.” She suggested some open-ended questions to ponder and be prepared to discuss:
- What are your career goals?
- Why are you choosing this career field? In this industry?
- What about our company makes you think you’ll fit in?
- How have you dealt with adversity and setbacks in your specialty area?
- What do you see as the challenges of team work?
- Describe a situation wherein you emerged as a leader?
- What areas of emerging technology are you excited to be involved with?
For the interview itself, here are some additional tips she offered:
- Be early, but not too early. 10-15 minutes early is a good rule of thumb
- Dress for the industry, professional dress is always best
- Groom yourself intentionally
- Bring extra copies of your resume if you’ve updated it
- Be conversational: coming off as personable and relatable can go a long way to separate you from the competition
- Ask good questions: it shows you care and demonstrates thoughtfulness
Although the defense industry is hyper-competitive and filled with brilliant minds, it is also a humble field. “Ultimately, all of our effort pays off in protecting our nation’s warfighters,” said Tolliver. “Thoughtful people thrive.” To that end, the last thing Tolliver recommends is a thank you letter referencing the interview specifically. Be careful it is not canned or misconstrued as an attempt to merely supplement the interview. You want to set the stage to be in this tight-knit community for a long-time career.
If you’re interested in joining INTUITIVE’s team of innovative problem solvers, visit irtc-hq.com/careers/apply-now today.