TEK Systems Fills a Gap in IT

Who: Sean Price, Senior Account Executive.

TEK Systems, a technical IT staffing agency.

Status: Worked 17 years with the company, mostly in the Denver Market.

Subject: Sean Price at TEK Systems talks to members of the Denver Tech Professionals regarding the need for 30 PC hardware Technicians during their weekly meeting.

Date: 20-Jan-2011

Here is the Transcript:

TEK Systems Fills a Gap in IT

I was actually the first account (sales) rep for TEK Systems to be working on our niche specializing in IT (information technology). I shouldn't say niche because we now have 35 account reps and 45 full-time recruiters, working on the front range, serving our customers needs.

Normally those needs are not necessarily a HR ( human resource) function, where you have a HR entity trying to hire on a full time basis. TEK fills the gap where there is a need for project specific work, that's technical in nature -- whether it be a couple of weeks for a hardware deployment or 12 to 16 months in regards to any type of network architecture, network stand up, application development, (or) database activity.

Technical Scope

So you could imagine all of the IT skill sets from the first couple of levels of support to the architecture on the network side, through application development, through test. Wherever there is a project need, TEK Systems has a place for technical resources.

Redeployment

Our goal, rather than let people fall off at the end of the project, we try to re-engage. We are tracking these projects 30, 60, 90 days. We align you with another recruiter. We have you lined up with another opportunity with at least a 60 day lead time.

We spend a lot of time on our end, reinventing the wheel, re-recruiting, as oppose to streamlining our bench process. We proactively prevent a gap in deployment.

We need 30 technicians

I contacted Krystal (Mires, Director of Career Services from Tech Skills), two weeks ago, because we have three customers who are in the middle of a crazy deployment schedule.

Over the last couple of years, you can imagine that there has been spending that has been skipped in refresh activity, in hardware activity, (and) network upgrades. Our customers have been passing over that in their budget cycle, so ... now that we are clearly ramping out of the big soup bowl of a recession, over the last year and a half, we are seeing our customers spend capital expenditures. And when they are spending capital expenditures they are spending on new services, hardware and refresh cycles. So we are seeing a few customers upgrading their hardware boxes and imaging them; so we need 30 technicians between two projects, right now.

Question: You need 30 PC hardware technicians. If some one had A+ experience would you hire them? Would that qualify them? How are you defining the role of PC Hardware technicians?

Reply: Ideally, it depends on the circumstances. Ideally, in this case we are looking for 2 to 3 years of hands on experience... and is capable... and has proven experience imaging machines... taking it out of the box, plugging it in, and getting it up and running.

Folks that have some knowledge but some industry "certs" (certifications) like A+, Comp TIA... absolutely, they are folks we can look at. Usually when we have a team of 10 folks, I can afford to put two or three very entry level folks, who at minimum have their certification in. Just by pure osmosis they’ll catch up pretty quickly. I’ll have some leadership from the team members who will help them keep their heads above water.

Question: What about uncertified real world job experience? For example Geek Squad. They do that stuff daily.

Reply: Yeah, if they've got the 2 to 3 years of hardware experience without the certification then its a no brainer. You bet. Plug them in.

Question: Krystal, Director of Career Services at Tech Skills:

"Is TEK systems offering a Project Management course? Our campus is offering that course. Is that an option?"

Reply: I didn't want to step on toes. TEK systems also has instructor led training. We have a class room about this size. Nothing like this massive facility (at Tech Skills). Its pretty state of the art. But we provide instructor lead training: the CISCO track, the Microsoft track. There's also a ( project management) PMI certification as well as the ITIL certification.

Question: Krystal: "... And you also work with the individual?"

Reply: Yes. if you are currently working with TEK Systems under contract and you can fit into our scheduled courses, it is offered to you at cost. So all you are paying for are books and fees. That's why you are on a W2 contract. That works out very well. That's a win for everybody. If anybody is curious about that I would be happy to send out a catalog of the schedule of classes.

Question: Do you have business cards available?

Reply: Yes I have a stack of them available for you to pick up on the way out (pointing to the nearby table).

If you are out there looking. Send me an electronic copy of your resume. If you have a hard copy, I'd like to take a it home with me right now. I'll be happy to look at them. I have 15 -16 tech recruiters in our office.

Four of them are dedicated to infrastructure skill sets. They are not the same recruiters who are interested in software development and java requirements.

Question: There is a lot of interest in business opportunities in the TECH CENTER but what about other areas, such as Fort Collins and Longmont?

Reply: We have another branch in Westminster, along the 36 corridor (HWY 36). Its near HWY 36 and Sheridan Blvd & Turnpike Dr.

(8700 Turnpike Drive, Suite 400, Westminster, CO 80030)

I've worked there for a number of years. Because we have activity in the Northern part of the State. We have a satellite office in Fort Collins. We are also doing business with Wyoming and state agencies. We have some business there serviced out of our Fort Collins office.

(Questions soon ended).

Reply: Thank You, Everybody.

Krystal: “Thank You, Sean.”

====== For more information contact:

TEK Systems

sprice@teksystems.com

Obama Latest Move to Boost Jobs Analyzed- PBSNewsHour

Summary: President Obama on Friday named General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt to lead a panel on job creation and economic competitiveness. Jeffrey Brown discusses the White House's evolving relationship with big business with former Clinton labor secretary Robert Reich and John Makin of the American Enterprise Institute." - PBSNEWSHour

Read the Transcript

Martin Luther King Jr. -- "I have a dream"

Here is a quote from the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change website:

I Have a Dream, 1963—The most widely-known of Dr. King’s words, the “I Have a Dream” speech was delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963 at the March for Jobs and Freedom, generally referred to as the March on Washington. In addition to focusing the nation’s conscience on the continuing plague of racial and social injustice, the speech has gone on to become one of mankind’s most oft-repeated clarion calls for freedom and equality.

To hear this famous speech  and view the full text go to this link:
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

Denver Technical Professionals-Photos-16-Jan-2011

Featured Speaker/Presenter: Jeff Franzreb,MCSE. Independent Consultant and former System Administrator for Progressive Insurance Company.

Profile:
"He found this job using our Linkedin Group: Denver Technical Professionals. He discussed how he used Linkedin to keep himself employed in a turbulent market. He shared techniques, tips, answered questions.

• "This gentleman has even introduced me, to recruiters...and you know that I know everyone! " -- according to Krystal Mires, Director of Career Services at TechSkills.
• One of the top tips Jeff revealed was to personally invite his network contacts to "coffee" or "lunch" and "hang out" and develop a mutual relationship.
• He would spend one day a week updating his resume and posting it on the job boards to remain at the top of search engine lists.
• He would help others in their job search and follow up with call backs to find out the results.
• He asked recruiters for advice, if he didn't get the job and needed to improve in specific areas. He followed their advice.
• He kept a journal of his job submissions on a spreadsheet to track his progress.
• Most of all, he helped others in their job search by providing job leads in roles that did not conflict with his job search. For example, he would help a Project Manager find job leads, that did not conflict with his search for Systems Administration work.
• Helping others improved his chances of networking with others who could open doors to more opportunities.
• Jeff spoke for two hours and revealed more tips than I could record here.

John Herd, Owner/recruiter from Denver Search Group attended the meeting and later made contacts with individuals after the event. According to his website, "John Herd founded both Denver & Seattle Search Group after spending 11 years heading a regional office of Accounting and Office Partners." For more information go to link: http://www.denversearchgroup.com/

Tax Question: Are you a contractor or an employee?

During this time of labor transition, many Denver Technical Professionals are offered jobs as a "contractor" rather than an "employee". The tax consequences matter. So we asked a tax expert a few general questions. Here is a response from Daniel Lowenthal, who is an Enrolled Agent. What is an Enrolled Agent? See the text below:

"Enrolled Agent (EA): (is) a federally licensed tax practitioner who has technical expertise in the field of taxation and is empowered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to represent taxpayers for audits,collections and appeals before all administrative levels of the Internal Revenue Service," according to his Linkedin Summary statement.

dhlowenthal@hotmail.com

QUICK QUESTIONS:

1. Are Contract Jobs Taxable? The employer may provide a (1099 form) vs (W2).
2. Are Educational expenses deductible?
3. What is the importance of record keeping? Can I use basic Quicken QuickBooks?
4. Do I need Tax advice?

Reply:

The answers to all these questions are general in nature and are no indication of specific advice that can be represented on a tax return or a tax position.

1. Contract labor is often considered self-employment income and one should receive from the person for which one is performing the contract a 1099MISC. As such contract labor is in most cases subject to both income tax and self-employment taxes i.e.( Social Security and Medicare taxes.) In contrast W2 one is considered an employee.

2. Educational expenses may be deductible but there are numerous considerations as such one should talk to a competent tax advisor. If one has a specific question with their individual circumstance I can address it in more details.

3. Record keeping is vital because one has to be able to demonstrate to the tax authorities, the method taxable income was determined. Under examination (Audit) the IRS and state and local tax agencies may want to see the records.

Please do your books or have me do them. You can use all the mentioned software. Getting tax advice is recommended because you may need tax planning. Remember these two quotes.

"Any one may so arrange his affairs that his taxes shall be as low as possible; he is not bound to choose that pattern which will best pay the Treasury; there is not even a patriotic duty to increase one’s taxes.”

Sourced

Judge Learned Hand, Helvering v. Gregory, 69 F.2d 809, 810-11 (2d Cir. 1934).

“The difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion is the thickness of a prison wall.”

Unsourced

Denis Healey, former UK Chancellor of the Exchequer.

(Equivalent to the US Treasury Secretary)

Written Communication Disclaimer:

Pursuant to the requirements related to practice before the Internal Revenue Service., and tax advice contained in this communication (Including any attachments) is not intended to be used , and cannot be used, for purposes of (1) avoiding penalties imposed under the United States Internal Revenue Code (USC 26) or (ii) promoting or recommending to another person any tax related matter.

The Tax Man Cometh: IRS Tips for Choosing a Tax Preparer

As soon as the new year comes around, it is time to think about choosing a Tax Preparer. Here are a few Tips from the IRS for choosing a Tax Preparer. The following text is a quote from the IRS.GOV website. Listen to Audio link listed below to get a great overview.

Audio: Conversation with IRS Manager, Melaney J. Partner
Text Version of Audio

"If you pay someone to prepare your tax return, choose that preparer wisely. Taxpayers are legally responsible for what’s on their own tax returns even if prepared by someone else. So, it is important to choose carefully when hiring an individual or firm to prepare personal returns. Most return preparers are professional, honest and provide excellent service to their clients. Here are a few points to keep in mind when someone else prepares your return:"

• A Paid Preparer is required by law to sign the return and fill in the preparer areas of the form. The preparer should also include their appropriate identifying number on the return. Although the Preparer signs the return, you are responsible for the accuracy of every item on your return. In addition, the preparer must give you a copy of the return.
• Review the completed return to ensure all tax information, your name, address and Social Security number(s) are correct. Make sure that none of these spaces is left blank.
• Review and ensure you understand the entries and are comfortable with the accuracy of the return before you sign.
• Never sign a blank return, and never sign in pencil.
• If you have provided specific authorization in a power of attorney filed with the IRS, you may have copies of notices or refund checks mailed to your preparer or representative; but only you can sign and cash your refund check. For further information on Powers of Attorney, refer to Topic 311.
• A Third Party Authorization Check Box on Form 1040 allows you to designate your Paid Preparer to speak to the IRS concerning how your return was prepared, payment and refund issues and mathematical errors."

2011 Predictions -- Video Job Advice Everywhere, Tax Man Cometh, Business Hiring Begins, Music & More

My 2011 Predictions begin with a song. It's an oldie but a goodie.

1. The Silhouettes - Get A Job ( I predict this song will be revived and reach the Top 10 charts in 2011.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ato64iEK8Go

2. How to get a job interview - Tips for getting a job interview. ( I predict more video advice from the internet)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2228sHOD5eY

3. Unemployment Drops, Businesses Begin to Hire - CBS ( I predict 4 more people will be hired in 2011.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_jVPTJM64U

4. Have you been out of the job market for a while? Think about what you can do. Focus on what you are good at. Get training. Here's a song of hope.

They Can't Take That Away from Me - Frank Sinatra & Natalie Cole HD ( I predict they can take that away from me but I'll just smile and keep that to myself.).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnT7C7VrLr4

5. Remember the Taxman Cometh. Be prepared. Gather your records. ( I predict the tax cuts will continue.)
The Taxman - The Beatles
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Beatles/_/Taxman

18 minutes ago

Unemployment Drops, Businesses Begin to Hire youtube.com

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits for the first time is at its lowest since July 2008. As Don Teague reports, businesses are finally hiring.