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Proud Sponsor of HIMSS Arizona Chapter

AP Professionals is a proud sponsor of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Arizona Chapter. HIMSS is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to promote the best use of IT and management systems in the healthcare industry. This year, the HIMSS Arizona Chapter is hosting their Annual Health Summit on Friday October 20th. This will be a full day conference featuring engaging healthcare thought leaders, a Physician Futurist, a live Podcast and a Ted Talker. Meals (breakfast & lunch) & happy hour are included as well.

Register for the event at the link here or below. Registration is only $25 for our colleagues that work for Healthcare Provider Organizations, HIMSS Organizational Affiliates and/or HIMSS Certified Education Partners.

Learn more and reserve your seat here: https://arizona.himsschapter.org/event/annual-health-summit-0

The photo below is from the 2022 conference. HIMSS Arizona Chapter Board Members stand with keynote speaker Olympic Gold Medalist Allison Schmitt at the 2022 Health Summit. Allison shared her inspiring story as a world class athlete of determination and perseverance, along with ways to improve mental health.

From left to right: Rebecca Clyde, Saffron Carew,  Hamed Abbaszadegan, MD, MBA, Allison Schmitt – Olympic Gold Medalist, Jeff Weil, Eric Gleason, and Tonya Fynan

We sincerely thank those that have made a significant impact on our journey of 25 years.

Celebrating 25 Years of Business

AP Professionals is proud to be celebrating 25 years of business! We sincerely thank those that have made a significant impact on our journey of 25 years.

A word from our President:

AP Professionals was founded in Scottsdale, AZ in August of 1998 with our first placement being an SAP consultant on September 1st, 1998. It is incredible for me think back on those days and marvel that we have placed thousands of technical associates since our inception 25 years ago. Our growth has been organic, and we now have opened offices in Portland, OR; Las Vegas, NV; Seattle, WA and Baltimore, MD. I am most proud that we have lived up to our Mission Statement “Building Relationships That Last a Lifetime”. My thanks to all of you that believed in us and trusted us throughout our journey.

Sincerely,
Jerry Tenenbaum
President

June Current Openings

As we head into summer, we wanted to highlight just a few of the amazing job openings we currently have with Fortune 500 companies!

Our job openings are constantly changing, and we have many more than just the below available for you. Reach out to one of the recruiters below with your resume! Or you can give us a call at our toll-free office number (800) 276-6306. Our goal is to find you a position that suits not only your professional goals but your personal life as well.

Follow us on LinkedIn here for daily updates!

Not sure if AP Professionals will fit into your lifestyle and goals? Check out what others have to say in Blog No. 7 here!

Title: COBOL Mainframe Developer

Type: W2 – Remote

Description:  Will be involved in system enhancements, defect resolution, responses to user requests, and other system maintenance activities that will require you to collaborate closely with other team members. Code and test solutions based upon the technical designs using the methodologies, procedures, architectures, and standards of the system and to be able to incorporate these into the construction process for the system.

Top 3 skills:  COBOL, DB2, CICS

Pay Rate:  $50-70/hr.

Recruiter: Kerri Tenenbaum – LinkedIn

Title: Sr Project Manager – Cybersecurity

Position: 100% Remote

Description:  Responsible for managing multiple simultaneous cybersecurity projects within a cybersecurity PMO. Responsible for planning, executing and managing medium to large projects. Projects typically require both a business and technology focus. Facilitate project team meetings, monitor, track, and control outcomes to resolve issues, conflicts, dependencies, and critical path deliverables. Will work analytically and creatively using teamwork, innovation, and excellence to solve problems. Develop and execute a communication strategy for all the different project stakeholders and report on project status, progress, metrics, risks, test results, and deployment activities.

Top 3 skills:  5+ years of IT Project Management experience for enterprise scale companies and experience managing cybersecurity projects such as IAM, vulnerability management, GRC, etc.

Salary:  FTE conversion salary $115,000 plus benefits. Typical conversion is in 6-9 months.

Recruiter: Neil Tenenbaum – LinkedIn

Title: Principal Network Architect

Position: 100% Remote

Description:  This will be a contract to hire (FTE) role. Networking route/switch/wireless, Firewall, Cloud, SASE, SD-WAN, Datacenter networking required. Looking for a highly experienced Architect with 4-7 years minimum experience.

Top 3 skills:  SASE, SD-WAN, Azure, Network

Salary:  Negotiable

Recruiter: Neil Tenenbaum – LinkedIn

Title: Data Scientist

Position: Hybrid with up to two days per week onsite in Phoenix, AZ. Must reside in Phoenix area.

Description:  Data Scientist is responsible for generating insights and recommendations from the company’s history of observational data. The Data Scientist will build descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive models with the goal of maximizing the value of current and historical data.

Top 3 skills:  Agile/Scrum development methodology, Azure DevOps, experience manipulating big data using open-source frameworks, experience with business intelligence and data analytic tools such as Tableau.

Salary:  Negotiable

Recruiter: Neil Tenenbaum – LinkedIn

Title: Master Data Management Business Analyst

Position: Hybrid with up to two days per week onsite in Phoenix, AZ. Must reside in Phoenix area.

Description:  Responsible for contributing to the master data discovery and MDM implementation. Responsibilities will include working to make informed decisions on prioritizing new sources to ingest, querying databases for data profiling and data quality, creating dashboards, and enabling system integration. The Analyst in this role will document processes and workflows and will work closely with business stakeholders to develop and mature our MDM program.

Top 3 skills:  Agile/Scrum development methodology, Azure DevOps, Strong business analysis skills, familiarity with one or more of Master Data Systems.

Salary:  Negotiable

Recruiter: Neil Tenenbaum – LinkedIn

An Extra Special Retirement

Coming up on May 1st, AP Professionals will be saying goodbye to an amazing part of our team.

At the core, AP Professional’s mission is to create relationships that last a lifetime. That applies not only to the clients & consultants that we work with but to our internal employees as well. There is truly only one person in our office (besides our owner) who has touched almost every single life that has come through AP Professionals’ doors. Mary Krick started with AP back on May 1st, 2000. She joined the company only 2 years after Jerry Tenenbaum opened the AP Professionals of Phoenix location in 1998. Mary has been an invaluable asset to our team & a mentor to all new hires who have passed through the company. We took some time to sit down with Mary and talk to her about her well-loved experience.

What year did you start with AP Professionals?

“I started working with AP back on May 1st, 2000. I wanted to ensure that I stayed onboard to complete a full 23 years with the company. That is why I am retiring on Monday May 1st, 2023. Easy to keep track of!”

What positions have you held with AP?

“I started as the Office Manager. I held that position for 15 years before an unfortunate injury kept me out of the office for a few months. When I returned, I swapped positions with another colleague and started working as an HR Administrator. This involved onboarding consultants, answering phones, coordinating AP events, organizing travel accommodations, offboarding requirements…lots of that stuff!”

What is the biggest changed you’ve seen AP go through?

“The Technology – I can’t believe the difference it’s had on how we do everyday tasks. We used to have a full filing room and now it’s all on our computers. I like to think that I’ve always adapted pretty well to the technology that we’ve brought in throughout the years. Lately I’ve just learned what I need to get by, but its worked!”

What has been your favorite part about working for AP?

“Talking to our consultants has to be my favorite. I love being able to connect with them each day and help them accomplish whatever they need when they call. Years ago, the office employees took a personality quiz, some received powerful, some received exploratory, but I received personable: Friendly, outgoing and warm with high management skills.”

Do you have a favorite memory from working at AP?

“Oh yes – The first time I brought my daughter Lisa into the office with me. She was about 10 or 11 at the time and I didn’t have a sitter for her. I brought her in with lots of things to keep her occupied, but Jerry put her to work instead. She spent the day filing paperwork & Jerry gave her some money on our way out! He didn’t care if it was done correctly or anything like that but she was just happy to come to work with mom! Jerry came to a few of Lisa’s school plays and dance recitals, and it always warmed my heart to see how much he cared. He didn’t have to do any of that back then.”

Do you have any advice for someone just starting at AP?

“Come in with a very open mind. Things change pretty quickly around here, and it’ll keep you on your toes! As long as you have an open mind and give things a shot, you’ll be just fine. Everyone is very friendly. Being from upstate New York like the Tenenbaum family, I always felt right at home here”

What are you planning for this next chapter?

“My husband and I will be moving back to the east coast to be closer to my daughter, her husband and our newest granddaughter! She was born only a few months ago and I can’t wait to be able to see her more often. It will be weird not coming into work every day but, I’ll keep busy!”

Thank you Mary, for your unwavering support, positivity, hard work, and light that you brought into the AP Scottsdale Office each and every day. You have continuously made our internal employees and consultants feel welcomed & taken care of. We wish you absolutely nothing but the best in this next chapter of your life. Don’t worry, we will still be keeping up with you! You can’t get rid of us that easily!

Background photo of a calligraphy pen & ink writing on paper the work "ink". This photo is enlarged and darkened with text overtop. Centered, the text says "The Dos and Donts of Resumes Blog No. 20" The AP Professionals logo is in the bottom right hand corner.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Resumes

Tips for what our experienced recruiters are looking for on a daily basis.

With so many resume tips out there, it can be hard to weed out the ones that actually are helpful for job seekers. We will be discussing things candidates should & shouldn’t do on their resumes according to our experienced recruiting team. With an average of 12 years of experience across our recruiting team, they are ready to spill all that they have learned! After looking over thousands of resumes over the years, they know exactly what stands out and what it is an automatic turn off. 

The 1st place tip that our recruiters could easily agree on was…

Personalize your resume for the job. Customizing your resume is key to getting an interview. This means curating your bullet points to include only qualifications and experiences that are most relevant to the position. Be sure to remove anything that does not directly relate to the job. Be sure that you will be able to speak to these items in an interview setting.

The tip that came in 2nd place was…

Keep it concise. Your resume should be no longer than 2 pages. The average person spends less than 2 minutes reading your resume so many won’t make it past the second page. To go hand-in-hand with this tip, use the space you have efficiently but keep it readable. If your sections are crammed together and not visually appealing, the recruiter or hiring manager won’t spend time deciphering it.

Finally, the 3rd place tip came to…

Include a summary paragraph at the top of your resume. You want to tell the reader exactly who you are, what you have to offer and why they should keep reading your resume. Hook their attention at the beginning! A summary paragraph is more beneficial than including an objective statement or a cover letter. This summary should highlight your most relevant qualifications and achievements.

Bonus Tip: If you want to make your resume stand out visually as well, highlight or bold the skills that the role requires. Highlighting/bolding your skills that are specifically relevant to the job, is a great way to catch the managers attention! Especially if they are going through a lot of submissions. You want yours to stand out!

If you want some extra help, we love this article (Linked: 43 Resume Tips) because it breaks down resume tips into specific areas that you might need assistance with. This will give you tips on how to show off your skills, how to best navigate employment gaps, how to show your personality and more.

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Multifactor authentication Apps

Multifactor Authentication Apps: What they are, if they help, which ones we like the best & what to keep an eye out for.

When it comes to keeping your personal information safe, you might consider using a multifactor authenticator (MFA) app. However, there are so many apps to choose from, how do you know which ones are the safest? Below is all you need to know to make the most informed decision for yourself and/or your company.

What are multifactor authenticators?

Multifactor authentication apps (MFA) help to make it basically impossible for hackers to get into your personal/business accounts. As a matter of fact, any online account that you have can be secured with an MFA app. When you first download the MFA app you will be asked to link the account you desire to the app using a unique to you QR code. Once linked, each time you log into that account, a one-time passcode will be generated in real time to your MFA app. Enter in the one-time code (that only lasts about 30 seconds) and you’re securely into your account!

Do MFA apps really help?

Yes! Statistics report that in 2017 only 28% of accounts were secured with an MFA app. In 2021, 78% of accounts were secured with an MFA app. MFA applications use one-time codes that automatically reset every 30 seconds. These one-time use codes are sent to both your login account & your authenticator account. The codes are generated independently of each other to link point A to point B, making it difficult for anyone to intercept the code. Since the codes only last 30 seconds, they are updated on both ends in real time. Microsoft reported that 99.9% of compromised account attacks were blocked when an MFA was in use.  

Which apps are the front runners?

MFA apps that you will see listed over & over again are Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator, and Authy. All serve the same purpose, are easy to use, provide a high level of security and work with both Android and iOS systems. Check out the articles below that we found extremely helpful for a deeper dive into each of these most popular apps. Others that we came across with significant positive research results were Duo & LastPass Authenticator.

However, with all technology, keep an eye out for scams.

In January of 2023, a scam authenticator app made its way into the Google Play Store. Unfortunately, over 10,000 users downloaded the scam authenticator and put all of their personal data in jeopardy. The app was created and called 2FA Authenticator. This app lasted in Google’s Play Store for Android users to download for 15 days before being removed. Once downloaded, the malicious code would use keylogging and screen recording to gather usernames & passwords entered into any account used on the device. Unfortunately, it is very hard to tell the difference between which apps you can or can’t trust in the Google Play or Apple Store. Be sure to only download an app that has thousands of downloads, positive reviews and only after you have researched it on your own! You can read more about the scam authenticator app at the link below.

Articles referenced to check out:

HP Tech Takes

NY Times Best Two-Factor Authentication App

PCMag News Malicious Android 2FA Authenticator App

17 Essential Multifactor Authentication Statistics 2023.

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How to Identify a Real Recruiter from a Scam Account

Unsure if you were contacted by a real recruiter or a fake one? Go through this list & see if these signs match up with your experience.

As technology & social media become more prevalent in our world, it becomes easier for a scammer to target everyday individuals. This started (and still continues) with fake phone calls, which moved into fake emails & links. Then into full catfish accounts on social media platforms. Unfortunately, this is no different when it comes to job hunting. As sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster, Dice and more have gained popularity, how do you know the person on the other end of a direct message is a real recruiter?

We have some tips below to help you weed out the real recruiters with real job opportunities from the fake ones, who will ultimately try to gain personal information & money from you. Even if these things don’t happen to you, trust your gut instinct! If something feels off, it most likely is.

If the profile that messaged you, looks brand-new.

A tell-tale sign that you might encounter if you are engaging with a scam account is, if the profile that messaged you does not have a profile picture, has a very low connection count and little to no posts, stop engaging immediately. These are signs of a brand-new account that could have been created only minutes before reaching out to you. A real recruiter’s main job is to make connections with people! Their profile should have a profile photo, many post interactions & a log history of interactions.

If at any point the recruiter asks to share your contact details with other sources.

Recruiters should keep all of your personal information confidential between them & the end client. If at any point they ask to share your information with another recruiter or another agency, this could be a sign of a scammer. The only information they should be asking you for or sharing, is your resume. This will be required by the end client who will be conducting your interview. Even then, the recruiter is in charge of setting up your interview and should be the one gathering & keeping any information.

If the recruiter fails to explain the details of the job to you.

The recruiter reaching out to you should know all the ins & outs of the position they are asking you to apply for. Not only should be able to answer all of your questions with ease, but they should also be able to give you specific details on the requirements & the end client.

Also, keep in mind that a recruiter should never submit your profile to a job opening without your permission. It is best that they get your permission in writing before submitting you for an opening. If they fail to do so, you could be dealing with a fake account.

If the recruiter sends you an offer without completing proper interview formalities.

Let’s say you get a message regarding an open position on Monday and by Tuesday you receive an offer to take the job. They may have asked you some questions via direct message, but you never had an official interview. This is a strong indicator that you are being targeted. Real recruiters will always reach out to you and want to set up an interview for you with the end client. Most likely, there will be more than one interview that is required before an offer is sent out. If it seems like things are moving way too fast, this is a red flag.

If at any point, the recruiter asks for money, you are being scammed.

This is a huge red flag and it most likely won’t come right away. Scammers love to gain your confidence & trust before asking for these details. A real recruiter will never ask you for any form of payment. You do not have to pay them for their services as they are employed by a legit company. They also will never ask you to provide any credit card or banking information. Banking information should only be provided after acceptance of a job during the Onboarding process after all other items check-out. This is all after interviews, negotiations, face-to-face meetings. This will also come directly from the companies HR team via a secure system.

Remember to always trust your gut & never provide personal information to anyone without doing your research first! You should be able to google their name, the company they work for and find reputable sources that the recruiter who reached out is legit! If you can’t, block that profile as fast as you can!

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Let’s Talk Tech

Learn your tech history by diving into the documentary discussed below as well as some other of our favorites!

“General Magic” is a documentary that provides a fascinating look at the rise and fall of the General Magic company. The company was a Silicon Valley startup from the early 1990s. They aimed to create a handheld device that could access email, news, and other online services. While the film doesn’t directly relate to the iPhone, it does offer some insights into the technological innovations that paved the way for the development of the iPhone and other mobile devices.

General Magic was focused on creating a portable device that could access a wide range of online services. This is much like the iPhone and other smartphones do today. The company was ahead of its time in developing technologies such as touchscreens, virtual assistants, and the ability to send and receive emails on a handheld device.

Some of the former General Magic employees featured in the documentary went on to work for Apple and other tech companies. Many of the technologies that they developed at General Magic, helped shape the development of mobile devices like the iPhone.

In many ways, “General Magic” is a reminder of the fact that technological innovation is often the result of a collaborative effort. With many people contributing to the development of a new product or technology, the possibilities seem endless. This documentary also underscores the importance of persistence and resilience in the face of challenges. General Magic faced numerous setbacks before ultimately becoming a failing company.

Overall, “General Magic”, the documentary, provides a compelling look at the history of technology. It also shows the role that companies like General Magic played in paving the way for the development of the mobile devices we know & love today.

If you are interested in some of our other favorite tech history lessons, check out the links below:

  1. Ted Talk: Confessions of a Cyber Spy Hunter
  2. The Age of AI
  3. The Great Hack
  4. Vue.js: The Documentary
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The Results Are In – LinkedIn Polls

Let’s discuss some of the data we have collected recently via our weekly LinkedIn Polls!

Over the past few months, we have been posting weekly poll questions on our LinkedIn Page. These questions covered topics like current technology, resume tips, interview preferences, fun holiday plans, future career goals and more. This time around, we will discuss the results we have received on our tech topic polls in recent weeks.

Weekly polls have been a great way to gage what our LinkedIn audience is interested in. It helps us learn what their thoughts are on new technology initiatives and what they really think about the tech they work with every day.

Q1: Will you be looking for a new role for the new year?

A whapping 58% of those who voted said that, yes, they most definitely are planning to look for a new role in 2023. Whether that is in the same industry & position or not, we can’t confirm. But, it sounds like the majority of voters are not currently happy in their role. AP Professionals is working to change that narrative! Let us help you find a role that fulfills you so that next time around we can get the majority to vote “Happy Where I Am”.

Q2: What makes a techie’s resume stand out in the competitive job market?

This result had a close call for 1st & 2nd place, however, experience in a specific technology ultimately won! Voters believe that the best way to stand out is to gain as much experience as possible in a technology of your choosing. Instead of having general knowledge of all, a deep dive to become an expert in one would be your best bet!

Q3: Which coding language do you prefer for web development?

67% of votes said that JavaScript was the coding language they preferred most. We did think this could be the consensus seeing that this is one of the most popular languages out there. If you are like our voters & enjoy using JavaScript, let us know in the comments below!

Q4: Which is your favorite Data Analysis Tool?

Microsoft Excel took the cake on this one. Excel offers advanced ways of analyzing data without requiring the user to be an expert. As the most used tool out there, Microsoft has made complex data analysis accessible to the everyday worker. 9% of voters noted that other tools were their favorite, they commented to include, Minitab, SQL and Qlik.

Q5: What is the most significant technology that will shape the future of the IT Industry?

Drawing in the most attention with 171 votes, this tech question had a clear winner with 78% of voters thinking that AI will most likely shape the IT Industry going forward. Which brings us to our follow-up question, which type of AI do you think will evolve the most?

Q6: What is your top technology to learn in 2023?

Finally, we learned that a majority of you would like to learn about Cyber Security the most in 2023! We have seen a growing number of companies looking to hire individuals with Cyber Security experience due to the increasing complexity of hackers. As companies grow & develop new systems, hackers are unfortunately quickly catching up!

Follow us on LinkedIn here to participate in our weekly polls!

Safer Internet Surfing – 3 Tips

Today is Safer Internet Day!

Every once in a while, we need a refresh on the best practices for safer internet surfing. What better to do on Safer Internet Day!

Here are 3 tips to help keep you & your personal data safe on the internet. We have also provided links to trusted websites to help explain in detail each step. Protect your data, your personal information & your hardware with the below tips.

  1. Ensure your web browser is up to date.
  2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication whenever possible and create secure passwords.
  3. Protect your computer and network with Antivirus and malware software.

In addition to the 3 main steps which we have highlighted, there are many more ways you can ensure you stay safe while surfing. Stay safe out there!

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