Hawaii's Science, Technology and New Media Community
Best way to find Hawaii IT Jobs
Hey guys, so after signing up with every career and job website known to man, I've concluded that these website don't seem the best way to approach this.
What would TechHui'ers recommend for such a tight knit community of techies? Are there Tech conferences where people can mingle and trade contact info?
Also, for those not originally from Hawaii, have you noticed a reluctance to choose someone from outside of Hawaii, even though your skills and qualifications are well beyond their expectations?
Not many people talk about this so let me be the first to start it.
Thanks in advance for your comments
What would TechHui'ers recommend for such a tight knit community of techies? Are there Tech conferences where people can mingle and trade contact info?
Also, for those not originally from Hawaii, have you noticed a reluctance to choose someone from outside of Hawaii, even though your skills and qualifications are well beyond their expectations?
Not many people talk about this so let me be the first to start it.
Thanks in advance for your comments
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Martin Lind on -
Another question to add to the list: how do Hawaii expats who want to move back find a tech job at a small to medium size firm?
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Permalink Reply by Monica S Flores on -
One thing that I recall a coffee shop owner telling me was he doesn't like to hire new baristas/managers from the mainland because they don't often stay for a long enough ime. He liked seeing that someone would "stay put" so if they has a history of being here for 2+ years, they had more of a chance of staying in Hawaii and at the job. He was seeing new hires from the mainland getting trained for 2 months then leaving 6 months after that, so it was kind of a waste of time for him.
I'm not sure if this carries over to tech but I could see his point.
Something about "island fever".
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Permalink Reply by Daniel Leuck on -
Hi Monica - It definitely carries over to the tech world. Transplants from the mainland often fail if they have no connection to Hawaii. Unfortunately our legal counsel has advised me against inquiring if applicants have a local auntie or girlfriend/boyfriend :-) HTDC CEO Yuka Nagashima has repeatedly rejected my proposal to offer a dating service to assist tech companies in retaining relocated employees.
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Permalink Reply by Patrick Ahler on -
LOL!
Daniel Leuck said:Hi Monica - It definitely carries over to the tech world. Transplants from the mainland often fail if they have no connection to Hawaii. Unfortunately our legal counsel has advised me against inquiring if applicants have a local auntie or girlfriend/boyfriend :-) HTDC CEO Yuka Nagashima has repeatedly rejected my proposal to offer a dating service to assist tech companies in retaining relocated employees.
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Permalink Reply by Patrick Ahler on
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Bottom line: Hawaii is a commitment, did you read the latest in Honolulu Advertiser about Honolulu being the most expensive place to live in the US? Not just that it's culturally different and has a well established local network. Good employers know that, and they've been through this too many times, they want to hire someone with roots here or at least someone who has been here a few years. Moving someone out is even trickier. So what's the best way to find Hawaii IT jobs? Well, if you're new to the island, knuckle up, take whatever you can (craigslist FTW) and dig in for a fight cause the first few years is definitely not going to be easy... but if you make it, it's a blessing. The grinds are ono and the waves mean, lucky we live Hawaii.
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Permalink Reply by Gus Higuera on -
Being a recent transplant from the mainland I have to say networking is key. I've gotten lucky to have found a great company to work for that has great ties to the tech community and getting to know the environment you're going to work in is key, especially here on the islands I've found out.
Aside from perseverance I would say get out there and start meeting people. I was amazed to find out how many great companies and talent there is in Hawaii.
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Permalink Reply by Jake G. on -
Thanks guys for all your comments and great advice.
I moved here for college and graduated in 2007 been working IT here in Hawaii since. All together I have lived in Hawaii 5 years and I am not going anywhere.
I am currently a System Admin, but have recently started looking for another job as I do not see room to grow. I have had a few interviews, but I haven't had any luck. Some jobs I matched 130% and swore I would get, but for some reason they passed me over. I am really easy going, manage people really well and I am never nervous in interviews. I think this may make me come across as over confident or cocky perhaps. I am 30 yrs old but I look 21 and I think this plays into why they do not choose me (even thought they can't actually say it does). I am at the stage were I am ready for senior or management positions but when everyone looks a lot older than you, it is hard to get them to take you seriously I think. Being from the mainland also does not help, especially when everyone in the department was born and raised here.
I really do not know the IT networks around Hawaii yet. Most of my co-workers do not really care about IT when they are not at work. But, I am really ambitious and would like to learn and gain experience doing everything. Also, getting involved within the Hawaii Technology community would be exciting as well.
Should I just take what I can get? That seems to be the trend nowadays. Thinking this way will never lead to any improvement in my opinion.
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Permalink Reply by Patrick Ahler on
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send your CV to careers@superb.net - I don't believe we have any availability now but it can't hurt
Fox Jacobi said:Thanks guys for all your comments and great advice.
I moved here for college and graduated in 2007 been working IT here in Hawaii since. All together I have lived in Hawaii 5 years and I am not going anywhere.
I am currently a System Admin, but have recently started looking for another job as I do not see room to grow. I have had a few interviews, but I haven't had any luck. Some jobs I matched 130% and swore I would get, but for some reason they passed me over. I am really easy going, manage people really well and I am never nervous in interviews. I think this may make me come across as over confident or cocky perhaps. I am 30 yrs old but I look 21 and I think this plays into why they do not choose me (even thought they can't actually say it does). I am at the stage were I am ready for senior or management positions but when everyone looks a lot older than you, it is hard to get them to take you seriously I think. Being from the mainland also does not help, especially when everyone in the department was born and raised here.
I really do not know the IT networks around Hawaii yet. Most of my co-workers do not really care about IT when they are not at work. But, I am really ambitious and would like to learn and gain experience doing everything. Also, getting involved within the Hawaii Technology community would be exciting as well.
Should I just take what I can get? That seems to be the trend nowadays. Thinking this way will never lead to any improvement in my opinion.
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Permalink Reply by Zehra Abbas Zaidi on -
Hi Fox, a number of people from the mainland are shocked by the high cost of living here, and the comparatively lower salaries, as a result, many of them tire of this situation after a while and decide to move back to the mainland. Another concern I've heard from parents is the quality of education in the high schools in Hawaii- another reason Techies with kids may be discouraged from staying in Hawaii long term. As a result, employers in Hawaii are usually hesitant to hire candidates from the mainland b/c many times it does not work out, and the company suffers a loss b/c they cover relocation etc.
In order to encourage employers to hire them, candidates need to stress their willingness to commit long-term, show they have thoroughly researched the cost of living in Hawaii, where they plan on staying/renting, how long it will take them to relocate, if possible offer to relocate at their own expense etc. Also, their familiarity with the culture in Hawaii and why they feel they will fit in well.
If you have any friends or family in Hawaii, have ever visited the island before or have any other ties/interest in Hawaii, do mention it.
Best places to find jobs in Hawaii- search companies in Hawaii on LinkedIn, TechHui jobs, Craigslist etc. Sending in your resume to Staffing companies in Hawaii and explaining your requirements in detail, posting your resume on Careerbuilder helps-- and pay close attention to the job requirements, certification requirements and convince the employer you are the best possible candidate for the job and hiring you would not be a risk.
Definitely have a LinkedIn profile and mention your desire to relocate to Hawaii--and meet perople who work in Hawaii in your field on LinkedIn & TechHui, introduce yourself to them etc
Hope this helps,
Zehra A. Zaidi
Technical Recruiter
Bishop & Company, Inc.
Placing Great People in Great Jobs
841 Bishop Street, Suite 1614
Honolulu, HI 96813
www.bishopco.net
zzaidi@bishopco.net
808.839.2200 p
808.839.4844 f
If you are on LinkedIn, feel free to view and add me to your network: http://www.linkedin.com/in/zzaidi
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Permalink Reply by Mika Leuck on -
Those are great points Zehra! Those are exactly what Hawaii employers are thinking about and concerned about.
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Permalink Reply by Jake G. on
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Zehra,
Thank you for your comment!
Actually, I moved to Hawaii after living in Japan for a couple years for University. I have been living in Hawaii for over 5 years now and do not plan to move anytime soon. I do not have any kids and I am not married yet so no issues concerning that.
After a recent failed interview for a position I was well qualified for (i won't get into details here), I am starting to think there may be more to this than being outgoing and well qualified here in Hawaii...
I guess there is not much you can do about this type of situation. A company can choose whom ever they want for any reason they see fit. This just makes me wonder how can I improve myself or my interviewing techniques to get positions that I am more than qualified for?
Also, Linkedin looks like a nice site, but I have concerns about security. I am weary of posting such personal information for everyone to see and add to their public database. I will fiddle around with security settings a little more. Thank you for the site suggestion
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Permalink Reply by Monica S Flores on
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SA,
Also want to point out that there are plenty of other projects from outside Hawaii that may want to use Hawaii-based staff. Globalization, for better or for worse, means that the people completing the work may not be in the same location as the people ordering the work. The customers may not be in the same country as the vendors. The teammates may be spread out across the mainland. For example, at my web design company our projects originate from all over the country and we complete the work in Hawaii, California, and New York.
Consider ways to do freelance or contract employment using your knowledge of specific niche markets, especially your knowledge of Asia/Pacific Rim.
As a specific example, if you know Japanese or are familiar with Japanese culture, I'm sure there are projects and people and companies here and throughout Asia that may want your knowledge as being valuable for their particular project (think, a company that recruits people to teach English in Japan, or a community website for Japanese expats, localization, etc.)
In general, I think that many companies have their own reasons for hiring someone else --- they may have had a prior relationship with another candidate, or perhaps they were promoting from within, or they were just 'seeing what's out there'..... it's nothing personal for you. I recommend you do some career coaching, employment counseling, or videotape yourself giving an interview to find specific areas of improvement.
"What Color is your Parachute?" by Richard Nelson Bolles is my all-time favorite recommended resource for job hunters -- it got me to where I am today by making me think proactively about what I was good at and how my skills fit the world's needs.
© 2010 Created by Daniel Leuck.
