Resident brings positive attitude to job search
BY Katie Morell For The Sun October 14, 2010 3:50PM
Dean Fernandes of Naperville is a go-getter. Immediately after being laid off from a local Caterpillar branch (after working with the company for more than 17 years), he picked himself up and, with a positive attitude, began looking for new employment.
Dean’s job Tips
Network thoughtfully: “If you really want to connect with people, be proactive,” Fernandes said. “When you go to a networking event, single out a few people in your field and then introduce yourself and schedule a meeting with them. After meeting with them, create an e-mail group and if you hear of something, you can send it to the group.”
Target a company: “Don’t go out there and blast your resume all over; this gives the impression that you don’t know what you want,” he said. “Instead, target the industry and seek out a dozen companies and profile each one to see which you want to work with. Once you target that company, see how many people you can find on LinkedIn. “Then, try driving to the company from your house to see how long it takes you, especially in the winter. People don’t think about things like that, but you could get fired for being tardy.
Clean up your profile: “Your LinkedIn profile should be clear-cut and not exaggerated,” Fernandes said. “Try to get a recommendation from people that says something about your job description, not just your character. When you ask for a recommendation, ask them to say something about your work only.”
Stay positive: “Try to be at peace with yourself,” he said. “Have faith that there is a higher reason that you are out of a job. Approach your job search with a clear mind and treat your search like a job.”
Be organized: “Make a plan about what you want to do,” Fernandes said. “Also, try to be mentally relaxed and find balance in your life.”
Updated: April 19, 2011 4:56AM
Dean Fernandes of Naperville is a go-getter. Immediately after being laid off from a local Caterpillar branch (after working with the company for more than 17 years), he started looking for another job with a positive attitude.
“I was laid off on Aug. 20; many of the Caterpillar branches were going into the red,” Fernandes said. “On Aug. 21, I started applying and going to local job clubs.”
Fernandes, who had never been out of a job, was faced with learning a new set of skills.
“Job searching is a new science to me,” he said. “It is a new territory, and I’ve learned a ton.”
Fernandes brings a vast array of skills to his job search. He is fluent in four languages: English, German, Arabic and Sindh, a local dialect in Pakistan. After working in the warranty department for a variety of Caterpillar’s Middle East branches, Fernandes came to the states to work for the company more than 10 years ago.
During his time at Caterpillar, he rose up the ranks quickly and impressed several colleagues, including Steve Hopper, a resident of Greenfield.
“I worked with Dean for six years,” Hopper said, adding that he is now retired. “I found his mechanical interest and aptitude to be very strong. His communication skills are also very good — oral and written.”
Hopper said he was always impressed with how Fernandes, who worked in the warranty department, wrote claim stories and good will reports.
“He was very good at writing a credible claim story and putting the facts down,” Hopper said. “He was able to explain things well and do it with brevity.”
Through the years, one memory sticks out to Hopper.
“Every year, there is a warranty conference for Caterpillar,” he said. “Dealers come in from all over the country, and since Dean was so good at his job, he was selected to give a presentation at the conference about how good will works and how to write a claim story.
“He was able to address any questions that were tossed at him. He did very well; especially since warranties can be a sensitive issue.”
What is Fernandes’ dream job?
“I would love to join Caterpillar again as a product support manager on any industry line,” he said. “I’d like to use my experiences, travel to different regions and work my way up through the company.”
Want to get in touch with Dean Fernandes? E-mail him at dean_fernandez@hotmail.com.
Are you a Naperville-based job seeker interested in being profiled in our “On the Hunt” column? Contact Katie Morell at katie.morell@gmail.com.
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