Category Archives: employed

Employee Spotlight: Vicki Leavens

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If you have ever worked with us at ComputerPeople staffing, you probably know Vicki Leavens.
 
Vicki has been a part of our team for over 34 years in the roles of Administrative Assistant,  Office Administrator, Office Manager, and Accounting Manager.  Though her roles have evolved over the years, Vicki has always been extremely compassionate, an excellent team player, and one of the most reliable people in the office. Vicki is the kind of person who would do anything for anyone at any time, and we are so thankful we have her as part of our ComputerPeople crew!
We sat down with Vicki to get her view of what sets us apart as both a company and an employer. Read on to see what she had to say!
 
What sets ComputerPeople apart in the recruiting/business world?
What sets ComputerPeople apart is how much we care about the clients and the candidates. It is extremely important to everyone here that the perfect match is made for every role, and we are very dedicated to making that happen on the first try.
 
What is your favorite office tradition at ComputerPeople?
The way we celebrate the various holidays through out the year and our family atmosphere. The generosity of our President/CEO to both employees and clients makes these holidays especially valuable.
 
What is something most people probably do not know about ComputerPeople or CP staffing?
We may be a small firm but we make a big difference in the lives of  the people we work with.
 
Thanks for everything you do, Vicki! We definitely do not know what we would do without you in the office!
 

 

Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

Recruiter Spotlight: Bill Bilson

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Bill Bilson has been a recruiter at ComputerPeople for two and a half years. We love having Bill in the office because he is an amazing listener, he always has fresh ideas, and he is pretty darn good at his job. Additionally, the name Bill Bilson is extremely fun to say. Bill is also known in the office for taking some of the coolest vacations ever, and it is safe to say we would all let him plan our next trip [proof is in the above photo]. We asked Bill some questions about being a recruiter, and here is what he has to say!

How do you find candidates for a new job order?

I’d say the most common methods are searching through our database, searching LinkedIn, and contacting candidates who apply through our website/job boards. I also utilize both referrals and people I’ve met at networking events to fill positions.

What is the most important quality that a candidate can have to make them standout from the rest?

Tough question, as it really depends on the position/company. For me, I think it comes down to personality. If multiple candidates possess comparable skills and are interviewing for the same job, the person whose personality best fits the environment is going to land the job. Remember to always be yourself when applying for a new job.

What advice do you have for someone that is just starting his or her job search?

Try not to get discouraged because finding a new job isn’t easy. If you’ve been applying to numerous jobs online that you feel you’re qualified for, but you aren’t getting much response, review your resume and consider making some edits. Applicant Tracking Systems are told to look for “buzz” words, so comparing your resume against the job description can be extremely helpful in getting a reply. In addition, and I might be a bit biased on this, I’d recommend getting in touch with a recruiter.

What inspires you to be the best recruiter you can be?

Knowing that my job is ultimately helping others. Whether it’s our clients who have a hard-to-fill position or a candidate looking for that perfect next step, it is extremely satisfying when the stars align and a perfect match is formed.

What is something that most people probably do not know about ComputerPeople or CP Staffing?

CP Staffing is a small company, but we have three divisions and two offices. In Buffalo, we have ComputerPeople (IT focused recruiters), FinancialPeople (finance and accounting focused recruiters), and Medicalpeople (Medical focused recruiters). In Pittsburgh, we have another FinancialPeople office.

Anything else we should know about you?

I am a guitarist and a drummer; in my younger years I was pretty active in the Buffalo music scene and a couple of our songs were featured on 103.3 the EDGE.

 

Thanks for being you, Bill. ComputerPeople is lucky to have you!

If you have any questions for Bill or you want to work with him as your recruiter, contact him at bbilson@cpstaffing.com

 

Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

Weird Interview Questions That You Will Hopefully Never Have To Answer

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Have you ever been asked a super random question during an interview? I have, and it definitely threw me off guard. The ComputerPeople Staffing recruiters decided to create list of the weirdest interview questions they have ever heard. I guess any question is fair game in an interview these days!

  • If you were a box of cereal, what would you be and why?
  • What would you say if a penguin walked into this room wearing a sombrero?
  • If you were to get rid of one US state what would it be and why?
  • Name 5 uses for a stapler, without staples.
  • If you were a fruit what would you be?
  • Do you make your bed every morning?
  • What is in the trunk of your car right now?
  • What did you wear for Halloween last year?
  • If you could sing one song on American Idol, what would it be?
  • Are you more of a hunter or a gatherer?
  • If you were on an island and could only bring three things, what would you bring?

Have you ever been asked a weird question during an interview? What was it?

 

Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

5 Resume Tips You Can Implement In 5 Minutes

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Want to spruce up your resume but short on time? Here are a couple of quick fixes that you can implement right now for a resume that already has great content.

Use effective titles. A good resume title will help potential employers to understand your skills, experience, and interests. Titles should be clear and concise. Use an appropriate title and save your accomplishments for the body of your resume.

Proofread. I cannot stress the importance of this one enough. If there is even one misspelling or grammatical error in your resume, and your potential employer catches it, your resume will be tossed immediately.

List the most important information first. This will help with your first impression. Your employer will start to make decisions about bringing you in for an interview after the first few sentences of your resume. The earlier something is in your resume, the less likely a potential employer is to skip over it.

Use a basic font. I know you want to stand out and be creative, but you want to do that with your skills and accomplishments, not your font. Also, in general, for anything in life, do not use comic sands. It’s basically the Nickelback of the font world.

Use bold and italics where appropriate. Your resume will be easier to read, less confusing, and the most important things will stand out. But remember, I said where appropriate. Have a friend double check your bold and italic use to make sure that you did get too aggressive if you are not sure.

Does your resume need some more TLC? Our recruiters at ComputerPeople are resume experts. Contact us at computerpeople@cpstaffing.com for resume help and IT recruiting services.

Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

Let’s Talk Podcasts

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Are you a podcast person? I am. I did not really start listening to podcasts until I discovered they were an excellent way to pass time on my 45 minute commute to work. Since then, I have started listening to them everywhere. At the gym, on road trips, and even at home. Read on to discover the top reasons why I believe everyone should listen to podcasts.

They provide listeners with a constant opportunity to learn and think.  Podcasts help listeners to think creatively and inspire innovation. Podcasts have grown so much over the years, and you can pretty much find a podcast [or 50] on just about any topic. As a business person, podcasts are a great way to constantly learn about your field. Listening to a great podcast once a day would be like attending a business conference every week.

They are free. You have to pay for most music streaming services, audiobooks, and even some sports broadcasts. But not good ole podcasts. It is free to subscribe to your favorite channels or download individual podcasts as needed.

They are convenient. Since podcasts are available right on your smartphone, you literally do not need anything to start listening to podcasts right now. Just find a podcast that you like and click play!

 

My Favorite Podcasts:

  • TEDTalks – Nonprofit Organization
  • Freakonomics Radio – Stephen J. Dubner

 

What are some of your favorite podcasts to listen to and why?

 

Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

How To Increase Your Productivity By Next Week

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We all want to be more productive, but it is usually easier said than done.

Productivity is something that we discuss all the time at ComputerPeople. This time, we took it one step further by talking to people with excellent habits, researching, and brainstorming how to we can more productive in the short term. We liked these five habits because they can make a huge impact on productivity AND you can definitely work them all into your routine pretty much immediately.

Hope they help!

1) Delegate, delegate, and delegate some more. The worst thing you can do for your productivity is put too much on your plate when some of your tasks could be handled by others. Do not try and to everything yourself when someone else could do it better.

2) Have a plan. You should constantly create lists and know what you need to accomplish in the next 24 hours. Prepare for the next day by getting a realistic plan in the works.

3) Take Breaks. Yes, I’m serious. You will be more focused and productive if you reward yourself with small breaks about every 90 minutes, and you will be less vulnerable to getting off track and losing motivation.

4) Find useful apps. Do not take all day to do something that an app could have done for you in an hour. There are thousands of productivity apps out there that will help you get the job done and make your life easier.

5) Get up early. They weren’t kidding when they said the early bird gets the worm. If you want to be productive, you shouldn’t waste your time sleeping the day away. Go to sleep early and start grinding when there are few distractions.

 

by Kaitlyn Gahagen

8 Ways To Keep Your Office Organized in 2018

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Keeping an organized office is one of the simplest things you can do to increase your productivity, happiness, and efficiency at work. Although keeping your office clean can seem difficult, you can use these 8 tips to make the job easier.

  1. Go paperless. Whenever possible, you should try and reduce the amount of clutter flowing into and out of your space by transitioning to online information storage. Create folders, labels, and paths for your information to be kept online. The key with this is making sure you save your files in a place that can be easily accessed and found.
  2. Invest in a labeler. The documents that you cannot afford to store online should be put away in a distinct drawer, file, or closet that is neatly labeled.
  3. Purge your office. Go through your entire space and get rid of things that you haven’t used in a while. It can be difficult to part with some things, but your office will never be organized unless you reduce the amount of items that are inside it.
  4. Don’t wait on sorting your mail. One of the most common culprits for a disorganized office is the build up of mail. The solution to this problem is to start a habit of sorting your mail as soon as you get it so it does not build up. Throw it out, delegate it, or read and file it.
  5. Organize your desk drawers. Use dividers and separators for different items that you keep in your desk so you always know where to find what you need.
  6. Reduce the view of your cables. We know that cables are a necessary part of the electronics in your office, but there are several easy and cheap ways to hide them and get them out of site. You can attach a rain gutter to the bottom of your desk to keep the majority out of view, or buy equipment designed for managing cables. Personally, I believe this one makes SUCH a big difference.
  7. Use your wall space. Moving select items from your desk to the wall can really free up your workspace. Mounting your computer screen, calendars, or pictures is a great way to add room to your desk. This is especially effective if you have a small desk.
  8. Have a mini cleaning session at the end of the day. Never leave your office in a mess. It’s a lot easier to clean up for five minutes at the end of the day than it is to let your mess build up and have to conduct a major clean up session.

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Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

How Do I Standout From All The Other Candidates During My Job Search? Wise Words from Our Rockstar Recruiter Brooke DeLucia.

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Brooke DeLucia has been a recruiter at ComputerPeople for over 20 years. She has seen it all and has worked with candidates from all over the world. We asked Brooke one simple question. What is the most important quality that a candidate can have to make them standout from the rest?

Brooke’s Response is gold.

“Drive & Professionalism.   Having the ability to sell yourself as a driven individual with the aptitude and hunger to learn can make all the difference.   Your body language can make or break an opportunity, no matter how qualified you are for the job. It’s still important to be respectful, attentive and professional when you are interviewing.  Don’t slouch in your chair, don’t pick lint off your suit, don’t chew gum or swear. It may seem basic but sometimes the people you least expect are the ones making these mistakes!”

Thanks for the words of wisdom, Brooke! Connect with Brooke Here.

 

 

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Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

 

How To Handle The Last Question of Every Interview

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You made it to your interview early. You are dressed to impress. You have the perfect resume. You have clearly articulated your career accomplishments and future goals. But oh no…here it comes…the question that you did not prepare for…the interviewer asks, “do YOU have any questions for me?” Should you ask something? Should you just smile and shake your head?

Have no fear. Ask one or two of the following questions in order to get a little but more info and show the interviewer just how prepared you really are!

 

GENERAL QUESTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEWER

What character traits do you look for in your employees?

Where have you seen personal growth occur due to the company’s investment in its employees?

Why did you come to this company?

What’s your favorite part about working here?

 What gets you most excited about the company’s future?

 

JOB SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

Is this a new role that has been created?

What are the biggest challenges that someone in this position would face?

What attributes does someone need to have in order to be really successful in this position?

What training programs are available to your employees?

Where have successful employees in this position progressed to in the past?

What is the performance review process like here?

How often would I be formally reviewed?

Is there anything that concerns you about my background being a fit for this role?

 

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Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

Getting Your Mojo Back After The Holidays

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Even as I write this I am struggling to keep my focus and motivation. What others would call “writer’s block,” I am calling procrastination. To be fair, I believe that this is simply the effect from a cause that we all know too well: the “After-Holiday Blues” (I think I just made that name up, but you get my drift). There is no doubt that returning to work after the freedom of the holidays is hard; the heavy thought of “I don’t feel like going to work today” fills our mind like an ugly plague. To get out of the wishing-for-a-never-ending-holiday stage, here are some ideas that may help in getting your mojo back and start up some motivation.

Music heals all.

One thing you may want to try is playing some cheery music (quietly, if allowed) while you’re working. Music has the amazing effect of altering the way we feel. Playing music while you work will make you feel happier, and in turn, more productive and motivated to work. I, for example, like to listen to talk shows while I work – not necessarily “music,” I know, but it is something that soothes me and makes me feel good. When I don’t have my talk shows on, I love to listen to upbeat songs and have my own little party – you could do the same 🙂 . Additionally, if you wanted to keep the holiday season going in your own way, go ahead and play songs like “Sleigh Ride” (one of my favorites) over and over until you’re satisfied – whatever makes you happy! Whether cheery music means sad country songs or super upbeat Christmas songs, choose whatever works for you; get working while enjoying the beat.

Something nice to have.

I am always like a little kid on a sugar rush any time I have anything new – it could be something as simple as a nice pen (I do love nice pens *_*). If you’ve received something nice during the holidays and you can bring it to work, go ahead and take that with you. Having something nice to look at, especially something you really enjoy, will make you feel more at home and boost your mood. I’d recommend even getting some nice office supplies of your own (or something related to the job that you do) so that you’re motivated to use it. New things are always exciting! These can range from really cool mouse pads, to awesome pens, a fancy calculator, or even just a plant for your desk or a new picture for your screen background. Today, for me, my nice thing to have was a really nice sweater that I got over the holidays. I feel pretty and uplifted, and that is what counts! 🙂 Of course, not everyone has the same likes/dislikes, just make sure that you find something that makes you feel inspired and bring it with you – whatever that may be.

There is always a first step.

This blog is a prime example of the power of this tip. I was not initially motivated to start this, but without thinking I just opened up Word Document and started writing – now here we have a blog. Every job or task that you have needs to start somewhere, and all you have to do is take that first step. Chances are that once you get started on your task, you will gain momentum and follow through with the project; even if it is just for that day (then you have to take that first step again, the next day). Usually the first step is always the hardest to take, but, in most cases, it will always be the most simple. You will quickly find that just a few minutes after taking that step, you’ve actually already made some great progress. 🙂

We can be merry all year round.

I know there are times in which we all wish for longer breaks, but what fun would that be? After all, our breaks serve as great satisfaction after a job well done. Although some may be wishing for the holiday season to just be over with, most of us can agree that, even so, coming back to work can be mentally challenging. At least now you know that there is no need to fret, and you can easily get your groove back in the workplace. Just because the holiday season is over doesn’t mean that you can’t carry it on in your own way, if you wanted to. For this New Year, remember to stay merry, and never stop showcasing the best of your talents – that is what you are there to do!

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By Nayadee Wilson