Category Archives: questions

Misconceptions About Staffing Agencies

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There are many misconceptions about what a staffing company actually does and I’d like to set the record straight! Here are three of the most common beliefs about staffing agencies and whether or not they are true.

Agencies only provide temps or “fill ins.” – False! Some clients think that a staffing agency provides the “fill in” worker while the company searches for the “real” substitute for a position or that an agency won’t provide the best candidate to ensure repeat business; this couldn’t be further from the truth! Staffing agencies aim to find a candidate that not only fits a client’s immediate need, but one that will be a great fit with the company in the long run. Seeing a client grow in a position/company is the ultimate feel-good moment for staffing agencies!

Staffing Agencies are only for entry level jobs. – This one couldn’t be more false! Staffing agencies find jobs for all levels, in nearly every industry. Here at CP Staffing we do specialize in Financial, Medical and Computer jobs. Agencies are also very honest about what skills or training is needed to ensure that you’re properly prepared for the level of job you are applying for.

We get you an interview and then that’s it. – False! We pride ourselves in the fact that we follow up, follow up and then follow up! We thoroughly prepare you for the interview and stick with you long after you accepted the position.

Here at CP Staffing, we have everyone’s best interest in mind. We aim to make the client and the candidate happy with every job post and interview.

If you are unsure about a posting you see, don’t hesitate to call one of our recruiters! They are always more than willing to help!

What questions do you have about what we do?

Written by Lindsay Olewniczak

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx

“Would you rather…?” Thanksgiving Edition

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With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to play a little game with my co-workers. I asked them a couple “would you rather…?” questions and got some interesting answers. Read on to find out the results!

Would you rather cook Thanksgiving dinner or clean it up?

9 people said they would rather cook and only 1 would rather clean up.

“I’d rather cook Thanksgiving dinner (as I will be this year).  I like to cook, especially with food as yummy as those in a Thanksgiving feast—rich and wonderful.  There are always a lot of recipe ideas to inspire you, but also many can be made ahead to lessen the day-of stressors.  Unfortunately you still end up contributing to clean-up when you host because no one knows where anything goes, LOL.  And no one wants to function on a full belly, nonetheless for clean-up.  I’m considering paper and plastic this year to remedy part of that process!” -Liz

Would you rather eat only turkey or only mashed potatoes and gravy for an entire month?

This was a tie.

“I would choose mashed potatoes because there is way more you can do with them to switch them up so you don’t get bored. You can flatten them and sauté them on the stove to make potato pancakes, you can also deep fry little balls of them to make potato bites or just eat them as they are.” -Sam

Would you rather be someone who sings on a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade float or be someone who helps to hold onto one of the giant character balloons?

Only 4 people said they would rather sing, while 6 would rather hold a giant character balloon.

“Singing would stress me out and I have a terrible voice.  Holding the balloons, seems like it would bring nothing but joy.” -Kara

Would you rather not be allowed to talk during Thanksgiving dinner or not be allowed to have dessert on Thanksgiving?

This was another tie!

“I do like pie, but I love talking with my family more and I enjoy the actual Thanksgiving dinner way more than dessert anyway – and I am full by dessert time too!” -Faith

Would you rather take a bath in gravy or wash your hair with mashed potatoes?

4 people would rather take a bath in gravy while the rest would rather wash their hair with mashed potatoes.

“Gross, take a bath in gravy.  Maybe it would be a good moisturizer.” -Stephanie

I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving with their families and friends! Thank you to my fun co-workers for playing along! I’m thankful that I don’t really have to take a bath in gravy! What are you thankful for?

Written by Lindsay Olewniczak

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx

 

So, do you have any questions?

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Your interview is wrapping up, and the interviewer asks; “Do you have any questions?”

Some candidates have no qualms about this – they can think on their feet after a long, nerve-wracking hour of interrogation. Others struggle greatly.

The purpose of this post is to help the latter with this final question.

1) Preparation is key.

Sit down the night before your interview and put some thought into the initial list of questions that you’d like to ask during your interview. To get started, think about what questions you need answered to know if this is the right opportunity.

Some examples might be:

  • How do you measure success in your company? Tell me about the best person you have ever had in this position and what made that person
  • What are some of the common denominators that exist with the more successful employees of this company?
  • What are the biggest challenges one will face in this role?
  • What are the two most important problems that need to be addressed/corrected in the first six months by the person in this position?
  • What are the key responsibilities for this position and which are most important?
  • What results are expected of this position? What are examples of the best results produced by people in this role?
  • Why did my predecessor leave this position?
  • Tell me about your background and what attracted you
  • What advancement can a person expect, in this company and in the industry at large, after doing this job well?
  • What are some of the company’s short and long range objectives?
  • In what areas does this company excel? In what areas does this company have some limitations?
  • What are the company or department goals for this year and next?
  • How will I be evaluated, and how often?

2) Never just say “No”.

Never reply with a “No” – even if all of your prepared questions have been answered. (If you prepared thoroughly and your interviewer doesn’t just happen to be a mind reader, you should have at least one question left!)

You can come up with new questions throughout the interviewing process as others on your list get answered. Instead of asking a question during the interview, write it down and wait until the end.

If you feel that thinking of questions while trying to answer questions during your interview would distract you, you can reiterate the questions you had with the answers already given by your interviewer. This will assure him or her that you are in fact interested in the opportunity and the company, that you were listening, and that you were prepared. The more you can extend your face-time with the interviewer, the more likely you are to stumble upon a shared subject of interest, a sought after skill, or some other common ground. Your last impression is often just as important as your first. Ending on an abrupt note will leave a lasting, negative impression on the interviewer.

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So, do you have any questions?

Written by Faith Drew

Employee Spotlight: Marilyn Seitz

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If you have been to our main ComputerPeople office, you probably know Marilyn.  She has been a part of our team for four years and she is always willing to help out wherever she is needed. Currently, Marilyn is our main receptionist, but she also serves as an accounting assistant, data entry extraordinaire, and provides assistance with HR filings and marketing/sales assistance. Marilyn is also a force to be reckoned with on the golf course – she plays multiple times every week! We sat down with Marilyn to find out a little bit more about her and her view of ComputerPeople, and here is what she had to say.

What sets ComputerPeople apart in the recruiting/business world?

What sets us apart is how important it is to us that we find the right candidate for a job. We spend a lot of time searching and following up with candidates to ensure a perfect fit. Also, everyone on our staff takes pride in their work and goes beyond the call of duty. The goal is always to do a great job instead of doing “a job” that is expected.

What is your favorite office tradition at ComputerPeople?

It would have to be Christmas and birthdays. Around Christmas time, we gather as an office for a meal, gift exchange, and to spend time together. It is always a lot of fun! For Birthdays, we celebrate by bringing in a cake/dessert and taking time out of our work day to spend time together.

What is something most people probably do not know about ComputerPeople?

I don’t think people realize how much time and effort is put into finding the correct candidate and following up to make sure everyone is on the same page.

What is something most people probably don’t know about you?

I volunteer at Millard Suburban Hospital in the Pre Administrative office and love it!!!

Thanks for all you do, Marilyn! You are an amazing addition to the ComputerPeople team!

Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

Interviewing 101: The basics of a fantastic interview.

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Do you have an interview coming up? We compiled some of the simplest things to remember when going in for an interview and divided them into lists of DOs and DON’Ts. Oh, and DON’T forget that our wonderful recruiters DO provide interview coaching if you need some extra help!

Do:

Do show professional body language. Do not slump or look too comfortable. Your body language will help the interviewer determine what kind of person you are within the first few minutes of the interview. Sit up and radiate confidence, professionalism, and fortitude.

Do focus your eye contact. Engage yourself in the conversation. Do not drift off away from the interviewer or look around the room. It is okay to occasionally look at any notes you may have, but be ready to maintain solid eye contact throughout the interview.

Do be prepared to concisely explain your job moves. That is going to be a question 100% of the time. You have to be able to articulately provide good reasons for moving around and this is something that often takes practice. Avoid “um” and “uh” by knowing what you are going to say ahead of time!

Do arrive on time. Not too early (desperate), definitely not late (irresponsible). Generally, walking in the door about 10-15 minutes ahead of time is appropriate.

Do bring a portfolio with paper, pen, the job description, your resume and references. This will show the interviewer that you are prepared and serious about the job opportunity.

Don’t:

Don’t touch your cell phone. Turn it off. Leave it in the car. Do not even give yourself the opportunity to look at it during an interview. If it goes off for some reason, discreetly turn off the ring without checking to see who is calling. You do not want to distract the interviewer away from your skills and accomplishments by allowing a cell phone to intervene.

Don’t trash your former company. This looks very bad on you, even if your former company was ridiculous. You do not have to lie or become your former company’s biggest fan, but always be respectful and gracious about your time with former employers.

Don’t behave anxiously. This includes moving around frequently, tapping your pen or foot, or any unusual movement or behavior. This distracts from your professionalism and credibility.

Don’t dwell on past accomplishments to the point of sounding conceited. You want to be confident and share your strengths, but you do not want to turn your interviewer off by making everything all about how wonderful you are. Besides, there will likely be plenty of interview questions that provide you with the opportunity to directly speak to what value you can provide.

We hope this helps you during your next interview! Comment below on the most important DOs and DON’Ts that you have learned (possibly the hard way) from experiencing interviews.

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

Recruiter Spotlight: Kevin Pyle

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Kevin Pyle has been with us at ComputerPeople for almost four years. He is hardworking, funny, he is an excellent recruiter, and his kids are probably the cutest twins that we have ever seen. We sat down with Kevin to find out a little bit more about how he gets the job done. Here is what he had to say!

How do you find candidates for a new job order? 

Several methods – LinkedIn, job boards (Indeed, Dice, etc.), referrals, posting job on website, and networking.

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

I’ll give you two….personality and drive.

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

Be patient!  Finding a position is a full-time job in itself, especially for someone just starting their career.  Utilize as many resources as possible, including recruiters, applying for jobs on your own though employment agencies (career builder, indeed, etc) and networking. Also, it is worth the time to get several opinions on your resume to make sure it’s solid!

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

Just knowing the potential positive impact I can have on someone’s life.  It’s a great feeling to place someone in a position that I know they are going to enjoy and love.

 

Thanks for all you do, Kevin! We are so glad to have you at ComputerPeople.

If you want to work with Kevin as your recruiter, contact him at kpyle@cpstaffing.com

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

Just Starting Your Job Search? Perfect Your Resume First.

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Beth Courtney knows recruiting.

She originally started recruiting in the airline industry in New Jersey over 30 years ago.  She believes that there is a job out there for everyone who is willing to work hard.  Currently, she focuses on sourcing technical candidates for ComputerPeople through her position as Sr. Internet Recruiter. We asked Beth what advice she would give to someone BRAND NEW to their job search. Here is what she had to say. 

Beth photo

Beth Courtney, Sr. Internet Recruiter

“A good resume is key since your resume is typically an employer or recruiter’s first impression of you. Make sure it is easy to read— no long paragraphs of verbiage please! Triple check for typos and misspellings. If you don’t have a lot of job experience, include internships/volunteer experience and highlight the skills you used in each.   Keep an open mind and be willing to interview for a less than perfect position to get your foot in the door of a great company.”

Thanks for the the advice, Beth!

 

Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen

What Is Involved In The Process Of Working With Our Recruiters?

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With spring in the air, college students graduating, and job fairs coming up, we know that a lot of you are looking for new jobs.

If you have never worked with a recruiter before, or even if you have just never worked with ComputerPeople before, here is what to expect!

OUR PROCESS

When you work with ComputerPeople, you are no longer alone in your job search. Our recruiters are seasoned experts who know the ropes in the sometimes daunting quest to get you hired. Most new candidates begin their relationship with ComputerPeople by applying to one of our existing jobs, or by simply emailing us with their resume and the type of job they are seeking [more on this below].

Next, we will schedule an interview with you so that we can learn more about what you are looking for. We will discuss any position(s) that you have already applied for or present new positions that we think you might like. We are not intimidating interviewers who are going to grill you on everything –  we really just want to get to know you better and learn about your amazing talent, experience, and what the job of your dreams really looks like.

At this point, we will go over your resume and if necessary, suggest changes or tweaks that will help you to stand out better. The next step is that we become your own personal marketing department by promoting you and your top skills to the best companies around WNY.

We have been in the business for 50 years, and our clients trust us to match the best candidates with the positions that they need filled. If WNY is not the place for you, we can still be your partner by utilizing our NPA network of recruiters to get you placed with the job you’ve always wanted.

Ready to start your job search with ComputerPeople on your side?

Review current open positions here or email us with your resume at ComputerPeople@cpstaffing.com

 

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Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen