Category Archives: recruiting

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

How To Be A Cover Letter Rockstar

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Cover letters can be scary to both experienced and inexperienced job seekers. What should you include in your cover letter? Should you even include a cover letter if it isn’t required? How do you know if your cover letter is acceptable? The reality is that you should not fear the cover letter. Here are a few tips to help you write your next cover letter like a pro.

Write one. ALWAYS write a cover letter. Yes, ALWAYS. The only exception to this rule is if the application specifically says not to write one, which is rare. Since most other people do not go the extra mile to write a cover letter, choosing to do so will set you apart and show the hiring manager that you are actually interested and prepared.

Keep it the right length. Your cover letter should be short. It should never go over one page. You can play with your font and margin if you need a couple extra lines, but try not to let that be too obvious. Also, never use comic sands. For anything. EVER.

Address it correctly. “To Whom It May Concern” is not going to help you stand out. You should address your cover letter to the manager of the department where you are applying to work. If you do not know the name of that person, just address your letter to the Hiring Manager.

Include the right things. First of all, you should grab the reader’s attention. There are several ways you can do this such as creatively introducing yourself, asking the hiring manager a question about his/her needs to fill the position you are applying for, or explain your interest in the position. Next, you should capture the reader’s interest by explaining why you are qualified for the position based on your experience, education, ideas, etc. Explain what sets you apart from the multiple other people that have applied for the position. In the following paragraph, share a few notable accomplishments with the hiring manager. The idea is to write something that will cause the hiring manager to want to meet you. If you are applying for a job in another area, it is important to tell the hiring manager why you are applying for a job in that area. For example, if you live in Tampa and you are applying for a job in Buffalo, you should tell the hiring manager why you want to live in Buffalo. If you do not do this, some managers will immediately discount your job application. Finally, directly ask the hiring manager for an interview.

Feel it out. Not all companies are created equal, so you are going to have to use your judgement if you want to strike the right cord. You never want to try to be something you are not, especially in an interview situation, but if you know a company is super relaxed, you might want to play around with your wording so that you give off the right impression. However, never try to be funny or not serious in a cover letter. You want to be yourself, but your cover letter will likely be a first impression, so make it a good one!

NOTE: Always follow the instructions of the employer when applying for a job!

Good luck!

 

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

 

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. 

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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

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

 

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