Tag Archives: questions

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

4 Staffing Agency Myths You Probably Believed

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Since I’ve started working for CP Staffing Solutions (we’re awesome, by the way), I’ve come into several conversations about staffing agencies with some of my friends that have left me a little surprised – well, maybe not so much “surprised” as much as “curious.” I came to find that some of the things that people think and believe about staffing agencies are incredibly misconstrued. Furthermore, it made me wonder, how is it that these misconceptions have gone on for so long? Working for one directly, I can be the first to tell you that many of these are just simply not true; you’ve been bamboozled! Let’s tackle some of these myths and uncover some great truths.

  1. The fee
    Myth: A staffing agency will take a cut from your salary.
    Fact: The hiring company pays a staffing fee to the agency, not you.

    I can see how people can come to this conclusion; I thought the same thing when I started searching for a job through a staffing agency. However, the reality is that the hiring company pays a staffing fee to the agency based on, but separate from, your salary. A few years ago I took some time away from the workforce to travel, and when I came back I needed a job (like ASAP), so I went through a staffing agency. Not only did I not have to pay a fee, but they also did all the job searching for me and I got a job in less than a week after meeting with them. Working with an agency actually has some pretty good perks, and it will not cost you a dime. Here is what some of our recruiters had to say on the subject:”It’s amazing how many people still think that’s true.  It WAS true many, many years ago when I went through an agency.  They wanted a percentage of your first year’s salary but that is not the case now.”  – Beth Courtney, Sr. Sourcing Specialist at ComputerPeople Staffing.

    “A company that decides not to make an investment in an employee because of an agency fee likely isn’t a company you would want to work for anyway.” – Faith Drew, Recruiter at FinancialPeople Staffing.

  2. The pay negotiation
    Myth: An agency job will probably be low-pay, and you won’t be able to negotiate.
    Fact: Agencies provide a wide range of salaries, from entry level to experienced positions, and will facilitate negotiation.

    So this one is kind of a two-fer; not only do people believe that agencies will offer them a poor salary, but they also believe that the option of negotiation is off the table. What actually happens is that a recruiter will look at your resume and your experience, talk to you about what you’re looking for, and give you a realistic and honest perspective on what you should expect. The great thing is, you don’t have to be afraid of telling your recruiter what you want or what your absolute minimum is. In fact, some of the best chances of negotiation will happen with your recruiter because they are the ones that deal with the company directly; they can negotiate the best pay according to your salary preference and experience. Oftentimes negotiating on your own can be awkward and/or stressful (at least for me it would be O_O), while recruiters are usually trained in this area. Instead of running the chance of starting your new job on a wrong note, having your recruiter negotiate your salary will ensure that everything goes smoothly, and you would still look like a superstar 😉 . See? This actually works out in your favor. 🙂

  3. The temporary job
    Myth: Agencies only offer temp jobs.
    Fact: Agencies offer all kinds of jobs.

    Simple and to the point: we have a wide variety of jobs, not just temporary jobs. The misconception may come from the fact that a lot of these jobs may start out as a temporary role, but often times these temporary jobs will turn into full-time, permanent ones. Good companies like to keep good talent; if you do end up starting out with a temporary gig, make sure you showcase your best! 🙂 Here is what one of our recruiters had to say on the matter:

    “We work with all position types—permanent, contract/temp, temp to perm, and per diem.” – Liz Ragan, Recruiter at MedicalPeople Staffing.

  4. The low quality factor
    Myth: Agencies don’t have good “big girl/big boy” jobs; you’d be lowering your standards.
    Fact: A lot of great, high paying jobs can only be found through a good agency.
    Really take the time to think about it: why would a company go through the trouble of paying professional recruiters to find them employees? Well, simply put, because they want the best talent for the best jobs. Otherwise the company would be, basically,  wasting their money. An agency can find you jobs that you could otherwise miss, so it’s certainly worth your time. Here is our last thought:

    “Most of the clients we work with only work through recruiters. This is especially true at large companies when it comes to contract roles, and small companies when it comes to permanent roles. So working with an agency is often the only way to find jobs like that. Companies invest in agencies to find them the best talent that will stay long term and be a good fit long term.” – Faith Drew, Recruiter at FinancialPeople Staffing.

Now that we’ve uncovered some truths, if you’re looking for a change of pace, a new job, or a new career path, give the staffing agency a shot! You never know – you could very well find your dream job when you least expect it. And just to let you in on one last, little secret: no one will go out of their way to prep you for an interview the way your recruiter will (at least all of our recruiters do!), optimizing your chances of getting the job. What more is there to say? Give it a try, and see how it goes. From my personal experience, staffing agencies have always been a great help in my career search, and they could very well do the same for you!

*This blog was expanded from the original blog “Five Misleading Myths About Getting A Job Through a Staffing Company“*

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By Nayadee Wilson