5 ways to prepare for your first day

Starting a new job is exciting, but it can be nerve-racking at the same time. It’s common to have those first day jitters. Take a deep breath and put your mind at ease. Here are a few things you can do to prepare for your first day!

Bring supplies.

Put a notebook and a couple of pens in your bag. Your new employer will probably supply you with these essentials but if for some reason they don’t, it’s good to be prepared. “Many training and hiring managers feel better teaching someone when they see that you are taking detailed notes – it creates a feeling that you are the right person for the job!” (Hannah Flint, CFS Oakbrook). After all, you’ll be learning a lot throughout the day and taking strong notes ensures that you won’t forget anything. You can also reference these in the future.  

Research.

You landed the job, which means you’ve already researched the company and you’ve already familiarized yourself with the responsibilities of your new position. Have you researched your new co-workers though? Have you done any research since you accepted the offer? Ashley DeSimone, from our New York office, advises “taking a look on LinkedIn for the employees that are currently working there, reading information on Glassdoor, and checking Google to see if any new articles have been published online about your new company.” Although not required, it doesn’t hurt to be extra prepared for your first day.

Pick the perfect outfit.

After completing the interview process, you should have a good perspective on the company culture and overall office atmosphere. This understanding of the company is key when it comes to picking out your first day outfit. You don’t want to be overdressed or underdressed.

“Think ahead to the attire you are planning on wearing for your first day and make sure it is clean, pressed, and easily accessible” (Patrick Senn, CFS Minneapolis). Lay out your clothes the night before; running around trying to find a specific shirt will only add unnecessary stress to your day.

Rest up.

The last thing you want to do is stay up all night watching your favorite TV show. “Get a good night’s sleep the night before, wake up early, and eat breakfast! It sounds silly but this sets you up to have a great day. You want to be alert and aware” (Coleen Trombley, CFS Hartford). This will ensure that you are ready for whatever your first day throws at you!

Map out your route.

You never want to be late. Do a test drive the week before to gauge your timing and to figure out the best route. Leave a little earlier than you normally would to avoid any unexpected delays. Punctuality leaves a big impression, especially on your first day.

My last piece of advice….don‘t stress! This is an exciting time in your career. Relax and get excited for this new experience!


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Time for your 60-day checkup

With January and February officially behind us, it’s time for your 60-day checkup. Are you upholding your New Year’s Resolution? Have you started it? Did you utter the word “no” under your breath just now? That’s ok! It’s not too late to get back on track.

Resolutions have a horrible reputation for being broken— but your career goals should never be compromised. Here are 5 key steps that will help you accomplish your goals before you know it:

Be Specific

A common dilemma that we face is making our resolutions too vague. For example, saying “I want to network more” is simply too broad since there isn’t a way to measure your success rate. Instead you could say, “I would like to add 100 people to my LinkedIn profile” or “I would like to attend 2 networking events a month”. Not only are these specific goals, they are measurable as well.

Set manageable/ monthly goals

Once you set specific goals, you need to determine how manageable they will be. Setting your sights high is great, but doing so can leave you questioning where to begin. If you find yourself in this position, you may want to break your goals down into smaller objectives. This helps you create a game plan and a timeline, which will help you reach success.

Consider adding 100 people to your LinkedIn network—that would be extremely overwhelming when tackled all at once. However, when you break that number down and connect with a few people each week, it’s not as intimidating.

Make the time

It’s one thing to say you’ll do something, and it’s another to actually do it. It’s easy enough to push it off until tomorrow or the next day, but next thing you know you’ll be caught in a vicious cycle of continuously postponing your goals. Why is that? We don’t make the time!

If you want to reach your goals, then you have to dedicate the time to work towards them. Allot time on your calendar to work on your resolutions each week and stick to that schedule.

Be accountable

Share your goals—keeping them to yourself won’t do you any good. Your friends and family are a vital resource to you and they shouldn’t be overlooked. They’ll not only help you stick to your schedule, but they will hold you accountable. If you happen to hit a roadblock, they’ll be there to tell you “it’s ok” and help you get back on track. If you crush one of your goals, they’ll be there to celebrate! This support system is exactly what you need to push yourself a little harder, and to hold yourself to a higher standard when it comes to accomplishing your goals.

Be patient

It’s a resolution for a reason. You won’t accomplish your goals overnight, but that doesn’t mean you won’t make progress every day. Focus on tackling one objective at a time, and stay positive. Be patient—good things take time, and they will be well worth the wait.

Are you looking for your next accounting or finance role? We are here to help! Contact on of our expert recruiters to help you in your job search- find the closest CFS location to you here.

How to answer: "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

Article originally published on The Muse

“Where do you see yourself in five years?”

When a hiring manager asks you this, there may be a few things running through your brain. “Moving (way) up the ranks,” “running this place,” “working for myself,” or “in your job,” for example.

None of which are necessarily things you should say out loud in an interview.

So, how do you answer the question? Watch this quick video, where Muse CEO Kathryn Minshew shares a formula developed by our career expert Lily Zhang. It’ll help you share your goals and ambitions the right way—and not give your interviewer anything to worry about.

(Can’t watch the video at work? Don’t worry—we’ve also copied the transcript below.)

So, how do you answer, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

This can feel like a bit of a trick question, because sometimes the answer is, “not in this job,” or, “in your job,” or something like, “at a bigger better opportunity elsewhere.” But none of those are things you actually want to say to a hiring manager.

The good news is you can be honest while still telling them what they really want to know. Do you have realistic expectations for your career? Are you ambitious? And does this particular position align with your growth and goals overall?

For example, one way I like to think about it is: Think about where this position could realistically take you, and think about how that aligns with some of your broader professional goals.

So, for example, you might say, “Well I’m really excited by this position at Midnight Consulting because in five years, I’d like to be seen as someone with deep expertise in the energy sector, and I know that’s something that I’ll have an opportunity to do here. I’m also really excited to take on more managerial responsibilities in the next few years and potentially even take the lead on some projects. I’ve been lucky enough to work with some amazing managers, and so developing into a great manager myself is something I’m really excited about.”

So, what if this position is not a one-way ticket to your professional aspirations? It’s okay to say you don’t really know what the future holds, but you see how this experience could really help in making that decision.

Have questions on interviewing tips? Have advice that's worked for you? We want to hear them! Comment below or contact one of our expert recruiters today! Find the closest CFS location to you here.

Read the original article published on The Muse. 

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The tips I wish I knew when I started my career

First impressions matter

Remember, you only have one chance to make a great first impression! Meredith Woods, Staffing Manager of CFS Bethesda, agrees that it’s important to introduce yourself with confidence. Whether you are meeting the CEO or the receptionist, greet everyone with a smile and respect. Also, your colleagues will take note of the effort you put into meeting them, so be sure to put yourself out there.

Don’t forget to ask questions

Landing your first professional job out of college is a big deal. Although you may feel you know everything, navigating the real world isn’t as easy as navigating a college campus. Patrick Senn, Managing Director of CFS Minneapolis, says “often times we feel like asking for help or not immediately knowing the right answer to something can show weakness, but it is critical to ask for help.” You’re not supposed to know everything right away, and asking questions shows your eagerness to learn.

Take chances

You were chosen out of numerous applicants to do this job because someone believed in you. Now you have to take a chance on yourself and step outside of your comfort zone. Step up and tackle that new project. Volunteer to lead a new marketing strategy. Whatever it is, even if it scares you, look at it as a chance to grow and accelerate your career.

Accept feedback

The first 90 days at a new job generally serve as an evaluation period. When working on your first big project or submitting that first proposal, you are likely to receive some feedback. John Jameson, Executive Recruiter of CFS Chicago, advises that you "view all constructive feedback as criticism, then learn to recognize the true value of it.”

When a manager advises you of a mistake you’ve made, it’s easy to be taken aback or even offended, but you need to remember that mistakes happen. The key is to utilize the valuable feedback and use it to grow. Your manager’s knowledge and experience is an amazing resource.

Never burn bridges

Through the course of your career, you’ll meet a lot of people at the office, work functions, networking events, and more. These connections will prove useful when you want to transition out of your current role. “It is very rare now for someone to start their career and then retire from the same organization. With this being said, your reputation/personal brand is very important and you don’t want that tarnished by burning bridges with your current employer,” explains Senn.

Say “Thank You”

Senn also adds that there is a lot that goes into training/developing/mentoring a new employee, and sometimes you need to take a step back to realize that you should be saying “thank you”. Your manager is giving up their time to make an investment in you and your future, and saying “thank you” is the easiest way to show your gratitude.

Prepare your own lunch

It’s easy to think that you’ll be able to eat out more often when you start your career. Think again. Being that this is your first “real” job, you should still maintain a budget. This isn’t to say that you should skip the lunch outings with coworkers, but instead just do them sparingly. Your health, your waistline, and your wallet will thank you.

What were some of the lessons you learned when you started your career? We want to hear them! Leave us your story in the comments below.

Looking for a job? Contact a CFS recruiter today and we’ll help you with your search! Find the closes CFS location to you here.