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The 2 A's of Interview Questions

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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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Top 5 things to take with you on an interview!

So, you landed the interview. Here are some things to think about before you head out the door!

1. Paperwork! Take a few copies of your resume. A one on one interview can quickly turn into a panel interview! Also, it’s possible that you will be introduced to others who were not on the schedule (which is usually a very good sign)! Don't forget a list of references, any examples of work (that do not have confidential information), and those letters of recommendation.
2. List of great questions! Get creative with this. Do your research! Think of questions that not only highlight that you did your homework but also ask questions that help you showcase your skills!
3. A nice portfolio! Please do not take a manila folder. Yes, this has happened. Go out and buy yourself a decent portfolio. And make sure you have a pen to take notes! Yes, it’s ok to write something down during the interview or remind yourself of a question you want to ask at the end.
4. Your suit and a smile! Yes, you should be wearing a suit! I can't even believe I still have to say that out loud. You only have one chance at a first impression. It’s always better to overdress, even on Fridays. Remember: You are interviewing for the job you want, not the one you have! Also, don't forget that smile. Positive energy is contagious!!!!
5. Stories! When you are working your way through the job description think of examples that apply. Try to make a short story out of it. The purpose of this is to create a picture in the interviewers' mind of you doing the job. Stories make a much bigger impact than canned answers.

Good luck with your next interview and don’t forget to check out these tips before you step foot in the lobby: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/8-things-remember-before-after-you-step-foot-lobby-delgado-lemaire

Searching for a new job? Comment below or contact one of our expert recruiters today! Find the closest CFS location to you here.

From Spreadsheets to Sticky Notes: 7 Strategies for Managing Your Job Search

Article originally published on Glassdoor 

When you’re actively looking for a new job, you can’t afford to wing it on the organizational front. Whether you apply for five jobs or 100, you’ll soon find yourself buried in an extraordinary number of resumes, cover letters, job descriptions and interview invitations. If you don’t keep them carefully organized, you may not identify the right opportunity — or worse, you’ll flounder when the right opportunity comes along.

If you want to stay on top of all of the applications, LinkedIn requests and other digital paraphernalia that go along with your job search, it’s time to break up with your bad organization habits. Here are seven techniques that will help you overcome the most common job hunt organization issues so that you know the where, what, who and how for your next interview:

1. If you aren’t good at organizing… figure out why

Organizational skills aren’t one-size-fits-all. There are just as many ways to be disorganized as there are to be organized. Instead of haphazardly applying “organization tactics” to your job search, try to identify specific ways that you tend to be disorganized and troubleshoot those issues directly.

For example, do you tend to lose hard copies? Digital apps will be where it’s at for you. But if you forget anything that isn’t written on pen and paper, a paper calendar or sticky note wall will be a better solution. And if you aren’t sure how you like to stay organized, try something new. If you’re usually an Apple Calendar kind of person, start using a paper planner, or vice versa.

2. If you have a hard time following up… use a spreadsheet

When your job search is in full swing, it’s way too easy to send an email and forget it. Not only can this cost you when you aren’t following up at appropriate intervals, but it can also make you feel like you’re constantly treading water without getting anywhere. Your job hunt becomes an overwhelming, never-ending headache instead of a systematic, purposeful journey.

Combat this by starting a detailed spreadsheet that tracks all the pertinent details of your job search, such as the company, job listing and contact details. As you move through the job hunt process (and the interview process), highlight the steps you’ve “completed” so you can show yourself just how much work you’ve done along the way.

3. If you need reminders… go high tech

There’s nothing wrong with manual spreadsheets that lists all of the job search details you need to know if it’s working for you. But if it’s not working for you — if you frequently forget to update the spreadsheet and you’re never quite sure about what your next step should be — you need to take your job search into the 21st century with a free online project management tool like Trello or Wrike.

Using a project management tool as a job seeker allows you to organize all of the job search details and automate when and to whom you should send a follow-up note. You can also adjust your settings to automatically receive reminders when it’s time to update the individual jobs or check in on the progress of the hiring manager.

4. If you’re a visual person… try sticky notes

The sticky note wall is a tried-and-true organizational method that works for writing a book, setting goals and yes, getting a new job. First, pick a large wall you can divide into 3-4 columns. At the top of each column, mark out a different stage of the job process or your job search to-do list (e.g. “Draft Resume,” “Apply,” “Interview”). Then, write each job on a sticky note and set it in its appropriate column. As you work through your job hunt and make progress, move the sticky note to the next step.

Not only can it be very motivating to see your progress in such a visual way, but it is easy to get a quick snapshot of where you are in the process by simply glancing at your sticky note wall. Pro tip: You can also use the “Sticky Notes App” on your phone or computer if a digital version of the sticky notes would save you the wall space.

5. If you forget the details… keep thorough notes

If you’re speaking to one or two prospective employers each week, it can be tough to remember who’s who and what you talked about. If you don’t take careful notes, you may unwittingly repeat yourself or send a thank-you note to the wrong person and reference the wrong conversation. Talk about awkward!

If that sounds like something that could happen to you, use a free tool like Microsoft OneNote or Evernote to keep track of the meetings you have. For extra memory help, pull the LinkedIn photo of the person you’re speaking with into the note sheet and capture notes like the person’s company, job title and location. Not only can you look at a picture of a real person when you’re in the midst of a phone screen interview, but you can also easily go back and remember who you spoke with when you’re considering job offers or writing thank-you notes.

6. If you’re losing motivation… make a list of reasons you’re searching

If you find yourself putting off your job search or simply not looking forward to any part of the process, you’re letting the discomfort of a job hunt distract you from the reason you’re looking for a new job. Get back in the right headspace by bringing the focus back to what motivates you.

Make a list of the reasons you’re looking for a new job — toxic workplace, skipped over for a promotion, low salary, etc. — and keep it in a prominent place. Not only will this motivate you to stick to your plan and find a new job, but it will also prepare you for the interviews ahead by keeping your deeper purpose of your job search front and center.

7. If you’re feeling burned out… schedule some downtime

Little tasks can pile up, especially if you’re managing a full-time job during your job search. Instead of spending a whole day on your job hunt once a month and getting frustrated with your lack of progress, set short but regular periods of time to check in and make consistent progress. A half hour two or three times a week will ensure that you’re responding to hiring managers at appropriate intervals and staying on top of new opportunities as they come out.

A job search is a job of its own: you’re practicing time management, patience and even customer service as you balance your search with your current job. But you don’t have to let the complexity of all the resumes, cover letters, applications and interviews throw you off. Just find an organizational method that works for you so that the energy you put into the job search pays off with a new job — not a new headache!

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Read the original article posted on Glassdoor. 

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Do's and Don'ts of Thank You Emails

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