Make sure Recruiters can reach You!

News flash: if a potential employer has to do extra work (beyond sorting through resumes and dialing your phone number) to get in touch with you about a job, s/he might not do it! Right now, employers have the luxury of selecting a few candidates from several hundred applicants. If the phone just rings and rings, the recruiter will simply hang up and move on to the next candidate.

Yes, some employers- like SSI, will make several attempts to get in touch. If we can't reach someone on the phone, we usually follow up with an email. But plenty of other companies do not make this effort- they receive too many resumes and have a limited amount of time to track down a potential candidate.

It is VERY important for Recruiters to be able to reach you by phone or email. When we at Staffing Solutions do not hear back from an applicant, we assume you found a job or you are no longer interested in working with us.

Sometimes, clients call us and want to see resumes ASAP. If we cannot get a hold of you quickly, there is a possibility you will loose the job to someone else who we were able to get in touch with quicker.


See the email exchange below between Pam and an applicant. Make sure you have voicemail set up on your phone or have an answering machine otherwise you may miss a potential employer who was trying to get in touch with you! Pam was trying to get a hold of a candidate by phone and email- and never heard back from her! Finally- we were able to get a response by email.

Remember the rules on How to be a Good Applicant!


*Please note applicant's real name has been changed for privacy
__________________________________________
Email 1:

Dear Sally,

Trying to reach you but your phone just rings, please call me.

Thanks,
Pam
___________________________________________

Email 2:
Pam,

First let me apologize for my previous missed communication. I was under the assumption that the job market was the reason why I had not been contacted or placed in a temp or perm position with Staffing Solutions. Also Pam I really appreciate the "Straight Talk" you offer it stings a little bit but obviously helpful and what I needed to hear.

Thanks,
Sally
___________________________________________

Email 3:

Sally,

Sometimes a “straight talk” is what we all need to really “hear” someone. I think you know Bonny and I well enough to know that our number one goal is our applicants and clients but sometimes we all need a refresher on how to be a “good” applicant and what you need to do to be considered for jobs and follow up that needs to take place. Please don’t think I was “angry” at you, it’s not that at all but I have to be upfront as to what I expect from you.

Pam

Weird Interview Questions of 2010!

I came across these questions in an article by Kimberly Weisul. I wanted to share so you can have a little Thursday laugh!

Check out the full article to view all 25 "weird" questions! http://www.bnet.com/blog/business-research/the-25-weirdest-interview-questions-of-2010/520

If you can answer these questions, then I'm impressed! Here are a few from the article!

* How many ridges are there around a quarter? (Reportedly from Deloitte)

* What is the philosophy of martial arts? (A spokesperson for Aflac, where this question was used, says she hopes the candidate quoted Kwai Chang Caine from the 1970s TV show Kung Fu: “I seek not to know the answers, but to understand the questions.”)

* Explain to me what has happened in this country during the last 10 years (Reportedly from Boston Consulting)

*Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 10 how weird you are (Reportedly from Capital One)

*How many basketballs can you fit in this room? (Reportedly from Google)

*If you could be any superhero, who would it be? (Reportedly from AT&T)

*Given the numbers 1 to 1000, what is the minimum number of guesses needed to find a specific number if you are given the hint “higher” or “lower” for each guess you make? (Reportedly from Facebook)

*If you had 5,623 participants in a tournament, how many games would need to be played to determine the winner? (Reportedly from Amazon)

* An apple costs 20 cents, an orange costs 40 cents, and a grapefruit costs 60 cents. How much is a pear? (Reportedly from Epic Systems)

* How many traffic lights are in Manhattan? (Reportedly from Argus Information and Advisory Services)

* What do wood and alcohol have in common? (Reportedly from Guardsmark)

* How do you weigh an elephant without using a weigh machine? (Reportedly from IBM)

* Why do you think only a small portion of the population makes over $150,000? (Reportedly from New York Life)

* How are M&Ms made? (Reportedly from USBank)

"NO" It!!

Do you say yes to too many things at work? Ultimately saying yes when you don't have the time to do the task is a way to create massive stress and destroy your time management at work!

Always saying "yes" to your boss may seem to be the right thing to do, but sometimes it can backfire! You create over sized expectations by taking on too much, and run the risk of failing to meet them.

Think to yourself, what is more important: being able to say no or not completing the task you said yes to? You shouldn't say no to your boss ALL the time, but if you have a lot on your plate, it would be beneficial to explain what you have to do and what he/she would like you to get done first. Your boss will view you as a practical thinker...not as a slacker!

Do you cringe at the thought of saying "no" to your boss? Here are a few ways on how to say "no" without using the word "no!"

* I wouldn't be able to start that until next week, is that OK?
* I would love to help. Unfortunately, with the other important projects I have going on, I won't be available until next week- Is that OK?
* I'd be happy to do this, but I have a lot on my plate right now. Which other tasks don't need to be done or can be delayed, and then I can start this project for you asap.

Have you ever said yes to too many things at work and it backfired? How do you say no when you have a lot on your plate? We would love to hear your stories and suggestions!

A Thank You that made our Day!

A sweet Thank You from a SSInc Candidate we placed with a great company.....Congrats Tia and best of luck to you in your new position! You will be great!!!!

"Pam,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all that you have done to make this opportunity at ABC Company possible. To say “Thank you” is not enough. It’s just a place to begin to express my gratitude. It has truly been my pleasure to work with Staffing Solutions.

Sincerely,

Tia"

Smart Move....Power Sip before a big Meeting!

An article in Shape Magazine's May 2011 issue stated that drinking coffee before a meeting is a "smart move!"

The article says to grab a cup of coffee before a brainstorming session or meeting: "A new study from the University of Bristol in England shows that getting 25mg of caffeine, the amount in 2 cups of joe, can boost your performance while working with a partner under stressful circumstances."

Caffeine may make some people feel tense (or want to jump through the ceiling!), but in the article, according to Lindsay St. Claire, Ph.D, "....in women it is a good thing because their response is to collaborate to find a solution."

BUT....a cup or 2 of joe hurts men's team player abilities.

So....ladies be sure to drink up! Men...stick to decaf!