At Career Contacts, we are constantly supporting candidates as they transition from one company to the next. It is so important to support them in landing their dream jobs, without leaving a storm behind. We believe strongly in the power of relationships and today, our newest team member, Reena, is going to share her experience transitioning from her previous company. I have been humbled by my transition into a new role, as it has been done by creating meaningful connections rather than burning bridges. As I leave for a new role, my outgoing employer is happy for me and has also encouraged me to visit and stay in touch. My last day was very bittersweet, as I had a lot of conversations with those who I brought onto the team thanking me for giving them a chance to join the team. I took chances on people and looked for a true fit on both ends and sometimes that meant taking a chance on those who did not have as much experience as we were looking for. This whole process has reminded me why I love doing what I do and has me excited for the next chapter. When you are …
What to wear to a remote job interview
When going to a job interview, first impressions really count. Now that a lot of interviews are going remote, many are forgetting that you are still about to make a first impression, and your appearance counts. Dress with confidence and style; be polished and professional. Here are some tips for you: Find out what the dress code is Ask what the dress code is when setting up the job interview. This will give you a hint on what they are expecting, and also give you a glimpse of their culture too! Be conservative with what you choose If the job interview is at a formal office, dress the way you would on your first day, unless told otherwise. If it is a casual office, and jeans and t-shirts are worn, you should still do a more business variation of this to look put together and like you put in effort for the interview. Wear clothes that fit Don’t wear clothes that are too tight or too loose to the job interview. Both are inappropriate and will make you look less put together. Wear clean clothes Even over zoom, we can tell when your clothes are dirty, and it gives off …
The Power of the Phone Interview – Part 1
This is day 11 of total social isolation for our team due to COVID-19. That means in some of our cases, the kids or pets are home, are significant others are around, and as Recruiters, that means interviewing from home. At Career Contacts, we have a really robust screening process, and an important piece of that is the phone interview. Some of the perks of a strong phone interview are: Reducing unconscious bias Saving time (and therefore, money) Improved candidate experience (when done correctly) Increased quality of the hire by adding a step in the process Now that our hiring managers are also conducting phone interviews, we’ve received a lot of questions on the do’s and don’t’s of phone interviews and thought we’d share our list! DO: Talk about salary When possible, we encourage companies to be transparent with this process. If you are paying fairly, there should never be a worry of “leaving money on the table”. I also personally am a big fan giving candidates a range, and encourage them to share theirs. Talk about culture fit / add Instead of expecting them to know what you’re all about, take the time to share a bit about your …
How to Answer the “What is Your Weakness” Question Effectively?
Interviews are stressful – you want to be organized and appear to be fully qualified for each job you apply to. When getting ready and prepared for a job interview, it is important to think of the questions you may be asked and be ready with great responses. One of the most common questions that still gets asked is some variation of “tell me about your weaknesses”. Let’s get ready for this one together! First, let’s consider why interviewers ask questions about your weaknesses. They ask about weaknesses to see how and if candidates will fit into their organization when it comes to taking ownership. They also want to see if a candidate has the ability to recognize their imperfections and then be able to implement strategies to learn and grow to overcome them. Employers care about the process of coming back from errors, more so than the mistake itself. Do not reply with “I am a perfectionist” or “I work too hard”. It can be tricky to identify weaknesses. One way to communicate positively about a weakness is to identify a skill or a trait that you are learning or have learned to overcome and that has now become …
Informational Interviews – Here is What They Are and What They Can Do For You
As a person looking for a job or doing research to find out more about a new career, informational interviews are great places to start learning. According to Wikipedia, an informational interview is a meeting in which potential job seekers seek advice on their career, the industry, and the corporate culture of a potential future work place. An informational interview is not a job interview; it is a meeting where a job seeker is given the opportunity to learn about a specific job from a person who is working in that field. It is an excellent source of information about an occupation and career opportunities. The benefits of an informational interview include job seekers: gain information about an industry or a specialized field find out about jobs and career paths are given tips about a job, how and when to apply and even the name of best person to speak with learn about the culture and information of a specific company can ask questions for feedback about skills and education that are beneficial A great benefit of an informational interview is that they are not job interviews, so they are less stressful. An employee can casually discuss the daily activities …
Gen Z – Are You Hiring Them? This is What You Should Consider
Move over Millennials, make way for Generation Z! Gen Z – Who are they? They are the generation born after 1995 and they are entering the workforce now. By the end of 2020, Stats Canada estimates that Gen Z will account for 20% of the workforce. Wikipedia defines Generation Z as the demographic cohort succeeding the Millennials (GenY). Demographers use the mid-1990s as birth years to current 1996 to 2015. They are the children of Gen X, and Millennials. This up and coming generation are sometimes call the Digital Natives as they were born with technology and are extremely tech savvy. Generation Z employees are hardworking and loyal. If you want to attract and hire this generation of employees here are a few things to consider: They like technology and video. They know and appreciate online presence. They spend their time on YouTube, Snapchat, and Instagram; they effectively engage with social media. They know cloud computing. They care about culture, honesty, and diversity. For example, they are inclusive with all groups. It is all they know as normal. They are comfortable with diversity – it’s what they experience daily. A few key examples are gender neutral bathrooms, LGBTQ+, and equal …
