For Job Seekers

Remote Interviews

WAI Staff

If you are actively interviewing for jobs, part of the process is being prepared for different types of remote interview possibilities. It is best to practice with the tools to insure you have the capability to interview via the most popular web conferencing platforms. It is important to verify your camera, microphone, and audio speakers will work with the device you intend to use for each collaboration system. In addition, your device may need to download plugins and grant permissions to the application in order to interact with the microphone, video, and speakers. It is your responsibility to support the client’s collaboration app and have it functional ahead of time. The company you’re applying to most likely has a specific one they use for all their internal and external collaboration.

We recommend you verify access to GoToMeeting, Cisco WebEx, Google Meet, Google Hangouts, and Skype for starters! You do not need to create an account in each of these collaboration platforms as you will be a guest on the client’s platform.

Whitman Associates will assist any of our candidates with a trial run of the client’s application platform so that you may prepare the collaboration tools in advance. We want our candidates to focus on the interview when the time comes and not be frustrated by the tools.

Excellent advice exists on preparing for phone and video conference interviews, but here are some key points:

  • Insure the environment you’re using is appropriate:
    • The background of a video chat is important. Bright lights from windows behind you can cause video of your face to be dark. You certainly don’t want the background to present your bedroom and all your belongings. It is best to sit in front of a blank wall or wall with minimal graphic distractions. You may need to turn on a light somewhere else in the room to insure your face is well lit.
    • The audio is critically important. Many people will tolerate bad video to a certain extent, but clipping audio and background noises make it impossible for you to convey important responses. You need to make sure the environment is free from background noises (mowers, air conditioners, bathroom showers and toilets, construction, etc.). Find a quiet room where the background noise is minimal. Shouting over these background noises will certainly not make a good impression.
  • Equipment used to perform the interview is very important. It is best to use a device with all the tools integrated such as a phone, tablet, or laptop. If you want to use a desktop, you need to make sure all the external components work well together.
    • The integrated microphone of a laptop, tablet, or phone may be sufficient; however, it is far better to use a Bluetooth or wired attached headset. This will allow your voice to be clear, enable your hands to be free, and allow the camera to be placed at a distance from your face.
    • It is important to set the phone, tablet, or laptop down on a fixed surface such that it is not moving. It is incredibly distracting for the camera to be waving around your head while you’re trying to explain how successful you can make your client.
    • If you need reference material (resume, PostIt notes, website of the client), make sure this material is positioned directly above or below the camera. The client is not interested in seeing a profile of your face as you turn away to find material.
    • If you need to make notes, place your notepad directly below the camera so that the client can see that you are writing information down. It is best to avoid T-Y-P-I-N-G notes while listening to the client as the keyboard noise is very distracting and may lead the client to think your doing something other than listening to their pitch – they are trying to sell you on how great a company they have.
  • Be prepared! There are many reference materials available describing how to prepare for an interview. A phone call, chat session, or video collaboration is just as important as an in-person interview. In fact, it is more difficult to convey body language and capture voice inflections that might indicate your excitement for working with the company. Your goal is to make the next step happen – get an opportunity to meet the hiring managers face-to-face and get that job offer.

Recruiting Trends To Watch In 2019

WAI Staff

Each year, HR leaders anticipate learning about — and possibly adopting — a new crop of recruiting trends. It probably comes as no surprise that 2019 is brimming with its share of innovative hiring ideas and strategies.

Since recruiting has shifted so drastically over the past few years, it is more important than ever to keep up with all the latest industry inclinations to make sure you reach and attract the best talent to your organization.

Our recruiting specialists have discovered five trends to help you navigate and streamline your upcoming year in recruiting:

1. Employer Branding

There is no denying that hiring leaders are working in a candidate-driven market and must adjust accordingly. One way to meet this challenge is through the use of a focused marketing strategy to build your organization’s brand.

Forbes recommends working with a marketing team to come up with your ideal branding, using some of the following tactics:

  • Define how you want your company to be seen in the eyes of prospective employees — in terms of company culture and overall mission.
  • Make sure your reputation is in good condition, since 69 percent of jobseekers recently shared that they would decline a job with a company with a bad reputation, according to a recent survey.
  • Develop an employee value proposition that provides appropriate benefits in exchange for the education, skills and experience that a candidate can bring to the organization.

2. Inbound Talent Recruiting

Marketing strategies have evolved to tap into the vast resources available online. Since 45 percent of jobseekers check their mobile device at least once each day for a new job, this strategy continues to gain traction. With inbound marketing techniques such as search engine optimization and search engine marketing, you can effectively use various media to attract, convert and engage the talent needed for a given position.

3. Candidate User Experience

Candidate user experience refers to your prospective employees’ overall experience with the recruiting and hiring process — from filling out the application to orientation day. Your talent’s positive recruiting process will ultimately help your organization build its brand.

A positive candidate user experience might include the following features:

  • Simple and flexible application process: Provide a simple application process online and in your office.
  • Allow for initial phone or Skype interviews: Offer to perform the first round of interviews via telephone or Skype for added convenience.
  • Follow up with the candidate: A short note or form letter informing candidates of your choice of another candidate can spare your organization poor online reviews.

4. Text-Based Recruiting

Decades into texting, and many hiring managers have left text-based recruiting as one of the last media holdouts. However, given the employee shortage and the fact that today’s younger workers are texting devotees, it seems that HR representatives and recruiting specialists are ready to fully embrace this communications medium.

Here are a few reasons that text-based recruiting is highly likely to be a trend in 2019:

  • Texting has become the top form of communication among generations actively seeking employment.
  • Texting is quick and convenient while still personal and confidential.
  • The Society for Human Resource Management reports that recruiters receive relatively high response rates when using texting as the prime communication mode with talent.

5. Collaborative Hiring

Collaborative hiring may involve your HR department, managers from other departments and a trusted recruiting team. Together, you can all work to find excellent hires and avoid high-turnover rates.

Are You Interested in Learning More About These Recruiting Trends?

At Whitman Associates, we understand that it can be challenging for busy organizations and their HR teams when it comes to keeping up with the latest hiring trends. We are here and happy to help you navigate how to find the talent you need for your vital temporary, permanent and temp-to-perm positions.

Contact us to discuss your candidate needs today.

Top 8 Reasons Seasonal Staffing Works

WAI Staff

Many occasions require human resource teams to look outside the confines of traditional staffing to fulfill optimal productivity. Thanks to plenty of ingenuity in the employment staffing arena, there are unique and adaptable solutions for just about any need, such as seasonal staffing.

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An Unexpected Transformation: How To Move From Temp To Full-Time

WAI Staff

In 2018, employers have greater access than ever before to an incredibly large pool of candidates. As a result, an increasing number of employers are embracing the luxury of taking their time to find the perfect new team member via hiring people on a temporary basis prior to offering permanent, full-time employment. While this may seem disappointing for those seeking full-time employment, that doesn’t have to be the case. As David Shindler, an employability specialist, explains: “It’s a two-way street, as employers can see how you perform and how you fit in. I know of people who have had jobs created for them as a result of the impact they have made.”

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Transitioning Your Work Wardrobe for Spring

WAI Staff

As the weather gets warmer, professionals are ditching their winter wardrobes in favor of cooler clothing. While it’s important to dress appropriately for the season, you also need to adhere to your workplace’s dress code. If your office adheres to a business casual dress code, we have made lists of what is and is not appropriate to wear to help you prepare your spring wardrobe:

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Why Your First Post-Graduate Job is Important

WAI Staff

When college graduates receive their diploma and start their job hunt, they typically assume that the “education” phase of their life is over, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Your first job out of college will teach you innumerable, valuable lessons that you will carry with you through the rest of your career. Find out exactly how important your first “real” job is by reading on below:

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Job interview — The benefits of productive boasting

WAI Staff
A businessman showing determination

Bragging or boasting about yourself is generally unacceptable, especially in the workplace. You never want to be perceived as arrogant or egotistical, so you avoid patting yourself on the back in public. As a job seeker, it is essential to brag or boast a bit, especially regarding how to sell yourself in an interview. You don’t want to be arrogant about it, though; there’s a proper technique for bragging about yourself in an interview. Learn how to brag acceptably in our advice below.

1. Know your strengths

If you are going to be boasting about yourself in an interview, you have to be honest about your abilities and strengths. Focus on things that former supervisors or coworkers have applauded you for. For instance, if a supervisor frequently compliments your writing abilities, you should highlight that in an interview.

Using characteristics and strengths that others have previously celebrated you for helps maintain honesty and encourages you to root your bragging in facts and examples. You may want to emphasize your organizational abilities during an interview for an administrative role. Don’t just say that you are organized. Instead, when boasting about yourself, tell your interviewer that your coworkers applauded your organizational skills when you created and implemented an improved system for project documentation in your previous role.

Using evidence of your strengths is critical when getting the hang of selling yourself in an interview to avoid seeming arrogant.

2. Brag about your success

If you helped your former employer meet their sales figures or exceeded your quarterly goals, mention that in an interview. When figuring out how to brag about yourself in an interview, it’s helpful to provide quantifiable data to demonstrate your success. Potential employers want to know what value you can bring to their company, and boasting about yourself by listing specific metrics you met or increased in a former position is a great way to illustrate your value. 

You should also mention any instance from your past positions where you went above and beyond the call of duty. Some examples of this include working extra hours without being asked, taking on additional responsibilities to help a colleague or support your team, or stepping up to the plate to solve an unexpected problem or error. The key to selling yourself in an interview is to emphasize why you chose to go above and beyond while sharing your story. When boasting about yourself, your interviewer will be interested in knowing your motivation and the outcome. 

3. Don’t exaggerate your abilities

While highlighting all the great qualities that will make you a fit for a position, be sure you don’t let things get out of hand. The trick to bragging about yourself in an interview is to keep everything honest. Exaggerating your abilities is the same as lying to a potential employer. For example, if you are proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, that doesn’t make you an “expert” or mean that you can use Excel to do anything an employer might need. 

When boasting about yourself, be honest and let a potential employer know you are confident and comfortable handling a task without leading them to believe you have qualifications that you do not have. On the other hand, if you are an expert at a task, be sure to tell them. Any certifications or training courses you have taken are worth mentioning. 

Ace your next interview

While getting the hang of how to sell yourself in an interview, practicing with a friend or mentor is beneficial to ensure you don’t come across as arrogant. If you can learn how to brag tastefully without exaggerating your abilities or being overly arrogant, you will be more successful in your future interviews. You’ll be elevated above your competition by boasting about yourself through honest examples of your work ethic and accomplishments.