Leaving The Nest

At ROCS Grad Staffing, we often interview a ton of great candidates who are interested in working in Human Resources but they can't seem to get their foot in the door. My guest today is here to share what her day-to-day is like and what a job in HR actually entails.

Hey there, listeners! Welcome back to another episode of Leaving the Nest. I'm your host, Kathleen Pellegrino from ROCS Grad Staffing. Our mission is to help you find a job out of college and thrive in the real world.

Today, I'm sitting down with Becky Millis who works as an HR Director for a local company in Herndon, Virginia.

She's here today to share her story with all of us, give some advice to those seeking a career in HR, and challenge us to explore new roles and opportunities where we may find our true calling.

I love having the opportunity to interview business leaders in the area, hear about their careers, and learn what it was like for them when they left the nest.

I'm very thankful that Becky agreed to join us, so I hope you enjoy our conversation!

Also, be sure to leave a review wherever you're listening and share this podcast with the recent college grads you know.

Enjoy!

[02:21] - We're introduced to Becky Millis.

[03:53] - Becky shares what her experience was like when she first left the nest.

[05:55] - This is how Becky ended up in HR.

[08:15] - What is HR and what does a person working in HR do day-to-day?

[10:20] - Becky's finance background really helped out when she started working in HR.

[11:50] - What experience should a candidate have before they start looking for a career in HR?

[13:55] - Kathleen and Becky compare how different roles can teach all sorts of skills.

[15:49] - Becky gives her opinion on how the younger generations appear to change jobs more frequently.

[17:51] - The pros and cons to changing careers regularly.

[19:41] - Becky discusses why she loves her current company All Traffic Solutions, what they do, and who they do it for.

[21:44] - These are the trends that Becky sees when hiring entry-level employees.

[24:08] - Taking the time to learn about a role or review team members' LinkedIn profiles is a big plus for Becky.

[25:33] - Becky's daughter, Melissa, is doing great after trying several different roles to find what she liked.

[28:25] - The value of networking is very powerful and Becky hopes recent college grads take the time to hone these skills.

[31:04] - Kathleen wraps up the conversation.

Connect With Becky:

LinkedIn

Visit our Website:

ROCS Grad Staffing

Current Job Openings

Give us a call at: (703) 579-6677

Send us an email: [email protected]

Check us out on social:

ROCS Facebook Page

ROCS on Instagram

ROCS Grad Staffing LinkedIn Company Page

Have you ever wanted to work for a big-name company like Microsoft? If so, you won't want to miss the insights and tips from one of our own local business leaders!

Hey there, listeners! Welcome back to another episode of Leaving the Nest. I'm your host, Kathleen Pellegrino from ROCS Grad Staffing. Our mission is to help you find a job out of college and thrive in the real world.

Today, I'm sitting down with Michael Batt and he's a lifelong resident of the Northern Virginia area.

Michael graduated from Marymount University with a Business degree and then spent most of his career working for Microsoft. I'm sure you'll enjoy hearing how he got in with Microsoft and how he worked his way up.

Michael and I will also chat about what he's been up to since retiring. Today, he is the Director of the Talent Initiative Program for the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, or FCEDA. This is a really great program and I'm really excited for you to hear about all of the tools that they provide.

Their website, www.WorkInNorthernVirginia.com, posts thousands and thousands of job opportunities and internships that you can apply for as well as different tools for anyone looking to work in the Northern Virginia area.

I'm really grateful that Michael reached out to be a part of this podcast and share all of these tools and insights with all of our aspiring job seekers.

Enjoy!

[01:54] - An introduction to our guest, Michael Batt.

[02:51] - Mike reveals what it was like when he first left the nest.

[04:44] - How can someone get an opportunity to work for a big company like Microsoft? Mike shares his experience.

[06:46] - What did Mike believe were the pros and cons of working for Microsoft for over two decades?

[09:42] - The value of staying the course at one company in terms of retirement plans and benefits.

[11:21] - Mike elaborates on the pros and cons of working for big companies.

[13:39] - Mike's journey to management in Microsoft.

[15:25] - We hear about Mike's transition out of Microsoft shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic.

[18:31] - What is the Talent Initiative Program for Northern Virginia and DC?

[21:12] - Mike and his team are working with a premium marketing company to educate job seekers about what Northern Virginia has to offer.

[23:57] - Kathleen recaps the great tools offered through FCEDA.

[26:42] -This is the greatest piece of advice Mike would share with recent college grads.

[29:22] - Mike didn't get the job the first time he applied at Microsoft, but he reminds us not to give up.

[30:50] - An example of how networking has helped further Mike's career.

[33:04] - Mike's plan is to have his kids go through ROCS to find their careers right after graduating.

[35:36] - How to connect with Mike.

ROCS Grad Staffing

www.WorkInNorthernVirginia.com

Connect With Mike:

LinkedIn

Visit our Website:

ROCS Grad Staffing

Current Job Openings

Give us a call at: 703-579-6677

Send us an email: [email protected]

Check us out on social:

ROCS Facebook Page

ROCS on Instagram

ROCS Grad Staffing LinkedIn Company Page

Connect with Kathleen:

[email protected]

LinkedIn

Call: 703-579-6677

‍

Do you remember what it was like during that first week of COVID-19 lockdowns in March 2020? For many of us, life was so certain the week before. But in a matter of days, everything became so uncertain so quickly.

Now imagine being a senior in college getting hired at your dream job only to find out you wouldn't be able to walk at graduation and your start date was pushed out to an unknown time in the future.

This can be difficult for some of us to imagine, but it's exactly what happened to our guest for today's episode.

Hey there, listeners! Welcome back to another episode of Leaving the Nest. I'm your host, Kathleen Pellegrino from ROCS Grad Staffing. Our mission is to help you find a job out of college and thrive in the real world.

Today I am joined by Devin Jones who graduated from George Mason University in May of 2020. I think we all have a special place in our hearts for May 2020 grads because they graduated and joined the workforce at—shall we say—a very unique time.

We're going to hear all about Devin's experience from waiting for her job to start, wondering if it ever would, starting virtually, training virtually, meeting her team in a remote environment, meeting them for the first time in person—there's just so much to talk about that we can all relate to.

I hope you'll be as inspired as I have been after hearing how Devin was able to adapt and thrive during one of the most uncertain times we may ever face. I can't wait for you to hear more about her story!

[01:30] - We're introduced to our guest for today's episode, Devin Jones.

[03:44] - Devin shares her origin story.

[06:13] - Why was George Mason University the golden ticket for Devin's collegiate journey?

[07:24] - Devin's time management skill set has its roots in high school.

[09:40] - The experience at George Mason University was everything Devin thought it would be. Here's why.

[11:22] - We hear about Devin's senior year in college leading up to February 2020...

[13:50] - …and then lockdowns began and no one came back from Spring Break.

[15:31] - Kathleen and Devin reminisce about enjoying a cup of coffee together and how off-kilter everything felt being in a new location.

[17:20] - Where was Devin when the March 2020 lockdowns happened?

[19:33] - This is the moment when Devin realized everything surrounding COVID-19 was not in her control.

[20:53] - George Mason University's response to COVID-19, from Devin's perspective as a student.

[23:09] - Did Devin live on campus or off campus when she had to adapt to remote learning, and how did this new remote environment impact her social life?

[25:51] - The last few months of school, according to Devin.

[28:26] - This is why reading the news obsessively ultimately felt like a horror movie.

[30:39] - Devin was crushed she wasn't able to walk at her graduation.

[33:16] - Not being able to start right away with ROCS felt like getting a second dose of reality.

[35:38] - After a few months past her original hiring date at ROCS, Devin's family started to ask if she was applying to other places. Here's what was going to Devin's mind when Fall 2020 started.

[37:25] - Devin's first day at ROCS finally came and she was overjoyed.

[38:41] - What were Devin's quarantine hobbies?

[41:16] - This is what happened to Devin's college network and social circles in lockdown.

[44:13] - Kathleen reveals that the team at ROCS was also very supportive of getting Devin hired as soon as possible.

[45:07] - Devin shares what it was like working remotely when starting out her career post-college.

[47:40] - Going to the office for the first time was nerve-wracking at first, but the routine experience of getting ready for work and driving in was very refreshing.

[50:35] - We learn what Devin is up to today at ROCS.

[53:57] - Devin's favorite memory at ROCS.

[56:20] - How to connect with Devin.

Visit our Website:

ROCS Grad Staffing

Current Job Openings

Give us a call at: 703-579-6677

Send us an email: [email protected]

Check us out on social:

ROCS Facebook Page

ROCS on Instagram

ROCS Grad Staffing LinkedIn Company Page

Connect with Kathleen:

[email protected]

LinkedIn

Call: 703-579-6677

Connect with Devin:

[email protected]

LinkedIn

Call: 703-579-6677

What did you want to be when you grew up? An astronaut? An archeologist? A teacher? Many of us started out believing we'd do one thing then changed our minds shortly thereafter.

This isn't the case for today's guest—she knew she would be teaching people since preschool. The only thing that has changed has been who and what she teaches.

Hey there, listeners! Welcome back to another episode of Leaving the Nest. I'm your host, Kathleen Pellegrino from ROCS Grad Staffing. Our mission is to help you find a job out of college and thrive in the real world.

Today, I'm joined by an old friend of mine. Her name is Amanda Sierzega and we went to high school together in Pennsylvania. (Go Phantoms!)

We recently reconnected when she reached out to me on LinkedIn. She saw what I was up to with ROCS and with our podcast, Leaving the Nest, and felt there was a lot of good overlap with what she had been up to.

Amanda recently founded her own company with her business partner called Devicore. They provide all kinds of career services like resume writing, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, career development, coaching, and more.

I'm really excited that she's here today to share her input and advice for our job-seekers listening.

And her story is really cool, as well! She actually wasn't always in this career coaching world. Amanda made a career change pretty early on which I know our listeners will be eager to hear about.

So let's go ahead and welcome her on Leaving the Nest!

Enjoy!

In This Episode:[01:33] - An introduction to our guest for today's episode, Amanda Sierzega.

[02:57] - Amanda and Kathleen reminisce about their time on the swim team.

[05:06] - We hear about Amanda's college experience.

[07:02] - Amanda's interest in becoming a teacher started in preschool, and we learn what was going through Amanda's mind as she came closer to college graduation.

[09:14] - Being a high school English teacher felt like a dream come true.

[12:10] - Technology has changed so much since Amanda was in high school. Here is how that change impacted Amanda's time as a new teacher.

[13:03] - What changed Amanda's mind from originally wanting to be a Spanish teacher?

[14:59] - The emotional attachment to Amanda's degree changed after graduation.

[16:41] - The COVID-19 pandemic was a pivotal point for Amanda and ultimately led to her wanting to make a career shift.

[18:45] - We learn how doing resume work on the side paved the way to where she is today.

[21:59] - How did people who needed help with their resumes connect with Amanda early on?

[23:52] - The origins of Devicore, according to Amanda.

[26:45] - Devicore seems to have grown so fast, but it took a lot of hard work for the team.

[28:38] - Amanda gives advice for those looking to take a chance on starting their own business.

[31:07] - These are the common mistakes Amanda sees with wording on resumes.

[33:50] - On The Pivot Podcast, Kathleen was a guest and Amanda reveals this was one of the most-streamed episodes.

[36:37] - How to connect with Amanda.

Resources: ROCS Grad Staffing Devicore The Pivot Podcast The Pivot Podcast - Episode 17 - Kathleen Pellegrino, Recruiting, Recent Graduates, & Knowing Yourself

Connect with Kathleen: [email protected] LinkedIn Call: 703-579-6677

Connect with Amanda: LinkedIn Instagram

No office experience? No problem!

Hey there, listeners! Welcome back to another episode of Leaving the Nest. I'm your host, Kathleen Pellegrino from ROCS Grad Staffing. Our mission is to help you find a job out of college and thrive in the real world.

I am joined today by a colleague and a friend. Her name is Darcy Grogan and she's been a member of our team since 2019. She has worked her way up from Associate Recruiter all the way up to an Account Manager.

This is so awesome to see because I love seeing longevity in someone's career, and I love seeing others develop and grow and create their own story here at ROCS.

And that's why I invited Darcy to join me on the podcast today. I wanted her to share her story with all of you because I believe it's a really important one.

Before she started with us, Darcy didn't have any office experience. She graduated from Longwood University and then worked as a Restaurant Manager for a few years, so you can imagine some of the challenges she must have faced during her job search.

And so if you're a job seeker that's in the same boat as Darcy, I'm sure you'll find her advice and experience very insightful and eye-opening.

But if you're an employer listening to this podcast, I believe it's important to remember that sometimes when you're working with entry-level candidates, you should give them a shot based on just their potential alone. You might find that is how you can find some of the best people.

Enjoy!

In This Episode:[01:49] - An introduction to today's guest, Darcy Grogan.

[03:03] - What brought Darcy to Longwood University?

[05:15] - Darcy changed her career path halfway through college.

[06:55] - How Darcy was able to balance her work life, social life, and collegiate life while at Longwood.

[09:10] - Darcy explains her hiring and orientation at Cooper's Hawk after graduation.

[11:53] - We hear about the orientation and training process Darcy went through for Cooper's Hawk.

[13:55] - The path from server to floor supervisor to restaurant manager.

[16:38] - What motivated Darcy to work her way up?

[18:08] - Who gave Darcy a hard time for working in the foodservice industry after she graduated college?

[19:52] - The greatest lessons Darcy learned from working at Cooper's Hawk.

[21:45] - Darcy reveals how she felt leaving her work family.

[24:06] - Does Darcy still keep in touch with her old team?

[26:03] - We learn how Darcy's job search went and what she was looking for in her next career.

[28:02] - The biggest setback for Darcy was knowing where to start.

[29:05] - What Darcy remembers about her interview with Kathleen at ROCS Grad Staffing.

[29:51] - Moving from the restaurant industry into an office workplace was a culture shock for Darcy.

[32:32] - Here's what Darcy missed when leaving Cooper's Hawk?

[34:04] - How did Darcy handle the transition to working from home because of the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns?

[35:49] - Darcy's growth at ROCS Grad Staffing.

[38:39] - Retrospectively, Darcy isn't sure she would have known her career path would lead her to where she is today.

[39:52] - We find out Darcy's favorite memories working at ROCS so far.

[41:19] - Kathleen shares her favorite memories working at ROCS also.

[42:05] - Darcy gives her biggest piece of advice for people following in her footsteps.

[44:26] - This is how Darcy believes candidates without office experience can stand out in their next job interview.

[46:38] - How we can contact Darcy.

Resources: ROCS Grad Staffing

Connect with Kathleen: [email protected] LinkedIn Call: 703-579-6677

Connect with Darcy: [email protected] LinkedIn

What is career coaching and how can it help job applicants and early-career people get and crush their next interview?

Hey there, listeners! Welcome back to another episode of Leaving the Nest. I'm your host, Kathleen Pellegrino from ROCS Grad Staffing. Our mission is to help you find a job out of college and thrive in the real world.

I'm joined today by Chris Ricci who has over 35 years of senior management experience from AOL, Accenture, and Verisign. Currently, he works as a career coach at his company NVA Career Coaching where he helps his clients achieve their career objectives by sharing his advice on networking, job searching, resume building, interview prep, leadership development, and competence in the workplace.

In today's episode, Chris will share his process for career coaching, his best practices for communication and networking, and what he looks for in a successful interview. And much more!

Obviously, he and I have a lot in common and we certainly see eye-to-eye on these topics. I'm super grateful he's reached out to me to join the podcast to share his advice with all of you.

Enjoy!

In This Episode:

[01:17] - An introduction to today's guest, Chris Ricci.

[03:03] - What did it look like when Chris "left the nest"?

[05:44] - Chris reveals how he stumbled into a strategy that got him connected with big companies.

[08:19] - We learn Chris' view on networking and communicating and how he has been able to move up in his professional career.

[10:15] - This is how Chris addresses younger professionals on an elevator.

[12:34] - How can you make the recruiter and the hiring manager want to know more about you? Chris shares his perspective.

[14:25] - Chris' thoughts on early-career people and ghosting recruiters.

[17:14] - We hear Chris explain how a career coach helps early-career people.

[19:03] - Chris shares a story about a job applicant that lived in his neighborhood.

[20:45] - The process Chris uses for career coaching is access, branding, networking, and interview.

[23:11] - The branding phase features the creation of a resume and a LinkedIn profile that each use thought-provoking keywords.

[25:15] - The different approaches for connections that are segmented into high, medium, and low categories.

[27:23] - Mock screening and mock interviews can often yield disappointing results. Chris explains why and how he addresses them.

[29:20] - What does Chris look for in a mock interview?

[31:23] - The importance of a value statement on a resume and in an interview, according to Chris.

[33:10] - Coaching agreements ensure Chris can give early-career people his full attention.

[36:01] - How have recruiters helped Chris in his career?

[37:40] - This is the biggest piece of advice Chris would give someone who's looking for a job or is early in their career.

[39:49] - Make "finding a job" your daily job.

[42:00] - Chris views career coaching as a game to win.

[44:02] - Even if Chris is busy, he shares how he makes time to work with his clients even on short notice.

[46:55] - How we can connect with Chris.

Resources: ROCS Grad Staffing NVA Career Coaching Free Resume Review

Connect with Kathleen: [email protected] LinkedIn Call: 703-579-6677

Connect with Chris: LinkedIn Call: 703-606-8125

Ever wonder what you could accomplish during college besides earning a degree? Today we learn and hear from two special people, the Co-founders of ROCS Grad Staffing, who started this business while still earning their college degrees.

Welcome back to another episode of Leaving the Nest. I'm your host, Kathleen Pellegrino from ROCS Grad Staffing. Our mission is to help you find a job out of college and thrive in the real world.

In this episode, I am interviewing Tom Moore and Brandon Labman, the Co-founders of ROCS. Not only will we dive into the history behind the company but also the history behind Brandon and Tom's friendship. They'll take us on a journey from when they were young kids, to the hustle and drive it took to work through college and finally to the success they have years later.

Tom and Brandon also share advice for those who strive to start their own business and some guidelines for what it takes.

We hope this episode provides you insight into our beginning and also gives you the motivation to either start your own business or find a career path that's right for you. Enjoy!

In This Episode:

[00:40] - Kathleen introduces us to the topic of today's episode: a special interview with ROCS Co-founders.

[02:35] - Brandon Labman introduces himself.

[03:36] - Tom Moore introduces himself.

[04:40] - Tom and Brandon share the history of how they originally met.

[05:40] - Kathleen asks Tom and Brandon to describe each other in high school.

[08:40] - How they decided which college to attend, and how they ended up at the same school.

[10:30] - Some stories about roommates in college.

[12:57] - Brandon and Tom kept their friendship when they first started college.

[14:05] - History on how Tom and Brandon started at the internship that influenced the start of ROCS.

[18:30] - Type of hours Brandon and Tom worked during the internship and how they recruited other interns.

[22:11] - Time Tom and Brandon spent working at the internship.

[26:00] - Kathleen asks about motivation and doubts.

[29:00] - When Brandon and Tom came up with the name ROCS.

[31:40] - The building and legal aspects behind starting ROCS.

[36:30] - Finances behind starting a business.

[38:27] - Advice on starting a business, and types of finance.

[42:35] - What happened after graduating from Mason?

[47:44] - Touched a little on the first client and job.

[49:30] - Bonus questions from the team to ask Tom and Brandon.

[49:55] - Has there been any disagreements or a time when you might have gone your separate ways?

[52:24] - How your relationship may have changed or grown, and how do you balance between business and personal?

[56:20] - Before you got married, what was your dating life like?

[59:58] - Story about purchasing a vehicle with a custom license plate.

[01:01:29] - Where do you think you would be if not with ROCS?

[01:03:45] - What does it feel like to be your own boss?

[01:05:40] - Kathleen shares her appreciation of the work ethic within ROCS.

[01:08:45] - A two-part question: any advice to a new entrepreneur or a recent graduate?

[01:16:51] - Kathleen thanks Tom and Brandon and wraps up the episode.

Resources: ROCS Grad Staffing

PalmPilot, Computer History Museum

Mason Enterprise Center

Connect with Kathleen:[email protected] LinkedIn

Call: 703-579-6677

Connect with Tom:[email protected]

Connect with Brandon:[email protected]

We've finally made it! After many unique challenges and personal milestones, we've made it to the end of 2021.

At ROCS Grad Staffing, our team certainly had its fair share of changes. We saw an increase in the job market for our job seekers, we got to meet many of our new employees in person for the first time, and a couple of us even got married (although not to each other)!

For our team, our clients, and our job applicants, there was a lot to celebrate.

Welcome back to Leaving the Nest. I'm your host, Kathleen Pellegrino from ROCS Grad Staffing. I'm excited to have Matt Herb as my guest for today's episode. Like me, Matt is also a Senior Account Manager for ROCS and has been helping new college grads find jobs in the DC Metro area for the past 7 years.

In today's episode, Matt and I will reflect on each quarter in 2021, chat about our personal and professional milestones at ROCS, and give our thoughts about what made the graduating class of 2021 special. We'll also share our New Year's Resolutions for 2022 and you won't believe how different our goals can be!

If you've wanted to get to know our team a little better, I really believe this episode is the one for you.

Be sure to share this podcast with those who have recently graduated and are looking to start their professional careers off right. Thanks again for not keeping us a secret and I hope you enjoy our last episode for 2021!

In This Episode:[01:36] - Kathleen reflects on the 2021 highlights at ROCS Grad Staffing with Senior Account Manager Matt Herb.

[03:53] - The Quarter Kickoffs at ROCS Grad Staffing can either be stressful or exciting. Here's how Matt sees it.

[05:38] - Kathleen and Matt share how they felt when 2020 was finally over.

[07:34] - Matt reveals what it was like adapting to video interviews.

[09:15] - What was Kathleen's biggest highlight in the first quarter of 2021?

[10:52] - ROCS Grad Staffing made quite a few strategic changes and filled a lot of jobs in the second quarter.

[12:06] - What made the second quarter so successful at ROCS Grad Staffing?

[14:02] - Matt reflects on what he believes made the graduating class of 2021 special.

[16:00] - Do recent college grads prefer working in the office, at home, or in a hybrid model?

[17:52] - How did the cancelling of the March Madness Bracket Challenge affect the team?

[20:08] - Kathleen and Matt reminisce on meeting some of their employees in person for the first time.

[21:40] - Matt and Kathleen both hit major milestones in 2021: buying homes and getting married (although not to each other).

[24:30] - Matt talks about what it was like working with his clients in the third quarter when the job market started really going up.

[26:39] - The first day back in the office, according to Matt.

[28:56] - Kathleen ponders on how the hybrid work model has given her a different experience than Matt.

[30:16] - Matt explains why his wedding was truly perfect.

[31:55] - Kathleen surprises us by revealing how everything in her wedding planning went wrong, but we're relieved to hear that her wedding day was flawless.

[33:45] - The Leaving the Nest podcast makes its debut.

[35:16] - What is tricky about the fourth quarter? Matt shares his thoughts.

[37:20] - Some of the best memories for the team at ROCS come from giving gifts to kids during the holidays.

[39:27] - What is Matt looking forward to in 2022?

[40:45] - Kathleen and Matt have wildly different New Year's resolutions for 2022.

Resources: ROCS Grad Staffing

Learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters

Find a career with ROCS Grad Staffing

Connect with Kathleen: [email protected]

LinkedIn

Call: 703-579-6677

Connect with Matt: [email protected]

LinkedIn

Connect with Tom Moore:[email protected]

Before we begin, I'd like to take a moment to say thank you. Thank you for tuning in, for listening, for learning, and for reaching out to us with your questions.

Saying thank you is a powerful tool, and people love to be thanked. It shows appreciation and affirmation, and it can make people feel happier.

So how do thank you notes apply in the interview process?

We recently chatted about interviewing over the phone, in person, and over a video chat. After each one of those stages, you should always be sending and following up with a thank you note to the contact(s) that you met.

And you should be doing that after each one of those stages.

It may seem repetitive to send a thank you note after each one of those stages, but it really is not. It really goes a long way. Not only are these employers taking time out of their busy schedules to meet with you and consider you for a role, but from your perspective, it is going to help make you stand out tremendously.

Welcome back to another episode of Leaving the Nest. I'm your host, Kathleen Pellegrino from ROCS Grad Staffing. Our mission is to help you find a job out of college and thrive in the real world.

In this episode, we'll address some of the biggest questions around sending thank you notes, including when to send them, how to show you were listening during the interview, and how to have your thank you note stand out from the rest. I'll even share a few ideas and templates you can use to get your next thank you note looking and sounding amazing.

Thanks again for listening, and I hope you enjoy it!

In This Episode:[00:39] - Kathleen introduces us to today's topic: thank you notes. [01:33] - This is how many job applicants aren't sending thank you notes, according to Career Builder. [04:22] - Kathleen explains how job seekers can put together and send a thank you note.[05:40] - What's the best way to send a thank you note?[06:45] - This is the main objective of the message in a thank you note. [08:50] - Kathleen shares how interviewees can use a thank you note to show they were listening during an interview.[11:09] - Using a template can help give a job seeker a great place to start when drafting a thank you note.[11:51] - The biggest thing to remember about sending thank you notes, in Kathleen's opinion. [13:34] - What should applicants do if they meet with more than one person? [14:59] - Sending thank you notes in the mail can be powerful if done correctly. Here's what to know.

Resources: ROCS Grad Staffing

Career Builder - These 5 Simple Mistakes Could Be Costing You A Job

Connect with Kathleen: [email protected]

LinkedIn

Call: 703-579-6677

How does someone "dress for success" for an interview? We've all heard the cliché and we're all told we should do it. The trouble is there aren't a lot of helpful tips out there that explain how job applicants should dress for success.

That's where we come in!

Welcome back to another episode of Leaving the Nest. I'm your host, Kathleen Pellegrino from ROCS Grad Staffing. Our mission is to help you find a job out of college and thrive in the real world.

Today, I'm joined by Connor Davis, and we'll be covering everything you need to know from top to bottom about what to wear for an interview. From hair styles to socks, from blouses to pants, and from belts to shoes, we'll give our best recommendations for what recruiters are really looking for when it comes to interview dress codes for men and women.

And this is the biggest thing to remember. This is your first impression. You want to make sure you're giving off the right message by being professional, well polished, and clean cut.

I hope you find this episode leaves you looking your best!

Enjoy!

In This Episode:[00:30] - Kathleen introduces us to the topic of today's episode: dressing to impress for an interview.

[02:29] - Kathleen starts the conversation by addressing the ladies and referencing her own experience.

[03:32] - This is what women seeking a job need to know about their hair for an interview.

[05:42] - What should women do when they want to wear their hair up?

[08:20] - Kathleen reminds us why women shouldn't bring too much attention to their hair.

[08:53] - Kathleen shares advice about ears and jewelry we should all hear.

[10:26] - It's time for women to face the facts about facial coverings and makeup.

[12:09] - When it comes to makeup and perfume, if it's worth doing, it's definitely not worth overdoing. Kathleen explains why.

[13:58] - Kathleen moves the attention down to the shoulders and tattoos.

[16:13] - Here are a few things to watch out for when wearing a watch.

[16:55] - These are the top tips when it comes to blouses, according to Kathleen.

[19:30] - Dresses, skirts, and tights can help some women be more confident during the interview.

[22:00] - For those that don't want to mess with tights, skirts, or dresses, Kathleen gives some suggestions about pants.

[22:56] - What is the biggest mistake when it comes to the overall outfit?

[24:03] - Kathleen gives some advice about which shoes are the best shoes to wear.

[25:33] - Purses are a wonderful fashion statement, but which ones are best for interviews?

[27:35] - Kathleen introduces us to her guest, Connor Davis.

[29:13] - Connor shares some best practices for men's hair styles and head coverings.

[30:52] - Should men wear earrings during an interview? Connor shares his thoughts.

[31:46] - This is what men need to know about facial hair and facial coverings.

[33:42] - Connor reflects on his experience with shirts and jackets during his interviews, and he answers the question whether or not we can overdress for an interview.

[36:19] - How important is it to know how to tie and tie?

[39:05] - What are the rules when it comes to shirt buttons and suit jackets?

[40:59] - Connor wastes no time and reveals the one thing men should know about belts.

[42:39] - Tailoring pants and a jacket can help boost confidence in men during an interview.

[44:42] - We hop into socks as Connor discusses sharing personality with fun dress socks.

[45:56] - These are the shoes men should completely avoid during an interview, according to Connor.

[47:50] - Connor elaborates on accessories, watches, and items men should bring to an interview.

[50:20] - Kathleen recommends where women can shop for business-professional attire at reasonable prices.

[51:30] - Connor recommends where he's gotten his business-professional attire and being on the lookout for deals.

[52:30] - We hear some final reminders about how important dressing to impress can be.

[54:55] - Connor shares a story about the worst-dressed person he saw during an interview.

[56:05] - Kathleen reminisces about a man that came to an interview sharply dressed but with something off about his shoes.

Resources: ROCS Grad Staffing

Connect with Kathleen:[email protected]LinkedIn Call: 703-579-6677

Connect with Connor:

[email protected]

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