Leaving The Nest

In the age of technology and video calls, I'm sure the burning question on every job applicant's mind is "do in-person interviews matter anymore?"

In short, yes! Even though in-person interviews have been less prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, I'm confident they will come back stronger than ever.

Truthfully, I believe most employers want to meet with job applicants in person. As a job seeker, it's important to get out there and meet the people you will be interviewing with.

That's not to say technology and video interviews don't have their place. Video interviews can still help develop a valuable skill set and can give some great alternatives to the face-to-face interview, but there's nothing quite like the original in-person interview.

Today, we will be wrapping up our discussion on interviewing. So far, we've touched on phone interviews, video interviews, and in this episode, we will be covering the good old fashioned in-person interview.

In this episode, we'll be covering some of the tips and tricks every job applicant should know in order to make a great lasting impression for their next in-person interview.

This is Leaving the Nest and my name is Kathleen Pellegrino from ROCS Grad Staffing. Our mission is to help you find a job out of college and thrive in the real world.

Enjoy!

In This Episode:[00:40] - Kathleen introduces the topic of today's episode: in-person interviews.

[02:08] - Before we start with in-person interviews, Kathleen answers a question about generic voicemails versus custom voicemails.

[03:31] - We're reminded why getting an in-person interview is a win in and of itself.

[03:55] - How do we prepare for an in-person interview?

[06:07] - We learn why LinkedIn can be a valuable source of information when preparing for an interview.

[07:50] - Besides researching the company's online presence, Kathleen shares what questions about travel and parking we need to know when preparing.

[09:35] - Kathleen reveals the best time when arriving for an in-person interview.

[10:55] - The ROCS One Minute Rule, according to Kathleen.

[13:40] - Kathleen reminds us that interviewers are still people and understand the troubles of travel in the DC Metro area.

[14:50] - Kathleen shares a story about an appointment she was worried about because of a nail in her car's tire.

[15:51] - The most important thing we need to know about interviews is punctuality. Kathleen explains why.

[16:40] - What should we wear for an in-person interview?

[18:00] - What accessories should we bring to an interview, and what should we leave in the car?

[20:19] - We learn why bringing water into an interview can be hit or miss.

[22:17] - Once we arrive in the reception area for our interview, Kathleen gives recommendations for how we should introduce ourselves to the receptionist and what information we need to know before the interview begins.

[23:11] - Kathleen lists out each of the items job seekers should bring to an interview and touches on best practices for cell phones.

[25:39] - Kathleen gives a few reminders when interviewees are waiting for an interview to begin.

[27:15] - These are the best practices we should follow when the interviewer finally walks into the room.

[28:42] - The importance of the question "Tell me about yourself," according to Kathleen.

[30:20] - What is the best way to take notes during an in-person interview?

[31:20] - Kathleen recaps all of the skills she expects from every job applicant.

[32:44] - Kathleen gives a few pointers for when the interview wraps up.

Resources: ROCS Grad Staffing

Connect with Kathleen: [email protected]

LinkedIn

Call: 703-579-6677

Before 2020, we rarely had video interviews. Back then, many companies relied on technology for their interviews that dated back to the 1800s: the telephone. Our society became masters of the audio age.

The only way to get real "Face Time" with a company during an interview was to be there in person.

And until 2020, many companies were completely content with that.

But because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the interview landscape has changed. Video interviews have become necessary. And for many companies, they have become the preference. Now, it feels like 9 out of 10 interviews we're lining up for our clients are through video.

In our last episode of Leaving The Nest, we spoke about phone interviews. Don't get me wrong, mastering the phone interview is crucial. These phone interview skills are essential to laying a solid foundation for video interviews. That's because video interviews can be very similar but with the extra umph of turning your cameras on.

This is Leaving the Nest and my name is 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 today's episode, we'll share some tips and tricks to help you nail your next video interview.

I can't wait for you to "see" what's in store for this one, enjoy!

[00:42] - Kathleen introduces the topic of today's episode: video interviews.

[01:15] - Kathleen explains how video interviews used to be a rare tactic, but since the pandemic, video interviews account for almost 9 out of 10 interviews.

[01:49] - We learn tips on how to prepare for a video interview.

[02:56] - How long do video interviews typically last?

[04:05] - Backgrounds in videos are conversation starters and Kathleen explains why this can be a good or a bad thing.

[05:20] - What cameras are the most ideal for video interviews? Kathleen shares her advice.

[06:45] - There are many video conferencing softwarnales being used for interviews today.

[07:49] - Ready...set...hold... Kathleen warns that video conferences may not start right away, but we should be ready nonetheless as they can begin when we least expect them to.

[08:42] - How can we show confidence over a video call?

[09:45] - Kathleen reveals one of the best practices of elite video callers: the mute button.

[11:24] - What is required for a video interview?

[13:00] - Kathleen explains why she prefers it when candidates take written notes instead of typing it out.

[13:20] - Kathleen recaps some of the major points covered.

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

What does it take to make a great first impression? Does it take wit,confidence, or intelligence? What Separates job applicants who have great interviews from those who don't?

The answers to these questions are not as daunting as you might think.

As recent college grads step out into the real world, there's one skill that—when properly honed—can make all the difference in the hiring process: Phone interviews.

The phone interview is the first of many steps in the recruiting process and is often when job seekers make their first impressions.

This is Leaving the Nest and my name is 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 today's episode, we'll answer some of the top questions on everyone's minds when it comes to phone interviews: What are they, how can we improve them, and why do they matter?

Plus, I'll share some insider knowledge for the types of questions that are commonly asked and the answers I look for as a recruiter.

You don't want to miss this one, enjoy!

[00:41] - Kathleen introduces us to phone interviews.

[02:34] - The trouble with voicemails,according to Kathleen.

[04:45] - We learn how to stay focused during a phone interview.

[05:50] - Kathleen reveals some of the variables that could prompt a job seeker to mistakenly take a phone interview outside.

[06:55] - Where are some other places we can make a phone interview so it's not a distraction?

[07:17] - In order to create a great first impression, Kathleen suggests having a great phone greeting.

[08:15] - How should college grads prepare fora phone interview?

[09:52] - Kathleen advises that applicants should have plenty of time allotted for the call.

[10:40] - These are Kathleen's top tips for having a successful call.

[11:14] - Tone and energy are the biggest components to standing out from the crowd. Kathleen shares why.

[12:37] - Kathleen gives us some insider knowledge for some of the questions that are typically asked during a phone interview and the types of answers that help make the job seeker shine.

ROCS Grad Staffing

Current Job Openings

(703) 579-6677

[email protected]

ROCS Facebook Page

ROCS on Instagram

ROCS Grad Staffing LinkedIn Company Page

[email protected]

LinkedIn

Call: 703-579-6677

Let's address the elephant in the room. Or rather, let's reveal that there's an elephant in the room.

Recent college grads and job seekers may not know about staffing firms. They may not know what they are or what they do.

When I was in college, I didn't know they existed or that there was an entire industry built around recruiting. And here's a fun fact: when our founders, Tom and Brandon, were in college, they didn't know about staffing firms either!

It's just not something that a lot of people talk about.

This is Leaving the Nest and my name is 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 today's episode, we're going to address the elephant: staffing firms. What are they? How can they help? And—perhaps most importantly—why should we care about them?

I hope we're able to clear the air about staffing firms and give you confidence that searching for a job after college doesn't need to be scary or disconcerting. Recruiting firms like ROCS can help make the experience fast, fulfilling, and enjoyable.

Enjoy!

In This Episode:

[01:30] - What is a staffing firm and why should college grads care to use them?

[03:22] - Kathleen explains how staffing firms relate to temp agencies.

[04:37] - Kathleen addresses some of the concerns college grads have about working with staffing firms.

[05:45] - We're introduced to the process at ROCS.

[07:02] - The first couple of stages in recruitment are very general, according to Kathleen.

[07:30] - Interviewing once with ROCS is like interviewing for twenty jobs at once.

[07:53] - Kathleen shares a story about how ROCS helped a recent college grad who wanted to work in graphic design but ROCS wasn't recruiting for that role at that time.

[10:01] - We learn how ROCS connects the dots behind the scenes for other job opportunities that applicants might also enjoy doing.

[11:07] - Who are ROCS' clients?

[13:00] - Because ROCS has built a lot of trust with their clients, Kathleen reveals that college grads have a leg up on the competition.

[14:28] - Kathleen responds to the rumors that staffing firms take money from paychecks and finally reveals whose side staffing firms are actually on.

[17:02] - One of the biggest challenges job seekers actually face is not hearing back from employers.

[19:06] - How long does a job seeker have to wait before they can get into an interview?

[20:45] - We hear about a success story of someone that took a chance on ROCS and how her career progressed and grew in the years that followed.

[22:46] - What motivates Kathleen and the team at ROCS?

Resources:

ROCS Grad Staffing

Connect with Kathleen:

[email protected]

LinkedIn

Call: 703-579-6677

Hey College Grads!

Have you graduated college and are unsure of what to do now? Are you struggling to find a job with little experience or figure out how to navigate early adulthood?

I get it. I've been where you are and I know exactly what you're going through.

This is Leaving the Nest and my name is 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 our inaugural episode, I talk about what you can expect from this podcast, how I ended up at ROCS Grad Staffing, and what the humble beginnings for our company were.

We hope to answer your questions about what comes after you collect that college diploma—everything from resumes and cover letters to negotiating offers and benefits.

You know, all of the things that many colleges don't prepare us for when we enter into the real world.

I'm so excited that you're taking this journey with us. Join in as we take our first steps to provide insights on what to expect after graduation!

Enjoy!

In This Episode:[00:38] - We are introduced to Kathleen Pellegrino and a small staffing firm called ROCS.

[00:58] - We learn what we can expect from Kathleen in the many episodes to come.

[01:50] - Kathleen reveals how listening to Jana Kramer's Whine Down podcast inspired her to create her own podcast.

[03:50] - In an interview with a junior in college, Kathleen had a Eureka! moment about what her podcast should be about.

[04:40] - Who is Kathleen Pellegrino?

[06:07] - Kathleen explains why she fell in love with George Mason University.

[08:21] - Kathleen was nervous about attending her first career fair.

[09:50] - After a few misses at the career fair, Kathleen finally made her way to the ROCS booth and signed up to learn more about an internship.

[11:11] - How did Kathleen prepare for her interview with ROCS?

[12:35] - During her interview for the Sales position, Kathleen learns that ROCS stands for Responsible Outgoing College Students.

[13:29] - Fast forward to 2021, Kathleen talks about her role as a Senior Account Manager.

[14:05] - We learn that Tom and Brandon started ROCS out of their dorm at George Mason University back in 2003.

[15:59] - Kathleen shares what ROCS is looking for when they recruit entry and junior level roles in the DC Metro Area.

Resources:

Whine Down with Jana Kramer

George Mason University

Trattoria San Nicola | Authentic Italian Cuisine

ROCS Grad Staffing

Connect with Kathleen:

[email protected]

LinkedIn