Job Seekers: Questions to Ask During an Interview

Questions to Ask during an Interview (Job Seekers)

The end of an interview is usually reserved for you to ask questions. While I am sure you have already searched the internet to learn a little about the company and who their competition is, now is the time to gather any additional information you need to determine whether or not this is the job for you.

• Is this a new position? (this helps you determine if the company is growing, has someone been promoted, or if there is turnover…so follow up with the next 2 questions…)
• What happened to the last person who had this job? How long did they hold this job? (the company may be a bit vague if the individual was terminated but inquire as to what aspect of the job description they did not fulfill to expectations)
• Would you describe the duties of the job? (this may have been reviewed during the interview, don’t ask if it was unless you need more specifics)
• Will I work alone or with other people?
• Why have you gone outside the company to fill this position? (will give you good insight to how they hire and what their approach is to promotion from within)
• What are the greatest problems you think I might face in this company?
• Is there anything I can do or study to get a head start on learning this job?
• Why is this company a good place to work?
• How does your company plan to grow or expand in the next few years?
• What can you tell me about new products or services that the company is planning to introduce?
• Is there any probation period? (many companies have an evaluation period up to 1 year where there is no legal, moral or ethical commitment)
• How will my performance be evaluated? (obviously you read the news and there is a lot of talk about ‘pay for performance’…this is my favorite type of set up because it is not based on an employee’s tenure but more on ability and success rate on the job…will you be evaluated every 6 months, annually? If you are offered the job, then you may want to ask if you are eligible for pay increases during the performance evaluation. Best to leave this till after the job offer is extended.)
• How would you characterize the leadership style of the person who supervises this position? (this is the person you are going to have to work with every day…make sure they have they a style that is going to help you be successful in the role.)
• Who will I report to? Will I be meeting with them?
• Can you describe how this job relates to the overall goals of the department and the company?
• What are some of the most important objectives that you would like to see accomplished on this job?
• What is the growth potential within your company starting from this position? (you may have already figured this out based on previous answers…if not a good question to ask)
• Will I be cross-trained for other positions?

Alrighty, the interview is over. You shake hands with the interviewer and thank him/her for the time they spent with you. Keep eye contact. If it has not already been offered to you, ask for their business card.

You may now choose to ask 2 additional questions.

• Am I a serious contender for this position?
• When do you expect to make a hiring decision?

Don’t forget to send a hand written thank you note the same day of the interview. Be professional. If you interviewed with multiple individuals, send a hand written note to each.

Maintenance Mechanice - Rockford - Direct Hire

The Maintenance Mechanic will provide cost effective lean manufacturing services to ensure equipment reliability, asset preservation, and safe working conditions.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Performs rapid and reliable changeovers using Single Minute Exchange of Dies (SMED) techniques.
• Understands and executes protocols for set-up of packagine equipment, as well as providing updates to ensure accuracy of changeover/setup documentation.
• Provides technical expertise to meet Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) targets for assigned packaging lines.
• Supports Production Line leadrs with running adjustments and repairs on various pieces of packaging equipment.
• General knowledge and experience in precision machining or tool and die is necessary.
• Reviews and executes Preventive, Predictive, and other Maintenance work orders.
• General knowledge and experience with automation and instrumentation and control systems.
• Adherence to all API and cGMP policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor/manager.
  

Education: Associate's degree (A.A.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school; or six months to one year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Mathematical:Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as fundamentals of planes and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Physical Demands:The employee frequently is required to stand; walk. The employee is occassionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 35 pounds.

Type of Placement: Direct Hire

Pay: $19.00 to $32.00 per hour, plus OT. DT for Sundays & Holidays.

Please submit all resumes to: jennifer.furst@furststaff.com

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FurstStaffing provides comprehensive staffing solutions for industrial, administrative and office support, engineering and technical positions. Furst Staffing provides temporary, Furst-to-Hire and direct hire services, as well as exclusive on-site programs in Northern Illinois, Southern Wisconsin and the Chicagoland area.

Bookkeeper

Excellent Furst-to-Hire opportunity in Rockford, IL for an experienced Bookkeeper. Bookkeeper will be responsible for AP, AR, Payroll for 60-80 field employees on a weekly basis. Lots of data entry processing time slips. Payroll is complex. Will be writing checks for AP. Billing. Must be assertive to do collections from insurance. Experience with medical claims and medical billing is a plus.

Location: Rockford, IL

Type of Placement: Furst-to-Hire

Shift: 30-40 hours per week. 8:30am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

Salary: $13.00 per hour.

Software: MS Word & Excel (including formulas)

Job Requirements

• Successful candidate will be detail oriented and organized.
• Medical claims & medical billing is a plus
• Strong customer service skill is needed.
• Must successfully pass a drug screen and background check.
• Must be proficient in Word, Excel (incl. formulas).
• Must have previous bookkeeping experience. Minimum of 1 year

Please submit your resume to:

furst.nre@furststaff.com

To view all of the opportunities available through FurstStaffing & FurstProfessionals, visit: http://www.furststaff.com/

Are you looking for a better opportunity? A new challenge? Flexibility?

Each year, FurstStaffing helps thousands of people in Northern Illinois, Southern Wisconsin and the Chicago area get hired. At FurstStaffing, our experienced team of staffing professionals will help you find a job that matches your qualifications...and your expectations. Our goal is to give you more control over your career.

“I originally started my assignment with “Company” in the HR Dept. doing hiring and recruiting of both non-exempt and exempt employees and staff. The HR assignment lasted for 6 months and at the end of Oct. 08, I was told I would be released. However, I had been doing various assignments/tasks for other managers within the company and this did not go un-noticed and when the time came to release me from HR, the Engineering Manager requested that I stay and work as his Admin. I was thrilled at the opportunity to explore a new career direction after having been in Human Resources for 15 years. It was a New Adventure and I have loved every minute of the last 3 ½ months. 16 years ago, once I had graduated from college, I went to FurstStaffing and was place with a Company and hired after 3 months. I was employed with them for over 12 years. When that job ended, I knew exactly where to go and that was FurstStaffing! Once again, I was placed with a Company that I will probably be with for another 12 years or until retirement hopefully! There are not enough good things I could say about Furst and their staff. Everyone that I have dealt with has always been professional and helpful, no matter what the reason. Thanks Furst, you truly live up to all you stand for!"

-Sherry

In 1994, I had just graduated from college and began working with FurstStaffing. Darlene Furst gave me a piece of paper with a poem on it. I tacked this piece of paper above my desk in the 2 room office we were renting across the street from a manufacturing client. The poem is titled “Attitude” and its author is Charles Swindell.

ATTITUDE
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of
attitude on my life. Attitude, to me is more important
than facts. It is more important than the past, then
education, than money, than circumstances, than
failures, than successes, than what other people think
or say or do. It is more important than appearance,
giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company, a
church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a
choice every day regarding the attitude we will
embrace for that day. We cannot change the fact that
people will act in a certain way. We cannot change
the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on
the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am
convinced that life is 10 % what happens to me and
90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in
charge of our attitudes.

When I am working through a challenging or difficult time I often reflect on this poem. It is a simple poem, with a simple message that gets me in the right mind set to meet and overcome whatever challenges I might face and life in general.

USCIS Delays Rule Change for I-9 Form

USCIS Delays Rule Changing List of Documents Acceptable to Verify Employment EligibilityReopens Public Comment Period for 30 days
WASHINGTON-U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today it has delayed by 60 days, until April 3, 2009, the implementation of an interim final rule entitled "Documents Acceptable for Employment Eligibility Verification" published in the Federal Register on Dec. 17, 2008. The rule streamlines the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) process.
The delay will provide DHS with an opportunity for further consideration of the rule and also allows the public additional time to submit comments. A notice announcing the delay was transmitted today to the Federal Register. In addition, USCIS has reopened the public comment period for 30 days, until March 4, 2009.
Employers must complete a Form I-9 for all newly hired employees to verify their identity and authorization to work in the United States. The interim final rule will amend regulations governing the types of acceptable identity and employment authorization documents employees may present to their employers for completion of the Form I-9. Under the interim rule, employers will no longer be able to accept expired documents to verify employment authorization on the Form I-9.
The interim final rule and an informational copy of the revised Form I-9 will continue to be available for public comment at http://www.regulations.gov/.

We have posted the new form on the FurstStaffing website under both the Candidate Forms and Client Forms section.

Bank of America Health & Fitness Expo (Shamrock Shuffle 8K & 5K Fitness Walk)

2009 Bank of America Health & Fitness Expo will be held at Chicago's Navy Pier, in Festival Hall B. The Expo will feature more than 75 exhibiting companies, offering the latest in running footwear, apparel, nutrition and technology.

Friday, March 27th, 10am to 8pm & Saturday, March 28th, 9am to 6pm.

Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K run is Sunday, March 29th at 9:30 at Grant Park. This is the world's largest 8K race. The field size will be capped at a maximum of 32,500 participants. Registration is $40.00.

Bank of America 5K Fitness Walk starts at 10:00am on Sunday, March 29th, also starting from Grant Park. Registration is $40.00

http://www.shamrockshuffle.com/