Nailing a Telephone Job Interview

Interviewing for a position with a company or staffing agency can be nerve racking as it is, but what if your future with a company is determined by nothing more than how you sound on the phone? As industry takes off and new jobs are being offered faster than interviewers can meet with applicants and some can be in far-reaching places, phone interviews have become the new norm for thinning the herd. You may be asking yourself, "I'm interviewing for a manual labor position. How are they going to be able to determine whether or not I'm a hard worker based on my phone voice?" No need to fear the phone! With these quality tips from About.com contributor Alison Doyle, you can better prepare yourself to nail your next telephone interview and land yourself the career you've always wanted! 



For additional information on Tulsa and Oklahoma City jobs or opportunities to hire employees in the region, visit the official website of one of Oklahoma's finest employment services at Barracuda Staffing. 

Do You Have Any Questions for Me?: How to Use Questions to Express Your Worth in a Job Interview

Though many people become very nervous about how to answer any questions an interviewer might have for them in a job interview, they forget that they're also telling the interviewer a lot about themselves by the questions they're asking. Where interviewers use questions to have leverage in the conversation it's also important to express yourself with your questions. A thoughtful question tells the interviewer what it is important to you and could be just what you need to stand out from the other applicants. Here are some questions that may help give the interview a look into your frame of mind: 

1. What would be my daily responsibilities in this position?
- Asking this question not gives you additional information about the job, but also tells the interviewer that you're already starting to put yourself into the mindset of a person with this position. This forces the interviewer to envision you in this role in order to answer the question. 


2. Has this position been newly created to fill a need within the company?
- Not only does the answer to this question let you know if there is already a predetermined schedule and set of responsibilities for this position, but the question says that you're also thinking outside of your own role/gain and thinking about the company.  


3. If you'd be replacing someone, you might ask: "What did the last person in this position go on to do?"
- This is question can express that you're thinking about where this position can lead if promoted. 


4. What kind of opportunities would there be for growing within the company? 
- Asking about advancement can seem like you're already looking beyond a position you haven't even secured, but it tells the interviewer that you're interviewing for a career with the company rather than just interviewing for a job. You won't be able to be promoted unless you're very driven and focused on your work and this question tells the interviewer that you will be; even if for no other reason than to be promoted. 


5. What are some immediate goals of the company?
- Again, any opportunity you have to express to the interviewer that you are interviewing for a career and not just a job will help you stand out as a team member who cares about the overall success of the company. Employees who take greater stock and pride in the company they work for tend to work much more diligently to ensure its success. 


6. How did you get started with the company? What do you like about it?
- This is a unique opportunity to speak to the interviewer as an individual instead as an employee and get them to personally open up about their experiences with the company. The interviewer may or may not let their guard down and talk to you as an individual instead of as a representative of the company. Either way, it's a good way to ease tension.


7. Who would be my immediate supervisor? Whom will I supervise?
- By asking very specific questions, you're already beginning to feather the nest of your position at this company. Specific questions about day-to-day activities on the job express that you're a planner and think ahead. 



8. What specific skill set does this job most require? 
- Though asking very specific questions about a position you don't yet have seems like jumping the gun, it shows that you're thinking about how you can be an asset to the company in this position. The answer will also cause you to look within yourself to see if this job is really for you. 


9. How has the interviewing process been going?
- This question is another way of breaking any tension in an interview and talking to this interviewer as a person rather as an ambassador of the company. Most companies want to hire people with personalities and not robots. By asking, you're giving the interviewer a miniature break from the interviewing process and an opportunity to let their hair down for a moment. However effective this question might be in relieving tensions, it's best asked towards the end of an interview. This shows that you're about getting business handled before socializing. If they give a very short official response that shows they're not interested in small-talk, quickly move on from the subject. 



10. How soon do you think you will make your decision? How would you like to contact me?
- There's a good chance you'll want to ask this question for personal reasons, but it's also a good way of wrapping up an interview. It shows that you're looking towards the next step in your relationship with the company. 


Just like you can't ace a test unless you know the answer to the questions, having the right questions that tell give the interviewer an expanded look into your frame of mind about a position is somewhat like bringing along your own bonus questions to answer. Always be extremely courteous, provide a firm handshake, good eye contact, proper posture, and most importantly, remain calm and be yourself. 


For more questions to think about asking the interviewer in your next job interview, check out this write up from Resumagic.com. For high caliber jobs for high caliber workers in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa areas, log onto to Barracuda Staffing for more information. 

Tools of the Trade

For every job, there are tools associated with that job. For writers, there are word processors, pens, pencils, paper, dictionaries, thesauruses, and the like. Warehouse workers brace their backs and write down inventories, machinists protect their eyes and their feet, the list goes on and on. For mechanical engineers, some of the tools required for the job are not as obvious. For those who do not understand the skill that is involved in engineering mechanical components, some of the tools may be foreign to you. In this article from Sam Feller, he discusses some of the tools of the trade for mechanical engineers and why they are useful. To get a leg up on the competition when interviewing for jobs, having the right tools for the job can prove to be a great advantage. Not only does this help you in your work with the company but also shows the company of your intent to be a worker that takes charge of work and takes tasks very seriously.


Whether you're looking for a great new job in Tulsa, OK or quality workers in Oklahoma City, Barracuda Staffing is proud to provide Tulsa and Oklahoma City workers with jobs and employers in these areas with quality workers. Stop by to check out the online job listings today at Barracuda Staffing.  

Questions About Staffing Agencies

For many, the prospect of using the services of an employment agency can seem very confusing. Questions range from who is actually employing the individual, how is the agency getting paid, and how do these job assignments work out in the long run. To answer these questions and many others, the good people from Libgig.com have put together this article answering some frequently asked questions by those thinking about seeking the services of a staffing company. The benefits from using an employment agency to assist in finding a job range from the connections these companies provide to those who might not normally have a foot in the door of larger businesses to the advice they can offer to help you present yourself to companies in the very best light. For some of the finest positions available for those seeking work and some of the best workers in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City areas of Oklahoma, look no further than Barracuda Staffing. Our employment professionals can help get you on track to a rewarding career or help your business thrive by utilizing the highest quality workers. 

Warehouse Job Interview: Common Mistakes

Looking around online, those soon to be interviewing for a job are bombarded with articles about how to prepare themselves for a job interview. Though each article contains extremely helpful information, there aren't many articles that speak about applying for a specific job. Because most office jobs abide by similar codes of conduct and expected dress codes, there are more articles about interviewing for desk jobs that any other. Still, there are just as many warehouse workers, construction workers, and other manual laborers who are interviewing for just as many jobs! This is of even greater importance because while it can difficult to overdo things like dressing nicely in a desk job, the interview for a warehouse job can be extremely nuanced. With helpful information about how to dress, how to act, and how to prepare for a warehouse job, Snagajob.com has provided this helpful tutorial for those desiring to enter this line of work. For additional help landing a warehouse job, check with the staffing professionals at Barracuda Staffing; serving Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and the surrounding area workers with the finest jobs and local businesses with the finest workers. 

Making the Most of What You're Wearing

So, you have your resume squared away, your interview responses at the very front of your mind and the appointment set from the business you had been hoping could call you for an interview. What could possibly go wrong?

Many job seekers will study up for a position, be able to use all the proper lingo, and spend hours perfecting their resume only to overlook one tiny-yet-huge part of the interview process; their appearance. At times, it’s not even that candidates look shabby, but that they just don’t look right for the job in the prospective employer’s eyes. Here are a few tips to help potential job seekers dress for success.

1    Think about what is appropriate. While it is typically always safe to go with a suit, sometimes it is best to look into the industry for which you’re trying to get a foot into. It is important to look nice, it is also important to fit in to an extent. Wearing a bow-tie to an interview for a job in a warehouse might send the message you wouldn’t like driving a fork-lift for very long. Dressing nice doesn’t necessarily mean you need to go overboard and not being taken seriously.

2     Make what you have look its best. Even if you’re wearing the nicest suit, if your tie is crooked with a shirt that is un-tucked and wrinkled, you may have actually been better off with wearing the ironed polo and khakis. While anyone can borrow a suit, employers will be looking at the big picture as well as the details. Your attention to detail, from the wrinkles in your shirt to how you fill out client contracts, will speak volumes to your employer about the kind of employee you have the potential to be.

3     You have the right to look crazy, but they have the right to say “no.” While we do live in country with the luxury of freedom of expression and have the ability to dye our hair unnatural colors, pierce sections of our faces, and have visible tattoos of whatever we want, we also have the freedom to not hire someone. Your employer has this freedom just as you have the freedom to look any way you’d like. Realize that not every company wants a mortgage broker with a mohawk and not every school is thrilled about hiring a school teacher with a lip piercing.

When applying and interviewing for any position, it’s always a good idea to stop and put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes. It is also important to remember that when interviewing, you might have the same amount of experience as the next guy and the difference between who got the job and who is unemployed might very well come down to whose shirt tail was hanging out in the interview. 

For additional assistance in deciding your next career move, consult the employment experts at Barracuda Staffing. Your next job could be waiting for you right now.

Proud To Call Oklahoma Home

If you’re looking for work, the current 2012 unemployment numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics might point you in the direction of Oklahoma. Just within the past few months, unemployment rates in Oklahoma’s major cities of Oklahoma City and Tulsa have both been experiencing near free-falls. Tulsa’s unemployment rate of 6.5% in January dropped to 4.6% in April and the unemployment rate of Oklahoma City has fallen from 5.9% in January to an even 4% in April. That average of 4.3% unemployment is well above the national average in April of 7.7%. 

As the unemployment rate decreases, this means more people have jobs and therefore money to spend at local businesses or to start up their own local businesses. Companies like ONEOK, Williams Companies, Quiktrip and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group are amongst some of the nation’s largest companies proud to call Tulsa home as well as DEVON Energy, Chesapeake Energy, Sonic Drive-In and Hobby Lobby calling Oklahoma City their stomping grounds. In addition to a strong industry presence as well as low unemployment, Oklahoma is also one of the least expensive places to live in the United States. As well as being one of the most economically thriving areas of the United States, Oklahoma is also home to immense natural beauty, numerous points of historical significance, and a long-held reputation for its dedication to the arts as well the home of many of the world’s most famous musicians.   

At Barracuda Staffing, we’re proud to be a part of the economic rebound from the recession in years past. By connecting workers with jobs and industries with high caliber workers, we’re not only helping our company progress and grow, but also helping our great state grow even further into a place that we’re immensely proud to call to call home. Though it is a naturally beautiful place, it is the people that make Oklahoma an outstanding place to business and raise families. Whether you’re in need of some of the hardest working employees or in search of great job, let us at Barracuda Staffing take care of the job fishing for you. Barracuda Staffing is proud to be Tulsa and Oklahoma City’s premier employment agency and staffing company proud to bring Oklahoma the finest workers and Oklahomans the finest jobs.

Down, but Not Out: Making Finding a Job Your Full-Time Job

After working a job for a while, especially a job that you enjoy and pays decently, being let go from that job can be hard to take; no matter the reason behind it. Many people equate their own personal value with their work so when a company or individual tells them that they don’t want them anymore, it can almost feel like a breakup in a relationship. It’s painful, disorienting, and can lead to a continued slump. One of the easiest ways of dealing with the pain and bouncing back to the person you were before is by not wasting any time and getting back to work. While this might sound obvious, many people take this concept for granted. Here are some tips for getting back into the swing of things and out-running the blues.

1.       Don't stop. 

Even if you were let go from your job early in the day, there’s no to turn off that driven frame of mind and end up in depression. While taking the length of a lunch break is a decent amount of time to come to terms with the fact that you no longer have a paying job, the term “paying job” is purely subjective. What constitutes a “paying job” anyways? Being on the clock? No! A paying job is simply working for something that will pay off in the future. While before, that “paying job” was working on the clock, in a salary position, or based on sales commissions, you’re not anymore “jobless” than you were when you showed up at work that morning. Now you’re simply working in transition. Channel any anger or disappointment about losing your job into energy towards finding a new job. With what’s left of the day, instead of stewing, start devising your strategy for finding a new position elsewhere.

2.       You’re not actually out of the job.

Even when you’re not officially employed by a company any longer, you are not jobless; your new full-time job is finding a job. When you were working, you showed up to a place every day at a specific time to do a specific job. Why turn that off now? You can keep the momentum up in an assortment of ways. 

-          The morning of your first day out of work, don’t sleep in. Get up at the normal time you would for your job and start strategizing ways to get a new job.

-          Update your resume. Have someone you know review it for possible mistakes and inaccuracies. Make sure it looks professional and easy to read.

-          Dress for success, even at home. Even when your job-hunting tasks for that day don’t involve leaving the house, dress for like you are. Sitting around in your pajamas isn’t good for productivity or morale. Simply putting on a pair of shoes can help trick your mind that there is work to be done.

3.       Every job hunter is a salesman.

It doesn’t matter what line of work you were in before, whether it was construction or food preparation, you are now a salesman and the product you are selling is yourself. If you were to sell a product for a company, you would put together some form of a presentation for the customer, you would make sure it looked good, and you’d be on time for the presentation. How you come off to a potential employer can determine whether or not you get the job just like a bad salesman can turn a customer off from buying a good product.

-          Be on time. First impressions are everything and if you’re not on time for the interview or time you arranged to speak with an employer, you’ve already told them that you’re unreliable. Being 5 minutes early is recommended, but being any more than 15 minutes might actually end up inconvenience the employer, so it would be best to wait in your car and prepare for the interview if you have some time to kill.

-          Dress the part. There is an old saying that says “Dress for the job you want.” While there is some truth to that, walking onto a build site in a tuxedo might not be the wisest decision. Do a little research and attempt to find out not only what the average employee of that company wears, but also what other candidates for the position are wearing and go one step above that. If the next guy is wearing a polo shirt, wear a dress shirt. If he’s wearing dress shirt, wear a tie. If he’s wearing a tie, wear a blazer. You get the picture.

-          Be courteous, but be yourself. Most of the time, employers are not only looking for a good worker, but a human being who can listen to the concerns of their customers. Your interaction with an employer gives them a preview of how you are going to be with their customers. Their customers want to be greeted by a professional, not a robot.

-          Follow up. No matter how badly you think the interview went, follow up with the employer soon after. Rather than inquiring about whether or not they’ve made their decision and coming off as being desperate or nosey, rather simply thank them for their time and compliment their business.  

4.       Take time out for yourself.

Like any other job, if you overwork yourself, you’re not going to be a quality worker. Your job as a job-hunter is no different. Take time away from looking for work during the times you would usually be off work unless an employer wants to meet with you during those times. Spend time with friends and family to give yourself a chance to recharge so you can start off the next day or the next week fresh and ready to tackle your full-time job of finding a new job.

For additional help in finding a job, contact the job-finding professionals at Barracuda Staffing. Chances are that the job-fishing experts at Barracuda Staffing have several jobs waiting for a person like you to get started on.