Just Checking In…

Hello! We hope everyone is doing well during these (continually) crazy times! Things here at CP Staffing are a little different, but GREAT!

One thing in particular that happened due to Covid-19 was the postponement of our 50th Anniversary Party. The date is TBD, but we do know it will be sometime next year. Stay tuned for that update early next year!

As always, you can reach out to us for any Financial, Computer or Medical placement needs! Our team is more than happy to answer any questions you may have!

For now, we hope that everyone is enjoying the cooler weather and beautiful Fall colors!

Written by Lindsay Olewniczak

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx

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Things You May Or Not Know About Labor Day

The kids are going back to school and the end of summer is quickly approaching. But, before we start packing lunches and closing the pool, we get one more holiday to enjoy the end of summer; Labor Day! Many people associate Labor Day with BBQ, picnics, and family/friend gatherings, but this hasn’t always been the case. I thought it would be fun to do a little research on the history of Labor Day. Here are some interesting facts that I didn’t know!

1. Labor Day began in Toronto, Canada in 1872, but quickly made its way to the States.
2. The first Labor Day occurred on September 5, 1882 in New York City.
3. Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day an official holiday in 1887.
4. The holiday’s origins stems back to the 1880s when the average American worked 12 hour days 7 days a week. Children ages 5-6 worked in factories and mines.
5. People avoided wearing white clothing after Labor Day as it officially marked the end of summer.
6. Labor Day began as a demonstration for workers’ rights but is modernly seen as an opportunity to celebrate the end of summer.
7. Labor Day is called the “unofficial end of summer” because it marks the end of the cultural summer season.
8. In other countries, May 1^st (May Day) is the day working people are honored. The majority of Europe celebrates May Day.

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend! Enjoy the “unofficial end of summer”!

Written by Lindsay Olewniczak

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx

How To Stay Focused When The Sun Is Calling Your Name

We finally have nice weather and the sun is a frequent visitor here in Buffalo. Since we’ve been cooped up all winter and spring (that rain!) we all want to enjoy as much of this summer as we can. Only problem…? We still have to work! How many of you look out at the beautiful sun shining while sitting at your desk wishing you could be outside doing literally anything else?! Well my friends, I have good news and I have bad news. For most of us our responsibilities are a year-round thing. But I have some ideas on how to keep your focus in the right place.

Prioritize Your Day – Make a list of everything that needs to be done that day or that week. You’ll get a feeling of accomplishment when you get to cross things off the list while you’re actually getting things done! A list is a way to hold yourself accountable for your responsibilities and unless you put “slack-off” on your list, you won’t have time to!

Shift Your Work Hours – Find out how flexible your job/manager is and if you can switch up your hours. Coming in an hour early means you get to leave an hour early! This would allow for more friend/family time in the sun!

Keep Yourself Busy – If you are busy doing your work or helping others complete a task, you really don’t have time for much else. Keeping yourself busy will help keep you focused and make the day fly by!

Get Outside More – This is our goal! If it’s possible, eat your lunch outside. Or take your laptop and finish that report outside. Even a quick walk or a few minutes outside in the fresh air can help to reboot your mind and body and help finish out the day.

Take The Day! – Most of us get the weekends to recharge, some of us don’t. Whether you do or not sometimes an extra day is exactly what we need. So if you’re capable to take a personal day, do it!

These are just a few ideas on how you can stay focused at work when the sun is shining and calling your name outside. Staying focused through the summer months make it easy to transition into the fall and winter months and keeps you ahead of the game!

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx

 

How Screen Time Can Affect Your Day at Work

You have a deadline coming up but you just can’t focus… You have material you have to present to your boss but you can’t get organized because you’re fighting the feeling of exhaustion… You promised to help a co-worker out what a project but you left all the documents at home because you were rushing to get out the door due to your lack of energy and motivation… These things could have been prevented if you had gotten a better night’s sleep.

In my household, screen time is a way to relax and wind down from the craziness of the day. And I know for a fact that my family is not the only one that uses these techniques to chill out at the end of the day. However, it is not the ideal way to accomplish this. There have been many studies showing the negative effects of too much screen time; especially too close to bedtime and how it can ruin your sleep. If you don’t get enough sleep, you guessed it, it’s harder to focus and stay awake the next day.

I’m sure everyone has had at least one good night’s sleep and can remember how good you felt in the morning. You feel refreshed, well rested, and ready to take on the day. I know that even more people can easily relate to the feelings of exhaustion, grogginess, and being irritable. This happens when you do not get a good night’s rest.

There are a few things that were suggested to do instead of staring at a screen right before bed:

Read a book! For those of you not familiar with this ancient pastime… a book is a series of pages with words on them that tell a story. Pick one up and try it, you will be pleasantly surprised!

Talk with your family! Gone are the days when people prefer to just sit down and talk with each other. It’s sad really! Talk about what you all did during the day. Talk about what you’re excited for the following day. Talk about things happening farther into the future. Make up stories! The possibilities are endless!

Color! There are the classic children’s coloring books, but they make adult coloring books now too! This is a creative way to wind down and relieve some stress!

Sleep experts suggest putting down all electronic devices two hours before bedtime. But, if that doesn’t seem realistic for you and your family, even a half hour is better than nothing. Electronic devices include: phones, iPads, computers, TVs, and laptops. I know what you’re thinking…IMPOSSIBLE!

I challenge everyone to try this for a week (that’s really not a long time!) and see if you notice a difference in yourself and/or your family members.

I bet you do!

Written by Lindsay Olewniczak

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx

Chocolate! Now that I have your attention…

Do you find yourself feeling sluggish during the day? Are you finding it hard to focus on your work?  Are you a little apprehensive to try those 5 hour energy drinks? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions you are clearly looking for a little pick me up! One of the most popular avenues for people to take when in need is food.

Don’t all foods boost your energy? Yes, but in different ways. Sugary drinks, candy, and pastries put too much fuel (sugar) into your blood too quickly. The inevitable crash leaves you tired and hungry again. “Complex carbs,” healthy fats, and protein take longer to digest, satisfy your hunger, and provide a slow, steady stream of energy.

Here is a list of foods that can help give you the energy you need to help feel great and accomplish all your tasks:

• Oatmeal
• Eggs
• Chicken
• Beans
• Walnuts
• Coffee
• Tea
• Berries (Blackberries, blueberries, strawberries)
• Dark chocolate
• Water

Hello, Chocolate!

These can be used as lunch ideas, or as snacks throughout the day. And in moderation! This is in no way giving you permission to go out and buy a giant sized bag of dark chocolate Hershey Kisses and eat the entire bag! But maybe now you won’t feel guilty about having one or two every once in a while!

Enjoy!

Written by Lindsay Olewniczak

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx

A Letter to All Moms

To…

The full-time working moms

The stay-at-home moms

The part-time working moms

The moms working from home

The moms of 1

The moms of 2

The moms of 3

The moms of 4

The moms of 5+

The moms who have kids living out of town

The moms who have every kid living with them

The moms who had C-sections

The moms who had natural births

The moms who adopted

The moms who bottle feed

The moms who breast feed

The moms who haven’t had a good night’s sleep in years

The moms who made dinner last night and no one ate it

The moms who picked up the same toy 4563495793 times in one day

The moms who were kicked in the face last night by a sleeping child’s foot

The moms who know every word to every Disney song

The moms who are re-learning math in order to help with homework

The moms who are getting ready to send their kid(s) off to college

The moms who haven’t bought something or done something for themselves in the longest time

The moms who have more bad days than good

The moms who have a village

The moms who are doing a freaking AMAZING job all on their own…

 

You are ALL amazing. You are ALL appreciated. You are ALL needed, wanted and LOVED.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for EVERYTHING you do.

Written by Lindsay Olewniczak

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx

Doing This After An Interview Could Help You Get The Job

Sending a follow-up message to thank the interviewer can make the difference between getting hired and being rejected. Of course it won’t save you if your interview went badly from start to finish, but it can definitely sway their decision if it’s neck-and-neck between you and another candidate!

Below is an example of a thank you email or note that should impress any potential employer.

A good interview thank you email or note should contain these three essential pieces:

1. Show appreciation for their time and thank them
2. Mention something specific you talked about in the interview, so they know it’s not a cut & paste email
3. Express interest in the position and tell them you’re excited to learn more

There are also two optional steps you may want to include…

1. Invite them to contact you if they have any questions/concerns, or need clarification on anything discussed
2. Show that you’re confident you can perform well in this role and explain why. Tell them why you feel you could excel in the position

Here is the example…

Hello <Interviewer’s Name>,

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me <yesterday/Friday/etc.> about the <Job Title> position at <Company Name>. It was a pleasure talking with you, and I really enjoyed hearing all the details you shared about the opportunity.

The information you shared about <Something specific about the job that interests you> sounded particularly interesting. 

I am confident that my skills will allow me to come in and succeed in this role, and it’s a position I’d be excited to take on. 

I’m looking forward to hearing from you about the next steps, and please don’t hesitate to contact me in the meantime if you have any questions.

Thank you again, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Best Regards,

<Your Name>

At the end of the third paragraph, you could also add details about WHY you feel confident you’d succeed in this role. That will make this thank you email more convincing. So, try to remind them of something you shared in the interview, like a piece of past experience, or a skill you have, that will prove to them you’ll be able to come in and be successful in their role.

Nowhere does it say you have to write a thank you letter after an interview, but it definitely can’t hurt! Use this example as just that, an example; mess around with it and make it your own! You’ll “thank me” later!

Written by Lindsay Olewniczak

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx

Misconceptions About Staffing Agencies

There are many misconceptions about what a staffing company actually does and I’d like to set the record straight! Here are three of the most common beliefs about staffing agencies and whether or not they are true.

Agencies only provide temps or “fill ins.” – False! Some clients think that a staffing agency provides the “fill in” worker while the company searches for the “real” substitute for a position or that an agency won’t provide the best candidate to ensure repeat business; this couldn’t be further from the truth! Staffing agencies aim to find a candidate that not only fits a client’s immediate need, but one that will be a great fit with the company in the long run. Seeing a client grow in a position/company is the ultimate feel-good moment for staffing agencies!

Staffing Agencies are only for entry level jobs. – This one couldn’t be more false! Staffing agencies find jobs for all levels, in nearly every industry. Here at CP Staffing we do specialize in Financial, Medical and Computer jobs. Agencies are also very honest about what skills or training is needed to ensure that you’re properly prepared for the level of job you are applying for.

We get you an interview and then that’s it. – False! We pride ourselves in the fact that we follow up, follow up and then follow up! We thoroughly prepare you for the interview and stick with you long after you accepted the position.

Here at CP Staffing, we have everyone’s best interest in mind. We aim to make the client and the candidate happy with every job post and interview.

If you are unsure about a posting you see, don’t hesitate to call one of our recruiters! They are always more than willing to help!

What questions do you have about what we do?

Written by Lindsay Olewniczak

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx

“Post” For The Job You Want

You know the saying “Dress for the job you want”? Well in today’s social media crazed world, a new spin can be put on that saying… “Post for the job you want!”

I don’t consider myself to be very old, but I can actually say “Back in my day we didn’t have things like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.” Facebook was introduced in 2004, Instagram was in 2006 and Twitter was started in 2010. Before then, we relied on texting, a good old fashioned phone call (what’s that?!) or even face-to-face communication! You couldn’t post selfies or check in to places so everyone knows your every move and whereabouts. There was a bit of mystery in the world (the good kind) and sometimes I find myself reminiscing about that simpler time.

Now EVERYTHING is on social media: Your family, friends, OFTD (outfit of the day), even your breakfast, lunch and dinner (because we need to know that!). But what some people don’t realize is that possible future employers are searching for you on these sites and are checking to see what kind of person you are even before they are calling you in for an interview.

If you don’t have your accounts set to private (or even if you do sometimes) companies are able to search for you and check out your pages on all social media sites. If there are things they find on there that do not follow their beliefs or projected image, you could be placed in the “No” pile very quickly. Is that fair? Personally, I think so! You can’t put whatever it is you’re putting out there and not expect to be judged or labeled. And while I do not condone judging or labeling, it’s the sad truth that this is being done every day. I can see where employers are coming from in wanting to know as much about a person before they hire him/her to work for their company. It’s your job to keep that in the back of your mind when you’re posting updates, pictures and stories.

So before you post pictures of your crazy Friday night, or engage in a social media “altercation” think twice. The things you post on any of your accounts could cost you that job you have your heart set on! #didntgetthejob #backtothewantads #whoshiring …DISLIKE!

Written by Lindsay Olewniczak

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx

Why Humor is the Key to Success in the Workplace

There are many reasons why some people are reserved when it comes to their jobs and professional relationships in the workplace. There is the fear of taking the risk of putting yourself out there and being rejected (not being funny enough). There is a possibility of taking it “too far” and crossing the line of appropriateness. Also, many people want to be taken seriously and feel that showing a humorous side might make them seem less serious about their job and duties. All of these reasons are legitimate fears, however, everyone likes and can benefit from a good laugh now and then!

Here are some ways humor is great for the workplace:

1. 1. People will enjoy working with you! It’s a known fact that people want to work with people they like. You spend a huge chunk of time with your co-workers so it only make sense that you would be happier if you actually enjoyed the people you work with! As long as you don’t offend anyone, humor is a great way to influence relationships.
   2. It puts people at ease. Humor is a great way to break through tension barriers.
   3. It helps build trust. Numerous studies suggest that people who share a healthy, positive sense of humor tend be more likable and are viewed as being more trustworthy.
   4. It is humanizing. When you are able to joke around with your co-workers and boss, it brings everyone together. Everyone realizes you are all seeking common ground.
   5. It boosts morale. Humor boosts morale and retention whole reducing turnover because employees look forward to coming to work.

You don’t have to be a stand-up comedian, but bringing some tasteful humor to the table will do wonders for your work relationships and productivity. Just remember it’s not ok to make jokes at the expense of a co-worker, superior or anyone for that matter!

What’s your favorite (work appropriate) joke?

Visit our website here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/index.aspx

Visit our open jobs here: http://www.cpstaffing.com/jobs.aspx